Posted on 09/01/2006 4:05:39 PM PDT by ChessMan
I think both of you might enjoy this book:
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/index.htm
I recommend supporting the author by purchasing a copy, but it is posted in its entirety at the above link.
I'm sure glad to know that you know all about ALL public schools!
Of course there are no problems with private schools...such as child molestation...
And we know that all homeschool children are safe and would never wind up drowned in the tub by their teacher/mother.
And school uniforms are the answer and that is why there are no scandals at our service academies involving cheating, lying, or sexual assualt.
If YOUR public schools suck it is probably because YOUR community sucks.
BTW, I've probably been in more high schools and dealt with more counselors and teachers, students and parents than you have.
Add to that having had my kids in both private and public schools systems in at least four different states.
I've seen junk in both public and private schools.
Ultimately it is up to the parents to do what is right.
"While I can appreciate people who advocate a positon, I don't have a whole lot of tolerance for anyone who insists on telling everyone else what to do....as in we MUST homeschool, or we MUST use private schools or we MUST leave the public schools."
Who is saying that anyone must do anything? The only compulsion here is with regard to compulsory government school attendance. Private schools and home education are strictly voluntary.
While I agree that government schools are *in part* a reflection of the community they reside in, that line of reasoning only goes so far. It tends to ignore the impact that outside influences have over a school or school district. Influences such as state and Federal regulations, court decisions, and national teacher's unions. Influences that any one local community isn't going to have much say in.
I'm pleased that your community has been able to more or less hold the line. That just isn't the reality that most parents face. That there are good government schools out there is thin consolation to the majority who are stuck with mediocrity.
Originally I was responding to a poster who demanded that everyone leave public schools.
I would no more demand that everone use public schools that I would demand that everyone homeschool or use private schools.
I've done enough of these school threads over the years and dealt with plenty of posters who not only think there way is the best way but that it is the only acceptable way.
I've been planning to read that book for years, and I still haven't gotten around to it.
I just finished reading "The Well-Trained Mind", yet another book I'd been meaning to read. We're a whole six years into homeschooling, and I've finally read it. Luckily, I already had the right ideas. (At this point, the book just validated them).
At this rate, I guess I'll start reading Gatto's books when I retire. :-)
LOL! Isn't THAT the truth! I have a pretty good strategy, and I'm STILL backlogged; and that's just the books I acquired in the last five years for myself. Forget about the hundreds we've picked up for the rest of the family. Just this week my wife and another home educating friend descended upon the local library's book giveaway and hauled off something like eleven boxes of books for all grade levels. All told I think we've something on the order of 3000 books in our house (I made a rough estimate once but we've brought in more since). I've long ago given up on the idea of reading every book we own.
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