Back to public education for you! While the kids have tested out 2 years above their government school peers (only two?) a divorce court judge wants to send them for public education and has this understatement of the year quote:

On her website, family friend Robyn Williams said Mangum stated his decision was not ideologically or religiously motivated but that ordering the children into public schools would "challenge the ideas you've taught them."

I'll say!

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Parents are in charge of and responsible for the education and well being of their children, not the f'n STATE!

This from a state who has at least one county where 5 absences in any given class (high school) results in an automatic F, excused or otherwise - a Dr's note and legitimate absence does not change the 5 day policy.  (although a rather opinionated, mouthy and angry mother got the point through...)

::)

What a sad state of affairs when the government, courts and outside influences are who/what dictate a child's education, and the parents are told what they can and can't do.  *sigh*

Cat

And I'm afraid that it is going to get worse.

The sad thing in this Marc, is that you are probably right.  Parents need to stand up and get involved and active in their childrens' education again.  From experience, I know that can be a deciding factor in how things play out.  

Parents aren't helpless unless they choose to be.  There are always other options available, although many require a fair amount of effort on the part of the parent.  As in the case above, if I were that mother, the public schools would be begging the judge to reverse the ruling, because I'd be in the classroom every single day - and because it's a public school, funded out of a taxpayers pocket, the school can't tell you no.  At least they haven't been able to in at least 3 states so far, they've tried, and quickly found out that it's unwise to cross some parents;  some of us actually follow the education laws and local school boards, and know very well what is within our rights.

I'm still trying to figure out when parents handed over the reins to someone else to take responsibility for kids education.  It'll be a cold day when I let ANYONE else tell me what is best for my kids and their education.

Geez, we've only been in NC 7.5 months and I've already gotten into 4 different scuffles with the schools here, and won every one of them.  A little effort and active participation from parents, and the schools will fall over themselves to accommodate you and work with you - especially if it's done truly intending the best opportunity for success of the kids.  The ultimate goal is to have children well educated and prepared for the real world - not a bunch of conformists that all do as they are told for no other reason than because they were told, and never learning how use critical thinking skills.

One of the proudest days of my life was when I realized our district superintendent would no longer take my calls.

I had challenged him and hounded him and badgered him about the dismal state of education in our district.  I had given him multiple solutions to the problems, none of which cost anything more than shuffling some teachers and aids and curriculum to different buildings, but he gave up.

That's when my kid became schooled at home.  He's still in public school, it's just not a brick and mortar school.

Marc wrote on Mar 12^th, 2009 at 1:41pm:

And I'm afraid that it is going to get worse.

Isn't that the truth!  As long as the courts are packed with people that side with "government is all" and they legislate from the bench w are in dire straits.

Individuals and parents have to take responsibility for themselves and their families and tell the lawmakers enough is enough.  I'm afraid as long as the government hands out $$ like pushers hand out the first "fix" we are in a downward spiral of a free society.

-P.

I hope she will contact Home School Legal Defense.  It is a great organization that does nothing but defend and support home schoolers who abide by the law.

Jerry

But what ya'll aren't understanding is... for every ONE parent who is concerned there are 100 (or more) who aren't. To me that's the crime here....

We pay taxes to our school districts whether we have kids in the schools or not (for us older people and those without kids pay taxes too) but the school board meetings are VERY SELDOM attended by the public although they are OPEN meetings. THAT'S where it starts, yet parents don't want to get INVOLVED so they just don't attend.

We don't know how our tax money is being spent in our local schools because we don't attend school board meetings, we don't ASK so we don't know.... it's OUR fault as well as the teachers and the government because we LET it be.

Things can't be changed overnight, but if you start on the local level with the local school boards things can be changed - hell, I've done it when my child was in school - but you have to attend the meetings, and you have to speak up - and you gotta be ready to get talked down to and let 'em insult you, etc. Then you write it up for the local newspapers and all hell breaks lose and you get something done. And don't expect to get a lot of help from "other" parents cause they don't like to get involved, but after several months of "abuse" you CAN get things changed on the local level - I've done it!! THEN you get support from other parents who think your ideas are just great and were behind you all along (yeah right!).

My suggestion is to start on the local levels and get some older folks behind you. Behind that gray hair you might find some support you need (and some experience from years past). Work UP from there.

Hugs BD

notseinfeld wrote on Mar 12^th, 2009 at 1:05pm:

Parents are in charge of and responsible for the education and well being of their children, not the f'n STATE!

The only reason a judge decided is that the parents could not agree. When the father took the disagreement to court, it was no longer an issue where the family could make the decisions themselves.  This is true in all divorce/custody cases that are disputed and go to court.

I don't see it as that different from not having a will - if you don't, when you die, your estate gets tied up in probate and the court has to decide who inherits any money left over after the bills are paid.  If you don't want the court to decide, you have to have a valid will.  Its not that the court wants to take over your estate and determine the split of money between all your ex-wives and kids and favorite charities... the courts step in as decision maker of last resort when structures like families and corporations fail, or when there are not valid contracts to enforce.

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Ya, Ya...it's Fox news. So bite me.

Mike