George Bush's secret army (Why Democrats Hate, and Fear, Home Schooled Kids)

Economist ^ | March 17th 2004 | Economist

[Libertarian444]

It is no longer about whether home-schooled children are losing out, but whether they are doing unfairly well.

Unfairly well?? Jeez... I can see this cute little phrase becoming the new mantra of the NEA. Kids aren't performing at public schools because of shoddy mismanagement by the NEA and their political cohorts; it's because home schoolers are doing unfairly well.

[netmilsmom]

Excuse me! With as bright as your kids are, I don't think you have much to worry about ;-)!!

I want my girls to be just like them!

[Mr. Jeeves]

They give up not just a free public education...

It ain't free...seen the cost of remedial tutoring at Sylvan Learning Centers these days?

[ArrogantBustard]

Don't let the bad guys define the terms of debate.

You think people should be allowed and encouraged to excell? You're normal.

The radical egalitarians who oppose 'unfair outcomes' are the sick whackos!

[blackdog]

I homeschooled my daughter for four years and then sent her on to a good private high school where she has exceeded our wildest hopes in both academic and sports/social concerns.

At first while home schooling we were chased by the local school district in various ways. I then enrolled her in the public school's summer school foreign language classes, since one of the reasons we homescooled her was that she could not get foreign language in the 5th grade even though she had three years of spanish prior. Well, when she took Spanish III in the summer of fifth grade and had to take over as teacher in the class, it was funny and dangerous. Many of the students who knew her started asking if they could homeschool to their parents and to the school. It got quite embarrassing for the school district and they left us alone ever since.

Good private schools seem to have abandoned the SAT in favor of the ACT.

[twigs]

What an encouraging story. God bless you and your family! I too have a daughter was as thought to be ADHD, although I never had her tested. I have just limited her surroundings so that she would not be overstimulated. She is now 19 and in college. While she still struggles with a few of the symptoms, she's matured into a lovely and energetic young woman. And she has learned to share her enormous energy with others. Channel these children in the right way and they are incredible blessings. I'm sure yours will do especially well at home!

[Teacher317]

A revolution is happening in American education. As it grows in size, it should frighten teachers everywhere.

FRIGHTEN?!? It should OVERJOY teachers everywhere. A true teacher cares about children being educated in a nurturing environment. Home beats schools hands down. A true teacher cares about giving their charges a life-long desire to learn. Far too many distractions and opposing messages in public schools today prevent that. A true teacher doesn't care if the administrations and unions are served, so long as the students are.

[twigs]

I love your story! Teachers and schools really struggle with the competition offered by home-schooled children. As well they should.

[gobucks]

Our homeschool basketball team left practice early to campaign in the streets for a local politician, I do not know about other homeschool groups but ours is very involved in politics.

Home schooling is in essence PRIVATE schooling. In my experience, most private schoolers I've met tend to be deeply politically active.

[Teacher317]

Like everything else, it comes down to a choice. All us parents make the choice, even if we give it nary a thought.

And, as always, this article indicates that the Liberals are terrified of free citizens making their own choices.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

We went from homeschooling in Texas to homeschooling in Pennsylvania........ soon to be back in Texas...... sure will cut down on my workload not having to keep all those records to convince someone in the public school system that I'm actually teaching my child............

[StarCMC]

Thanks for the ping Sarge! And a ping to you Diva!

Homeschooling Rocks!! (Just ask my kids!)

One of my friends kept having to answer the question from many family memebers about how much her kids were missing out on by not going to a regular school. She set their fears aside by telling them "it's really ok. Once a week I take Johnny to the bathroom and shred his homework and steal his lunch money after beating him up. He's not missing a thing!" That shut them up! LOL!!!

[MasonGal]

Top o' the morn' to all of you.

Happy St. Patrick's Day - Homeschooling PING!!

[TxBec]

When I pulled my kids out in 2001, I was told an attendance officer would come by for a visit (just a formality, they said)....it's 2004 and haven't seen him yet.

[netmilsmom]

Big HUG to your daughter!
I can't think of a better way to spend my time than to be a part of educating my babies. Today, we have downloaded everything St. Pat's day. Even math! We are all in green and the corned beef is cooking. We will make soda bread later. We are also learning Irish songs to sing for Daddy!
Geez, it doesn't get much better than this!!!

[headsonpikes]

The public school system is the transmission belt of American Socialism.

Kids! Disrespect wrongful authority!

[netmilsmom]

This is what sold me....
http://www.thememoryhole.org/edu/school-mission.htm

It's a pretty left wing site but this information is amazing!
(my homepage is from here)

[StarCMC]

Whoops! Diva -- meant to ping you to this story! I wasn't calling YOU a Diva, Sarge! LOL!!!

[gobucks]

Don't let the bad guys define the terms of debate.

I don't. But I've garnered criticism for it in the past.

[driftless]

A few years back a home-schooled girl from Wisconsin, my state, won the NATIONAL spelling bee. One local public school teacher from her area was quick to dismiss it. He contemptuously stated that it didn't mean anything. How's that for undermining accomplishments? Of course the nitwit was upset that it was a home-schooled kid who won it and not someone who had the misfortune to come out of one Wisconsin's public schools.