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Continuing the series on public school education, it’s important to note that my intention in these posts is not to promote homeschooling. The point of this series is to specifically discuss the federal government’s control of education and resulting consequences. There are other options available but will only be desirable by a public who realizes that the government’s role should not include that of “Educator”.
Can you answer any of these questions and do you know why they are important for parents to know?
- When was the Federal Department of Education established?
- When did the government’s role in education greatly increase?
- How has increased funding improved the quality of education?
- Do you agree with this statement: “In short, never has public education been more generously supported by the taxpayer and never have our schools seen more violence, academic disarray, and parental dissatisfaction than the present. What is even more shocking is that over four million students must be drugged daily with Ritalin in order to be able to attend class….What is actually taking place is a cultural revolution engineered by behavioral psychologists, humanist educators, and socialist change agents using a whole galaxy of education programs to implement their agenda, financed by the federal government.” Samuel Blumenfield
- Are a people really free if the government controls the education of the public? What happens in other businesses where there is no free market, no accountability and no competition?
I challenge you to look these up and study them. There is so much at stake.
55 comments
The statistic on Ritalin is one of the many reasons I keep my oldest boy at home. He’s got a tremendous amount of energy, he can’t sit still to save his life, but he does have the ability to focus and get his school work done – if I allow him to do his math facts while he sits upside down on the couch. And then sideways. I shudder to think what would happen to him in a classroom. I understand in a classroom a teacher cannot maintain control of kids and still allow squirrely boys to be squirrely boys, but in our situation, my boy can be who he is and still get a good education. I think it was James Dobson who said in his book “Bringing Up Boys” that “Schools were created by women for girls!”
Found this right after I read this comment…. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/mom-opts-home-schooling-son-put-bag-15280158#.TwM7VIG8gXI
Your son “can’t sit still to save his life?” Really? So, you think it’s perfectly acceptable to do his math upside down on the couch? I guess I don’t get that. You are certainly free to raise your son the way that you and your husband see fit, but how do you expect your son to act in public, if he isn’t expected to act a certain way @ home? I have no quarrel w/home being a sanctuary, and acting differently @ home than you would in public, but the idea that he can’t sit still seems to be a bit skewed. Further, do you expect his future employer to tolerate fidgety behavior, or standing on his head on his desk? I still think that kids should be taught decorum and etiquette. My son is teaching his two-year-old son how to properly greet people (shaking hands), and to ask how a person is doing when he meets them. We are NOT prudes, and I fully encourage boys to be boys. I I completely reject the use of Ritalin, and don’t buy into ADD, ADHD, any other combination of the alphabet (I am not judging anyone here who doesn’t agree w/me). I teach 1st grade SS @ church, and before the class begins, the kids can make paper airplanes, fly them, and run to their hearts’ content. But when I begin to teach, I expect them to sit still, listen, and be considerate of others.
You play how you practice.
I don’t know the answers to the first 2 questions, but agree with the last 2. This is an important series FOR education, not just about. Looking forward to more!
Here’s a good summary of question #1, for those who are interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Education#Establishment (You can also follow links to more in-depth sources.) It also largely answers #2, though you could argue that government involvement has come about for a myriad of reasons around that time frame.
As to #3,I couldn’t possibly agree more!
For #4, I have trouble comparing economics and education, as they already are way more intertwined than I would ever like to see. What I will say is that I understand the REASONS behind federally regulated education, just as I understand the motives that prompt Democrats to rally for fair trade and environmental censures on businesses: They are worried about how the poor will suffer.
That said, public education has been–comparatively–a good thing for the poor. For children who live in the middle of gang war territory with parents who work 3-5 jobs between them or possibly deal drugs out of the home (I’ve known teens for whom all of this was true). School has given them some modicum of safety and more education than they could possibly receive at their parents’ overworked hands.
BUT, the same cannot nor should it be said for the middle and upper classes. I don’t want this to turn into a class debate, but that’s where I see the major issue. The government wanted to protect the rights of poor children to a decent education and in doing so, they made public education compulsory for ALL American children. A system that was supposed to have served the lowest common denominator is now the go-to for the entire nation.
Do I think there is a legitimate place in our society for public education? Yes, I absolutely do. Just as I believe there is a legitimate place for health care for the homeless. But wouldn’t our resources be better used to serve those who need them if we weren’t giving the same hand-outs to those who do not?
I guess I said the same thing when we discussed free lunches for all students some months ago.
So I will be done now 😉
God bless,
Bethany
Brilliant! Couldn’t agree more.
Thanks for the link, Bethany. I have to say I was shamefully unaware of the department’s origins.
