crewdawg

Not social idiots, just idiots. Just kidding. Although both my roommates are USAFA grads and they call themselves idiots for going there. They echo what most of all my buds that went to the academy say, "I'm glad I went there but if I had it to do over, I would not go the the academy." Most would not reccomend it to anyone. I'm glad I decided to stop my application process (at the adivce of a Lt Col USAFA grad).


Now comparing foreign students to American, that is not a good way to gauge our educational system. While I agree that our system is flawed (I went to a small school and didn't find out about AP classes until college), we still allow people to progress all the way through the twelfth grade. Lets use the example that nagginpilotswife brought up. Look at the German educational system, not everyone has the choice to go all the way through school and go to college. So at a very young age it is decided for them which track they will go down. If your kid is a “late bloomer,” tough luck, their now on a vocational track. So of course the stats will look better for other countries, if we only took the top 10% of our students we would probably be right up there with the other countries. So the sophomore was taking senior level AP classes, wow, I would bet there are plenty of American students who could do the same. I would also bet your exchange student is heading down the university track and not the vocational track.

I'm in a program now with many European students and they are all very brilliant guys. They are here because they have always been the top of the class. Had I gone through their school system I would not be where I am today. I always struggled through school but ended up doing decent in college. I don't think it's fair to deny a kid the chance to progress in his education just because he is a slow learner.

Check it out here.

http://library.thinkquest.org/26576/schoolpage.htm

OnMyWay

Duz anyone no if there r any tax benifitz to home skuling yer kidz?

MAGNUM!!

Whenever an Academy grad (of any of the 3) says that, what they really mean is "I would not go to the Academy again if I could be in the exact same position I'm in right now." I think nearly all would "do it again" if that was the only way to be where they currently sit.

Without USAFA, it's near certain I would not have gone to ENJJPT, would not have flown F-16s for 10 years, would not be flying F-22s now, and would not be at FDX. Sure, the place ain't pleasant and I wouldn't say I enjoyed it, but I'd do it again. No-brainer. Glad it worked out for you, though.

And I'm surprised you think so highly of the Euros. Some of 'em were great, but quite a few more wouldn't even be a blip on the "brilliant" radar screen!

crewdawg

I would agree with that with one exception. My one roommate would have given up ENJJPT for any other base for the opportunity to go to a regular college.

Very true, I feel the only reason I am here is because I'm a guard guy. We kinda just get plugged into whatever UPT slot is open (I think). I should add that I am not bashing USAFA. Actually being a prior E, I had a big misconception of USAFA grads, which has changed after coming here (for the most part).

Well the ones I have dealt with anyway, mostly Germans. I should have chosen my words better. I also should have added that many were very book smart, which does not always equal common sense.

sigtauenus

We looked into home schooling, and ended up putting the kids into a private montessori.

When we were looking into the home schooling, we found out, as mentioned above, that it only requires about 2.5 to 3 hours of actual time per day. Think about that. Your kids at public school for 6 or 7 hours getting the same content a home schooled kid gets in 2.5-3 hours. There is a local co-op where the parents take turns teaching, ie, one is good at math, another good at english, etc, and this also allows for the kids to meet socially. Additionally, the if you are registered in the home school system, your kids are able to participate in local public school sports and other after school activities.

It may seem heartless to admit this, but spending all day, every day, with your kids gets tiresome after awhile. Don't get me wrong, I'm very family oriented, but to literally spend all day every day with the kids leaves you no time for your own hobbies, interests, heck, your own sanity. Perhaps its the age my kids are at, but they require constant attention, constant supervision, and constant activity or they become destructive.

Anyhow, I'm open to homeschooling my kids, but I know the opportunities for me to put in my share will be few, and its too much of a burden to impose on my wife, at this time. Perhaps as the kids get older it might be more of an option.

I do like the idea of keeping the kids in private school and pulling them out for various trips.