Would you say Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Quincy Adams, or Abraham Lincoln (and others) were isolationists? They were not, but they were homeschooled. All were taught by their father or mother to read.
Ben Franklin (also homeschooled) taught himself so well in science that he was on the cutting edge of many new scientific discoveries. Andrew Carnegie and Thomas Edison were also homeschooled.
John Marshall, soldier, lawyer, diplomat, and also chief justice of the US Supreme Court (by age 45), was homeschooled. Others taught at home were Mark Twain, Agatha Christie, Florence Nightingale, C. S. Lewis, Rembrandt Peale, Claude Monet, etc.
Today, homeschoolers enjoy social action with various age groups through sport clubs (like skiing at Alpine), speech and debate groups, band, etc. Homeschoolers enjoy socialization without bullies, drugs, constantly hearing the F word, and last but not least, they don’t have to worry about someone pulling a gun out and shooting.
Another important item to remember is that a homeschool family pays their taxes in full but doesn’t utilize the facilities they help finance.
C. Grougan
Chesterland
Noblest of Professions
Now that I know C. Grougan is Cathy, it all makes sense as an XX chromosome, estrogen-based letter. I am an XY chromosome, testosterone-based letter, usually.
I’m going to stop the homeschooling debate. Ms. Grougan may call me anytime for more enlightening discussions.
I would like to respond to her perceptions about teacher education as a career and not a job.
I have been very fortunate, grateful, and thankful about receiving many cards and letters from several of my twelve thousand students who thanked me for being an inspiring, iconoclastic, heretic teacher. It reminds me of Henry Adams, who said, “A teacher affects eternity: You can never tell where his/her influence stops.”
Several former students are doctors, nurses, teachers, professors. I even had a former student for surgery. It wasn’t brain surgery. I have had several former students in my college classes. What a joy!
Teaching is the noblest of all professions. There are good and bad teachers, doctors, lawyers, nurses, etc.
The teaching profession may have the perception of being ideal. Listen to Roy Orbison’s song “In the Real World.” For enlightenment, our egos’ greatest disappointment, visit a school all day. Anyone who would like to discuss school, teaching, and education, please call me. I might even invite you to lunch. You may need Zantac, Head On, and Extra Strength Tylenol, though. Or listen to my radio program on WJCU 88.7 FM, The Diary of a Mad Professor.
I have had several of my nursing students tell me about their catatonic, unreasonable, robotic schedules that may elicit somnambulism, narcolepsy, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Simply hire more professionals, a panacea for quality care. It should prevent lethal medical mistakes. I’m sure Dr. House would approve.
Since I seem to be developing Broca’s aphasia, I would like to end this harangue, diatribe, or pontification with the following: maybe it’s my schizoid personality disorder or hypomania from my amygdala acting up or sophistry.
I’m retired—a first-year baby boomer who just loves to listen to the song by the Mamas and the Papas, “Go Where You Wanna Go, Do What You Wanna Do.” Time to go to lunch, have a couple margaritas, take a nature walk through the woods on a sunny afternoon (Robert Frost influence), have a cigar, read, take a nap, listen to some music, ride my bike, schedule my next monthly vacation (Connie Francis song influence, v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n every day of the year) trying to discover nirvana. It sure isn’t Chesterland.
In conclusion, “I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion” (Thoreau). “All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind” (Aristotle). “Everything has been figured out except how to live” (Jean-Paul Sarte).
As Gary Larson of The Far Side said, “Adios Amebas!” And avoid being a beast of burden and trying to saw sawdust. In order to accomplish this, read The Joy of Not Working: A Book for the Retired, Unemployed, and Overworked by Ernie Zelinski. Notice the initials are EZ!
David A. Hancock
Chester
WRITE ON
HOMESCHOOLING ADVANTAGES
Editor,
I want to compliment C. Grougan for an insightful response to my “No-No-No” letter to the editor. I was also delighted that I am aware of your historical references.
I would encourage all parents of preschool children to read The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real-Life Education by Grace Llewellyn, especially if you believe in homeschooling K–5.
Personally, after 38 years and 20,000 students as a public school teacher-educator 7–12 and counselor, I wish more parents would have homeschooled their children! Then I would not have been exposed to more obstinate, cantankerous recalcitrants that elicited Head On headaches!
Some parents do not trust the public schools to help educate their little geniuses. Maybe they are thinking of Winston Churchill (“I am always ready to learn, but I do not always like being taught”) or Mark Twain (“I never let schooling interfere with my education”) or Margaret Mead (“My grandmother wanted me to have an education, so she kept me out of school.”).
I saw a cartoon with two college-admission counselors meeting with a student and reviewing his college application, which was very impressive: high school valedictorian, student council president, captain of every sport your school offered, four undefeated seasons in every sport, prom king, voted most likely to succeed and most popular, perfect attendance record … and their caption? “Advantages of the Homeschooled.”
In today’s diverse culture, I am still convinced that 100 percent academic homeschooling is isolation. However, all parents should be homeschooling their children in morals and other things that enhance their academic and interpersonal intelligence. Summer vacation is the perfect time to enhance learning.
That’s one thing that I always enjoyed about teaching. It wasn’t a job, it was a career, plus the school calendar of 180 days, which entitled me to 180 days of vacation/year! I receive 91 percent of my top salary for retirement (which started at
