[marktwain]

You all don't understand the code. When the NEA says that home schooled students are not properly socialized, what they mean is that they are not properly brain washed into accepting the sociaist propaganda that most of the schools teach.

It is only in the last 100 years that we hearded children of the same age together and treated them all like prison convicts. Some have claimed it was a deliberate policy started in Prussia to produce compliant subjects. From what I can tell, there is much truth to this claim.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

I was going to say pretty much the same thing. They aren't worried about them getting along with other kids, they are worried that they are escaping from the brainwashing camps.

[ZinGirl]

You all don't understand the code

that's 'cuz I was PUBLIC-SCHOOLED (snicker, snicker).....and I think you have a point there, Mr. Twain.

[toenail]

"Some have claimed it was a deliberate policy started in Prussia to produce compliant subjects. From what I can tell, there is much truth to this claim."

You might like the John Taylor Gatto book The Underground History of American Education, linked on my profile page.

[SuziQ]

You all don't understand the code. When the NEA says that home schooled students are not properly socialized, what they mean is that they are not properly brain washed into accepting the socialist propaganda that most of the schools teach.

Egads! They can't have free-thinking kids around to blow their cover, can they?

I'm proud to say I have 'educated' many of my friends this year about homeschooling. I was VERY active at both Catholic elementary schools my kids attended so I knew a LOT of people. When we decided to homeschool this year, I was CONTINUALLY asked about socialization. I reminded them that our kids would still be in their Scout troops and be involved with Parish activities. And they get in trouble for 'socializing' during class anyway, don't they? They already knew that Sir SuziQ and I could provide an education better than they were receiving in either school.

Frankly the kids are just as happy to stay home and do their work at their own speed, which alternates between tortoise and lightning on various days. And when they feel like getting together with friends, they do. We've always encouraged our kids, schooled or not, to speak respectfully to and converse with other adults. They won't have a problem with that at all.

I am truly impressed with the article that young man wrote. I know MY kids couldn't do that right now, and there are some homeschooled kids who won't ever be that eloquent, and that's fine. But he is a wonderful representative for our kids.

[Aquinasfan]

Some have claimed it was a deliberate policy started in Prussia to produce compliant subjects.

That may have been me. You can find that information in this essay, " The Public School Nightmare" by 1991 NY State Teacher of the Year, John Taylor Gatto.