4 April 2008
The Rights of Parents
Posted by Joy Bischoff under: Constitution in Peril .
The Heritage Foundation is a wonderful organization that spreads Constitutional values and promotes Reagan conservatism. In light of the discussion on education we had on Wednesday, I decided to share their goals for where education should go in America.
People can point to some parents who fail to be a good guide for their children regarding education but we can also point to many failures in the public system. So where should we draw the line in the decision making process? I believe we should simply stick with the Constitution. Institutional thinking grows and takes a life of its own. Freedoms are encroached upon in an attempt to put a band aid on everything. Solving certain problems with federal over-regulation creates other and more dangerous problems.
One example was given by our reader, Bunny. Federal Standardized Testing has become a monster that is controlling the focus and outcome of education.
When our oldest child was ready for school, we became aware that he had a learning disability. He was unable to learn by the look-say method of reading that was being taught. Our son had to learn by phonetics. Even at that, it took a great deal of time and effort to help him get over his disability. After two years, he had completed that hurdle and was put in public school. Instead of being labeled as slow or unintelligent, labeled in a way that would have damaged him, he is now a student at BYU and the most well-read young person I have ever known. We were pressured very hard to put him in public school by the school system and some family and friends. To many people I seemed like a silly, unrealistic mother to believe my son was actually very intelligent and who was afraid to let go and stop babying him. His IQ is 163 and now everyone knows he is extremely intelligent. They did not know this when he was young. It took parents to understand his needs and him.
We have another son who had the same learning disability. Because I had returned to school, we put this son in public school. He was tested extensively and had a horrible experience that changed his personality. He almost quit speaking completely. The tests did not reveal the source of the learning disability. At the end of first grade, his teacher told me to home school him. I was ashamed of myself because I knew I should have done that from the beginning. He responded beautifully to three years of home schooling and is a very intelligent young man with incredible depth who would read constantly if we let him.
If the decision making power had been with the state, these two sons would have been wasted intellectually. Most parents make responsible decisions for their children and we must preserve those rights and not become a nanny state. This slippery slope would end in complete totalitarian control. In addition, religious parents can use prayer and eternal truths to enhance a well-rounded education.
Following are the goals of the Heritage Foundation:
Education
Return education control to states and localities, and let all parents choose their children’s schools.
Our strategy:
- Restore federalism and citizen ownership of public education by moving educational control out of Washington and into the hands of state and local authorities who are responsive to parents and other taxpayers.
- Enact and implement parental choice in education policies in the states and the District of Columbia.
- Persuade the public and policymakers that educational and cultural factors are critical to upward mobility.
- Integrate research on family, parental choice in education, federal education policy, and human capital formation to convince policymakers and the public that the perennial proposals for new federal education programs are not effective.
9 Comments so far...
Carrie Says:
4 April 2008 at 11:44 am.
I have some good friends that were home schooled and I was jealous because they always seem like they really love to learn. They get excited about everything thats going on. They are more religious than most of my other friends but not in a whacko way.
Nalvy Says:
4 April 2008 at 12:37 pm.
My aunt homeschools all six of her children and I have to say they are all smarter then half the kids their age. One of my brothers has an acute form of autism and the stresses he goes through in the public school system makes me afraid to have my kids in public schools. He faces prejudice everyday from not only his peers but also teachers who are unwilling to understand his special needs.
My mom would homeschool him but she has to work to help my stepdad support the family so my brother has no other option but to go to public school.
Education is supposed to help everyone better their knowledge and thinking capacity. Everyone learns differently and if one person would learn better in their home enviroinment then let them!
Nothing is wrong with teaching children to be strong wise people and if you throw in prayer and eternal truths to enhance the education than good for you!
jobob911 Says:
4 April 2008 at 12:38 pm.
I just started homeschooling and I noticed how much more I learn by reading and finding the information myself. At public school kids just do a quick assignment and a test and a lot of kids don’t learn that much because they don’t pay attention to the lesson or even try but you have to while your home schooled or you don’t pass.
E.E. Says:
4 April 2008 at 3:20 pm.
Personal stories like this are what most convince me that parents and not the federal government should have the ultimate say in what happens to their kids unless they do something illegal, and even that should be based on the constitution and not some of these new laws. Judges that rule according to personal opinion and not based on the constitution are wreaking havoc.
T. Fan Says:
4 April 2008 at 3:35 pm.
I agree with E.E. This is one of the most convincing stories I’ve heard that shows why parents need to keep their rights.
Benjamin Says:
4 April 2008 at 4:55 pm.
I have seen smart people ruined by teachers who thought they were stupid because of learning disabilities. I’m not trying to blame the teachers because when you have large class sizes it is easy to get overwhelmed. Thank goodness, Joy, that you realized what you needed to do for the sake of your kids.
Ghost Says:
4 April 2008 at 7:32 pm.
The Heritage Foundation is awesome. Glad for your kids especially the second boy. Sounds like it was really rough for him.
Bryon Says:
4 April 2008 at 9:35 pm.
I am the second child in the story. I am smart and I hate school for more than the usual reasons. I see the false information and emphasis on negative things in history. I also read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy in the fifth grade. The elementary school had a program called accelerated reading. They had twenty questions for a book you had to answer and you got points depending on the book. I was first in my grade for points. I’m not dumb I just learned to read different. A special thanks to my mom for doing that for me. I am a great learner.
Saddened Says:
4 April 2008 at 10:46 pm.
Bryon, it is obvious you like to learn and that you are smart. For someone so young to be interested in politics and current affairs like you are is so impressive. Keep it up. I’m glad your mom taught you. Lord of the Rings is great reading.
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