| The Biblical Examiner An Examination of Biblical Precepts Involved in Issues at Hand |
(Due to the length of this issue, I had to break it into three
parts, so I could post it with Page Mill. Page Mill does not like
long documents. This is Part III)
In This Issue,
Part I
It's a mad, mad, mad world.
Social Phobias, Killer Kids and Kid Killers
Mourning, a Biblical Perspective
Explanation (for those who have followed my wife's passing)
My Marriage
Edom in Bible Prophecy: Are the Arabs Edomites?
Part II
State Favors Result in State Control of the Church
Illegal Money & Rising Gas Prices
Personal -- Medical
Rape of a different kind
A short Bible Study - Zephaniah Three
Lighten up a little -- Notes from Frank, an Inexperienced Chili
Taster
Part III
HomeSchooler
Water or Coke
The 9 Assumptions of Modern Schooling
Homeschooler, Spring, 2001
From: "Christopher J. Klicka, Esq., Senior Counsel of
HSLDA", Date: Mon, Apr 2, 2001, 5:50 PMRE: Michigan--ACTION
ALERT: MANDATORY TESTING BILL
April 2, 2001
Dear Michigan Members and Friends,
On March 27, 2001, state Representative Michael Switalski and
eight other cosponsors introduced a bill that would burden home
school families with a heavy and unfair testing requirement. House
Bill 4521 would require each Michigan home school child to take
the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test for each
subject area in which MEAP is administered to public school students
in the child's grade level. Additionally, home school parents
would have to submit their child's completed test to the Department
of the Treasury.
This is similar to a measure proposed just a few weeks ago in
the Maine Senate. Maine home schoolers loudly objected to the
state's trying to force their children to take the public school
tests. By clearly conveying this opposition through an outpouring
of phone calls and packing out a legislative hearing room, home
schoolers got their message across to their legislators and the
bill was killed by a joint committee. (For more information on
the Maine battle, see http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=45).
Here in Michigan, now is our opportunity to head H.B. 4521 off
at the pass, before it comes up for a floor vote. Every phone
call is important in the effort to defeat this dangerous bill.
REQUESTED ACTION:
Please call as many H.B. 4521 sponsors (listed below) as possible
and give them this message:
"Please withdraw H.B. 4521, which imposes unnecessary testing
requirements on home school students. Home schooling works. This
bill limits parental rights and is a waste of taxpayers dollars."
These legislators need to know that home schoolers in Michigan
appreciate their freedom and do not want to be regulated. The
goal is to nip this legislation in the bud and to send a clear
message to prevent such onerous legislation from being introduced
again anytime soon.
SPONSORS OF H.B. 4521Rep. Michael Switalski, (517) 373-0854Rep.
Ruth Ann Jamnick, (517) 373-1771Rep. Andy Neumann, (517) 373-0833Rep.
Alexander Lipsey, (517) 373-1785Rep. Mark Schauer, (517) 373-0555Rep.
Julie Dennis, (517) 373-2646Rep. Jim Plakas, (517) 373-0849Rep.
Glenn Anderson, (517) 373-2576Rep. LaMar Lemmons, (517) 373-1983
If you would like to call your own representative, you can find
you're his or her phone number by using HSLDA's legislative toolbox
at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox.
BACKGROUND:
The main sponsor, Rep. Michael Switalski, has already indicated
that he is not interested in withdrawing the bill. He recently
wrote, "The bill was suggested by a constituent, and I agree
with its purpose. While there are many good home schoolers who
do their job conscientiously, there are a few who abuse the program
and use it for inappropriate purposes or to avoid scrutiny of
a dysfunctional domestic situation. Since oversight of home schooling
is not feasible, this testing would provide a measure of review
and evaluation."
It is important for home schoolers to inform the sponsors of this
bill of their opposition. Even though you may not be one of these
legislators' constituents, they need to know that this bill will
affect all home schoolers' rights.
Information Network of Christian Homes (INCH), along with many
other organizations, joins HSLDA in opposing this bill.
We base our opposition on the following reasons:
The MEAP test is a highly content-specific test, based on the
state's public school curriculum. It is not a nationally recognized
standardized achievement test. Public schools teach students to
the specific content that the test covers, but home school families
do not normally use the same curriculum as public schools. It
is unfair to test home school students on material they may not
have been taught.
No state in the country requires home school children to take
the state's assessment.
