The home-schooling revolution: Williams asks parents to take children out of public schools

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Saturday, August 17, 2002 | Kyle Williams

[Jeff Chandler]

r9etb doesn't sound like a plant to me; he sounds sincere. Perhaps he does know some homeschooling parents who are over-protective, and he is projecting their behavior onto the rest of us. Once he go into the discussion, his pride prevented him from considering that he may be mistaken. Also, a lot of otherwise intelligent people glom onto the NEA talking points, without having thought the issue through.

The thought of a little NEA-inspired intrigue does have its charm, though.

[Bullish]

Govt. schools spend more time brainwashing students then they do educating them.

It's wrong to make parents who home school, pay taxes for public education that they don't agree with.

[Ravaged Nation]

Kudos to you and your beautiful family. :D

[Domestic Church]

"The thought of a little NEA-inspired intrigue does have its charm, though."

Not really...you don't want them to sabotage your PC. They play as dirty as the other unions.

[WriteOn]

What utter tripe...

[okimhere]

Oh, I could {{{hug}}} you for what you said in your post. You expressed yourself so well! This country needs youngsters like yours coming up through the ranks. Young people who are alert, knowledgable, curious, wanting to learn.

I grew up in the country so I guess I'm one of those rubes a previous poster referred to but once I got to the city and found a job, I had no problems assimilating. In fact, my boss later gave me the best recommendation I've ever heard: "She treats the janitor the same as the General." (It was a defense plant.) It seems as though I didn't have a problem relating to whatever group of people I found in my vicinity.

You go, gurrrrl!!!!

[Kwilliams]

I'm happy to see families such as yours' making the sacrifices required to give their children a good education and be a part of the 'revolution'.

Your family sounds like mine.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

Wow! I'm in awe of you! What a great defense of homeschooling/socialization.

I'm glad you made the obvious point that meeting the children of the "garbage man" is not the same thing as meeting the "garbage man" himself. I couldn't believe he actually thought that that was a great argument to support his views.

I take offense at this man's condescension toward the "garbage man" and the "guy with the tattoo". Did you notice that he didn't ask how these homeschooled children would ever meet wealthy children or successful business people? He assumed that homeschoolers are all elitist wealthy types who need to rub shoulders with those "blue collar workers" (EWWW!). Maybe he should look at the demographics of homeschoolers. Perhaps he'll find out that the homeschooled child is more likely to be the child of the garbage man than the child of the Fortune 500 executive.

Candi

[TankGurrrl]

Thanks everyone... Truthfully though, it really doesn't feel like a "sacrifice" ... It feels like an honor. I love being with my guys all the time... They're a big help around here. They do their own laundry, they do the dishes, they make my coffee every morning :) ... they do their own breakfast and lunch (within the parameters of "healthy") and my husband or I make dinner. The older they get the more helpful they are.

And the funny thing to is, I can't remember the last time I had to discipline them in any way. No, they're not perfect (neither am I)... but they don't rebel against us. They stay within the rules of our family -- "Don't hurt people... don't hurt things.... don't hurt yourself" They rarely fight.

People have always asked "how long" we're gonna do this... I always said, "As long as it works." It's still working. My oldest was discussing with us possibly going to high school (his choice) to "get used to having to sit in a desk"... He was concerned that maybe he'd have trouble getting used to college if he'd never done it before... His little brother suddenly said, "Oh no! What will I do at home without you?!" So they discussed it and my older son decided that he'd wait till his Junior year (if he goes) so that his brother would be doing much harder school work and not miss him so much... Funny. :)

Too bad this isn't the "norm" for most people's lives. I feel like they're the ones that are missing out. :)

[Marie]

I will agree with you that there are overprotective homeschool parents; however, in my experience, it?s my hsed son who is getting into trouble for pulling the ps kids into a game of ?cops and robbers?, ?let?s see how big of a hole we can dig in my mom?s back yard (an activity I encourage), wrestling and tree climbing. It?s usually the ps kids who are regulated and stifled with safety rules. All of the hs parents I know believe strongly that boys should be boys and are very comfortable with the rough and tumble play. It?s the parents who have to teach their children to conform that won?t let them get dirty and who panic over a bruise.

It drives me crazy when my son?s peers don?t want to go outside and play in the snow ?because it?s cold and I might get hurt? and who cry when there?s splashing in the pool. I?ve seen this over and over and it?s always a relief when I find a like-minded mom who?s raising her son in a more natural manner.

[Semi Civil Servant]

I'm beginning to think that r9 is an offended public school teacher.

IF you read closely, you will discover a certain anti-homeschooler's wife “had maybe 5 actually useful education courses”. And a pack of un-useful ones, too, I'll wager.

