Comments on: The Point of Public Education

By: nk

nk — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:34:32 +0000

This is a fight between the custodial parent and the non-custodial parent over the upbringing of their child. Even when one parent is granted sole custody, the non-custodial parent retains residual rights which include the child’s religious upbringing. He has a right to try to teach his daughter a different religion than his wife’s.

My guess is that both the judge, and the school counselor who was almost certainly subpoeaned as a witness, are sorry they ever heard about these people.

By: Gesundheit

Gesundheit — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:02:13 +0000

OK, I’ll be the only one here brave enough to stand up for the judge’s point of view. It can be a real problem when a little girl in the courtroom is highly articulate and capable of defending her philosophical and spiritual point of view. In fact, it can be dangerous. It might cause the judge, who is a highly respected public official, to look like a fool by comparison with this child (who probably has a better knowledge of American history and jurisprudence than he does).

Sorry. Can’t let that continue.

My father always called it “dumbness school.” The longer you go, the dumber you get. And some people might think it’s better for the polloi to get dumber and more dependant.

By: Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R.

Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:27:26 +0000

What the *&^@? is a counselor doing considering the religious beliefs of a student, anyway?

By: HeavenSent

HeavenSent — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:07:54 +0000

Most educators are C students who wanted to go to college and did ntt want to work very hard after-wards.

This “happiness” with being at the median “means” (**math joke for those inclined) the median moves further left over time.

When unhappy over being at the median “means” the median go right over time.

Human Progress is an ugly endeavor marked by always wanting more than the next guy.

By: HeavenSent

HeavenSent — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:07:39 +0000

Most educators are C students who wanted to go to college and did ntt want to work very hard after-wards.

This “happpiness” with being at the median “means” (**math joke for those inclined) the median moves further left over time.

When unhappy over being at the median “means” the median go right over time.

Human Progress is an ugly endeavor marked by always wanting more than the next guy.

By: nk

nk — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:49:12 +0000

My daughter goes to a very good public school, in a park, in a very affluent village, twenty children per classrooms, highly-involved PTA, all the trimmings. Still ….

Her teachers are perfectly satisfied if she is performing at 50% percentile nationally. They think this is good. ????? If we want her to do bettter, we have to tutor her. And we don’t mind doing that but she is just a little girl and she is already in school for seven hours so how much more “home schooling” can we impose on her on top of piano and swimming and ice skating and gymnastics ….

By: MD in Philly

MD in Philly — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:36:51 +0000

BTW, JH, we’re currently camped out in NW Ohio (waayyy NW) to help my folks through some medical issues, are you somewhat close?

By: MD in Philly

MD in Philly — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:30:03 +0000

Actually, if you read Dewey from circa 1900, socialization to fit into society was given as a primary goal of public education. Most of the early institutions of higher learning in the US (Harvard, Princeton, etc*) were focused on seminary studies. It was felt that ministers needed to be educated so they could think for themselves, could read the Bible and use their own faculties, rather than being dependent on a church hierarchy for what to teach. Since the US culture is less adherent to typical Judeo-Christian values, the goal of socialization in public schools has become more problematic. (For example, the norm of marriage before sex was held as the standard. Even if children were born 7 months into the marriage, everyone knew what the standard was).

As said above. Laws regarding home schooling vary from state to state, there were (are?) a few states that required you to be a certified teacher.
Also, as above, it has been documented that overall home schooled children do interact better the adults and people of all age groups than “traditionally” schooled kids.

As SGT Ted says, when asked about, “Aren’t you worried about socialization?” a ready answer is, “In public school they are socialized by the peer group, how to bully, what is the cutting edge of the pornification of society, George Bush is evil, and ‘Barach Hussein Obama, mmm, mmm, mmm’.”

Hopefully they have good lawyers.

*Even Penn, who prides itself on being the first “secular” school, was led in the beginning by revivalist George Whitfield at Franklin’s request.

By: SGT Ted

SGT Ted — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:16:13 +0000

Hey she is being deprived of learning how to dress like a slut or how to become immersed in the trash culture of teenagers so she can learn how to treat people like crap or screw her boyfriend. Can’t have that. Planned parenthood needs the business.

By: Icy Texan

Icy Texan — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:22:33 +0000

“Love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Hmm . . . seems that religion may have already covered “how to get along with people, to be tolerant of different backgrounds,” etc.

Maybe the judge is just concerned that she receive the “secular version”.