I think you’ve expressed it quite well. Peer pressure is as strong at the adult level as the teen level (could it be that school fosters it in people and they never recover?). Parents need new ways to combat the pressure. When my boys were growing up, we always took this attitude toward people who were doing what we chose not to do (or see or whatever): I’m glad you guys are enjoying yourselves; we enjoy the things we do, too. Thanks but no thanks, in a nice way. It’s kind of like when I’m visiting with someone and they offer me soda or some other drink. I only drink water and I always say, “I really appreciate the offer but I really do love water.” Maybe that’s a simplistic example, but when you can reach the point of doing what you decide is right for yourself matter-of- factly, without big explanations or excuses, it just becomes a lifestyle that needs little in the way of defense. “I’m glad you’re so happy with your children’s school. We love our choice, too.” You’re not copping out — you’re setting a standard that’s appealing and invitational. Now, that’s in personal or one-on-one relationships. The facts still need to be articulated and argued, and there’s still the need to expose people to them. Those opportunities have to be looked for and acted on. But in social encounters, I usually opt for neutral on the other person’s choices but showing that I intend to stick to my own.

What think ye? Ramble on. :-)

Tammy

Thanks very much for your comments. Sadly, I think you’re right about an awful lot of mothers. I read the comments every August in our local paper. Then there are mothers like mine — she never heard of homeschooling, so she never got to do it, but she hated sending her 11 children to school and resented the school’s self-righteous superiority complex. Today, mothers like mine have more options. I wonder if there are many mothers on the edge — buying into the popular attitude of “so glad to get rid of the kids” but feeling uncomfortable with it and open to another way if exposed to it.

Again, thank you.

Tammy

Hear, hear. What becomes increasingly amazing to me as I read more and more biography is how much everyone still believes what public school advocates claim about schools when so many (soooo many) of the most brilliant people throughout American history believed state schooling (and often institutional schooling of any stripe) was a menace to the intellect at best and a danger to freedom at worst.

Please feel free to post the essay on Free Republic.

Thanks much.

Tammy

If children attend socialist-funded, godless,, government owned and run schools in buildings that resemble prisons and where First Amendment Rights are utterly crushed by the government, the following **WILL** happen:

**Children will learn to think and reason godlessly. At best they will learn to compartmentalize their faith. At worst, they will think their faith is shameful and must be hidden like a bathroom activity.

** Children *WILL* learn to be comfortable with socialism. If government can take money from a neighbor to pay for tuition-free schools, why not take money from a neighbor for a thousand other socialist wants and needs.

** Children *WILL* learn to be compliant prisoners of the state where their First Amendment Rights are abused.

** Children *WILL* learn to be comfortable with government owning and running many goods and services, and even their bodies and lives. Obamacare wasn’t an accident government schools made it inevitable.

( By the way, Tammy, may I post your essay on Free Republic? There are many people there who strongly support complete separation of school and state.)