I should probably introduce myself

[SawAddictedFarmer]

I've been on here a little while but I figured I should introduce myself. I'm 16 and homeschooled in Illinois. 5' 11" and 190lbs of muscle. I like cutting big logs but don't get to do it as much as I wish. 2 years ago this spring our largest machine shed with a shop attached burnt, 3am on a Sunday morning it sounded like someone was taking out windows with a shotgun. With tanks inside blowing up there was nothing we could do, it was a total loss. Got just enough insurance from everything to rebuild the barn 40'x60' with a 17'x60' lean-to shop with concrete floors. We put the entire thing up ourselves. Between cleaning up the old barn and getting the new one up it was a entire year of not seeing friends or really leaving the farm except for church. And then we bought a tractor to replace the one we lost in the fire. Well dad got home and I pull the oil dipstick and it's steaming, that was 2 months of work in the shop between other stuff. Get that done and 3 weeks later it quits moving, back in the shop for the torque limiter. Get that done and the pilot was long due for a lot of work, that was a nightmare. Just recently got that done and my v8 4runner in the shop and the frame pulled for repair. I have friends, kind of, there's one girl I've known for forever and she's just a couple minutes down the road. They stay crazy busy with 4H, homeschool co-op, and about 100 other things. Any male friends my age have always been at least a hour away. Haven't properly hung out with friends since last fall. Any of you with kids make sure they see friends somewhat regularly. I've got a somewhat part time under the radar job because Illinois says I'm just a incompetent teenager and it would be unsafe to pay me to use a drill. Well that's about it. Hopefully things will be better once I have my drivers license.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Almost like Logan from a couple years back

 

[davidwyby]

Reminds me of another young man I’m proud to call a friend.

 

[jacob j.]

Almost like Logan from a couple years back

@ayoungtexan?

 

[JRHAWK9]

That's what -HE- said........

 

[Sloughfoot]

I'm not buying you beer.

 

[sawmikaze]

Show me your muscles.

 

[davidwyby]

Come on down…next year ;-)

 

[Bill G]

I've been on here a little while but I figured I should introduce myself. I'm 16 and homeschooled in Illinois............

Two questions ....... Where at in Illinois and what in the hell is it with all these kids and "home-schooling"

 

[SawAddictedFarmer]

Two questions ....... Where at in Illinois and what in the hell is it with all these kids and "home-schooling"

We're Worden mailing district but within site of Prairietown

 

[Hinerman]

Two questions ....... Where at in Illinois and what in the hell is it with all these kids and "home-schooling"

Most, not all, public school systems have declined in the quality of education; many push a woke agenda; parents watch the news and are paranoid for their babies (bullying, shootings, etc.); the homeschooling programs have improved significantly; homeschooling families have organizations now where they can do things together; homeschooling programs even have some sports now; private schools are very expensive; homeschooling prioritizes personalization of education; homeschooling allows flexibility.

I am sure there are more reasons. I know there are potential drawbacks also.

 

[Bill G]

We're Worden mailing district but within site of Prairietown

So Edwardsville.

 

[SawAddictedFarmer]

So Edwardsville.

No. Madison county unincorporated. 20 minutes or so to Edwardsville.

 

[Bill G]

Most, not all, public school systems have declined in the quality of education; many push a woke agenda; parents watch the news and are paranoid for their babies (bullying, shootings, etc.); the homeschooling programs have improved significantly; homeschooling families have organizations now where they can do things together; homeschooling programs even have some sports now; private schools are very expensive; homeschooling prioritizes personalization of education; homeschooling allows flexibility.

I am sure there are more reasons. I know there are potential drawbacks also.

I just might know a bit about the school system in general including public schools, home schools, private schools, religious schools and the derivatives I spent a few years ...decades dealing with it.

I want to be clear I will not comment about specific districts that I do not have firsthand knowledge of. I want to be clear I sure as hell WILL comment regarding decades of my firsthand experience of specific situations and districts.

 

[Hinerman]

So Edwardsville.

So true. I know nothing about Edwardsville. Oklahoma is always near the bottom of educational rankings; and my hometown is in the bottom half of the state; exactly where, I am not sure, but it is low.

 

[Hinerman]

I just might know a bit about the school system in general including public schools, home schools, private schools, religious schools and the derivatives I spent a few years ...decades dealing with it.

I want to be clear I will not comment about specific districts that I do not have firsthand knowledge of. I want to be clear I sure as hell WILL comment regarding decades of my firsthand experience of specific situations and districts.

Fair enough. I knew, or thought I knew, you were an educator. Illinois is near the top is my understanding; probably depends on what list a person looks at.

My point is, I don't judge homeschoolers. I get it, and I don't blame their parents. Some of the homeschooled kids are very bright; some are better socially than others; just like the kids in public schools.

 

[SawAddictedFarmer]

Fair enough. I knew, or thought I knew, you were an educator. Illinois is near the top is my understanding; probably depends on what list a person looks at.

My point is, I don't judge homeschoolers. I get it, and I don't blame their parents. Some of the homeschooled kids are very bright; some are better socially than others; just like the kids in public schools.

I'm glad I was homeschooled and I wouldn't/don't fit in with the public school crowd. The one time I did go into a public school was with my boss picking up his daughter after someone shoved her and she broke his nose. A couple older teens started pick a fight while I was waiting and boy that almost got ugly fast. My boss ended up coming back out or it would have been punching time I wouldn't have played nice.

 

[furb]

Two questions ....... Where at in Illinois and what in the hell is it with all these kids and "home-schooling"

Parents don’t want their kids using a litter box

 

[EFSM]

Parents don’t want their kids using a litter box

That’s happening or has happened at the local Anna IL public school.

For all: read up on the Mississippi miracle. After pushing a literacy program, Mississippi schooling went from 50th out of 50 states to 9th in a dozen years.