It's been quite some time since I have done one of these but that don't mean I finally understand America nor Americans. I still have lots of questions, and here is one of 'em.
I know you do not like paying taxes. And I know you do not like to see poor people's kids go to good public schools because you just can't stand the thought of you paying for other people's children.
But, that aside, what I don't get is that because of this we see a lot of Americans, many of whom are not teachers themselves, give up their jobs and decide to teach their own kids at home. I had the pleasure of meeting one such person a few weeks ago. A nice guy. But nevertheless, this is crazy.
It is crazy because trying to home school when you are not a qualified teacher is like a DIY'er giving up his day job to do the work of an electrician or plumber full-time with no qualifications and with real world consequences not only for themselves but for their kids!
But it is most crazy because one of the things school teaches you, for better or worse, is how to deal and get along with people who don't love you. It teaches you social skills. The home-schooled kids in this country might make it out with a decent education if they are lucky. But they won't make it out with any coping skills.
It should, therefore, be Federally regulated that all kids go to school. Home schooling should only be considered for parents who are qualified teachers and even then social workers should make regular visits to the home to make sure everything is fine.
Kids need to be gently exposed to the fact that most people do not love you. They need to slowly experience the cold world outside of the family. For their own long-term survival. School does this. Home schooling does not.
And we all should pay more taxes for better public schooling for our poorer neighbors.
I know you do not like paying taxes. And I know you do not like to see poor people's kids go to good public schools because you just can't stand the thought of you paying for other people's children.
But, that aside, what I don't get is that because of this we see a lot of Americans, many of whom are not teachers themselves, give up their jobs and decide to teach their own kids at home. I had the pleasure of meeting one such person a few weeks ago. A nice guy. But nevertheless, this is crazy.
It is crazy because trying to home school when you are not a qualified teacher is like a DIY'er giving up his day job to do the work of an electrician or plumber full-time with no qualifications and with real world consequences not only for themselves but for their kids!
But it is most crazy because one of the things school teaches you, for better or worse, is how to deal and get along with people who don't love you. It teaches you social skills. The home-schooled kids in this country might make it out with a decent education if they are lucky. But they won't make it out with any coping skills.
It should, therefore, be Federally regulated that all kids go to school. Home schooling should only be considered for parents who are qualified teachers and even then social workers should make regular visits to the home to make sure everything is fine.
Kids need to be gently exposed to the fact that most people do not love you. They need to slowly experience the cold world outside of the family. For their own long-term survival. School does this. Home schooling does not.
And we all should pay more taxes for better public schooling for our poorer neighbors.
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