Comments on: Interview: Tracy

By: dr. zoon

dr. zoon — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:47:09 +0000

‘Clueless’ gets thrown in the rounding out as well.

By: dr. zoon

dr. zoon — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:43:27 +0000

That’s two strikes.

By: Wankette

Wankette — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:11:31 +0000

Lovely session, as usual, Mr Firefly! you’re our own Charlie Rose…only better-looking & conservative.

Nice to hear all about you, Tracy. I visited your blog once, and tried to post, but was defeated by the codewords & passwords thingie. So I wrote it on a post-it & held that up to my screen for you.

As for a modern-day Madeline: how’s about Amy Adams?

By: Tracy, txmom2many

Tracy, txmom2many — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:44:58 +0000

Thanks guys. I just now saw this as Dr zoon and I went to NYC for a couple of days for his birthday, just me and him and the 3 gazillion people who live in that very tiny place. It’s not Tx, but enjoyed it anyway. Turns out Yankees are really nice people

By: Fr. Ron

Fr. Ron — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:15:43 +0000

This was a great read, Tracy and Rufus! I really admire folks who can home school, and I have been impressed with every home-schooled child I have met.
Since the thread here is tending toward home-school/public school, I just want to add that, as one who was in the public school system in NJ, PA, and VA, from 1958-1971, I think I was on the tail-end of the good, educative season of public schools.
As a child, I remember my folks sitting down with me at night, after my normal school homework was completed, with arithmetic books that they had bought at the store, going through all the problems, number and word, that were there. It seemed they always found another book to go on to. I still hated math when it got into geometry, trig, calculus, but I think my folks working with me made me a lot better than I would have been otherwise. Today, I have seen too many cases of parents using school as a day-care while they go to work, and they are “too tired” to work with their kids when they get home. Hell, my dad worked two jobs and worked on Saturdays, but I still remember him sitting with me at the table more than I remember Mom!
Last point, I do worry about the quality of education in a lot of Catholic schools anymore. There was a time when people would do anything to get their kids into Catholic school because it was better than what they had in public, but now that nuns have better things to do than vocational things like hospitals and schools, and Catholic schools are taking more Federal money and so have to meet school board standards, I do wonder if Catholic schools have an edge any more?

By: Matt Helm

Matt Helm — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:12:06 +0000

Tracy, you’re 100 percent right with what is wrong with public schools. On top of that, they’re watered down with students from non-English speaking homes that are the equivalent of throwing a wrench in the gears. Teachers now have to be certified to teach these kids, rather than have the parents learn English and pull their own weight. Then a lot of these kids end up retained a couple or more times and are in the school system longer, sucking up more money and resources. That’s also an answer to Rufus’ question about why public schools don’t get the bang for their buck in performance.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:42:22 +0000

Great stuff, Tracy! Whenever the Mrs. and I get around to kids, I hope we’ll be able to home school them. No Old Testament names, though, as we’re leaning towards Vincent “Vincenzo” at the moment. Yes, the Y chromosome runs strong in my family, too. Only three Porvaznik women born since the mid-1800s. Catholic families to boot.

By: Scott M.

Scott M. — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:28:18 +0000

Tracy’s a lady…if Rufus had woken me up that early..grrrr

By: JimmyC

JimmyC — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:18:27 +0000

So first you reel Rufus in by complaining that he’s not asking about your favorite movie, then when he does, bam! You hit him with “I don’t believe in favorites.” Well played, Madam.

By: Floyd

Floyd — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:17:49 +0000

Are you sure you read our blog?

Ahhh… the Teutonic Titwillow. Love the Blazing Saddles nightie too (sorry Dr. Zoon — I mean that in a completely respectable way!)

Great interview Tracy. Good job of propping Rufus up.