Are you assuming that learning actually happens inside the instiutional-type school? I contend that it doesn't!
Most learning happens in the home through the efforts of the parents and the child himself. These are the people who doing the hard work at the kitchen table, reviewing phonics as they read to the child, making certain math facts are memorized, and creating a home where education is valued.
It is the child himself who thoroughly studies his textbooks, works the problems, answers the questions, writes the essays, and prepares the projects IN THE HOME!
If it were carefully examined, we would learn that institutional schools are merely sending home a curriculum, grading the projects, and administering the tests. The hard work is done at home. The home habits of academically successful children are **identical** to the home habits of academically successful homeschoolers. What the parents and children of academically successful institutionalized children are doing is **"Afterschooling"**!
I support parents who choose private schools so that their children can have socialization with other children and families with values that match their political, cultural, and religious worldview. But...Studies really should be done to determine how much learning happens in the school, and how much is really due to the parents and child himself, at **home**.
If we knew how much learning happened at home or in the institutional school, it would help parents know if they are getting full value for the money spent. Also...If most learning is due to "afterschooling", then it is **insanity** to think the traditional institutional school will be of any value to the disadvantaged child. These children will need private schools similar to KIPP. ( George Will calls them "paternalistic" schools.)
It’s not like a gun is cocked to your head and you’re forced to go or anything.
The gun is cocked at the heads of taxpayers who must pay for these atheistic government schools! And...These schools may not even be teaching anything! These government schools may merely be sending home a curriculum and it is the parents who are doing 99% of the effective "afterschooling"!
The gun is cocked at the heads of parents who can not afford private school or homeschooling. They are literally are under police threat to send their children to the atheistic, socialistic, and Marxist dominated government schools. If you do not believe this please do a Google check on the words: "Truant and Police". ( Real bullets in those guns on the hip!).
Some parents can afford to use private or home schooling. I call it "ransom". Some call it "jizya".
Finally... Government schools are a **price-fixed** monopoly business that is giving a service away tuition **free**! If private CEOs tried to corner a market and drive out competition in this way, they would soon be in prison! In my county there are **no** private schools! Why would there be? Government is creating a terrible business climate for the creation of a private alternative! Then when there are no private schools, the government threatens parents with **armed** police and court action if they refuse to send their child to these government price-fixed monopoly schools!
My son just started government school (kindergarten). His teacher is awesome. I know this because I have talked with her at length, I have seen her teaching, and an impressive number of other people have told me what a great teacher she is. I know that she is better than any teacher my son would get in private school (and I know what I am talking about).
The curriculum in the public school kindergarten is actually pretty intense. They learn to read and do math at a level that used to be considered normal for first grade or even higher. I am confident that a great deal of my son's learning this year will be taking place in school and it won't all just be "afterschooling".
Are you assuming that learning actually happens inside the institutional-type school? I contend that it doesn't!
I contend that since you home schooled your kids and they are out of the house now, you actually have had no contact with government or any other schools for a long time and this is just an entirely theoretical discussion for you.
Pass the link along to all your mailing lists. Keep smashing at the machine.The next step is vouchers tied to inflation and population growth.