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> "I didn't like it, it worked out badly for me, so it should be illegal for everyone"? That seems like a bit of an over-reaction. It actually didn't work out

> "I didn't like it, it worked out badly for me, so it should be illegal for everyone"? That seems like a bit of an over-reaction. It actually didn't work out that badly for me, I thought I made that clear. It worked out badly for most of the people I know, though. I think it should be illegal because it's broadly unhealthy for society. It's part of a broader belief that the way to fix a suboptimal public education system is to make sure all parents have big incentives to invest time and resources to improve it, rather than for the wealthy to flee and create a system that works only for themselves and leave the public system and the remaining people it serves to wither on the vine. > > There are always exceptions. > And yet you believe it should be illegal. It's going to be hard to make it illegal and still allow the exceptions, though. Yes, despite the fact that some kids (such as myself) did OK under homeschooling, it should still be illegal. I also knew a kid who learned to drive a stick at age ten with no license, and he didn't die. He was an exception. Still a bad idea that should not be legal.

AnimalMuppet 7y ago
> I think it should be illegal because it's broadly unhealthy for society. It's part of a broader belief that the way to fix a suboptimal public education system is to make sure all parents have big incentives to invest time and resources to improve it, rather than for the wealthy to flee and create a system that works only for themselves and leave the public system and the remaining people it serves to wither on the vine. By that logic, private schools should also be made illegal. And that should be a higher priority than homeschooling, because (I believe) more people send their kids to private schools than homeschool. (Also by the same logic, charter schools and magnet schools are suspect.) I mean, you are correct in saying that that may be the best chance for the public education system. However, I think that your proposed solution is not only misguided, but heavy-handed authoritarian to boot. Let's throw away parental authority over children, and give it to the state, so that the schools will be better? No thanks. I want the schools to be better, but not at your price.
- velcrovan 7y ago
  > By that logic, private schools should also be made illegal. I used to think this too, actually. But now I think that Finland’s approach satisfies the goal while being a bit less drastic. Private schools are still allowed, but are not allowed to charge tuition fees (they are funded by a state grant if approved), are not allowed to have a selective admission process, and must offer the same educational and social services as the municipal schools. It’s important to remember, the current system we have is heavy-handed and authoritarian too. It traps lots of people in an underfunded system and then tells them that system is hopeless and they are bad for using it. And parents do not “give up authority over their children” by sending them to public school. By fearing and vilifying any state action whatsoever, what you end up doing is vilifying, fearing (and eventually crippling) democracy. Instead of doing this, consider looking at measures that have been tried, proven to work, and have high satisfaction where they have been done, and join me in advocating an evidence-based approach to improving life for normal people!
  - AnimalMuppet 7y ago
    Parents do not give up control of their children by sending them to public school. (At least, not in the sense I meant. They do, voluntarily, give up some control, but that's not what I was talking about.) But parents being required to send their children to public school is a forced removal of control from parents. No, I will not join you in advocating that (not even if you include your restricted version of private schools). I trust the median parent to decide what's best for their children more than I trust the state.
    - velcrovan 7y ago
      How do you feel about truancy laws? Also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T2zUEiVQU4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T2zUEiVQU4
      - AnimalMuppet 7y ago
        Ambivalent. Also: I'm not going to watch a video to try to figure out what your point is. If you've got something to say, say it.

AnimalMuppet 7y ago

> I think it should be illegal because it's broadly unhealthy for society. It's part of a broader belief that the way to fix a suboptimal public education system is to make sure all parents have big incentives to invest time and resources to improve it, rather than for the wealthy to flee and create a system that works only for themselves and leave the public system and the remaining people it serves to wither on the vine. By that logic, private schools should also be made illegal. And that should be a higher priority than homeschooling, because (I believe) more people send their kids to private schools than homeschool. (Also by the same logic, charter schools and magnet schools are suspect.) I mean, you are correct in saying that that may be the best chance for the public education system. However, I think that your proposed solution is not only misguided, but heavy-handed authoritarian to boot. Let's throw away parental authority over children, and give it to the state, so that the schools will be better? No thanks. I want the schools to be better, but not at your price.

velcrovan 7y ago
> By that logic, private schools should also be made illegal. I used to think this too, actually. But now I think that Finland’s approach satisfies the goal while being a bit less drastic. Private schools are still allowed, but are not allowed to charge tuition fees (they are funded by a state grant if approved), are not allowed to have a selective admission process, and must offer the same educational and social services as the municipal schools. It’s important to remember, the current system we have is heavy-handed and authoritarian too. It traps lots of people in an underfunded system and then tells them that system is hopeless and they are bad for using it. And parents do not “give up authority over their children” by sending them to public school. By fearing and vilifying any state action whatsoever, what you end up doing is vilifying, fearing (and eventually crippling) democracy. Instead of doing this, consider looking at measures that have been tried, proven to work, and have high satisfaction where they have been done, and join me in advocating an evidence-based approach to improving life for normal people!
- AnimalMuppet 7y ago
  Parents do not give up control of their children by sending them to public school. (At least, not in the sense I meant. They do, voluntarily, give up some control, but that's not what I was talking about.) But parents being required to send their children to public school is a forced removal of control from parents. No, I will not join you in advocating that (not even if you include your restricted version of private schools). I trust the median parent to decide what's best for their children more than I trust the state.
  - velcrovan 7y ago
    How do you feel about truancy laws? Also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T2zUEiVQU4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T2zUEiVQU4
    - AnimalMuppet 7y ago
      Ambivalent. Also: I'm not going to watch a video to try to figure out what your point is. If you've got something to say, say it.