Are they cheating the children?
Remember when the Postal Service said it couldn't get it there overnight? Then companies like FedEx were allowed to compete. Private enterprise got it there absolutely, positively overnight. Now even the Post Office guarantees overnight delivery sometimes. Competition works.
Why can't education work the same way? If people got to choose their kids' school, education options would be endless. My tiny brain can't begin to imagine the possibilities, but even I can guess there soon would be technology schools, cheap Wal-Mart-like schools, virtual schools where you learn at home on your computer, sports schools, music schools, schools that go all year, schools with uniforms, schools that open early and keep kids later, and, who knows? If there were competition, all kinds of new ideas would bloom.
Are public schools cheating children? Is competition the answer? My husband and I have been discussing this the last few days, thanks to John Stossel. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
posted by Crystal Paine at 10:54 AM
16 Comments:
Hi Crystal,
I can't help but believe that homeschooling is the best option for children. I have seen too many young people just slide through the system, graduating with nothing to "spiritually" arm them for the real world. There is no real way to ensure that ones child is getting a proper education when they are at the mercy of someone else. In many cases, teachers are strangers to the parents who have no real idea of who these people are. Their religion, and sexual orientation, cannot be used against employing them so how much control do the parents truly have? Not much.
An interesting website is that of John Taylor Gatto, a former NYC public school teacher who has witnessed the effects of the system firsthand. His website is www.johntaylorgatto.com It is well worth checking out!
A lot of folks claim that homeschoolers are not properly socialized. If by socializing, they mean being exposed to drugs, violence, anti-christian attitudes, and vulgarity then thank God they aren't being socialized! Thank God they are in loving home environments working together in the church
family, the best educating institution there is!
When I have children, I will definately be homeschooling them. I may not be a genius, (I am a lousy math student!) but after seeing what the public schools
teach, I may just have the credentials! I don't want my future children to go through the same mind wasting system that I did.
Okay, I am done with my speech!
Isn’t that contrary to everything you’ve written on this site about homeschool? You have said that you believe that parents are to train their children and it isn’t anyone else’s responsibility. So why would you even consider schools of any type?
Also, who exactly is suppose to pay for these competing schools? Given the large number of people on this site that are adamant about being frugal and adamant about not sending their daughters to college, in part because of the cost, I don’t think you will find most support here. I may be wrong. It will be interesting to see.
The article stated that public schools are cheating children.There many diffrent public schools out there that do offer vrtual learning,some make children wear uniforms,others offer International Baccelauerate Degrees for high schoolers,some have Advanced placement classes.One could onand on about what the public schools do offer and not just say homescholing is the best or that private schools would be the way to go either.One has to be very open minded and accepting of people-especially Christians who chose not to homeschool but the article was not at all about that.
Ash: No, not contrary at all. I like to post articles that make people think -- I don't always agree with everything in them, but I think they have food for thought and so I post them.
You see, of course I think homeschooling is the best option. I also believe that any Christian who truly studies the word of God will also see the grave importance of parents investing their lives in to raising the next generation.
But, I also can't make everyone homeschool (wish I could!) and I know that not everyone will ever be able to homeschool. So, I don't believe in just hiding in my little turtle shell and not looking for other solutions which would at least be better for children than the current defunct public education system (sorry, to you public school teachers who read my blog -- I know many of you are trying very hard and I don't blame you for the current mess!).
I believe that by allowing competition, it would help to put education back where it belongs -- into the hands of parents.
Maybe I'm wrong, though. I'm just happy to see that someone in the mainstream media is admitting there is a problem with the current system and that someone is actually offering some sort of solution besides the traditional solution of spending more money -- which does nothing, in my opinion.
By the way, does everyone know that under the current public school system, it costs $10,000 per year per child? Where is the money going, I'd like to know? It's certainly not paying for good teacher's salaries -- I know that!
I agree with you Crystal, throwing more money at the problem will not fix it.
Interesting post, I'm excited to read what others will have to say on this subject!
What do you think of the school voucher program ? Isn't that sort of to give the parents a choice to send them to a private school instead of public school? Maybe if they offered money to buy books and educational materials also they would have better success with the homeschoolers that do not really homeschool. I know the state of Mn gives you $250 back every year on taxes per child for educational materials you bought during the year. It really made people buy the things throughout the year as they knew it would all come back if you kept the reciept!
Hi Crystal
I taught in rural public schools for 14 years before we got our first baby. I saw NONE of the things you hear talk radio hosts ranting about. We had Bible study on Thursdays, Christian education on Fridays, the Spanish class acted out the nativity story each year, abstinance-only was taught almost exclusively... and so on. On our high school staff of 30, 27 were saved, born again Christians.
HOWEVER, I am POSITIVE this is an exception not a rule when it comes to public education.
