Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Homeschooling Threatened
[email protected]
Gosh, Tony!
As a homeschooler, feminist and Democrat I will pass along this bit of an
article that I found somewhat encouraging:
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ELECTION 2000
Candidates weigh in
on home schooling
DNC attacks Bush for being
'lenient' with home schoolers
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By Julie Foster
© 2000 WorldNetDaily.com
. . . . snipped for brevity . . .
Distancing his candidate from the DNC's incendiary rhetoric against home
schooling, Dagoberto Vega, spokesman for the Gore-Lieberman campaign said
yesterday that "Al Gore has always felt that parents are their children's
most important teachers. He also believes the federal government should not
impair a parent's decision to school their children at home. However, Gore
feels that the federal role in education should focus on ensuring that every
child in America's public schools is educated at the highest level."
The DNC statement, and that of Gore's spokesman come at a time when home
schoolers around the country are being faced with an increasing number of
truancy accusations, and parents find themselves becoming legal experts on
their right to educate children at home without government interference.
Vega stressed Gore's commitment to the government's school system.
"Managing a strong, successful public school system reflects upon our
commitment to all children," Vega said. "It is also a key factor in the
continued economic success of our nation. That's why Al Gore believes that we
have a responsibility to our future to continue improving America's public
schools."
Vega also noted that the vice president's position on home schooling "stays
the same" in the face of ideological opposition on the part, not only of the
Democratic National Committee, but especially the powerful National Education
Association.
I quoted this from:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_fosterj_news/20000912_xnfoj_candidates.sh
tml
In a less than perfect world, I am OK with Mr. Gore remaining focussed on the
"federal" role being to improve public school and not to "impair"
homeschoolers.
Nance
As a homeschooler, feminist and Democrat I will pass along this bit of an
article that I found somewhat encouraging:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
ELECTION 2000
Candidates weigh in
on home schooling
DNC attacks Bush for being
'lenient' with home schoolers
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
By Julie Foster
© 2000 WorldNetDaily.com
. . . . snipped for brevity . . .
Distancing his candidate from the DNC's incendiary rhetoric against home
schooling, Dagoberto Vega, spokesman for the Gore-Lieberman campaign said
yesterday that "Al Gore has always felt that parents are their children's
most important teachers. He also believes the federal government should not
impair a parent's decision to school their children at home. However, Gore
feels that the federal role in education should focus on ensuring that every
child in America's public schools is educated at the highest level."
The DNC statement, and that of Gore's spokesman come at a time when home
schoolers around the country are being faced with an increasing number of
truancy accusations, and parents find themselves becoming legal experts on
their right to educate children at home without government interference.
Vega stressed Gore's commitment to the government's school system.
"Managing a strong, successful public school system reflects upon our
commitment to all children," Vega said. "It is also a key factor in the
continued economic success of our nation. That's why Al Gore believes that we
have a responsibility to our future to continue improving America's public
schools."
Vega also noted that the vice president's position on home schooling "stays
the same" in the face of ideological opposition on the part, not only of the
Democratic National Committee, but especially the powerful National Education
Association.
I quoted this from:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_fosterj_news/20000912_xnfoj_candidates.sh
tml
In a less than perfect world, I am OK with Mr. Gore remaining focussed on the
"federal" role being to improve public school and not to "impair"
homeschoolers.
Nance
Bonnie Painter
Thank you Nance. I don't like being bullied into feeling my vote should go
somewhere, because my rights will be taken away otherwise. I wasn't sure
how to answer this in a calm and mature manner so I didn't.
I think that Al Gore will have bigger fish to fry then trying to shut down
homeschooling. With the success that homeschoolers have been having with
college entrance, etc., it wouldn't surprise me at all if he didn't
encourage it.
Thanks again Nance.
Bonnie - another feminist Democratic who doesn't like to be bullied
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somewhere, because my rights will be taken away otherwise. I wasn't sure
how to answer this in a calm and mature manner so I didn't.
I think that Al Gore will have bigger fish to fry then trying to shut down
homeschooling. With the success that homeschoolers have been having with
college entrance, etc., it wouldn't surprise me at all if he didn't
encourage it.
Thanks again Nance.
Bonnie - another feminist Democratic who doesn't like to be bullied
>_________________________________________________________________________
>In a less than perfect world, I am OK with Mr. Gore remaining focussed on
>the
>"federal" role being to improve public school and not to "impair"
>homeschoolers.
>
>
>Nance
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Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com
[email protected]
In a message dated 00-09-14 11:08:29 EDT, 6loves@... writes:
<< The Democratic Party has now aligned itself squarely against
homeschooling and parental rights. >>
That is not so. This sort of propaganda is an embarrassment to the
perpetrators, and should be an embarrassment to those who fall for it so
readily.
