January 9th, 2007

Your Child Left Behind

Child left behind

This year, Congress will be evaluating whether or not the No Child Left Behind Act should be renewed, as the Act comes to the end of its five-year term. What progress has this ludicrous legislation achieved? For starters, 4 out of 5 schools aren’t achieving the standards it mandates. Now there’s progress!

What’s more ridiculous are the hollow promises extended by hopeful politicians who promote educational goals and offer (false) hope to concerned parents. Experience overwhelmingly shows that the government is an absolute failure in this department.

Why should it be any other way? Do we expect the government to do much better? In a day when so many Americans are shirking personal responsibility and accountability, is it any surprise that parents defer the education of their children to a state-sponsored system?

Up until last month I home taught a woman who teaches in elementary school. Equally appalled with the No Child Left Behind Act, she would tell me unbelievable stories of the tasks assigned to her under the umbrella of this legislation. The end product of leaving no child behind, she would say, is accomplished in our schools by dumbing down lessons, spending more time on struggling children, and homogenizing educational challenges. In an effort to leave no child behind, the average and above-average students suffer.

One author comments on the educational pursuits of the State, reminding me of Orwell’s Animal Farm, with the pigs snatching the young pups away from their mother to brainwash them into strict obedience and willing compliance. The article discusses the contrast between today’s family situation and that of the 1960s, where mothers stayed at home and assisted their children in their educational and recreational pursuits, rather than working full time and farming the kids out to other providers:

The reason one salary will no longer support a family with a car and a free-standing home is because Americans have been progressively impoverished by the purposeful government policies of inflation and higher taxation. Basically, mom now works to pay the higher taxes on dad’s inflation-devalued salary.

In other words, day-long day care for 5-year-olds receives its real electoral support because parents want some relief from the expense of child day care for 5-year-olds, which has been made necessary by the fact that both mom and dad now have to work outside the home to fund day-long government day care for 6-to-18-year-olds.

Compare this to the days before 1960, when economic necessity under a far smaller government required most people to marry before having children and moms could generally afford to stay home with their young kids.

What on earth could convince young parents that the current system — which produces high school graduates increasingly devoid of complex literacy — is somehow better? Nothing could possibly achieve this fantastic result except the most massive, dedicated, and successful archipelago of government indoctrination camps ever devised.

Gatto’s The Tyranny of Compulsory Schooling offers a similarly startling look at the current state of our education. It’s a few pages long, but well worth the read. Coming from a retired teacher of 30 years, it presents an insightful glance at what our educational system really is.

Whether the President likes to admit it or not (and of course, he won’t), our education system is pretty messed up. We are handing out diplomas to many lazy, ignorant teenagers who lack any real-world knowledge. I know, I was one of them.

Indeed, some form of homeschooling my future children is becoming ever more enticing. I concur with the following four suggestions:

  1. Citizens must get the federal government out of the education-administration business, however long it takes. If the statists insist on forking over largesse, they can cut checks to the states. Let the attorneys general in the states fund more inspectors general, if they’re concerned about malfeasance.
  2. Enhance private education on the grand scale. This will require great citizen courage because the state won’t willingly give up its power. But we have a place to stand with non-federal charters and plain old school raisings — like barn raisings.
  3. There must be lots of boomers out there who fall in with these recommendations. Let that be the start of something big.
  4. Anytime your confidence flags, read John Taylor Gatto.

40 Responses to “Your Child Left Behind”

  1. Kelly Winterton
    January 9, 2007 at 11:45 am #

    Recommended reading about this subject is http://www.spingola.com/new_world_order5.htm . Also recommended is a book I just finished called Awakening To Our Awful Situation by Jack Monnett PhD of BYU’s Education department. Deanna Spingola and Jack Monnett both feel that the education system has been negatively influenced by Latter-Day Secret Combinations, and that we should be aware of it.

    I also believe that corrupt power and cronyism is partially to blame. George W. Bush’s brother is allegedly the windfall recipient of the No Child Left Behind Act, because he supposedly sells his education software to schools as his career. (This reminds me of the drug company Donald Rumsfeld was CEO of right before he became Defense Sec, it was the creator of Tamiflu – hence the contrived Bird Flu scare, and Halliburton…..)

  2. Eric Nielson
    January 9, 2007 at 4:14 pm #

    It will be interesting to see what happens. Seems like year around schools, with 2-3 meals at school a day are becoming the norm. I don’t like where this is leading.

  3. Connor
    January 9, 2007 at 4:20 pm #

    Eric,

    The woman I home taught (whom I mentioned in this post) told me that she’s also now in charge of feeding kids their snacks and making sure that everybody has a friend (among many other little things). She is reprimanded when she doesn’t make sure that each child has somebody to play with during recess…

  4. John Anderson
    January 9, 2007 at 4:55 pm #

    Options:

    Public school. Horrible treatment, shoddy educational value.
    Homeschool. Decent chance of equipping your child with social oddities, unpredictable educational outcome, turns the homemaker into a professional educator as well.
    Charter school. Quality experience for $600/mo/child.

    As a parent, which do you pick?

  5. Naiah Earhart
    January 9, 2007 at 5:06 pm #

    I didn’t like it, and so I pulled my daughter out. I could go on and on about what was wrong with our experience of public ‘school,’ but I’ll spare you. Just consider this a nod of agreement.

  6. Connor
    January 9, 2007 at 5:12 pm #

    John,

    I’ve been giving a lot of thought to this subject in recent months, and I believe I’ve become comfortable with an idea I’ve heard of occurring in various places w/ friends of friends and ward members.

    It’s a co-op homeschool system, where a few families get together and take turns teaching. One way would be to have each parent take a day, thus freeing up the burden throughout the rest of the week for the other parents. Another way might be having a central location for the “school” and have parents rotate shifts throughout the day for various subjects.

    This way, the children receive the education you want them to, while developing social interaction with other kids and exposure to ideas from adults other than their parents.

    I’d still put my kids in extra-curricular activities to develop social interaction and let them be subject to peer influence so that they can develop a backbone and experience the “opposition in all things” necessary in life.