One of the reasons home schooling is so successful is that parents
have a choice to determine the educational program that is most
effective for their own children. If home schoolers are required
to take the state assessment, which is based on the curriculum
of the public school, there will be unfair pressure on parents
to give up the curriculum they believe is best for their child
and instead teach the public school curriculum. No one wants his
or her child to have the stigma of a low score on the MEAP.
It is financially irresponsible to require testing of home school
students when there is no evidence that home schoolers are failing.
In fact, the evidence is to the contrary. Scores of independent
studies conducted around the country and in Michigan prove that
home schoolers on the average score 20 to 30 points above the
national average on standardized achievement tests. (See http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=46.)
Let's send the message that home schoolers have earned the right
to be left alone. Please call the state representatives listed
above.
Thank you for standing with us for family and freedom.
Sincerely,Christopher J. KlickaHSLDA Senior Counsel
(Editor's Note. Representatives receive so many e mails they cannot
deal with them. An e mail only gets the delete button.)
Homeschooling Pressure O.K.
You began homeschooling with shaky knees, much prayer, and tentative
high hopes about being able to do more and go farther in the educational
and character development of your child than the current educational
alternatives.
The first thing you noticed was you actually enjoyed your children
when you planned time to focus on them. They are pretty neat little
people. In fact, you almost feel sorry for those who have not
yet discovered that full time Christ directed motherhood is THE
MOST REWARDING career you could possibly dedicate your life to.
Your children tell you you're the best teacher/Mommy in the world.
You glowl Your little one is actually beginning to sound out words.
Hey, this is really working! It all feels so right, so "in
the will of the Father." You are warm and fuzzy all over.
Then it happens.
They wake up grumpy. You wake up grumpy. Not one morning, but
all week long. They are falling behind on their work and YOU are
the one feeling all the pressure. They tell you ALL their friends
get to go to public school. They inform you that they have decided
they HATE school. They yell at one another and then in a moment
of unguarded frustration, they yell at you. You, in all your godly
self-control (not!) yell back. This is NOT how it was supposed
to be. You begin to wonder if a stranger would do a better job
teaching your child than you are. You wake up too tired for your
own quiet time and feel like there is no longer time for Bible
and devotion with your children when they are struggling to finish
all the other ''mandatory stuff".
You feel your focus slipping and your enthusiasm waning as you
have missed your spiritual nourishment recently. You don't understand
the math teacher's guide so how can you possibly explain it to
your child. You wonder what you were thinking when you thought
God wanted you to do this in the first place. You must have misunderstood!
You really would like some time to yourself without all the little
people in tow. You look in the mirror and realize you haven't
had your hair done, nails done, or even your makeup done the way
you used to in far too long. Your friends are all meeting for
lunch and shopping and you are on your fourth straight day of
Peanut butter, jelly and flash card drills. You pour your heart
out to your husband: your doubts, frustrations, concerns, guilt,
and trepidation only to have him look at you and say, "I
have noticed you have been looking kind of frazzled lately. By
the way, since you are home all day with all of this time on your
hands, couldn't you find time to run the vacuum a little more
often?" You decide that perhaps he is not going to be the
source of encouragement and strength you had hoped for. (My apologies
to all the "sensitive" husbands out there, This case
in point is a compilation of the experiences of many women, so
please, hear me out?) You are beginning to feel like a mix between
a martyr, a grump and a frumpy housewife, The Mom-child mix is
suddenly clashing rather than meshing.
This homeschool ship is sinking fast and you aren't even sure
if you want to bail the water and try to stay afloat. You are
now having warm, fuzzy childhood memories of your childhood school
experience. "It can't be all that bad," you tell yourself,
"I turned out all right." If you ever felt this way,
I applaud you for hanging in there (I assume you hung in there
since you are in this service!) If you have never felt this way
before, trust me, you will. It is only a matter of time. If you
are currently in the boat I referred to a moment ago and the water
is pouring in. grab your life jacket throw the oars overboard,
hoist the sail and read on.
I have been there, friend. I started home schooling for lots of
wonderful, lofty reasons. It did not take very long for my resolve
to begin to crumble. I looked around and began to notice all the
little leaks in my vessel and they seemed to be getting bigger.
At first, I desperately tried to plug all the leaks, but my effort
was useless.
Then came the day I threw my hands up, began to sob as I felt
the full weight of my failure, and confessed all my frustrations
to my God. "I am a failure. I cannot do it, Lord!" Then
my sweet, sweet Savior came to me and said, "You are right.
