[MacDuff]

I was brought up mostly in a Catholic school. Back in the 50’s. Taught me what it was supposed to teach me. For a kid that age. From what I understand, it was far superior to the public school at the time. I was also taught by my parents. There was no division between school (public or private) and home as there is today. We all knew each other.

Then I went into the Armed Services, and after that to college. What I learned as a child prepared me somewhat for the experience of both, but certainly not entirely. My education continues to the present day. I wasn’t quite prepared, even though I’ve been on other forums, for the experience of and what I’ve learned from this forum.

I see that the public schools here in this big city are trying to force modern parents into that situation that existed when I was a kid, to the point of overreaction as per usual. Even giving the parents homework to do. Among my younger married friends with children, they tend to ignore the overreaction. And for the die hards in the public school system who try to use banishment of the children from school to force the parents to their way of thinking, here it’s possible to just change public schools and there’s a slew of private schools becoming ever more popular, as well as home schooling for those who would rather.

I understand there’s a lawsuit underway by someone who kept records. Looks like the public school system is going to lose more money to a lawsuit. And the public school system will have to charge the poor parents who are poor even more money just to keep up. And don’t even get me started on the cost of college these days. America is well on the way to returning to illiteracy and ignorance. Which is probably what the powers that be want. The ignorant are easier to steer.

You might also consider that at a certain age, children rebel. Usually around high school and into college. They continue to question everything, including all they have previously been taught. And they try things, sometimes things they shouldn’t. Some survive the experience, some don’t. It’s a fact of nature and a fact of life. That’s why it’s very important to have a very good relationship with one’s children. So that when that time comes they remember. They still have friends in their own family, hopefully including their own parents.

We didn’t home school our kids. The idea wasn’t there at the time. But we were involved in every facet of our children’s life. Not overwhelmingly so. Because part of that involvement included trust. They rarely betrayed that trust, and when they did, it was in minor matters. Expressing disappointment regarding the betrayal was more sufficient than any other form of punishment. I am thankful that my children survived. I know or know about too many who didn’t.

MacDuff