Personally, my biggest struggle was with parents. I had two types of problem parents: the total contral freaks who fussed about every single assignment and the total apathy parents... who were just glad their children were gone for 7 hours. These parents were typically 13-20 years older than their children (teens having babies) who never really reached adulthood (figuratively and literally) before trying to parent. They still reacted to everything with the attitudes of teens. Unfortunately, there is a whole generation now raised in this manner... being taught by my generation (and we were trained how to hire good nannies rather than parent).
Until the family becomes a strong asset again, and discipline (teaching respect for self and others) is developed in homes, not a lot will change in public schools.
We will probably send our sons to the local public schools but since our two year old is starting to read, we may have to home instruct to keep him on target. We'll see...
I think society IS changing. More and more women are choosing to actually learn how to be wives and mothers and this has to be good for society in general.
Katie in Ohio
For my two cents:
Homeschooling is a great option, but I don't think it will work for absolutely everyone. More people can do it than think they can, however.
On the other hand, I'm not convinced it is the best option. One thing is sure: I am absolutely convinced that a classical Christian education, with Christ central to everything, is the best thing out there. Some parents might be able to do this, especially now that the idea has been around a while. But most couldn't, which is a great reason to consider classical Christian schools. Then if the Christian community gets really well-educated in this way, they can switch to homeschooling full-scale.
The main problem with homeschooling is burn-out. You try to do too much. This is not to be confused with working hard. A division of labor can be quite handy to avoid this, and that is where a school can step in. One thing that concerns me about homeschoolers is their tendency to assume two things: one is that if you don't homeschool, you are abdicating your role as parent. The second is that if you homeschool, you are automatically fulfilling your role as a parent. I think both of those can fail.
In any case, bring on the competition! There is no reason to suppose that the free market, so effective in driving prices down and quality up in producing many products, couldn't work equally well in the realm of education.
My final word in this comment is about vouchers. I am completely opposed to them. The main reason I am opposed to them is because the government has ruled time and again that voucher money really belongs to the government. Any school, therefore, which accepts voucher money will be eventually forced to accept government rules. This happened to Grove City College, my alma mater. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, and Grove City lost. So now the college does not accept any government funds whatsoever.
I am in favor of tax breaks for people who do not send their children to public schools, because then, correct me if I'm wrong, the money is still viewed as belonging to the parents. In summary, he who takes the king's coin becomes the king's man.
In Christ.
'My final word in this comment is about vouchers. I am completely opposed to them. The main reason I am opposed to them is because the government has ruled time and again that voucher money really belongs to the government. Any school, therefore, which accepts voucher money will be eventually forced to accept government rules.'
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This is why I'm not for vouchers either.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
When reading the linked article, I was reminded of my college education, during which I talked to many international students who compared the quality of education in Europe and Asia to education here in America. One thing is sure; America's public education system is in need of a lot of help, but I don't believe that such a system, which claims to be neutral in religion (a position which Jesus declared impossible) is fixable with reform legislation. More legislation is not going to help the corruption of the American school system.
I also am against vouchers for the same reasons Adrian and Mrs. B stated.
Adrian,
I agree that classical Christian education is an excellent alternative to homeschooling; however, just as homeschooling will not work for absolutely everyone, classical Christian education is not a viable option for many people. Even assuming local availability, price is a huge factor in educational choices. Especially for those who have (or want) a large family and a stay-at-home wife (convictions prevalent among homeschoolers - myself included), private schooling is often not financially possible without going into debt.
Burn-out is an unfortunate consequence of over-expectations and misplaced priorities. I am already considering ways to foster a love of learning and rigid academic instruction - to a houseful of kids - without going crazy in the process :). It can't hurt to think ahead. . . I think the key is realizing that life is an education. Education doesn't have to be about the next test or homework assignment, but about the learning process along the way.
I want to be there when my children learn reading, writing, and of course arithmetic :). I want to be there when they study great periods of history, to discuss and disect it, to reenact events and visit museums to make the periods come alive. I want to teach my children home economics as we work together to make our house a home. I want to be there when my children explore the wonders of God's beautiful nature, to observe, to collect, to sketch and to just stand in awe of the beauty of nature. I want to be there when they study the intricacies of geometry, the complexity of calculus, the simplicity of the integer system. I want to study scripture with them, to memorize it alongside them, to delve into doctrinal studies and practical applications. I want to study creation science and apologetics with them. I want to be there when they read their first book, and I want to read great works of literature aloud together. I don't want to hear about it when they get home from school, or squeeze it in on the weekends or during the summer. I want to live their education with them. I would feel robbed by the teacher who had the privilege of opening up to my children the wide world of knowledge.
I don't think that all other forms of education are wrong - some like a Christ-center classical education can be very good - but I do believe that in a normal family situation that homeschooling is the most superior form of education. Education is life, and I want to live it alongside my children!
Okay, I 've rambled enough :).
Have you read When You Rise Up, by R.C. Sproul Jr? It's only six chapters, but a great read, for homeschoolers and nonhomeschoolers alike, that takes one back to the purpose and origin of education.
