You've probably heard this before, but...

[barcotta]

Why would a grown woman have to even mention what her sons think about your method of learning?

Amen to that! My thought exactly. I mean--really. WHO comments on something with their KIDS' opinion? Who the @!#$ are her kids anyway? Who is she for that matter?

My comment regarding this type of situation is always, "Consider the source." Here, as far as I'm concerned, the source is laughable. Most people--and I mean MOST people--don't have a clue about this process. I find it highly unlikely that her kids do either. Even if they do, I could care less what they think and you shouldn't either. Like malcs said--keep your head up.

Here's the true test: Find someone who regrets using CLEP exams in their pursuit of a degree. I've been looking for three years and I've yet to find anyone.

P.S. She didn't mean well. Do yourself a favor and move on.

[perrik]

A teacher I have known for more then 20 years starts saying "Well the next thing you know they will be doing online courses"

The NEXT thing you know? Where has this woman been for the past decade? Even students at B&M universities are taking some of their classes online. Corporations are embracing e-learning. One of our clients is an RA nursing program working to develop a top-notch online division to greatly increase the number of students they can teach effectively.

It's 2009! It's not your fault that people around you can't cope with the modern world. :p

[LatinTea]

I am going back to help one more day with our soccer camp so will be with the lady 'with the sons' one more time this morning. I will see if I can try that wonderful suggestion of turning the tables...gently. I'm gonna bring up what I am now studying and what my son is studying. There is another lady in the room, though, that is applauding my efforts. She has 3 teens, one of whom is looking to get into college this year. She is amazed that I am talking a year for my degree, not 4 years. She's a single mom and I know this would be just the ticket for her boys. We'll see what comes of today....

Gotta run, I'm already late.

[cframe]

Margo,

As I move my kids forward in this process I have really come to terms with two things:
1. It is not my responsibility to educate or convince folks of all the options in education (we homeschool so I've been hearing comments for a long time

2. Alternatives cause folks to ponder if they made the right choice. We are sheep! If everyone stays on the same path then no one has to make a choice since we just all follow the way it's always been done. By stating that you stepped off the path, you pointed out the fact that there are more options. Options involve reasoning and choices ... sheep don't do that well.

This is not to bash your friend in any way. I find myself being a sheep in many other areas. Shouldn't we all ask, "Who or What am I following and Why am I doing it this way?"

[malcs]

I am going back to help one more day with our soccer camp so will be with the lady 'with the sons' one more time this morning. I will see if I can try that wonderful suggestion of turning the tables...gently. I'm gonna bring up what I am now studying and what my son is studying. There is another lady in the room, though, that is applauding my efforts. She has 3 teens, one of whom is looking to get into college this year. She is amazed that I am talking a year for my degree, not 4 years. She's a single mom and I know this would be just the ticket for her boys. We'll see what comes of today....

Gotta run, I'm already late.

Great for you, and consider this...

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BILL GATES, the richest man in the world and co-founder of Microsoft did not have the time and patience for brick and mortar schools. He had to go invent the stuff that they now teach in schools.
Read this from his speech in 2007:
I want to thank Harvard for this timely honor. I’ll be changing my job next year … and it will be nice to finally have a college degree on my resume.

I applaud the graduates today for taking a much more direct route to your degrees. For my part, I’m just happy that the Crimson has called me “Harvard’s most successful dropout.” I guess that makes me valedictorian of my own special class … I did the best of everyone who failed.

But I also want to be recognized as the guy who got Steve Ballmer to drop out of business school. I’m a bad influence. That’s why I was invited to speak at your graduation. If I had spoken at your orientation, fewer of you might be here today.

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Oh, and how about Steve Jobs, the co-founder of apple, read this:
After school, Jobs attended lectures at the Hewlett-Packard electronics firm in Palo Alto, California. There he was hired as a summer employee. Another employee at Hewlett-Packard was Stephen Wozniak a recent dropout from the University of California at Berkeley. An engineering whiz with a passion for inventing electronic gadgets, Wozniak at that time was perfecting his "blue box," an illegal pocket-size telephone attachment that would allow the user to make free long-distance calls. Jobs helped Wozniak sell a number of the devices to customers.

In 1972 Jobs graduated from high school and register at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. After dropping out of Reed after one semester, he hung around campus for a year, taking classes in philosophy and immersing himself in the counterculture.
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WHAT DO HER SONS THINK ABOUT THESE ACADEMIC LOSERS WHILE THEY SIT AT THEIR MICROSOFT POWERED COMPUTERS OR SEND MESSAGES ON THEIR APPLE iPHONES?
Steamroller right over people like this! Watch them in your rearview mirror as you get your degree and they are still talking about what not to do with their vacant minds!

[NAP]

I am so proud of you for joining your kids in pursuing your college education! That is marvelous!

You have earned 3 college credits this week, which are accepted at 1000's of colleges and universities!

By the way, Texas A&M has the highest cut score (65) for this that I have seen so far. You surpassed that, too!

(Texas A&M University 08-09 Undergraduate Catalog)

Expecting people to live without furthering their education and completing their degree just because they can not do it the traditional way is not realistic anymore.

I have not encountered a bad reaction, yet, but I do think that we need to keep telling as many people as we can about this opportunity. There are so many people who need and would use this information, if they were given the chance.

[B Smith]

I hate dealing with people like this...so I don't. Few people will support you (or pat you on the back). Most will undermine you.

At the end of the day what matters is the value of the education you receive. This depends on two things: how much it costs you and what you get out of it. Both a b&m school and college by examination are equally accepted by employers and other schools. That means the only difference is cost. College by examination wins hands down.

[LatinTea]

Well, I'm back and opportunity did not present itself for much discussion. There just never was a good time to talk about college alternatives. That's okay. I kinda felt sorry for the lady today. She mentioned her sons a few more times, 'as my son said this or did this'. She is retired and lives alone with only her sons around her (she's divorced) so I think whatever they say goes. That's okay. It's her life. I shouldn't hold a grudge.

Thanks to all who wrote me about this. I truly appreciate the support!

Next stop....A & I Lit.....that's what I need to focus on.

[nick94]

Next stop....A & I Lit.....that's what I need to focus on.

I should probably start seriously studying as well. Principles of Supervision here I come!

[malcs]

Well, I'm back and opportunity did not present itself for much discussion. There just never was a good time to talk about college alternatives. That's okay. I kinda felt sorry for the lady today. She mentioned her sons a few more times, 'as my son said this or did this'. She is retired and lives alone with only her sons around her (she's divorced) so I think whatever they say goes. That's okay. It's her life. I shouldn't hold a grudge.

Thanks to all who wrote me about this. I truly appreciate the support!

Next stop....A & I Lit.....that's what I need to focus on.

Sometimes it is better when you play it out in your mind, and don't get a chance to say what you want to.

Glad to see that you are moving on!