Public School

[tremendoustie]

I'd like to propose the idea that responsible parenting these days means not dumping your kids in public school. That is, a responsible parent will, along with providing food and shelter, either home school or send their kid to private school, and unless and until a parent is able to do so, they should not have kids.

What do you think of this? I know this may sound inflammatory to some, but it is honestly how I feel. Allowing others to have that much control over how your child's mind is shaped, especially given the environment we know to exist in public schools, seems reckless.

 

[LittleLightShining]

My kids are in public school and it was with a lot of beating myself up about my inadequacies that I did so.

Judge not, friend. All parents who put their kids in public school are not bad parents. All parents that homeschool are not good parents. Some parents with kids in private school are not involved with their children's education.

 

[tremendoustie]

My kids are in public school and it was with a lot of beating myself up about my inadequacies that I did so.

Judge not, friend. All parents who put their kids in public school are not bad parents. All parents that homeschool are not good parents. Some parents with kids in private school are not involved with their children's education.

That's true, and I know parents often find themselves in impossible situations. In a hard situation, a parent might be forced to send their kids to public school, in order to pay for rent.

You're right that I can't and shouldn't judge everyone's situation, and perhaps my original statement was too harsh.

It's more of a planning issue. Those who have kids now have to do the best they can with the circumstances they're in -- but do you think a couple should choose to have kids with the knowledge that they will have to put them in public school, or should they wait until they have other options?

I don't intend to make people bad that have had to make hard choices, and are doing their best. I guess I'd like it to be something that young couples are conscious of, and plan for, like financial stability, and a home.

 

[Working Poor]

People and their free love that is not free are so seduced. The energy of the population's sexuality is being used. Men and women need to have more respect of this vital part of human life.

The "machine" needs to grind up bodies and they will do it one way or another. The people need to get a clue. The more government funded babies we have the more people will be willing to do the governments bidding. I don't guess freedom can ring in this area.

 

[teacherone]

What makes you so sure private schools are any better? I happen to be a private school teacher-- doesn't mean every teacher in the place preaches liberty and self reliance. In fact most private school teachers were educated in public schools in the first place.

Still have a lot of pro-government folk running amok. If you can find a private school that expresses the values of this movement by all means give us a tip.

If not, you're most likely wasting your money.

 

[LittleLightShining]

That's true, and I know parents often find themselves in impossible situations. In a hard situation, a parent might be forced to send their kids to public school, in order to pay for rent.

You're right that I can't and shouldn't judge everyone's situation, and perhaps my original statement was too harsh.

It's more of a planning issue. Those who have kids now have to do the best they can with the circumstances they're in -- but do you think a couple should choose to have kids with the knowledge that they will have to put them in public school, or should they wait until they have other options?

I don't intend to make people bad that have had to make hard choices, and are doing their best. I guess I'd like it to be something that young couples are conscious of, and plan for, like financial stability, and a home.

One thing we said when we had kids was that they'd never be in day care. So far so good. My husband and I (when I worked) took opposite shifts. Our anti daycare stance is part of what's keeping me from moving forward right now politically. I can't see putting my littlest on in someone else's hands at such a young age, even if it is just for 4 months.

It was my intention to homeschool and I did for a while. Life has a way of throwing curveballs. The best laid plans are just that-- plans. My first went to private school at 7. My second went to first grade at 6. We couldn't afford to send them both to private school-- unless I went to work and put the youngest in day care. When you weigh the options what's better?

I think a lot of people do think about finances before they have a kid, but I do agree that child care and schooling should be conscious decisions, not givens.

 

[kaleidoscope eyes]

Hmmm.... My son will be starting Kindergarden next year, my husband has indicated he would rather have me homeschool our children. I know this probably works wonderfully for people, I know this would not in my case. I know my son, and I know myself, I know from experience already that it would not be a positive experience for me or him to attempt to homeschool him myself, no matter my good intentions.

He really NEEDS to be around lots of kids his own age doing normal school kid stuff in order to do the work necessary, this has already been proven to me since I put him in preschool this Fall, he actually does the activities that he would refuse to do with me alone, believe me, I have tried.


Does this make me a neglectful parent? I don't know. I know it makes me a sane parent, and will save both of us a lot of stress and frustration in the long run. The key is to stay involved, and ask questions I think. I figure, if we feel our children are being harmed by the education they are receiving, we will pull them out, change schools, get tutors, or whatever is necessary.

While I don't want my child to become a mindless automaton, I certainly don't want my home to become a battlefield of wills, it is not worth it to me. I love him dearly, but we can drive each other up the walls lol.
We'll see how it pans out. Perhaps when he is older.

