Rob Reich, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Ethics in Society at Stanford University and outspoken proponent of stricter regulations on homeschools, was a recent guest on the Dianne Rehm Show alongside Michael Donnelly of HSLDA and Gretchen Roe, a homeschooling mother.
Valerie of Home Education Magazine did a nice job with her summary of the conversation, if you prefer reading to listening, and made an observation which strikes at the heart of what we are really discussing in this ongoing debate over homeschool regulations:
…it seems as if some of the controversy about homeschooling (if not all of it) comes down to the ancient commotion over what people think, and who gets to tell the kiddies about ‘it’ so that the kiddies will grow up to be ‘right-thinking’ adults. HEM
Mr. Reich made three general points, however, with which I completely agree.
- Anecdotes should not set policy.
- Homeschoolers should not be required to become certified.
- Current trends of deregulation are about to shift.
Mr. Reich, of course, is working hard to do what he can to herald this trend away from deregulation, but I do not think he is off base in his prediction.
We have two competing trends in American education. On the one hand, we see a general diversification of our educational system as charter schools and virtual academies increasingly take their places alongside traditional public schools. The private sector completes the picture, with an array of options including accredited and unaccredited schools (both religious and secular), cottage schools and homeschools. To top it off, there is a rather large contingent advocating vouchers so that public monies can follow students to private schools.
All of this speaks to more true choices available to families.
On the other hand, we have a nationwide trend toward federalization of our education system which, as best as I can see, really came into full swing under George Bush, Sr., the “education president.” Since then, the progress has been halting, but steady toward a national curriculum, a national test, national certification of teachers. In other words, toward national oversight of every aspect of education. Education is now considered a “public good.” Something so important that each of us has an interest in how our neighbors’ children are educated. And people are beginning to ask, “What about homeschoolers?”
The American Educational Research Association placed this apparent conflict at the heart of its 2004 Symposium: Educational Choice versus Civic Responsibility: Are Home Schoolers Embracing Their Responsibilities or Fleeing from Them? At which Rob Reich also presented. In this title, they have set up a false dichotomy, presuming there is something about exercising educational choice which necessarily hinders civic responsibility. Unfortunately, it is a false dichotomy repeated throughout the discussion on home education.
Reworded, it is the debate between the academic success of homeschooling and the perceived drawback of socialization. But it is also the debate between parental rights and the interests of the state. As a 2003 policy paper from Michigan State University puts it,
Each state must decide how to balance the rights of parents, the rights of children, and the interests of the state.
Of course, to strike a proper balance means that homeschoolers must report to the state. Because it is our civic responsibility to monitor their educational choices. (Incidentally, it looks as if a few lawmakers in Michigan have taken the university’s advice.)
These are the issues which I believe lie at the heart of the current debate. It isn’t about liberty to Americans who look with suspicion on homeschoolers who desire to maintain independence from governmental regulation. It is about those changing attitudes regarding what constitutes abuse and how willing we are as a society to disrupt the parent-child relationship to ensure that our goals are being met in other people’s families. It is about a sense of responsibility toward children to ensure they “grow up to be ‘right-thinking’ adults.”
What can we do about it? I’m not entirely sure, but I think to begin with we should be willing to take the opportunities to engage in the public discussion as they are presented to us. (Shameless plug for my April article for Heart of the Matter.)
[tags]homeschool, homeschooling, home school, Rob Reich, socialization[/tags]
Great post. When my family wonders about “socialization,” they are concerned that my kids might not have any friends. So I can tell them about the activities we participate in and the opportunities that exist for kids not in school all day.
But when my state officials and journalists and other “experts” wonder about “socialization,” the proper response isn’t a laundry list of our local opportunities, it’s a challenge of this notion that parents must be beholden to the state for our intellectual choices concerning our children. With a reminder that state and federal officials are the employees of the citizens and should be answerable to US, and not the other way around, thrown in for good measure.
It seems like such a simple concept, doesn’t it?
We can’t all be “right-thinking.” I’m willing to be a minority.
It strikes me that almost everywhere I turn these days, it seems that we are becoming more of a police state as a nation… and although I do see that we have grown and evolved as a nation and maybe some regulation is needed here or there, I also think that some of our basic concepts as a society need to be held on to like liberty, like individualism, like self regulation and direction.
I don’t know where the current debate is headed, but I do plan to participate even with my children almost through the educational phases of their lives, at least the mandated education phase of K thru 12.
And I love that you keep us so involved, Dana… and give us much to think about!
And here I thought the purpose of education was to teach children, not to mass market citizens for the government.
That is because you just aren’t “right thinking” enough.
