One-Sixteenth

The vast, vast majority of parents care and will do what they think is right for their children. There is a subset that doesn't really care but for those ones, it's way more convenient to send their kids to school than to have them underfoot.

It is way less effort to send your kids to school than to homeschool them and if you're a lazy bum, why would you pick the harder option? Especially since you can then whine and complain about how the system failed your child?

//We'd become (?) a nation of illiterate idiots//

As opposed to the highly literature and enlightened society that a century of public education has produced?

That's a good one :)

I think you're right. Smoetimes I wonder if I'm an idealist, too.

It also seems that when questioned about homeschooling from other random parents, it's a little defensive. They feel they need to defend putting their children in public school, as if I've offended them by not going that route. I used to think I'd have to defend it.

I think if people really knew how easy it was, especially in some states, they would try it. They would most likely enjoy it. I know the feeling of wondering if you're missing something huge because it shouldn't be so easy and fun. Sure, we have not so great days, so we skip them.

I was talking to this man in a bookstore the other day. He had a little girl, probably around 6-7. He was looking through some workbooks for her. My daughter was pleased that she possibly found someone who was homeschooled. When he found out we homeschooled, he was shocked. My daughter, who had about 15 fake tattoos and pink streaks in her hair, who was showing them all her favorite books and reading to the girl, made quite an impact on him. They weren't homeschoolers. He never even considered it as an option. But, he said one of his first priorities was his daughter's education, and that he rather has a reputation at his daughter's school. I said good for him.

I can almost see a trend happening.

Ah, Chris (COD) beat me to the punch in his comment above! That *is* a good one.

I agree with you 100%.

Yes, I agree with you that the "overwhelming majority" of parents care, and care deeply, about their children's educations and well-being. I also agree that any amount of government regulation is unacceptable, as it defies the accountability chain. We are accountable to our children. The public schools (and their various entities) are accountable to US. To insinuate otherwise chafes at the natural flow of accountability and puts responsibility where it does not belong.

I cannot fathom the logic leap it takes to connect gov't regulation with quality education. But I think if we were to track the argument further, we'd find that we aren't all starting with the same definitions. For instance, these same people may argue that it IS the government's job to ensure that everyone is "educated", regardless of the varying definitions of "education", regardless of the fact that not everyone is educable to the same degree. I know my SIL is among those. She's appalled that we just can't see how important it is to answer to the State, because, as she put it, "well, WE know how to make good choices for OUR children, but there are parents who don't, and they need to be held accountable". (Ironically, she lives and teaches in PA.)

My guess is that these are the same people who tout public education as important b/c "it may be the one hot meal a day" a child receives, or some other social commentary, more than the educational/parental responsibility question at hand. Same with those who claim the library as important b/c for some, it's the only access to the internet these kids get. I really don't think we're all starting with the same definitions. At least, that's as far as I can get toward understanding the argument before I hit a total and utter disconnect.

I'm not sure which part has me the most baffled in that particular thread, though - the ones who think regulation seals the cracks, or the ones who think that those of us who have a different view of the role of gov't are "anti-government". Gah! Talk about painting with a broad and poorly primed brush!

Dy

You know, I just have to say it again, as I did on that thread; I think Oklahoma's 'way' is ideal. Yes, I think that parents should understand that they have an educational responsibility to their kids. So, put it in the state constitution (like Oklahoma does). Then, when it's suspected that they aren't doing their job, take them to court, let them have their say, and make your case. Oversight, probation, etc. is for people who have done something *wrong*. I haven't. And so, I resent jumping through hoops.

And I can't get anyone to answer this question; why, oh, why do folks not get insulted at the idea that their state needs to control them more than someone else's state needs to control its population?! If Oklahoma isn't falling apart, then why would any other state?

Okay, rant over, lol...;o)

Yeah, Dy ... that was kind of bizarre. If we don't want the government involved in our homeschools, we are anti-government and should not receive any of the benefits of government ... what?

I also think those in favor of regulation would benefit from understanding that all the public schools can control or mandate is attendance. No matter what we say, it truly stops there. You can lead a kid to school, but you cannot make him learn.

Jill ... yeah, what is UP with that? Um ... Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan ... all these states where there is zero regulation seem to be doing okay. So ... what was the problem again?

I'd love to find adult literacy rates to compare states with high levels of homeschoolig regulation to states with none. If the rabidly pro-regulation people are right, then I would think the literacy rates of the high-regulation states would be higher. I've googled some but can't find the stats I want. Does anyone know where I should look? And which state has the lowest adult literacy rate? And the highest? I can find these for countries, but not for states in the U.S.

Alberta has a homeschool regulation written into provincial law, and quite a bit of oversight, including an annual payment of about $600-$1,000 for each student, which is a very sneaky way for the government to keep everyone in line (as various ministers of education like to huff, "You homeschoolers have to be accountable to the taxpayer"; as though "we hs'ers" aren't taxpayers, too. Harumph).

And anyone who thinks we need regulation hasn't seen an entire convention center full of curriculum-addicted and addled parents stuffing their bags with just "one more book". Or listened in as an online group debates the merits of various science programs...

I blogged a bit about this, but my short answer is that because we (collective) have bought into the idea that education is the responsibility of the government, parents actually slack off in their responsibility to see to the education of their children. If parents viewed education as their own responsibility I do believe they would step up to the plate.