If a politician or his staff will stoop that low and bend the truth to that
degree about his opponents, what will make you have confidence that they're
telling the truth about their intent and their own plans?
"THE SKY IS FALLING!" is no way to make responsible decisions or to help our
children learn to think carefully and clearly.
Sandra
<< The Democratic Party has now aligned itself squarely against
homeschooling and parental rights. >>
That is not so. This sort of propaganda is an embarrassment to the
perpetrators, and should be an embarrassment to those who fall for it so
readily.
If a politician or his staff will stoop that low and bend the truth to that
degree about his opponents, what will make you have confidence that they're
telling the truth about their intent and their own plans?
"THE SKY IS FALLING!" is no way to make responsible decisions or to help our
children learn to think carefully and clearly.
Sandra
aworthen
----- Original Message -----
From: <SandraDodd@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2000 2:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Homeschooling Threatened
>
> In a message dated 00-09-14 11:08:29 EDT, 6loves@... writes:
>
> << The Democratic Party has now aligned itself squarely against
> homeschooling and parental rights. >>
>
> That is not so. This sort of propaganda is an embarrassment to the
> perpetrators, and should be an embarrassment to those who fall for it so
> readily.
>
> If a politician or his staff will stoop that low and bend the truth to
that
> degree about his opponents, what will make you have confidence that
they're
> telling the truth about their intent and their own plans?
The bottom line is that it is individual states that have the final say on
hsing laws, not the federal government. That is why each state has different
rules and regs.
Amy
Mom to Samantha, Dana, and Casey
The World Is Our Classroom
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/14/2000 2:47:43 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
bonniepainter@... writes:
to fry. Unfortunately, that is exactly the problem. No matter who is voted
in, he won't be the one making these decisions. The president simply does
not have that power...not the individual, at least. Have to look at the
bigger picture, which includes the political party and who the candidate
ultimately answers/responds to; that could be his wife, his religion, his
parents, his kids, someone he opposes, special interest groups, who hosts the
biggest/most fun party, his political party. Whatever.
Because he has bigger fish to fry, he won't have time to devote to this
particular issue one way or the other. That lack of time and attention will
have a bigger impact than any one man's personal opinion.
FWIW,
Eiraul
bonniepainter@... writes:
>go
> Thank you Nance. I don't like being bullied into feeling my vote should
> somewhere, because my rights will be taken away otherwise. I wasn't sureI agree Al Gore (or anyone else voted into presidency) will have bigger fish
> how to answer this in a calm and mature manner so I didn't.
>
> I think that Al Gore will have bigger fish to fry then trying to shut down
> homeschooling. With the success that homeschoolers have been having with
> college entrance, etc., it wouldn't surprise me at all if he didn't
> encourage it.
>
> Thanks again Nance.
>
to fry. Unfortunately, that is exactly the problem. No matter who is voted
in, he won't be the one making these decisions. The president simply does
not have that power...not the individual, at least. Have to look at the
bigger picture, which includes the political party and who the candidate
ultimately answers/responds to; that could be his wife, his religion, his
parents, his kids, someone he opposes, special interest groups, who hosts the
biggest/most fun party, his political party. Whatever.
Because he has bigger fish to fry, he won't have time to devote to this
particular issue one way or the other. That lack of time and attention will
have a bigger impact than any one man's personal opinion.
FWIW,
Eiraul
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/14/2000 4:55:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
aworthen@... writes:
much funding 'back' from the Feds that the Feds actually pull a lot of
strings. Just look at what happened with Goals 2000. Essentially, if the
school district wanted the $$$ they came up with a program that met the Feds
requirement. Viola! Schools across the land operating in the same cookie
cutter style. Very small step from there to greater and greater Fed
'influence' and eventual control.
My opinion, FWIW,
Eiraul
aworthen@... writes:
>different
> The bottom line is that it is individual states that have the final say on
> hsing laws, not the federal government. That is why each state has
> rules and regs.That's how it stands now...sort of. Problem is that the local schools get so
>
much funding 'back' from the Feds that the Feds actually pull a lot of
strings. Just look at what happened with Goals 2000. Essentially, if the
school district wanted the $$$ they came up with a program that met the Feds
requirement. Viola! Schools across the land operating in the same cookie
cutter style. Very small step from there to greater and greater Fed
'influence' and eventual control.
My opinion, FWIW,
Eiraul
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/14/00 9:46:59 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
marbleface@... writes:
<< In a less than perfect world, I am OK with Mr. Gore remaining focussed on
the
"federal" role being to improve public school and not to "impair"
homeschoolers.
