Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Every once in a while those liberals let out their true colors, which are decidedly NOT the rainbow shades of tolerance and diversity but the rigid black-and-whites of conformity.
Be prepared:
1. It begins as an opinion piece about Rick Santorum from the New York Times.
2. It quickly veers to the subject of homeschooling.
3. It trots out every ill-informed prejudice known to man.
4. It's by everyone's favorite education scholar and political scientist Dick Cavett.
5. It's dripping with bile and sarcasm yet naturally gets a hearty 'huzzah' from the Times's comment corps.
Teaching is an art and a profession requiring years of training. Where did the idea come from that anybody can do it? How many parents can intuit how to do it? (Pardon unconscious rhyme there.) My parents were teachers and the thought of home-schooling sent them rolling before they were in their graves. Especially when parents, complaining of their kids’ schooling, wrote in report card responses things like “I am loathe to critacize…”; “my childs consantration”; “normalicy”; “my daughter’s abillaties”; “her examatian grades”; “she should of done better”; “greater supervizion,” etc., into the night.
To deny kids the adventure and socialization of going to school, thereby missing out on the activities, gossip, projects, dances, teams, friendships and social skills developed — to deny kids this is shortsighted and cruel. I think of the mournful home-school kid watching his friends board the school bus, laughing, gossiping and enjoying all that vital socialization we call schooldays.
I guess only certain alternative lifestyles meet the approval of the liberal intelligentsia.
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Nov '11
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Say, anyone know where I can find a cost-benefit analysis comparing home-schooling to public schooling? The powerful arguments advanced by Dick Cavett have me intrigued about this question. I mean, the insight to ask such a question as
has me in absolute awe. Surely, there must be studies documenting a causal link between racism and parental decision to home-school, and Dick Cavett has just neglected to inform us where these studies are. Then there are these masterful sentences:
The man is really onto something here! Fear and denial of reality as the primary motivating factor for home-schooling? Surely this must be true, and there must be studies irrefutably proving that all home-schoolers are Republicans.
Dec '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
About once a month the Mark Simone radio show here inflicts us listeners with the arrogant, pompous Dick Cavett. He seems to be as impressed with his own pronouncements as Obama is with his own. Doesn't he know NO ONE cares about him anymore except his New York ultra liberal brethren? Gheesh. Can't stand the guy.
Jul '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Lets see, they want to abort their children, yet demand to teach Ours.
Bumper sticker: "No aborted Child ever attended public school."
Edited on February 26, 2012 at 1:34amDec '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
I read Cavett's whole piece, what a windbag. He slams Santorum for not "looking presidential" and spends several paragraphs mocking his sex life with his wife, besides knocking the home-schooling decision. Most of his commenters did similarly. Is Ad Hominem all the left knows how to do?
The point, it seems to me, isn't really even about home schooling. It's about liberal tolerance (lack of) to others' opinions on these subjects. They always crow about tolerance, yet they display zero.
Feb '12
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Conservative Episcopalian: Amen to every word! Thank you.
May '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
dick cavett is the epitome of liberal conservatism. he still believes everything he learned as a sophomore in college.
Aug '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Here's a question. Do students do better or worse in public schools when their "non-teacher" parents care about the quality of their education?
Even good teachers fail when parents don't support the enterprise.
I can imagine that many parents have the knack for teaching, if they also happen to care about the enterprise it seems a nice combination of the conditions necessary for a good education.
Granted some homeschooling parents likely lack one of these traits, but there are many who do have both. Otherwise, how would one explain the success of home schooled students in various academic competitions?
Homeschooling is a viable choice, but it is no guarantee of a good education. Neither is attending a public school.
Sep '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Total claptrap. It is remarkable society existed before the creation of the education degree. My grandmother, born in 1914, received a high school education in Waco, Texas that included Latin. Her teacher also, had no more than a high school education. No "educational training", no certification, no credential.
As for home schooling, I can think of some 2 dozen kids that have been recently all home schooled. They are all better educated, "socialized" with their peers and demonstrate a much better ability to interact with older generations.
