rickyp wrote:I think you've provided an answer to my question Fate...
And here's what your "Harvard Grad" should know..

I'm sure his PhD will be impressed.

So the guy does believe in 'microevolution' though? Is he able to define the difference between that and 'macroevolution'? Because I've not seen one that makes sense...

Anyway, I think we realise that there are some parents who homeschool to avoid teaching that they disagree with, rather than to avoid the rampant sex and drug parties that are held during third period.

Our house had a Cosmos viewing party last night. We even let our 10 year old stay up and view that. We open our children up to alternative viewpoints, and use the venue to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Is that closed off?

Danivon, I think there might be SOME middle ground between your caricature of my position and my caricature of your position. There are difficulties in every public, private and home school. We just choose what difficulties are the best fit for our values.

There are not sex and drug parties during 3rd period and more than all public schools are w/o incident. Hell, even kindergartners can die from guns in school.

bbauska wrote:Our house had a Cosmos viewing party last night. We even let our 10 year old stay up and view that. We open our children up to alternative viewpoints, and use the venue to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Is that closed off?

Not sure. Neil DeGrasse Tyson is hard to disagree with. I am not saying that your way is awful. I was reacting to your own words - or those of Mrs bbauska - in suggesting that you were happy to avoid the 'formative experiences of ... contrary values'.

Danivon, I think there might be SOME middle ground between your caricature of my position and my caricature of your position. There are difficulties in every public, private and home school. We just choose what difficulties are the best fit for our values.

Yes, of course there are issues in real life schools - they are real and human and so imperfect (just like families!). My point is not that we should ban homeschooling, it's that we need to be careful about it, and the motives behind it.

Not all parents are actually doing what's best for their kids, even if they honestly believe that they are. When they end up damaging their kids as a result, who picks up the pieces?

Hell, even kindergartners can die from guns in school.

Well, brought in by determined killers, yes. Not sure that is a statement on schools themselves, as much as it is on the ability for homicidal maniacs to get hold of weapons.

danivon wrote:Well, brought in by determined killers, yes. Not sure that is a statement on schools themselves, as much as it is on the ability for homicidal maniacs to get hold of weapons.

Yes, even in a State with formidable gun restrictions.

However, since repealing the Second Amendment is not imminent, maybe we should do away with public schools? That would end the mass shootings at schools.

On the other (more rational) hand, maybe it's not schools or guns, but those "homicidal maniacs?"

My point was that it's not the schools. We've discussed gun control elsewhere, and it's not really the point here.