Passing along a video for your entertainment only.  
These views do not necessarily represent the views of myself or the ABQ Homeschool Co-op.
It is ONLY provided for your entertainment and is at your disposal.
(I am posting it in the same order it was posted on another site.)

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Slowly but surely we are seeing a progressive decline in the ability of the public to make wise and informed choices.

This is not meant to disparage the efforts of the many incredibly capable teachers we have.
The primary purpose is to provide a perspective of some of the issues that are present at higher levels that may make it nearly impossible to provide a solid education no matter how skilled or excellent the teacher is.

A fascinating read on this topic:   "Underground History of American Education" by John Taylor Gatto
(He also wrote "Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling").



Another wonderful resource is:
The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education (ISBN 0-9629591-7-0) originally by Grace Llewellyn.
It is an autodidactic book about unschooling.
Inspired by John Holt's educational views, among others, the book encourages teenagers to leave full-time school and let their curiosity guide their learning.   It includes suggestions and resources regarding traditional academic areas, as well as chapters about talking to parents, social life, college, and exploring the world.

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Charlotte Iserbyt presents an alarming insider’s view of the U.S. Department of Education, and how the federal government has, or would like, its fingers in everything, including the education of America’s children.   According to Ms. Iserbyt, the Department of Education’s goal is manipulation of public school curriculum to promote a political agenda.   During her tenure as Senior Policy Advisor, Iserbyt was shocked to learn that her employer promoted the purpose of education as a vehicle to change the thoughts, actions and feelings of students.  Good teaching is defined as “successfully challenging students’ fixed beliefs.”

            

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Charlotte Iserbyt served as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), U.S. Department of Education, during the first Reagan Administration.  At that time, she blew the whistle on a major technology initiative which would control curriculum in America's classrooms.  To learn more about what’s really happening in our public school system and the agenda behind it, go here for a free download of Charlotte Iserbyt’s bestselling book, The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America.

Including a quote from a pro-homeschooler:

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“An educated public is an essential ingredient of a free society.
Ambitious governments would have far greater difficulty implementing schemes that undermine liberty and prosperity were they faced with an informed and vigilant population.”   ~ Ron Paul

Two recommended books, in addition, would be Schooling in Capitalist America by Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis, along with Deschooling Society by Ivan Illich.  
It is important to look for reasons why things are as they are, before looking for appropriate ways to improve them.