14 'facts' Louisiana students will learn at school

[Uncle Sparky]

Have you ever met most governments?

Most have given me candy.

[kentonio]

As someone who nearly had his life ruined by New Jersey public schools, shut the **** up.

You'd surely have gotten along much better with an education that included Jesus riding dinosaurs instead.

Because we trust parents more than the state to raise their own goddamn children. The idea that we would trust the state more is pure insanity.

Have you ever met most parents? I don't trust them to raise their own kids.

This. Many parents are ****ing horrible role models and extremely stupid people. The idea that their rights are more important than the kids pisses me off. If every kids gets a decent education, then at least they have a chance at a decent life, even if their parents are stupid rednecks.

[Aeson]

I've met a few. They seem nice .

I'll trust them to teach kids basic education than parents (homeschooled kids are freaking scary... for the most part).

I've known a lot of homeschooled kids, as it is a somewhat common choice in areas I grew up. (I myself was not. I wish I had been.) I wouldn't say any of them were scary. Maybe a bit more shy/socially clumsy and more well-mannered on average than their public school counterparts. I could say the same thing about the kids in the gifted and talented program or chess club of course.

Obviously the state needs to protect children from egregious acts against children by the parents, but for the most part parents are much more likely to choose in their child's best interest than the state is. In this specific case, it is the state allowing for use of it's funds for (what most of us would find) the problematic curriculum. Hardly a case for giving the government more control over what kids are taught. At some point it might be the government setting curriculum for public schools that is the problem (already something of a problem due to dumbing things down and cultural problems in many public schools), then it's great to have the option for private schooling. Yah, some parents might choose to teach their kids (or have their kids taught) some weird stuff ... but they will always do that anyways.

[Aeson]

I've met a few. They seem nice .

I'll trust them to teach kids basic education than parents (homeschooled kids are freaking scary... for the most part).

I've known a lot of homeschooled kids, as it is a somewhat common choice in areas I grew up. (I myself was not. I wish I had been.) I wouldn't say any of them were scary. Maybe a bit more shy/socially clumsy and more well-mannered on average than their public school counterparts. I could say the same thing about the kids in the gifted and talented program or chess club of course.

Obviously the state needs to protect children from egregious acts against children by the parents, but for the most part parents are much more likely to choose in their child's best interest than the state is. In this specific case, it is the state allowing for use of it's funds for (what most of us would find) the problematic curriculum. Hardly a case for giving the government more control over what kids are taught. At some point it might be the government setting curriculum for public schools that is the problem (already something of a problem due to dumbing things down and cultural problems in many public schools), then it's great to have the option for private schooling. Yah, some parents might choose to teach their kids (or have their kids taught) some weird stuff ... but they will always do that anyways.

[Aeson]

Most have given me candy.

Did the "classrooms" look suspiciously like vans?

[kentonio]

I've known a lot of homeschooled kids, as it is a somewhat common choice in areas I grew up. (I myself was not. I wish I had been.) I wouldn't say any of them were scary. Maybe a bit more shy/socially clumsy and more well-mannered on average than their public school counterparts. I could say the same thing about the kids in the gifted and talented program or chess club of course.

How many parents do you know who have a teaching level knowledge of all the subjects that form a well rounded curriculum? How exactly do you avoid parents with strong religious or other beliefs from passing on those beliefs as fact, without providing any counterpoint or alternative views?

[Uncle Sparky]

Did the "classrooms" look suspiciously like vans?

[Aeson]

How many parents do you know who have a teaching level knowledge of all the subjects that form a well rounded curriculum? How exactly do you avoid parents with strong religious or other beliefs from passing on those beliefs as fact, without providing any counterpoint or alternative views?

Surpassing public school's level of education is not difficult (in regards to level of curriculum ... it's certainly time consuming) for the average parent. Most of the teaching is out of a book in either case. This is especially true in areas where home schooling is most common (poorer school districts). Most of the home schooled children I knew surpassed their public school counterparts in understanding the curriculum. Remember that public school kids can get their high school diploma just for showing up in some cases, even if they didn't learn to do basic things like read. Home schooled children have to actually pass standardized tests to get their high school equivalency.

