Posted on 07/25/2002 3:29:54 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
In response to my column yesterday on what all responsible parents must do to respond to the government-created school crisis, I received many critical letters suggesting I should stop bashing "public schools."
I will not stop. I will never stop. And, more importantly, I will continue to offer the one and only prescription for dismantling the government-school monopoly that is miseducating America's children.
The answer is to pull your children out of this black hole.
Let me specifically answer some of the critics.
"You propose to use children as pawns in a battle between lawmakers, social activists and the parents of children," writes R.C. of Michigan.
No, I don't. However, that's what those who submit their children to the indignities of government schooling do. I advocate just the opposite. Steer your children clear of the politics. Get them out of the crossfire. Don't let them be pawns. Take responsibility for your kids.
The real answer is not to destroy the public school system, says R.C. That will only make the schools worse for the majority of kids.
My kids are not social activists whose purpose in life is to help other kids get an education. My kids are the most precious gifts God has given to me. I plan to treat them as such. I strongly urge other parents to do the same. Turning kids over to a heartless, soulless school bureaucracy can never be the right answer.
R.C. says he is 99.99 percent satisfied with the job government schools have done with his kids. I suggest one or more of the following applies:
R.C. suggests my efforts would be better placed recalling school board members, lobbying state lawmakers and pressuring Congress.
Sorry, no time for that, R.C. My children are far too precious to me. I will not let these monsters have them for even a minute. They will not corrupt my children. If you choose to allow them to corrupt your kids, at least be honest and admit it.
Another writer bemoans the fact that he and his wife just do not have enough money and time to educate their kids at home. They both work, and they cannot live on one income.
I say they choose that lifestyle. I hate to be cruel and judgmental, but our kids should be our first priority, not the new car, not the third and fourth television set, not the cable TV bill.
I do sympathize with people struggling to make it financially. But let's remember why they are barely making it. The biggest expense in our personal budgets is taxes. It takes more of our income than all other expenses combined. How do we eliminate those taxes? By not accepting the "freebies" and the dependency that comes with them.
Either you are part of the solution or part of the problem. If your kids are in government school, you are part of the problem.
I understand this column will not be popular. By definition, only some 2 million American families are following my prescription today. That's about 1 percent. I understand I am promoting a radical idea here. But it is the only one that makes sense. It is the only one that works.
Your kids are being deceived by government propagandists. They are being misled by statist evangelists. They are being corrupted by moral relativists. They are being seduced by the popular culture.
If all that's OK with you, then I'm sure you will understand why I don't want my kids anywhere near your kids.
It's time for a clean break. It's time for courage. It's time for sacrifice.
My kids are worth it. How about yours?
It's time to stop making excuses. It's time to stop rationalizing poor choices. It's time to stop being part of the problem. It's time to stop participating in the victimization of your own children.
Thanks.
The answer is to pull your children out of this black hole.
You go Joe!
As usual a great job in bringing us this article.
Mr Farrah is wrong on one point. He says that only 1% of the parents are on his side. (i.e. That have pulled their kids from government schools.) In fact there is probably closer to 2 million home schooling students which is nearly 4% of the 52 million K-12 students. Of course there is also parochial schools, another 10 %. I am happy to say that it is more like 10-12% of the K-12 students as opposed to 1% that attend other than government schools. I am also very unhappy to say that only 10-12% of the K-12 students, as opposed to 90% that attend other than government schools.
Godspeed, The Dilg
Thanks.
I remember every week on payday!
Husband works 2 jobs, we have one vehicle, no TV and a list of other "do withouts." This is the choice we have made. Gladly and without regret! Our 3 children have never been in a government school, except to come with us when we vote. Funny thing is, our children do not know we do without. And I have always maintained the only thing we do without is "the "freebies" and the dependency that comes with them." I consider myself blessed!
Farah is my hero!
I say they choose that lifestyle.
How very, very true. It's not a popular message, but it IS the truth.
You heard it here first.
Excellent idea! Perhaps you'll also consider passing on the information in the following reply:
Help Defund the National Education Association
The NEA is vehemently opposed to homeschooling and vouchers. Because of the way homeschooling has grown, the NEA will not be able to stop it. However, they will continue to try to regulate homeschooling and we cannot let that happen. The NEA is a well-funded political machine and is still very dangerous to the homeschool movement. By defunding the NEA, we can help to weaken this monster.
(For those who haven't seen it, the NEA's resolution against homeschooling is documented here)
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