  7. Brian
    January 9, 2007 at 5:21 pm #

    I am homeschooling my children (well, my wife does most of it). I would also consider a private school but definitely not a public school, especially consider how much greater Satan’s presence is in the public schools since I went (it’s increasing dramatically.) I graduated in 1999 and remember being at the school again a few years ago – I could tell that things have changed for the worse from seeing all the security cameras and metal bars protecting certain displays, many things that just didn’t exist back when I was in school because students were more respectful back then. I am certain that one of the factors causing problems with students these days is all the Antidepressants and ritalin they are on. Those are dangerous drugs and have caused people to go as far as shooting their peers, drowning their children in a bath tub, and more horrible actions.

  8. John Anderson
    January 9, 2007 at 5:28 pm #

    This way, the children receive the education you want them to[…]

    I’m not sure that’s the case. Who knows if any given parent even has adequate knowledge to teach a subject? I don’t care if the curriculum is great, I want someone with knowledge teaching my kids. Someone who isn’t teaching them self at the same time. Someone who can answer questions. I also associate with people that I can get along fine with, but don’t necessarily want them teaching my children.

    How many of my neighbors have degrees? No idea. Do I feel comfortable asking them about their education? Probably not. Do I feel comfortable asking them not to participate because I feel they are under qualified? Of course I do.

    At least with public schools, there’s an interview process along with some sort of certification and credentialing. It’s not perfect, but its there. I don’t want Mr. Neighbor indoctrinating my kids with his aromatherapy cures anymore than I want them to get the PC dribble from public schooling.

    Another way might be having a central location for the “school” and have parents rotate shifts throughout the day for various subjects.

    If this is any more than four or five families, this can be 15-20 kids, which approaches a dangerously high student/teacher ratio, not to mention the square footage you’d need to house school each day. Public schools also feature some nice facilities like play equipment, a gym, etc.

    I don’t think home schooling is the answer, regardless of the meta structure you place on top of it.

  9. John Anderson
    January 9, 2007 at 5:32 pm #

    @Brian

    At what point do you plan to introduce your kids to the outside environment? High school? College?!

    The problem I have with homeschooling is that there’s no convenient re-entry point for kids. Sure, life is bad in the public sector… but we all end up in the main stream at some point (that is, unless you plan to hole up in a mountain somewhere).

    Homeschoolers often end up dumped back into public society when the stakes are higher and the problems are more intense, with no experience in dealing with these sorts of issues.

    I’d like to hear your thoughts on this – its a big drawback to homeschooling in my view.

  10. Brian
    January 9, 2007 at 5:39 pm #

    At what point do you plan to introduce your kids to the outside environment? High school? College?!

    My children are still so young… but to go off the experience of my wife’s family… some of them have chosen to take a few classes in high school and then go on to college.

    Also, just because a person doesn’t go to public school doesn’t mean they have no opportunity to experience the “outside environment” or no opportunity to gain what some call “social skills” šŸ˜‰

    Parents just have to find other ways and opportunities for their children to associate with the “outside world”.

    Here in Utah there are many home school groups that do a lot combined activities. That is what my brother-in-laws are involved with right now.

    In the end I’d rather have my kids grow up with a home-school-religious education then a godless-public-education.

  11. Ben Crowder
    January 9, 2007 at 6:03 pm #

    I think a word needs to be said about the prevalent misconception that homeschooling will almost certainly turn your kids into “social oddities,” like some magic potion gone horribly wrong. My guess is that people think that because they’ve met a homeschooling family which was a little weird. And there are certainly homeschoolers who are weird, who don’t quite fit into society.

    But don’t forget the other side of the coin: there are plenty of kids in public school who are just as weird. It’s unsound to take one particular homeschooling family and generalize that most or all are exactly like them, just as it’s ludicrous to look at a high school shooting and say that all public schooled kids are going to turn into murderers.

    So where does the weirdness or normalcy come from, then? I suppose it’s debatable, but in my experience it stems more from the family and from the innate nature of the child. Dysfunctional families often result in dysfunctional children. There might be a large number of such families which pull their kids out of school because the kids get persecuted there for being weird, but that doesn’t make homeschooling illegitimate, nor does it mean all homeschoolers are socially retarded.

    Case in point: I was homeschooled through junior high school, then went to high school (and now college). My younger siblings have all been homeschooled, though most of the high school aged kids have gone to public school for at least some time. As children, we were at home during the day instead of at school, but we still played with our neighborhood friends after school, and I didn’t ever feel particularly left out because I was homeschooled. Right now our home is one of the main hubs for the kids in the neighborhood to play at.

    I don’t mean that to come out as a “Look at me, I’m not weird!” For example, I’m not exactly a social butterfly. I don’t care to hang out, and I’m anything but a party animal. My younger sisters are complete social butterflies. We grew up in the same environment, and yet I like my alone time and my sisters thrive on society. It seems inescapable that it’s the nature of our personalities to be outgoing or not. It doesn’t seem to be the case that homeschooling affects this.

    Granted, being at home instead of with all the other kids may have slight influence, but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as important as people make it. Learning how to function in society is, for the most part, learned in the home. Homeschoolers have plenty of opportunities to operate in the real world. And is isolation always such a bad thing? It can be, if the family is dysfunctional to begin with, but with a normal, healthy family, what’s wrong with being miles from the nearest house? It’s like that out in the country (or at least was), and I don’t think everyone who comes from the country is socially inept.

    John: I can understand why you’d be concerned about parents not having adequate knowledge to teach your children. If we’re only talking about parents teaching their own children, then I think there’s nothing wrong with the parents learning as they go. You don’t need to take classes to learn things. They help, to be sure, but teaching oneself is a perfectly legitimate method (and in my opinion, often more effective). And while it’s better for the parent to know as much about the subject as possible, the learning process is not a cut-and-dry, one-time thing, and as such it’s okay to make mistakes, provided that we learn from them. And we all make mistakes, and most of us learn from them.

    Frankly, I’m excited to teach my children, and to learn as I go. I am 100% sure that my children will grow up socially normal and will fit into society (in the right way; I most certainly do not intend for them to become mindless drones sapping their very vitality from pop culture, even if that’s the easiest way to fit in these days). I have no worries about my kids losing out on opportunities because they learned at home instead of at school. None. Homeschooling isn’t perfect, but it’s a lot better than public school. (I’ll add that I don’t consider public school to be 100% evil, either. There’s a lot of good, but the evil is increasing and it’s becoming too dangerous, with too much room for moral failure. I respect those public school teachers who are honestly trying to teach as best they can, and I think they’re a much-needed part of society. But I do think that privatization of education would result in much better quality.)

