Independent education and parental choice
This past week, a work acquaintance was literally struck speechless, mouth agape, when I referred to our public schools as "government schools." He then professed to never hearing them labeled as such - and I found this statement to be as telling as it was troubling. Troubling because I have gradually reached the conclusion that most Americans, particularly parents, think the same way.
Many simply don't grasp the fact that their children are being taught in a government-administered education system. And although my friend's puzzlement is understandable to me, government control was never more clearly illustrated than by the State of California Court of Appeals' recent decision that effectively outlawed home schooling.
But first, a reality check
Every American is by now aware, to one degree or another, that since the late 1960s, the nation's public education system has incrementally devolved from the traditional, classical approach of linking the teaching of basic core curricula (reading, writing, arithmetic, arts) with character (American civics, respect, and personal responsibility) to a system of psychological-societal-engineered skill sets, multiculturalism, and values clarification. Our children have and continue to pay the price of this experimental education.
During this same period, local, state, and federal governments have literally poured trillions of dollars into our education system in the hope that a never-ending supply of money via perpetual school district tax increases will somehow curtail the downward spiral of public schools.
The educational establishment relies on a cornucopia of excuses and rationalizations. These "progressive" educators are quick to blame poor physical facilities and excessive numbers of students for low test scores and mediocre academic performance, or the other trite scapegoats known as television, working parents, and the ever-popular "family background" (you are a drunk, poor, illiterate, or trailer park trash, therefore your children will be drunks, poor, illiterate, or trailer park trash).
Nevertheless, none of these hollow excuses adversely affected the American grade school students of the 1950s and 1960s, just as study after study indicates that they do not affect their Asian counterparts today.
In the interest of fairness, however, it should be noted that increasing numbers of American parents expect our schools to not just develop academic skills. They also believe it is up to the schools and not themselves to provide a healthy emotional environment as well as take on responsibility for critical aspects of child development such as educating them in family roles, societal norms, moral responsibility, civic obligations, sex, and drug awareness. For them, this is a direct abrogation of their rights and obligations as parents.
Conversely, and for decades now, more traditional American education experts have been alarmed at the growing inability of public school students and graduates to compete academically with peers in other industrialized democratic countries. As Charles Sykes wrote in his sobering book Dumbing Down our Kids: Why America's Children Feel Good about Themselves but Can't Read, Write, or Add, "When the very best American students - the top one percent - are measured against the best students of other countries, America's best and brightest finished at the bottom." While Sykes may be guilty of exaggeration, it is apparent that America's students are average at best.
" ... the California Court found that 'Parents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children ... Violators could be prosecuted and jailed.'"
So what do we know? We know that throwing money at schools doesn't work. We know that the experimental education schemes instituted decades ago don't work. And we know that today, the decline of the work ethic and character of students in government schools is clearly evident. So logically, the solution to turning around a failing education system is for government to completely remove all forms of school choice from the equation, right?
If you believe that prohibition of alternatives is a good thing, B2 has some Florida swamp land to sell, because as long as money for experimental education, administrative mechanisms, and teacher union perks is viewed as the only answer to failing students, quality education in government schools will remain illusory.
Orwellian mandate, government control
Let's revisit the Left Coast wrong-headedness briefly mentioned earlier. Unbelievably, the California Court found that "Parents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children." To ensure the message was not misunderstood, the court went on to add that "Violators could be prosecuted and jailed."
With the stroke of a judicial pen, home schooling parents in California became common criminals.
This decision sends a clear message that children are to be considered obedient wards of the state, and concerned parents who disagree with state-developed and state-sponsored curricula or teaching methods are now to be considered as little more than scofflaws.
"We know that throwing money at schools doesn't work. We know that the experimental education schemes instituted decades ago don't work."
Another aspect that weighs heavily in such bureaucratic mandates is the role of teachers unions. Longstanding complaints from teachers unions that charter schools, home schooling, and other viable alternatives undermine their role. This is not only an egregious, agenda-driven fallacy but is based upon a foundation of political activism. Such scheming is not only anathema to quality education, but also wholly disregards the unique needs and wants of both parents and students.
But that's the way it is in government schools - and the way it is where you live, too.
Home schooling, close to home
In Florida, thankfully, there are options for parents when considering the best educational venues for their children. In addition to private schooling, a viable and very successful option is Home Education (for those of you in Okeechobee County, that's home schooling).
Home Education is a parent-directed educational option that became effective by law in 1985. Parents have the freedom to determine their child's educational path and the plan for reaching their goals. Students have the opportunity to explore and learn at their own pace, in any location or at any time. More than 55,000 students in approximately 37,000 families are in Home Education Programs in Florida.
It is important to note that any parent who complies with the reporting, record keeping, and student evaluation requirements specified in statutory law may conduct a home education program. The parent is not required to be a certified teacher.
While not perfect, Florida's system works - and that's the way things ought to be.
Freedom once lost is lost forever
Bob Barr, former Georgia congressman and current Libertarian Party candidate for president, personally reviewed hundreds of applications for admission to our nation's military academies. Barr found that high school seniors who had been home schooled for all or part of their academic careers competed favorably in all aspects of academics with students who attended government or private schools.
Because modern courts generally render decisions favoring maximized government control and minimized individual liberty, the recent California appeals court finding is staggering in its disdain for historic notions of individual and family freedom. Each of you who care about student welfare and choice in education, and who value parental rights and individual freedom, should be vigilant and take steps to ensure that such imperious court decisions do not come to pass in your state.
California's recent autocratic mandate, legislated from a judicial bench, is not only destructive to our concept of representative government but illustrates the incremental application of socialism; Individual liberties are chipped away until they are only remembrances. Once lost, they are lost forever.
You should be concerned because, after all, our nation's success depends upon the success of our children.