|
|
Hi Rebecca,
I have a second grader in the public school system and everything seems to be going good so far. I am a pastor's kid and I remember in school that I would write down the answers that the teacher wanted to hear and then in the margin I would write down the "correct" answer. lol. I am teaching my daughter the same thing as you. "THe school is going to teach you some things like evolution for example, but we believe God created this world." Just make sure you know what the kids are reading. I have her bring everything home that she reads and most teachers will let you see everything they read also.
Marcie |
| posted by marcie on 04/23/2008 09:04 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Marcia;
Thank-you for sharing that. It is so nice to meet someone else that shares the same concerns.
I worry about my kids AR books, the librarian will not let them check out a book other than what their class reads together(my 1st grader) and he has been telling me it's haunted houses, witches and spells...(like Harry Potter I guess). I have gone to the classroom to see if there are any other books for AR and she said it has to be on the list. Well, the list is all the "popular" books like captain underpants,freddie fornorter(Michigan Chillers beginning) and spook stories...I wish there was another way I could keep track of what he reads..I usually can't go to the school due to lack of transportation..I feel like my hands are tied..
Have you heard the news about the "gay rights" books are in second grade classroom and are going to be concidered and part of their curiculum? |
| posted by Rebecca on 04/23/2008 07:12 PM
|
|
|
|
|
No,
I have not heard of the new gay rights books at all. Is it just certain school districts or all of them? I know you have a choice in what your child reads no matter what the school says. My daughter (2nd grade) knows not to check out books about harry potter, etc. I have tried to make it very clear to her that we don't agree with those. When she first started checking books out she would bring them home and we would read them together and I would show her different things we didnt agree with the author about. I think doing this makes her actually think about what she's reading and she takes notice of more things that are wrong.
She tends to read alot of Charlotte's Web and Junie B Jones. There are more books for girls than boys. lol My son is 2 so I have a few years before I have to start all over again:-)
Marcie |
| posted by marcie on 04/23/2008 07:23 PM
|
|
|
|
|
I heard about it on a radio program(focus on the family with Dr James Dobson)the other day..right now it passed in California but they say it's only a jump to here.
I will try to see if he can start bringing them home..that is a great idea..then he is aware of what to look for in AR books later in life...Thank-you..Rebee
|
| posted by Rebecca on 04/23/2008 07:42 PM
|
|
|
|
|
I am both a teacher in the public schools and have children in the public schools. school is a wonderful opportunity for our children to be exposed to the world beyond their immediate lives. They get to take everything they have learned and is already well established through their family, and use it to judge new experiences and information to make meaning for themselves. It is ok for them to read things that present other topics, and you can have the discussion that these things do not fit in with what you believe and help your child make the choice to follow his or her faith. Not only does that give your child the power to choose his or her own faith (with your encouragement), but thinking critically and judging are high order thinking skills that are great to get extra practice in.
I personally would be very upset if my child did not learn about evolution. I want them to know every theory possible, and then make an informed decision about what they believe. Avoiding other things sends the message that we can't handle the challenge of the world... and we can! |
| posted by Kelly on 04/24/2008 11:31 PM
|
|
|
|
|
I agree that we should expose our children to these things,but at what ages?
I really don't want my 6yr old coming home and telling me that the teacher said it's ok for two boys to get married..He doesn't understand at that age.
I have read Genesis I,2 to them and also John 1:1..but I really don't know if my 6yr old could process this information yet.
I have a story about the evolutionary theory that my 8yr did in school..they were studying this theory and the big bang theory in class and my son asked if he threw a bike that was dissassembled in the garage and shut the door, would it be a bike when he opened the door again? How can things just simply pop into being..their has to be a creator..(I was so proud of him). |
| posted by Rebecca on 04/25/2008 11:49 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Rebecca,
That was a great response from your son!!
I just wish they would teach other things beside the THEORY of evolution as it it just a theory. :-)
Marcie |
| posted by marcie on 04/25/2008 02:31 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Rebecca,
I have to say that I agree with the concern about public schools. My kids have been in both Public Schools and Christian School. As much as my kids are being taught about God and a relationship with Jesus, the whole Public school experience can influence them. I have seen it. Between the evolution "theory" taught as fact and the gay movement all the way through to the witches and Harry Potter stuff. I went into my son's class, he was going to read a book and I was going to sign it. The first question was is it about God? I am not doing it anymore. My kids are going back to the christian school next year. I agree with being able to watch thingss and expose our kids to the worldy views and talk them through. We have done that with our older son especially and he has seen for himself how eveolution disproves itself. You can expose them and do those things with them home. I would rather do that in an enviornment where we as parents have control. I haveorked in a Public School as a Special Education Paraprofessional myself and I have seen it in person just in the elementary level. I agree that is better to have them out. It is getting pretty bad. God is totatally out and everything else is in. It is so politically correct that things are so extreme. It is nice that there are other parents that feel that way. That is my opinion anyway :)
Desiree |
| posted by Desiree on 04/27/2008 08:28 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Desiree;
I understand your decision to put your kids back in a private school. I wish I could do this too but the funds don't let us.
