Target Sports

Opposing the Transgender Movement

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Texas

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • Darkpriest667

    Actually Attends
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    9   0   0
    Jan 13, 2017
    4,489
    96
    Jarrell TX, United States
    I'm not advocating public schools, but it's my belief that good parenting can overcome any adverse affects of public schools. Blaming schools for a child's problems seems more of a cop out to poor parenting to me.


    As a possibly former teacher I can tell you it's all about parenting. The difference between a good kid and a piece of crap is almost 100% always the parents. Some teachers really are crap.. God knows I've met them, but some of them are really good and it doesn't make a lick of difference if the kid is a piece of crap, usually because of his/her parents.
     

    Wildcat Diva

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Aug 26, 2016
    3,040
    96
    I’m gonna have to disagree that good parenting overcomes all. I see what BS the schools can heap on (from not addressing bullying to demanding specific pharmaceutical treatment for a specific diagnosis provided to a child by an unqualified to practice principal, to school staff enabling and reinforcing a child’s disruptive attention seeking behavior that the parent wants nipped in the bud a different way) and I’m often not a fan. Parents are at a power disadvantage quite often, and I’ve seen these power play tactics by public schools ruin kids I thought might be okay otherwise.

    Never mind the power of opportunities for “socialization” where a kid is associating day after day, year after year, often unsupervised as to what’s being said (out of earshot from adults), from a young age, with peers you would prefer them not to.
     

    Southpaw

    Forum BSer
    Rating - 100%
    14   0   0
    Mar 30, 2009
    17,862
    96
    Guadalupe Co.
    Never mind the power of opportunities for “socialization” where a kid is associating day after day, year after year, often unsupervised as to what’s being said (out of earshot from adults), from a young age, with peers you would prefer them not to.

    That is a big issue for us too. Perhaps I am sheltering my daughter, but I don't see anything redeeming in the "urban" culture that is so rampant in society today. If my daughter is socially awkward because she's not down with the latest hip hop trends and slang, I think she'll be just fine.
     

    oldag

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Feb 19, 2015
    17,429
    96
    As a possibly former teacher I can tell you it's all about parenting. The difference between a good kid and a piece of crap is almost 100% always the parents. Some teachers really are crap.. God knows I've met them, but some of them are really good and it doesn't make a lick of difference if the kid is a piece of crap, usually because of his/her parents.

    On one side you are absolutely correct. Without parental support and discipline, no amount of teaching can do the job. And sadly that is a huge problem these days.

    However, teachers are human. And a small number of them can't do the job even with a class full of Einsteins. Thankfully, these type are very much in the minority.
     

    oldag

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Feb 19, 2015
    17,429
    96
    That is a big issue for us too. Perhaps I am sheltering my daughter, but I don't see anything redeeming in the "urban" culture that is so rampant in society today. If my daughter is socially awkward because she's not down with the latest hip hop trends and slang, I think she'll be just fine.

    Kids have to face the real world someday. If a child simply cannot obtain an acceptable education due to a terrible school, then home schooling seems to be a good choice.

    My kids came out of public schools just fine. They had moral teaching at home and every week at church as well. They learned much more than the latest trends and slang. They gradually learned how to handle peer pressure, bullying, etc. How to interact with others from different backgrounds.

    Going from a sheltered environment into the real world at 18 (and often when away at college) can be a real shock. Some kids don't handle this well.

    Just some things to consider.
     

    toddnjoyce

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Sep 27, 2017
    19,285
    96
    Boerne
    ...he just doesn’t understandably know what he wants to do for a career. It makes no sense to go all hard core on him when he’s pretty much doing what we expect of him.

    At 18, most people don’t know what they want to do for a career and that’s perfectly fine.

    One question I like to ask my adult kids is how do you see yourself in a year? At 21? At 25?

    Those general answers can help guide a way forward
     

    oldag

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Feb 19, 2015
    17,429
    96
    At 18, most people don’t know what they want to do for a career and that’s perfectly fine.

    One question I like to ask my adult kids is how do you see yourself in a year? At 21? At 25?

    Those general answers can help guide a way forward

    And then follow up with: "Okay, now what do you need to do to get there?" And in that discussion, ensure they gain an understanding of whether or not their goal is achievable, and if so what commitment is needed to accomplish that goal.
     

    Southpaw

    Forum BSer
    Rating - 100%
    14   0   0
    Mar 30, 2009
    17,862
    96
    Guadalupe Co.
    Kids have to face the real world someday. If a child simply cannot obtain an acceptable education due to a terrible school, then home schooling seems to be a good choice.

    My kids came out of public schools just fine. They had moral teaching at home and every week at church as well. They learned much more than the latest trends and slang. They gradually learned how to handle peer pressure, bullying, etc. How to interact with others from different backgrounds.