The second point is irrelevant to this conversation. Parents can and do teach their kids religious beliefs, and cannot prevent alternative views without some sort of bondage (obviously illegal already). Forcing kids into public schools isn't going to substantially change that, except perhaps to give parents who want to indoctrinate their kids a boogeyman to play off of.

[molly bloom]

It's very difficult right now. They don't just take anybody. How is that you win?

Sad and pitiful excuses, 101.


Oh please. Anyone can stop a bullet.

[kentonio]

Surpassing public school's level of education is not difficult (in regards to level of curriculum ... it's certainly time consuming) for the average parent. Most of the teaching is out of a book in either case. This is especially true in areas where home schooling is most common (poorer school districts). Most of the home schooled children I knew surpassed their public school counterparts in understanding the curriculum. Remember that public school kids can get their high school diploma just for showing up in some cases, even if they didn't learn to do basic things like read. Home schooled children have to actually pass standardized tests to get their high school equivalency.

So the solution to some areas having ****ty school is to take the kids out of school, not improve the schools?

The second point is irrelevant to this conversation. Parents can and do teach their kids religious beliefs, and cannot prevent alternative views without some sort of bondage (obviously illegal already). Forcing kids into public schools isn't going to substantially change that, except perhaps to give parents who want to indoctrinate their kids a boogeyman to play off of.

It is not irrelevant at all. Kids being exposed to new ideas acts as an antidote to parents being able to brainwash their kids into odd ideologies. A kid might be raised from birth to believe that blacks are evil or that spending time with the opposite sex will send you straight to hell, but being in a school environment and beign around other kids all day can make them start to question those things their parents taught them. Considering education is about learning to question, that is essential. The thing about social ineptitude is also extremely important. You can have the smartest kid in the world, but if you raise them with no social skills, that can basically ruin their future.

The problem I have with the home school thing is that those who support it always use the successes as examples of how great it is. There certainly are awesome parents out there who raise amazing kids, but it's a lot more important to safeguard the ones who have crazy, shiity parents whos idea of homeschooling is to **** up their kids future.

[molly bloom]

I'm fairly sure molly does not understand or know what a Valley Girl actually is, or their mannerisms.

Read and 20th Century Guyanan novelists lately ? See, I admire your frank generosity. You openly share with the world your ignorance and presumption, with no thought of shame or pride.


See, I don't need your total 'tude, you're coming on like a total space cadet, fer shure. You're such a ******, gag me with a spoon, I could just rolf...


And although not a huge fan of Frank Zappa. I do know this:

I'm thinking you're, like a bit of a crispo, and I'm so totally edged that some crill dork could even question my knowledge of a colourful American patois.

By the way, I studied American Literature and Socio Linguistics at university, so I've had a keen interest in Creoles, pidgins and patois ever since- which has increased since my decision to teach English to refugees and immigrants.

Gosh, it really is as Oscar Wilde is supposed to have said:

In America the young are always ready to give to those who are older than themselves the full benefits of their inexperience.

Tubular, to the max!!!!!!!!!

[molly bloom]

The **** is wrong with Shakespeare, you troglodyte?

He hasn't read most of his works and doesn't understand what was read at him. This is someone who thinks Ewoks in 'Return Of The Jedi' are aesthetically tolerable.

Not exactly Henry James Jr. .

[Ben Kenobi]

But why, especially in this economy, would a state government volunteer millions in vouchers?

Because it attaches compensation to performance?

[Ben Kenobi]

The problem I have with the home school thing is that those who support it always use the successes as examples of how great it is. There certainly are awesome parents out there who raise amazing kids, but it's a lot more important to safeguard the ones who have crazy, shiity parents whos idea of homeschooling is to **** up their kids future.

Let's be honest here. The problem you have with homeschooled children isn't their quality of education - it's the fact that they are being taught things that you don't believe. You believe every child should be taught what you believe, whether they want to or not.

Anyways, homeschooled children, on average perform much better than their peers. Sure, some parents will do a poor job, but so do some schools!

[Ben Kenobi]

Did you read the article? These are textbooks in Christian schools who are going to be acceptable places to use school vouchers.

I did. The only source for the claims that the textbooks actually contain said quotes is Mother Jones.