-=> Quoting Robert Craft to Jean Halverson <=-
 RC> Many would, but there is an irreducible minority of parents
 RC> who won't assume or perform their responsibilities without
 RC> some form of oversight.
 
 JH> And so in essence we already have government daycare under
 JH> the guise of free education.
  
 RC> In some classrooms, yes. ::sigh::
 I am a believer in de-evolution. Things are getting worse and worse. They
 _cannot_ get better. I suppose that is my philosophical basis for wanting
 to scrap the whole education system. I see cries for reform as nothing more 
 than beating a dead horse.
 
 JH> But in the meantime many parents who care about their
 JH> children are being forced to submit to these same laws,
 JH> which basically take away their rights to choose the
 JH> education they desire for their children.
 RC> I don't think we've reached the point where those rights
 RC> are being removed; but I think it's accurate to say that
 RC> families are indeed often *penalized* when they exercise
 RC> those rights. 
 Clinton basically made it illegal in Ark. for the parents of mentally 
 handicapped children to decide for themselves what was the best educational 
 option. His _wonderful_ law  basically said that any parent who teaches
 such a child  must have a degree specializing in that particular child's
 disability. Hopefully the law has been changed by now. Also, there is at 
 least one state in the union where homeschooling is illegal. Actually, in
 most states the PTB regulate homeschooling. Texas doesn't, which was a 
 stroke  of most uncommonly good fortune for us as we didn't know before we
 moved here. I have a friend in PA. who actually is required to submit her 
 curriculum for approval as well as a written lesson plan for the whole year.
 
 RC> That is not to say that there are not those who'd be glad
 RC> to end alterantive schools. For example, had the Dufus'
 RC> MisAdministration gotten the education rider thru two years
 RC> ago - the one requiring all teachers to be certified - it
 RC> would have indeed been the death of homeschooling. 
 
 Actually the entire teachers union (I'm thinking NEA???) has quite a 
 propaganda thing going on against  us. Amazingly enough, the _one_ thing
 they argue is socialization, which is so hypocritical considering the amount
 of violence occurring in public schools these days. If _that_ is their
 definition of _good_ socialization then I want none of it!
 
 JH> Parents who choose private school still have to pay for
 JH> other people's problems. 
 RC> Given the results to date of homeschooling, I'd certainly
 RC> have no objection if homeschoolers were to be reimbursed
 RC> either the per capita amount expended by public schools or
 RC> be granted a tax credit equivalent to homeschooling costs. 
 
 I'll admit that's a rather nice idea, but Hades will boast more snowbunnies
 than Aspen before it happens. Actually The per capita amount would be an
 incredible boon since it generally costs us about $300 per year per student
 to purchase our educational materials. The public schools are  at about
 $3500  per  student per year. 
 JH> There was no compulsory education except in a few
 JH> communities back in the 1880's but the level of literacy
 JH> was above 90%. 
 RC> That's because education was a matter of pride and
 RC> achievement. Political correctness was nonexistent nor were
 RC> there accusations of "acting white".
 Exactamundo. The only way to correct the current situation is to instill 
 the  idea that education is a priveledge not a right.
 Jean Halverson
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