(I'm not a huge fan of fisking an article, but this article about homeschooling simply asks for a brisk knock on the noggin' and I'm taking a shot at it because Mr. G's still at the lake and I'm bored.)
There has been a bit of discussion over Scott Thomas's editorial on homeschooling and I'd like to add my own 2 cents. Mr. Thomas opines:
I guess, as a true blue (or is that true red) conservative, I’m
supposed to be a big supporter or home schooling. It’s one of those
bedrock conservative issues, like the right to carry guns and lower
taxes. But, I’m not in the home school camp.
To further
thicken the soup I find myself in, I am a Christian and, for a myriad
of reasons, home schooling has become quite fashionable among
conservative Christians who wish not to subject their children to the
liberal secularism prevalently found in our public schools.
So,
to maintain my conservative Christian membership credentials, let me
clearly state that I am not against the parents’ right to home school
their children. I just think, by and large, it’s not a very good idea.
Three points, actually. The right to raise our children in the manner we deem fit is just as important and critical as 1st and 2nd amendment issues. One need not carry a six-gun or picket on the sidewalk to support each citizen's right to do so if they so desire, but the inability to pass this critical information on to the next generation could and does cripple the nation.
Thankfully Mr. Thomas clears this quibble up in his 3rd paragraph, but not to my satisfaction. We've all probably written or said something like this, so I count myself among the guilty, but not being against the parents' right to homeschool doesn't necessarily translate into demanding parents have the right to educate their children.
Finally, the part about homeschooling becoming quite fashionable is a reach, at best. Equating the decision to take on the responsibility to educate one's children to the choice of this year's "cool shoes" is a dismissive pot shot at home educators, even if the author doesn't intend it to be so. For the record, I hadn't noticed in the last 16 years I've been homeschooling it was all the rage and even if it had been, I wouldn't have decided to do it to keep up with the Jones' pink capri pants.
Mr. Thomas goes on to say:
I do allow that, in some cases, a few cases, home schooling is best for
the child. For example, highly skilled and dedicated parents probably
should home school their kids when the public schools don’t have the
capacity to challenge the occasional true geniuses among students. And,
there are other examples to be found.
Why thanks so much for allowing a few cases, you magnanimous fool you, but that isn't the point. We don't homeschool because we have the occasional genius, nor should you make that your criteria. Can you imagine the discussion at the Thomas household? "Ed, you're a bit clever, but we've decided you just don't make the genius cut, so off with you into mediocrity."
Homeschooling is about finding and developing the natural talents and individual genius of each and every child. The public school system can no more do this than it can keep the little Einsteins occupied.
Not a single teacher in the system cares about my child as much as I do. Not one. Does anyone with two brain cells to rub together actually imagine their child's teacher agonizes over their child's progress just like the parent? Knows the child's interests and dreams and is willing to tailor an education around very individual, specific parameters? They don't because they can't and we all know it.
Assuming only the most bright children deserve an excellent education isn't conservative, it's taking a page from Brave, New World and woe betide the Deltas and Epsilons. Welcome to the park. Here's your rake.
Mr. Thomas goes on about homeschoolers protecting their children, but I'll not address that today because that isn't primarily why I homeschool. Skipping down he brings in public school teachers:
As
one public school teacher told me, “As a teaching professional, I am
deeply hurt by the Christian community's pull-out from the public
school system. The (public school) teachers I know are excellent! And
many of them are Christians! They have a wealth of experience and
resources that can't be matched by home schooling parents. Not only are
teachers highly-educated (all having Bachelor's degrees, and many
having Master's or PhD's), but they are specialists in their fields. We
go to conferences, read up on the latest research and have teams of
Master Teachers who mentor educators new to the profession.
"Most
parents do not have the level of expertise that we do. The parents that
I have seen home school their children often struggle along needlessly,
comparing various curriculums, uncertain of what their children should
know. Add to that children who are struggling with disabilities or
learning to read, and the gap between what parents know about teaching
and what the trained professionals know, widens. Most adults wouldn't
rewire the electrical system of their home on their own, they lack the
expertise to do it right. Many would hire a professional. That, in one
sense is what teachers are hired to do.”
Bingo! That is what teachers ARE hired to do. That’s why I like the sound of “school choice” or “school vouchers”.