Thanks also to Kelly for inspiring all of us to look further into the issue. Lots to think about here…
The Blumenfeld link is instructive and very worth reading in its entirety. I agree with virtually all of what he had to say. There’s one thing, though, that I would add to his well-reasoned commentary.
Regarding Ritalin, I definitely agree that the use of this drug in so many school-age children these days is cause for serious concern. I think a lot of the problem is that the compulsory school-attendance age has been lowered and kids have a lot of their natural early-childhood “wiggles” still in them when they’re starting school. Add to that the push for early academics in a highly-structured environment, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster when several of the kids in the class (usually boys) don’t sit still and/or distract the class. Enter mind-altering drugs for the restless ones as the favored solution for facilitating “crowd control” for the teacher.
Having said that, though, I think not all the blame can be laid at the school system’s feet for the increase in Ritalin use. Part of the problem (maybe a large part of it) is children who come to school unprepared to accept authority because parents never trained their kids to obey them. Many kids have a long history of bouncing from one authority figure to another (multiple daycare providers and preschool teachers, divorced parents who operate their households with wildly differing value systems, just to name a few examples) before they ever enter school. If they aren’t compelled to obey their parents, their God-given first and (what should be) primary authority figures in their lives, is it any wonder they don’t respect the authority figures they encounter at school, being bounced around from their home classroom to music, art, phy. ed., library, guidance, and whatever other “specials” there are in public elementaries today? Add the rebellious children to the compliant but wiggly kids, who are there way too early for their developmental age, and it’s no wonder some educators want a quick fix.
Parents have a responsibility to train their children properly before releasing them into other environments, and the age for said release is not necessarily what the schools say it is. I don’t remember who said it, but someone once said something like “If we have to have any compulsory school age, it should be two years older for boys than girls.” Maybe that might help to cut down some on the rampant use of Ritalin in the schools, since it’s usually used on boys, who don’t generally behave like little girls, as Kristen wisely brought up with her Dobson quote.
One other thing I just have to mention…I think the following quote by Samuel Blumenfeld is absolutely correct: “What is actually taking place is a cultural revolution engineered by behavioral psychologists, humanist educators, and socialist change agents using a whole galaxy of education programs to implement their agenda, financed by the federal government.”
No kidding, and the cultural revolution is happening in small town, USA, now too. My husband just told me this morning about a co-worker of his whose elementary-age son attends a public school that has an upcoming “Diversity Day” where, among other things, there will be one or more gay people addressing the children, telling them it’s OK to be gay. The co-worker says he’s going to opt his son out of that. I wonder when the day will come (if it hasn’t already in some places) that children will not be able to opt out of what may sometime be deemed “necessary instruction” or some such thing. Whew! The onslaught of immorality in the name of “diversity education” is truly alarming.
Sorry for the very long post again…there’s just SO MUCH on this topic!
6 arrows, while I don’t agree with everything you say, I think you make some very good points.
All three of my husband’s sisters are current or past public school teachers (the ones who aren’t in the classroom any more didn’t leave because they were sick of the public schools – one is now a curriculum coordinator and other became a stay-at-home mom), and one is married to a public high school teacher. All of them have practically begged for more parental involvement, with little success even in middle class districts. How can teachers do their job if parents aren’t involved in their childrens’ education?
I also agree that way too many children (overwhelmingly boys) take Ritalin or one of its newer cousins, like Strattera. But it does have its place. I have four nephews with ADHD (with one just at the line separating mild mental retardation with low normal IQ).
One nephew grew out of his ADHD as he matured and no longer needed any medication by the time he finished high school.
Another is nearing 30 and still takes it and lives at home; but I disagree with his mom’s decision to fail to have his ADHD reevaluated to see if could use a lower dose of Ritalin or one of the newer drugs that are sometimes more effective.
Another one only required only a low dose of Ritalin and his parents took him off it over long weekends, school breaks, and summer vacation.
When the last nephew was diagnosed (not until middle school), he also turned out to have a mild/moderate case of ADHD. The doctor said he would prescribe Ritalin if his parents insisted, but he suggested behavioral interventions. The family lived in a small city where the doc knew the guidance counselor. She and a special ed teacher worked with him about study skills and practical skills — using a small notebook to write down homework assignments from each class, filling his backpack the night before so he would have everything ready for school the next day, role playing appropriate classroom behavior, etc. It took a while, but it eventually worked, along with other discipline-building activities, like taking karate. He went on to complete an associate’s degree, marry, buy a house with his wife and has held down a good job for about 10 years. I know that’s not how it works for everyone, but praise God for the doctor who suspected that Cory might be able to make it without meds.
Very well said!
