Confessions of a high-school dropout

WND ^ | 1-3-04 | Kyle Williams-Veritas

[JustPiper]

Confessions of a high-school dropout

On August 30, I wrote of my decision to dive into the public school system of Oklahoma – and it's been quite an experience. This coming Monday, many Oklahoma public school students will be returning to school on the first day of the second semester.

I won't. I won't be returning to the government schooling system. Why? Because I'm a failure. I've fallen short of the bar, and I'm nothing short of a disappointment to society.

I've fallen short by failing to adopt the art of vulgar language in common speech. I'm assuming this falls under the subject of socialization, tolerance and multiculturalism, but I've failed to make the grade in this subject.

I've failed to accept the worldview of apathy. Although this is a philosophy that is widely accepted by my peers, brainwashing on the part of my parents has ingrained in me a sense of optimism. That optimism is what has helped make me a failure.

I guess I'm just anti-social, but I've failed to accept the social experience of getting drunk, the buzz of smoking marijuana or getting high from cold medicine, and I am fruitless in the social event of impregnating teenage girls.

I've failed to accept the idolization of sports. For some strange reason, I have looked at sports as an entertaining hobby, but I've failed to fall in line with the norm at my school by refusing to worship the institution of athletics with my time.

I've failed to accept the common practice of relinquishing the responsibility of my education over to the school. I've committed the evil practice of not trusting incompetent teachers and faculty members with my future.

I've refused to agree with sex education and other "health day" instructions on the part of education bureaucrats. It must be ridiculous for me to find the entire sex-education idea completely unnecessary.

I have not succeeded in denying the existence of reality, and I have been unable to live in the high-school dream world. This is the biggest failure of all: falling short of rejecting reality – the real world of outcomes, investment and planning.

I have stopped short of accepting the rampant immoral behavior in which too many willingly indulge. I have refused to take part any longer in the way government schools wallow in mediocrity, and I have returned to an educational option that suits me best.

The bottom line is, probably as a result of the many years of homeschooling, I am a failure in public schools. I don't live up to their standards of socialization, responsibility, education and culture.

I fervently hope that you, the readers, will forgive me of my failures, and I surely hope my parents will still love me, despite my falling short of my peers. I'm what everyone hopes to avoid, I'm what countless ad campaigns hope to stop, and I'm what numerous organizations work to prevent – I'm a high-school dropout.

Most of my kind doesn't have much of a future, since it's hard to find a decent job without a high-school diploma. However, I will be returning to schooling at home, despite its well-known failures.

Expounding on the shortcomings of homeschooling, the National Education Association passed a resolution in its 2000-2001 conference that states, "[We believe] that homeschooling programs cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience."

I experienced the comprehensive education of public schools, and I couldn't keep up. Still, I have hope for a good future ahead of me. Since homeschoolers are routinely 30 to 35 percent more competent and tend to accept the idea of moral absolutes and reality, I believe there is a great possibility of rehabilitation.

[JustPiper]

Homeschooling beats PE anyday!

[Support Free Republic]

"Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our
wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions,
they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
- John Adams -

Make your statement.

[JustPiper]

The bottom line is, probably as a result of the many years of homeschooling, I am a failure in public schools. I don't live up to their standards of socialization, responsibility, education and culture.

Who said their standards are right?

I fervently hope that you, the readers, will forgive me of my failures, and I surely hope my parents will still love me, despite my falling short of my peers. I'm what everyone hopes to avoid, I'm what countless ad campaigns hope to stop, and I'm what numerous organizations work to prevent – I'm a high-school dropout.

You are not even close to being a failure sweetie! Your a published author for goodness sake and reams ahead of any so-called normal PE educated kid! I know I am proud as a homeschool Mom and knowing you as a Freeper I respect. You give me hope for my 15 year old, who is not exactly Jim Carrey socially -smile- but such a great human being and so danged smart my Geek is! Dropout?? You? Never, you'll have your PHD by 20!

[dakine]

It's tongue-in-cheek...but you already knew that...

[bd476]

Stand tall, stand proud and please don't ever return there again.

[Ed_in_NJ]

I'll bet the author is really going to miss the random drug testing -- and that his parents don't do that at home.

[JustPiper]

Ok reread your article and now I don't know if there are connations of sarcasm and wit. but I know many homeschoolers who have done homeschooling in so many different ways and have all either gotten a classic diploma or GED, and some pass that at 16. I know some who may seem somewhat different or withdrawn, but if I were a teen, heck even as an adult, these kids are cool socially and have not committed any heinous crimes. So Kyle, if your serious in your article, boy we are going to need a heart-to-heart kiddo ;)

[JustPiper]

Ask him he's a Freeper ;)

[JustPiper]

ping

[DainBramage]

but I am fruitless in the social event of impregnating teenage girls.

Kyle Kyle Kyle...you want to be fruitless son... its the planting of the crop that you will find is most fun.

[woofer]

but I am fruitless in the social event of impregnating teenage girls.

Kyle Kyle Kyle...you want to be fruitless son... its the planting of the crop that you will find is most fun.

Aim Low and shoot blanks, that's my motto.

Kyle, stand up for what you believe and you'll stand tall amongst your peers.

