Why are we supposed to be trying to help fix the public education system?

Question

It's come up more than once, this idea that homeschoolers are somehow 'not doing their duty' to help improve public schools. Why is it our duty? And who says? Public education is the government fulfilling its requirements. It is not mandatory for the public. I would think we would have more of a duty to the homeless and poor and sick than to some government-run institution, wouldn't we? (And certainly to our own children before the government!)

Do those who think homeschooling parents are not doing their duty to public education also condemn those who send their kids to private schools? If not, why not?

Isn't trying to change a system you don't want to be a part of like trying to change a church or religion you don't want to be a part of?

Furthermore, who says that the system could ever meet what many homeschooling parents envision for their kids?

Answer 1

I am with you on this one. I get really tired of that attitude too. We *DO* support public schools. We pay taxes, we buy lottery tickets sometimes, I read up before local elections to find out who I think the best candidates are for school board and superintendents, and I VOTE.
I think your analogy between this and religion is a good one. The schools are not where I want my children for the simple reason, it's not where they would be best served. Home education works really well for us.
I've taught in public schools, it's not where my kids need to be. I want better for them than that, and I get really tired of that being taken as a bad thing. I don't say things like that to parents who don't homeschool, because they usually tend to get defensive, thinking I'm implying I think *THEY* are a bad parent for sending them to school. I don't think that. We all have to do what works for us.

Answer 2

First, I agree with you - we have no duty to "fix" a government-run program (that's like saying it's the senior citizens' responsibility to fix our social security system or the footsoldier's responsibility to win the war in Iraq or else bring the troops home).

Second - to Morris - I don't know about where YOU live, but here in the US, homeschoolers still pay taxes to the school district. Seems like a raw deal for me to have to pay twice to educate the same child, but I don't argue. Before taking my older son out of the system, I saw that the kids who are in the public schools need all the help they can get!

Answer 3

Most people seem to think that public school reform is a new thing, that has only been attempted in the last 30 years or so. The Reality is that the need to "fix" public schools has been a subject of concern from the time public education was introduced in the U.S. 150 years ago.

The American Public School system is a faild experiment which has reduced the functional literacy level of Americans from 93% in the early 19th century down to 71% today.

According to advocates for public education, taxpayer funded schools should be kept open in order to ensure an education for the underprivileged. Unfortunately these are the kids who fall through the cracks and cause disruptions in classrooms which interfere with other student's learning.

150 years is more than enough time to figure out how to make public education work. We should not attempt to reform public education; we should eliminate it.

Answer 4

Great question! We pay our taxes into this system which I do not even mind because I believe it is much more beneficial than putting our tax money into prisons or military for example. But then a lot of our tax money they do wind up putting into the military and other programs and in our state, they have put Education way down on the list, so we are only 41st in Educational spending out of 50 states. Then homeschoolers are supposed to try to improve the public schools, when obviously the nation's priorities show that education is very low on the list?

I would much like to see military spending go down and educational spending go up even though I am a homeschooler, (and I refer not to wise military spending like food and armor but unwise spending like on missiles that experts say we don't need anymore during this time of terrorists and no-bid contracts like we have given companies like Halliburton.)

When we couldn't get the services we were hoping for my ds, we considered doing the legal route, but then my dh's thinking was that we knew we could win a legal battle since they weren't following the IEP, but then you have teachers and/or service providers that are overworked and/or unskilled (what we experienced) grudgingly (or worse?) giving your son services and we just felt like what we would get was not worth any kind of legal battle.

Answer 5

good question. I may have implied this 'HSers really should be fixing public school'. let me retract that, if I did.
If someone chooses to reject a societal norm, like public school or flouride in the water, or watching television, they should certainly be free to reject it. They can quit school, buy thier own water, or not have a tv. The more time I spend reading the Q&As in this site, I am beginning to realize what a selfserving concept HSing is. I am beginning to see that HS parents could never be an asset to a public community, they are not willing to participate, the HS parent is participating in other activities because to the rejection of public education, not by any ecumenical or community driven desire.
I do find fault in this statement:'Public education is the government fulfilling its requirements. It is not mandatory for the public.' In the USA , We the People ARE the GOVERNMENT. The public school board is most likely the most initmate and controlable part of a community by the people in that community.
I live in Livonia, the Livonia School board is made up of people in Livonia and voted for by the people of Livonia. The Livonia board is closing some schools to reduce costs, some voters hated that prospect and attempted to recall the whole board. They were not effective in their recall or in changing the board proposal. But that's how democracy works here in Livonia, Michigan, USA.
I suppose those critics could become home schoolers. But in Michigan they are free to send their kids to another district altogether, as long as they provide transportation.
I still hold the opinion that HS really teaches kids this:'When faced with a challenging environment with people with different views and opinions, the correct way to handle it is to reject others, avoid conforming, close your mind, stay home and listen to your parents'
I find it a little dangerous, unlike a personal choice someone make for themselves, this choice could ruin another person's life. But its a free society, we trust people to wisely choose when corporal punishment should be used on their children. We trust parents to effectively feed and clothe their kids. I guess I could trust what your doing is legit but I still think its racist or cultist motivated. I just DO NOT GET WHY people with healthy children in good school districts would choose to do this, aside from very selfserving purposes, HS seems completely backward to me

To directly address another of your points, 'I would think we would have more of a duty to the homeless and poor and sick than to some government-run institution, wouldn't we? (And certainly to our own children before the government!)'
I see public education the first and most effective tool against homelessness and poverty. And again, WE are OUR GOVERNMENT, wheather we choose to be active or not. Along with an education we WILL be passing a governemnt to our children as our parents handed thier government over to us.
I am completely lost as to how HSing is good for reducing poverty or homelessness (are you bringing in people off the street and teaching them to read? are you teaching your kids to build house and turning the keys to that house over to the homeless, like Habitat for Humanity?)

Answer 6

It's not you duty to help fix. I do believe it's your duty to pay taxes and support the school system like everyone else. If you want to home school, thats fine. All of society benefits from education. Just because you home school (which is admiral) you should be paying taxes like everyone else.

Answer 7

I do my part. I pay my taxes (of which more than 2/3 goes to the public schools). I just choose not to accept anything for my taxes and I teach my children myself. So in that respect, they should love me. They get my money and they don't have to shell out any for my kid.. :)

Answer 8

its not your duty.
my 3rd best friend is home schooled and he feels the exact same way.
the government just don't have time and for the good of their image they try to blame it on us.