Saturday Stream, Not As Late As It Feels

We had football pictures at 8am. I still feel like I am asleep, and it's now 11. Sam is taking the boys to weigh ins and then to sell popcorn. Note to self: Do not order $2K worth of show-and-sell popcorn in an economic downturn, or whatever they're calling it today.

This week, I found lots of articles that support an idea that has been rolling around in my head ever since I started reading "The Underground History of American Education." One of the first books that I ever read that encouraged me to not send my kids off to the institutionalized, government-run, brick and mortar school was John Taylor Gatto's Dumbing Us Down.

Basically, and I'll try to put my thoughts into words that make sense, the idea of school being paid for and therefore, run by the government is tantamount to indoctrination. There. I've said it. No taking it back now. (Unless I delete this post, like I did the last one.) For centuries, whenever a government wanted a certain outcome from its citizenry, they educated the young in the manner which suited their cause. The Spartans are a good, although extreme, example. Boys were taken from their homes at 7 years old and put in "schools" where they were taught how to fight. More recently was 1930's and '40's Germany. It is still illegal to teach your children at home, in Germany.

Our country's forefathers encouraged education of the public. They believed that having an educated populace was the best measure against tyranny. The government did not run schools then.

The articles that I came across were:

• The Yellow Prison Bus and the Future of American Healthcare (thanks CCG) When we believe that we are "entitled" to an education, then the next "logical" step is that we think we are entitled to health care. BTW, you're not, you are entitled to PURSUE education and health care, not have it provided for you at someone else's expense. 

• MIT Calls Academia's Bluff   

• A Study on Online Education at the Cato Institute's Blog

• I Would Rather You Just Said "Thank You" to Private Schools...

• Is $19,000 Per Student Enough... (We budget about $2000 a year to educate all three of out boys. That includes all outside classes, sports and in-home curriculum.)
  

I see education more and more as an issue of freedom. I see kids coming out of public school with an entitlement mentality. What's even worse are the parents who insist that sending their kids to school where they not only should receive a free education, but free lunch and breakfast to boot.

The American Dream used to be that you could work hard and make something for, and of, yourself. I think the new American Dream is that you can skate through life and still have the same stuff as your neighbor. 

Last Sunday we had two ladies, both homeschool moms, come talk to our congregation about freedom. One of them spoke from Nehemiah and the other one taught on American History and the Constitution. It was so satisfying to sit and watch these two homeschool moms minister this message to adults. It was more amazing to sit in the back of the room and literally see lightbulbs going off in adults' brains.

I was also made aware that this organization is run by a homeschool mom.

This is so fantastic! In seeking truth to teach their kids, homeschool moms are being led (I believe by the Holy Spirit) to minister these truths to those they have influence over. It's very exciting.

The inscription on the Liberty Bell quotes Leviticus 25:10

 

And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

– Leviticus 25:10

 In the Name of Jesus, I speak LIBERTY to all!!