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Article about Urban Homeschoolers

Thought Rob might enjoy this.

I'm surprised you say that.. 

Equality 7-2521 wrote: I'm surprised you say that..

Missed my larger point which is that most parents don't have the luxury or experience and that's why I believe we need a strong public school system.  If parents don't agree with whatever their kids are being taught they still have the option of teaching them otherwise.

Equality 7-2521 wrote: Do you not believe in compulsory attendance laws then?

It's a damn hard question, honestly. Normally, we argue that children are generally not capable of making their own decisions and so appoint a guardian to make such decisions in their stead. We do the same with the mentally disabled (whether it be temporary or permanent). Clearly, it is in the best interests of the individual (i.e. the child) to be educated. The question is whether the guardian has the right to deny the child that education. If he does, then we're willing to allow permanent harm to be visited upon these individuals by their guardians. If he does not, then we have arguably assigned government as ultimate caretaker of all invalids. Neither is appealing. If we accept the former, then we certainly have to dissolve all child protection services and just let parents scar the f**k out of their children. If we accept the latter, education may then be compulsory, though I don't think that specifies whether the child is educated by a state or private institution. The problem is then specifying the requisite level of education, which the government would do as ultimate caretaker, and that difficult to assign or assess.

Removved

 

Edited by toroddfuglesteg - February 01 2012 at 16:38

Equality 7-2521 wrote: It's in the individual's best interest to be educated I agree. Going to school may be in direct opposition to that interest.

Equality 7-2521 wrote: Article about Urban Homeschoolers Thought Rob might enjoy this.

I've been on one side or the other of the public education system almost my whole life.  I'll summarize my feelings about it this way: One may have a diploma, but one may still be a thoughtless fool.  I believe public education is largely a failure compared to what a privatized education system (yes, one that parents would actually have to pay for themselves) has to offer.  We personally don't care for either, though.

Our son is four-years-old.  He is understanding punctuation, nouns, and can figure the sum of a two digit number plus a one digit number.  At two he knew shapes (including crescent, trapezoid, hexagon, octagon, diamond, heart and clubs and spades ).  He is studying perimeter now.  If he were in public school, I shudder to think what his day would be like.  They'd probably try to get us on a program that would lead to medication.  From what I see, I would not want him around the people I teach.  Not at all.

In time, I will be taking more charge of his education, including teaching him finance and cooking.

Were a law not in place, he and I would take up home brewing. 

Maybe dueling. 

Dean wrote: Epignosis wrote: Were a law not in place, he and I would take up home brewing.  Hang on... are you saying that in the USA or North Carolina, you are not allowed to home brew at all, or that you are not allowed to home brew with a four year old assistant or you;re not allowed to home brew with anyone under 21 living in the house? Or is this a restriction that has the State has imposed specifically upon your family?

I assume my son can help with the preparation (it doesn't appear to be mentioned).  However, NC law would prohibit him from tasting our creations (which in my opinion, kind of makes it no fun).  Different states actually have different laws on the 21 rule.  Home brewing is federally legal, but states make up their own rules.  But I wouldn't involve him in home brewing until he was a teenager anyway.

Dean wrote: Epignosis wrote: Dean wrote: Epignosis wrote: Were a law not in place, he and I would take up home brewing.  Hang on... are you saying that in the USA or North Carolina, you are not allowed to home brew at all, or that you are not allowed to home brew with a four year old assistant or you;re not allowed to home brew with anyone under 21 living in the house? Or is this a restriction that has the State has imposed specifically upon your family? I assume my son can help with the preparation (it doesn't appear to be mentioned).  However, NC law would prohibit him from tasting our creations (which in my opinion, kind of makes it no fun).  Different states actually have different laws on the 21 rule.  Home brewing is federally legal, but states make up their own rules.  But I wouldn't involve him in home brewing until he was a teenager anyway. Hmm, 4 is illegal here too (unless under medical supervision) - 5 is okay though.

In case you hadn't noticed, my opinion is that our laws are generally foolish.

Jack Daniels Distillery in Tennessee is in a dry county.