“…Any thoughts?” – fran Yes fran…I have a few although don’t claim lucidity for this topic. First, my gut as the US started to fully embrace what euphemistically is called ‘home schooling’ said that it was a mistake. In other words, without much analysis, my intuition is against it. There are a few thoughts wafting across my mind that says parents should absolutely have the right to organize and deliver the education for their own children especially when there is concern about the bias being imposed by a governmentally run educational system. Yet, should such parents have some sort of standardized education and teaching ability themselves? It would seem appropriate too. Yet, if so, who would make such a determination…the same government they fear for whatever reason? In the specific case, being prejudiced against fundamentalism in general and most manifestations of Christianity in particular, I believe that the children are being abused in that they will be handed beliefs in a sort of nepotism …just reinforcing whatever blind beliefs and/or ignorance the specific family has. Whereas, in a public educational environment, since most that I am familiar with are influenced by all aspects of society from the PTA to governmental directives, resulting in a more homogeneous and well rounded set of instructions. Of course, in most cases, I would guess that there will be little instruction in how to think or use logic so what we are talking about in general is training, right? So, what sort of information and abilities should be imparted? I’m sure many have their own views. I’m not sure about it myself. As a kid, it all seemed natural …the topics were well rounded and included everything from the arts and civics to local, state, country and world history to languages and maths and…well…mostly standard stuff. Although these days in the US, as I understand it, there is precious little imparted about civics let alone about music, art and dance. Even physical education seems to be declining …perhaps. In all cases, for a societal input and support for the general good when it comes to education, funding is needed. Today, too many of the rich wish to keep their money for personal usage rather than for the common good…as I see it. Whew!...guess my soap box came out…I’ll take a breath.
Overall, in my youth, there were both public schools and religious schools. Parents had a choice between them and apparently didn’t need to home school. I do understand that for a long time there have been people who assign a higher value to what they see as god’s law, adoration and instruction than is assigned to that of the state. Somehow, I don’t remember this being a problem for the first few decades of my life…all seemed to go along fairly well. Somehow, by no accident I’s posit, there has been an increase in religious influence when it comes to what used to be nonsectarian issues, education included. Of course, I just may have been ignorant. Overall, in Germany and the US…I’d personally prefer kids to receive a good, well rounded and well funded education and do away with home schooling. My guess is that if this were done in even more fundamentalist and religious societies/countries, there would be a little less polarization…not sure, just a guess again. Of course, we haven’t discussed other options…and I’m sure there are ME members with ‘em….Neil comes to mind. Personally, I’d add a little of the Socratic method to education…more even than testing covers. Well, this is most likely worth what you pay for it!....you asked…I answered. On Feb 1, 9:52 am, frantheman <[email protected]> wrote: > A German family has been given political asylum in the US because of > their refusal to send their children to school in Germany and the > subsequent, according to the US judge granting the application, "well > founded fear of persecution." > > http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,674492,00.html > > Germany does not allow home schooling. The article in "der Spiegel" > explains: "Mandatory school attendance is based on "the idea that > group learning in school also helps develop social skills," says > Martina Elschenbroich, an expert on education law with the Culture > Minister Conference, an assembly that brings together education > ministers from Germany's 16 states. Children learn how to interact > with people who hold different views, which serves as the basis of a > democratic society, says Elschenbroich." The German position has been > upheld by the European Court of Human Rights in 2006. > > I am aware that the radical libertarian tradition in the US (and the > impossibility of mandatory school attendance for many chidren in the > legendary frontier days of the 19th. Century) gives home-schooling a > certain cachet. On the other hand, it seems to me that it harbours > great dangers in giving all kinds of - sorry to be so blunt - nuts the > chance to indocrinate their children with rubbish. > > Any thoughts? > > Francis -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/minds-eye?hl=en.
