You have no right (rebuttal to editorial that laid claim to home school kids)

Raleigh News & Observer | December 6, 2001 | Tom Smedley

[TomSmedley]

“North Carolina is depending on today’s children to grow into the type of skilled workforce that attracts new business and investment. We ignore the education of 38,000 of these priceless resources at our peril.”

What is wrong with this excerpt from Friday’s editorial page? What makes it so obnoxious, threatening, condescending? To be blunt, the “we.” The imperial/imperious “we.” “We” the masters must make sure that “you” the subjects don’t mess with “our” merchandise. “Our” possessions. “Our” “resources.”

Got news for you, N&O, and coercive utopians everywhere. Home school children are cherished family treasures. Family responsibilities. They are not yours to process. They are not domestic cattle of The State. They enjoy that archaic thing called “freedom,” which is, historically, the catalyst for greatness.

Statists, worry about the kids you already have. When your janissaries, your “resources,” are as resourceful, competent, and literate as the home-schooled kids, then you might have credibility. Meanwhile, mind your own business, and leave well enough alone. What we see you doing with those you already have gives us no confidence in your bald, bold assertions regarding the kids outside your re-education camps.

[borntodiefree]

I'm in NC, and it is none of their business what my kids are doing. I DO NOT and WILL NOT register my children with the State.

[mamaduck]

If they are worried about the "quality" of those "resources" they better get them out of public school!

[SuziQ]

What's wrong with it? Well for one, those 38,000 kids in peril are the best educated kids in the state.

In MA our homeschooled kids are exempt from taking the MCAS (State achievement exam). Most h/sing families are just as glad they don't have to take it, but I suspect our kids could wipe the floor with most of the public schooled kids in the state. Maybe that's why the State doesn't require it; it would certainly make them look bad, wouldn't it?

[mamaduck]

One day we will hear a massive sonic boom that will travel around the world (twice) when he pulls his head out of his butt.

oh!oh! ROFLMAO!

[Oberon]

Hey.

I'm in Rocky Mount. Having seen both the local public elementary schools and the unwashed yard apes of all colors, shapes, and sizes that they produce, I believe I would sooner move out of the state than send my children into these state-funded mind-grinders.

But then, I'm funny that way.

[meadsjn]

38,000 * ~5000/yr = ~$190,000,000/yr

If NC, like most other states, reduces the per pupil funding when students pull out of public school, the bureaucrats have a financial incentive to get them back. Usually this is accomplished by enlisting the Social Services scum to get the children into the foster care system, upon which they are required to attend public school.

[TomSmedley]

Funny. There was a time, not so long ago, when NO ONE worried about hearing "we" in reference to our citizenship in our state and our nation.

Now, crackpots and extreme America-haters take every opportunity to equate national pride, or pride in one's state or community, as "dangerous."

I am a big fan of mediating institutions, covenantal entities, such as family, church, and civic order. As a Trinitarian Christian, I worship a God who is simultaneous One and Three. Since God Himself exemplifies community, this must be an important dimension of life!

I object, however, to the bipolar weltanschuung of the statists. Their world view recognizes only two realities -- the State, and the individual. For a statist, civil government exactly equals "society." Any other units must meekly find their place in the greater whole, the Great Society (LBJ), the Great Community (John Dewey).

I find a sense of community in family and in church, as well as in neighborhood. Does this help clarify matters?

[OK]

. I DO NOT and WILL NOT register my children with the State.

The definition of a pioneer is a guy with an arrow in his back. Defying a state truancy law is risky business.

North Carolina has a relatively good homeschool system. I wish you would reconsider, because that kind of behavior can give the rest of us problems. All you have to do is send in a one page form, then give an annual mail in achievement test. That is not exactly tyrannical. If the State finds out you are unregistered it could get pretty nasty for you.

[borntodiefree]

The problem is that the statute (though it is nonconstitutional) makes homeschools private schools subject to the state legislations. Additionally, last year the Federal Courts ruled that if a state receives ANY federal money for education then the state and all schools under the states jurisdiction MUST abide by any stipulation the Feds make whether the individual school receives the money or not.

I also own at least one firearm :) which would violate federal law about having a gun within 1000 yards of a school, though it has not been enforced (yet), it does not mean they can't use it as a tool at their convienience.

A little tyranny, a lot of tyranny, in this instance, I am right, and am willing to fight it all the way and then some if neccessary.

[Ethan_Allen]

“North Carolina is depending on today’s children to grow into the type of skilled workforce that attracts new business and investment. We ignore the education of 38,000 of these priceless resources at our peril.”

