Comments on: More on Home schooling

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 16:37:53 +0000

I think the mere idea of turning one’s children over to the government – and strangers – for indoctrination (er… I mean ‘education’) during their most fragile, formative years, is absolutely insane.

How was your experience the last time you had to deal with a government-run office? Next time you’re in line at the DMV, imagine – the people in charge have power to arrange your days and activities and decide how you should think, for the next 12 years. The random 15 people in front of you and 15 people behind you in line will be your all-day companions for the next 9 months.

You have no choice.

Think of the stupidity with which the DMV is run. The arrogance – the lack of basic common sense. The stupid mistakes. The waiting – waiting – waiting.

Thomas Jefferson, an early advocate for government-funded education was adamantly against the government running it. He compared it to hiring a government agent to come run one’s farm.

Children should be treated with dignity. Allowed to learn in freedom. Permitted to pursue their OWN interests.

Compulsory government education will not do those things. My own children, homeschooled their entire lives, think the simple concept of having to ask permission to use the toilet – and perhaps be denied – to be abusive. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the stripping away of basic human rights and dignity that is done to most children on a daily basis.

In the words of Albert Einstein:
”
IT IS, IN FACT, NOTHING short of a miracle that the modern methods of education have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wrack and ruin without fail. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty.”

By: Fiali Olancler

Fiali Olancler — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 22:07:36 +0000

LOOK AT THIS LINK

By: matt

matt — Wed, 06 Jul 2005 19:23:36 +0000

I was home schooled. (7th – 12th grades). I’m 36 now. When I was homeschooled I read Plato, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Bastiat and Homer. How many 15 year olds are assigned the task of reading and criticizing Richard Nixon’s “Real Peace”? Every morning began with reading the newspaper from front to back. I visted court houses and observed trials. I helped erect church buldings. At sixteen I could build a small building from the ground up. My mother taught me the guitar and the mandolin. I learned Greek. (My final exam was translating 1 Corinthians into english and Philemon into Greek.) Since then I’ve had fascinating careers in the military, advertising, and now property management. I have a college degree. Three children. Am active in my church.
Yep, it looks like homeschooling really messed up my life.

By: Lioness

Lioness — Sun, 03 Jul 2005 20:09:37 +0000

Publius, if all parents homeschool, because they want to protect their children “as a means of isolating children from contrary cultural influences” then how do you explain National Directory of Fully Inclusive Homeschool Support Groups http://www.uuhomeschool.org/groups.php3 which welcomes “everyone of all races, ethnicities, religions, family compositions, sexual orientations, learning styles, lifestyles, abilities and disabilities, and asking only that rules of civility, kindness and compassion be honored by all, for all.” Hmmm?

By: habaib

habaib — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 06:53:05 +0000

Hey people what is happening the discussion has diverted from homeschooling to indoctrination of children. Is this the intention of parents who prefer homeschooling, i hope not.