Admit it Liberals, You Hate (School) Choice

I think it’s really sad that some people only want to fund public education for some kids in only certain public schools, but not other public schools or any other workable educational options.

Why the discrimination people?

My Facebook friend, Nate Spencer says it’s about “money and power. Those other schools don’t tend to be NEA shops. Kids first indeed.”

I keep thinking that “money and power” are becoming old saws of late, Nate. Do you suppose there are other reasons? The “power” part I get… but I think it’s about the overall power that is derived from keeping a monopoly alive so that it feeds the millions of people that feed off of it. Only this monopoly doesn’t make a few greedy capitalist industrialists powerful, but rather several unions, contractors, suppliers, bureaucracies, workers, etc. etc. etc.

The Government Education Complex (read more about it on this blog: The Government Education Complex Defined) is the monopoly that uses taxpayer dollars (money taken by force) to keep itself alive via a political construct called districts. School districts are like mini fiefdoms, that require funding, not directly from the community they serve, but from the state and the federal governments, so that they can perpetuate themselves.

Over a century ago it was decided that taking our money by force through taxation in order to pay for the schooling of other people’s children is a good thing. It has been ingrained in our psyche that only public schooling is something worthwhile, and worthy of paying for with our tax dollars. But unfortunately for the Education Complex, along came a few different models of learning that happen to work better than the old factory school (districts) model and parents are now making choices, rather than abdicating their choice to the one and only government school closest to them. (Or in some cases, a non-local school that the government buses their children to because they determined some diversity quotas must be met.)

NOW… it’s suddenly not the right thing to pay for educating ALL children. NOW we should only pay for the kids who attend DISTRICT public schools. Not just ANY public school. Charters, and other options, you see, threaten the monopoly (and let’s face it.. the unions too; but that’s becoming an old saw as well.)

I guess all I want at this point in the debate is a little intellectual and moral honesty. If you are a Liberal and you believe Public Charter schools are all bad and shouldn’t exist because they are “pulling, stripping, stealing” money away from the district public schools, then pretty-please agree to the following… at least in principle:

1) Public School funding is really about funding “certain” children and not all children. IF you want to choose to go to a public school — ANY SCHOOL — that isn’t unionized or operates in a manner other than in a politically controlled district using master contracts that citizens can’t approve personally, you should have to pay for it yourself, just like all the other “rich” people who pay for private schooling. Your tax dollars can’t go to private schools or non-district schools. It hurts our old district schooling system too much and it hurts the children left in the poorly performing schools when you take your money and children out of the system. These systems must be fixed, no matter what the cost; even if it cheats some children out of a decent education.

2) Yes, yes, yes… I agree that charter schools are really public schools. I’ve been using the “charter schools aren’t public schools” and “charters get to pick and choose their students” lie because it furthers my agenda, which again, is the following: MY district school deserves taxpayer money before OTHER public schools and other educational choices receive money. The end justifies the means.

3) I realize that poor and “at-risk” children also might have parents who want to take advantage of charters or even vouchers. I feel for them. I really do. I’m a Liberal after all. We really really feel for these kids. That said, I have to admit that even though these options might in fact help these poor and disadvantaged students, it might actually hurt MY school district, therefore I can not support even poor and disadvantaged children receiving taxpayer support for THEIR choice to leave their assigned school district. It puts too many other kids at risk. And besides, how can we be sure the parents of poor and at-risk kids know what they’re doing? They can’t possibly know what’s best for their child’s education. They aren’t the professionals.

4) I’m still for choice!! I just have to look out for MY CHOICES first. You know what I mean? Therefore, I will work hard with my political friends and lobbyists in the statehouse, paid for with donations from my union dues, do make sure that all workable educational choice and reform ideas are aborted before they become viable law. I will, though, in the spirit of intellectual honesty, stop blaming Bush and NCLB for all of the problems we have today with our public school districts, especially with the prospect that Obama’s Race to the Top plan will be NCLB on crack!!

SEE!! That wasn’t so hard, was it? You really can be a pro choice Liberal and at the same time, deny ‘certain’ children their right to a good education of their parents’ choice. And people will probably still like you.