Yes, yes, yes!!! I loved your comment, Susan. That's exactly how I feel about educating children at home. Homeschooling is one of the greatest things I look forward to in raising my own children someday (Lord, willing and granted that I'm married some day).
I totally agree with you that "the key is realizing that life is an education." I think that's what makes homeschooling so neat. Homeschooling fosters a love of learning for a lifetime. It's not about putting education or schooling in a separate box to itself that we pull out on weekdays from 8a-4p. Education should instill in children a love to learn and explore the world around them. Even as a college grad. now in the workforce, I still love to learn about new things. I'm curious about all sorts of things in the world around me.
My parents (esp. my dad) had the educational philosophy that if you taught your children how to read, write, do basic math AND instill in them a love for learning, they could teach themselves or learn for themselves practically anything. I've actually considered going back to my highschool algebra books to re-learn algebra because I understand it so poorly and I would like to have a better grasp of some of the sciences involving mathematics such as physics and chemistry. Whether I do that remains to be seen :)
Great thoughts, Crystal! I'm sure Caleb would love to comment from a free market, economic perspective. I don't know that he'll have time, however. I wholeheartedly also agree that throwing more money at the government schools does nothing to improve them. We have one of the wealthiest educational systems in the world with monetary resources and also one of the poorest in terms of results and academic content.
"No, not contrary at all."
Given the fact that you have said over and over again that it is the parents responsibility to educate their children and no one elses, it seems quite contrary for you to consider this.
Also, when you talk about $10,000, you aren't considering students that tip the scales. For example, a Down syndrome child that requires one on one instruction for 13 years. OR ESOL students. Or magnet schools that are like schools you describe but cost more due to a lower student/teacher ratio. Students in wheelchairs that require extra care. You need to consider disabled students too, they have a right to be educated too.
I think there are some good things in place already to motivate public schools to improve. Currently each school needs to show a certain amount of achievement each year to stay in the good graces of the government. In my area this seems to be quite motivational.
Although homeschooling can be an excellent educational option, I think it's worth all of us thinking more about how we can make education better for the entire country.
Back in 1996 I started homeschooling and thought we would never consider anything else. All these years later I can tell you that public schooling and homeschooling are two of the educational tools we use to help our six children learn.
Why? Just little things like clinical depression that went on long enough that my children were getting less than even my very lax minimum education. (They were definitely better off at school) Or the years shortly after I had 3 babies in three years. (I was drowning and offering an education was not even a sane option) Also, I have a child that requires 3 types of special therapy that I am unable to do for him at home. Also, children with unusual speech delays that are not easily helped by a parent at home. (we thought we could handle it. we tried. We were wrong, and our child went far too long without speech help because of it.)
We are fortunate to live in a very conservative area where I have seen absolutely no problems like the extreme ones that seem to spread around homeschooling grapevines. We have had wonderful, innovative teachers for our children that do many more interesting things in their teaching than I ever did!
Because of our experience in 3 years of some of our children being in PS is that we appreciate the professional educators that we have gotten to know. They have been a blessing to us. And our children have progressed much, much more than they did at home with me being their teacher.
I think that when a wider variety of educational opportunities are available, people benefit from it. Just as homeschoolers appreciate having the option to do video school, internet classes, workbook-heavy curriculum, unit studies, lots of projects, very few projects, trips to interesting places, or total unschooling, the rest of society also benefits from being able to find a niche that works well for their child and family.
I don't know that it's reasonable to say that public schools are cheating our children. John Stossel's comments didn't convince me of his point of view.
It's interesting to me that America could be doing as well as it is in many industries, technologies, and so forth, and be criticized for poor education overall. It's also funny to me how many homeschool advocates were themselves education through the public schools. If all we get is a cookie-cutter education and that students only become automatons, we wouldn't have the good stuff we've got in this country.
There is always room for improvement in education because the culture is always changing, technology is always changing, needs are always changing. It makes sense to keep looking at these and other factors and do what we can to maximize learning opportunities for everyone in our country.
Cool. You saw the same special I did. My husband and I stayed up late to watch it. We were so impressed that ABC actually would air such a "controversial" special. It really made me fed up with the teacher's union and made me see how our tax money is wasted on these kids. $10,000 dollars a student? Give me a break.
Anyway, I agree with Adrian about vouchers and Christian Schools.I would rather have tax breaks. I am very disappointed that the Protestant church has not been better at having their own schools for their young children. This would help single Christian parents who can't homeschool or moms who don't feel that they are doing a good job. The Protestant churches around here are so divisive and will not fellowship with one another. In the area of educating the children, the Roman Catholics have definately put us to shame.
My grandmother was dirt poor but her RC church educated her and took care of her and her rather large family.
Anyway, my husband and I were in shock that ABC would air that show. FYI: John Stossel used to win major journalism awards before he started reporting on more controversial subjects. Now he doesn't. Go figure.
yes they are cheating children. i need a calculator to do basic computations, my writing and grammar is horrible, and kids are not safe
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