    Anyway, this comment is getting long enough that more and more comments are starting to appear. I’d better post it before I’m all out of context. šŸ™‚

  12. John Anderson
    January 9, 2007 at 9:14 pm #

    I might post later, but the social things you lack when you are homeschooled have nothing to do with outside influence. If you’re home schooled, you never hit a lot of rite-of-passage type events your everyday American relates to, and is part of her background. Prom. Gym class. Getting called to the Dean’s office. Dealing with drugs between classes. Getting bullied.

    In the end I’d rather have my kids grow up with a home-school-religious education then a godless-public-education.

    You’re entitled to your opinion, but I’m very concerned that a home based religious education isn’t going to be a solid foundation for a secular career. I don’t depend on teachers to give them God. I can do that.

    If we’re only talking about parents teaching their own children, then I think there’s nothing wrong with the parents learning as they go. You don’t need to take classes to learn things.

    There are quite a few things you can’t learn from books, and there are even more things you can’t possibly embody if you’re picking them up a few days (or hours) before the lesson is ready.

    Language classes. Now way can you learn that without a teacher. History – sure, you can know dates and places, but that’s not history to me. Philosophy and political science are *not* for book learning. How about shop class or auto that is usually offered in public schools?

    Sure, you can teach some subjects—maybe many—with no training, but such a delivery is going to pale in comparison to the same material delivered by a trained person who might have even specialized in that knowledge in college.

  13. Connor
    January 9, 2007 at 9:40 pm #

    If you’re home schooled, you never hit a lot of rite-of-passage type events your everyday American relates to, and is part of her background. Prom. Gym class. Getting called to the Dean’s office. Dealing with drugs between classes. Getting bullied.

    Are you arguing, then, that such rites of passage are beneficial, or even necessary, for the social development of an American? What about 100 years ago when prom and gym classes didn’t exist? Why do you feel it necessary to conform to somebody else’s standard?

    The homogenizing this position seems to advocate seems a little sketchy in light of the fact that we’re to be a “peculiar people”. I don’t mind in the least that I’m different from my peers. Had I not had an opportunity to go to prom, share a stinky locker room with other guys, or get bullied, I think I still would have made it to adulthood just fine. Or better.

    I’m very concerned that a home based religious education isn’t going to be a solid foundation for a secular career.

    Gatto’s article describes the opportunity for even more secular (practical) educational pursuits when done outside the structured, diluted public education system. Learning trades and gaining “real world” knowledge can be done much easier outside of school than inside. I feel that I’ve learned quite a bit more in the past nine months (whoa, nine months!) since having graduated than I ever did during a nine month span in school. I think a home-based religious education is just fine for a solid career. But like you told Brian, you’re entitled to your opinion šŸ™‚

    Philosophy and political science are *not* for book learning.

    Then why do they have philosophy and poly sci books? Hesitant to recommend Gatto yet again, I’ll make one last reference to his article where he talks about the value of learning in libraries, seeking knowledge in books at your own pace and desire, rather than forced (compulsory) schooling where the student is told what to read and learn. This only results in “cramming”, where the binge/purge method of knowledge retention is employed to get an A on an exam, and then immediately disregard all that was learned. Been there, done that. It’s stupid.

  14. cew-smoke
    January 9, 2007 at 11:07 pm #

    I won’t get into all my thoughts on this topic, because they are too many and too varied. The other reason is that I’m not in the mood for being flamed for my feelings on the matter. However, I will say this. It is a flagrant falsehood that the above-average and average kids get “left behind” because of this new legislation. They have always gotten left out of the equation. Classes are always run at a level where most of the kids with half a brain get little or no challenge whatsoever.

    The concept of recycling what you learn on to a test paper and then throw it out the window was there when we were children as well. This is nothing new. How many dozens of times did we hear stories of students getting “passed” onto the next grade who were struggling on a level from the grade before or worse?

    The public education system has been suffering from an identity crisis for a long, long time. The reality of the matter is that if it was done right, students would be divided up by capability. The best and brightest would be taught in a much quicker and more challenging means to help them reach their highest potential and keep them engaged. The average students would be at a curriculum based on what the average student can handle and taught how best to utilize the strengths they have. Then the slower students who need more time and more attention should be in much smaller classes with more para-professionals who can assist them with their most troubled areas.

    Then you should have standardized testing that tests not how “standard” a student is, but are they improving at all. Just like the Lord, the system should be less concerned with are you meeting some esoteric goal set by a political committee and more concerned with are you continuing to improve or are you stagnating. Then if you are stagnating let’s find out why. Of course it’s just a pipe dream. It’ll never happen.

    The best you can do as a parent is be as involved as possible and play the role of advocate for your child. If they are bored, find out how the school can work with you to keep your student challenged. If they can’t then find other means to make that happen. If they are struggling then make sure you see what resources are available to help you help your child. You are your child’s best education. I think everyone here knows that, so I guess I’m belaboring the obvious.

  15. John Anderson
    January 9, 2007 at 11:07 pm #

    Are you arguing, then, that such rites of passage are beneficial, or even necessary, for the social development of an American?

    Nope. I’m saying that when your peers get together, they’ll reference things you’ve never experienced. I suppose some things could actually be beneficial, though.

    Why do you feel it necessary to conform to somebody else’s standard?

    I don’t think that’s what I said. šŸ™‚

    I’m only saying that most people go through the public school system. If you don’t, there are significant social consequences to getting 10-15 years of your education in a setting that is vastly different, and on the whole, less socially challenging.

    I think a home-based religious education is just fine for a solid career. But like you told Brian, you’re entitled to your opinion.

    I can’t seem to find much evidence for this. I have concerns with maintaining a level of education that can be accurately measured. This isn’t just opinion, its based on reason.

    A single individual, teaching all courses over many grades cannot be as effective (on average) as many teachers, all with specialized areas of knowledge, all teaching only a certain grade level. The public school system has a way to train and certify teachers, whereas home schooling does not. The public school system might consider firing a teacher who doesn’t teach their students on a given day, but a homeschooling mother can just put things off.

    There are some advantages to homeschooling, but these conditions make me wary. They aren’t just opinion, either. It’s not that I don’t like the particular flavor of homeschooling education subjectively. There are a set of facts that surround the situation that I find concerning.

    Then why do they have philosophy and poly sci books?

    The same reason they have Japanese books and scuba diving books. To compliment a course led by an instructor. Maybe philosophy and political science are bad examples, but they are special interests of mine.

    A good education can’t come (solely) in the mail.

