School Choice

[Visitor]

http://townhall.com/columnists/CalThoma ... ice?page=1

[eumaas]

I was the product of unschooling, myself. Haven't done bad at all, considering I hang out with professors and generally know a hell of a lot more than my peers. Probably isn't for everybody, though.

[101Walterton]

Here they call that truancy.

[eumaas]

Here they call that truancy.

Yep, government knows best.

Never mind that I outperformed my peers.

[Heston]

I was the product of unschooling, myself. Haven't done bad at all, considering I hang out with professors and generally know a hell of a lot more than my peers. Probably isn't for everybody, though.

I take it modesty wasn't part of the "unschooling" curriculum?

[nsc]

Here they call that truancy.

but you can't bunk home-schooling. i always thought the teachers were far more easy going than my parents, but hey it never stopped me bunking.
eumaas, on the other hand has read way more books than i've rolled joints on and that's to the credit of having the right kind of home schooling.
where it mostly fails, is on the social interaction side. school is useful for all shit you don't find in books ie getting into/out of fights, sex education,
sports, forming bands, etc.

[eumaas]

Here they call that truancy.

but you can't bunk home-schooling. i always thought the teachers were far more easy going than my parents, but hey it never stopped me bunking.
eumaas, on the other hand has read way more books than i've rolled joints on and that's to the credit of having the right kind of home schooling.
where it mostly fails, is on the social interaction side. school is useful for all shit you don't find in books ie getting into/out of fights, sex education,
sports, forming bands, etc.

That can certainly be true. I've met some real creeps who were homeschooled. Faux combativeness or boasting on here aside, I do pretty well in the acquiring friends and maintaining them side.

Being a wanton party animal probably helps.

[101Walterton]

Here they call that truancy.

Yep, government knows best.

Never mind that I outperformed my peers.

Might explain why you are always here instead of out with your peers

[eumaas]

I was the product of unschooling, myself. Haven't done bad at all, considering I hang out with professors and generally know a hell of a lot more than my peers. Probably isn't for everybody, though.

I take it modesty wasn't part of the "unschooling" curriculum?

No worries, I beat myself up a lot--keep in mind I'm a writer, and we have terribly low self-esteem.

However, college was a true shock. Before I got there, I thought everybody (at least in my discipline) would have an interest in learning. Whoops, not true! I did end up acquiring a useful skill as in conversations with people I can get them up to speed on a given topic without reducing it too much. I had wanted to be a professor but due to finances I have to put that off for now.

Might explain why you are always here instead of out with your peers

That's hardly true. I was out last night until 1 and the night before until 3. Since I get up at 6:30 in the morning I try to give myself some off days to catch up on rest. Like an Englishman, I live for reckless behavior on the weekend.

[101Walterton]

I was the product of unschooling, myself. Haven't done bad at all, considering I hang out with professors and generally know a hell of a lot more than my peers. Probably isn't for everybody, though.

I take it modesty wasn't part of the "unschooling" curriculum?

Might explain why you are always here instead of out with your peers

That's hardly true. I was out last night until 1 and the night before until 3. Since I get up at 6:30 in the morning I try to give myself some off days to catch up on rest. Like an Englishman, I live for reckless behavior on the weekend.

You dont have to justify yourself to me

[eumaas]

I was the product of unschooling, myself. Haven't done bad at all, considering I hang out with professors and generally know a hell of a lot more than my peers. Probably isn't for everybody, though.

I take it modesty wasn't part of the "unschooling" curriculum?

Might explain why you are always here instead of out with your peers

That's hardly true. I was out last night until 1 and the night before until 3. Since I get up at 6:30 in the morning I try to give myself some off days to catch up on rest. Like an Englishman, I live for reckless behavior on the weekend.

You dont have to justify yourself to me

If you ever find yourself in the unlikely position of being here, I'll take you on a bar tour, my man.

[101Walterton]

I was the product of unschooling, myself. Haven't done bad at all, considering I hang out with professors and generally know a hell of a lot more than my peers. Probably isn't for everybody, though.

I take it modesty wasn't part of the "unschooling" curriculum?

Might explain why you are always here instead of out with your peers

That's hardly true. I was out last night until 1 and the night before until 3. Since I get up at 6:30 in the morning I try to give myself some off days to catch up on rest. Like an Englishman, I live for reckless behavior on the weekend.

You dont have to justify yourself to me

If you ever find yourself in the unlikely position of being here, I'll take you on a bar tour, my man.

I know Where is here ?

[eumaas]

I take it modesty wasn't part of the "unschooling" curriculum?

Might explain why you are always here instead of out with your peers

That's hardly true. I was out last night until 1 and the night before until 3. Since I get up at 6:30 in the morning I try to give myself some off days to catch up on rest. Like an Englishman, I live for reckless behavior on the weekend.

You dont have to justify yourself to me

If you ever find yourself in the unlikely position of being here, I'll take you on a bar tour, my man.

I know Where is here ?

Norfolk, VA, home of the US Navy's largest base. Hope you like fistfights with sailors!

[101Walterton]

That's hardly true. I was out last night until 1 and the night before until 3. Since I get up at 6:30 in the morning I try to give myself some off days to catch up on rest. Like an Englishman, I live for reckless behavior on the weekend.

You dont have to justify yourself to me

If you ever find yourself in the unlikely position of being here, I'll take you on a bar tour, my man.

I know Where is here ?

Norfolk, VA, home of the US Navy's largest base. Hope you like fistfights with sailors!

Put one in the pump I may be a while. I do pass through LA from time to time so might bump into Tep !

[Six]

Cal Thomas is a massive douchebag. His essay is based on the premise of "Washington, D.C.'s miserable public schools" and he completely ignores the other parts of the education equation: society and parenting. Why does Mr. Thomas denigrate DC's schools? Because the teachers belong to a big, evil union and they must be up to no good or because he is fundamentally opposed to the idea of publically funded education for the uncleansed masses? I really don't see any other plausible motivation for his essay. And he pretends he is simply trying to point out the hypocracy of Senator Obama and his liberal friends.

And Eumaas, your rare brilliance probably has more to do with how you were raised than whether or not you attended public school. I've met quite a few idiots who attended public schools and home schools alike. As long as you picked up on the importance of critical thought somewhere along the line, you probably have a fighting chance. It's always a good idea to apply a little bit of it to yourself, however.