Just a couple of thoughts…
Schools do not prescribe Ritalin…doctors do. Parents are not forced to medicate their children. There is a big difference between ADHD and normal childhood wiggles. Most teachers understand that. In my state, teachers are not allowed to suggest that a child might need medication. Although I believe we are much too quick to choose to medicate children, adhd is a real condition that can be diagnosed by a trained doctor, preferably a neurologist.
Also, I would just like to point out that although the federal government is involved in education, the bulk of school decisions are made at the state and local level. This is one reason why homeschooling practices vary from state to state.
That’s all for now, but I may be back!
The fact that ADHD is a real condition, diagnosed by a real doctor, and different from just wiggles, does not mean that children with ADHD require drugs.
Regarding the 3rd statement about funding: obviously it has been proven time and again that money has absolutely no relationship to academic success in schools. Prettier schools w/ impressive gyms don’t produce brighter kids.
I did not mean to imply that adhd must be treated with medication.
Amy, my husband is a public school teacher and we homeschool our kids for many reasons one of which is that the amount of actual control the state and local bodies (who should be chosen by the parents) is really very limited because of federal funding. The federal government doesn’t just hand out their money wiht no strings attached. If the states and local school districts want it, they must agree to meet the requirements that come with it. It is true that there are some differences in law from state to state, but there are still many guidelines set in place by the federal government and these guidelines take a lot of freedom from the parents (or their chosen representatives). Many of these guidelines are specifically designed to remove the parents’ influence from the schools and their own children. For these reasons, my husband is planning to not return to teaching after 21 years. He is tired of perpetuating this mess. It’s not getting better; it’s getting worse every year. It is hard to speak out about these issues when your livelihood has come from the system for so long, but we are both oppressed beyond words at what his job requires.
Oh, I’m not unaware of how funding works. I’m sorry that your husband is giving up on his teaching career. That is truly a shame, as our schools can use the influence of positive Christian teachers now more than ever. I understand that he feels his hands are tied in many ways, and I can sympathize with making such a hard decision. I don’t see things quite the same way that you and your husband do, but I hope the change you are making will be a good thing for your family!
Thank you, Amy. I appreciate that. He has been trying for years to make a difference, but feels that his influence on the students, his peers and his superiors is less and less every year. At one time he could see that his Christian life did have influence, but not anymore. Maybe it is the change in districts, but he thinks it is a general change in attitudes in the whole realm of public education. I just hope his health improves when he gets out!
Teaching can be a very stressful career, so I do hope your husband’s health improves! Best wishes to you!
Hi Amy,
I found this statement of yours interesting: “In my state, teachers are not allowed to suggest that a child might need medication.” That intrigued me, so I dug around for more information on that. I believe you’re referring to the IDEA Reauthorisation Act of 2004, which prohibits school authorities from requiring parents to obtain certain prescription drugs (including Ritalin). More information can be found here: http://www.scn.org/~bk269/declineritalin.html
I found it interesting how much detail the author at the above link went into to help parents to not feel pressured by school officials (regarding medical decisions), and how to respond at conferences where the school’s “requests”, whether legal or illegal, may sound like ultimatums. Obviously, there must be a problem with some schools pressuring parents in that way, if an author bothers to go into such detail regarding what to say in that circumstance.
So while you are correct in saying that parents aren’t forced to medicate their children, I think a lot of pressure IS put on some of them. (I know parents for whom that is true.)
Thanks for your comment, Amy…I learned something new today!
Sorry, should have added that it was an *amendment* to the IDEA Reauthorisation Act of 2004.
Interesting article. I guess I tend to take things written like that with a grain of salt, meaning that the whole article seems very overblown to me, besides that the author obviously has an agenda of warning all parents away from medicating their children for attention disorders. Any parent who entered a school meeting with the attitude of “I’m going to show them” (as I would say this article at least somewhat implies) really starts with a grave disadvantage. Some of the things the author suggests just do not sit well with me as the appropriate way to handle dealing with school meetings. Also, as I said, the school is not going to tell a parent that the child needs to be medicated. Certainly, it is not unheard of for an administrator to suggest that a child be evaluated by a doctor to see if there are any physical causes related to learning. I really don’t expect to change your mind about any of this, especially if you know people who have been pressured by schools to medicate their children, but I do think it is important that people not assume that schools are prescribing drugs to children or even that all school personnel are quick to jump to medicating children at the first opportunity.
