In his State of the Union address, President Obama said that students shouldn't be able to "walk away from their education" and has called on every state to require attendance until graduation or the child's 18th birthday. Wow.
I think everyone should be screaming about this, but especially homeschoolers. I have a real problem with compulsory attendance in the first place personally. WHY should a child be compelled to learn what the state wants him to learn for one blooming minute, let alone 13-plus years of his life? I thought liberals were extreme into this "choice" thing. My brain, my choice, my right to decide?
Though I "get" the whole "graduation means opportunity" business he's trying to get at. Very nice idea on paper if one imagines that school is always a pleasant place for all children and that all children are even flipping well CAPABLE of "graduation."
Dang, if just requiring attendance is going to change American education, let's require post-graduate degrees or school attendance until 23. Only imagine the American innovation that would occur then! Oh, oh... not good enough. Let's require it in a math or science field. Something high-tech. Yeah, that will do it.
Anyway, it's a very nice little America Obama's dreaming up where no child is disabled, no bullying happens in school, and the local public school provides real learning experience regardless of its location.
I'm sorry. Even our state has admitted that Kansas City schools are for crap and have de-accredited them. What does that mean really? It means even dodos like us, moving to this area 15 years ago, knew to avoid the 'hood like the plague it is. The state is only just now getting 'round to admitting what everyone with a brain has known for 30 years but didn't want to say out loud: the schools suck. Obama wants to doom kids to staying in schools like that? Seriously.
God help me, I'm about ready to pull the lever for Gingrich if this keeps up. He's endorsed by Chuck Norris, you know.
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Look Out, Dad!!
My father is the purple dot above the blue weather station. He's juuust outside Milton's evacuation zone. Well! My brother and I jus...
And see I come across it from even a more pessimistic view. Why should we try to educate bored, tuned out young people? Learning something new is sometimes hard and boring. Let them quit. Allow their parents to declare them incorrigible and let them try uneducated, independent living for a while.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am in that kind of mood today.
From my distance, I am more sad and overwhelmed for you and praying for the return of your prodigal.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah. WHY can't they quit school and get a job? Or when a child asks "why am I learning this" sorts of questions, why can't we apprentice them in any way, let them take school sabbaticals to work... ohh, any number of things that might prove instructional for our children. :)
Forcing a child to spend more time in school solves nothing.
ReplyDeleteAnd you know that all the anti-truancy stuff will just be a headache for parents, who will be harassed over every little late morning or family vacation. Argh!
I agree, FedUpMom. I am concerned about the lines between school authority and families' rights becoming way, way too blurry. It needs to be that it is easy and work-free to opt out of "the system" entirely. Otherwise, I should say that if you're asking me to pay for the schooling, that the child ought be there.
ReplyDeleteI just can't say that if there is no good, easy, work-free way to opt out entirely. I'm talking send a note (not certified) saying that thanks, we don't want to send our children to school and that's the end of all contact. :P
BTW I am not the only one freaking out about the president's remarks.
ReplyDelete"Ultimately, a formulaic and compulsory approach to education fails to instill in children a love of learning or a quality education." This article outlines the idea that compulsory education expansion is a threat to homeschoolers everywhere:
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/3272718776.html
(That link was posted by HSLDA to facebook this morning.)
Chuck Norris is what clinches it, isn't he?
ReplyDeleteDid you actually WATCH the SOTU? Gah. I've tried before, but can't sit through more than 4 minutes before screeching and scaring people.
Do you know what the biggest problem is in this [because we have it out Bored kids forced to stay in school when it is the last place they want to be. Not only do they not learn anything; they prevent anyone else from learning anything as well. I want to kick all the trouble makers out so everyone else has some chance at an education.Obama is nuts. Cumpulsion cannot forve anyone to become educated unless they want to be themselves. The old, You can lead a horse to water thing]?
ReplyDeleteDeb, CHUCK NORRIS will make sure Gingrich is in good shape to roundhouse kick all enemies of freedom, truth, justice and the AMERICAN WAY!!
ReplyDeleteNo. I couldn't actually *watch* Obama speak for more than two minutes put together, are you kidding me??
Ganeida: I've heard that what you are really supposed to do is "salt the oats" but that seems kind of mean to the horse. I can see giving 'trouble makers' second chances if they have taken some time out to reform or whathaveyou. Otherwise, I'd agree that having them there is counterproductive or worse.
Sad that our options for the next president are a womanizing roo-roo and an imp who has no idea what most American's lives are really like.
ReplyDeleteIn a perfect world, yes, let's have our perfectly capable children not be able to stop their education until they are 18. It only makes for more employable people, smarter and brighter futures, good all the way around. But back in the real world of single parent households, kids with disabilities and those who learn better with hands on experiences rather than hours and hours of books and tests. I am all for education, for the kids who CHOOSE that education.
Important post. You've nailed it.
ReplyDeleteBlondee, I still love "roo-roo." It's just so... fun to say.
ReplyDeleteBrains, thank you so much! :)
Well, I loved school in elementary. I was a straight A student and did very well.... till the bullying started. Till my school made a mistake and made me repeat 8th grade twice and didn't catch their mistake till I finished it twice. Till getting shoved around in high school and the school coach trying to get the football team to corner me in the lockers and molest me. Till I had guys waiting after school to rape me once I'm approaching the ally. Till two of my teachers called me stupid and dumb in front of the class. Then I hated it and begged my parents to let me drop out. I homeschooled myself for a bit and then went on to get my GED and then go to college. I loved education. I hated the schools.
ReplyDeleteWell, I certainly agree that there is a problem.
ReplyDelete