This is one of the things that worries me about the homeschooling trend

[CornField]

Oregon District Aims to Woo Home-Schoolers
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=718&e=6&u=/ap/20050407/ap_on_re_us/home_schooling

This is an article about the Myrtle Point, Oregon School District. The district is facing a $675,000 funding gap for next year and is trying to bring back homeschoolers to make up that funding shortage. (Each student in this district is worth roughly $5K in state monies.)

Here's the quote that sent a shiver up my spine:

Superintendent Robert Smith said the school system is also willing to adjust the curriculum — for example, by allowing discussion of creationism in biology class, or biblical literature in English courses.

"We're not setting up a church steeple. But students want academic freedom enough to encourage different things, and that should not be stifled by relying on exclusive treatments," Smith said.

When I was homeschooling my daughter, I often heard other homeschooling parents talk about "holding out a bit longer" whenever more cooperation between the families and local school districts was the subject. Many times I wondered what that statement meant. I think this article just gave me the answer.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I believe the hiddenagenda of home schoolingis to destroy public education

EVERYONE in a nation has the right to a good education.
Everyone in a nation has the responsibility to underwrite that education, whether they have children partaking of it or not.
The greatest asset of any nation is an educated populace, unless, of course, you have an administration that is looking for an ignorant slave population.
If the schools around you are good, it will increase your property values, even if you do not have children in the schools.
If you have an educated population, they will have a better chance at getting good jobs,and therefore be less likely to have to turn to welfare, food stamps and other public funds. They will be less likely to be committing crimes.
The property taxes that make for excellent public schools and good education for everyone would therefore save you taxes in the long run and ultimately keep you safer from crime.

[ProgressiveConn]

2. I'm going through the teacher certification classes right now.

And let me tell you something. I don't want my kids being taught by most of the people in these classes. We need to treat teachers as the important people they are so we can actually get qualified intelligent people teaching our kids.

I am a big supporter of public education though I see why many educated liberal parents might not want their children going to public schools.

And IMO Property taxes are the most regressive way to fund schools. It should be a federal income or wealth tax. So that there are not A+ schools in West Hartford and F schools in Hartford. =(

[Tux]

3. Teachers

Need to be better educated and treat students like humans. I only had one teacher that seen me as a person. The real problem is getting good teachers but as long as fundies are screaming for religious education only, who would major in education?

[Selteri]

6. I had two different teachers

who either treated me like a second class citizen or refused to teach me for not being their religion.

[starwolf]

17. Been there, done that

The educrats are IMO the most culpable for the mess public education is today. NCLB,zero tolerance, "policy", not to that education has more trendy things than the fashion industry all contribute to its problems. There is no accounting or rewarding of quality either. Excellence should be rewarded and incompetence removed. Neither happens in any public school system amongst the teacher, administrators, or support staff.

Consider this:
If we doubled immediately every teacher salary in the US would things change markedly for the better?

[republicansareevil]

8. ok, but you do realize, don't you...?

...that the person who wrote the original post homeschooled her own daughter? So you can't generalize to ALL homeschoolers.

[EC]

10. The right wingers I know, don't see a connection

between crime and jobs. They believe that people who steal and rob, do it for kicks, the same for gang members. I've told them till I'm blue in the face that gangs and crimes come from lack of money. Survival is the ultimate motivator of anyone, if they can't get jobs, they turn to other ways of survival...

[starwolf]

16. Nonsense

Not everyone who home schools is a fundie. Even some DU members do. Check out some of the recent threads on it here

I do agree that some people,who support homeschooling want to see a fundamental restructuring of the public schools to meet their agenda. Then again, they are not alone in that desire.

[XemaSab]

18. What if you live in an area

that has terrible schools?

My family moved from Oakland, CA to Marin County because the Oakland schools were so terrible. We were able to pull it off, financially, but many other parents would not have had that option.

I think there are cases where letting your children languish in sub-standard schools is inexcusable. There's no reason why otherwise smart children should be martyrs to the holy cause of public education.

[EC]

4. We are already far behind in the world in the sciences and math

and the fundies are willing to put us back in the stoneage. Isn't this stuff already taught to them in Sunday School and Church? Are they afraid their kids don't learn anything in church and sunday school or don't they go?

[roguevalley]

7. I've been a teacher nearly 30 years and when teachers are

valued and education is given more than lipservice from this country, things will get better. People warble on about how important kids and education are but usually its crap. Talk is cheap.

[KansDem]

9. I've often wondered this myself...

Isn't this stuff already taught to them in Sunday School and Church?

Why take religion out of the church and put it into public school? Aren't they learning anything in Sunday School or Church? Could it be that church leaders are afraid their churches and Sunday schools aren't doing a good job?

[Jilly Beans]

13. In public schools here...

I've heard teachers say, "I don't care what the DoE says, I'm going to pray with my students whenever I want."

I think it's a way for teachers to assert their beliefs and to go against the misconception that liberal education = liberalism."

I actually think they believe they are martyring themselves for bringing religion into the classroom. I think it has more to do with affirming their faith to themselves than proselytizing to students.

[AG78]

5. Churches should have to teach science, nt

[Jilly Beans]

11. I'm a homeschooler. I pulled my kid for the precise reason that...

his public school was ignoring the law. His fourth grade teacher held bible study IN THE CLASSROOM and to cover her ass she told kids who didn't want to participate to lay their heads on their desks.

Then she would test the ones who DID want to participate and give them bonus points on science and reading work.

And there was the matter of the teacher assaulting my child for making a pop noise with his mouth. She left an orange-sized bruise and broken skin on the back of his tricep.

And there's the matter of the fifth grade teacher calling Kerry a baby killer. And calling on children to lead prayer before class got underway in the morning.

I hope this public school DOES hurt financially. Maybe they'll wake up and begin to follow the law. Then, perhaps, I'll consider sending my son back. Not now, though. My taxes are still funding the school that teaches fundie religion. I can't withdraw my taxes, so they'll continue to get that, but they won't get my son back anytime soon.

Maddy McCall

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. In much of the world, public school teaching is a respected, well-paid

profession, and the best students are attracted to it.

In Japan, for example, it is the highest-paid job for four-year college graduates. A friend of mine did a research project on math education in Japan, and she learned that only math majors with good grades are allowed to become teachers--none of this having the football coach keep one lesson ahead of the students.

Their curriculum is about two years ahead of the typical U.S. curriculum by the time they reach high school.

In some countries of Europe, you have to have an M.A., not in education, but in your subject area to teach high school.

[loudestchick]

14. In the state of Kansas they are expanding "Virtual School". Students are

enrolled in the public schools but attend online. The school gets money for each student and the families can adhere to their own schedule. This enrollment also gives homeschooled students the opportunity to participate in extra-curriculars. They are tested over the material quarterly...I think.

I know about this because of a friend who homeschools her daughter due to medical issues and will be doing "virtual school" next year.

[Old and In the Way]

15. What a great social experiment.

Homeschool all kids for the next 20 years.....than lets see how well our society functions. It will be like the Tower of Babel.

We are sooooo screwed as a country.