Admit these things, my liberal friends, public school district apologists and opponents in playful and philosophical discourse and I bet we can start to have more honest conversations about the future of education reform.

A Dad’s Homeschool Socialization Program

Updated! March 25, 2010 – Here’s a great 3 minute audio from Eagle Forum on when it comes to socialization, Homeschoolers Don’t Need It: Homeschoolers Don’t Need Socialization – Eagle Forum

There is an essay of mine that has been passed around over the years, that deals with the homeschool socialization question. It gets posted around every year or so on our IndianaHomeschoolers e-list. I thought I would pass it on and archive it here, for your enjoyment. If it makes you want to “skip school” and educate your children otherwise, I think that would be great!

WARNING: This is supposed to be funny. If you don’t have a sense of humor, or believe that people who make jabs at public schooling are evil elitists, don’t read this. If you have the tendency to snort coffee out your nose while you’re reading funny things, don’t blame me. You’ve been warned.

A HOMESCHOOLING DAD’S PERSPECTIVE ON ‘SOCIALIZATION’

I am perfectly aware of the socialization needs of my children. As an involved parent and (home)educator, the awesome responsibility falls upon me to ensure my children receive all the diverse and broad educational aspects of the “public school experience” that they miss by not attending their assigned government institution.

So here are but a few of my homeschool curricula plans to keep it real and balanced with the Government School experience called “Socialization.”

Every three months, I send them to Grandma’s house, where they are under strict instructions to beg her to bake dozens of cookies so they can sell them as a fund raising project. I sell them at the office and keep the money.

Any leftover cookies are sold door to door. The kids learn economics by selling them to the neighbors based on the appraised value of their property. The more expensive the house, the more the cookies cost. This is a
lesson-plan “two-fer” as it teaches the principle of progressive taxation and the politics of class envy all at once. People who don’t buy cookies are asked, “Are you against education or do you just hate children?” If they STILL don’t buy cookies, the children sell them to their publicly schooled kids as they get off the bus.

The rest gets sold back to Grandma.

The balance of cookies still not sold, are sold to their Mom.

We can’t have the children feeling like they failed, can we?

The money goes to me (as head of the school administration) to buy a new flat screen TV. It helps me relax so I can do a better job administrating my school. Anything that goes towards the “teacher’s lounge” is bound to advance the learning process. Mom pays for school supplies our of her budget. This leaves less money for food and qualifies our kids for the free lunch program.

As part of my “Kids need to experience real life” lesson plan, every month or so, when the children are given their scheduled bathroom break (complete with hall passes) I randomly yank one of the kids into the bathroom and offer them drugs. When they “just say no” they get a swirlie and a threat that they better not tell anyone (like Mom) or they’ll be in REAL trouble.

After they recover I hand them a smoke and tell them if they don’t light up, they aren’t cool.

Then when they successfully cave in to the peer pressure and light up (because they don’t want another swirlie) I turn on ‘em (putting on my Principal’s “We [heart] School!” badge) and give them a detention for smoking in the bathroom.

Lessons learned? Priceless.

You know… this just goes to show that spending an intense three months on our home based D.A.R.E. program wasn’t worth spit!

We should have spent the time teaching them to READ instead. That way they could have read the “Don’t Do Drugs” signs I posted everywhere.

Oh well… when you have to keep up with teaching just like the public schools do, some of the programs like reading, writing and math are obviously going to suffer.

Proper Socialization is just too important.

I know what you’re thinking:

“Homeschooling Dad, you’re doing a darn good job socializing your kids with a quality public schooling-style socialization program at home.”

Yeah… I know.

But I have to admit, there’s at least one difference between our homeschool socialization program and the average public school’s program….

I REFUSE to give the kids free condoms.

I know it makes me look like a prude, but I had to put my foot down: I make ‘em pay for them. (Time for another cookie fund raiser!)

/s/ BbBennett

Tip-o’the-Hat to April, Jay and Christa for letting me steal their material and for helping me keep my homeschool socialization program true to real life, accredited and up to Government School standards.