This is about as dense as bringing Tony the Tiger in to endorse Lucky Charms. It ain't happening. And this chick is full of it as I have very good reason to know. She's either a new teacher or she's lying. There are excellent teachers in the system, but every single teacher knows many who are rot in the system and every year good children suffer because of them. My family is full of public school teachers. I hear the stories. Don't even go down this road with me.
Here's the dirty little secret. There is no choice at the public school. They have good teachers and very bad teachers and the parents have absolutely no say in which teachers their children will have because parents aren't allowed to pick their child's teacher. Sure, they can request Mrs. Johnson, but they can't insist on Mrs. Johnson. I'll allow that being able to insist on Mrs. Johnson would do wonders for the system, but that isn't happening in my child's lifetime.
In a perfect world, my cousin Shel would teach my kids English and run the Drama program, my Aunt ML would be in charge of math, my sister-in-law Rob would be in charge of elementary education, my Aunt Judy would teach kindergarten, and my Uncle Windy would be the science guy. Cousin Brit would make them all computer geniuses, cousin Tonya would also contribute to the computer literate meme, and Uncle Shorty could come out of retirement and administrate the entire business because he wouldn't be forced to call strippers in to handle their children anymore.
It isn't a perfect world and the school system doesn't allow me these choices. It doesn't allow any parent these choices. You take what you get and you'd better like it or the crappy teachers will take it out on your child. Believe it.
But Mr. Thomas goes on:
Let’s
give parents, most of whom are NOT great teachers, the option to send
their kids to real, professional, great teachers. Let’s hold teachers
accountable to high teaching standards, and only hire and maintain
those who do. Let’s insist on not allowing public schools to trample on
the constitutional rights of our children, and let’s hold our elected
school board officials accountable for maintaining the standards that
we, as citizens of each school district, demand.
If you
perceive problems with your public schools, you can choose, as a
family, to be part of the solution, or you can run from the problems
and home school. While that may be the right decision for a few, in my
opinion it is more often a decision that deprives students of some very
fine teachers, and doesn’t teach them a thing about how to get along in
the real world.
Oh let's! And while we're at it, let's take back the courts so that the constitution won't be misinterpreted as a living document at the whim of liberal jurists. Let's control the borders so that no terrorist comes into this country via Mexico. Let's ban terrorist bombings in the U.S. and in Iraq forever. Let's rid North Korea of nuclear weapons once and for all. Hell, let's ban illiteracy while we're at it.
And by all means, let's just sacrifice our children on the altar of good intentions like goats to the slaughter until that day beams brightly on the horizon. What ridiculous rhetoric. I'm surprised he didn't encourage us all to join hands in a circle and sing Kumbaya. I'll stand by ya in the fight, Mr. Thomas, but I'll be damned if you take my kid along with you for cannon fodder.
There’s the key. Feel free to open the
box. But, before home schoolers email me in droves, I hope you’ll ask
yourself if you really are, at the end of the day, the very best
Algebra, Trigonometry, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Spanish, English,
German, Latin, Literature, Grammar, Health Science, Physical Education,
Music Appreciation, Composition, Psychology, Social Studies, Current
Events, American History, World Geography, Communications, Astronomy,
Computer Skills, Graphics, Art teacher, classmate and soccer coach your
child can possibly have within your school district.
Consider Pandora's box opened, Mr. Thomas. Anything a homeschooling parent cannot be the best at, they can hire done and actually pick the teacher they want and like. Amazing stuff. The list is quite silly anyway. Homeschooling parents can bring a world of experts into their homes through DVDs, videos, CDs, and books. We don't have to worry if the public school instructor is up to the task because we've already found the experts in the field and invited them into our homes.
I must chuckle at these selections, though:
Health Science, Physical Education, Psychology, Current
Events, Communications, Astronomy,
Computer Skills, Graphics, classmate and soccer coach...
Insert favorite Health class, P.E., classmate, and coach humor here! Did Mr. Thomas actually attend public school? I must have missed the current events, communications, and the Astronomy lab. Was that when we punched the constellations into the bottom of soda cans in 6th grade after the principal made the morning announcements? No worries Mr. Thomas. I may not be the very, very best, but I think I've got it covered.
I can certainly check myself off as best for my kids regarding this list because I know something Mr. Thomas doesn't know. My own kids.
