I put together this list when I had several people questioning my family’s decision to homeschool. I hope that it might give others courage that are facing the same struggle. In no particular order:

• School does not allow children to self-learn. It keeps them occupied until the ability to self-learn has mostly past.
• Grouping by age makes them afraid of older people, have contempt for those younger
• It takes away religion and replaces it with material things
• School takes away all significance of families and turns the home into a place to eat and sleep and have casual relationships.
• It takes up most of the child’s waking hours
• Grades in school don’t reflect real life.
• School does not tolerate argument.
• It teaches kids to not defend themselves. As a result it also does not teach justice.
• Teaches little useful knowledge.
• Rewards dependency, calls it “teamwork”
• School has an environment that discourages concentration, civil discourse and intellectual investigation.
• Those certified by the State as fit to teach is nearly the least fit occupational body in the entire economy if college performance is the standard.
• You are not allowed to choose your child’s teacher.
• The child’s freedom and agency are taken away. They have to ask for the simplest tasks like using the bathroom.
• It does not teach self-reliance.
• It teaches that you only do something for a set amount of time and then you move on to something else - no matter where you are in the first thing.
• Humiliation is used to keep children in line. This replace physical punishment. Psychological violence can be much more harmful.
• Teaches children to prepare to fit into a pre-made slot in society.
• Children used to be taught principles. Now schools teach “situation ethics.” Situational ethics means principles are shown to vary according to the demands of the moment. People with flexible principles reserve the right to betray their covenants.
• We care more about the outcome of our children than anyone in teh school system.
• Material is watered down too much
• Schools do not treat everyone as equal.
• Almost all are capable of achieving, but they teach the bell-curve.
• They do not listen to kids.
• School does not teach good social skills.
• No teacher would understand the personality of my child better, nor our beliefs, traditions, and dreams.
• School personnel have been totally absolved of responsibility.

I found this the other day. I thought it was a great take on how our society treats childhood. Enjoy!