Wow -- read this statement re: CA homeschool case

[nestof3]

A primary purpose of the educational system is to train school children in good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state and the nation as a means of protecting the public welfare

Eeek!

Those things just are not foremost on my mind when I sit down to "do school" each day. Even when we aren't "doing school," I am thinking more about:

identifying and strengthening the gifting that is in each of my boys

of preparing them for the future

of instilling a lifelong love of learning

of directing them to be great husbands, parents, friends, and people in general

and of teaching them to exercise good morals and ethics in all of their decisions.

Quote taken from here:
http://nofightingnobiting.blogspot.com/2008/03/california-homeschooling-parents-scared.html

[Daisy]

Yeh, I have problems with this quote, also. That is definitely not my top priority in education.

[dangermom]

Goodness, I'm rather surprised that the judge said that. Modern public education does not seem to me to be particularly interested in patriotism or loyalty to the state. In 1961 it was, but now it's a different story.

These are not things I think of either. However it's worth noting that adults who were homeschooled are, in fact, more likely to be voters, active in their communities, and all that good stuff. So it appears that we're generally doing OK in that department even without having it as a particular goal. I certainly plan to teach my kids to be active and interested citizens, even if we don't spend lots of time "teaching loyalty to the state."

[WendyK]

I'm not surprised. At least he admits something I have always believed to be true. Apparently for things to work we need a bunch of complacent drones who don't question authority.

[AmyinPA]

Goodness, I'm rather surprised that the judge said that. Modern public education does not seem to me to be particularly interested in patriotism or loyalty to the state. In 1961 it was, but now it's a different story.

These are not things I think of either. However it's worth noting that adults who were homeschooled are, in fact, more likely to be voters, active in their communities, and all that good stuff. So it appears that we're generally doing OK in that department even without having it as a particular goal. I certainly plan to teach my kids to be active and interested citizens, even if we don't spend lots of time "teaching loyalty to the state."

It depends on what he means by "patritotism" and loyalty to the state. I think in terms of patriotism he means "love of one's government" and loyalty to all her entitlements, well, then he may be right. After all, indoctrination is central to these beliefs.

[angela in ohio]

Goodness, I'm rather surprised that the judge said that. Modern public education does not seem to me to be particularly interested in patriotism or loyalty to the state. In 1961 it was, but now it's a differnt story."

I agree. I looked through many of the choices for dh to use for Social Studies in his school, and there was no love of America in them. It was all "democracy is dead", "the U.S. stinks", etc.

[Colleen]

it's worth noting that adults who were homeschooled are, in fact, more likely to be voters, active in their communities, and all that good stuff.

Can you point me to those stats?

[Dot]

Angela, can you tell me any of the books you found that had the feel of "democracy is dead" and the US stinks. I, personally, have never seen anything that came close to those sentiments, and don't understand how American schoolbook publishers would allow that to get thru all their committees.

[Dana in OR]

Can you point me to those stats?


Tonight I will look for it. The article was very positive for homeschoolers.

[Colleen]

Tonight I will look for it. The article was very positive for homeschoolers.

I'm interested in seeing how they quantify the fact that people who were homeschooled are more active in their communities.

[dangermom]

Can you point me to those stats?
Here's a PDF (www.hslda.org/research/ray2003/HomeschoolingGrowsUp.pdf) summarizing the study. This is from HSLDA, but it was NHERI that did the study, and the whole thing is on their website if you want to search there.

[Colleen]

I glanced over the study and want to read it more closely later. My knee-jerk reaction to anything HSLDA-related (and HSLDA did commission the study) is to take it with a grain of salt. Then, too, the comparison between the homeschooled grads being surveyed and the general public has limitations since half of the former group were still full time students when the study was conducted.

Thank you for sharing the link!

[Suzanne in ABQ]

Actually, I read the original document, and I believe he was quoting a case from the 1950s (using it as precedence in the current case). So, your guess of 1961 was very insightful!