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[Even in homeschooling, you'll have the problem of agendas in textbooks, parents turning out liberal robots, etc. -- at least with public schools, kids are exposed to a lot of differing viewpoints. Imagine a future where half of the population has been homeschooled in an echo-chamber of liberal propaganda, without being exposed to other students or teachers who can make the case for other worldviews.]

Do you really know many, or any, homeschoolers? In our 12 years of homeschooling belonging to three differeent homeschooling groups, usually with dual memberships, I have NEVER come across the mindset you have described. While I'm sure there are liberal homeschoolers out there, I have yet to meet any.

That's been my impression as well, but note that I was talking about a "future" situation. What I meant was if some folks here had their way and public schools were abolished, then education would "balkanize" into various islands of private schools and/or homeschooling. In that scenario, there would be a lot of liberal "enclaves" of private schools catering to liberals, and/or homeschooling focusing on liberal indoctrination.

"...an echo-chamber of liberal propaganda," IS a public school. Kids aren't taught to think for themselves as much as parrot back what the teachers teach.

Yes and no -- while there's a lot more liberal crap in public schools than most of us would like, it isn't (except in rare extreme cases) as bad as the kind of "echo-chamber" I was writing about, where it's liberal curricula taught to liberal students, with nary an opposing view or idea anywhere to be had. And again, parent involvement can go a long way towards bringing schools back to something closer to the center -- schools do lean liberal, often strongly, but when conservative parents fight for balance it can and does have an effect.

It happened to me in public high scool and even public universities.

And yet you didn't turn out liberal. ;-)

Where I live, the homeschoolers are split 50/50 liberal/conservative, with most in the in-between range. I have come across extreme left-leaning homeschoolers, the Michael Moore types. I live in a Democrat-controlled state, and I guess the homeschool community reflects the community as a whole.

Anyway, last election, some homeschoolers around here got into a discussion about Bush vs. Kerry, and I made a lot of enemies, got the silent treatment at the next get-together, and was glad to finally know who those people really were and move on. ;-) That's the whole beauty of free association - we can pick and choose our friends. :-)

So, if government-controlled schools were shut down, yes, there would be "liberal enclaves" of homeschoolers here and there. But, there would also be conservative groups and everything in-between. That's the beauty of educating in the free marketplace. Free association is the rule. We are free to pick and choose for our children. We can decide to associate with one group and not another.

Not so in a public school. You're stuck with your local school system. I had one child in public school for a short time, and I was the "speak-up" type of parent. The problem is, when you're outnumbered, you can speak up every single day and majority-rule will still dictate what your children do and learn.

Ichneumon,

Again, I simply can NOT believe that you are conservative. You wrote the followin in message #69:

"What I meant was if some folks here had their way and public schools were abolished, then education would "balkanize" into various islands of private schools and/or homeschooling. In that scenario, there would be a lot of liberal "enclaves" of private schools catering to liberals, and/or homeschooling focusing on liberal indoctrination." ( Ichneumon)

Ichneumon this is straight from the NEA talking points. So....do you really have this little faith and trust in the good sense and intelligence of the American people that they would "Balkinize" themselves!??? Huh?

Thankfully, true conservatives KNOW the true character, good sense, responsibility, and appreciation of diversity of the American citizen and they KNOW that this would not happen.

Even in the unique cases of the Amish we KNOW that even this group of people is fully integrated economically in the comerce of America and are well respected and welcomed by all of their neighbors in the communities in which they live.

Anyone who would post this statement is NOT a conservative.

You also wrote the following:

"Yes and no -- while there's a lot more liberal crap in public schools than most of us would like, it isn't (except in rare extreme cases) as bad as the kind of "echo-chamber" I was writing about, where it's liberal curricula taught to liberal students, with nary an opposing view or idea anywhere to be had. And again, parent involvement can go a long way towards bringing schools back to something closer to the center -- schools do lean liberal, often strongly, but when conservative parents fight for balance it can and does have an effect." ( Ichneumon)

Ichneumon, a true conservative would KNOW that we have a human right to freedom of association. It is WRONG and IMMORAL for government to force children into association with liberals, or conservatives, or even moderates.

A true conservative would KNOW that even if parents are involved attempt to make changes in the government school, it is WRONG and IMMORAL and against the human condition for any mob of voters or activists to impose their educational worldview ( which will have political, cultural, and religious content and consequences) on other citizens.