-=> Quoting Sondra Ball to All <=-
 SB> Most of you probably already know that I think one of the best ways to
 SB> educate young Indian children (or any other kids, for that matter) is
 SB> at home.
 If I had it to do all over again, I would homeschool my children.
 SB> I'll go over the results with you.  People who oppose home schooling
 SB> (like the NEA)
 From what I read in the news around here, most of the objection to home
 schooling comes from those that stand to lose monetarily if people are
 allowed to home school (or charter school or private school). These are
 groups like the NEA, teacher's unions, textbook sellers, etc. I don't
 know about other states, but in Oregon a public school gets "X" dollars
 for every enrolled student. It is to their financial gain to discourage
 _anything_ that takes a child _out_ of public school and _encourage_
 anything that keeps a child in public school. I was just reading the
 other day about some communities that now have laws that allow "harassing"
 school-age children (and their parents) on the public streets even if the
 child is being home schooled and is on a "field trip".
 
 Those groups that are opposed to home schooling simply use "statistics" and
 interpretation of same in an attempt to sway public opinion. Same as those
 that think minorities are inferior and use IQ test scores for substantiation
 of their opinion.
 These same groups are also opposed to anything that _might_ be an attempt
 to get the public schools to do a better job. Here in Portland, the school
 district has basically "fired" the _entire_ staff (yes, from the principal
 down to the last teacher) of two schools (one elementary and one high 
chool)
 for "poor performance" by their respective student bodies. Huge outcry by
 teachers that: "It's not OUR fault!"
 SB> according to them, minorities simply score lower than whites on
 SB> achievement tests, pulling the overall score down.  (Of course they're
 SB> not being racist or anything when they say that).
 Actually, I'm not sure they are being racist. They are simply "grasping at
 straws" to make their case. I remember when poor test scores were due to
 a lack of a good breakfast which created a booming "school breakfast"
 business or the lack of "specialized core schools" which as I recall proved
 to be a dismal failure in Kansas City but sure created a lot of jobs in
 construction, busing and education.
 SB> There are other arguements presented by the NEA for sending your kid
 SB> off to public school.  They say that uneducated parents cannot do a
 SB> good job educating their kids.
 Actually, an uneducated parent probably knows _more_ about what public
 schools _don't_ provide than an educated parent who is "assuming" their
 child is getting an education.
 BTW, merely having a college education _doesn't_ make one a school teacher.
 I suspect most states are like Oregon where if you want to be a school
 teacher, you _must_ have completed a "special" course of instruction and be
 "certified". I have a B.S. in  History, but there is NO way I could get a
 job as an Elementary School teacher. And you definetly _don't_ teach young
 children using "college professor" techniques.   
 SB> Which indicates that it is the homeschool setting itself that creates
 SB> that difference. 
 
 There is one HUGE difference between homeschooling (or charter or private
 schools) and public schools that very seldom gets mentioned. And that is
 "parental participation in the child's education". Most charter (or private
 schools around here _require_ a LOT more parental participation than any
 public school.
 SB> Even when they have to admit that homeschooling is good for academic
 SB> development, the NEA type folks still say that homeschooling kids are
 SB> isolated from other kids, and that isolation could have a negative
 SB> impact on their social development.
 Yeah, where else are they gonna learn to succumb to peer pressure or demand
 Nike Air Jordans like "Johnny" wears or get their drugs and handguns and
 learn all other kinds of "deviant" social behaviors if they aren't allowed
 to attend public schools? (He said sarcastically)
 SB> were involved in extracurriculr activities. He learned that the
 SB> average homeschooled child was involved in 5 structured activities
 SB> outside the home per week (activities like ballet, 4-H, group sports,
 SB> etc.), and that 98% of the kids were involved in at least two
 SB> structured extracurricular activities per week.
 What?? Deprived of "gang activity"? Or "hanging out" on the street corner?
 SB> And that a whopping 87%
 SB> percent spent some time every day playing with kids outside the family.
 
 And I'll bet that most of the homeschooling parents _know_ who those kids
 are. The playmates are not simply some anonymous face the kid meets at
 school.
 
 BTW, did this man include "TV watching" statistics?
 SB> So, if you're stil thinking about homeschooling your young Indian
 SB> child; talk to me.  I'm willing to exchange ideas.
 
 As I recall two of the largest homeschooling organizations in the country
 are located here in Oregon.
 
 BTW, I'm still not sure that education _should_ influence anyone's 
cultural_
 values. I am a product of public schools, but I sure don't have the cultural
 "values" of many of the people I have to interface with on a daily basis.
 And I think that studies using Asian children have shown that those families
 that maintain Asian cultural "values" do better in American schools. 
 
 BTW, what is "education" supposed to do other than help the individual to
 deal with the "mainstream" culture?
 Oh, one other thing... Some public schools here in the Portland area are
 starting to teach "character" and "respect".
 
 Jim
--- Blue Wave v2.12
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