    Hesitant to recommend Gatto yet again, I’ll make one last reference to his article where he talks about the value of learning in libraries, seeking knowledge in books at your own pace and desire, rather than forced (compulsory) schooling where the student is told what to read and learn.

    This approach makes more sense later on, probably more to you and I. But for a third grader learning fractions, he may be less inclined to seek out and learn at his own pace and desire. I may be less inclined to learn how to program in x86 assembly. šŸ™‚ Measurement is a sound instructional principle, and it forces you to pick up more than you would otherwise.

    Sure, self tests are probably more productive (because the urge to learn comes from yourself), but there are some things everyone needs to know and be tested on.

  16. Jeff
    January 10, 2007 at 1:40 am #

    I will post more on this topic later. It’s already really late (interestingly enough, I’m up grading essays from my high schoolers).

    As a teacher, I see some wisdom in Connor’s and John’s points of view. I think the public school system is severely broken and that homeschooling has some major social drawbacks. Privatizing everything doesn’t really work for me either because of the cost to parents (especially low income parents), and if you privatize everything and allow parents to pay for it with government vouchers, you just have a public school again.

    On that note, might I suggest a few things that would drastically improve education in my opinion (which is often fairly jaded):

    1- Decentralize education. Give the power of curriculum development, management, and assessment to states and (even better) counties and districts. Get the federal bureaucracy out of the process.

    2- Increase teacher pay by eliminating district positions that are unnecessary such as department specialists. Increased pay will bring better people to the profession. And, most specialists were good teachers who left teaching for more money as a specialist. Get them back in the classroom where they are needed.

    3- Involve parents in everything. Let them be part of the process and take ownership of it. I’m not exactly sure how to implement this, but when I figure it out, I’ll let you know.

    4- Teach kids how to obtain knowledge for themselves. I’ve always seen myself as an enabler, not a fact-giver. Like John said, later in life it is the skill of how to gain knowledge that we will use, not the date of some historical figure’s death (or other useless fact).

    5- Bring the arts back to education. People who appreciate art, literature, music, etc. tend to value learning more. There is a terrible trend away from this in our public schools. This is one huge difference between us and Europe, and it shows.

    6- Have schools that specialize in different areas and give students a choice of where to go.

    7- Discipline, discipline, discipline. This is a huge problem in schools now. More time is spent babysitting than teaching. Again, without parental involvement, I’m not sure how to fix this, but I’ll keep you posted.

    8- Teach philosophy. Leonard Piekoff’s book The Ominous Parallels has an interesting discussion of this.

    Well, it’s almost 1 a.m., so I better be done. I’ll come back later.

  17. Jeff
    January 10, 2007 at 1:47 am #

    One more that I just thought of:

    9- Do a lot of team-teaching. Most “experts” agree that there is about a 5 year learning curve for new teachers. That means that for the first 5 years, a teacher is not as effective as he/she should be. I’m in my third year, and I can definitely attest to that. If teachers “team taught,” say with an experienced teacher paired with a newer teacher, it would help eliminate some of the learning curve.

    Just a thought.

  18. Connor
    January 10, 2007 at 10:11 am #

    Jeff,

    I was hoping you’d chime in on this thread. šŸ™‚

    I thought I’d be writing a long comment to opine on each of your suggestions, but I agree with every single one of them. Hear, hear!

  19. Kaela
    January 10, 2007 at 12:59 pm #

    I have no real profound comments, except there is reform to be had.
    I actually grew up in a public school, and I had a great experience. However, I was probably among the lucky as the school I went to was in a notably more affluent suburb of Chicago (where the teachers actually get OVER paid! if you can believe that is possible). I had a lot of opportunities at my feet, and since it was a larger town, they were able to collaborate with other area high schools to offer diverse programs that might not have otherwise been available.
    My final thought, for those of you in the Orem/Provo area, is a school I came across…
    http://www.kimberacademy.net/

    Check it out. They just moved to a brand new building and it sounds like they have a lot going on! Such schools are abound with parental support and encouragement, which in my opinion is one of the most critical elements of a good education.

    Just my little plug šŸ™‚

  20. mistaben
    January 10, 2007 at 5:41 pm #

    My daughter is 4 and what some call “an active alert child.” Others might say PDD, anxious, etc. Briefly, she’s intellectually brilliant yet socially and emotionally stunted.

    We have her in the Head Start pre-school at a public elementary school here in Seattle, and she’s done very well there, but we worried about next year. She won’t be 5 in time to automatically go to kindergarten, and while we’re confident she could probably get into kindergarten early, it wouldn’t be so beneficial for her. At the same time, she’ll likely be bored to death next year at the same preschool, which entails problems also. So we started looking into private schools.

    Much closer to home than her current school, we found University Child Development School. So we took a tour.

    Whoa. I was blown away. The teachers, the specialists, the facilities, but above all the philosophy and their approach to curriculum. It was awesome.

    Naturally if we qualify for Head Start we cannot afford a private school (the tuition is more than I made last year), but it turns out the average student at UCDS receives a 56% scholarship! So we’re applying and we’ll see what happens.

  21. Michelle
    January 10, 2007 at 10:48 pm #

    My thought on all of this is that it’s important to remember there isn’t one generally-applicable “right answer” to the education question. There’s no question that the public system isn’t perfect. But homeschooling or other options aren’t going to be perfect, either. This is one of those areas where the Spirit can direct, but answers will vary from family to family. Public school is not all bad; homeschooling kids aren’t all socially backward; private school may be financially out of reach. And our leaders have taken no position on this topic, so neither can any of us have an absolute position, except as it relates to our own families over whom we have stewardships.

    Thanks to all who have shared their interesting ideas about the options out there, btw. It’s nice that there are options for those who feel public school isn’t the right thing. But I don’t think it’s right to completely discount public school as an option. (Spoken, yes like a mom with kids in public school? Yup. šŸ™‚ And they are loving it for now, so for now it’s working for us…and we do our own learning-at-home stuff too (more informally than formally). They’re doing great so far. We’ll see if this stays our option as they grow. I do appreciate knowing what options are out there!)

  22. Ben Crowder
    January 11, 2007 at 8:29 am #

    I agree with Michelle — families have to follow the Spirit to see what’s right for them. For some, public school is the right thing. For others, private school is. And for others, homeschooling is.