You probably know about this site, but in case you don't:

HR 1385 Workforce (Investment/) Development Means Life-Long Indoctrination

Molding Human Resources for a Global Workforce

http://www.crossroad.to/text/articles.html . See articles under 'Education'. The rest of the site is excellent as well.

Illbay, you might want to take a look. The 'education' plans of the 'state' are not just for the kids.

[bettina0]

What, pray tell, is a "janissaries"? Or what are "janissaries"? Anyhow, it's not important. North Carolina has 38,000 homeschoolers? That's great! Guess what, NC statists? Children aren't "products." And they certainly aren't "creatures of the state." They really don't owe anybody anything. They don't "owe" the state a workforce. Government is the servant of the people. People aren't the servants of government and parents will educate their children as they see fit. And apparently 38,000 or so parents don't see public education as a good enough educational option for their kids. Do you know what all this concern about regulating homeschoolers leads to? School-to-Work and a planned economy. How can we "the state" entrap homeschoolers into the same life-long learning,womb-to-tomb, government-controlled, wage-slavery as our public school kids? Just because some parents are smart enough to leave the system, doesn't mean that their children should suffer the same fate as government-educated children.

[bettina0]

"The problem is that the statute (though it is nonconstitutional) makes homeschools private schools subject to the state legislations. Additionally, last year the Federal Courts ruled that if a state receives ANY federal money for education then the state and all schools under the states jurisdiction MUST abide by any stipulation the Feds make whether the individual school receives the money or not." -- How can that be? For one, not all states recognize homeschools as private schools. The new education bill will also free homeschoolers from federal control (testing, for example). Homeschools in states that consider home schools private schools are also exempt from gun laws. I'm sure that private schools that don't receive federal money are exempt form federal control also. If they aren't, they're sure acting like they are (no interest in government or state testing for them).

[OK]

and am willing to fight it all the way and then some if neccessary

Those are interesting sentiments. In a perfect world you would be right. You seem willing to risk everything to make a point.

[Darth Sidious]

I am right, and am willing to fight it all the way and then some if neccessary

It's way past time we stop being so "polite" with these people... and FORCE them to understand in NO uncertain terms that what God has given us, won't be surrendered willingly.

[TomSmedley]

What, pray tell, is a "janissaries"?

The Ottoman empire levied a tax in children on Christian villages. Every year, a certain percentage of the young men were rounded up and sent to Istanbul where they were circumcised, made to recite the magic words that turned them into muslims, and trained in martial disciplines. They were the slave soldiers/administrators who made the empire viable. They propped up the system that oppressed their families and enslaved them.

I think the closest parallel to the yeni cheri (Turkish: new troops, anglicized as janissary would be the TAG ("talented and gifted") programs which cull out the kids whose brains have survived the statist indoctrination so far, subject them to more intensive attention at "governor's schools," and use them as future "leaders." Supporters of the status quo.

[Restorer]

Accurate for the most part. However, through most of the Ottoman period, the janissaries were not forced to become Muslims, although the vast majority did, overwhelmed by the contrast between the luxury of the palace and their former homes in mud floored huts.

Also, not all janissaries were trained as soldiers. The cream of the crop were rather taught to be scholars and administrators.

They eventually wound up dominating, dethroning and even killing Sultans who got in their way.

[thulldud]

The Janissaries were an elite army corps maintained by the Ottoman Sultans. They originally were "recruited" from Christian minorities or prisoners of war, converted to Islam, and specially schooled for service. They eventually got to be more trouble to the government than they were worth, and in 1826 the Janissary force at Istanbul was massacred in a mutiny, and the corps was officially disbanded.

[Doctor Doom]

There was a time, not so long ago, when NO ONE worried about hearing "we" in reference to our citizenship in our state and our nation.

There was a time, not so long ago, when NO ONE would use "citizenship" as a euphemism for collectivism.

Comerade.

[TomSmedley]

They eventually wound up dominating, dethroning and even killing Sultans who got in their way.

Or, or an even more ancient bit of ancient history consider the career of Daniel. Marched 500 miles to Babylon, perhaps after being neutered. Trained in the lore of his captors. A top bureaucrat whose career spanned several empires. The leaders can play their games of musical chairs, but the bureaucracy outlives them all!

Interestingly enough, the janissaries were single, if not celebate. Imperial service is not compatible with family formation. They finally overturned their soup kettles (traditional signal for a mutiny) one time too many, and were exterminated by an even newer military unit, modeled after the European pattern.

[borntodiefree]

It is unfortunate, but if I don't (and we don't) start fighting back, what kind of legacy will I leave my children.