[rovenstinez]

This drop out needs to get married, and have a dozen kids. Oklahoma would be stronger. This is something I don't understand about you Americans. I got a call from TULSA, TWO 'wards' of the STATE and HHS for the last 16 years, went out on New Years Eve, and 'lost their virginity'. They are 14, and were bragging of their feat. They've been in shelters, Oklahomans paid for their cell phones, and a church family I know, TRIED SO HARD, to break the cycle of homelessness. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME PAIN AND SHAME in poor decisions. Why these girls know that if they get pregnant, they will get love pats at school by their peers, and the STATE will pay for either an abortion or get support to keep it around. SOCIALCRATS are going to kill the human race. I CALL SLAVERY AS AN INSTITUTION back into consideration, not based on RACE, but generations of people who need a STICK, some sweat, and learn how to get up in the morning sober and go to work.
There I said it.

[Dustoff45]

One measure for me on a valid education is one's ability to both write and spell.

I spent over three decades working with "educated" people in Federal Government. By "educated" I mean those with a college degree.

In my work, we frequently asked interviewees to subscribe a simple statement. At first, I didn't think anyone could spell.

I later observed that both writing and spelling are personal abilities unknown to others until expressed; meaning, one may be able to hide this inability.

I remember one supervisor, who was well thought of by others. He was modeled as a delegator, as he had the office receptionist typing all of his work. What others saw of his work product, was what she typed. He was paid three times her salary. He could out-talk and out-argue anyone. He had a sharp mind, and his oral skills had purchased him great favor with others.

However, the time came that he had a sudden injury, surgery and unexpected retirement. We never saw him in the workplace again. The task fell on me to prepare his office for his replacement. In going through his files, I discovered in the man's own handwriting his inability to spell. The receptionist, also a college graduate, was able to privately transcribe his notes into polished documents. She was the one with the greater education. He was the one that received the pay and glory.

When the PC began to dominate the work force, transcription to a typing pool died, as many were able to generate their work product on their personal work computer. I watched as several dinosaurs struggled in the transition. Eventually, eMail has outed us all.

Some Freepers observe the occasional misspelling with glee. Other type without even knowing that they are demonstrating to the world their handicap.

I suggest that if you want to advance your "education", read everything you can, observe spellings, write and share with others, and welcome their feedback and corrections on both grammar and spelling. Do not hide any weakness in written skills, but hone them. Those with oral skills may be effective wherever they can find a soapbox, but here in the world of the Internet, written expression reigns as King.

[JustPiper]

This drop out needs to get married, and have a dozen kids. Oklahoma would be stronger. This is something I don't understand about {{{you Americans)))

What? What on earth are 'you' doing at FR?! You need to know, 1. Kyle is no ordinary young man and dropping out of 2.American PE system does not mean he is a dropout

[JustPiper]

if you want to advance your "education", read everything you can, observe spellings, write and share with others, and welcome their feedback and corrections on both grammar and spelling. Do not hide any weakness in written skills, but hone them. Those with oral skills may be effective wherever they can find a soapbox, but here in the world of the Internet, written expression reigns as King.

It hoits (intentional. love West Side Story ;) anyway, it does upset me when someone butcher's the gentleman's English -g- And when I began homeschooling, after a failed attempt of private education with my oldest, I stressed going back to my roots of the Three R's. My son taught himself algebra at 10 (good thing). My daughter has an excellent command of English. Seeing how they have grown as 'good citizens' really touches my heart. I have the very same problems with defiance occasionally, as any so-called normal adolescent, but being Mom and teacher does have advantages -smiles-

Ther is a wonderful school in Illinois, that understands many parents cannot afford private school and will not subject their children to a metal-detector education. It has satellite correspondence that is exactly like their in-school curriculum and they grade, monitor and the kids can even graduate with the regular class if we choose. But we came to them late.

The social aspect is where homeschooling gets it's biggest critics. But I see many social imbeciles coming out of every school in this country.

[ladylib]

I used to work in a word processing department. We had to edit and polish our "customers" documents. You will never know how many stupid people there are in executive positions until you work in a word processing department.

[Kwilliams]

Thanks for posting...yes, it is tongue-in-cheek.

[NewRomeTacitus]

Kyle Williams-Veritas would be wise to choose one last name over the other. No disrespect meant, but the hyphenated name is rapidly becoming an indicator that the bearer is:
1.a product of liberal-socialist quasi-parentage,
2.a product of culture clinging to tribalistic matriarchal linkage,
3.a person who uses it to gain a society-tier upper hand when other people fail to remember it (like German "Vons"),
4.a person who uses it to gain a perceived moral high ground when other people fail to spell or pronounce it correctly (since MLK's dream has been warped after his demise).

Nitpicking aside, Kyle has correctly identified the education establishment's substitution of education for indoctrination and has taken proactive measures to insure that he won't become another casualty.
Great article, JustPiper!

[NewRomeTacitus]

Self correction: That should have been "substitution of indoctrination for education".

Let this stand as an example of public education.

[Kwilliams]

My name is not Kyle Williams-Veritas. It is simply Kyle Williams. Veritas is the name of the column - http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36433.