    The only real point I care to make is that homeschooling is a viable option, and that it won’t necessarily turn your kids into mutants. šŸ™‚ Whether it’s the right thing for your family is another question, one that deserves a lot of prayer and thought.

    Again, as Michelle said, there’s no official Church position on this (and with good reason). I prefer homeschooling, of course, but I don’t think it’s the answer for everyone, because if it were, the prophet probably would have said something about it. šŸ™‚

  23. jeff
    January 11, 2007 at 6:02 pm #

    “I thought I’d be writing a long comment to opine on each of your suggestions, but I agree with every single one of them. Hear, hear!”

    What are the odds that you and I would agree completely on something? Satan better buy some snow boots and start expecting frosty weather. šŸ™‚

    I’ll have more on education later. I’m swamped with the end of quarter grading, but I’ll link back to this post for a more lengthy reply on my blog once things settle down.

    Cheers.

  24. jeff
    January 11, 2007 at 6:27 pm #

    BTW, Connor, you would love the book I reference above, Leonard Peikoff’s (I spelled it wrong above :)) The Ominous Parallels. I don’t normally recommend books on blogs to specific people, but this one would be right up your alley.

  25. Michael L. Mc Kee
    January 11, 2007 at 7:14 pm #

    If knowledge is power, just how powerful is it? According to scripture it is said that, “faith without works is dead.” It is also scriptural, I believe, “that all things were created spiritually before they were created temporally.

    In order for Christ to create things He had to develop knowledge. He also had to receive that knowledge from a source of infinite wisdom greater than His own. That knowledge had to be undefiled, and of absolute truth. The source of that kind of knowledge could only come from His Father. That being said, I believe we must accept only the words of Christ as being pure knowledge. Anything more or less is purely unworthy of our time.

    About 2 &1/2 years ago, I read an article in Meridian Magazine entitled “Education As the Early Prophets Saw It” by Darla Isackson. In the article she referenced a book by John D. Monnett (LDS Archive Publishers, Heber, Utah 1998). This book was entitled “Revealed Educational Principles & the Public Schools.” I strongly recommend this article. I believe it may be archived at http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/040604educationprint.html. I was absolutely depressed after reading how the Saints after arriving in Utah had eventually rejected the Church educational system in favor of FREE public education. I believe you will find this information very troubling, and you will also have a better understanding of how we arrived at the dire situation with which we are faced at this time.

    At some point in time Adolf Hitler declared; “He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future!”

    The following information was gleaned from Faith Christian Ministries, and my own beliefs are in concert with their words: “An elitist coterie of America’s tax-exempt foundations has designed and initiated every wave of educational reform since John Dewey and his progressive education. The real power behind the reform movement is raking in the cash, tax free, and using that tax-free income to finance the destruction of our educational system. The goal of each and every reform movement has been the same–to eliminate knowledge in the classroom and to pilot the United States toward a one-world, socialist government.” The information I just noted, and approximately 9 more pages can be found at http://www.faithchristianmin.org/articles/teb.htm. I highly recommend that you do a thorough investigation of their findings.

    “Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.”

    Joseph Story

    On several occasions I have referenced a web site called http://inspiredconstitution.org. There are to be found there many talks, and quotes given by several of the Prophets in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. President Benson delivered many of them, and he, on many occasions, along with others of that time, warned us about the “creeping socialism” which was overtaking every aspect of our lives. Many people in America seem to believe that the fall of the Soviet Union meant the demise of communism. Anyone who follows that line of reasoning is destined to be awakened rudely.

    I believe it was around 1958 when the “Communist Manifesto” was made public. I recommend a further study of the content of this document.

    The educational system in the United States whether it is public, charter or home still has the hand of government extended out to make certain the people do not disrupt the pattern of indoctrination set forth.

    We the people are complicit in our own destruction when we do not demand that our children be taught the principles of truth, and the founding principles of the Framers Constitution of the United States of America. Anything short of this is suspect, and will lead to wrong-thinking, and socialistic behavior which can be likened to the plan of the adversary to lead us down to hell by flattery, and deception.

  26. jeff
    January 11, 2007 at 11:33 pm #

    Michael,

    “I believe we must accept only the words of Christ as being pure knowledge. Anything more or less is purely unworthy of our time.”

    Does this mean that you believe that we shouldn’t seek out any knowledge that isn’t the word of Christ? No math, no English, no science, no history, because it’s not the inspired word of God? If that’s the case, please point to a church leader who has said this or a passage of scripture that says this or something because it sounds ridiculous. The scriptures say to seek out the best books of knowledge, not to hide under a rock and only study the word of God. Are you serious?

    BTW, The Communist Manifesto was published in 1848 not 1958. Since you were 110 years off of its publication date, I have a hard time believing that you’ve completed “a further study of the content of this document.” But, I might be wrong.

    Furthermore, 90% of your comment has nothing to do with anything that has been posted here. It’s “socialism is evil because President Benson said so (before he was prophet, btw).” Not every topic needs to boil down to that argument. Let’s talk about education, not socialism, since that’s what the thread is about.

  27. Michael L. Mc Kee
    January 12, 2007 at 8:09 am #

    Now that I have evoked critical diatribe from Jeff, and perhaps offended others, I should like to declare to all who may have taken the time to peruse my imperfect compilation that I do sincerely regret having been foolish enough to attempt to impart my heartfelt feelings without having first made quite certain I had consulted with an all-knowing, authoritative figure who could critique my work properly, and apply his omniscient stamp of approval.

    Jeff, I strongly suggest you consider pursuing a second career in the field of journalism as you demonstrate a profound propensity toward the fine art of word manipulation, and conveniently crafting a believable story-line based upon retrievable relevant data mixed with a portion of arrogant faultfinding, and self-righteous denunciation of the opinions of others who, through your eyes, do not merit any consideration whatsoever for the attempt they have made to enlighten others concerning the possibility that it is not as important to be concerned with where a child is being taught, but rather, what is being taught, and by whom. While I am certain your efforts, within your sphere of understanding are, to you at least, admirable, and deserving of thoughtful consideration, you fail to inspire me due to your glaring omission of mentioning any of the potentially redeeming points which may have been intended.

    While I am of the opinion that teaching is one of the grandest, and noblest forms of service one could choose to perform during his eternal sojourn upon this fallen sphere, I also believe it is critically important to encourage those who are the recipients of the educational process to understand that what they are being taught may not make them, otherwise, more intelligent.

