Running head: PUBLIC SCHOOL IS WHATS BEST How does your performance on these assignment demonstrate achievement ofor

progress towardthe English 2010 course goals? Being our last paper we needed to be able to write a 8-10 page position paper, with a solid thesis statement, strong topic sentences, and transitions. In this paper we needed to take a position and convince our audience of our position. What process did you go through to complete the assignments included in the English 2010 portfolio? The first challenge was to come up with a position that Im passionate about to write 10 pages on. I looked up topics on the internet and talk with family to help make my decision. Once I picked my topic I needed to brainstorm the main topics to take a position on, with I needed to brainstorm the oppositions stance. First we where required to outline our paper. This helped me get my quotations in order and where I wanted them in my paper. With my outline I was able to fill in and build on my paper. What challenges did you face in completing these assignments? How did you address those challenges? Some challenges I came a crossed was trying not to repeat my position by saying the same thing over and over. I found it hard to reiterate my position in such a long paper. When I let my paper sit for a day and came back to it, I was able to come up with new was to write my position. I also found it hard to pick a topic, I used the internet and families opinion to pick my topic. When I was able to talk with family about a topic it helped me to brainstorm the topic I picked. How do the assignments illustrate the growth/change/progression you have had in this class?

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I was able to write a 8 page paper with strong topic sentences and transitions. My paper has a strong position with expert option. I was able to explain the oppositions point of view and counter it with my position. Im proud of how this paper turned out. Introduction: This is position paper where we needed to take a position on a topic. We needed to state in the paper who cares about this topic and should should care. I needed to research my position but in a good paper you needed to know the oppositions option to. The topic I chose was close to me because its a topic that I had to deal with in my family. When picking a topic close to you its hard to keep out logical fallacies like, attacking the person and not the issue. I learned a lot from my research and enjoyed writing this paper.

PUBLIC SCHOOL IS WHATS BEST What is best for your kids? When your child reaches the age to start school as a parent you ponder about what direction to take. There are so many options out there to think about, public school, home schooling, charter, and private schooling. As a parent you question will my kid make friends in public school? Another question to think about is, do I have the patience and time to spend to home school? An advantage to homeschooling is that your child can develop emotions without the influence of peer pressure. By homeschooling you could teach your child at your pace and not be constrained by public school hours and schedules, and homeschooling has a great community to get together with and do activities. Parents that are considering homeschooling need to think about all the money that they need to pay to duplicate trips and activities public schools offer. However, public schools offer extra-curricular

activities and kids are learning from teachers that have got degrees in teaching. It can be a difficult decision and not one you can decide on quickly. When looking into all the advantages that public schools offer, its the best choice for your children. Public school is better for your children because they are able to learn within a group setting, they offer more curriculum opportunities that provide a more diverse social education, and they have more opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities. The first reason why public school is better for your children is they are able to learn within a group setting. Learning within a group setting in public school is beneficial for your child because it helps to teach them the importance of working in a team. Parents that are looking more into homeschooling may feel that kids can have more emotional freedom at home. At public school kids can go through the emotions of peer pressure, competition, boredom, and bullying all in one day. These emotions are good for kids to

PUBLIC SCHOOL IS WHATS BEST experience and master before their adulthood and in their career. When kids reach adulthood and dont know how to handle their emotions, they may come across as immature. A parent should consider that public schools have many kids in them and this makes it easy for your child to find a friend with the same interests. Groups in public school force kids to talk and solve problems within the group. Inside these groups kids learn how to deal with their emotions and how to talk to their peers. Scott Ponder is an educator and writer who has written many creative writing articles. In one of Ponders articles titled, The Benefits of Small Table Study Groups for

High School Students, Ponder states that, participating in small table study groups is one of the best ways for students to learn to engage in the process of metacognition, which is where authentic learning occurs (Ponder, 2013, par.4). Metacognition is the awareness or analysis of ones own learning or thinking processes. Its easier to express your ideas to your peers in a small group setting rather than out loud in front of the whole class. Working in a group help children work as a team to collaborate their ideas to make into one great idea. Ponder explains that, by working with a small table study group, students begin to actively consider their learning goals, plan accordingly, and monitor their own learning as they carry out their plans within their groups (Ponder, 2013, par.4). When working as a team with other peers in class, students come together to determine the plan for your assignment and the outcome. When kids learn in groups at public school, it helps them develop the skills to work in a team. Working within a team is a skill kids can carry with them into their adult life and a skill used everyday in whatever career they choose. In the article, Social Skills, Extracurricular Activities in High School Pay Off Later in Life written by Phil Ciciora.