I believe (just my opinion here) that in general parents (even poor ones) were better people (the Word says people will wax worse and worse in the end, evolution says people will get better and better.) Now the globalist agenda requires all to be educated by the same process so they think the same way. This is carried out by globalising education and by the globalist controlled media. Now I don’t fully understand this but I believe when you watch television your brain enters alpha state which is just above being hypnotised. So information goes into your subconscious without being critically evaluated first. I digress, what I meant to convey is that before people were being programmed so vehemently (and before they were scared to smack and properly train their children…the idea that we shouldn’t smack our children came through the schools first) people usually controlled their children better…making better pupils. Now I remember being at school and being told “oh, your parents aren’t always right.” I was fairly young and I wonder what kind of reprogramming was happening there? I think the schools need to take a decent amount of the blame for the breakdown in parents ability to turn out well behaved children. It’s my belief that it’s God’s way for parents to train their own children in the way they should go (all the time.) I’m not pointing the finger at anyone individually, we’re all victims of a couple hundred years of societal reengineering at the hands of the globalists. Homeschooling forces us to be more involved with our childrens’ education as well as behaviour issues, we only have ourselves to blame when it’s not going well (can’t blame the system or particular teachers or influences beyond our control.) I could be wrong but when en masse parents were relieved of their responsibility to keep their own children occupied I think the parenting standard probably declined as a direct result, bit-by-bit. Anyway, I’m rambling now. Sorry a bit of a habit for someone diagnosed with ADD ;-D
I totally agree with your article that our government should not have control over the education system. They pay for the students to be indoctrinated and brainwashed into having socialist standards. They generally turn the students away from their parents, I should say against their parents. Now the public schools are mandated to teach (indoctrinate) kids that they should accept/embrace homosexuality. They took God out of school and they teach that God doesn’t exist. Why would any Christian parent want to send their children into the lions den to have their very souls captured by satan? I guess only those who are too lazy to take action and do whatever is necessary to get their children out of the public school system. The public school system should only be allowed to teach, reading, writing, math, history (the true history, not their rewritten version), and government (how it is suppposed to wrok under our constitution). The government run public schools should not be teaching social agendas like homosexuality. I guess you can tell, I hate the public school system and I think it should be abolished. Or rather, the government should be kicked out of school. Public schools are turning out a bunch of lazy idiots who hate their parents and don’t have any personal or work ethics. it’s a very sad time for education.
Karen, I think it’s a VERY sad time for you. To be consumed with so much negativity and hate is a pity. While I agree with alot of what is being said here about public education, I can never agree with how it’s being said. A bunch of lazy idiots, really? How dare you call yourself a christian. That is NOT christian speak. Jesus looked to those who most needed him and forgave and loved them. How dare you or any of us call people such names! Face it, the majority of American childred are in the public school. Are they all terrible schools? Are all of the parents lazy and negligent? Are all of the children lazy idiots? NO!!!! You have absolutely no idea what each of these families and their children are about.
I completely believe in homeschooling. For me it is the best way to educate my children. However, I have witnessed some disaster situations. Believe it or not, some people really stink at it. I have seen my own sister-in-law put her kids in front of the t.v. all day whole she napped and her house turned into a pit. I have seen moms so involved with church activities that homeschooling barely existed. Is this always the case? Most certainly not. Can I think of any horrible bad names to call these children? Not ever.
As followers of Jesus we are called to be like Jesus. We can never even come close to being perfect as he is. But we sure can do better in how we speak. You don’t need to justify your choices by bringing such bitterness down on others. We need to speak with loving intelligence about everything. This is a great discussion. But, if you want to get any where with it, you can’t box everyone else out. Who would want to share discussion time with someone who calls them lazy and their children idiots? It’s not a discussion if only one side gets to talk. It’s just a pat ourselves on the back by bringing everyone else down time. Somehow, I just don’t see Jesus doing things that way.
My brother is in the Army. He is a graduated from a public school. As did most of our military. They put in 60 plus hours a week. You think they are a “bunch of lazy idiots who hate their parents and don’t have any personal or work ethics”??? DO YOU KNOW WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING 2 WARS FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS??? My brother is very is very close to my parents. As am I. Oh ,and he also earned an associate degree. I am a waitress who works 40 plus hours a week. I’m sorry we don’t fit into your “lazy idiots” idea. Most people don’t. Stop hiding behind the computer with your name calling. Go out into the real world and tell the police, military, fireman, etc.. that they are lazy because they went to public schools.
Karen, as a homeschooling mother and one who (as a child) attended inner city public schools (in several different states), I must vehemently disagree with your points of view.
I have NEVER witnessed a school-wide (or even one teacher’s) personal agenda to “turn children against their parents.” Most teachers and principals are pleading with parents to become MORE involved in their children’s lives–often, unfortunately, to no avail. I think it may be argued that contemporary media culture (mostly fictional) is more of a culprit than our nation’s system of education in this respect.