    I am certain Jeff would agree that I am neither educated nor intelligent, and his assumption would be irrefutably accurate as I am woefully lacking in both areas. Apparently my comments were viewed by Jeff as being without authoritative relevance or conventional understanding of the modern, progressive method of indoctrination found in the philosophical realm of so-called higher learning.

    I would certainly never attempt to engage Jeff in a contest of scriptural understanding as he would undoubtedly find my knowledge in that area laughable. He would be deserving of my respect for recognizing that unfortunate fact.

    Now that I have finally grown weary of creating a desperate need to repent for my less than Christian remarks toward Jeff, and his thoughtless remarks, I shall work relentlessly in an effort to remove this gigantic mote from my eye. I believe it will also be required of me to repent for not being more compassionate toward those who fail to recognize just how much the adversary has been able to bring about his evil plan to deceive those who profess to being in possession of the truth. I pray Heavenly Father will forgive us all for our blatant disregard for the words spoken by the prophets in the past including those who made thought provoking, and irrefutable statements concerning the path upon which we are treading in the United States of America toward satanic world socialism especially when they were eventually called to receive the mantle of prophecy.

    I shall now disengage myself from this unfortunate, albeit necessary departure from my usual rant by leaving you all with this sage advice extracted from a talk given by “Prophet in training,” Elder Ezra Taft Benson. While it was delivered on a Sunday morning session of conference in 1962, the implications are even more ominous today.

    “Lenin said, “The soundest strategy in war is to postpone operations until the moral disintegration of the enemy renders the mortal blow possible and easy.”

    Elder Benson went on to say while quoting from comments made by the Indianapolis Star; “It is our own ignorance–ignorance of our own history and our heritage of liberty that threatens us. It is our ignorance of the true nature of our enemy, socialistic communism, that threatens us….Our own lack of faith in freedom and ourselves, our own lack of confidence in the greatness of America and all that she stands for, morally and materially, is what puts her in mortal danger.”

    “I am fed up with the educationists and pseudo-scientists who have underrated our potential as a people….I am tired of seeing America debased and low-rated in the eyes of foreigners. I am genuinely disturbed that to idealistic youth in many countries the fraud of Communism appears synonymous with morality, while we, the chief repository of real freedom, are regarded as being in the last stages of decay.”

    Finally, Jeff if you truly believe that I do not see merit in the other realms of educational discipline, i.e., math, science, English, and history, I certainly regret leaving you with that erroneous conclusion. I have a profound love for obtaining as much pure knowledge as is available, but it does take time to separate the useless opinions, and philosophical conjecture from the foundational principles of the teachings of Christ.

    It is now time for me to submit my clumsy, and undoubtedly inept collection of opinion, fact, and worldly notion to Jeff for his insightful, yet teacher(ly) critique. I shall probably receive a failing grade, but secretly hope for an incomplete. Thankfully I will have an eternity to measure up to the high standards Jeff has imposed upon me.

  28. Curtis
    January 12, 2007 at 11:09 am #

    Wow,
    Michael is pretty masterful with the sarcasm. Minus the sarcasm though, I’d have to say Michael that I disagree with you on the socialism in education thing. Rather, I see a strong capitalist theme in schools that go to support the US imperial economic framework that is very troubling. There is a deep movement that is very successful in suppressing information about US history in schools that speaks ill of the US government, capitalism, and so-called, “free trade.” For details please see Howard Zinn’s masterful work, “A People’s History of the United States.”

  29. Naiah Earhart
    January 12, 2007 at 12:20 pm #

    My apologies, but I’ve avoided reading the other comments on this thread. I just wanted to put forth a book on this topic that I recommend anyone considering *or* deriding homeschooling should read. Certainly, the book is pro-homeschooling, but the author is a public school teacher, and his insights into educational philosophy, as well as potential reform are brilliant.

    The book is Family Matters, by David Guterson. Just add it to your list and thank me later.

  30. Jeff
    January 12, 2007 at 8:38 pm #

    Michael,

    I’m only going to respond to two parts of your post since the rest was just an attack on me, which doesn’t really merit a response.

    First, I’m glad that you don’t think that all other areas of learning are bad, which is what i was seeking to understand with my initial comment. That’s why I phrased it as a question:

    Does this mean that you believe that we shouldn’t seek out any knowledge that isn’t the word of Christ? No math, no English, no science, no history, because it’s not the inspired word of God?

    I apologize if my tone gave offense; that wasn’t my intention.

    Second, the main point of my so-called “diatribe” was two fold: 1- This is a thread about education, not socialism, and I didn’t think that the “socialism is evil” argument held much weight. Also, it doesn’t offer practical solutions to the problems of modern education, which is what I had tried to do along with every other poster on this thread. Again, I didn’t mean to give offense; however, I was frustrated by the turn that the discussion took, and I was hoping to bring it back to a more practical realm.

    As for the rest of your post, obsequious condescension is a poor way to make an argument. I never called you uneducated, stupid, or anything of the sort. I expressed concern for the direction the discussion turned, and I corrected a glaring factual error that I thought was fairly detrimental to your claims of study and research. That’s all.

    Finally, I’d like to ask you a couple of questions:

    1- When did the words of a “prophet in training” become the words of a prophet? And, does that mean that anything written by a prophet at any point in his life is the word of God?

    2- What do you propose that we do about education to make it better? What can you add to the solutions that I propose above, which for the most part are anti-socialist and practical?

    3- I’ve asked this question of Connor before, but I’ll ask you as well. Can you cite a post-Cold War prophet that has condemned socialism in a similar manner as President Benson (Actually, Elder Benson since the majority of his anti-socialist stuff was before he was prophet. We could call him Secretary Benson as well since he was Eisenhower’s Secretary of Agriculture)? The point is that these statements sound like products of the time to me, and since they haven’t been repeated by prophets since the Cold War, I have to wonder how truly important they are.

    Overall, Michael, I’d really just like to talk about education. That’s my profession and my passion. I’d like to see education fixed, so our great country will stop falling behind the world. That’s why I’d much rather discuss practical solutions and not theoretical ramblings about socialism. I hope I’ve been polite enough for you (and not too “teacher(ly)”) :).

  31. Jeff
    January 12, 2007 at 8:54 pm #

    This link is depressing but true. Standardized testing is a huge problem in public ed.