As my boys get older, it is harder and harder to keep up with what they are teaching in the class. Next year, my 11yr old will have 6 different classes.
I am a sahm but I just wish I could be at the school all the time to pop in and see what is being taught. The gas doesn't allow me to do that either. I'm stuck..
|
| posted by Rebecca on 04/27/2008 09:18 PM
|
|
|
|
|
HI Rebecca,
I know that not everyone can do it and frankly we have been blessed becuase this school has scholorships and they are very generous. I can also go adn volunteer because It is not that far away so it depends on your situation, I am just emphasizing that I understand your concern. I think it just provides a responsibity on our part to be on top of things and you can in different ways like talking to the kids and finding out what tey are learning about. There are some things we cna do as parents and I know some parents who said I won't let my child read that and they got a different book for them. I think we just as christians need to stand up more for these thigns because they are slowly being take away. You can't learn about Jesus but you can learn about Mohammad and buddah and you can't talk about Jesus at Christmas but you can learn about Kwanza and everything else. It is scary when God is completely taken out of places. I will be praying for you!!!
Desiree
|
| posted by Desiree on 04/28/2008 08:03 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Thank-you for the information. It is nice just knowing that other Christian mom's are battling the same things. We need to be in prayer for eachother because things are going to get worse if The Lord doesn't come back soon..
I did sit down with my boys after devotions this morning to discuss the difference between a Christian and non-christian.
I got some intresting feedback from all 3 boys about the different books that they can read for AR and the fact that God knows even if I don't...todays verse was Psalms 1:1 |
| posted by Rebecca on 04/28/2008 10:49 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Desiree;
I have a problem at school with my 6yr being read in class Michigan chillers by the teacher. He has been scared awake three nights since they started reading this particular book to the class. I don't allow that in our house at all(even with my older boys) but the teacher is reading this to them because it is a very popular book. what should I do?....Rebee |
| posted by Rebecca on 05/07/2008 08:35 AM
|
|
|
|
|
| I would go to the teacher and tell her about it. If she doesnt want to stop reading this book than she can make other arrangements during the time that she is reading. He can go the library, etc. If she doesnt want to listen, I would go to the principal. |
| posted by marcie on 05/07/2008 08:42 AM
|
|
|
|
|
I have talked to my son and I will have to go to the teacher tomorrow(please keep me in your prayers because this will be difficult for me). I just don't want my little guy to be embarrased because I went in.
Thank-you..it helps to know you are being thought of and prayed for..I will continue to keep you all in my prayers |
| posted by Rebecca on 05/07/2008 11:08 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Rebecca
I just wanted to let you and all the other moms know that the teacher can create an AR quiz for whatever book your child reads. My husband is a public school teacher(3rd grade). We create news at least a couple of times a year. I would talk to the teacher. Thought you would like the info.
Tanya |
| posted by Tanya on 05/07/2008 11:13 PM
|
|
|
|
|
I think sometimes the school ad what everyone says leads us to believe that we don't have any say at all but I know for a fact there have been times when people have changed books for a reason. So I definately would talk to the teacher. I understand the concern about your son being embarassed and/or picked on and it is a stinky position but I will pray that god will give you what you need to deal with the situation and grace for your son but you never know what kind of opportunity it could provide for you or your son to tell someone about the Lord. Let us know how thigns work out.
Desiree |
| posted by Desiree on 05/08/2008 08:18 AM
|
|
|
|
|
I wish I had better news but the teacher said this book was by majority vote and my son was the minority.
I however, mentioned to this to my christian friend who works in the library and she said to send my son there during that time..
As far as defending our faith, it is getting harder and harder because everyone is focused on the feelings of the majority..we are becoming more of a manority.
I have talked to some of my friends whose kids are in with my boys and they are trying to work on a petition to make a building into a vocational school..That would be an answer to prayer because we would be able to be more involved as parents in their education...
Hope all is well with you..Rebee |
| posted by Rebecca on 06/02/2008 08:11 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Rebee,
Sorry to hear the teacher wouldnt budge, but I would listen to your friend. Have your son sent to the library during that time. The teacher doesnt have to make a big deal of it and noone in his class needs to know why he's going to the library.
Keep fighting the fight!! |
| posted by marcie on 06/03/2008 10:04 AM
|
|
|
|
|
| I've had to request some things for our daughter at school, and other than weird looks there hasn't been any problems. The whole book thing worries me though. It seems like anything that they read is innapropriate. I'm encouraged to find other mms having this problem and seeing their boldness to do something about it. Thanks for shareing!!! |
| posted by Amanda on 06/03/2008 10:25 AM
|
|
|