Jul '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Hysterical. That cracked Me up.
Dec '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Nice comb over. Dick!
Dec '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
ad hominem enough? Not sure who appointed Labeit as argument/logic police. I think we can all see the validity and veracity of someone's argument and judge for ourselves. This post is about Cavett's condescension and liberal's intolerance. I would resent a fellow member critiquing my argument technically. Call me thin skinned but a little "if you have nothing nice to say...."goes a long way in this format.
Aug '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Dick who?
Aug '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
I'll bet the great majority of parents who homeschool their children would happily send them to public school if it didn't actively try to subvert their culture and poison their minds. So the question of whether it takes years of training to do that is entirely irrelevant.
Feb '12
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
That's true of many, but there are very many as well who would never send their children away from the family to be handled all day by institutions. There's something questionable about the very policy -such as separating members of the family for most of the day; removing children from the daily work of making a living and managing a household; making children passive receptors rather than active inquirers; and losing so much time because of group instruction.
Dec '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Michael Labeit
Mothership_Greg
Michael Labeit
What is my conclusion? I thought my conclusion was "public education isn't necessarily nearly as awesome as Dick Cavett thinks it is, and people who home-school their children deserve better than mockery."
This conclusion is similarly lacking I think. Public education isn't nearly as awesome? Why? Because your child might be spoon-fed excretory fluids if he or she goes to public school?
Not every argument must be formal, but every argument should be valid, however informal its presentation is. Most arguments are made informally, thus identifying their invalidity is more difficult. Formalizing such arguments enables one to demonstrate why they are invalid, underhanded, inaccurate, etc. I don't ask for syllogisms. I will use them however if a particular argument, however informal or implicit, is erroneous. Truth is the objective here, yes? · 5 hours ago
Michael, M_G is not maligning public education. He's maligning Cavett's rather brainless criticism of home schooling.
There is certainly enough empirical data on public education without having to dig up any more to demonstrate that it's no unmixed blessing.
No overwhelming evidence condemning public schooling is required, or even desirable.
Edited on February 26, 2012 at 5:24amJul '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Ursula
"Teaching is an art and a profession requiring years of training."
And his thoughts go downhill from there. What a terrible parent you are. You have no training, and are denying your daughter the adventure and socialization of going to school, thereby having her miss out on the activities, gossip, projects, dances, teams, friendships and social skills development. You are shortsighted and cruel.
Seriously, I trust all is going well with your home schooling. No doubt it isn't easy, but I sincerely hope it is rewarding. Kudos to you.
Feb '11
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
I had an experience this morning, that I seriously doubt that Ursula has been confronted with yet. My first grader, who attends the city school up the road, informed me that one of her classmates is proclaiming that according to her mother, " boys can marry boys and girls can marry girls."Seriously now Ursula, how dare you deny your daughter these meaningful social experiences!;-). More power to you Ursula. Please keep us informed of your journey, it might change a life or two.
May '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Two things.
1) Home-schooling parents are self-selected. They generally would not try that if they were not capable of doing so. The results tend to reinforce that.
2) I am not a Santorum guy. But I'd happily send my kids to the Santorum home school, where the teachers have a nursing degree and two law degrees.
Feb '12
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
The vast majority of Americans attend government schools K-12.
But after 13 years of such instruction, liberals tell us that the graduates are not qualified to teach their own children, not even in the early years.
What does that say about the quality of the education administered by the so-called experts?
Sep '10
Re: Those Open-minded Liberals Skewer a Lifestyle Choice. Again.
Ursula: I'm mildly resentful that you convinced me to click over and read that drivel. It's a horrible mash of non-sequitors, unsubstantiated assertions, ad hominems, and snotty self-regard.
On the other hand, you did warn us, so I guess it's on me.
Liberal thinking is perfectly reflected in the arguments that my 3 year old gives me: "I want it!"; "Yucky!"; "I can't do it by myself!"