You cannot do it. Not in your own power I put you on this boat
not so that you could teach your children, but so I could teach
you. Your children will never grow in wisdom and knowledge until
you do. They will learn and blossom as they see you daily depend
on Me. You see, all wisdom, knowledge and virtue comes from Me,
not from a text book. And the only way you can possibly hope to
train your children is in the same manner I taught people when
I walked among them, by LIVING the example.
"My sweet child, I know that this is more than you bargained
for. You thought you would be able to find all the answers and
explanations in some text book or answer key. You thought your
children would be so impressed with (or at least appreciative
of, cooperative with) all that you planned and prepared for them.
The truth is they will only care when they see how very much you
care. Not by your elaborate lesson plans or in-depth knowledge
on every subject, but by your moment by moment dependence on Me.
If you try to convince your child that you have all the answers,
your dishonesty will be quickly discovered. So what is my plan
for your homeschool for the godly instruction of the precious
children I have entrusted to your care? It is that you be where
you are right now. Standing at the crossroads of failure and success,
realizing that you can do nothing. Because at this point, you
can now make the choice. will you choose to allow ME to teach
your child through you? Are you willing to admit you don't have
all the answers, apologize when you "blow it" and more
than anything else, point that child to where the answers can
be found - in Me? I have given you the best text book of all,
my LIVING WORD! And the whole world is the classroom I have prepared
for you and your child. You cannot teach your child, but I can
leach both of you. Not just the education that the world values
so highly, but also the priceless wisdom of my Father."
As I sat with tears streaming down my face, I realized for the
first time that we did not bring my children home to "school
them". Rather, my loving heavenly Father had brought our
whole family together so that He could teach us all. And on that
day, I threw my oars overboard (for they were what I kept using
to try to turn the boat on my own power). And I hoisted the sail
and sat back and allowed God to turn the boat in the direction
He would send it. And from that day forward, I have seen a new
attitude in all of us. And whenever things seem to be getting
rough on our little boat, I check myself first. It is often because
I am trying to "tell the children" rather than "asking
my Father". From time to time my children try to rock the
boat, but if I am relying on Him, I can redirect and correct with
quiet confidence rather than near hysterical frustration. And
my children respect and respond to godly correction. They are
certainly able to discern when I am correcting and training from
His word rather than my own frustration.
How about you, my friend? Are you feeling frazzled, burned out,
stressed, or ineffective? If you are, consider making tomorrow
a teacher's work day (they have those in every school) and give
yourself a time of prayerful renewal and direction. When we seek
Him first, He has promised to add the rest. If you are not currently
struggling, PRAISE GODI You may want to save this message for
the day you need it or pass it along to a friend who needs a verbal
hug.
However we choose to educate our children, we must always be mindful
that we as parents are the ones who will stand accountable before
the Lord for what they were taught, and what they weren't. May
that day find us faithful.
Because He first loved me,
Patti Love Johnson copyright 10-98
News Notes
Editors note: Though it is too late to take action on some of
the following, I left it in, so you can know what is going on.
Also note that representatives get so many e mails that all they
can do is hit delete.
1.WASHINGTON UPDATE
2.FETAL STEM CELL RESEARCH TURNS UGLY
3.TVC CALLS UPON SENATE TO REJECT CELLUCCI NOMINATION
4.REV. SHELDON EDITORIALS NOW ON CONSERVATIVE NEWS SERVICE
5.TEXAS SEMINARY ORDERED TO PAY FINE FOR ISSUING DEGREES
**********************
1.WASHINGTON UPDATE PROTECT UNBORN VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES
After being defeated in Congress in 2000 under President Clinton's
Administration, Representative Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has once
again reintroduced the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act"(H.R.
503), with the optimistic approach of seeing it passed under the
Bush Administration. If passed, not only will this legislation
prosecute criminals for a defined violent crime against a pregnant
woman, but it will also serve criminals with an additional charge
against the woman's unborn child as well. "I've tried to
strike a delicate balance between protecting the unborn while
not wandering into the divisive, highly charged, emotional battleground
of abortion," said Graham. "My interests lie in protecting
women and their unborn children, not sparking a political fight."
***TAKE ACTION***
Please call your U.S. Representative and urge them to support
the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 503). The U.S. Capitol
Switchboard can be reached at (202) 224-3121.