They DID take God out of schools (save the pledge) but only in the rarest and most misguided of instances can I conceive of a school telling students that God does not exist. In fact, schools still have “off” for Christmas, and in one suburban district in my hometown that had a very large Jewish population, the High Holy Days were given as vacation to the students and staff.
Try to remember that, in the 19th century, reading of the KJV Bible in schools became mandatory–and reportedly, a Catholic student in Boston was beaten and later left the district because he REFUSED to read aloud from a translation that his faith did not legitimize. Think of what happens when religious freedom is NOT tolerated in the public sphere. I’m not saying that Christians should not have equal voice–but try to keep aware that we are still the majority, and as such, I think we sometimes have to stiff-upper-lip it and deal with the fact that our faith is going to receive some blows from those who are in the real minority.
Furthermore, while homosexuality is no longer permitted to be openly attacked by students and staff, I think schools are still, by and large (there are exceptions) a far cry from FORCING an agenda upon people in this regard. Students have always been able to opt out of certain portions of health class, as well as assemblies, reading material in English class, etc. My point is, if parents are attentive, they will be able to shelter their children from any homosexual “influence,” at least in the matter of educational material. For what it’s worth, the high school I attended for 3 years was a magnet school for the arts–many students and even some of my staff were openly gay. Never ONCE did the school itself organize any manner of “agenda” to influence heterosexual students or staff to alter their own ways of thinking or behaving because of this. And that was only in 2002. (Btw, I am still in touch with students at the school, and this does not seem to have changed in any regard.)
If you are angry about lazy children/teens/young adults, lack of respect by children for their parents, and homosexual “agendas,” perhaps your vehemence would be better spent on trying to reform the society around you, rather than railing on the many well-meaning teachers and parents of public school students who, in many cases, ARE trying to do the best thing they know for these children.
May God grant you peace and charity in your indignation so that you may be better equipped to transform your anger into passion for His glory.
Karen’s comment is fully of hyperbole and innuendo. However, while I agree w/much of the dissenters’ comments, I must say that the gay agenda IS shoved down students’ throats. My husband is a public high school teacher in CA. CA just adopted a wretched, inane law about history (my husband teaches Chem) textbooks which must include accomplishments made by folks who are LGBT. If we could, we would leave CA in a minute, but our roots run deep (what w/ten kids and eight grands). But, praise God, my husband does have opportunities to fellowship w/Christian students, and asked me yesterday to pray for a coworker to come to faith. So, he’s there for a reason. In general, if the school district would just let teachers teach, then things might improve (that’s a blanket statement). Instead, teachers are subjected to all manner of “Green” agendas, a gay agenda (where former students who are gay talk to teachers in their meetings–my husband is hilarious as he describes how he passes the time), a way to stop bullying (which, make no mistake about it, is a gay agenda), etc. My husband told me recently how it left a thud in his soul because so many of his students have been brainwashed to wish people “Happy Holidays” @ Christmas. Those same students are reminded via posters to recycle their “holiday” wrap. It is disgusting and disheartening, but we shouldn’t be surprised. We live in a fallen world, and only Christ can change hearts. That is our only hope.
You’re right about the gay agenda getting shoved down students’ throats, Cathy. I hear there’s an example in Wisconsin right now involving a high school student who was asked to write an opinion essay for his school newspaper on the topic of gay adoption. The 15-year-old who wrote the “opposed” opinion (another student wrote the “in favor of” opinion) has been accused of violating the school’s bullying policy. The school has issued an apology, stating that the boy’s opinion (the dissenting opinion) was “a form of bullying and disrespect” and that they “are taking steps to prevent items of this nature from happening in the future.”
And the superintendent of the Shawano School District has indeed begun to take steps against this young man for his “offense”. The boy was reportedly told, among other things, to cut the article out of the papers, even though some had already been distributed in the community. The student who wrote the pro-gay adoption piece was not so asked, and rightly so from a free-speech perspective. Apparently the student writing the dissenting opinion did not have the same free-speech rights, according to the actions of the superintendent who tried to shame the young man under threat of suspension.
Message: Pro-gay adoption? Go ahead and state your opinion. Anti-gay adoption? Be quiet, or else…
Karen, I won’t rehash what others have said here, but I think it’s important to recognize that laziness, an issue we all deal with, is a result of sin, not our educational background. Through the power of Christ resting in us believers, we can be conquerors (including over this sin) through Him who won the victory for us. Please look to the root of the problem.
That goes for all of you that are against public schools. Get a life.Go into the real world and meet the people you think are “bunch of lazy idiots who hate their parents and don’t have any personal or work ethics”. Tell it to their face. Stop judging families for the choices in education they have made. They can run their own families. Worry about your family.