 

[angelatc]

My kids are in public school and it was with a lot of beating myself up about my inadequacies that I did so.

Judge not, friend. All parents who put their kids in public school are not bad parents. All parents that homeschool are not good parents. Some parents with kids in private school are not involved with their children's education.

This. ^^^ I love how people that don't have kids know exactly how to raise kids.

People cannot do everything themselves. That's why we live in packs. It's is ridiculous to presume that becoming a parent automatically means you're a fantastic teacher.

As far as planning ahead....I always swore I would homeschool until I had kids.

 

[Isaac Bickerstaff]

There are homeschool co-ops all over the country for parents that feel that they are inadequate. Parents have a vested interest in their child's education; teachers do not--no matter how much they claim they love your kids (that's really creepy, by the way).

 

[heavenlyboy34]

I'd like to propose the idea that responsible parenting these days means not dumping your kids in public school. That is, a responsible parent will, along with providing food and shelter, either home school or send their kid to private school, and unless and until a parent is able to do so, they should not have kids.

What do you think of this? I know this may sound inflammatory to some, but it is honestly how I feel. Allowing others to have that much control over how your child's mind is shaped, especially given the environment we know to exist in public schools, seems reckless.

I agree with you. However, most don't. So, until the majority of society demands more responsible, intelligent, and independent people, we'll just get more of the same. So many expect responsibility and thoughtfulness from the government, but don't practice this in their own lives. I've never been a parent, and I wouldn't become one if I couldn't pay for things like schooling and food.

 

[Working Poor]

There are homechool co-ops all over the country for parents that feel that they are inadequate. Parents have a vested interest in their child's education; teachers do not--no matter how much they claim they love your kids (that's really creepy, by the way).

Yes there are but you won't find these co-ops if you do not look for them. My children all played sports and did other activities that interested them. I had a really good network of friends in home schooling.

We took turns all the kids were in the same grade range that worked together. All the kids were ahead of their public school buddies. Several kids asked their moms to get involved that would not have joined had the kids not asked. They can graduate earlier if they stick to it and that is a good thing to most teens especially.We helped each other several were single moms who had to work and we just factored it in they still took their turns. I worked I still took my turns. It was fun being with the kids if you don't like to hang out with kids then it might be harder for you to cope with it.

Once you can find a group that you feel in harmony with (I formed my own with my friends cause we all had children that were about the same age) you will see that it saves time. Some kids are more morning people while others get more focused as the day passes. Vacations and holidays are easier too.

If you really want to do something usually you can find a way. Home school nurtures the family and community it makes everyone in the family more able to help with the running of the house hold. All the people I did this with lived in the same neighborhood. It was the best time of my life!!!

 

[Son of Detroit]

I've been in public school all of my life (11th grade currently); I wouldn't have it any other way. I turned out fine. Last time I checked, I wasn't some government indoctrinated drone.

I couldn't imagine being homeschooled. It'd be terrible. I couldn't learn anything that way.

I plan on sending my kids to public school. The key is to take an active role in your child's education, and be involved in school processes. Ask what your kid learned in school today, look over their papers they take home, work on their homework with them. Sure, there is some liberal indoctrination at all levels. But if you take a role in your child's education, you can help weed out that kind of stuff.

Hell, if medical school doesn't work out, I would LOVE to be a teacher. Teaching high school would be awesome, I would enjoy it very much.

 

[tremendoustie]

Just so people are aware, there are large homeschooling groups in most parts of the country. Often, they'll be co-ops one or more days a week, where each parent will teach a subject they have knowledge of, and kids can sign up for classes they're interested in. In any case, these groups can be great resources.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

I've been in public school all of my life (11th grade currently); I wouldn't have it any other way. I turned out fine. Last time I checked, I wasn't some government indoctrinated drone.

I couldn't imagine being homeschooled. It'd be terrible. I couldn't learn anything that way.

I plan on sending my kids to public school. The key is to take an active role in your child's education, and be involved in school processes. Ask what your kid learned in school today, look over their papers they take home, work on their homework with them. Sure, there is some liberal indoctrination at all levels. But if you take a role in your child's education, you can help weed out that kind of stuff.

Hell, if medical school doesn't work out, I would LOVE to be a teacher. Teaching high school would be awesome, I would enjoy it very much.

You're happy that you got your education at the expense of others without their permision? (via taxation) This lack of morality makes me sad. I couldn't imagine burdening society with the cost of teaching my children. It strikes me as just irresponsible. (Not to mention that American Standards for public education aren't competitive with the rest of the world. John Stossel's special on schooling is illustrative of this. There are also some good books on this listed in various pages on this site, such as John Gatto's work.)