****** EDUCATION TAX CREDIT EMPOWERS PARENTS AND FAMILY
On January 31, 2001, U.S. House Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA)
introduced the "Education Empowerment Tax Credit Act of 2001,"
(H.R. 257). This bill gives a $1,000 per-student tax credit that
would help parents provide for educational expenses such as books,
computers, educational software, tutors, as well as private, religious,
or home schooling fees and tuition. This bill amends the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against the income tax
for educational expenses incurred by parents whose child attend
K-12 public, private or home schools. "All parents should
be empowered with the decision making of how to best help their
children succeed in the classroom, parents know best the individual
education needs of their children. Accordingly we must provide
them with resources necessary to meet those needs, and thus ensure
a quality education for America's children." said Representative
Cantor.
***TAKE ACTION***
Please Call your U.S. Representative and urge them to co-sponsor
and support the Education Empowerment Tax Credit of 2001, (H.R.
257). All Representatives can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard
at 202-224-3121.
**** PEACE FOR SUDAN
On March 7th, Representative Tom Tancredo (R-CO) reintroduced
the Sudan Peace Act (H.R. 931), a bill which passed in the House
last year but failed to pass in the Senate. For seventeen years,
the northern totalitarian regime of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan,
has committed atrocities against the Christian and animist populations
in the south, including taking them into slavery. "With over
two million dead and millions more homeless, starving and enslaved,
America must not continue to turn a blind eye to the atrocities
in Sudan," said Tancredo. The Khartoum's regime is largely
financed over oil revenues from fields in the southern region
of the country. "Inaction in Sudan is more than an affront
to protecting human rights, it is an assault on humanity,"
Tancredo said. The Sudan Peace Act would express Congressional
support for an internationally sanctioned peace process and authorize
the Secretary of State to support it with resources and diplomatic
efforts. It also requires the President to report on the Sudan's
sources and oil revenues, what portion of those revenues were
secured in the U.S., the extent of aerial bombing of civilians,
and the obstruction of humanitarian efforts by the northern government.
***TAKE ACTION***
Please Call your U.S. Representative and urge them to support
the Sudan Peace Act, (H.R. 931) and stop the genocide in Sudan.
All Representatives can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard
at 202-224-3121.
**** RESOLUTION TO STOP CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
On February 14, 2001 Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-AK) introduced
a bipartisan resolution (S. Res. 22) calling for the United States
to advance a United Nations resolution to end abuses of human
rights by the Chinese government. The United Nations Human Rights
Commission is the only international body responsible for monitoring
and reporting on the human rights conditions of all countries.
This oppression by the People's Republic of China includes destroying
places of worship and incarcerating people of minority religions,
pro-democracy advocates, ethnic minorities, and any other person
exercising freedom of expression.
***TAKE ACTION***
Please Call your 2 U. S. Senators and urge them to support S.
Res. 22 to end abuses by the Chinese Government. All Senators
can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
2. FETAL STEM CELL RESEARCH TURNS UGLY
Pro-abortionists have been dealt a set back in their effort to
promote the use of aborted babies in fetal tissue transplants
for Parkinson's victims. Fetal stem cell implants have resulted
in serious side effects for Parkinson's patients. The results
of a study of these side effects has just been published in the
New England Journal of Medicine (JAMA). According to JAMA's study,
15% of patients who had the fetal stem cells of aborted babies
injected in their brains had so much cell growth that the patients
writhed and jerked uncontrollably. Researchers say there is no
way to remove or deactivate the transplanted cells. Six of the
patients who had originally enrolled in the study, but had not
been injected with stem cells, decided to drop out of the project.
According to Dr. Paul E. Green, a neurologist at Columbia University's
College of Physicians and Surgeons and a researcher in the study,
said that the results were devastating to the patients. "They
chew constantly, their fingers go up and down, their wrists flex
and distend." Says Green, "It was tragic, catastrophic.
It's a real nightmare. And we can't selectively turn it off."
One man was so damaged by the fetal stem cell implants that he
could no longer eat, but had to be fed through a feeding tube."
Dr. Green is now against fetal tissue transplants. "No more
fetal transplants," said Green. "We are absolutely and
adamantly convinced that this should be considered for research
only. And whether it should be research in people is an open question."
For an in-depth commentary on stem cell research, go to The Center
for Bioethics and Human Dignity web site: www.stemcellresearch.org/statement/html
and read "On Human Embryos and Stem Cell Research: An Appeal
for Legally and Ethically Responsible Science and Public Policy."
The Center is a pro-life, pro-family think tank that deals with
bioethics concerns from a conservative and/or Christian perspective.
