Lynn Swearingen (c) copyright 2010 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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What underlying fear one must live in to castigate those who have decided to live an alternate educational lifestyle. What terror is exposed as apparently the “little subset” of society determine that teaching a 5 or 6-year-old child of the joys of masturbation might be more appropriate at a different age.
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Before I begin this blog I must admit I am acquainted with “Homeschoolers”, “Unschoolers”, and “Public School Students” – I like them. Diversity is not a bad thing.
There are times however when I wonder why one must be so hateful in their assessment of others actions. The following blog is a case in point.
From the title (which I also must admit pleased me to no end) readers could surmise that a bunch of Lipton carrying radicals were about to descend upon a most hallowed hall to rip apart with their tannin-stained fingers the very core of our Nation.
Tea Party Plans to Dismantle the Department of Education
While appearing to be well researched and written with apparent emotion, halfway through I paused to wipe my eyes as I controlled the laughter that was welling up from my gut. It is amusing to watch a well-intentioned individual use data to support an argument while apparently having no understanding that the relatively new “Tea Party” has not been involved in this argument for the past 30 years as many actual homeschooling families have been.
A few points to help Cynthia Liu in her next blog.
1
“Those energetic folks with the misspelled signs and the teabag hats want to dismantle the federal Department of Education as part of their crusade against “big government.” Currently, the Department of Education administers grants to the states in accordance with federal education policy passed by Congress.”
The article quoted above has this statement contained within:
More important, Reagan understood the proper role of the federal government in education: “Education is the principal responsibility of local school systems, teachers, parents, citizen boards, and state governments.” Adhering to this principle, Reagan sought policies that “insure that local needs and preferences, rather than the wishes of Washington, determine the education of our children.”
At the time of this writing (May 2001) the Tea Party was not in existence. Verifying facts is very important when presenting information – it makes an article more reliable.
2
“Will these “small government” fetishists (spelling Ms. Liu) be able to succeed, now that the Tea Party and/or the Republicans have a majority in the House of Representatives?”
What an interesting choice of words. I wanted to begin with the “fetishists” issue as it is so tantalizingly taboo – however pointing out that the “Tea Party and/or the Republicans” is a weakly supported jab indicative of establishment bloggers came first to thought. Yes – many of the dissatisfied cast their vote for Republicans, however it was to create “Gridlock”. Gridlock is good. Without that struggle, more insipid and expensive “Bills” will become “Law”.
Let us continue with “fetishists”. Apparently Ms. Liu must not be aware of the current “Safe School Czar” (SSC) and his founding of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network). Some of the more “fetish” type items to be concerned with and enjoyed by our current young minds in K-12? A partial book list created by the SSC follows: (For actual excerpts from the follow books, please follow the above link as I choose to warn the reader of their inappropriateness to this blog which may be read by children)
Growing Up Gay/Growing Up Lesbian
Love & Sex: Ten Stories of Truth
While it might seem appropriate to allow a Federal Agency to be run by a “Czar” whom has determined that publicly schooled children should enjoy access to literature that might perhaps have one arrested if found on their hard drive, a bit of further investigation might be in order. We call that research.
3
“Now would be a good time for homeschoolers who do support public schools as a valuable common good to speak up. It’s absolutely possible for people who homeschool or send their children to private school to ALSO wholeheartedly support public education. Now would be a good time for liberals and progressives to renew the idea that public schooling is an investment we collectively make in the well-being and potential of all our children, necessary for good citizenship, and that there is always room for personal beliefs and individual values.”
I suppose providing a link to the above “Petition” at the end of the blog in some way supports this weakly written and researched piece. In fact the petition has this statement included:
The dismantling won’t be outright, but more like a death-by-a-thousand cuts. The radicals use “parents’ rights” and “deregulating homeschooling”–both outgrowths of the conservative homeschooling movement–to weaken our education system.
Interesting. Somehow those who are succeeding at Homeschooling should support the already Federally bloated education system through a petition to Congress.
What underlying fear one must live in to castigate those who have decided to live an alternate educational lifestyle. What terror is exposed as apparently the “little subset” of society determine that teaching a 5 or 6-year-old child of the joys of masturbation might be more appropriate at a different age. What sheer ostentation to determine that one enjoys the company of their child and delights in the process of the unfolding of the human mind through real world education vs the canned scripting offered at the public school venue.
Part of learning to live “free” is to understand that others have the right to make choices not necessarily agreed with by Government no matter what the size.
Otherwise one lives in fear of the “others” that cannot comprehend the “rightness” of marching into the future under the banner of conformity.
The PPJ Gazette 
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