[Vision2020] RE:Public vs.Homeschooling

[J Ford]

Seems funny how "government intrusion and government schools" are nasty 
critters - until these people want to go to college or grad school.  THEN 
government loans, grants, and schooling looks very good to them.

In the past twenty-five years, if something in the school came up that I did 
not agree with in one of my children's class, I had NO problem with talking 
to the school district, teacher, or principle, etc. and getting my children 
out of that subject or class.  None.

I have tried homeschooling as well - some years ago.  I would never 
recommend it to anyone unless you have plenty of time and energy and LOADS 
of patience to devote to the children and to the work that they need to get 
done.  It is incredibly hard work and I found the "extra trips" with other 
families less than adequate for socialization of my children.  They quickly 
become very isolated and very narrow in their thinking and acting.  For the 
most part, the "publicly paid" teachers in our schools are heroes and should 
be thanked continually for their hard work and devotion to children they are 
not responsible for raising.

If people are looking to isolate and keep their children away from unwanted 
influences, do what others have done and build your own community somewhere 
that is not already occupied and operating.  But, let me tell you this - 
your little darlings are NOT the perfect little angels you would have 
everyone believe them to be.  No matter what "protection" you put around any 
child, influences do occur and you being there as an open, supportive, 
loving parent is what helps keep them from falling.  If they do fall, be 
there to help them back up - but stop blaming the schools or  "government 
interference" - you are the one that is supposed to be there for your kids.  
Their "failure" only mirrors your's as a parent - in most cases.


J  :]





>
>Bill London Wrote:
>
>
>
>But a minority had no interest in educating their youth.  They just kept
>them out of school and taught them the things, legal and illegal, that the
>parents believed important.  Those kids had many options closed to them by
>their parents' ignorance.
>
>It was very sad.
>
>How can we keep the homeschooling option alive while controlling such
>abusive situations?
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>
>
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>
>Me:
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>It seems that defining "abusive" is key.  If we could find a very agreeable
>and functional definition of clear 'abuse' and limit intrusion to only
>'abusive' situations, then I'd at least be open minded on this.  General
>liberty is of course always more important than controlling a few sad
>situations, particularly when those situations might be helped by means of
>more loving community rather than government control.  Buy I'm not
>comfortable with identifying abusive situations with having "options 
>closed"
>or mere ignorance. Some of our children will always have less opportunity
>than others. I know if I was independently wealthy, my children would be
>getting a much better education right now.  In my circles, sending children
>to government school is sometimes considered the less preferable choice and
>is considered when money and other burdens become a real issue; as time
>progresses, it may be those in government schools that "have many options
>closed to them."
>
>
>
>Michael Metzler
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