Posted on 01/05/2010 2:18:36 PM PST by christianhomeschoolmommaof3
While the number of people in academia who are openly critical of homeschooling are few, every now and again an article will be published in a university periodical which attacks homeschooling.
The critics in academia come from the far left of the political spectrum. One such critic, Robin L. West of the Georgetown University Law Center, recently published an article titled “The Harms of Homeschooling,” which appeared in the Summer/Fall 2009 issue of the University of Maryland’s Philosophy and Public Policy Quarterly.
Before we answer the specific charges Ms. West makes against homeschooling we’d just like to give you a flavor of her perspective.
In the article she says, “Education, after all, is typically described as a core, and possibly the core, state responsibility.” We hope you’d agree that anyone who can entertain the idea that education is the core responsibility of the state (even though education is not mentioned as a state responsibility in the U.S. Constitution) and neglect to recognize that defense/national security is the core responsibility of the state is clearly out of the mainstream.
Later in the article Ms. West says, “Homeschooling is now such an entrenched practice, recriminalization is not a viable option in any event.” It appears that Ms. West is suggesting that she would not oppose regarding homeschoolers as criminals?
While Ms. West’s views are far from the mainstream, it is still important to challenge the erroneous statements made in her article.
(Excerpt) Read more at hslda.org ...
I teach my little home schooled darlings thug avoidance. If that does not work, then thy can use their judo or hunting skills. I guess you were abused as a child at school. I'm sorry for you.
I would love to read that report! However, I would still encourage you to read the whole article. We need to know what the enemy is thinking and saying!
Some people hate homeschooling and homeschoolers and never pass up an opportunity to dis them, which usually fails miserably.
BTW, I wish someone would tell my homeschooled children that they arent supposed to question my authority. If I hear one more time “do we HAVE to do this”...... :)
That's a stretch.
Yes, public school isn't much different than reform school, now is it?
A thug will rue the day he assaults my home-schooled son. He is on his way to becoming a black-belt in karate. In addition, he takes swimming lessons, plays baseball and is a Boy Scout. He is way above his grade level in reading, writing and math.
When the co-op gets together, there will be classes with kids from a range of ages, depending on the course. In science or math, it might span 3 years. In music, it can span all grades. I've seen high school kids helping grade school kids with their music lessons. They all benefit from the interaction.
The homeschool kids have a much better understanding and can relate to what is "out there" while the government schooled kids are stuck inside a classroom with the same group of other kids all of the same age and relatively the same wisdom and maturity.
You mean it's not just us?
Live in a cave?? Pretty much. They were living in s Carolina...trailor court...isolated...Awful. They have now moved back to NY.
“That would be very unusual for most homeschoolers.”
Yes it is.
My husband is a retired Navy Chief. He always complained of kids coming into the military without any life skills and he would have to teach them real world things. They were clueless. One guy actually thought that his atm card gave him unlimited money. He didn’t realize that the money came out of his account. All of these kids graduated from the public schools. Sitting in a classroom is not real world.
You tell me.
I agree that presuming that you made that connection was going a bit far. I do like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but in this case, you again displayed that it was an exercise in futility.
I should have known not to expect that much from you.
Afraid not! I use public school as a threat, lighthearedly of course! :) They dread the thought though. During the fall when my kids were enjoying their morning run with their dad, the other kids were lined up waiting for the school bus. My kids always say that it is so sad that those kids have to spend the whole day away from their families.
The friendship was lost more over the political climate of the last election than the homeschooling. Of course the libs do hate homeschooling, and I had taken enough of her barbs. Have not spoken to her in almost a year now.
If I spoke to her now, I would have to tell her that my highschool senior has now received a full academic merit scholarship to a major university.
NY has some excellent homeschool support groups.
Here’s a link to help them find one.....
Loving Education at Home
http://www.leah.org/
You showed unbelievable grace and restraint. Kudos!
Mine did equally well. They all also got invited to join the honors programs in their respective big name major universities.
My oldest is actually graduating college this year and heading off to grad school. Unreal how fast they grow up.
Ben was homeschooled. He's finding what's "out there" in the proper way - under the direction of the USMC.
At my daughter’s school, if you are involved in a fight, then you will be expelled! Even if you do not throw a punch and you only GET punched - YOU too will be expelled! So much for learning things like “thug assaults” in public schools.
Besides, when I home schooled my last two daughters, over the last two years, they were in self-defense classes, played sports at the local YMCA and had more “hands-on” learning than at any other time in the schooling years!
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