Education

[AsianBlossom]

What (for the most part) was the way you were (or still are) educated? Did you fight and survive the public education system or are still doing so? Did you make your way throught the jungle of only slightly-less intimidating private school or are in the process of doing so? Did you take the road less travelled and receive most of your education at home or are doing so now? Or did you learn your three R's through an entirely different method altogether?

Basically, I've been satellite-schooled for most of my life (but others would beg to differ and call it "homeschooling" just because I'm at home most of the time XP)

[ShiroiHikari]

I suffered through public school.

[Nate]

Public school my whole life. After my time in the Navy, I took some courses at a local community college. I'm between colleges right now, hope to get into one this fall. And I'm freaking scared about it too. XD

[Azier the Swordsman]

High School graduate. Homeschooled most of my life.

Still working out plans for college, my plans are to take courses in Game Design and Devolopment.

[Gypsy]

I'm a product of half and half education. I had enough private education to make me smarter than the average bear, and enough public education to not care enough to apply myself.

[mechana2015]

I enjoyed public school K-12 and now am in a university.

[goldenspines]

I've been homeschool all my life, so far. Sometimes I want to try public school, but always decide against it.

[uc pseudonym]

Purely public school, and frankly it has never been a problem for me. I was exposed to nothing I haven't run into here at a private religious college (or on the internet, at least), and I don't think being "inoculated" to some worldly things hurt me any.

Not that I'm knocking private/home schooling, but too many Christians seem to view the public education system as the root of all evil.

[KBMaster]

This is my 11th year of being homeschooled. I'm going to enjoy my last year in a public school though.

[AsianBlossom]

(in reference to pseudonym's post) I know someone like that. I don't think they're crazy; I can really see where they're coming from. I have heard way too many horror stories (on local news alone) about what happens in public schools to be thankful to God that His plan for us was satellite-schooling (it's more specific than just "homeschooling"). What I think the main problem is is that some teens tend to pick up what they see in the media and use that (and all their other friends that have seen it) as their guides to what's wrong and what's right, what's cool and what's not. However, I'm also thankful that there are young people out there who have common sense in this world to stick to what they believe in and aren't afraid to do what's right. They certainly don't come around often, but they're out there, you know? We need more people like that, and less that will just copy what sort of fashions that celebrity so-and-sos are wearing.

So, in conclusion, I believe that it is NOT the public school that is the root of all evil, but the people behind the media that dictate what sorts of immorality will be popular and what sorts of virtue won't.

[goldenspines]

I agree with you there, AsianBlossom. I actually wouldn't mind going to public school or even private school, I think the experiance would teach me a lot, but I like the fexible hours of homeschooling too much to want to leave it. XD
I also have met a lot of Christians that believe that public school is of the devil and that they shouldn't even set foot in one for fear of the evil influence. So I see where you're coming from, UC.

[Warrior4Christ]

I went to a private primary school and a private high school. And now I'm at a public university.

[Alexander]

I've been home schooled all my life except for when I tried going to a private one when I was in 7th grade which didn't go very well.

My last year of school is going to be here at home too. And as for the comments by other users about public schools, I think it really just compares to how you adapt to them. For me, I couldn't have done it one bit. I'm very uncomfortable in crowded rooms and having a lack of privacy.

[Aruiko]

Public school. Because there are no other than public schools. Im not even sure are private schools allowed. Bacause charching over basic education is agaist the law. Though so exeptions may have been made.

Im currectly in high school. High schools is optional though....

[Doubleshadow]

Public school and public university.

