Are Parents Boycotting Public Schools?

That's what James Dobson, founder of the conservative Christian organization Focus on the Family, told more than five million American listeners in a March 28 broadcast of his daily radio show.

"In the state of California ... I wouldn't put [a] youngster in a public school," Dobson bluntly stated. His words sparked a campaign that reveals the extent of parental discontent with public schools.

Why are they discontented? Some parents worry about the lack of religious or "moral" values; other parents point to low academic standards or bias against male students. (Dobson objected to "homosexual propaganda" that teaches, for example, that "bisexuality is normal.")

The common denominator is that parents wish to choose the values and standards by which their children are educated.

The campaign against public schools snowballed April 9 when the popular radio personality Dr. Laura Schlessinger declared, "I stand with Dr. James Dobson." Indeed, Dr. Laura did not restrict her comments to California.

"Take your kids out of public schools," she advised. The same day, in his Christian talk show Point of View — broadcast over 360 American radio stations — Marlon Maddoux added his agreement.

Marshall Fritz, founder of the Separation of School and State Alliance, described the power of these endorsements in an April 15 press release. SSSA has created an online Proclamation for the Separation of School and State. In the week following the broadcasts, signatures on the proclamation increased from an average of five per day to over 100. Then, on April 23, Fritz circulated an excited memo. An article in WorldNetDaily had reported on the controversy. In one day, the proclamation received over 2,500 new signatures.

The document reads simply, "I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education." But the companion list of ten benefits to "school liberation" states as number one, "Parents will be reinforced ... parents will choose schools where teachers support their values." Other benefits include safety, academic quality, decreased cost, and better schools for poor children. From the list it is clear that the anti-public school movement is pro-education in a grassroots sense that returns responsibility for children from the government to parents.

The backlash against public schools comes in the wake of recent horror stories in the media. Some deal with threats to children's safety — and not merely from fellow students with weapons. ABC News reported on a Head Start program that used cockroaches to discipline children. One boy who was subjected to the cockroach punishment at age five remains so afraid of bugs three years later that he refuses to go outside.

Other reports question academic standards. The April 16 Philadelphia Inquirer reported that, for the first time, Pennsylvania would release test results for math and reading by race, poverty and sex. This sparked fears that the quality of future education a child would receive might hinge on race, poverty and sex. Indeed, since the 2000 publication of Christina Hoff Sommers' The War Against Boys, accusations that boys are second-class citizens within the public schools have become commonplace.

What seems to stir up the most anger, however, is the teaching of politically correct values to children against parental wishes. In January, the Pacific Justice Institute filed a lawsuit on behalf of distressed parents against a California school that conducted allegedly pro-homosexual assemblies without notice or parental consent.

As parents remove their children from the public schools, however, governmental resistance to alternative education will probably increase. The most vulnerable alternative is likely to be homeschooling. Stories such as that of California mom Sandra Sorenson may become more common.

The Sorensons decided to set up their own private school after their 10-year-old son's public school initiated a policy of having fellow students issue suspensions to each other, which teachers would sign. "Children should not have the power over other children," Sandra explained. "Nine and 10-year-olds shouldn't be giving out suspensions. Kids can be mean."

As a result, she is facing a possible jail sentence for "contributing to the delinquency of a minor" and claims to have been harassed severely by school officials.

For example, the California Child Protective Service investigated the family based on a complaint filed by the son's former principal. The complaint alleged that Sorensen did not provide proper medical attention for her son's diagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A standard treatment recommended by public schools is the powerful and controversial drug, Ritalin. The CPS investigator found the allegations to be unfounded.

Despite such risks, parents seem more likely than ever before to remove their children from "the system." With reports of homeschooled children outperforming those educated by government schools in national spelling bees and on some tests, parents who would never resist authority in any other area seem willing to step forward for the sake of their children's well-being.

Perhaps Marshall Fritz is correct in believing that Dobson's statements could signal the beginning of a revolution.

I was unaware JFK was the perp. Government unions are the biggest internal threat we face. Nearly 7 million members are not in Social Security. Their pensions are invested in the markets. And they are begining to push corporate America around in a serious way. The day may come when we all work for the clerk at the DMV or our kid's teacher. Government employees will control the Fortune 100.

I personally think home schooling has alot of problems too

I personally have never met a home schooling family that regretted taking that course of action. By contrast, I've met many who rendered unto Caesar that which is God's (their children) and lost 'em to the other side.

Are Parents Boycotting Public Schools?