Nance >>
Thanks for sharing this, Nance. When I first came to have any strong
beliefs about politics (after a few somewhat apathetic years as a struggling
young single mother), I felt much more alligned with Democratic thought on
most issues. However, as time went by, I found that there were a couple of
big issues that I didn't agree with them on, homeschooling being a major one.
I feel that unschooling is a reflection of my liberalism because I want my
kids to learn freely and not be brutalized by a regimented, often harsh style
of "educating."
One thing I hate about the way the two party system has become is that
there doesn't seem to be a point by point consideration of each issue by
average citizens or at least their views can't be accurately reflected
because we have to choose between two sweeping platforms. I have a friend
who is deeply bothered by legal abortion and so tends to vote for Republicans
yet she strongly believes in a higher minimum wage, unions, worker safety
laws, and other Democrat takes on things. Whether someone agrees with her
feelings on abortion or not, my point is that these issues should be
considered one by one.
I resent having to choose in this way. Just because a person believes
in children being able to learn at home (or whatever other issue), does not
mean she believes in no or low minimum wage laws, getting rid of safety
regulations for the meat or other industries, or not having basic health care
for all people, for example.
I am generally a supporter of unions because in certain situations, they
seem to be the only way a person can get a living wage and some job
protection. But the NEA angers me because I think they are dishonest in
their attack on homeschooling. Their primary motive seems to be job security
and not what is good for the homeschooled kids. I would feel much better
about them if they would stick to issues directly concerning their own pay
and working situation.
I think these are some reasons that people end up not voting. They get
disgusted with the process and feel that neither of the big two (and maybe
none of the smaller parties, either) really represent their views on the
issues important to them. I wonder if I will finally get to that point, too.
Lucy
marbleface@... writes:
<< In a less than perfect world, I am OK with Mr. Gore remaining focussed on
the
"federal" role being to improve public school and not to "impair"
homeschoolers.
Nance >>
Thanks for sharing this, Nance. When I first came to have any strong
beliefs about politics (after a few somewhat apathetic years as a struggling
young single mother), I felt much more alligned with Democratic thought on
most issues. However, as time went by, I found that there were a couple of
big issues that I didn't agree with them on, homeschooling being a major one.
I feel that unschooling is a reflection of my liberalism because I want my
kids to learn freely and not be brutalized by a regimented, often harsh style
of "educating."
One thing I hate about the way the two party system has become is that
there doesn't seem to be a point by point consideration of each issue by
average citizens or at least their views can't be accurately reflected
because we have to choose between two sweeping platforms. I have a friend
who is deeply bothered by legal abortion and so tends to vote for Republicans
yet she strongly believes in a higher minimum wage, unions, worker safety
laws, and other Democrat takes on things. Whether someone agrees with her
feelings on abortion or not, my point is that these issues should be
considered one by one.
I resent having to choose in this way. Just because a person believes
in children being able to learn at home (or whatever other issue), does not
mean she believes in no or low minimum wage laws, getting rid of safety
regulations for the meat or other industries, or not having basic health care
for all people, for example.
I am generally a supporter of unions because in certain situations, they
seem to be the only way a person can get a living wage and some job
protection. But the NEA angers me because I think they are dishonest in
their attack on homeschooling. Their primary motive seems to be job security
and not what is good for the homeschooled kids. I would feel much better
about them if they would stick to issues directly concerning their own pay
and working situation.
I think these are some reasons that people end up not voting. They get
disgusted with the process and feel that neither of the big two (and maybe
none of the smaller parties, either) really represent their views on the
issues important to them. I wonder if I will finally get to that point, too.
Lucy
[email protected]
In a message dated 09/15/2000 3:38:36 PM !!!First Boot!!!, LASaliger@...
writes:
<< I think these are some reasons that people end up not voting. They get
disgusted with the process and feel that neither of the big two (and maybe
none of the smaller parties, either) really represent their views on the
issues important to them. I wonder if I will finally get to that point, too.
Lucy >>
I hope not, Lucy. But I know exactly how you feel. I was almost there
myself. Coudn't bring myself to vote for Mr. Bush based on this single
issue. But I hadn't seen anything reassuring from Mr. Gore's camp on hsing
either. Until this article. Which is not as pro-hs as I would like but is a
long way from the NEA's position.
Take care.
Nance
writes:
<< I think these are some reasons that people end up not voting. They get
disgusted with the process and feel that neither of the big two (and maybe
none of the smaller parties, either) really represent their views on the
issues important to them. I wonder if I will finally get to that point, too.
Lucy >>
I hope not, Lucy. But I know exactly how you feel. I was almost there
myself. Coudn't bring myself to vote for Mr. Bush based on this single
issue. But I hadn't seen anything reassuring from Mr. Gore's camp on hsing
either. Until this article. Which is not as pro-hs as I would like but is a
long way from the NEA's position.
Take care.
Nance