Laura, with all due respect, I don’t think that there were any comments apart from Karen that openly attacked or judged families for their choices in education, only the system itself. Nor did anyone else stoop to name calling. Please do us the same favor and do not stereotype us because we think differently than you do. Most of us do live in the “real world” and are not the least intimidated to encourage those in our lives who do have horrible work ethics to “shape up.”
I don’t think everyone here thinks that way, but plenty do. And if they do, they need to mind their own business. If they still have a problem with public school students, get out from behind the computer and start saying it out in public. Next time they call the police, make sure your officer is homeschooled, wouldn’t want one of those idiot public school cops helping you.
Wow..this can get out of hand..I homeschool my kids and I went to Public School. I really don’t want to bash anyone who puts their kids in school.Like I have said before..I have seen kids homeschooled their entire lives from conservative christian homes go completely the way of the world and kids from public school grow up to be very Strong christians..I think it’s great to be able to discuss it all but we really need to be able to give an answer honestly and without all this strife..just my thoughts and on another note..it’s freezing in Florida today..
Agreed with what has been said regarding addressing the root problems, discussing this issue with respect and understanding what is trying to be addressed.
I do understand the frustrations of what Gatto calls “the dumbing down of America”, and its manifestations in a generation who seems “generally” apathetic and irresponsible. But of course, it’s a generalization and doesn’t apply to every person so it’s certainly not fair to assert everyone graduating from public school is one way or another. Most of us are ps graduates.
The point I want to make are the objective failures (some purposeful and some not) of a government-run educational system, intentions of individuals aside.
Well said Kelly..maybe the next post could be on how this happens in churches also..
As a liberal, I love it that evangelical Christians homeschool. It means that their children will have a hard time qualifying for the colleges/jobs that lead to positions of influence. Failing to teach them things like trig, algebra, chem and grammar –and then sending them out to a world where leaders know these things–just hampers their ability to be successful in politics/law/government.
How many of our leaders–who make decisions about abortion, taxes, prayer in schools–were homeschooled, do you think? Very few, if any.
Harold,
With a little research, you’d be very disappointed. Homeschooled students generally do well-even above average and have no trouble enrolling into college. More homeschooled children graduate from college than their counterparts and colleges report “preferring” homeschooled students for their unusual diligence and self-control in the classroom. Here’s one report…http://hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000017.asp
Harold,
Good grief, what an ignorant thing to say! Harvard actively RECRUITS homeschooled kids! You should check out how many graduates of Patrick Henry College are now active members of their local state government as well as the federal government. (Read God’s Harvard by Hanna Rosin.)
Kelly – Well put, and I so love that you are doing this series! I think the biggest issue of all is that we have become a consumerist society in the worst sense. We take in the information handed us (by the media, the school system, what have you) without thinking critically! I love that you are encouraging readers to ask questions, not just handing them a load of data on a platter!
If we were really, truly INVOLVED as citizens and as parents, I like to think that we could really turn this country around for the better.
Bethany–“I think the biggest issue of all is that we have become a consumerist society in the worst sense. We take in the information handed us (by the media, the school system, what have you) without thinking critically!”…Amen, and amen. Probably my #1 fear/concern with parents in all sorts of areas.
Those children who are drugged with Ritalin to attend class. . .
. . . are also drugged to attend church
. . . .and to sit at the dinner table
. . . .and to go to the mall
These children function poorly in all situations. It’s not like they give them Ritalin only for school. They can’t sit through church, either, without being disruptive.
A couple of thoughts on this topic:
–my understanding is that public schools are compensated more for children with “diagnoses.” This may account for why there is subtle and sometimes, not so subtle, pressure for children to be labled with special education needs and/or medication.
–opting out: a child really can never truly opt out of anything. They will either get the lesson from the person paid to teach it or they will get it from the other kids at the lunch table.
Lastly, I would also like to see some discussion of how many modern-day church trends encourage “pew sitters,” who just punch a card (figuratively) and are lost in a sea of people not engaged or truly fed by what is happening. The teaching in many modern churches does not prepare believers for today’s life or the persecution which WILL come. It would be an interesting comparison to look at public school practices as duplicated in modern churches.
You are wrong. Childen in special ed cost a school district far, far more than they are ever compensated for by the federal government. School districts do not like to admit kids with a “diagnosis”, but if the child lives in the district, they have to.
BTW, school also receive more mone for gifted children. But, again, the amount they receive doesn’t begin to compensate them for the cost of gifted services.
Rachel,
Please read the Manhattan Institute link I gave J in VA in my comment just below this one, especially the last two paragraphs under the heading “Previous Research.” If the costs associated with special education students are truly more than the government funds received for educating these kids, there would not be such a significant jump in labeled kids in states that increase their funding according to the number of special ed. students identified.