 

[Son of Detroit]

You're happy that you got your education at the expense of others without their permision? (via taxation)

It's really the only way I could have gotten an education. My parents barely make any money so private school is out. They also both work full-time and wouldn't be able to homeschool me.

I admit it, I'm selfish. I really don't care what you think of me. Flame me, call me a statist, socialist, fake Ron Paul supporter, I don't care. But without the public school system, there is no way I would be in the great educational situation I'm in right now, applying to great colleges and starting the road into medical school.

So maybe I don't belong here since I'm not a purist like you.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

It's really the only way I could have gotten an education. My parents barely make any money so private school is out. They also both work full-time and wouldn't be able to homeschool me.

I admit it, I'm selfish. I really don't care what you think of me. Flame me, call me a statist, socialist, fake Ron Paul supporter, I don't care. But without the public school system, there is no way I would be in the great educational situation I'm in right now, applying to great colleges and starting the road into medical school.

So maybe I don't belong here since I'm not a purist like you.

No, you wouldn't be applying to colleges and such, but that wouldn't make you worthless. You could've taken an entry level job and earned the money to pay for an education. (I'm not saying I'm perfect-I made the same mistake. What I'm talking about in this thread I would in fact do if I had known better way back in 2000) How do you think people became doctors and such before public education? Lincoln had hardly any formal schooling (50 weeks total), and many of the people we now think of as brilliant never saw the inside of a classroom.

It's not that you don't belong here persay, but that you should strive for better than the status quo. If you had gone out and earned the money, you would have gained character and valuable experience to put on your resume. I think all people have the potential to do much more than they give themselves permission to do, and the State system helps suppress this urge to do great things.

 

[tremendoustie]

It's really the only way I could have gotten an education. My parents barely make any money so private school is out. They also both work full-time and wouldn't be able to homeschool me.

I admit it, I'm selfish. I really don't care what you think of me. Flame me, call me a statist, socialist, fake Ron Paul supporter, I don't care. But without the public school system, there is no way I would be in the great educational situation I'm in right now, applying to great colleges and starting the road into medical school.

So maybe I don't belong here since I'm not a purist like you.

In a truly free system, there would be help for the truly poor. We see examples of this already in third world countries, where even people who can barely afford to eat are sending kids to private schools, which cost only a few dollars a month. These schools often accept kids whose parents are too poor to pay, because they want to have a good reputation in the community. In addition, there would be separate charities -- and of course, in a free society your parents would have far more wealth, as it would not be continually stolen from them through inflation, over regulation, and taxes, as well as market distortions, including boom/bust.

Also, if your parents are unemployed, or underemployed they may have time for something like homeschooling, although it seems you believe that approach would not have worked for you.

 

[jsu718]

It is really only in the North-East of the country that private schools are noticeably superior to public schools. In the rest of the country homeschooling is popular because there is not a better option... but I will say that as a public school teacher that any option is better than dumping your children into a system that you aren't personally involved in. If parents are more involved it doesn't matter whether the school is public, private, or home.

 

[Icymudpuppy]

There are homeschool co-ops all over the country for parents that feel that they are inadequate. Parents have a vested interest in their child's education; teachers do not--no matter how much they claim they love your kids (that's really creepy, by the way).

Only for ultra-religious folks in my area.

Frankly, science is an important part of education that my children will get better at public school than either private schools or homeschool co-ops in my area.

My district has plenty of good liberty minded folks running the school board and as teachers and principles. I think they do a pretty good job. My school district sent 3 Paul delegates to the state convention out of 4 allowed.

 

[tremendoustie]

Only for ultra-religious folks in my area.

Frankly, science is an important part of education that my children will get better at public school than either private schools or homeschool co-ops in my area.

My district has plenty of good liberty minded folks running the school board and as teachers and principles. I think they do a pretty good job. My school district sent 3 Paul delegates to the state convention out of 4 allowed.

There definitely are some public schools that are better than others, but I question the idea that science education cannot be accomplished more successfully home-schooling. I conducted numberous chemical and physical experiments (only occasionally to the detriment of the furniture -- C12H22O11 (Sugar) + H2SO4 (Sulfuric Acid) → 12C (Graphite) + 11H2O (Water) + H2SO4 + heat in particular ended with me chipping carbon off of the counter with a chisel .).

In no time did I feel limited -- in fact, the opposite was true, as I was not held back by the rest of the class. I'm now finishing my masters in physics, so I'm pretty sure I wasn't stunted scientifically.

Most of the necessary materials and equipment can be ordered inexpensively, and there are many effective textbooks which can provide the theoretical background. In addition, if a parent truly is inept scientifically (which I wouldn't be too quick to conclude -- most parents can pick up middle and high school level science easily), there is usually expertise available within the homeschool group.