****TAKE ACTION****
March 15 is the deadline for grant applications for human embryo
research to the National Institutes of Health. Please call Secretary
of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson and President Bush
and urge them to reject federal funding for stem cell research
in which human embryos are destroyed. Secretary Tommy Thompson
Fax: 202-690-7203
National Institutes of Health Phone: 301-469-5787
President George W. Bush Comment line: 202-456-1111
3. TVC CALLS UPON SENATE TO REJECT CELLUCCI NOMINATION
Traditional Values Coalition issued a press release today calling
upon concerned Americans to protest the nomination of Massachusetts
Governor Paul Cellucci to be our nation's next Ambassador to Canada.
TVC is deeply concerned over Cellucci's long-time support for
homosexual recruitment rograms in that state's public schools.
Cellucci has funded a gay and Lsbian commission that promotes
so-called "safe school" programs-which are designed
to normalize homosexuality among teenagers. The Governor has allied
himself with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
to promote homosexuality through Gay-Straight Alliance Clubs on
campuses. According to TVC Chairman Rev. Lou Sheldon, "We're
urging parents and concerned citizens to bombard the President
and Senate with phone calls, e-mails, and letters against Cellucci."
The White House comment line is: 202-456-6213
The Senate switchboard number is 202-224-312. Ask for your Senator's phone number.
4.REV. SHELDON EDITORIALS NOW ON CONSERVATIVE NEWS SERVICE
Starting this week, the Conservative News Service, a division
of the Media Research Center in Washington, DC, will be carrying
Rev. Sheldon's weekly commentaries. This week, Rev. Sheldon discussed
the Paul Cellucci nomination and the coming Transgender Revolution
to normalize cross-dressing, transvestism, and transsexualism
as the next protected minority group. To read these commentaries
go to: www.cnsnews.com.
5 TEXAS SEMINARY ORDERED TO PAY FINE FOR ISSUING DEGREE
WorldNetDaily reported on March 7 that a Texas district court
has ordered the Tyndale Theological Seminary to pay fines totalling
$170,000 for issuing 34 theological degrees without receiving
approval from the state education agency. Kelly Shackleford, chief
counsel with the Liberty Legal Institute, represented Tyndale
and believes this case is an outrage and promised to appeal the
decision. Under the 1975 Texas Education Code, only accredited
institutions can award bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
Tyndale is not accredited by the state. Shackelford says Texas
is violating the First Amendment rights of Tyndale by telling
the school what is permissible to teach in religion. "If
government is in control of that, they are controlling religion.
It's a frightening proposition that the state, the government,
now has control of our seminaries." For more details on this
case, go to the Liberty Legal Institute's web site: www.freemarket.org/liberty_legal.htm.
Your Body the Temple of the Lord:
Did you know that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated
and this likely applies to over half of the world's population.
In 37% of Americans the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is
often mistaken for hunger. Even mild dehydration will slow down
one's metabolism as much as 3%.
One glass of water taken at midnight stops hunger pangs for almost
100% of the dieters that were studied in a University of Washington
study. Lack of water though is the number one trigger of daytime
fatigue.
Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day
could significantly ease back and joint pains for up to 80% of
those suffering.
A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory
loss, trouble with basic math and difficulty focusing on the computer
screen or on a printed page that you are reading.
If you drink five glasses of water daily you will decrease the
risk of colon cancer by as much as 45% plus it can slash the risk
of breast cancer by 79%. Also with five glasses of water one is
50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
ARE YOU DRINKING THE AMOUNT OF WATER you should every day???
On the other hand.
Coke-In many states in the United States the highway patrol carries
two gallons of coke in the trunk of their cars to remove blood
from the highway after a car accident.
You can put a T-Bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone
in two days.
To clean your toilet pour a can of coca-cola into the toilet and
…let the real thing sit for one hour. Then flush. The citric
acid in coke removes stains from vitreous china.
To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers, rub the bumper with
a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap Aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.
To clean corrosion from car battery terminals pour a can of Coca-Cola
over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
To loosen a rusted bolt apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the
rusted bold for several minutes.
To bake a moist ham empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan
and wrap the ham in aluminum foil and bake. Thirty minutes before
the ham is finished remove the foil and allow the drippings to
mix with the coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.
To remove grease from clothes empty a can of coke into a load
of greasy clothes and add detergent and run through a regular
cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also
clean the haze from your windshield.
For your information:
The active ingredient in coke is phosphoric acid. Its PH is 2.8.
It will dissolve a nail in about four days.
To carry Coca-Cola syrup the concentrate the commercial truck
must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for highly
corrosive materials.
The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines
of their trucks for about twenty years.
NOW THE QUESTION IS???
Would you like a glass of water or coke?
Read This!
