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We just took our 6 year old niece to Disney World. While in Epcot, I made sure to take her into the American pavilion so she could watch the "American Experience" show.

Throughout the show, I kept leaning over and explaining who everyone was...

"That's George Washington, the father of our country. He led our troops in the Revolutionary War."

"That's Thomas Jefferson, the man who is credited with largely writing our Constitution."

"That's Abraham Lincoln, leader of our country during the Civil War."

You get the idea.

Wouldn't you know... of ALL the people that she saw in the show, there was only ONE for whom she pointed at the screen and exclaimed, "I know who that is!"

Martin Luther King.

I was a little taken aback since this was late into the show and she hadn't known a single historical figure up to this point. Furthermore, MLK only flashed across the screen briefly, during a montage, yet she still picked him out readily.

So I asked her what MLK was known for.

(rough paraphrase, by memory) "He had a dream and he wanted everyone to be free including the 'afra-mericans' and then he got shot 'cause some bad person killed him."

OK... six years old. She can't even get the days of the week correct yet (don't blame me, she's my niece! (though we worked on that!)) but she can rattle off a mini-bio for MLK. She didn't even know any of the names of the other historical figures. Great.

Public education priorities. Gotta love 'em.

(I think MY kids will be home-schooled... when I have 'em, heh.)

Get her out of public school!

I have a daughter, she's 4 1/2 and an only child so I have to be mindful of spoiling her ... anyway, she counts to 100 and wants to learn about money. So we sat down and discussed, what's on a penny. Who is Abe Lincoln. Where is the Lincoln Memorial (on back of penny) etc with ALL the coins. I also emphasized "In God we Trust" is on most of our currency and showed her. Next week we tackle dollar bills, five dollar bills etc.

The point is she sees FIRST hand that God is more important than money and the role Christian men played in out Judeo Christian rooted country. BTW, she also goes to a private Christian school where the Bible is studied, unapologetically.

It's a wonderful school. For Thanksgiving the entire school makes their own authentic feast with foods the Pilgrim had for their feast. Of course Easter and Christmas are also celebrated. When they are YOUNG is the time to put this into their little heads.

(I think MY kids will be home-schooled... when I have 'em, heh.)

I hope you stand firm in this decision. A shared commitment to homeschooling was one of the "must have" requirements my husband and I had for the person we would marry. Hardly a day goes by without a new news report providing additional evidence confirming the wisdom of that commitment.