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[byron]

"They're trying as hard as they possibly can to protect their children, and for that they must be applauded," Apple said. "But in the long run, protecting their own children may even lead to worse conditions for the vast majority of students who stay in public schools, and that's a horrible dilemma."

He kind of gets it, and he kind of don't!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051212//ap_on_re_us/black_home_schooling;_ylt=Ap3J7qXdPtX_oABjsJL2cudH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MjBwMWtkBHNlYwM3MTg-

[lewlew]

This was a great article.  The person you quote is a researcher, right, tracking homeschooling trends? What he says is the standard "for the greater good" pablum they all spout. 

It is very encouraging that more and more people are waking up to the menace of federal curriculum and its non-academic propaganda, no matter what course of action they take.

[purple kitty]

I think it is less people waking up to the federal propaganda and more people just realize that public schools suck and they want better for their own kids. The more people home school, hopefully the more people will refuse to pay for public schools, then the worse they will get, and the MORE people will want to home school or send them to private schools, and maybe, just maybe the public school system will collapse under it's own weight. <sigh>...............

The most annoying argument I get in favor of the public school system is "you have to have an educated society." Well, I don't think the public schools are educating anybody... (heard that from a public school teacher, naturally)

[debeez]

Byron beat me to posting this!

I thought it was a great article, until the last sentence.  And the last sentence made me think that I really could care less about the greater good.  I'm far more concerned with how my child or children are raised.  Screw the greater good, I'll take care of mine the right way, know I've done a better job, have a short moment of pity for those who don't do the same, and then move on with my life.

Suddenly I understand the term 'bleeding heart liberal' in a whole new light.  It seems that too many people are busy thinking about what is best for the group herd and selling out their own beliefs or second-guessing their own intelligence way too often.

Good for these families for making a difference in their children's lives and not being buffaloed into sending their kids into lousy situations that will affect them in no positive way.

[Scarmiglione']

When it comes to education, I'm positively against the greater good.

Because if everyone is public school educated, my kids should have no problem out competing them every which way to Tuesday.

So please, sheep.  Keep your kids in school.  So that they can go to work for mine.

[velojym]

When it comes to education, I'm positively against the greater good.

Because if everyone is public school educated, my kids should have no problem out competing them every which way to Tuesday.

So please, sheep.  Keep your kids in school.  So that they can go to work for mine.

[lynn271]

"But in the long run, protecting their own children may even lead to worse conditions for the vast majority of students who stay in public schools..."

I have never understood this argument.  How on earth does the absence of any particular student or group of students from a school create "worse conditions" for the remaining students? 

[Erin]

*

[dubber308]

Usually "the greater good" is state and federal funding. The principal and superintendant of my high school refused to sign a paper so my 15 year old brother could get his GED and take the necessary courses to be an EMT. Everything was all set, even though he was underage, but the asshat bureaucrats refused to sign off because they would lose $8000 in federal funding. My brother dropped out, went to work in the woods logging, cutting firewood, poaching cedar, etc. and partying his ass off. As long as he was in the district the school got paid.

[lynn271]

Oh yes, Erin. I'm familiar with those things going on.  My husband and I had to do the very same thing at my stepkid's school.  Sounds like your dad and my husband would get on great, because he used a lot of the same words.  You see, they'd decided that she was to spend her study hall periods tutoring kids who'd failed the state test so they'd pass it next time.  Unfortunately, her mother had enough say in her education that she could veto homeschooling.  It had to be public school or Christian school, and in our area, believe me, the public school was the lesser evil.

Your story reminds me of another similar argument I've heard of against homeschooling.  Several parents I know have been told by school employees when they withdrew their children, "But our school needs students like your child!"  Interesting idea, isn't it, that the students exist for the benefit of the school and not the other way around?  Of course, we know that, but you don't expect to hear it said outright like that.

So yes, I suppose that losing intelligent students who do the teachers' jobs better than they can and can be coerced into doing it could possibly result in worse conditions for the remaining students.  Somehow, though, I don't think that's quite what the writer meant.

[MSlee]

So yes, I suppose that losing intelligent students who do the teachers' jobs better than they can and can be coerced into doing it could possibly result in worse conditions for the remaining students.  Somehow, though, I don't think that's quite what the writer meant.

Losing the intelligent student is one half of the equation, the other half is the idea that parents who are motivated to homeschool should be motivated enough to "school" for free. 

...... But in the long run, protecting their own children may even lead to worse conditions for the vast majority of students who stay in public schools

A similar argument in my area is the "witness for Christ" angle. ......  If we take our Christian students out of public school who will witness to the others?.......

  It's amazing how many people are willing to "volunteer" others, or "sacrifice" children for their collective ideas. 

  I've even heard the argument that parents who homeschool are taking the 'easy way out'.   

Sorry, "I" don't feel like proping up the Fed's indoctrination centers.   

[Scarmiglione']

  I've even heard the argument that parents who homeschool are taking the 'easy way out'.   

Sorry, "I" don't feel like proping up the Fed's indoctrination centers.   

My daughter isn't old enough for public school yet, but so far I agree with that statement.   Homeschooling is easier than public schooling.  I was a great public school student, yet I remember vividly the knock-down, drag-out fights over grades and homework.   My daughter has started phonetically reading and I don't have to fight with  her or coerce her or fix her to an unchild-like schedule.  Learning at her pace, and learning what she's interested in makes homeschooling a lot easier than I expected.

The cool thing is that I've seen how it's really *good* to not bombard her with the same stuff every single day.  When she achieves a breakthrough, I reinforce it, and then drop it for a week or two.  I find doing this gives her brain a chance to really digest and absorb what she's discovered, and within a week, she starts incorporating it into her play time.  Then I know it's time to revisit it.  So there's no stress of trying to force her brain to comprehend things it hasn't digested yet.

So yes, homeschooling *is* the easy way out.  And it's more effective too!