A letter from one of Dr. Cates's graduates and his mother
March 20,2000
Dear Dr. Cates:
I have enclosed James' graduation announcement (We are unable
to attend the graduation in Pigeon Forge). James borrowed a cap
& gown from Kathy Hayes. For one of the many scholarships
that James applied for, he had to write n essay on an educator
or a person who has influenced his life the most. I sat down with
James for the first time and explained to him what life was like
for us and him, before and after his first testing with you when
he was four years old.
This letter [following] is a copy of what James wrote
There are many people that have greatly influenced my education
and my goals: teachers, tutors, friends and especially my parents.
Therefore to choose from among them would be an almost impossible
task. Fortunately, there is a person that was behind my entire
educational development and trained many of the people who taught
me.
I suffered from a severe speech impediment as a child, to make
myself understood I had to play a complex game of charades. This
was very frustrating for me, because not only did I not comprehend
why people could not understand me (which frustrated me even more),
but was also laughed at (which made me angry). Many people thought
I was either retarded or extremely stupid, others said I would
just grow out of it."
When I turned five years old, there was no improvement in my speech.
If enrolled in public school I would have been considered a special
education student. But my parents did not feel that the public
school system had the resources to properly instruct me. My parents
decided that I needed a one-on-one education, so they decided
to home-school me. They were told about Dr. Paul Gates, he helps
children ranging from the mentally retarded to the mentally gifted,
with excellent results. My parents took me in for diagnostic testing,
which Dr. Gates used to both diagnose my impediments and to develop
a curriculum that was suited to my special needs. After the testing
he told my parents that I had dyslexia, acute articulation disorder,
and severe hyperactivity, but he advised them not to label me
thus. Instead I should be encouraged to do my best and never be
compared to others, nor should my problems be used as an excuse
for poor performance. He showed them how to teach me and reap
the most benefits. His enthusiasm and wisdom greatly encouraged
my parents and I. Without his continued support and knowledge
I would not have been able to succeed in academics or even been
able to accomplish many of the goals I have set for myself. I
owe my entire education to his work and would have never been
able to go to college without his help.
Thank you for your time.
by John Taylor Gatto
As Stephen Arons, the legal scholar from the University of Massachusetts,
told an audience at the Hawthorne Valley School a while back:
"Centralized control of government schools creates the appearance
of a Unity which is refuted by the growing mass of families who
have removed their children from public or private schooling and
have begun to educate them at home. Requests for home schooling
thus heighten public confusion about which beliefs are really
valid expressions of community sentiment. The ideology of public
schools is put into sharp relief by home schooling conflicts."
At least 9 major assumptions describe the perimeter of the public
schooling ideology. Together they warrant a general distrust of
parents and they arise from a view that there is one system of
values that is best for everyone. The State will prescribe this
value code for all. Taken together the assumptions form a kind
of civil gospel in which significant dissent is pronounced unacceptable
to the State, the political system and the national culture as
it is presented by the State.
The Nine Assumptions of Modern Schooling
1. Government school is the essential force for social cohesion.
It cannot happen any other way. A bureaucratized public order
is our defense against chaos and anarchy.
2. The socialization of children in groups monitored by state
agents is essential; without this, children cannot learn to get
along with others in a pluralistic society.
3. Children from different backgrounds and from families with
different beliefs must be mixed together. Robert Frost was wrong
when he maintained "good fences make good neighbors."
4. The certifiable expertise of official schoolteachers is superior
to that of lay people including parents. The protection of children
from the uncertified is a compelling public concern.
5. Coercion in the name of liberty is a valid use of state power.
Compelling children to assemble in mandated groups for mandated
intervals with mandated texts and overseers does not interfere
with academic learning.
6. Children will inevitably grow apart from their parents in beliefs
as they grow older and this process must be supported and encouraged.
The best way to do this is by diluting parental influence and
discouraging the children's attitudes that their own parents are
sovereign in either mind or morality.
7. The world is full of crazy parents who will ruin their children.
An overriding concern of schooling is to protect children from
bad parenting.
8. It is not appropriate for any family to unduly concern itself
with the education of its own children, but it may expend unlimited
effort on behalf of the general education of everyone.
9. The State has the predominant responsibility for training,
morals, and beliefs. Children schooled outside government scrutiny
frequently become anti-social and poverty stricken.
John Taylor Gatto, 1991 New York State Teacher of the Year, was
the keynote speaker for SepCon 95, the first annual conference
of the Separation Alliance. This essay is reprinted from his book
of essays Notes on Education, Schooling and Curriculum.
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