In Artis Shepherd’s recent article, which I highly recommend, he aptly detailed the numerous benefits of homeschooling and data showing that homeschooled students, far from being socially stunted, academically insular young people, are actually generally high-achieving, socially adroit young adults ready to provide value in the world.
Great piece on how schools, especially public schools, distort and harm young minds. Even as a catholic schooler from grades 1-8, I recognize a lot of the propaganda and pablum mentioned here.
Two books worth reading on the subject:
Hold Onto Your Kids by Neufeld (and Mate). If reading this book doesn't get parents to seriously consider moving away from the modern schooling regime, I don't know what will.
The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer. If/when parents do make the commitment, this is a good guidebook for preparation in the classical tradition.
Thanks for your comment and the reading suggestions. I'd also add Maria Montessori's "The Montessori Method" and anything by John Taylor Gatto. Perhaps some parents are okay with essentially sending their kids to propaganda daycare 180 times per year (heavily subsidized by their neighbors, too), but I think it has more to do with convenience and inertia: The system was there when I was a kid, so my kids might as well do the same. Plus, there's a convenient school bus passing our house each morning, anyway. Thankfully, Covid lockdowns seem to have increased the number of parents who have wised up and actively sought better options for their kids. Now, if we could just do something about those school taxes...
That is a great book as is "Underground History of American Education." I disagree with him on the omnipresence of genius (he claims it is "as common as dirt"), but his analysis and eviscerations of the school system are simply peerless.
Great piece on how schools, especially public schools, distort and harm young minds. Even as a catholic schooler from grades 1-8, I recognize a lot of the propaganda and pablum mentioned here.
Two books worth reading on the subject:
Hold Onto Your Kids by Neufeld (and Mate). If reading this book doesn't get parents to seriously consider moving away from the modern schooling regime, I don't know what will.
The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer. If/when parents do make the commitment, this is a good guidebook for preparation in the classical tradition.
Thanks for your comment and the reading suggestions. I'd also add Maria Montessori's "The Montessori Method" and anything by John Taylor Gatto. Perhaps some parents are okay with essentially sending their kids to propaganda daycare 180 times per year (heavily subsidized by their neighbors, too), but I think it has more to do with convenience and inertia: The system was there when I was a kid, so my kids might as well do the same. Plus, there's a convenient school bus passing our house each morning, anyway. Thankfully, Covid lockdowns seem to have increased the number of parents who have wised up and actively sought better options for their kids. Now, if we could just do something about those school taxes...
Totally agree re: Montessori method.
Someone introduced me to Gatto's book (Weapons of Mass Instruction) the other day, but I've yet to read it.
That is a great book as is "Underground History of American Education." I disagree with him on the omnipresence of genius (he claims it is "as common as dirt"), but his analysis and eviscerations of the school system are simply peerless.