Home Education vs. Public Education

Lewrockwell.com ^ | August 2, 2002 | Jacki LeClair

[Aquinasfan]

Do you have any idea if someone in that situation could sue for discrimination?

No, but she should look into it.

It's reassuring to know that people for whom killing babies is their top priority are in charge of schooling children.

[Aquinasfan]

"Oh, socialization is not a problem. I take him into the bathroom once a week, beat him up, and take his lunch money."

P-schoolers need a sharp blow to the head to snap them out of their comas. I'm all in favor of this tactic, and my wife's dying to use this line.

[TontoKowalski]

...but then they HAVE to go back to school or they will never make it in the real world!

Reasonable people can debate and disagree as to the merits of a public school education. However, I find it outrageously funny that anyone could find anything in public school life that REMOTELY resembles real life.

I hope your family comes around. In the unhappy event that they don't, then that's their problem, not yours. If you make it clear that you no longer wish to discuss the matter or to open your child's upbringing for a committee decision, they'll at least shut up.

[TontoKowalski]

I'm glad you like the line. As I stated, I picked it up from another poster here on FR. I'd love to give credit, but I can't remember who.

You must post the reaction to the "slappee" when your wife tosses this out the first time. In general, she can expect a cross between a dear in the headlights and a dead-fish slack-jawed gape.

[Nam Vet]

"Oh, socialization is not a problem. I take him into the bathroom once a week, beat him up, and take his lunch money."

I've simply GOT to tell Mrs. Nam Vet that when she gets back. Thanks

Nam Vet

[Korth]

Good job Korth. Since you never had the "pleasure" of attending a government detention center, you may never fully appreciate the benefits of homeschooling.

How would you know whether or not I attended public schools?

You sound like you consider this to be an anti-homeschool article, but it is actually pro-homeschool. Based on their responses, I believe that everyone else on this thread recognized this article to be pro-, not anti-, home schooling.

It's been 22 years since I graduated, and I'm still angry about they did to my head. I figure it took me about ten years to undo the damage on my own.

FYI, I also was entirely "educated", if you can call it that, in the public schools (kindergarten thru 12th grade), and it ruined my life. I first heard of Home Schooling when I was quite young, and I begged my parents to home school me. They wouldn't do it, for all the reasons which others have already posted on this thread.

[cowgirlcutie]

I fully agree! I hated and despised going to public school! It wasn't the schoolwork that bothered me, just everything else! I heard things from other kids that would've made my dad blush (and not much makes him blush). I can't even imagine half of what kids from decent homes, have to put up with now.

[Mr. Mulliner]

I'd rather have CIVILIZED children than SOCIALIZED children.

Can I quote you on that? I like the way you put that.

[BibChr]

Wow; that's really textbook-case despicable.

I don't know the legal ins and outs, but she might very well. If she'd been discriminated against because she was homosexual, she sure would have.

I had a similar situation, but it was simply because I was a Christian. It was kind of surreal, too; the job was in the world of journalism, among those lofty giants of the freedoms.

Dan

[TomSmedley]

It's been 22 years since I graduated, and I'm still angry about they did to my head. I figure it took me about ten years to undo the damage on my own.

Ditto, tho it's been more like 32 years for me!

[narses]

Re-ping. Sorry about that. I searched and didn't see this one. Mea Culpa.

[narses]

Can you please add me to your homeschool ping lists?

[Congressman Billybob]

Your experience on being rejected for an ESL position in the public schools is unfortunately common. America is filled with people who would be excellent teachers. But the schools are not filled with excellent teachers.

The reason is the "make-work" rules of the "edukachun" unions. Until we break the backs of these leeches, the "publik skools" will continue to decline in quality and increase in cost.

I have had at least 12 excellent -- meaning "life-changing" -- teachers in 22 years of education, and counting. Less than half of them were certified, public school teachers, and two were not even "teachers" at all, they were a librarian and a schoutmaster.

Do the best for your children, which probably means keeping them away from the public schools. But do the best for your community as well. If you have an elected school board, consider running for it. I have not heard of a home-schooling parent being elected to a school board. It could be an eye-opening experience for the Board, for you, and for your community.

Congressman Billybob

Click for: "Memo to Li'l Tommy Daschle: 'You're Busted.'"

[ladylib]

I believe that either the Dallas or Houston (forget which one) school board has a couple of homeschooling parents on it. A lot of people are unhappy about it.

[Korth]

Please add me to your homeschool ping list(s).

[homeschool mama]

**I'd rather have CIVILIZED children than SOCIALIZED children.

Can I quote you on that? I like the way you put that. **

You sure can quote it! I heard it at a homeschool conference this summer...can't recall which speaker though. Great quote, isn't it? :o)

[homeschool mama]

I graduated 26 years ago and can clearly recognize how homeschooling could have helped me rather than traditional schooling. Our school tried out a program called SWAS (School Within A School) that was tremendous. My childhood friend was a student in the program and greatly improved in every subject area. The idea was to become independent learners. Couches and pillows and tables were abundant...not a desk in sight. I don't know if the program still exists...

[homeschool mama]

What an encouraging post, cowgirl. Thank you. I've had my concerns about schooling our daughter through high school due to being an 'only'. She'll be taking a couple outside classes this year (Spanish and speech) which will help in that area, along with youth group, friends and sports. I think we're doing okay in the "S" area. :o)

[Gophack]

This is a GREAT article. God willing, I'll never send my kids to public school. I have them in an excellent parochial school, but if I found we couldn't afford it, I would definitely home-school.

However, a word of caution to conservatives and Christians ... we DO need to care about public education. 90% of children are educated (or not ) in public schools. These are the same children who will be cops, firefighters, teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, salesmen, you name it -- as our children. We must care about the quality and character of public education, and not merely throw in the towel because of the big bad government bureaucracy that makes fighting bad education almost impossible.

I think one problem with public schools is that as parents pulled their kids out for a better education, there were fewer parents involved in their kids education, and in making sure the schools performed. It became a downward spiral. Yes, some schools are better than others and yes, some parents are more involved than others, but I honestly believe that if parents complain, the schools encourage them to send their kids to private school ... because they don't want dissent.

[cowgirlcutie]

You're welcome :o) Believe me, as long as she stays involved with some kind of outside curricula, she'll do fine. Our daughter was involved with our church group and homeschool group, took dance for thirteen years, and even started a part-time job babysitting when she was fifteen. I went to public school and was EXTREMELY shy. She went to private school up until 3rd grade and was homeschooled until she graduated, and has NEVER been shy.