From: lmollett@lunatix.uucp (Laura Mollett)
Subject: Re: What to Teach Your Children (Was Re:  Homophobia )( Was Re: Homeschooling (spp's response to multiple) posts)
Organization: Lexington Public Access Unix. -KY- (606) 255-9121
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 21:02:36 GMT


In article <scottj-110193090959@iamac-1.dml.georgetown.edu> scottj@magic.dml.georgetown.edu (John L. Scott) writes:
>In article <1993Jan10.161933.15358@lunatix.uucp>, lmollett@lunatix.uucp
>(Laura Mollett) wrote:
>> Actually, I would 
>> probably attempt to homeschool my own (as others here wish to do) and
>> considered it, however I _am_ a liberal, and honestly believe all children
>> should have the same right to a good education.  I attempt to change the
>> system, wherever my voice has any weight, and feel that change should
>> really come from within the system...thus I don't choose to remove my
>> children from it.
>
>But you are sacrificing your own children's education for the "benefit" of
>others.  I put benefit in quotes above because the small amount of good
>that you can presumably accomplish by keeping your kids in school (if any
>at all) is far outweighted by the great good you could do your children by
>homeschooling them.  
>
Actually, I don't think I am sacrificing my children's education.  For one
thing, I believe I still do teach all the extra that would be included in a
home education program (majorally imo, enjoyment of reading and learning, and
the ability to think).  There are often points where I disagree with the
school system, but I believe that in the case of my own children, my opinions
really carry more weight then any of their educator's, and I actually don't
believe that exposure to other opinions will hurt them.

I really shouldn't have said that I am keeping my children in school solely
for the benefit of others.  While I do believe that there is benefit to be
accomplished by having my (and their) input on the school system, there are
also other reasons.  For one thing, my husband and I are somewhat anti-social
and I don't truly believe that we could make up for the social aspects of the
school system at home (while others certainly can, and do), and it doesn't
help that we do not attend any organized religious group, and thus don't
have that benefit either.  Further my oldest child is Learning Disabled, and
he receives a lot of extra help from the school system.  I believe those
trained in teaching children with these kind of disabilities actually do a
better job of it than I would, and I appreciate the help of the school system
in this regard.  Much as I might disagree with their policies in certain
areas, I really believe my son is getting a better education within the
school system than he would get at home.  While I have no objection to others
homeschooling (and agree with them on many points), I do feel the public
education system is better in our case, and I also want to make sure that the
government continues to offer these services to children.  I actually believe
I do a great amount of good within the system, by attending school board
meetings, other public meetings, appearing in my children's classrooms for
various reasons, and arguing with the educator's when I believe they are not
doing things in my children's best interest.  While I might continue some
activities, even if my children did not attend, the discussions would not be
as specific, and the system benefits from having a different opinion (if 
nothing else).

>Even if I were to buy this keeping your kids in school improves the school
>system argument (and I don't), it would not stop me from homeschooling.

You apparently feel that you could not contribute in the same ways to your
children's education if they also attended a public school, that in some
way their education would be lacking because of it.  Perhaps this is so in
your case, but I don't agree that it is in all.  I don't feel that my children
are losing anything by having both the benefit of the things the public system
does well, and my own input.  I don't think the system does them any harm.
You, apparently, disagree.  In what ways do you feel I sacrifice their 
education by allowing them to attend school?
>
>--John L. Scott

			Laura Mollett