What Rachel says is very true, despite what that particular think tank suggests. Schools do not try to label students to get more money. The logic behind that just doesn’t make sense on so many levels. Also, it is almost rare for students to get placed in special education services in the same year they are referred. There is a long process for labeling any student for anything, with many interventions tried, testing completed, meetings between involved school professionals and parents, etc. There is certainly no special ed rubber stamp! In fact, if I had a child who required special services, I think it could be quite frustrating at how long it actually takes for the child to be labelled and given extra interventions.
J in VA,
Public schools in certain states are indeed compensated more for higher numbers of special education students. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia (as of 2002) have what’s known as “bounty funding”, which essentially provides a financial incentive to identify more kids as special ed. so the district can receive more state funds. Here’s a link to a site detailing special education funding, with reports of studies done on why there is such an explosive growth of students labeled special education: http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cr_32.htm
Also, if you click on “Table 1” in the sidebar at the above link, you’ll find a state-by-state listing of who receives lump-sum funding and who has bounty funding. Unfortunately, “follow the money” seems to drive a lot of decisions these days, educational and otherwise.
I also think you’re probably right about a connection between medication and special ed. labeling. IEP (Individualized Education Plan, for special ed. students) meetings, which are done fairly regularly, in my understanding, seem to be an opportune time to pressure parents about medical decisions, according to the author of the link I provided in my reply to Amy at comment #5. No doubt there are children who truly need medication, but it certainly is sobering to realize there are probably many children who are being labeled and/or medicated unnecessarily.
Good points in your post, J.
Just a quick not about IEP’s. IEP meetings are yearly meetings to review the special education plan that a student is on. Every 3 years, or at the parents request an evaluation is conducted to retest the student to see if they qualify for services. As a professional who works in the public schools, grew up in private school, yet sees so many of the flaws I understand that at these meetings it may seem like a good opportunity to pressure a parent. In all of the meetings I am in, I have never seen another professional intentionally pressure a parent about medication. It’s not legal. And, if a parent feels that way they are allowed to request the meeting to be stopped, bring in legal council, other professionals, and they are even allowed to disagree with the school. It is the parents prerogative to medicate their child, or even get them evaluated for something that is a concern of the school. They are even able to refuse services… most of this information is given in a safeguard that should be given to the parents at every single meeting.
Now, I’m not looking for an argument, I just wanted to put a little more information out there about special education. I agree that often kids are labeled too quickly, medicated too often, and parents feel pressured. However, parents have more rights than they realize, and often just don’t take time to read the information given.
I think you will be misinformed if you get your information from conservative organizations like the Manhattan Institute, which has an agenda to promote.
Instead, talk to moms who have been inside the public schools. Like myself. Schools are *reluctant*–highly reluctant– to give out services. They cost money. I had to fight to get services for my daughter.
I wanted to let you know how much I love your blog! I’m inspired by so much every time I visit x
I live in the UK and we have very similar issues with Government education, even in carefully selected, “child friendly” schools! There is no room for parents there, no family values allowed. Unfortunately my situation at present makes it necessary for my children to attend school rather than being at home where I believe with all my heart they belong.
Bethany spoke almost everything I believe, there is a place for state education for some but not for all. It pains me to see my own children losing so much of their love for learning and innocence and trust at the hands of a system set up and run with many good intentions.
I pray daily for guidance to be the best parent I can be, state education isn’t my first choice but this is where I find myself in the life the Lord has given me. When and if the time comes He shows me how to change it, I will do so, but for now with His assistance I am doing the best I can, as are we all.
Hi Kelly and all- back again- looking forward to reading the rest of your series.
Kelly, I understand your reasons for not wanting to opt into the public school system. They are valid concerns that a lot of public school moms share.
I DO believe that those who believe that there is come nationwide scheme to indoctrinate our children into some liberal, gay-loving, democrat-voting socialist state are stuck in a place of fear, and the fear is pretty apparent by their bombastic remarks. Teachers are individuals, and their beliefs are going to vary.
My father-in-law is a conservative non-denominational preacher who sent all five of his children to public school. All five walk with God today. I still firmly believe (and polls, secular and Christian support this) that parents, regardless of almost any circumstance, are the most important influence in a child’s life.
If I may share, I believe the public school system has been a God-send for my daughter. She has an auditory processing disorder, which I’d never heard of until the doctor recommended I call early intervention services. Today, she receives four speech and cognitive therapy sessions a week, has made marked improvements, and will be able to start kindergarten on time with the assistance of the special education program. If I chose to homeschool, I would not have access to the support the school will provide us next year. Without the county and public school monetary assistance, our family would never have been able to afford the sessions. This is where a lot of your tax dollars are going. You may not agree with the government using your money to help other people’s kids, but in any event, I am eternally grateful to all of you who pay your taxes.