PUBLIC SCHOOL IS WHATS BEST Ciciora interviews Christy Lieras, a professor of human and community development. Lieras states that, leadership now is not an individual thing, its how well you get along in a team and get people organized (Ciciora, 2009, par.6). Metacognition, planning, organizing, and carrying out goals are skills students learn in public school within a group setting to further help students post schooling in the work place. The skill of

getting along within a team and organization can only come from learning within a group setting in public school. Public school is the only place kids can learn in groups overseen by professional teachers, with that public schools also offer a diversity of classes. The second reason why public schools are better for your kids is that public schools offer more extra-curricular opportunities and diversity in teachers. Public schools offer a plethora of different classes that students can choose from that meets their interest. Within all the diversity of classes comes diversity of teachers. Parents who are looking into homeschool may feel they can teach the same classes public school offer and some teachers dont take the time to get to know their students. Parents need to think about how much money it will cost them to gain supplies and teach their child a musical instrument and to experience different forms of art. Teachers in public school have the credentials and the supplies are provided to teach these required classes. Homeschoolers can teach their kids different classes but it takes a lot of time and money required by the parent. Public schools require their students to take a diversity of classes that doesnt cost students or their parents money. In the article Homeschool Versus Public School: A Few Thoughts, written by Staci Eastin. Eastin is an accomplished author and has children in both public school and homeschools. She states, In the past week Ive attended a public school track meet, band concert, and a choir

PUBLIC SCHOOL IS WHATS BEST concert. All of those are things I could not have duplicated in my homeschool community (Eastin, 2013, par.7). Homeschooling parents need to think about how they can offer these classes to their child that public school can so easily. Public schools have so many for your child to choose from, they may find an interest in pottery, computers, band, art, or accounting students dont know they have until they take these required classes in public school. Tony Jones is the author of many books on Christian ministry and is a speaker and consultant in areas of emerging church, postmodernism, and

Christian spirituality. He co-owns a social media consulting and event planning company. Tony is married and has three children. In his article, Death to Homeschooling, Jones explains that public school education brings the child and society together by, it increases ones participation in the common life. It puts the child into possession of the tools of social intercourse, such as language and numbers: opens his eyes to treasures of literature, art, and science that society has gradually accumulated through generations (Jones, 2012, par.10). A childs interest can be passed down from their parents but public schools help guide students to find what their interest are. Kids can build on there interest and take them further to college and make a leaving out of them after school. Students can also learn what they are not interested in by the classes they take in public school. Teachers have gone to schools and got degrees specializing in these subjects. When parents send their kids to public school they know their kids are getting a quality education by teachers that have degrees and extensive knowledge on the subjects they are teaching your kids. An article found on the Academic search premier titled, What Theyre Saying states, teachers keep learning. Big counties offer more than 100 free courses each semester to help teachers stay current in the field without spending a penny

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(What, 2000, par.2). A 6th grade science teacher with her bachelor degree can further her education paid for by her school district. By offering these free courses to public school teachers it helps them stay fresh and educated in the subjects they are teaching our children. A single mother with two boys decides to homeschool her children. She bases her decision on the fear that her children will be physically and mentally hurt by other children in public school. This mother has a high school degree and no further education, she doesnt have a job to take away any time needed to homeschool her boys. The boys have a hard time learning from their mother and have no set schedule of school hours each week. Her boys struggle to pass the district test and have to enter into public school system. The boys struggle the first year in the public school, not knowing what a fire drill is or how to pay handball with the other kids was embarrassing to them. After a year their grades improved and they started making friends and getting involved in extracurricular activities in school. For these two boys they didnt start to excel in school until they started public school and getting a quality education. The boys are lucky to do so well in public school with their lack of education from homeschooling. In a debate started in 2009 titled, Public Schools Provide Better Education Than Homeschooling states, anyone can teach homeschooling, but who is to say that the child will get the necessary education? At public school, every teacher must meet certain standards of qualification (Public, 2009, par. 6). How can school boards tell homeschoolers are getting a good education? Is it by standardized test? How do we know the parents are not just teaching them answers on the test? Kids prefer learning from different teachers. When students switch from classroom to classroom they are learning different concepts and teaching

PUBLIC SCHOOL IS WHATS BEST methods from their teachers. Changing teachers helps students learn different teaching styles, it doesnt get boring learning from the same teacher. This gives students the opportunity to learn from diverse pedagogies. Along with diverse teachers and classes, public schools offer extracurricular activities.