  32. Michelle
    January 13, 2007 at 12:55 am #

    Michael,
    For what it is worth, I read the education series on Meridian, and think it was potentialy very misleading (and I wrote a lengthy letter to the author to share my concerns about it). We are not bound to follow counsel given 100 years ago, or even 30 years ago if it hasn’t been repeated into our day. We have living prophets for a reason. Unless and until our current leaders give specific direction about where and how to educate our children (minus encouraging them to be in Seminary and Institute, and encouraging education in general), I do not believe that any of us is in a position to declare any “shoulds” on this topic for anyone but ourselves (per personal revelation). Isn’t it great that we can each seek personal revelation for our own stewardships, that God knows our personal situations and children and can help us make the right choices? šŸ™‚ That, to me also says we should each have respect for each other’s choices.

    This is not to say that I am blind to the flaws of public school. But I don’t think we can make this into a spiritual debate about right or wrong.

    I would hope the Spirit would also guide people who are willing and able to make improvements in the systems that exist, because clearly they are needed.

  33. Connor
    January 13, 2007 at 1:00 am #

    Michelle,

    We are not bound to follow counsel given 100 years ago, or even 30 years ago if it hasn’t been repeated into our day.

    I disagree with this. I think we’re only absolved of following previous counsel if it has been refuted, superceded, or otherwise nullified by current prophetic authority.

    This line of thinking would entail the need to continually repeat every doctrine, policy, and practice over and over and over again. Granted, there is a lot of repetition in the gospel. However, I think that the fact that a certain policy hasn’t been mentioned recently doesn’t preclude it from being authoritative. I feel that only when a doctrine or practice has been changed by the current Prophet do we disregard the previous one.

    Am I misguided in that opinion?

  34. Michelle
    January 13, 2007 at 2:52 am #

    Seems to me it would hold no water for me to say that my opinion is that your opinion might be misguided. šŸ™‚

    I will say that sure, a policy or whatever doesn’t have to be repeated to have some weight. But I hold pretty tightly to that whole repetition thing as being a really good guide about to what we should be “rivet[ing] our attention

    I personally don’t feel the need for formal renunciation of things past to feel that things not made present by current leaders’ repetition of them don’t require much from me. [If you think of something that would make me change my mind, please share, because this is my perspective now but I’m open to your thoughts if you think I’m misguided. :)] Your line of thinking makes me think that every doctrine, policy and practice that was ever mentioned would have to be reviewed with a fine-tooth comb by our leaders. (Or for that matter, that would mean, to me, that we would all have to spend our lives trying to catch up on what past leaders say as well as what current leaders say. Seems very unreasonable to expect from every member in my mind.) What our leaders choose to focus on by default, IMO, tells me what is on the front burner. (I know there are different points of view on this.)

    A last general comment: I’m also uncomfortable with any approach that places members without access to technology and/or church archivey material at some spiritual disadvantage. I’m simple-minded enough to think that the scriptures, current curriculum (which brings important teachings from past prophets to our attention) and church magazines, along with the Spirit, are enough to keep all of us in the right way.

    (I have other thoughts re: the specific topic of education, but this is already too long. Maybe in another comment….)

  35. Michelle
    January 13, 2007 at 3:29 am #

    p.s. I’m thinking that I think it’s entirely possible that the Spirit could lead someone to something a past prophet has said that might be something that person could or should focus on. But I guess I lean toward thinking that none of us is in a position to pound the pulpit with past prophetic counsel for others, unless our current prophets themselves are also doing the same. It’s so easy to get gospel hobbyish with anything, so I’m always leery of any pulpit pounding except from the prophets, or except with clear, current and consistent prophetic support (the more clear, current and consistent, (Elder Oaks talks about that, too in the article linked above) the higher my comfort level…with the converse also being true).

    I have to wonder, though, in practice, Connor, if we really end up seeing things pretty similarly in most cases. ???

  36. Michael L. Mc Kee
    January 13, 2007 at 4:01 pm #

    There are several points about myself I feel should be made public before I attempt to go any further with this topic.

    First of all, I am 60 years old, and I presume most of my brothers, and sisters participating in this conversation are of the 20 something demographic. I am a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was baptized over 36 years ago. I further presume that most, if not all, of the other participants are members of the Church too.

    I am not, in any way, an adherent to the mindless “political correctness,” faith many are currently promoting, and I am not a fan of “multiculturalism” as it is being defined by those who are likely to be found in the aforementioned camp. I am not a debater, and am quite opinionated. All posts I submit on this site, and others are comprised of pure opinion, and some facts, and quotes which I try to declare.

    My computer skills are, at best, deplorable. I am neither a “speed” typist nor a “speed” reader. All of the skills, and talents I do possess, such as they are, came from God, and/or are basically self-taught. I have utilized a computer for over 9 years, and only recently became aware of the simplistic usage of “enter” to separate my paragraphs, and there are, I am certain, times when I have done so in the wrong place.

    While there are many past, and present Prophets, Seers, and Revelators whom I love, and admire immensely, I am particularly fond of President Benson, President McKay, and Elders Maxwell, and McConkie. One of my most revered church members who was not called to a position in leadership was W. Cleon Skousen. The vast majority of what I know today concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the foundational principles of the inspired, and blessed Framer’s Constitution of the United States of America came from a study of their works, and many others, and I apologize for nothing I adhere to which can be attributed to them. I also rely upon the scriptures, prayer, and the Holy Ghost to enlighten me every day.

    I love our Savior Jesus Christ, and The original Framer’s Constitution more than life itself, and I will defend them whatever the cost, or sacrifice may be. I have no tolerance whatsoever for those who profess to being Patriotic Americans who persist in deriding the noble character of the United States, and her benevolent Christian founding. I also have little respect for anyone who attempts to reason that the Constitution is a “living” document which needs to be changed, and altered to reflect the image of the rest of the world, and the worldly.

    I recognize that I am flawed in many ways, but I reserve the right to make those proclamations of myself without interference, or corrective measures taken by another who is convinced I am more flawed than he perceives himself to be. I know, and testify that Christ will judge us all as individuals, and He will use His perfect knowledge to render His decision. He will likewise not seek the opinion of any of us in regard to the character, or progress made by another.

    It is my heartfelt opinion that we are currently experiencing many problems in all areas of our lives both as individuals, and as a nation because we were not obedient to Christ’s words through His Prophets in the past, and we are not obedient for the most part now. We have become so blind to our worldly self-interests that we believe there is no reason to be concerned about the manner in which our freedoms have actually been usurped. We allow the media to define our position on many important, and critical issues without holding them accountable for being truthful. The First Amendment does not give them license to misrepresent the true facts. They do not represent the American people, and they do not have a mandate to do so other than that which they have ascribed to themselves.

