[GSlob]

"Yes, it is. The entire concept is fatally flawed.It's a bad idea, unless you're a socialist oligarch."- Do not be a parrot - think first, squeak later. So were American public schools of, say, 1908 fatally flawed as well? I remember seeing somewhere [WSJ, I believe, some years ago] a reprint of NJ high school entrance exam from that time, with a highly approving commentary to the tune of the good old standards of the good old days. Similar memorabilia periodically surface in other places, FR included, with the same tenor of the comments. It is the 1960s and the baggage from there which is fatally flawed, in education and in other places.

[Oberon]

So were American public schools of, say, 1908 fatally flawed as well?

Yes. Our present school system is that system taken to its logical conclusion.

And as to your advice about not being a parrot, thank you...it's good advice.

[wintertime]

- Do not be a parrot - think first, squeak later.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Then I proudly wear the label of "Squeaker".

Homeschoolers are shinning academically and socially both in childhood and adulthood.

200,000 years of human ancestors would be shaking their heads in utter befuddlement and amazement to see our factory-like, prison-like government schools.

It is unnatural to segregate children from their families and community for large part of the their waking day. It is unhealthy educationally and emotionally to herd child about in age-segregated packs to sound of Pavlov's bell.

Even the most alert teacher can not keep on top of the under the radar bullying and alpha-girl poison. It is abusive for children to suffer this humiliation. It is abusive for other children to witness it. It abusive to the bullying or alpha-girl child to be placed in a situation where they have an opportunity to be cruel.

Why are children expected to put up with a physically, emotionally, and sexually abusive environment that would win an adult millions in court?

It is abusive for the slow child to be continually frustrated by not being able to keep up. It is abusive to the bright child to be continually bored to near insanity.

It is abusive to force children into an environment where they are sorely tempted by foods, dress, speech, curriculum, so-called sex education, and student behavior that is in direct contradiction to their religious beliefs. If it is difficult for adults to withstand temptation, why are we forcing children into this environment against their will and that of their parents? An adult has far more control to structure a work, community, and home environment that is supportive of their religious beliefs, than does a child in a compulsory government school.

Finally, the education of children is **never** religiously neutral. Never! It is axiomatic. That means government schools do establish the religious worldview of some, and actively and even maliciously undermine the religious beliefs of others. How can this be constitutional on either a state or federal level?

Is the 1908 model flawed? You bet! It was flawed from the beginning.