I am a public school teacher, and to all those concerned parents who are considering abandoning their current schools, I would ask, even BEG, that you PLEASE do so as soon as is humanly possible. Many of us teachers, administrators, and school board members have been trying our best to stop the insane bureaucracy that has plagued the public system for decades, but it is plain to see that our efforts will never succeed without the support of the authoritarians in the unions and in government... and they aren't interested in hearing the opinions, ideas, complaints, statistics, or pleas of students, faculties, parents, or citizens. The ONLY way they MIGHT wake up enough to grasp the consequences of the tragedy that they have carefully manufactured would be if their money, power and influence were diminished. This is the only thing the understand, fear, and respect. So PLEASE, take a second job, work out of the home, do without some of the luxuries, or whatever it takes to help the wondrous homeschooling/private schooling trend that has been gracing our landscape. When they invariably try to exert their control over these alternatives to public education, make sure you get VERY vocal in stopping them. This is the only hope left for those who are stuck in the public school system. Many of us are doing what we can from the inside. I pray you'll help us on the outside.

Bump and Ping!!!

"The ONLY way they MIGHT wake up enough to grasp the consequences of the tragedy that they have carefully manufactured would be if their money, power and influence were diminished."

Help defund the NEA. See the information posted in reply #14 in the thread Let's Help Nail the Teachers Unions -- It is National FReep Time

For some reason the thread was pulled but a few days ago there was a article about Planned Parenthood and the National Council of Jewish Women suing the state of Louisiana over "Choose Life" license plates. They allege the plates promote "Christian Fundamentalism."

There is a constant drive to push faith into a closet. And then liberals wonder why parents don't want kids to go to their schools.

That's right, Capt. As parents we need to put our priorities in perspective. We're in our 6th year homeschooling and will continue for another year at this point...after that our daughter will be attending a wonderful private Christian school...and I will be working part time to pay for it. Gladly.

Private Christian School 3 days a week and homeschooling always! My 6 year old kindergartener is reading on a 2nd grade level! He "asks" to learn additional mathematic problems. The public schools teach that striving to be mediocre is a good thing.

These government institutions are only good at teaching children to grow-up to be mediocre government workers.

Agreed!!

Here's a question: When attending church on Sunday's and talking with people who have kids in the public schools, does the topic ever come up about govt. schools? I find that many parents think the schools in their area are really good. As Christians, I would assume that they are aware of what is going on but apprently many do not.

And, many "Christians" teach in the govt. schools.

Maybe I'm a prude but I just do not understand why a Christian would want to work for an institution that goes against Biblical beliefs.

Re your post #54 -- What is your opinion about home schooling?

Thanks for the flag on this article. I have said many times on this forum that I support homeschooling, and in fact have close friends, on the left, who homeschool their kids -- and, all of their kids are on a genius level. Because of their dedication to their children, and their homeschooling efforts, although they consider themselves politically on the left, they refuse to continue voting Dem. And, I too feel the Dem Party is wrong not to support homeschooling. Thanks again for your flag. :)

Thanks for your flag, EdReform. On this thread, I am certain my view will be in the minority, as while I do support homeschooling and other educational environments (private school, charter schools, hybrid homeschool/private school, etc.), I also believe there is a place for public schools.

Again, I realize this is not the view of probably everyone on this thread, but that is my view. I have been educated in both public and private schools, and I have taught in both public and private schools. There are good private schools, and good public schools, and there are problems in public schools, and problems in private schools. Not every child is lucky enough to have parents willing to devote themselves to homeschooling. And, some parents prefer not to homeschool.

The views expressed by those quoted in the article seem to me to fail to take such children into account. That is why I favor the approach taken by GW and his brother Jeb, which is to improve public schools while also supporting many different educational environments -- which is something Dems leaders do not do.

Thanks again for the flag.

And, BTW, for the record, I should also say I consider myself to have been homeschooled as well, because my own parents are the ones who taught me how to read and set the agenda for my education. Such agenda included religious instruction as well as a public school education, and field trips to learn about our nation's history. My parents did not sit back and expect the school to do everything. They were also very involved with my schools, and attended every school play, every PTA meeting, etc. and volunteered as class parents, etc. They knew what was going on. And, I think that helped make my education what it was, in addition to many fine teachers I had.

I also believe there is a place for public schools

While I believe there is a place for common schools or public schools, I don't believe there is a place for socialistic government schools. No government possesses the legitimate, lawful authority to confiscate money from some people to pay for other people's children's education. That is socialism and socialism is wrong in all of its forms.

That is not to say that there isn't a place for common schools to which the public can send their children. These schools would be funded by the parents and by anyone who feels they wish to voluntarily donate to them. Those who feel sorry for the children who's parents can't afford an education are free to fund that education.

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