Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall

>For kids who are being abused, public school is their safe-line to
>civilization and the possibility of finding out that what's going on >at their house isn't okay, and that there might be assistance >available.
>Sandra

This is also true for children from homes and families where they are being neglected/ignored, and especially when compounded with extreme poverty. I have seen school be a lifeline for kids from this type of background.

But, such thinking can backfire. I grew up in an upper middle class alcoholic home, and was alternately abused and ignored. However, school was no refuge for me. I absolutely hated school, for various reasons, and it was many years of torture and trauma for me. I never did well there. I would have done much better left to my own devices, since most of what I learned, I taught myself. I did not have a refuge anywhere, except a few spots where I would go and hide by myself (like under the front porch) and there was no one that I could trust. My inner city school was a dangerous and unwelcoming place and there were no saviours within the staff.

Nanci K.

------------------------------------------------------------
Show off your pagan (and Idaho) pride, get Idaho Pagan Mail(tm) today!
Sign up at http://www.idahopagan.com/

Lynda

This is broad brushing and is not the norm, it is something that the NEA and
teachers' unions put out there as one more reason children shouldn't be
homeschooled.

Sure, for some children it may be a lifeline, but believe me, having worked
at many public schools, that simply isn't a function that schools fulfill to
any great degree! PS doesn't help/find/rescue anymore abused children than
any other method and, in fact, causes as many if not more traumas from daily
bullying by other students to sexual abuse by teachers.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----

> >For kids who are being abused, public school is their safe-line to
> >civilization and the possibility of finding out that what's going on >at
their house isn't okay, and that there might be assistance >available.
> >Sandra
>