Which is a bonus in my book, but not for everyone.
Given that the government isn’t doing such a hot job with the 85% of schoolchildren who already attend state-run schools, this push for increased regulation of the other 15% makes me suspicious about the real motivation. I’m not normally one to listen to conspiracy theories about the NWO and whatnot but I don’t think we’re getting the straight scoop about the government’s real agenda when it comes to education…
Yikes…your comment is actually relevant to what I’m working on right now. Our legislature is at it again. But I agree…I don’t think it has anything to do with the NWO. But I do believe there are groups who have their plans for education who know better than to be entirely open about what it is they want to achieve.
I think that is why there is always such a push to put the power in the hands of a bureaucracy outside of the control of voters…
But maybe I’m just a little suspicious.
“Each state must decide how to balance the rights of parents, the rights of children, and the interests of the state.”
Exactly what are the interests of the state as pertaining to family issues? The state can become involved when a preponderance of evidence points to neglect or abuse; however it is past dangerous to cede any other implied interests in family matters to anyone other than the parents. The citizens around you may not agree or even approve of the methods used in terms of child rearing, religious beliefs or lack of them; however to intervene without real evidence of neglect or abuse destroys the sanctity of the family unit.
I have some experience with the movers and shakers in education and I don’t believe the agenda is all that hidden. Most graduate level educational professional (apart from teachers) really believe that 1) only professionals can teach a child, and 2) that their job is one part academics and three parts indoctrination of the child into the culture of the Society. There is a sense that the children must be separated from their parents, who would otherwise teach them all sorts of backwards and downright nefarious things. The focus is more and more on standardization, as Dana pointed out with respect to training, testing and curriculum, but also in terms of the thought and expression that is considered proper. There is even an idea of the standardization of the minds and behavior of the students, what I call “narrowing the normal” which identifies every difference and idiosyncrasy as a psychopathology that is potentially dangerous to the hive….oops, I mean Society.
It is truly out in the open at the doctoral level. And very few argue with it. Those of us in special education, because our emphasis has been on individualized instruction, have seen more controversy, although there are those in our field who accept and love this overarching vision of the hive…oops, Society.
It’s all there and quite matter-of-factly, too.
But no one much is pointing out that nasty elephant in the living room. Public schools, as John Taylor Gatto has pointed out so eloquently, are not intended to raise citizens for a free society.
Very true. It was obvious enough in me ed courses. But that never quite makes it into the public discussion. Just parts of the argument make it out…like “socialization.” It is all packages so neatly into something that sounds good if you don’t take the time to think about it very long.
Dana commented, “But I agree…I don’t think it has anything to do with the NWO.”
And as Elisheva has pointed out “I don’t believe the agenda is all that hidden.”
I agree with Elisheva’s presentation of the “agenda” and I believe the “agenda” is not intentionally linked to the NWO, BUT it will most definitely help the process along. The vast majority of children are learning to be beholding, dependent on and compliant with the state and with society. This type of training will be a direct benefit to the NWO and necessary for it to exist.
Is it “intentional” by the education establishment? It is probably not intentionaly by hard working caring teachers, but it is definitely intentional and calculated by the prince of this world. I would even go further to say that there are probably people out there who completely intend for this type of indoctrination to be a cornerstone of the new greater Society.
Whether it is intentional or not, the “agenda” is still a great threat to homeschooling families.
Kevin Swanson gives a great presentation of “Total Government” at
Great Society, yes…that has been around and is the stated goal of our public education system. You don’t have to read very far to find that out. NWO? Not so much. I’m not really into that.
Dear Home School Students and Parent-Teachers, I have just listened to the debate on the Diane Rehm Show featuring Ms. Roe. and was very impressed with her worldview on home schooling. I thus decided to write in this blog.
I am running a blog for a 23 year old Asian Indian girl undergoing treatment for blood cancer. I am using different approaches to help provide support as well as a healing environment for this person. The blog highlights cultural aspects in our community which might interest you. Perhaps you might consider this as part of your social studies curriculum and participate in it. I will be happy to post any of your photographs which will bring a lovely quality to our blog. You can make as many comments as you like and we will try and respond to them individually/collectively. Do give this idea a thought and get back to me. I will be very happy to answer any questions you might have.
I have a Masters Degree in Family Therapy from the University of Oregon and work as a Family Therapist in Mumbai, India.
Please check out our blog “life is in the little things”:
http://lifeisinthelittlethings. Blogspot.com
Your participation, I know will bring a whole new perspective on how to cope and feel hopeful in a global culture that we share these days.
Thank you so much.
Sincerely,
Asha Dutia