“Emma” makes me laugh out loud!!!! And I was just in a reading slump and read “tress of the emerald sea” and five stars it’s my go-to recommendation now. I haven’t read any Brando Sando before this but the stand-alone, simple adventure novel with good characters - it was so wholesome. And funny.
Fellow public school turned homeschooling mom here! So true. I had a great public school education, and if I lived in a different area/could guarantee my kids would get a similar experience to what I had, I would be much more open to it. As it is, we found a homeschool/in person hybrid that gives the best of both worlds and has the classical/Catholic focus we wanted. But public schools are so necessary, and it’s a shame they have become political punting grounds for extremes on both sides. And I hope you enjoy Emma. I first read it as a freshman in high school and have loved it more and more with each revisit-Emma’s such a complex heroine whose growth in virtue is all to realistic (lots of stops, regressions, and starts)
You and I are in a similar boat. I grew up in a small town where the public school was heavily invested in by local citizens and was consistently ranked one of the top in our state. My daughter, who has attended two different public schools, had good experiences, as well, but the heavy focus on testing really robbed her of her interest in learning. But I'm so grateful we had the option to send her because we were in a season of life when we desperately needed public schools! For Emma, I read the first page and thought, "This is going to be be good." No surprise there 😆.
Yes! The small town investment in the public school makes such a difference. And yes, the testing is awful. Also have disliked the increasing idea that the end of education is to produce good workers/help the US compete in the global economy. Combined with the testing focus that leads to not reading full books and other horrors. After Pride and Prejudice I think Emma has the best opening of the Austen novels
I love that "two sisters" painting, lovely! We're still in the stage of will the kids go to private or public? Honestly public school looks quite likely at this point, but we'll see. The Catholic Church in particular emphasizes that home education is UNIVERSAL and important, no matter what other schooling is involved in a kids' life and I really take this to heart, no matter where our schooling journeys lead us. I'm the granddaughter of a public school teacher who had former students showing up at her funeral when she died at 101. I have endless gratitude and appreciation for teachers and know the true value they have in a child's life. A lot of times the people who condemn public schools have 1) never attended one 2) are believing scare mongering myths and 3) do not realize that NO SCHOOL is the same, anywhere and everywhere, so it's impossible to say all public schools are like xyz. So anyway, yes, concur!!!
“Emma” makes me laugh out loud!!!! And I was just in a reading slump and read “tress of the emerald sea” and five stars it’s my go-to recommendation now. I haven’t read any Brando Sando before this but the stand-alone, simple adventure novel with good characters - it was so wholesome. And funny.
Thanks, Joanna! I’ve gotten tickled a few times myself. Thanks for the book recommendation. I’ll put it on my list!
Fellow public school turned homeschooling mom here! So true. I had a great public school education, and if I lived in a different area/could guarantee my kids would get a similar experience to what I had, I would be much more open to it. As it is, we found a homeschool/in person hybrid that gives the best of both worlds and has the classical/Catholic focus we wanted. But public schools are so necessary, and it’s a shame they have become political punting grounds for extremes on both sides. And I hope you enjoy Emma. I first read it as a freshman in high school and have loved it more and more with each revisit-Emma’s such a complex heroine whose growth in virtue is all to realistic (lots of stops, regressions, and starts)
You and I are in a similar boat. I grew up in a small town where the public school was heavily invested in by local citizens and was consistently ranked one of the top in our state. My daughter, who has attended two different public schools, had good experiences, as well, but the heavy focus on testing really robbed her of her interest in learning. But I'm so grateful we had the option to send her because we were in a season of life when we desperately needed public schools! For Emma, I read the first page and thought, "This is going to be be good." No surprise there 😆.
Yes! The small town investment in the public school makes such a difference. And yes, the testing is awful. Also have disliked the increasing idea that the end of education is to produce good workers/help the US compete in the global economy. Combined with the testing focus that leads to not reading full books and other horrors. After Pride and Prejudice I think Emma has the best opening of the Austen novels
I love that "two sisters" painting, lovely! We're still in the stage of will the kids go to private or public? Honestly public school looks quite likely at this point, but we'll see. The Catholic Church in particular emphasizes that home education is UNIVERSAL and important, no matter what other schooling is involved in a kids' life and I really take this to heart, no matter where our schooling journeys lead us. I'm the granddaughter of a public school teacher who had former students showing up at her funeral when she died at 101. I have endless gratitude and appreciation for teachers and know the true value they have in a child's life. A lot of times the people who condemn public schools have 1) never attended one 2) are believing scare mongering myths and 3) do not realize that NO SCHOOL is the same, anywhere and everywhere, so it's impossible to say all public schools are like xyz. So anyway, yes, concur!!!