What are some people's problem with Ron Paul supporting Homeschooling?

[RoyalShock]

Or will you hold them hostage to your own ancient superstitions?

Honestly, who is going to engage in an intellectually honest discussion with you when you insult them? That is pathetic.

Until we start having kids that are emotionally and intellectually mature by the age of five, a free society must accept that parents get to choose how to raise their kids. And neither you or the government should interfere with that. Unless they are harming you or the kids are being abused, it's none of your business.


I went through public school in a conservative Kansas town, and while I wasn't bullied, I did get made fun of (like many kids are). But the taunting did affect my self-esteem and self-confidence into my adult years. I was in college before I "recovered". I probably would have benefitted from homeschooling at least in my early years.

I have a 15 year-old son who is happy and outgoing. But he had some social problems early due to being borderline ADHD (identified in 2nd grade at the same public school system I attended). I worked with him at home with how to deal with difficult social situations and he was able to grow and mature until he could handle just about anything by the time he reached middle school.

The point being is that had I not worked with him at home and allowed him to learn from watching other kids or instruction from teachers that had to deal with 25 kids, he'd have never adjusted. And instead of having a straight-A honors student who gets along with everyone and is well-liked, he might have been a problem-student always getting into trouble. The solutions to kid's problems begin at home. That's why homeschooling works so well. If we didn't have a great local school system here where there is extensive parental involvement and local influence, I'd find a way to homeschool my kids.

 

[webber53]

Well, being a teacher myself certified to teach both science and math, currently teaching math in a high school, I have a few opinions on this thread.

1. Evolution: The more I learned about science, the scientific method, and the requirements of proof in science, the more I was shocked at how completely false most claims are of people that push evolution. The typical flaw I found in reporting was that small conclusions were drawn to huge predictions. It is like me buying a car and house in January and predicting that I do the same every month for 10 years. I always split up the evolution arguments into macro and micro evolution. Yes there is plenty of evidence that species evolve over time into different more viable creatures in terms of attributes, but the jump from that into macro evolution and speciation is speculatory and unprovable at best. Creationism is There is no reason to teach either view above the other. Neither is necessary in a solid education. Evolution and Creationism cover one aspect of one part of Biology teaching, which is only one of many areas of science.

2. Home schooling: One of my major projects during my masters degree in education was based on home schooling. There is plenty of evidence of positives in home schooling. I have yet to see anything come out that shows that it is deficient in any measurable way. The issue I have on a policy level is that there is no reason to remove choice from parents in any way. This of course is the same view I hold with most policy. Citizens should never be deprived of their right to choose on ANYTHING based on the views of a few people. The issue of abortion is about the only one where I find any deviation from that at all because it removes choice from a fetus, but in other issues, there is never a valid reason in my view to remove the freedom from one person so long as it does not infringe on the freedoms and rights of another.

3. Religion: This again is the choice of every individual. Parents have the right to teach their children whatever they want. Children have the right to choose whatever they want in terms of religion once they become adults. I would not say that it has no place in school or in government, but it shouldn't be the deciding factor in controlling people's lives or behaviors.

4. Ron Paul: Dr. Paul supports choice in schooling, and is also pro-life (while maintaining the freedoms of each state to choose on both issues). Mandating that all children go to a public school violates their freedom. No child should be forced into going to a public school if their parent is against it.

5. Qualifications of teachers: With NCLB, teachers are required to have a certain number of college hours in the area that they are teaching, not just a degree in education. MOST teachers are very qualified to teach the subject that they are in. No, they might not be from the industry, but knowledge of a subject absolutely does NOT make someone qualified to teach it. The very worst teachers most times are the ones that have knowledge of a subject but none about education theory. I personally got into teaching after getting my bachelor's degree in Computer Science and spending time in the field and hating being a programmer and network admin. It took a lot of learning and experience before I became any good at all at being a teacher.

6. Brainwashing: Evolution advocates are generally far more guilty of supposed brainwashing than religious parents are.

Thank you for your learned opinion.

 

[moostraks]

jsu 718...I think the learning to teach part can hinder some parents in the first years of detoxing that occurs for public school to homeschool. The children have expectations of school at home. However the environment is different and for my children who have never attended public school they have no preconceived notions. They accept that I will teach them just the same as they learned everything up until the paper to pencil time...I would never want the job that teachers do of other peoples children...

 

[jsu718]

jsu 718...I think the learning to teach part can hinder some parents in the first years of detoxing that occurs for public school to homeschool. The children have expectations of school at home. However the environment is different and for my children who have never attended public school they have no preconceived notions. They accept that I will teach them just the same as they learned everything up until the paper to pencil time...I would never want the job that teachers do of other peoples children...

Well, it is pretty much the same thing that I started with in private tutoring. When it is one on one, the biggest thing to do is to explain the material. If you have a good curriculum and materials, then skill shouldn't stand in the way. Learning to teach comes at the same time as the children learn how to learn. Home schooled children are far more likely to understand how to learn from their own efforts.

 

[MGreen]

How could anyone be against homeschooling? We should be able to choose how our children get educated, if they get any at all, just as we should be able to trade a liberty dollar for a loaf of bread. Government isn't there to make us good or wholesome people; that up to society in general (parents, friends, neighbors, churches, etc).

If you think homeschooling should be regulated or discouraged by the government, Ron Paul may not be your candidate.

 

[moostraks]

Well, it is pretty much the same thing that I started with in private tutoring. When it is one on one, the biggest thing to do is to explain the material. If you have a good curriculum and materials, then skill shouldn't stand in the way. Learning to teach comes at the same time as the children learn how to learn. Home schooled children are far more likely to understand how to learn from their own efforts.

LOL!!! I was a curriculum junky for awhile. We found one that works well for us and the rest is history...The oldest 2 who went to public school were a pill though. The oldest is back in public school because she wanted the social aspect and she is doing poorly academicaly. She will not focus there because it is just a social gathering to her. She is one who has to learn the hard way. Life will take its toll on her...

 

[Son of Detroit]

I fully support the choice to homeschool, although I know it would never work for me. I just can't concentrate at home. When I do my homework at home I can barely focus, which is why I do most of my homework before school. Home to me is for relaxing and just doing whatever I want. Having actual lessons would be even worse.