[mitsuki lover]

Public School K-11 and Christian School grade 12.
Community College
Bible School
Christian College

[Dante]

I started out going to private school until the middle of 1st grade. However, I was pulled out mid-term because of an abusive teacher. Then at 1st grade I switched over to the public school system which I attended until the 5th grade (hated the public school). At this point, I switched over to homeschooling and I stayed there until I was twelve. During that fall, I became a student at a local community college starting with ART 100: computer drawing and design. It was a great class, and shortly thereafter, I was enrolled as a full-time student getting great grades (I made Phi Theta Kappa at 13). Somewheres in the middle of 13, I was enrolled in an online high school as part of the Mesa Distance Learning Program (MDLP) and worked on my high school and college degrees simultaneously non-stop (year round, no weekends, no holidays, 7 AM till 10 PM). While I may have gone a little crazy during the event, crashed into severe depresion and lost a good portion of my childhood friends, I did manage to graduate from Mesa High School in Arizona a month or two after turning fifteen and then from GCC a year later at sixteen with an associates in applied science in computer animation. At this point I switched majors and brain hemispheres by going into the land of physics at ASU (grabbing Japanese along the way... baaaaad decision). Anyways, long story short, I recieved a bachelors degree in science from them at twenty and I am now searching for a graduate school or contemplating going into the job market, because the grad schools all seem jammed packed with students... Thus, I'm having a hard time getting in. Still, even without an official school, ASU (through good and bad teaching practices) has taught me how to learn about anything on my own (or derive/imagine the knowledge into existance) and I intend on using this to teach myself all I desire in the future years... or I could just utilize the knowledge to build a doomsday device... that could be fun .

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I went to a private primary school (mostly awesome), then private highschool (which was mostly hell on earth), then public tertiary education (which was mostly hell on earth X 2) and now I'm at a private university (which is mostly heaven on earth).

[Etoh*the*Greato]

I'm a product of half and half education. I had enough private education to make me smarter than the average bear, and enough public education to not care enough to apply myself.

That's me right there. See, somehow I managed to not survive in public school. As a last resort my parents put me in Private school, just at the point in which it looked like I'd completely lose it. I did parochial school for the rest of my standard education...

[Mave]

Purely public school, and frankly it has never been a problem for me. I was exposed to nothing I haven't run into here at a private religious college (or on the internet, at least), and I don't think being "inoculated" to some worldly things hurt me any.

Not that I'm knocking private/home schooling, but too many Christians seem to view the public education system as the root of all evil.

I'm very similar to UC and carry the exact opinion except for the fact that....
from where I come from, private schooling is mostly for the rich kids and the elite. The average citizen would not be able to afford private schooling (private tuition is another story altogether) and have to make do with the offerings of the government. Whether you do well or not in your grades, get bullied or not, have horrible teachers and schoolmates, have poor facilities (i.e. leaky roofs, no tables/chairs - I had that for one year), have teachings that differ from your personal beliefs/values, we have no option: We suck it up and learn to deal with it.

While there are certain improvements that could be made to the public education system, I think my buddies and I came through the system quite well and ended up becoming decent educated and responsible folks. And oh btw, our education system is pro-Islam, with barely a whisper of "Jesus" anywhere on the school premise. It was compulsory for us to study Islamic history, to abide by Islam law-based school rules and to listen to Islamic prayers in our public school assembly. This makes me convinced that God can mold you as a Christian, no matter where you are and no matter what public education you grew up in.

Now, with that said, when I meet Christians who knock the public education for being the root of all evil, I have this crazy mad urge to knock them back for...for...never mind, I won't say it. But I hope that this will help you understand why I don't value homeschooling/private schools as much as some of you may.

Somehow I feel like we've discussed this on the forum before. I didn't mean to turn this into a homeschooling vs public school discussion again.

PS: This public education I speak of is not Singapore's.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

There's a lot of bullying and other that happens at private schools too, they just have more expensive bullying.

[Sammy Boy]

Public schooling all the way.

High school had some of the best and worst years. Constantly picked on for a while because of my relatively small stature and lack of popular friends.

Later I made a few good friends.

The grounds around the school become dangerous and quite a few kids from the school started getting involved with street gangs. But it was my final year and I had moved onto university.