    Going from a sheltered environment into the real world at 18 (and often when away at college) can be a real shock. Some kids don't handle this well.

    Just some things to consider.


    I see your point and do agree that completely sheltering is not a good thing. perhaps sheltered was the wrong word to use. She does and will continue to interact with her peers within her homeschool and extra curricular circles, which to me seems to be a better group then who her average peers would be in public schools these days.
    Just for the record, I don't look down on parents who choose public schooling or believe that it is the end of the world for every child.
     

    Brains

    One of the idiots
    Rating - 100%
    3   0   0
    Apr 9, 2013
    6,904
    96
    Spring
    Interesting perspectives thus far, I'm really appreciative y'all are willing to share. We've thought about homeschooling, and we still are but for another reason. My daughter is advancing rapidly in gymnastics to the point she'll soon be faced with a pretty important decision, that being whether to spend basically all day in the gym honing her craft and homeschooling, or scaling back her gymnastics to stay in her regular school.

    We love the public school she's in, everyone from the janitorial staff up to the principal are wonderful folks. It's a (very) high performing school, and it's plain obvious the reason it ranks so highly is the parents and educators are on the same page. We know these teachers, some live in the neighborhood and our kids hang out together, etc. PTO events are pretty popular ;) The kids have a lot of pride in their school, and it shows. Academically the only kids who have a tough time with the standardized tests are the special needs kids, but the school still achieves 98-99% achievement rates. They do a little science fair type thing each year (and an art fair, etc.) and it's pretty amazing to walk the halls and have 10 year olds excitedly explaining the human circulatory system to you in detail, including various disorders and treatments. Others demonstrating the robot they built that follows voice commands. The younger kids explaining whether phenomena and patterns, bird migration science, etc.

    So I mention all that only to give a little picture of why this decision for my daughter will be a pretty tough one. For a public school, it's simply outstanding.
     

    avvidclif

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    3   0   0
    Aug 30, 2017
    5,794
    96
    Van Zandt County
    He already has anxiety (that’s almost interfering to the point we’ve considered treatment, but have not as of yet) about being a grown up. We plan on handing him more of his responsibilities as he continues to earn. He works at a hardware store and likes it there.

    He pays a lot of his gas, food, and has paid for college classes. He just saved and bought his own computer that he built (which he said felt really good to buy himself).

    Honestly, he’s barely here at home. to charge rent. Maybe 1-2 nights a week. He has lots of buddies he hangs with and spends the night and also a long term gf with an elderly single grandma parent who doesn’t mind if he’s over and is glad to have a “man” around the house. I think they pitch in together for groceries over there. Charging him rent here wouldn’t work. He would just not come home.

    I can push him a little, but he’s not the kind of kid who is going to respond well to a shock “rude awakening.” He’s doing pretty much what we want him to, he just doesn’t understandably know what he wants to do for a career. It makes no sense to go all hard core on him when he’s pretty much doing what we expect of him.

    Sounds like he's already on the way and doing good. He's not one of the layarounds and do nothings. You done good.

    One other thing. The military has an excellent crash course in growing up. If every 18 yr old had to do 2 years we wouldn't have near the problems we have today with the younger generation.
     
    Last edited:

    oldag

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Feb 19, 2015
    17,429
    96
    Interesting perspectives thus far, I'm really appreciative y'all are willing to share. We've thought about homeschooling, and we still are but for another reason. My daughter is advancing rapidly in gymnastics to the point she'll soon be faced with a pretty important decision, that being whether to spend basically all day in the gym honing her craft and homeschooling, or scaling back her gymnastics to stay in her regular school.

    We love the public school she's in, everyone from the janitorial staff up to the principal are wonderful folks. It's a (very) high performing school, and it's plain obvious the reason it ranks so highly is the parents and educators are on the same page. We know these teachers, some live in the neighborhood and our kids hang out together, etc. PTO events are pretty popular ;) The kids have a lot of pride in their school, and it shows. Academically the only kids who have a tough time with the standardized tests are the special needs kids, but the school still achieves 98-99% achievement rates. They do a little science fair type thing each year (and an art fair, etc.) and it's pretty amazing to walk the halls and have 10 year olds excitedly explaining the human circulatory system to you in detail, including various disorders and treatments. Others demonstrating the robot they built that follows voice commands. The younger kids explaining whether phenomena and patterns, bird migration science, etc.

    So I mention all that only to give a little picture of why this decision for my daughter will be a pretty tough one. For a public school, it's simply outstanding.

    I would recommend great caution in sacrificing so much for an extracurricular activity. This is coming from someone who had two kids with similar opportunities. The extracurricular activity will only last a short time. The things sacrificed can carry a long term price tag.
     

