train up a child...with a squeegee...

by wheelwithinwheel 35 Replies latest jw friends

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  wheelwithinwheel

  While relaxing with my morning java at the local coffee joint I suddenly noticed window-washing equipment moving across the glassed surfaces of the restaurant. Yes, there was one of the local J-dubs hard at it. The strange thing was the height of his helper ... about the height of an 8-year-old. By God, it was an 8-year-old ... his little kid!. Some of the other customers were quite impressed with the youngster’s squeegee ability and style. But, come on now, we’re talking 10:30 a.m. on a week-day. What’s this kid doing out of school?

  And then it hit me. This family home-schools. I guess junior had already finished his daily studies or maybe dad thought his kid was so ahead of the worldlies, he could take the day off. Then again one could argue that window washing training is based on the biblical method, teaching young men dad’s trade.

  Mom, who does a lot of the schooling, is a simple person, but dad... well I think he is getting his pension plan into gear. With the large family he has founded, I see dad’s work week getting shorter and shorter.

  Sorry, I’m on a rant. I know some are going to disagree with me on this, and I’m sure Fred is going to say he was home-schooled, but I personally consider that, in most situations, this home-schooling thing is a crying shame.
• 

  Carmel

  Wheel,

  My wife and I ( well, truth be known, my wife) home schooled three of our children when we lived on a remote island in Alaska. What we found was that in less than a year our kids went through two years of studies, had great wilderness experiances and were ahead of their classmates the remainder of their scholastic experiances. To date they recall with fondness the classes in poetry, oil and watercolors, and neat stuff that kids in most rural schools will never have a chance to be exposed to. I know many home school for religious reasons and this often results in an uppity attitude but for us it was the only option as we were the sole inhabitants of an island half the size of Rhode Island.

  So don't knock it until you've tried it.

  carmel
• 

  Latte

  Wheel,

  That is real sad. The little lad is missing out on cultivating many future buddies.

  Home-schooling is (i believe) done with good intentions...yet many are unable to attain a good standard. ( been there ...done it)

  Latte
• 

  RunningMan

  I wonder how much training, at the hands of his father, it takes to master the intricate art of window washing. I'll bet most apprentice washers take all morning to learn the subtle craft.

  As for home schooling, a family in our congregation (elder father, pioneer mother) tried it for their three sons. One of the local girls asked the son about their experiences. He said that for field trips they would go out in service or to the park accross the street. And for math, he remarked that "they play the occasional game of Yahtzee". (exact quote)

  It sounds to me like they are perfectly equipped to become future dubs.
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  144thousand_and_one

  A big deficiency of home schooling is in the area of social development. Kids who aren't exposed to other kids their age in a social setting on a regular basis are being deprived of the development of an important skill, the ability to successfully interact socially with their peers. In the case of JWs, development of this skill is further impeded by their isolationist views of outsiders as "worldly" and "bad associations."

  Furthermore, while there are certainly exceptions to the rule, the vast majority of parents are not fit to be teachers.
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  TR

  Sounds like child labor laws should kick in here.

  TR

  UADNA-WA
  Unseen Apostate Directorate of North America- Washington Division
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  Latte

  RunMan,

  One family I knew......11yr old daughter was doing Math by adding up till receipts. Her 9r old brother was just about managing to write his name!

  Their mother was a lovely person, she informed me that she was training them for life in the the 'New system'
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  LDH

  Although I home schooled briefly for non-JW issues, I wouldn't recommend it for most.

  When you are around *ANYBODY* all day you will get on each other's nerves, no matter how well intentioned you are.

  Besides the obvious social issues raised by 144, I would say most JW and infact most non-JW are ill-equipped and lack the materials and organization to effectively home school.

  On the window washing thing, reminds me of an elder in my old hall. His business card and all of his advertising read "Bill (*) and Son Construction."

  Yep. His son was all of 10. [8>]

  Lisa
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  William Penwell

  144thousand_and_one said:

  A big deficiency of home schooling is in the area of social development. Kids who aren't exposed to other kids their age in a social setting on a regular basis are being deprived of the development of an important skill, the ability to successfully interact socially with their peers. In the case of JWs, development of this skill is further impeded by their isolationist views of outsiders as "worldly" and "bad associations."

  I agree from my own experiences that by over protecting a child are not loving them. It is not until a Jdub has to get out in the real world and finds that they don't have the social skills necessary to deal with every day situations. They have to learn the hard way of being taken advantage off. I know from my own experience that I was overprotected and not being allowed to socialize with my peers. Just the little things like playing ball was not allowed. It seems like not a big deal but this is the way a young person learns social skills.

  Will

  "I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's."
  Mark Twain
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  LB

  OK I do have some personal experience with homeschooling. I work for the local school district part time. What we are seeing mostly is the majority of home schooled pupils are falling behind. When they return to classes (if they do) they are very far behind the public students.

  I'm sure many have done well, but it appears the average home schooled student here has it's fair share of problems, not the least of is obeying school regulations which is the main reason they leave school anyway.

  Daddy getting junior to wash windows in my mind is pure BS. I don't like it a bit. Sorry dad but junior isn't going to be an elder in paradise anyway so you might want to think about getting him a real education.

  
  Never Squat With Yer Spurs On