Some get it... Some don't

Posting today under the new rule of, "You found it, you post it" I bring you two stories from polar opposite sides of the planet, both in physical location and viewpoint.

Whaddaya want first? The good or the bad?

Ok, this story (along with this update) comes from WND and concerns a lady in Utah (well, most recent news is that she split and took her kids with her... we'll see if there are any legal ramifications for that) who was already into her 2007-08 schoolyear at home when the publik skulz told her she hadn't filed for her 06-07 permission slip to teach her own kids (She says she faxed it...). Story short, she's been mandated by the court to enroll her children in public school or face jail time. Yada yada yada. I'm sure you can read so I'm not going to lay it all out here.

Here's what got my goat.

"He said court records show the judge told the woman that she was in court with her son "because you homeschool," even though the case at hand had nothing to do with homeschooling.

"And the judge told the woman that homeschooling fails 100 percent of the time and he wasn't going to allow it."

Side note: Isn't this the "conservative state" looking to pick up another House Rep if DC gets their vote?

Here's the silver lining from the kiwis. At least somebody's getting it.

Ok... This isn't really a news story. It's really just a press release from the Home Education Foundation so it is a bit biased toward homeschooling, but I like to see how others express the same sentiment and it's refreshing to see it put this plainly. (That is... apart from the weird spellings and the silly syntax.) This first portion is credited to retiring principal of Renwick School in Marlborough, Ian Mackey.

"[The reason for the existence of schools]...was as a baby sitting service. The second was to socialise students into the dominant culture; the third was to provide a "meal ticket" in the form of a school leaving certificate such as School Certificate [diploma]; and the fourth reason was the promise of upward social mobility coupled with the reality of being confirmed in one's social class."

It all ends with this, "Kicking the public school habit is incredibly liberating and brings many benefits such as more cohesive and peaceful family dynamics and greater social and emotional maturity in the children."

I like it.