I got the same thing from my school teacher cousin when we started homeschooling. However, my college professor uncle (E.D.) was completely supportive.

This "socialization" garbage is just that: John Dewey's regurgitated nonsense for people without any real arguments against homeschooling. Dewey argued that SOCIALIZATION was the PRIMARY goal of the educational process.

Said Dewey: "Apart from participation in social life, the school has no moral end nor aim." From "Moral Principles in Education"

Anyone ever see THAT quote above the school room door? Thought not.

The study below showed that homeschoolers were better off than publick skule kids in the areas of communication, daily living, SOCIALIZATION, and maturity.

Thomas C. Smedley's master's degree research

Studies by Johnson, Shyers, Taylor, Delahooke, Knowles show that "socialization" isn't a problem for homeschoolers.

If any children suffer from a lack of being with diferent "kinds", it's the publick skule K-12 kids who end up only being able to relate to a narrow sub-group of their peers.

My 17 year-old-daughter will be a sophomore in college this coming semester despite the fact that had she attended the publick skules, she would be a senior in high school this year. So far, we haven't had any notes from her profs telling us she is horribly backwards or has a hard time getting along with anyone. Of course, we didn't do "keggers" or angel dust in our fussy, introverted little homeschool, so she's obviously socially incapacitated. It will eventually show up. Maybe when she goes to architectural school.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

Of course, we didn't do "keggers" or angel dust in our fussy, introverted little homeschool, so she's obviously socially incapacitated.

LOL! Poor child. She's missed so much!

My sixteen year old is going to take his first college course next month. I'm very excited, but he is pretty nonchalant about it. Those homeschooled kids--they get so scared when they have to go out into the "real world".

[Antoninus]

A few questions for you:

Do you have kids?

What type of school do they attend?

Have you ever been in the army?

Just curious.

[Nam Vet]

My wife is the main teacher for our 12 year old son. You can figure (as an estimate) 1/4-1/3 of public school time actually teaching in homeschool exceeds public schooling. Of course, while I don't formally teach classroom style to my son, we spend a lot of time talking about the Constitution, morality, religion, American History just to name a few. When a question comes up, we research it in my books or the 'net'.

As far as social education, he's been in many activities. Right now we are in the local Football League. All the other boys are in public schools, but I've had several questions about homeschooling already. My son is entering seventh grade now but his highest score in the state mandated tests is in language/vocabulary etc he tested 13th year and about 5th month. He is no raving brain child nerd. He is a NORMAL American 12 year old not exposed to liberalism. It's NOT as hard as people think.

Nam Vet

[Nam Vet]

Sorry, but it seems to me you have a chip on your shoulder regarding homeschooling. The protective parents come in all schools. We homeschool our 12 year old, but I want him to be a man's man. He is! He does everything a public school student does PLUS! With all due respect, it really grinds me that the most critical people of homeschooling are the most ignorant of it. Seems standard of those who wish to impose their beleifs on everyone else.

"Like, how to talk to the tattooed redneck down at the hardware store? Or the tough-talking guy on the garbage truck? Like, how to talk to the tattooed redneck down at the hardware store? Or the tough-talking guy on the garbage truck?"

You talk to him in a CIVIL manner, just as the civilized people of our past times did. If they have a problem with that, ya KNOCK 'EM ON THEIR ASS! Oh, by the way, my kids also took about 4 years of Kung Fu as an extra experience to 'socialize with others of their age group. Heh Heh

Nam Vet

[Jeff Chandler]

I take offense at this man's condescension toward the "garbage man"

I once had some business at a local "refuse hauling" outfit. The odor at the facility was quite strong, and I asked one of the garbage truck drivers quite matter-of-factly how long it took to get used to that smell.(I wasn't being a smart-aleck like I often am here and he took no offense; I was sincerely curious.) He answered that, to him, it smelled like money. I later learned that the average driver at that company was pulling down 60 grand a year!

[Nam Vet]

The more replies of yours I read the more I know you. You and I are at polar opposites. You are obviously an a$$hole regarding homeschooling. Totally ignorant of the workings and actualities of it. How's that for KNOWING what to say to idiots from the 'other side of the tracks'? My kids KNOW how to take care of all of those situations. The pubic school students seem to be the ones with the murder statistics, not homeschoolers.

Nam Vet

[The Raven]

This is great but only works with a competent teacher.

[Jeff Chandler]

Not really...you don't want them to sabotage your PC. They play as dirty as the other unions.

They really don't want to do that. It wouldn't be wise.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

I later learned that the average driver at that company was pulling down 60 grand a year!

Beauty (or odor, in this case) is indeed in the eye (nose) of the beholder, lol!