Home School?

There is something about being socially inclined that runs innate in the human mind. There is no question in anybody's mind that they want to be able to go out in public, and know that there are people out there who they can connect with. This connection is constantly built by encounters in a public setting. One who lacks such a setting will surely be severed with the sociality link, and fall into a dark abyss... One in which it would be very difficult to climb out of.

I believe that the biggest detriment to mankind is homeschool (followed closely by private and charter schools, but, that argument will be saved for another day). It is really quite a pathetic joke, and I will hereafter point out why I make such a bold, and belligerent statement. But, first, I must say that I have never met a child that was homeschooled that had ANY social skills at all. If you are one, or if you have ever found one... Please, let me know.

Reason 1- MOTHER: I remember the teenage years. I remember thinking my mother didn't know anything. Each of us passes through this phase. How could a mother think it was a good idea to keep her children inside, and that they would learn anything when they have that attitude, and she is the one trying to teach them. "If you don't do your chores right now, mister, I'm going to give you an "F" on your last test!" What good does that do? And for that matter, what do grades mean- what is there to work for.

In summary- homeschool is a cop-out for any sort of traditional work.

Reason 2- ANTI-SOCIALITY: Where on Earth would one learn to connect with someone besides their own family members if they are only spending time with them? Honestly, does that sound absurd to anyone else? Think about it- you were introduced at an early age to kids that you worked well with, and played well with; and that is where you learned those connection skills. How does one who never uses those skills become anything more than a very strange child?! You can't build a muscle that never gets used. And also, you cannot grow a talent that has never been planted. Opportunities have to be placed for said work to happen. If a talent of sociality is to occur, one must have social situations in which to learn those valuable skills.

Reason 3- LACK OF WORK ETHIC: Though Homeschoolers claim the "homework" clause, that really isn't true. They have no such thing. Homework doesn't exist because there is no way to enforce it. I have heard too many times that homework is done during the homeschool experience. Well where is the work in that? How does one develop good study habits, and work habits if they never do such things as homework? Homework, as miserable as it is, teaches each of us to do our best, to work to complete something, and then turn it in with pride. Some of us (like myself) may have missed that message until later, but at least we recognize the value of what happened... Instead of not having anything to put those skills to practice.

I have too many times stood in front of a group of homeschoolers, and tried to explain a simple idea, and had blank stares in return. Homeschool is an almost funny joke. I don't mean that to be rude, I support it with the above. There are too many things lost when a child is homeschooled. Homeschooling is not a viable option for education. Education isn't just book-smarts. It doesn't really matter how much one knows, when they can't relate to someone to share it.

-Shaking Bottle Syndrome-

I was shopping with my mother a few days ago. I was with her because I don't currently have a vehicle, and I quite enjoy being with my mother. We were in a grocery store, and my objective- something powerful for my head cold which I had contracted after having recovered from nasal surgery to open up the airways of what had previously been a deviated septom.

My mom was inspecting medicine bottles, while I went straight to the source, where a maroon sign hung above the various pill and liquid medicine bottles reading, "COLD/SINUS". I figured that this would clearly be the best place to start, so I was there, she was behind, looking for something generic I'm sure- the watered down stuff.

I haven't quite come to a conclusion why mothers seem to think the generic brands are the same as the brand names. I know that I've compared the ingredients, and they don't match. My mother tries to tell me that they are manufactured in the same line, and pushed into different bottles. When she says that, I laugh... Because the "Great Value" pills don't say "Tylenol" on them... And they are not the same color either.

Regardless, my mom, as I said was inspecting pills. Her inspection was thorough. Pick up a pill bottle, look at it's label, check the amount of potency in each pill, and then slowly she would lift the bottle to her ear, and...

Shake the bottle!

This process went on for a moment, and I watched carefully. I wondered what she was doing. What could she hear in the pills? What was she checking for? I began doing the same thing. I inspected the labels, checked the potency... Lifted the bottle to my ear, and...

I shook the bottle!

I noticed a lovely rhythmic sound... But, beyond that... There was nothing to be had.

I watched others in the store as they cruised up and down the aisle. Some young, some old, some in the middle somewhere... They all performed this insane, untelling, human ritual. Nobody learned anything from this strange thing- I don't know that I've ever known anyone to have a pill bottle that didn't come with pills, and I cannot come up with any other explicable reason for shaking a pill bottle.

Sometimes I'm embarrassed to be a part of this human family. This is one of those times.