    Brains

    One of the idiots
    Rating - 100%
    3   0   0
    Apr 9, 2013
    6,904
    96
    Spring
    I would recommend great caution in sacrificing so much for an extracurricular activity. This is coming from someone who had two kids with similar opportunities. The extracurricular activity will only last a short time. The things sacrificed can carry a long term price tag.
    I hear ya, we’re maybe a year out still and we’re already stressing the decision.
     

    Darkpriest667

    Actually Attends
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    9   0   0
    Jan 13, 2017
    4,489
    96
    Jarrell TX, United States
    I hear ya, we’re maybe a year out still and we’re already stressing the decision.

    Unless your kid is a prodigy in gymnastics I'd recommend against it... I taught at a high school that is one of the few in Texas to ever hoist a national championship (yes they used to have them) in basketball and they have sent exactly 1 player to the NBA in 25 years.

    I don't know if gymnastics has AAU but typically if kids are good enough to go pro or have the potential their parents send them to AAU. Almost all of the kids who go pro in basketball go to AAU schools. To give you an idea of how competitive it is. 700,000 people are involved in AAU.

    This is the same for any sport or extracurricular. Some of us are "good" at what we do. I was pretty good at video games.. even played them competitively.. Now, there is no chance if I was 15 again that I would be able to compete with the professionals.

    Everyone thinks their kid is a star, I understand it, I can't empathize because I've never had a child, but what I do know is the chances of them becoming a professional at any sport or extracurricular are extremely slim. If she's serious and you're serious about her being professionally, or even semi-professional, competitive AAU is going to be your route unless we're talking olympian level, in which case you need to go talk to the olympic trainers.
     

    deemus

    my mama says I'm special
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    30   0   0
    Feb 1, 2010
    15,589
    96
    DFW
    I think AAU is not into gymnastics, pretty sure they have their own thing. But your post is spot on.

    My son played select baseball. They had a great team. One national tourney they played a team from Michigan. That team all had schollies to a D-1 school, like Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana, etc. They had 8 pitchers who all threw 90+ and were over 6'3".

    My kid had offers from several colleges, and had select team offers that we would have paid zero for him to play. But against the competition at that national tournament of 120 teams, he would not have made 90% of those teams.
     

    Brains

    One of the idiots
    Rating - 100%
    3   0   0
    Apr 9, 2013
    6,904
    96
    Spring
    She's only been in the sport for almost a year and a half total, and up till now she's been in the 'recreational' gym instead of the more serious one? She's testing into level 4 now, but I'll admit I don't know the details of what that actually means. We're being told she should have been working with the team coaches much earlier, instead of the 'rec' gym. Makes sense, because she advances crazy fast in the occasional private lessons with the team coaches. My wife is much more clear on all this, it makes my head spin trying to keep up with all the terminology and stuff. At any rate, she advances through their levels very quickly, certainly faster than her peers. Whether or not she's olympics bound, I have no idea; guess we'll wait and see. But they're letting us know the path she's on leads to a lot more time in the gym and very likely homeschooling.
     

    Ole Cowboy

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    May 23, 2013
    4,061
    96
    17 Oaks Ranch
    I think AAU is not into gymnastics, pretty sure they have their own thing. But your post is spot on.

    My son played select baseball. They had a great team. One national tourney they played a team from Michigan. That team all had schollies to a D-1 school, like Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana, etc. They had 8 pitchers who all threw 90+ and were over 6'3".

    My kid had offers from several colleges, and had select team offers that we would have paid zero for him to play. But against the competition at that national tournament of 120 teams, he would not have made 90% of those teams.

    Life long friend of mine was a golfer, full ride to UT on Golf, he was good, a top player in Texas etc etc. He came from a well to do family and he wanted to go pro, so dad backed him for 3 years to get into the money.

    I am not a golfer so never kept up with him but one day I get a call he is passing thru town and needs a place to stay. I say sure:

    3 years on the circuit and he came to realize that being good, REALLY GOOD was not REALLY GOOD enough.
     

    benenglish

    Just Another Boomer
    Staff member
    Lifetime Member
    Admin
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Nov 22, 2011
    23,933
    96
    Spring
    3 years on the circuit and he came to realize that being good, REALLY GOOD was not REALLY GOOD enough.
    Short version of a story I've told before -

    I was a really good bassoonist. Out of high school, my instructor got me a seat with a semi-pro orchestra mainly composed of a floating assemblage of teachers, private instructors, and pros who were between jobs.

    It took me just two rehearsals to understand I would never make a living as a musician.

    In any technically, semi-objectively quantifiable performance discipline, being really good is exactly the same as being nowhere near good enough to ever accomplish anything.
     
    Top Bottom