Finally, I would admonish everyone who says schooling your children publicly is a sin. Nowhere in the bible does it say you need to prepare your children fully before you send them off into a different environment. What about Samuel? He was left in another’s care right after he was weaned. How about David? He was still “a boy” when he killed Goliath.
The choice to homeschool/ public school/ private school is one that should be specific to each family circumstance and each child. Preaching that sending children to public schools is innately biblically wrong cannot be definitively proven, and purporting that it can only causes division in the church.
Hi Holly,
You said, “I DO believe that those who believe that there is come nationwide scheme to indoctrinate our children into some liberal, gay-loving, democrat-voting socialist state are stuck in a place of fear…”
Being aware of potential or documented problems, and choosing to remark on them, is not the same as being “stuck in a place of fear” about them.
“…and the fear is pretty apparent by their bombastic remarks.”
God has created each of us as individuals, as you well know, and each of us will word our remarks differently, though we may have the same beliefs in our hearts about a given issue. Some may *sound* more fearful by the way they use their God-given gifts of communication, passion for a certain subject, etc., but it does not necessarily mean that they *have* fear in their hearts and are stuck in that place. Fear is a heart issue, and we’re limited in our ability to read people’s hearts when we don’t have the benefit of hearing the tone of voice or seeing the body language of those with whom we are conversing.
Finally, Holly, please avoid using a term like “bombastic” to describe fellow commenters’ remarks. Thank you, and welcome back.
Bombastic: arrogant, disdainful, overblown, ranting
Examples:
“I guess only those who are too lazy to take action and do whatever is necessary to get their children out of the public school system.”
“I hate the public school system and I think it should be abolished. Or rather, the government should be kicked out of school. Public schools are turning out a bunch of lazy idiots who hate their parents and don’t have any personal or work ethics.”
Holly,
I don’t know what State you live in but here in Florida, if you legally register with the school board as a homeschooler-you qualify for all of the services that the local schools offer and that would include speech therapy.I know because we did just that after making the decision to homeschool our daughter after 2nd grade.She still received speech therapy right there in the school.I have to tell you honestly that they were not thrilled about it.I honestly think it was because they were so overloaded with kids who needed it there but they had to do it.She had speech therapy while she was in school there so the following year even after deciding to homeschool it was available.We would go in shortly before school ended and they hardly spoke to me in the office.I couldn’t figure out why at first and I never thought it was a problem until I walked back in one day after forgetting something and heard the speech teacher griping and complaining about us.I was shocked…and very young at the time..lol and didn’t know how to respond so I just ignored it and walked away.They sort of acted like they felt sorry for us but I didn’t care.One of the things we have to do since we register with the county is provide an annual evaluation by a certified teacher.She can either test the kids or look at their work and my planner.I live in a fairly large county in Fort Myers,Fl (Lee County) and they actually have a full time person on staff to deal with the homeschoolers and we have never had a problem with her.
I also agree that Preaching about not sending children to public school is wrong and can cause division in the church and in the lives of Christians.I would also like to say that seeing our young children as missionaries,although young children can be a witness and testimony but expecting them to be put into really hard situations where they are not mature enough to handle it can be really difficult for them.Most of them are just not ready to handle certain things at a young age.As homeschool moms,our kids are sheltered to a certain degree anyway but I really felt it was important to talk to them about certain issues as they were getting older.That particular daughter is now 27 and has been teaching preschool at a large Christian School here in town after two years of college but she didn’t need her degree.She simply took the local childcare courses at a local college and got her certificates in them after taking the test for each class.I believe there were four classes.Just wanted you to know..
Keri,
You are correct- I live in NY (highest taxes! Worst results!) and yes, I would still be eligible for services if I homeschooled. I didn’t realize, however, that I would have access to ALL resources as a child enrolled in public school, but I looked it up and you are absolutely right.
Still greatful, however, for the “system” that allows all of us to have access to these resources!
I didn’t meant to suggest we should send our children out as missionaries (though sometimes it happens naturally, because young kids are a lot bolder than adults.) I know that’s not a biblical tenant, either.
Thank you so much for your comment.
PRIRITY MESSAGE: IN AN EMERGENCY, WILL YOU BE READY ? WATCH VIDEO !
FYI- For those who would like to know what the new sex ed requirements are in the public schools the following two articles (are the same, but just from sites with different biases) outline just that. No doubt public schools have an agenda.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/09/new-sex-education-standar_n_1195129.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/10/new-us-sex-education-standards-released/