Want To Tell The State To Stick It? Homeschool Your Kids.

Forbes ^ | 01/22/2013 | Bill Flax

[billflax]

"This notion that the children belong to the state, that their education must be provided for by the state … is inimical at every step to liberty.” – J. Gresham Machen

The swelling legions of homeschoolers poke a subtle rebuke at America’s ever expanding nanny state. Under both parties, Washington has systematically invaded private spheres and co-opted public services historically performed by local bodies. But a spontaneous groundswell of freedom minded folks has continued America’s rich inheritance of rugged individualism.

The God-fearing, flag-waiving, gun-toting homeschool crowd embodies the American spirit of mutual self-reliance. You won’t encounter a more neighborly bunch. Their children thrive without government “help.” Their support networks blossom sans the state’s sanction. Meanwhile, taxpayers waste a fortune securing abysmal academic results. In 2012, SAT scores fell to their lowest level since tracking began. As spending soars, assessment scores plummet.

The modern homeschool movement comes largely by Christians aghast over an academic establishment overrun by progressives. Schools long ago became laboratories for instilling statism and distilling politically correct groupthink. Values clarification anyone? With public education increasingly geared toward multicultural agitation against America’s godly heritage, many parents resolved to safeguard the hearts, souls and minds of their young.

[who knows what evil?]

Too bad we can’t opt-out of the property taxes which go mostly to the publik schools.

That is a damn shame...

[OldPossum]

Too bad we can’t opt-out of the property taxes which go mostly to the publik schools.

I am privileged to be paying property taxes in two states, roughly the same amount in each state. Aren't I the lucky one?

P.S. I have no children, hence no grandchildren in school. I get to pay for the schooling of other people's children.

[SaraJohnson]

If parents do it right and the children are smart, they can homeschool Harvard bound children.

My son moved through material at lighting speed once he got hold of himself and became focused and engaged in learning. Homeschool is designed to go slow or fast - it depends on a child’s ability and engagement. I am alright at math, but I decided to bring in a Harvard student to do advanced math with him a couple of times each week for a year in eighth grade. He did practical lessons on his own with me and his dad each day between tutoring sessions. It was like they were playing math more than anything. My son seriously benifited from that encounter. What a gift and it was not all that costly to us.

We may have ruined the Harvard guy because he realized his gift of teaching and was thinking about going into education. I advised him to get and day job in the career he planned and homeschool his own children in math. There is no comparison between teaching an intellegent and engaged homeschool student and “teaching” in public herdschool. When I told my husband, he called him up and to him to knock it off. Idealism does not compute in the long run.

[theBuckwheat]

If economic efficiency was the only criteria, given my opportunity costs, it is less expensive for me to hire a high school student to educate my child than for me do do it myself.

But speaking of efficiency, while in theory we should let professionals handle this, in some urban school districts it costs IN EXCESS OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS to graduate a single child who is competent at their grade level in all required subjects.

The goal of our family effort was first to convey godly values to our child and to help them to develop the character that would serve them well in life. Secondarily was book knowledge. The former was a parental obligation that cannot be subcontracted out, especially to people who as a self-selected profession are hostile to godly values. [see 1]

[1] TEACHERS GROUP RECRUITS BILL AYERS FOR CONFERENCE KEYNOTE, http://www.theblaze.com/blog/2013/01/18/teachers-group-recruits-bill-ayers-for-conference-keynote/

[elpinta]

My children were home schooled; my grandchildren are/will be (one has for two years, the other is joining the ranks next year).

And no, you are not paying for any ‘schooling’ you/me are paying for ‘indoctrination’ and I have an issue with blood pressure so I will leave it at that!