Walter Williams: Why Home Schooling?

Creators Syndicate ^ | September 2, 2015 | Walter E. Williams

[JenB]

Did you grow up in PA? Sounds like my experience being homeschooled in PA. I’m homeschooling my daughter in Nevada. One letter to the district and we’re home free.

It’s a good thing, they don’t need me to show up how pathetic the local schools are.

[HonkyTonkMan]

Strangely enough, there are left-wing HS'ers - in the DFW area, too. I have met "gay" couples that choose homeschooling, not for religious reasons, but because they realize the effectiveness of homeschooling: the freedom in which to pursue areas of study.

The concept that HS'ers are right wing fundamentalists is slowly fading as others seek more effective alternatives to gov't schooling.

[HonkyTonkMan]

For black 12th-graders, it was a true tragedy, with only 7 percent testing proficient in math and 16 percent in reading.

The looting, marches, and protests need to stop - focus on education.

The black literacy rate in 2910 was 70%. Now we are at 7%. At what point do we admit failure.....

[achilles2000]

Ours range from 19 to 12. We have 6 very easy years left...;-)

[Tax-chick]

We’re still toilet training one.

[metmom]

Ping for both lists.

[metmom]

I would home school, to my point of competence, for as long as possible.

You learn as you go and your kids reach a point where they can pretty much self-teach, an invaluable tool for later in life.

And that's what homeschool support groups are for. There's always someone out there who can help you in an area you are weak in.

[metmom]

You lived in PA, right?

[porter_knorr]

I’m always amused by responses like yours -
Whodecides what demonstrates that my child is getting educated?

[metmom]

Guessed it.

Sheesh, even NY isn’t THAT bad.

Somehow that slipped under someone’s radar in NY.

[Forgotten Amendments]

God Bless Dr. Williams!

Years ago, he was taking $$$ from a foundation that advocated “School Choice”. It sounded noble. But, as we know, warehousing kids is just wrong.

He would say nice things about home schooling, but go on to say that advocating the overthrow of public schooling was unrealistic. Or something. He was paid to prop up school choice.

Sounds like he's finally free, now.

[Osage Orange]

Ha!!

[fwdude]

You misunderstand me. What’s to keep a derelict parent from refusing to send a child to school or to give them any education at all? Do you think a bunch of illiterate children growing into adulthood is a good thing?

I’m not advocating for any government meddling nto anyone’s business. I’m just asking about the logistics of the situation. A simple “yes” or “no” would do.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Good for you.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Thank you. I love Walter Williams.

[Osage Orange]

Nice post...FRiend.

My wife and I started HS'ing in SoCal..back in 87-88 I guess....

Ended up in OK...

My kids are both well adjusted successful tax-paying citizens..these days.

[metmom]

Mine too.

Both girls are getting grad degrees.

The boy doesn’t need one as his job is paying PLENTY enough to support himself.

Nobody on drugs, in jail, pregnant, or otherwise suffering the severe consequences of really, really bad life choices.

[Osage Orange]

Good for you!!

[metmom]

Congratulations yourself.

[Tax-chick]

What’s to keep a derelict parent from refusing to send a child to school or to give them any education at all?

Nothing, except the fact that they don't want their children around. Most parents I know - very responsible parents - are thrilled when the school buses show up in August, because they don't like having their children at home.

Do you think a bunch of illiterate children growing into adulthood is a good thing?

You just described a far from insignificant percentage of high-school graduates. And no, it's not a good thing. According to my friends who volunteer in prison ministry, the majority of inmates can't read at all or read at very minimal levels - but they went to school.