Pulling out of Public School?
When is it time to pull the plug on public education? Or is the process of improving education, holding public servants accountable, and teaching kids to problem-solve all worthy enough goals to withstand the vices of standardized learning? 
The debate is a good one, with intelligent reasons on both sides. Florida mom and former teacher Lynne Rigby has written an expose on her blog, launching thousands of comments about the state of public education and the Common Core in the USA.
I welcome your perspectives, either pro or con. We can all learn from each other.
As far as my children’s education is concerned, I am not pro-public school, pro-Christian school, pro-private school, or pro-home school. I am pro-education that fits my children and inspires them to become the person God intended them to become. No parent should be criticized for wanting that or for doing anything to make it happen. Parents who take education that seriously are the ones raising the citizens we all want for our neighbors, employers, and congressmen. Creative, diligent, respectful, and worshipful individuals with good self-esteem and compassionate tolerance for others. These people are crafted with intentionality by active, involved adult role models. They are never created by an institution.
Click on the link and read the whole article.
The Conversation
One of my favorite (albeit a bit fiery) books on this subject is John Taylor Gatto’s Dumbing Us Down. I know there are awesome teachers out there, and I meet so many public ed teachers that are heartbroken about where education is going. In fact, I just had a conversation with a 9th/10th English teacher at an RVA public school the other day, and he echoed many of the same concerns the person who wrote this article does. On the flip side, I work with many “products” of public ed, the college students who come full of ambitions but who in so many cases, simply do not know how to think on their own. I’m sorry–that sounds so arrogant–but it’s painfully true. Students who spend a lot of time learning “material” for a test just don’t have the skills required for real critical thinking. I really don’t fault the educators, and I’m sure there are still plenty of good schools and programs out there. But having worked with college students for the last 13 years, I can tell you that the issue is getting worse, not better. And that is pretty darn discouraging as someone who values education not just for our country, but for my own kids.
One of my favorite (albeit a bit fiery) books on this subject is John Taylor Gatto’s . I know there are awesome teachers out there, and I meet so many public ed teachers that are heartbroken about where education is going. In fact, I just had a conversation with a 9th/10th English teacher at an RVA public school the other day, and he echoed many of the same concerns the person who wrote this article does. On the flip side, I work with many “products” of public ed, the college students who come full of ambitions but who in so many cases, simply do not know how to think on their own. I’m sorry–that sounds so arrogant–but it’s painfully true. Students who spend a lot of time learning “material” for a test just don’t have the skills required for real critical thinking. I really don’t fault the educators, and I’m sure there are still plenty of good schools and programs out there. But having worked with college students for the last 13 years, I can tell you that the issue is getting worse, not better. And that is pretty darn discouraging as someone who values education not just for our country, but for my own kids.