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How could our democratic government, which is founded on principles of freedom and self-determination, make laws requiring children and adolescents to spend a good portion of their days in prison?

I thought this might strike a chord with a lot of folks here.

I know a young lad who was in day care from age 2 and a half to 4, then in preschool, then in public school from Kindergarten through 3rd grade. He loved kindergarten and got on very well with several of his teachers but still HATED to be in school and relished every day off. At age nine he would still cry when Christmas Vacation ended. He always regarded school as indenturement. He loved doing un-educational things at home (video games and lame movies especially), mostly because he associated anything "educational" with imprisonment.

The funny thing was that this was an incredibly intelligent and intellectually interested child: his IQ tested at above 130. From fourth grade onwards he was home schooled but continued to hate all his schoolwork. He went back to high school in 9th grade and enjoyed it moderately but resented the high load of schoolwork. Nevertheless, he became valedictorian because he knew deep down that he was capable of doing so and that to do otherwise would close doors that didn't need to be closed to him.

It was not until he was 18 that he finally managed to psychologically separate scholarly learning from indenturement. When he did, the results--the improvement in his character and his overall attractiveness as a person--were apparent almost immediately. He's 26 today: if you talked to him from scratch you would think he had always been a brilliant dilettante who loved learning and loved school; it is not until you get to know him and hear a bit about his personal story that you'll find out how little self-confidence he has.

All this is not the only reason; there were also significant familial and confessional rides in his life, but few were so dramatic as the jolting rides from too much schooling, too early on. In one sense it really ruined his childhood.

1 posted on 06/08/2011 9:23:54 AM PDT by MegaSilver
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To: MegaSilver

They hate school because at times they are forced to do things they don’t particularly want to do. Sort of like the rest of life.


2 posted on 06/08/2011 9:26:56 AM PDT by La Lydia
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To: MegaSilver

These days teachers do not teach anything useful, let alone teach.
Had one math teacher tell us, “Well, most of you saw polynomials in the New Windsor school district already so I don’t over it.”
None of us were fom the New Windsor school district.


3 posted on 06/08/2011 9:27:29 AM PDT by Darksheare (You will never defeat Bok Choy!)
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To: MegaSilver

“so I don’t have to go over it.”

Typo alert, check your keyboards...


4 posted on 06/08/2011 9:28:50 AM PDT by Darksheare (You will never defeat Bok Choy!)
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To: MegaSilver
Ask any schoolchild why they don't like school and they'll tell you. "School is prison."

Most high school students who hate it are too stupid to benefit from HS-level education.

End free school at 8th grade and give vouchers for HS - with an entrance exam.

Almost all school problems would disappear.

5 posted on 06/08/2011 9:29:52 AM PDT by Jim Noble (The Constitution is overthrown. The Revolution is betrayed.)
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To: MegaSilver

It’s because the “Modern” Public School System was set up by Horance Mann and John Dewey in the late 19th and Early/Mid 20th Century after they had looked at the “Education” System in Germany during Bismark. The German System and Prison were kinda similer. Oh Bismarkian Germany is where T. Roosevelt, W. Wilson and FDR got alot of their BAD “Progressive” Ideas from.


6 posted on 06/08/2011 9:33:58 AM PDT by US Navy Vet (Go Packers! Go Rockies! Go Boston Bruins! See, I'm "Diverse"!)
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To: MegaSilver

Ya wanna talk about “Prison?” I went 2 a boarding skool. Gotta grate ejamacation , tho,,,,,


7 posted on 06/08/2011 9:34:26 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: MegaSilver

“We don’t need no education. We don’t need no thought control.”


13 posted on 06/08/2011 9:44:08 AM PDT by DonkeyBonker
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To: MegaSilver
I read this WSJ article (What Makes Finnish Kids So Smart?) when it came out; and really think the Fins have it figured out. They basically treat the kids like adults and let them think for theirselves was my understanding.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120425355065601997.html

16 posted on 06/08/2011 9:45:59 AM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (2008 was about words; 2012 will be about numbers)
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To: MegaSilver
School isn't prison, though there are some similarities. By logical extension, if school were prison then home schooling would be home imprisonment.

My daughter who attends public schools love school. She is sad when the school year ends. Why, mostly because of her friends, but she also loves learning.

There are several more reasons why kids hate school.

Replace most teachers with fun computer programs and easy to watch video tapes that allow a student to learn at their own pace, while insuring progress.

23 posted on 06/08/2011 10:11:08 AM PDT by DannyTN
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To: metmom; wintertime

Why don’t prisoners like prison?


35 posted on 06/08/2011 1:15:02 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued (Muslims are a people of love, peace, and goodwill, and if you say that they aren't, they'll kill you)
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To: MegaSilver

School is prison.
^^^^^^^^^^

School is prison for children whose only crime was being born.


40 posted on 06/08/2011 2:01:15 PM PDT by wintertime
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To: MegaSilver

Is this your experience? It sounds like mine.

At 21 when I graduated college I really came to resent the 19 years I’d spent in INSTITUTIONS, following orders. I could not turn around and go straight to grad school. Ohhh, the crap I got from my family. But I just couldn’t take it any more.

I eventually did go get a master’s but not for a decade. I’ve learned more on my own and from reading than I ever did in schools.


41 posted on 06/08/2011 2:06:02 PM PDT by Yaelle
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To: MegaSilver; Clintonfatigued; 2Jedismom; 6amgelsmama; AAABEST; aberaussie; Aggie Mama; agrace; ...

ANOTHER REASON TO HOMESCHOOL

This ping list is for the “other” articles of interest to homeschoolers about education and public school. This can occasionally be a fairly high volume list. Articles pinged to the Another Reason to Homeschool List will be given the keyword of ARTH. (If I remember. If I forget, please feel free to add it yourself)

The main Homeschool Ping List handles the homeschool-specific articles. I hold both the Homeschool Ping List and the Another Reason to Homeschool Ping list. Please freepmail me to let me know if you would like to be added to or removed from either list, or both.

42 posted on 06/08/2011 2:15:01 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: MegaSilver

Was pleasantly surprised at seeing Peter Gray half grok
the real purpose of the education establishment. For a
larger view, read John Taylor Gatto.


61 posted on 06/09/2011 11:51:55 PM PDT by cycjec
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To: MegaSilver

I remember wishing I could leave school and work in
a factory, at least part time, this when I was about
ten or eleven.


62 posted on 06/10/2011 12:03:51 AM PDT by cycjec
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