    Apparently it is impossible for me to stay on topic so I’ll close by saying that I love all of my brothers, and sisters without exception who frequent this site, and I applaud Connor for one of the most professional looking, and well administered sites I have ever had the pleasure to visit. I will return to the topic later when I have fully considered just how to respond to my friend Jeff in a civil, respectful, and loving manner.

  37. Michael L. Mc Kee
    January 14, 2007 at 7:35 am #

    Jeff

    After reviewing your 9 suggestions, I found much of what you indicated was accurate, and insightful. Since you do believe the system, as it now stands, is in need of improvement, it would be my feeling that it should be remembered that the system did not get to where it is today by accident. Your first suggestion clearly shows that you recognize the centralized theme of control, and the bureaucratic involvement.

    As you well know the concept of centralized control is the main consideration of communistic socialization. You are also certainly aware that free thought cannot exist in an environment devoid of self-expression.

    The concept of decentralization is precisely what is needed, and the bureaucracy involvement is absolutely counterproductive, and more importantly, unnecessary. Constitutionally speaking, restoring the structure back to the “bottom-to-top” vision espoused by the Framers is what is needed. In fact, I believe you indicated in your 3rd. point that parental involvement should be a part of the process, and that is certainly true. Parental, and family involvement is key to successful progress in any area we might consider.

    When considering how to look at the structure you envision, it may be helpful to note how the Lord has organized His Church. While His Word is the foundation. the first building block is the family. By the time your structure reaches the Federal level, their should be little, if anything, needed of them except protection from unwanted, and unwarranted intrusion.

    Your second idea is based upon payment for services rendered. Once again we find the system has been constructed by utilizing too much dead weight material, and overlapping bureaucratic imposition. Once again considering the organization the Lord has provided for His Church seems appropriate.

    Teachers should receive what they deserve based upon the typical considerations utilized in any business. Tenure is not, in my estimation, the most important factor to be considered. While product knowledge is important, sales presentation is critical. You indicated, I believe, that teaching is your passion, and profession. That is certainly admirable, and noble, and I believe you live up to your own self-expectations. However, the administrative structure which includes union involvement only tends to overburden, and distract the teacher. Unless, and until the dead weight at the top is removed, I am afraid teaching in the so-called public educational system will collapse, and the teacher will only be required to carry more, and more excess baggage for which he or she is not adequately compensated.

    A good teacher who has the characteristics you possess is worth all we can give them if the desired result is being realized. However, a so-called teacher who is only going through the motions of instructing her students, and is in reality more loyal to the school board, and the teacher’s unions should be summarily shown the door leading from the school, and toward the unemployment line.

    It is getting close to the time when I will be departing for the Lord’s classroom so I’ll leave item #4 until later. I will try to be patient, and consider these comments carefully, but I am afraid I perceive that you are departing somewhat from your previous logical approach. Hopefully I’ll gain further insight from the Holy Ghost before I return this afternoon.

  38. Sharon Fenton
    June 1, 2007 at 11:32 am #

    I doubt anyone will see this given that the last posts date back to January, but I feel compelled to add a new element to the discussion.

    I think it’s important to remember that God has not sanctioned any one “system” of education, but he has sanctioned stewardship over one’s family.

    With that in mind, I think it’s important that we all respect one another’s choices that we make for our families. Without a doubt, we have our children’s best interest in mind. When we feel impressed to follow another path, even if it is the road less traveled, we should follow it.

    My children were in public school and after much deliberation (because, believe me, no one makes a decision to homeschool without serious contemplation and, in my case, prayer), we chose to homeschool in spite of all the potential ridicule we would receive from friends and family.

    After 3 years, and seeing my children flourish, I know I’ve made the right decision. Now, most of those friends and family who were once critical are singing to a different tune. A lot of their concerns and misconceptions were put to rest.

    One last thought, I find that home schoolers and public schoolers, alike, can be very narrow minded. Children can flourish in both environments; it takes perseverance on the part of the parents and the child’s desire for an education to make that happen. If we work to help them develop a desire for learning, we are setting them up for success.

  39. Carissa
    June 2, 2007 at 12:53 pm #

    I think it’s important to remember that God has not sanctioned any one “system” of education, but he has sanctioned stewardship over one’s family.

    In our day the church’s official position is neutrality with respect to public, private, or home schools. However, isn’t it interesting that latter day prophets have not always been so neutral on the subject of education for children? For example, Wilford Woodruff said in 1888:

    “we should have schools where the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants can be used as text-books, and where the principles of our religion may form a part of the teaching of our schools.”

    “These [the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants]… should be their chief text books”

    John Taylor said:

    “We do not want men or women to teach the children of Latter-day Saints who are not Latter-day Saints themselves. Hear it you Elders of Israel, and you school-trustees! We want none of these things. Let others who fear not God take their course; but it is for us to train our children up in the fear of God. God will hold us responsible for this trust. Hear it, you Elders of Israel and you fathers and you mothers!” (Journal of Discourses 20:179)

    What if someone today wanted to follow the advice of these prophets? (To my knowledge, their comments have never been retracted or superseded) Public schools certainly wouldn’t fit the criteria and how many LDS private schools are there? Not many that I know of. It would seem that the only way for most LDS parents to follow this counsel would be to homeschool.

    Whoever reads this, please do not misinterpret my comments. I am not saying that God, or the church, expects everyone to homeschool. I am not saying that He is even holding us responsible for following counsel given over 100 years ago — I do not profess to know these things. What I am saying is, let’s be realistic and honest about our choices. The only way for most people to actually follow this counsel (should they desire to) is to take the responsibility of educating their children upon themselves.

    Maybe I am an idealist, but I want the best for my children, regardless of what society has to offer at any given time.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Top of the Mountains » Blog Archive » Homeschooling myths - January 9, 2007

    […] In response to the discussion on Connor’s blog about homeschooling, I wrote up this response. I recommend reading the other comments in the thread so you have a clearer idea of what I’m replying to. And I’ve learned that I could probably write about education for pages and pages. Maybe I’ll write a book about it… šŸ™‚ Anyway, if some of you who know me personally wouldn’t mind witnessing that I’m not completely socially inept, that’d be nice. Just kidding. šŸ˜‰ […]

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