Comments on: To educate, or to socialize?

By: Pass The Torch

Pass The Torch — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 13:16:00 +0000

The whole idea of mediocrity is the reason we started our homeschool experiment in October. I appreciate your thoughts about socialization as well.

Great post.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 02:06:00 +0000

I agree on your thoughts. Public schools should teach children how to stand out with the help of real education and not just any socialization program. They are just taking advantage of some things that provides the school with commercialism like what Judy said.

By: Heather (Sand Sea and School)

Heather (Sand Sea and School) — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 02:46:00 +0000

The system is designed to push all students toward the middle, toward common ground. It isn't really about academics, and certainly not about developing the individual.

AMEN! Thank you so much for sharing this! I am a new homeschooling mom and I really needed this reminder..

Thank you.
-H

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 02:18:00 +0000

Great post. You said it well about an educated person. They did stand out on every level and I agree that a well-socialized child is not a well-educated child.

By: jennifer in OR

jennifer in OR — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:58:00 +0000

On treating children as “human capital” - In my post last night, in my delirium, tears, and anger over the latest Brause case, I wrote another verse to Randy Stonehill’s “Stop the World” song. (I date myself, that was 1984). So I can’t write songs, but like I wrote there, parents are becoming mere breeding machines and children belong to the public domain. Stop the world, I want to get off, this is too weird for me…

By: Dana

Dana — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:00:00 +0000

I couldn’t agree with you more!

EW, I can’t remember how I got to your site anymore, but I was really enjoying your blog and will definitely be back. I view secular humanism as a religion as well.

Judy, the entire idea of “human capital” is about the most offensive thing I can think of.

By: Judy Aron

Judy Aron — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:59:00 +0000

The entire education establishment has veered away from the real purpose of education. Instead of imparting knowledge they have created an institution which has a purpose of indoctrination of specific ideas (liberal agendas) and group think, as well as treating children as human capital, training them for specific fields (Goals 2000 - Schools To Career) - and they have endeavored to make school a “one stop shopping place” for healthcare as well as “socialization”. It is evident in the manner in which the government school can and does entirely monopolize a child’s (and his family’s) life.
Schools have also become a place for commercialism in that products are advertised in text books and school events.
Often there is also no distinction between home and family as teachers are known to call their students “their kids” and desire to create a “family environment”.
Just like you cannot be “a little pregnant’ it seems you cannot be “merely enrolled in public education” as they demand full participation all day and even after school with homework and school events and meetings. They want to be involved in all aspects of a child’s home and family life now.

By: Extreme Wisdom

Extreme Wisdom — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:40:00 +0000

Great post, and thanks for linking me. A couple of thoughts...

First, if one views Secular Humanism as a religion (I lean that direction), it is clear that our schools are imposing "an established religion," and therefore clearly unconstitutional.

Second, if we leave aside the vast differences (common experience, my a--) in quality between a rich suburban school and an inner-city schools, the only remaining "common" factor is the Secular Humanist doctrine.

For more along that line of reasoning go here.