The third reason why public schools provide a better education for kids is because they offer extra-curricular activities. Extra-curricular activities can help kids shine and enjoy school. It can help them showcase what they are good at. Public schools offer extra-curricular activities from football to chess club, theres a club or sport for everyone to participate. These clubs and activities are where students can find friends with similar interests as them. A parent looking into homeschooling may say they can take their child on field trips and sign them up for the community football program. Again these field trips and programs require money out of pocket and extensive amount of time out of the parent/homeschoolers pocket. The friends kids meet in their favorite club in public schools are the same kids they continue classes with through out the day. These friends become life long friends and they spend a lot of time with them in school and their clubs. According to Lieras studies have shown that students who participate in extra-curricular activities in school tend to further their education after high school and make more money in their lifetime (Ciciora, 2009, par.2). Kids that excel in a sport or clubs can receive scholarships to colleges that will pay for some or all of their education. Self-esteem and teamwork are some benefits to participating in extra-curricular activities. The article Extracurricular School Activities and the Benefits, by Joy Burgess explains that, allowing your child to get involved in extra-curricular activities at school is a wise choice, and it can be very important in helping them to develop many working

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skills, people skills, and more (Burgess, 2009, par.1) Some parents of public school and homeschooling students may find it hard to allow their child to try out for the school football team in fear of them getting hurt. Burgess explains there are 3 major benefits to the extracurricular activities public schools have to offer. The first benefit is learning time management and prioritizing. Adults are very good at juggling a variety of different tasks and commitments. Kids that are involved in extra curricular activities in public school learn how to juggle practice after school and maintain a 2.7 grade point average. Getting involved in these activities helps kids learn time management at an earlier stage than some adults. The second benefit to extra curricular activities is, getting involved in diverse interests. These activities allow them to explore a variety of interests that they may have. On the off season of football kids may run track to stay in shape or the off season of band they can play tennis. Its important to keep teens interest very diverse. The third reason is it helps kids learn about long-term commitment. When teens join one of the activities or clubs, they commit themselves to a period of time. If they dont hold up to their commitment they let down their team and peers (Burgess, 2009, par. 5-6). Burgess makes good points on how extra curricular activities teach teens good habits and qualities in high and the work place. Home schools cannot copy or teach the benefits extra curricular activities that public schools offer. All sports offered by public schools give children so much more benefits then the probably of them getting hurt. In addition to Burgress 3 benefits to extracurricular activities in public schools a college resource website states there are 5 supporting advantages to high school sports. The first benefit is, representing a community. When students play a sport they are representing the community they live in. students compete

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with other local communities and gives kids a sense of honor. The second benefit is the recognition for your achievements. Local newspapers thrive on their local public high school. Students are recognized for their team and individual success. The third benefit to public school sports is understanding the sport hierarchy. Freshmen have certain duties and as you get older your duties change. As students mature through high schools their duties grow. The fourth benefit is the development of leadership roles. In public high school sports, coaches look to the oldest more experienced athletes for guidance and leadership. This is just like college where student leadership skills develop throughout the years. The last benefit is the opportunity to work with different coaches. Playing for different coaches will prepare you to know how best to work with different coaching styles and philosophies and still get the best out of your game (5 major, pg.1). These benefits to high schools sports are only available to kids who attend public school. Homeschoolers miss out on the sense of honor for their community that students get who attend and participate in public school extracurricular activities. To answer what is best for kids, public schools are best for a childs education. . Public school is better for your children because they are able to learn within a group setting, they offer more curriculum opportunities that provide a more diverse social education, and they have more opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities. Group settings help students think critically and learn to work as a team with their peers. Public schools require their students to have a diversity in their classes. The diversity in classes cause kids to find what they are and are not interested in. The diversity in classes is the hardest one for homeschoolers to copy. Extra curricular activities offered by public schools teach kids structure, time management that they can apply though out their whole

PUBLIC SCHOOL IS WHATS BEST life. If parents want whats best for their childrens education, they should put them in public school.

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PUBLIC SCHOOL IS WHATS BEST References Burgess, J. (2009). Extracurricular school activities and the benefits. Retrieved from http://www.education.more4kids.info

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Ciciora, P. (2009, March 25). Social skills, extracurricular activities in high school pay off later in life. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com Eastin, S. (2013, April 24). Homeschool versus public school: a few thoughts. Retrieved from http://www.writingandliving.net Gundle-Krieg, D. (2008, November 23). Why public shoaling is better than homeschooling. Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/topic/homeshooling Jones, T. (2012, September 07). Death to homeschooling. Retrieved from http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tonyjones Ponder, S. (2013, February 17). The benefits of small table study groups for high school students. Retrieved from http://Helium.com Public schools provide better education than homeschooling.. (2009, June 1). Retrieved from http://homeschool.calvertschool.org What theyre saying. (2000). Curriculum review , 40(4), 3. doi: Academic search premier 5 major benefits of playing high school sports. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.unigo.com