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| vicki |
| Posted on: September 15th, 2004, 8:13pm |
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Here's a link to an editorial article from a paper in Michigan.....
http://www.thehollandsentinel.net/stories/091204/opi_091204052.shtml
I suppose there are quite a few people who don't agree with our decision to homeschool-- probably all would have differing answers as to why it's not a good choice for THEM and may make a general assumption and say that we shouldn't homeschool for the very same reason.. But I think the author BLEW me away with this statement "The public school system is the very cornerstone of democracy in America"... Really?!?!? Wow! And here I thought it was freedom! And one of those freedoms include how and where to educate my child! State run schools with forced ideologies, sounds kind of socialist to me?!?!!? And of course, all of our founding fathers were in public school--NOT! She also took the "high road" and said for homeschooling moms to get a life. 
It's definitely an article that will ruffle your feathers.. But I think it's good to be reminded that there is an opposition to the very freedom of educational choice that we enjoy! I'm always amazed when I stumble upon one of these opinions though! |
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| dallin2001 |
| Posted on: September 15th, 2004, 8:28pm |
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I have so many things I'd like to say to this woman that I don't even know where to begin. It's idiots like those...the "It takes a village" types, that are trying to destroy our freedom. Sadly, to preserve our freedom, we also have to preserver theirs. Thanks for sharing this.
-Kari |
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| SusanV |
| Posted on: September 15th, 2004, 8:42pm |
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ARGHH!!! Ruffled feathers indeed! Thanks for posting, though. It is also good to be reminded about how clueless others are to what a homeschooling lifestyle really entails. I may have to write a letter to the editor before I can get beyond this one!
And if public education is the cornerstone of democracy, then we all know we are in way more trouble than we thought! 
Susan V. |
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| LJPmom |
| Posted on: September 15th, 2004, 10:27pm |
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Hi guys....this got a bit long, sorry. Ms Boyce has every right to her opinion, and I have every right to mine. So....I thought I'd share some points with you. 
The women who wrote that article is taking a few "bad apples" and attributing their characteristics to all home educators. I think she needs to do some more research. There are plenty of books and studies that point to home schooled children excelling in every area of life and acedemics. Sadly, it is true there will always be those who hate us and resent our freedom to teach our children at home.
"Remember that the school day is only six hours long, five days a week. That leaves many hours during the week and summer for the parent."
I disagree. When I was in public school, I had to catch a bus at 6:50 AM. The bus dropped me off in the afternoon around 3:50 or so. I lived about 15-20 minutes from school, but the bus ride took almost an hour. (My parents worked full time and did not come home until after 6.) By the time I finished my homework, it was about 11 at night. I'm curious, when does Ms Boyce think I had quality time with my parents? No, the public school system occupies much more of our children's time than she realizes. It is not uncommon for a public schooled child to spend eighteen hours or more a day in school related activities.
"One of the best and brightest moves that our Founding Fathers made was to make it possible for all children in America, not just the rich, to be educated."
The last time I checked, it was not the Founding Fathers who started state run education. In fact, many of our Founding Fathers were home schooled for at least some of their education. (I'd have to re-look up the information on the specifics of the beginning of public school. I don't have the book right in front of me.)
"They are being denied a basic right, which has been fought for all the way to the Supreme Court -- the right to attend school."
Did I miss something? I was not aware that anyone had to fight in the Supreme Court for the right to attend public school--unless she is referring to the 1960's when some public schools were still segregated. On the contrary, it has been a long and ongoing battle for parents to ensure their God-given right to raise their own children as they see fit, by home schooling. They are fighting for the right NOT to attend public school.
"But today, anyone who wants to "play school" can do so, regardless of their educational background."
This is flat out misinformation! In EVERY state, a home schooling parent must have AT LEAST a high school diploma, and in some states they are required to have even more education than that! To say that we can home school regardless of our own educational background is ignorant of the facts and the law. I resent her insinuation that home schooling parents are uneducated.
(Home schooled children have) ".....little opportunities to develop friendships with real children. Others associate only with small groups of like-minded people. What happens when they enter the world and cannot control everything, as they do in their sheltered home environment?"
In public school, children are surrounded by others their own age and move through the education process always surrounded by children their own age. In public school, children are taught to admire the upper-classmen and ridicule the under-classmen. Anyone in an upper class is held in high esteem while the lower classes are despised. Do you work with a group of people who are all the same age? Is your boss exactly your age? What happens when public schooled children go into the "real world" and have to take orders from someone younger than they are, after years of disrespecting younger classmen? What does that teach them about functioning in society? Nothing.
Home schooled children, on the other hand, are free to associate with anyone they choose, no matter what age. They learn respect for the elderly and gentleness toward those who are younger, compassion for the weak and humility toward themselves.
"What an ego trip for a parent -- to be all things to your children, to control every thought, every concept that enters their world. Is this education, or programming?"
And what is public school, except to indoctrinate our youth with what society deems socially acceptable? Christians, this should frighten you most of all. Being a follower of Christ is not popular in public schools. In fact, it is actively and openly ridiculed in many instances. We have a mandate as parents to raise our children in the knowledge of the Lord. How can we do that with the barrage of anti-biblical teaching in public schools? As Christopher Klicka once said, sending your kids to public school is like "playing Russian Roulette with their souls." It has nothing to do with a parental ego trip. It is about our right to teach our children about our religious beliefs without having someone else contradict everything we say.
