ScrappleFace: Memo: Top 10 Reasons to Criminalize Homeschooling

Memo: Top 10 Reasons to Criminalize Homeschooling

(2002-08-26) -- In an effort to increase the public drumbeat for criminalizing homeschooling, California Deputy Superintendent Joanne Mendoza has distributed a memo containing the top 10 reasons why public schooling is better than homeschooling. Here is an excerpt from that memo:
Why Public Schooling Is Better Than Homeschooling

Most parents were educated in the underfunded public school system, and so are not smart enough to homeschool their own children.
Children who receive one-on-one homeschooling will learn more than others, giving them an unfair advantage in the marketplace. This is undemocratic.
How can children learn to defend themselves unless they have to fight off bullies on a daily basis?
Ridicule from other children is important to the socialization process.
Children in public schools can get more practice "Just Saying No" to drugs, cigarettes and alcohol.
Fluorescent lighting may have significant health benefits.
Publicly asking permission to go to the bathroom teaches young people their place in society.
The fashion industry depends upon the peer pressure that only public schools can generate.
Public schools foster cultural literacy, passing on important traditions like the singing of "Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg..."
Homeschooled children may not learn important office career skills, like how to sit still for six hours straight.

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I first of all want to thank you for posting this appauling memo. I for one, went to a school where we did not have enough books for all the students and teachers who were intimidated by the "bullys". All this did for me later on in life was cause me to make it my priority to never send my children to a public school! I had to deal with bullies, and it was no easier being black in a majority white school(no offense to anyone). Why in God's glorious name would I send my children to a pit of snakes, that has only gotten worse in the years since I left. My children have nothing but the best that I can give them, and my belief is that an education at home, where they are free to express themselves, free to decide what they learn and how they learn it, where noone is teasing them because I can't afford to buy the most expensive clothing and shoes, or teasing them because of their color(yes, that still goes on today). My kids are free, plain and simple, they're free.

Posted by: tabitha abney at October 3, 2002 11:49 PM

Ms. Mendoza, are you on drugs? You know drugs are illegal. If the law is your concern then get off of drugs.

Posted by: Bill Damiano at October 4, 2002 07:14 PM

Too funny!! and how true : )

Although I'm pretty amazed that some people seem to think this was really written by a school superintendent! This is SATIRE folks...a joke!

Posted by: Denise at October 16, 2002 10:48 AM

It really irks the people in the educational establishment that some children escape their tyranny and recieve a quality education. This is why parents who want their children to be able to read, write, spell and understand grammer, math,science and history should never support any regulation of homeschooling.

Posted by: John Whelan at October 16, 2002 11:00 AM

That really sounds too stupid to be real!!!!!!

Posted by: Kathy Bourinot at October 21, 2002 08:16 AM

Follow this link to see how homeschooling really can effect kids -
http://www.baylormag.com/story.php?story=003894

Posted by: Tammy at January 22, 2003 09:59 AM