[The previous paragraphs were -- of course -- sarcastic. But for those who have NO sense of humor or sense of the ironic... no, we don't really do those things. NO parent I KNOW does those things. Only an IDIOT would allow these things to happen to someone's children. Sadly, I can't vouch for the peers and officials at YOUR child's public school. Maybe you should ask him or her about it. Don't you ever wonder: If a parent were to do to their children, what is routinely allowed in today's public schools, the parent would be in jail NOW? What happens to the adults who run our public schools? Think about it.]

EducationNews.org: More Under-Fives Suspended

EducationNews.org is reporting that in England, there are more and more children under the age of five, who are getting suspended for violent behavior from their students.

Wow. One comment to the post so far, suggests that cattle prods would be a good start towards bringing  back control to their little preschools of horror.

Good think here in Indiana, kids don’t really have to go to school until age 7. By then, they are expected to know NOT to kick, hit, bite and throw cricket bats at their teachers.

Funnies: No Evidence Equals Guilt

Hat Tip: FallacyDetective.com

You might want to refer back to my post about a Richmond Community School Board member suggesting that there were too many unaccountable parents out there, “saying” they are homeschooling, using a “loophole” in the law to somehow cause Richmond’s graduation rate look too good!

How many homeschoolers have read article after article accusing homeschoolers of hiding their children from government child protectors (teachers… HA!!) to avoid being charged with abuse?

How many parents have been out in public (like a park or play area) with their children, acting perfectly with a wide range of children of varying age and race, and been asked by another mom, “What about socialization?”

I’m sorry, but I just don’t have the patience to give ignorant people the time of day anymore. And you shouldn’t either.

If you’re currently homeschooling, YOU know how well it works. There is no need to explain your choices to anyone. When the media or teachers or State School advocates say one word about how damaging homeschooling is to your children, or how homeschooling is somehow harming public schools, laugh a hearty laugh.

[Read the following comment and more ignorant thoughts from people who are against CHARTER schools. Lord knows what they think of homeschoolers!!]

…if the best and brightest students are siphoned off [into public charter schools], the worst and dullest remain behind. I don’t know if that fact, in itself, is sufficient reason to scrap the charter schools system. When money is diverted away from public schools, to finance other alternatives, the public school product is negatively impacted, compounding the problem. [Nashville City Paper]

I posted that comment because it is very common to hear ideas like that when the discussion revolves on the weaning of our children away from the State Schools and into alternatives (ANY ALTERNATIVE) to a State Mandated education.

Bottom line: Skipping School to homeschool or take advantage of any other methods you choose is not illegal! (Yet.) Choose and do what’s right by your children while you still can. Don’t let your children be the “worst and dullest remain(ing)” in your failing public Government School.

Save the Planet: Skip School

I propose all children should be skipping school until our government follows the green example of Bali.

Really, it’s time to get serious. My daughter took a carbon footprint green survey at school (to avoid learning about math or literature, I suppose. Oh… she just told me this was a replacement for learning some real science….) and after devulging much personal information about our family lifestyle and habits, it was determiend that if EVERYONE lived like we do (on a farm with methane producing animals and only 5 CFL light bulbs) we would need … WAIT FOR IT! … 44 earths to sustain all of us. (SOB Planet Killers, that is!!!)

This is my solution:

I propose that all publicly schooled (taxpayer supported) children skip school until each and every government school building is made of 100% sustainable materials, all children are not bussed and all textbooks are banned.

I thought of possibly replacing textbooks with Kindle Wireless Reading Devices but that means you’d need electricity to charge them. Bummer.

Think about it, each public school must have the carbon footprint of a small factory! Add in all those breathing children (exhaling literally TONS of toxic greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere every year) and you have a monumental carbon footprint! At least factories produce something of value.

Schools?

It’s obvious that anything public schools do to “save the planet” are only going to scratch the surface until they address the masive waste and pollution they produce every day. Bali is taking the lead here. Once again, making America a laughing stock in the advancement of environmental earth security. Bali cares not only about the planet, but they care about education as well.

Green School Opens in Bali

A school with its own farm, a bicycling program, solar power, and an organic chocolate factory? Attendance must be through the (sustainable, bamboo) roof.