[TrigunX89]

I was homeschooled through high school. It had its ups and downs. I'm done with it now, though. I took one community college class last summer, and that's the extent of my education thus far. I'm planning on going back to school this fall.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

This makes me convinced that God can mold you as a Christian, no matter where you are and no matter what public education you grew up in.

I think that's what a lot of people are afraid of.

Anyway, I went to public school till middle school. At the start of high school, I've been in private school. Currently I'm a senior.

[Technomancer]

There's a lot of bullying and other that happens at private schools too, they just have more expensive bullying.

But is the quality any better? I'd hate to think you were getting sub-par bullies for more money.

[Warrior4Christ]

This makes me convinced that God can mold you as a Christian, no matter where you are and no matter what public education you grew up in.

Does this mean that God can't mould you if you didn't grow up in public education?

But seriously, I do agree that public education is certainly not the root of all evil. It is a valid form of education, and many Christians survive through it just fine.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

I know a lot of people who have survived public school with faith in tact. I've also known a lot of people who didn't survive private school with faith in tact. Something about having it crammed down your throat without being allowed to question or explore. Still, I was very glad to be sent away from public. Things were getting very very bad for me in terms of bullying. In the by 8th grade I was in private school and became very very sick. That sickness followed me for pretty much the rest of my regular schooling and gave me this strange kind of diplomatic immunity. A lot of people still didn't like me (and to be frank, I didn't really like them either) but they were all guys and knew that if they picked on the gimp they'd get no respect from teh womenz. I didn't realize this until college, but I think if I'd discovered it sooner I'd have done something that would lose said immunity.

And to be fair, the bullying was tamer in parochial school. A lot of the real jerks had been doing the parochial thing all their lives and had no concept of what true horror is.

[Mave]

I think that's what a lot of people are afraid of.

That's interesting. Why would that be?

Does this mean that God can't mould you if you didn't grow up in public education?

Good griefy. To put in simple terms, I'm just saying that God can mould you in both private and public education system if you allow Him to according to His Will.

Of course, there are exceptions. If you're totally barred and isolated from the mere mention of Jesus Christ, I think the opportunities for you to know and receive Christ is quite limited. But I suspect this is more likely a hypothetical case of some isolated tribe in the jungle rather than your average public education system. But ehhhh... I'm not talking about such cases.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against homeschooling or private schools. If it suits you. you're happier, and you learn better that way, go for it and God bless you! You have my sincere good wishes. I'm truly sorry if any of you had horrible experiences in the public education system. I was bullied in junior high for a short period but it was dealt with quickly.

I mostly conflict with individuals (not here in CAA) who hail their education system as some form of academic and religious elitism and look down on any secular school with pity or contempt.

*****************
I have to say I generally enjoyed most of my lessons although we had some weird teachers every now and then. In mid-high school, I was studying the following for two years:

English
Malay
Moral Education
Chemistry
Physics
Further Mathematics
Additional Mathematics
History

I believe this system is loosely based on the British education system. Quite different from what some of you are going through, no? It doesn't seem like a lot to learn but I was sweating and stressing all over it then! LOL

[mitsuki lover]

Public Schools get a bad rap these days because of a few really poorly run ones.

[Jih]

I was in public school until 4th grade; I was pulled out and homeschooled for 2 years. I then attended a small private middle school and then went to Catholic school for 2 years. There I became stronger in my faith (mostly from being told I'm going to Hell if I don't believe the Pope is equal to God and because I'm a Protestant), made friends and left for two years of public high school. I'm one year into my public high school expierience and I have to say there's a lot less partying and drugs. Sure kids do that but heck, that happens everywhere.

In regards to the foolish idea that God can't reach you because of where you are, I think you realy need to take a look at the world around you. God very blatantly touches people's hearts, no matter who they are. I have accepted the fact that as far as morality goes, we are all on the same level. sin is sin and we're all on the same level. You, me, Hitler, Stalin and Satan.