"Who do these parents think they are?"

I was cruising around Homeschool Daily Report  when I spotted the link to An Education Debate. Being naturally nosy, I clicked over to read the article and found it was reader responses to a previous article about homeschooling. I found the usual pros...

depps: "After homeschooling my three sons for the past 13 years, I have to say a classroom setting gives children the opportunity to learn to socialize with age mates but homeschooling gives the opportunity to socialize with all ages.

My three teenage boys interact wonderfully with senior citizens and babies, as well as with their peers. They experience the world and how to survive in it by being in it and learning from it.

I don't think most people realize there are many homeschool groups across the state that provide sports activities, trips, lectures, language lessons and social activities including teen dances and parties. We don't sit in our houses all day and shut the rest of the world out. "

and cons...

rustycharlie: "Homeschooling is like cars. Not many people have the skills and knowledge to perform all repairs on the family car. Even if they do, they probably don't own the proper tools. Heck, some people have their hands full just knowing how to drive.

So, why would some parents assume they know enough about every academic subject to homeschool their children?"

There was this one from a school teacher...

mathteacher: "I am a public schoolteacher who has worked with students who were homeschooled. Not all students who are homeschooled lack social skills or are behind in the curriculum. I know many well adjusted, intelligent homeschoolers.

I also know many who have no social skills and have learned nothing. It depends on the effort parents are willing to put into their child's education. But this holds just as true for any parent of a child who attends public or private school.

I think parents as a whole are failing, and this makes it difficult for teachers to teach and students to learn. More pressure is on teachers and schools to improve test scores. And most parents in my school provide no support to the teachers or their children on school matteres.

I can't tell you how many times I have contacted parents about their child's missing homework, not doing well on tests or poor behavior, and the parents just blame me. I didn't raise these children to have lack of respect for me or any of their other teachers, and I can't make them do their homework or study at home. The lack of support from the parents and community is the reason so many say public schools are failing."

But my favorite response was this little gem...

TANSTAAFL2: "I don't know who these parents think they are. You would think they might leave the shaping of their children's minds, careers and futures to trained professionals, but they insist on interfering in their offspring's lives every step of the way.

As if these children were actually their responsibility from birth to adulthood. Don't they realize these are the people's children, the state's responsibility. As such, they must be molded by the state and educated in accordance with state requirements — no more and no less.

They must be taught to accept the same values approved and encouraged by the state. They must be taught that all are equal, regardless of ability, intelligence or talent, and therefore, all must be rewarded equally, regardless of merit, just like the public schoolteachers.

They must be taught their self esteem is more important than anything they can contribute to society. They must be taught that acting in the best interest of the collective is more important than individual liberty.

They must be taught the role of the state is to protect the individual from his own inherent stupidity, because the individual is incapable of making intelligent decisions for himself, and therefore cannot be held responsible for his actions. The state must act as parent, Big Brother, nanny.

I understand the public teacher's union has the children's best interest in mind. These parents have a lot of nerve, refusing to conform."

The use of snotty sarcasm in the face of tyrannical despots...that's my kind of rebel. Oh, and by the way, we think we're parents.

Comments

[Crimson Wife]

I'm frankly getting a bit sick of the "but what about [insert name of advanced subject here]?" argument against homeschooling. To use the car maintenance analogy, plenty of families are able to handle the basics such as changing the oil. From time to time, the family may decide to outsource for one particular challenging repair, but that doesn't mean that they need to outsource *EVERY* little thing!

[Activities Coordinator]

LOL And I'm definitely outsourcing Calculus!

[Ten 0'Clock Scholar]

The math teacher was right on. You see all sorts of parents all across the education all spectrum. I'm fairly certain Home school parents tend to be more involved and conscientious about their kids' education than the average public school parent. It just seems to go with the territory.

The last comment was pretty funny tongue-in-cheek...at least, I sure hope so!

[Mom]

The math teacher provides what is probably the most common reason for the state of education today--the unwillingness of many parents to provide their children with a desire or need to learn and with manners. I remember talking to the mother of a failing student ten or more years ago and suggesting that she help the child with homework and studying for tests. Her response was, "That means I would have to stay home at night."