Well, most practically ksen... because I don't have kids, so I am not facing a decision about where to school them right now. But also because I believe schools are much more local than that, and horror stories in a book will not be that helpful in determining what the situation is right here at my own schools... So that is why I am not going to promise to read the book. I just probably won't...
So if you agree that these "bad" schools are a recent phenomenon, then there must not be anything inherently evil if they were once OK...
What do I suggest? - I guess push for conservatives on school boards and go to school board meetings if your kids are in school. If no conservatives are on the ballot, then run. I would guess your school boards at "bad" schools meet alone with little intervention from the public. No one goes to meetings. Impact things. Go to visit, volunteer in classrooms, meet with administrators. That is what my friends do when they have concerns, and they are have impact here. They aren't throwing their children to the lions, they are participating in their school. The principle in my friend's elementary school was our fifth grade teacher and he still knows my name today when he sees me at the store. It isn't a walled place with faceless demons that parents can't get into here, so I can't get my head around this fear of great evil. And this is a liberal area... though pretty well-off. I know it is worse in poor areas, but I can't imagine my town is a lot different than other suburban communities where most of us are living.
Well, most practically ksen... because I don't have kids,
I don't have kids either, but my tax money is used to support these monstrosities. /$.02
Doh!
But also because I believe schools are much more local than that, and horror stories in a book will not be that helpful in determining what the situation is right here at my own schools... So that is why I am not going to promise to read the book. I just probably won't...
I certainly wasn’t trying to force you to read something you don’t want to. I’m sorry if it came across that way.
The book is not just anecdotes. Mr. Stormer examines those who were instrumental in bringing about “government” schools. The people who set up this system were very open about their agenda. They were out to change society through the younger generations. This goes back to the early twentieth century with John Dewey.
So if you agree that these "bad" schools are a recent phenomenon, then there must not be anything inherently evil if they were once OK...
I would submit that once the federal government became involved the school system went bad. This system has never been ok. It has been continually degenerating until we have our present system. And it will continue to degenerate until we get the federal government and the teachers’ union out.
What do I suggest? - I guess push for conservatives on school boards and go to school board meetings if your kids are in school. If no conservatives are on the ballot, then run. I would guess your school boards at "bad" schools meet alone with little intervention from the public. No one goes to meetings. Impact things. Go to visit, volunteer in classrooms, meet with administrators.
Those are good ideas. However, they will ultimately be futile until the fedgov is removed from the schooling business.
Thanks for your thoughts Hair.