"Parents often believe that they are protecting their children from the "evils" of life."
Yes, I do perceive there to be evils in the public school system. When my brother was in fourth grade, his teacher went to prison for molesting children in class during films. On the news here locally, there was a five year old who threatened another five year old on the playground with a knife. In the paper, there was a story about a six year old girl who was molested repeatedly on the bus by sixth graders. The school did nothing to protect her, even after being informed of the problem, and her parents were forced to remove her from school for her own protection. If Ms Boyce thinks that is over protective, than I say nothing is more worth protecting.
"There are other losses, such as never being "on the team," ......"
Perhaps she is not aware that there are a myriad of programs available to home schooled children, from sports to theater to dance. Some states even require that home schooled children be allowed to play on the public school sports teams. Some larger home school groups conduct their own graduation ceremonies and even hold proms. Extracurricular activities are not denied to those who want it, as she supposes.
"A recent Harvard study following home-schooled children over many years found that these children did not do better at the college level than traditionally educated children. "
That's interesting, because I've read about numerous studies that say just the opposite. They claim that home schooled children enter college much more prepared than their public schooled counterparts.
"My response is: Mothers, get a life. How unfair it is for you to take away your own child's life in order to gratify yours?"
Does Ms Boyce even HAVE children? Home schooling is the very opposite of being a selfish mother. It is because I love my children more than I love myself that I want to educate them at home. I feel I can nurture their gifts and natural love of learning better than anyone else alive. If I wanted to be selfish, I would send my kids off to public school so I could have the day to myself. "Get a life."? My children ARE my life!
"The public school system is the very cornerstone of democracy in America. We need to cherish it and nurture it."
A State run organization where a nation's youth are required by law to spend thirteen years being taught whatever the government deems they need to learn is not the cornerstone democracy. True democracy would abolish compulsory attendance laws all together and allow parents to make their own choices as to the education of their children. No parent, who loves her child, would neglect his or her education, as proponents of the compulsory attendance laws fear. The cornerstone of democracy is FREEDOM, nothing more and nothing less.
~EL~
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| LJPmom |
| Posted on: September 15th, 2004, 10:31pm |
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And to Kari, on an off topic note, I just wanted to say:
"Do you think it will work?"
"It would take a miracle."
I couldn't help it when I saw the line "Have fun storming the castle" in your signature line.
~EL~ |
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| dallin2001 |
| Posted on: September 15th, 2004, 10:58pm |
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Yep. I'm looking for miracles each day. I'm so glad someone recognized it!
-Kari |
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| LJPmom |
| Posted on: September 15th, 2004, 11:11pm |
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Kari, am I the first to recognize it? What is this world coming to? I'm not *that* old, hahaha! It's great to find someone who loves that movie as much as I do.
EL |
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Reply: 6 - 9 |
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| LadyJessica |
| Posted on: September 17th, 2004, 6:46am |
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Well said El. I had read this article and I seriously would not even know where to start. You covered many of the areas I would address. I am bothered by what is being taught in our public school system and what is not being taught.
I saw a "comic" that PETA is putting out and handing out in Elementary Schools and I was in SHOCK! Not because this is the first thing I was offended by that enters our public school system. There on the front cover of this "comic" for kids is a crazed looking "Martha Stuart" type with a bloody knife in her hands. She is holding the knife over a bleeding rabbit. In big letters across the top it said, "Your Mommy kills animals" Then at the bottom it said, "Ask your mommy how many rabbits she killed to make her fur coat." This is what the school system is all about, choosing what your children believe, even if it means turning them against their family. I must say whether or not you agree with the message that they are teaching, no one should allow such outright attacks on parents.
Last year, Jordan was in public school. I was informed that there was a dance group that was working with the kids in PE. It was not until the dance recital that I was informed that this dance group had religious affiliations. Even though the group's beliefs were in line with my own, I was very upset. There is no doubt that getting their religious message to these kids was a big reason for them being there. Yet, No parent was informed of this affiliation. If they could come into the classroom without the parents knowing that there was more than a dance instruction going on, what other groups could do the same? This was not the only reason we pulled her out of public school, as we had already been planning on doing so, but it made it clear that this was the right decision for us.
Unfortunatly, there are many people who want to use cookie cutters on our kids, for whatever reason. They do not want a generation that will grow to think for themselves. They want those who will easily follow. Adolph Hitler was once quoted as saying, "I do not care if you follow me. I already have the minds of your children." We all know what came as a result. I for one refuse to allow my children to be stripped of their individualism and made to think like everyone else.
Anyway...I am babbling and I know that most if not all of those that read this support homeschooling, for whatever your reasons. Remember children are our most important resource and Thank you all for doing your part to see that your children help shape the future in their own special ways. |
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| LJPmom |
| Posted on: September 18th, 2004, 4:43pm |
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Hi Jess....
I agree with what you said about a generation that doesn't think for themselves. It's pretty scary, isn't it? That quote by Hitler is especially powerful. You know what they say about repeating history.......
~EL~ |
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| Genevieve |
| Posted on: January 20th, 2005, 9:13am |
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Quoted from LJPmom, posted September 15th, 2004, 10:27pm at hereHi guys....this got a bit long, sorry. Ms Boyce has every right to her opinion, and I have every right to mine.
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She has a right to her own opinion but not her own facts. I can't believe she wrote this with a straight face. |
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