TITAN EDITORIAL: Ignorant education
By: Editorial Board
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Opinion
Homeschooling advocates, headed mainly by Christian zealots, are calling for Gov. Schwarzenegger's protection of their fundamental right to teach their children to be bigots and idiots.
The issue comes from a recent appellate court decision that prevents parents without teaching credentials from teaching their kids in a homeschool environment.
Granted, you can't expect every parent who wants to teach their kids at home to have a teaching credential, but it's important that the state take a stand to prevent poor education from being forced onto children who don't know any better.
Parents feel they have an absolute right to teach their kids whatever they want, but it's important that the government start to consider the mental welfare of children who are taught at home.
Kids who are homeschooled often miss out on more than just the invaluable social interactions that public school offers - They also miss out on a well-rounded education.
Homeschooling booklets that are not closely checked by anyone do little to ensure that children are being taught objectively about the world around them.
In general, those who homeschool their children are Christians with a narrow view of the world. They shun crazy theories like evolution and seek to protect their kids from the evils of the world - especially gays.
Now, it's no one's place to tell parents what they can and can't teach their children to believe.
But it is important that kids get the facts and it takes an educated individual to impart knowledge onto a child.
And, let's face it: Not many moms who are homeschooling for religious reasons have a serious education. Take Phillip and Mary Long, the Christian parents at the heart of the appellate case.
The Longs have eight kids and have been referred to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services in part over child abuse allegations.
According to court documents cited by the Times, Mary's education ended at 11th grade.
How can she truly be in a position to teach anyone with an education that ended her junior year of high school?
Not educating your children with a balanced view of the world is tantamount to child abuse.
Teaching ignorance is child abuse and it's about time the state stops the practice.
The issue comes from a recent appellate court decision that prevents parents without teaching credentials from teaching their kids in a homeschool environment.
Granted, you can't expect every parent who wants to teach their kids at home to have a teaching credential, but it's important that the state take a stand to prevent poor education from being forced onto children who don't know any better.
Parents feel they have an absolute right to teach their kids whatever they want, but it's important that the government start to consider the mental welfare of children who are taught at home.
Kids who are homeschooled often miss out on more than just the invaluable social interactions that public school offers - They also miss out on a well-rounded education.
Homeschooling booklets that are not closely checked by anyone do little to ensure that children are being taught objectively about the world around them.
In general, those who homeschool their children are Christians with a narrow view of the world. They shun crazy theories like evolution and seek to protect their kids from the evils of the world - especially gays.
Now, it's no one's place to tell parents what they can and can't teach their children to believe.
But it is important that kids get the facts and it takes an educated individual to impart knowledge onto a child.
And, let's face it: Not many moms who are homeschooling for religious reasons have a serious education. Take Phillip and Mary Long, the Christian parents at the heart of the appellate case.
The Longs have eight kids and have been referred to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services in part over child abuse allegations.
According to court documents cited by the Times, Mary's education ended at 11th grade.
How can she truly be in a position to teach anyone with an education that ended her junior year of high school?
Not educating your children with a balanced view of the world is tantamount to child abuse.
Teaching ignorance is child abuse and it's about time the state stops the practice.
Multi
The Archives
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 77
J
posted 3/10/08 @ 2:36 AM PST
Wow, angry much?
Please don't let your hatred toward Christianity or religion in general blind you to the bigger picture of homeschooling.
>>but it's important that the state take a stand to prevent poor education from being forced onto children who don't know any better. (Continued…)
Alasandra
posted 3/10/08 @ 5:15 AM PST
Apparently your editorial board is full of bigots and idiots with poor writing and researching skills.
Homeschoolers are a diverse bunch. I am sure this will come as a shock to you but there are even homosexual homeschoolers. (Continued…)
Wendy
posted 3/10/08 @ 6:19 AM PST
"Thinking homeschooled kids are denied a normal social life simply exposes your public education research skills."
Jacquelyn
posted 3/10/08 @ 9:50 AM PST
Wendy,
If you look up the definition of normal, you will find that it says:
"conforming to the standard or the common type"
So, since it is more common (or the norm) for kids to be educated in public school, rather than in a home environment, it is not incorrect to say that homeschooled kids don't receive a "normal" social life, considering the norm is to have a social life in the public schools. (Continued…)
Crimson Wife
posted 3/10/08 @ 12:14 PM PST
If you'd bothered to do any research for this op-ed rather than relying on tired stereotypes, you'd have discovered that 75% of parents who homeschool have education beyond a high school diploma (Natl. (Continued…)
Deborah
posted 3/10/08 @ 1:14 PM PST
As a homeschool Mother,I am more determined than ever to keep my son from the empty and narrow-minded "education"that was afforded to you.You are the bigot. (Continued…)
Loren
posted 3/10/08 @ 2:05 PM PST
Yes, let's steal the freedoms of others simply because we view them idiots. I seem to remember a guy named Adolf who held those views as well.
Caryl
posted 3/10/08 @ 3:39 PM PST
The hate-filled bigotry against Christians in this piece is breathtaking. I almost think this must be a parody. Please, tell me it is. For if not, that such bigotry is tolerated on this site simply amazes me. (Continued…)
Dana
posted 3/10/08 @ 7:15 PM PST
Wow. I'd say that is a pretty narrow view of the world to be so intolerant of such a large segment of society. I hope it wasn't your public education that taught you to be so "narrow minded" and "bigoted" as to judge all homeschoolers based on nothing but your own stereotypes. (Continued…)
Nicole
posted 3/10/08 @ 8:51 PM PST
I'm not a homeschooler or a conservative Christian, but I was just curious about a couple things.
Being a bigot is bad, but painting an entire segment of a religion as bigot ands idiots is not bigoted?
What on earth is a homeschool booklet?
Are you also against private schools that are Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Lutheran? Those schools also teach a particular view of religion, do they not?
Can you please define "serious education" and point me to your research that shows it is needed for a child to be successfully homeschooled?
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