Posted on 04/27/2002 2:36:15 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
By looking at the e-mails to the editor this week, questions about home-schooling are still in play. Along with doubts about the home-schooling atmosphere and educational results, there is large concern over whether home-schoolers are properly socialized.
These concerns are spread throughout America, accusing home-schoolers, because they are educated at home with a loving parent, of not learning the necessary socialization skills required in later life.
I, as a home-schooler, am tired of my intelligence being insulted every time I turn around. Probably the most fabricated or misconstrued idea about home-schooling is that the child is inhibited from obtaining essential socialization skills.
The largest group spreading this disinformation is the National Education Association. In its 2000-2001 Resolutions, it writes, "The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience."
In a letter to NEA President Bob Chase, the National Home Education Network wrote asking what their resolution regarding home schooling was based on. He replied, saying, "During the 1998 [Representative Assembly], delegates approved the policy on homeschooling. They were concerned that homeschooled students were not provided a comprehensive education experience because they did not have an opportunity to interact with students of different cultures, economic status or learning styles." In other words, because I stayed at home with my mother, brother and sister and not several hundred other children down the street, I will fail.
It is obvious that home-schooling has stepped in the way of the NEA's agenda, and because of the fact that home-schoolers make up less than 1 percent of the American population, groups such as the NEA are able to spread this obvious disinformation and deceit.
The premise of the war against home-schooling is that children do not obtain the needed socialization skills. By agreeing with that, you have to concede the point that public schools, private schools, etc., are the only source for socializing.
Ever hear of church, sports, community events or neighbors down the block? Many home-schoolers, such as myself, play sports, go to church, attend community events, play musical instruments and many other things.
Maybe if public schools learned from home-schoolers and focused less on socializing in class and focused more on learning, the average test score for public school students might be greater than 50 percent.
Critics state that the majority of home-schoolers are antisocial. In contrast, dare I suggest that, in proportion, there are more antisocial students in public schools rather than home-schools.
With one-on-one learning action with parents, many home-schoolers are able to communicate far better with adults, compared to their public-schooled peers – leading to a greater success in the future.
Because of the rough peer pressure (pressure to have sex, use drugs, commit crime, cheat on tests, or pressure to commit other unethical behavior) and social situations, many are left out in the cold by other pupils – unlike the alternative choice of home-schooling.
Tied to the antisocial claim is that home-schoolers will most likely fail in later life – quite humorous. Even if you were to concede that home-school students are antisocial in grade school, saying that they will fail in later life because of it is nothing short of absurd. Just because a person is not a part of the "group" in their childhood does not mean they can't communicate in the present or future.
Although home-schoolers make up less than 1 percent of the population, you find home-schoolers winning the national spelling and geography bees, as well as being Rhodes Scholars, doctors, politicians, presidents, founding fathers and much more.
The start of the public education system only began in the previous century, but using the NEA's logic, all people educated before 1900, including all the founding fathers, government officials, doctors, lawyers and people from all occupations were not given a comprehensive education experience and not properly socialized.
So, stop the spread of this deceit and disinformation. The NEA says that I have not obtained the necessary socialization skills (or communication skills), but I just communicated information, facts and my beliefs to you.
Actually, the NEA has its head up its...
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.
I must tell you that I was very impressed with the article. It was very well written and I think Kyle has a future as a columist and maybe as a radio talk show host. We could sure use more people like him.
What the education establishment had better realize is that there are far more important things in life than this kumbya "let's all get along" nonsense they're pushing. Gaining skills and knowledge in vital fields takes precedence over socializing and getting along as far as I'm concerned and I know theere are far more people who agree with me than disagree with me on this point.
There is never going to be any getting along between christians and conservatives and athiests and progressives. The latter does not want to co-exist peacefully with the former.They only want to co-exist until they can control, dominate and eventually destroy.
It is not our responsibility as conservatives and christians to appease or get along with or avoid offending athiests and progressives. To say otherwise is not only short-sighted, but stupid, idiotic and foolish.
Regards.
Exactly!
As I have been saying lately around here: Public education is child abuse.
Yeah, they become good little socialists.....LOL.
I cannot wait to use that line the next time some moron asks me, "Well, aren't you concerned about socialization?"
Today, if your education consisted of public schools for 12 years, you'd never know the context of that quote.
100 years ago, every 12th grader would have.
Sad.
Yep-- it's all about the control, dude... They don't give a crap about the kiddies...
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