I really gotta try some of those restaurants Barb Lickness recommended. I stand by my Mariachi opinions, even after going to the web site Michael Atherton listed.
As far as homeschooling socialization goes, I found Atherton's web addresses less than convincing. Michael Atherton states: "Here are some references you can start off with if you know nothing about this topic: http://reading.indiana.edu/ieo/digests/d94.html http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000068.asp http://www.geocities.com/nelstomlinson/research.bibliography.html#shyers"; The first address is for an eleven year old digest of readings on home schooling, only a portion of which deals with the socialization question I posed. The second address is a page from a legal aid group for home schoolers written by a lawyer with references even older than the first digest. The third was unreachable until I pared it down to Mr. Nels Tomlinson's web page (an economist working for the State of Alaska) and followed the appropriate links to references to various home schooling journals and educational psychology references as old or older than those I saw in the first two sites Michael listed and many broken links. I suppose since Atherton qualified the sites for folks who don't know anything, then the references are entirely adequate. Atherton continues: "Mr. Kahn's perspective seems to be based on two false assumptions: "1) Socialization in the public schools is a positive experience for all students. [There are voluminous numbers of studies to show the exact opposite and don't forget the 47% dropout rate in the MPS: that's great socialization for you. :-| ] "2) Homeschooled children lack opportunities for socialization. [Research fails to validate this assumption]. "I will not be continuing this exchange with Mr. Kahn. The return is not worth the investment. If anyone else wants to argue his perspective I will add a few additional comments and additional references." I'm just as happy as not that Atherton does not wish to continue this exchange, since his constant use of straw men and red herrings in his posts does not further any sort of serious discussion. His two presumptions about my perspective are dead wrong: although negative experiences are upsetting sometimes, they are valuable when a child has the support of school staff and involved parents; and my very question was about how home schooling parents provide experiences for socialization. I had one such parent provide information off list to the question, but all I get from Atherton is big bad wolf talk and obfuscation. I'll be taking a little time out from my busy life to look at the subject independent of Atherton's recommendations, but readers of the list familiar with my perspectives on given subjects will know that my opinions will not be dictated by his whims. I am so glad he won't be exchanging posts with me anymore. Bill Kahn safe for now in my little Prospect Park stone house REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
