Spunky Homeschool

Professing to be wise.....

Feb. 15, 2006 at 9:04 AM

Homeschooling

So what do some of those in the ivory towers of academia think about homeschooling, Quoting from an article in Newsweek, here's what Stanford education Professor Robert Reich had to say,

Homeschooling isn't universally applauded as a solution, however. Some parents and educators worry that it retards children's socialization. Others say it siphons much-needed resources like per-pupil funding and the activism of the most savvy parents. Schooling in isolation could threaten civic cohesion and diversity of thought, says Stanford University education professor Rob Reich.

Reich favors stricter homeschooling regulations to supplant the current patchwork of state laws so that children can be assured of exposure to more than just what their parents sanction. He also worries about parents pushing homeschooling on their kids

Mr. Reich let me put your mind at ease. I do not like nor do I sanction the chicken pox. However, all my children were exposed and got them. Amazingly without government regulation and testing. So just what can regulation expose my children to that they aren't already exposed to on their own?

And from the Columbus Dispatch, Professor Bainbridge writes,
If education really is a state function, as provided by law, then carefor a more rigorous evaluation of home schooling. Many educators are offended by an attitude among some parents of home schoolers that untrained, and sometimes uneducated, parents can do as well or better teaching as professionally trained educators. While home schooling appears to meet the needs of some familes, society must consider whether it erodes support for public schools.
You give homeschoolers way to much credit Mr. Bainbridge. The public schools do a great job of eroding support all on their own. (HT: Daryl)

With thinking like this it makes you want to keep them home for college too!

Reminder: Don't miss the carnivals this week.
Carnival of Children's Literature at the Bonny Glen
Carnival of Education at the Edwahoo
Carnival of Unschooling at ATypical Homeschool
Carnival of Homeschooling at About Homeschooling
Related Tags: , , , ,

9 Comments and Trackbacks

posted by Leigh2 on Feb. 15, 2006 at 9:11 AM

My oldest is about to start high school, and yes, I am thinking more and more about homeschooling through college. My mom thinks I've lost my mind. LOL

posted by Dell on Feb. 15, 2006 at 9:49 AM

Thanks for sharing that article link and those quotes, Spunky. Their "reasons" that children should be part of the masses just seep communism.

posted by creativehsmom on Feb. 15, 2006 at 12:06 PM

It seems to me that Mr. Reich spends ---way--- too much of his time ---worrying--- and that in turn can cause one to make wild assumptions and draw onerous conclusions.
Sounds like a very controlling person, is his middle name "Third"?
We homeschoolers have better things to do than expose our children to sickness, drugs, gangs, and guns etc.

BTW thank you for stopping by and answering our biology question. So it "was" a tail and it's called "flagellum". Now we have to research that and see what it's purpose is!! Lol
Have a happy day!
Cathy :o)

posted by spunkyhomeschool on Feb. 15, 2006 at 1:50 PM

Comment from Boltbabe
I just read this article I thought would interest you. Here't the addy:

Townhall Article

posted by sagerats on Feb. 15, 2006 at 2:12 PM

I really liked your chicken pox analogy! They can box up their socialization, coat it with sugar and call it Great Fun and Happiness, but in the end we all know that it's nutrional content is seriously lacking.

Abiding in the Vine!

posted by Bumgardner on Feb. 15, 2006 at 4:09 PM

Just wanted to thank you for your well thought out article in the current issue of
"The Old Schoolhouse." You put my mind back where is was supposed to be.

posted by JenIG on Feb. 15, 2006 at 6:55 PM

well said Madame Spunk.
:)

posted by formerteacher on Feb. 16, 2006 at 8:54 AM

Professor Reich is the media’s favorite home schooling “expert” because he appears to be for home schooling, but he is actually trying to get the government to control home schoolers and turn them into nothing more than an extension of the public schools. This is an excerpt from his paper, Testing the Boundaries of Parental Authority Over Education: The Case of Homeschooling, found in a response to it on the HSLDA website:

I submit that even in a minimal construal of autonomy, it must be the function of the school setting to expose children to and engage children with values and beliefs other than those of their parents. [citation omitted] To achieve minimal autonomy requires that a child know that there are ways of life other than that into which he or she has been born. Minimal autonomy requires, especially for its civic importance, that a child be able to examine his or her own political values and beliefs, and those of others, with a critical eye. It requires that the child be able to think independently. If this is all true, then, at a bare minimum, the structure of schooling cannot simply replicate in every particularity the values and beliefs of a child's home.18

I had quoted Mr. Reich in a discussion about Christians educating their children at home, and he found out about it. To my surprise, he responded (rather angrily) that I didn’t understand his beliefs. After I explained what I believed his stand to be, he had to agree that I understood him. I asked him if he really believed that it was in the best interests of the state to teach some children views that oppose what their parents teach them. Here is part of his reply:

And as I have said and written repeatedly, I am not against homeschooling; I am against unregulated homeschooling.

And finally, yes, I do believe that it cannot and should not be the function of the state to mirror and reinforce the views of parents. While children may be born "to you", they are not your material possessions. You are fiduciaries of their well-being, and that certainly entitles you to educate them according to the religious convictions which you believe to be true. But your fiduciary responsibilities do not entitle you to shield your children from exposure to competing beliefs of other citizens.


I replied to him that my children belong to God, and that He has entrusted them to me to educate His way, and that they do not belong to the state. Anyway, expect him to reply to your criticism. He doesn’t think we are smart enough to understand that this is about control more than anything…the state controlling all children so that they won’t grow up believing the “dangerous” things that we believe!

Thanks for this blog…the articles are very enlightening!

posted by gottsegnet on Feb. 17, 2006 at 4:07 PM

surprisingly, as our media adopts these people as experts, Germany's media is turning out some positive articles in favor of homeschooling. I personally would stand Stern next to The Nation on the political spectrum and it recently had a very good article on homeschooling I appreciated.

Post a comment!