Dan Savage of Seattle's The Stranger posted the following blurb.
"God only knows how many child abusers 'home school' their kids in order to isolate their children and avoid the scrutiny of teachers and school officials who are legally obligated to report suspected abuse to the authorities." ("Every Child Deserves a Mother and A Father." The Stranger, Feb 11, 2010)
Contrary to my usual tact, I'm going with some anger-fueled expression.
How many of these child abusers have you heard of? Teachers, little league coaches, priests, cub scout leaders, neighbors, family friends. . .
I was not homeschooled, yet I was abused. I displayed virtually every symptom of a sexually, emotionally, and physically abused child, yet my teachers did nothing helpful. On the contrary, my first grade school counselor told me I was sick, and I knew he meant sick in the head. My mother never even knew that the man was calling me into his office.
As a mandatory reporter when I ran a day care, I made several reports to social services which went ignored. I even called the child's school. Years later and she still lives with a known, previously convicted pedophile. Her mother knows it and so do her teachers.
As for the respondents to Mr. Savage's ignorant post who suggested that most people don't have the skills to pass on a basic education to their children, I ask you:
If you can't pass on a basic education to your children, presumably the same basic education you received from public school teachers, what makes you think your child's teachers can do any better?
If you think I can't pass on a childhood education to my children, you're essentially calling me stupid.
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
Jowita Bydlowska
Ben Stevens
Tracy Brown
Laura Weldon
big fat trauma queen
Salon.com
Comments
Rated.
Of course its ludicrous on his part to suggest through his question that there are hordes of parents out there looking at home school as a vehicle to abuse their children. However, I think to say that just any parent out there has the same qualifications to teach their children as a certified educator is a little bit of a stretch as well. I'm an ed major so I can speak a bit to this: it's an immense amount of hours that go into obtaining a professional teacher's certification. I've been at it myself for years. It's not as simple as you might think.
Most teaching majors are extremely dedicated and put years of work into obtaining that degree. I know quite a few parents who have chosen to home school, and they all do it for different reasons. Some of them really seem to know what their doing, but for others it seems like they are making some sort of conservative political statement at the expense of a less than optimal education experience for their kids. The statement comes first, education second. That's bad.
I understand your frustrations at the public system failing to protect you as a child from such terrible victimization. Just be sure that in criticizing Savage you don't engage some of his same tactics.
lol fail.
As for Savage, while his remarks were crude and insulting -- to say nothing of ignorant -- there is a bitter truth in this. If you lived where I live, where children are home-schooled or condemned to makeshift christian "academies" so they aren't exposed to evils like science (evolution) and history (the Indian holocaust and slavery, racism and segregation), I'm sure you'd be as conflicted about home-schooling as I am.
Granted, public schools are far from perfect, but the solution to the problem is not to condone the willfully blind ignorantly leading the not-yet blind (I'm not applying that charge to you). God knows we already suffer from an abundance of intolerance and ignorance.
Several of the comments that have followed, however, could certainly be fairly labeled: "retarded." Generalized statements about home schooling, child abuse and any subject are always things to avoid. Ridiculous generalized statements should always be condemned. For instance, in this thread I see this beauty: "The PC wisdom refuses to admit that public schools teach shit." How anyone could make such a generalized statement against all teachers who work in public schools is beyond belief and an example of some one being brainwashed. I taught hundreds of kids to read, play sports, write and do math. I never taught "shit" nor did the majority of the teachers who I worked with day after day and year after year. Ganging up on teachers has been going on since the Reagan years and I am sick of it. Some teachers are great; many are pretty good and a few are poor. The same type of bell curve you would see from Wal-Mart workers, waitresses, a road crew or whatever. Condemning people who dedicate their lives to children like was done on this thread is an example of a grossly unhappy person dedicated to spreading hate around. Hating teachers and condemning public schools is an example of how the right wing strategy becomes "reality" in the limited mines of some.
I repeat, your anger at such a crude statement is justified. What isn't justified is to criticize hate speech with hate speech like some of your supporters did here.
You neglected to mention one profession in which a normal bell curve doesn't seem to apply -- politicians
Thanks for granting me a hyperbole exemption
I realize that people tend to associate homeschooling with strict Christian upbringings, because those families have been vocal in the homeschooling movement. However, religion is but one reason people might choose to homeschool. For me, it is because I want my kids to enjoy their lives and live together as a family. Also, I know I can do a great job of facilitating their learning.
I do know that teacher certification is a huge deal. However, I don't believe that means teaching is difficult or somehow beyond the means of the average person.
Even though I may disagree with some moral teachings (bigotry, etc.), I would not attempt to prevent a parent from passing on their beliefs to their children. It's the way of things, seriously. The children, schooled or not, will decide what to do with that teaching. In either case, the parents will teach according to their beliefs and so will teachers.
Do we really want to leave the teaching of morals to school teachers, administrators, textbook writers? Do children belong to the state in this way? Is that what we want? Do we want schools, a.k.a. the state, to have more power over our children's lives, the choices we would make for them, than we do?
And public education doesn't mean leaving moral education only to the teachers. There's ample opportunity for parents to teach their kids the rest of the time. Or is part of the agenda to teach one's kids to mistrust public enterprise in general?
http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/comp2001/default.asp
Second, if you trust your husband, why not give your kids a chance at institutional interaction ?
You suffer - undoubtedly. He suffers.
Should your children ?
At some point these things have to be stopped.
With regard to "institutional interaction," if by that we mean school-like environments, my kids take classes in the community. They know how to act accordingly, raise their hands, follow instructions, etc. They do ballet, art, music, . . . They attend workshops, . . . . If we mean social interaction, which schools don't typically allow (i.e., No talking in class; We're not here to socialize; Quiet in the back, etc.), my kids go to play dates and parties and hang out with folks of all ages. They interact in the world outside of school, the world which they're already a part of rather than being in training for.
I meant ( about your husband ) that when one of you has suffered, as you have, then their partner is necessarily a part of that, and part of the healing. I was concerned that ( as I've witnessed here ) you had retreated, and taken the children with you.
I see by your reply, this is clearly not the case.
I wish you all the best. I personally advocate public schooling, simply because I think some ' training,' as you put it, is helpful.
My daughters are 19 and 23, and good, grounded people with a realistic handle on what can be done, I think, and how administrations work.
ps Big Fat Trauma Queen has a post on this subject you might be interested in - she's home-school
Thanks again.
Under optimum circumstnaces--which are reached in very few private schools and in some home schools--8-12 yr old children should have the literary ability to critique Shakespeare; summarize Western philosophy in less than 10 minutes; point to any country on a map; and use algebra with ease. This is what all parent should aim for and try to accomplish.
The problem with ad hominem attacks is that the reader will click on the avatars and compare posts. No amount of cussing will help you if you not only don't measure up in style and talent, but also don't belong in the same league. Cussing does not work; the ONLY WAY is to compare posts: I dare you to do it.
@ Sara
You are a wise and talented writer and I agree with every thought in this post. I am sorry I brought this frustrated ignorant trash to your post. This has nothing to do with you.
I forget that it can seem a strange or frightening choice to people who have little or no exposure to unschooled kids. I like diversity. I'm glad people choose different ways of living.
School and professional teachers is a relatively new concept, invented a couple hundred years ago for less than altruistic reasons. Meanwhile, parents have been passing what they know to their children since the beginning of time.
My kids can go to school if they want, but why would they? I would not have gone if I had had a choice. Who would? Who liked school?
I have always said you have wisdom behind your ears. You are reasonable, logical and rational.
@PattyJane
Thank you for such an informative comment.