Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Bill Clinton Scandal - SANITY CHECK -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tom Clarke who wrote (61346)	10/4/1999 1:17:00 PM
From: Johannes Pilch	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 67261

>Don't parallel institutions still come under the purview of the government?< The point is to keep government at bay such that it cannot infringe upon the institution building of certain groups. Some states, for example, allow homeschooling on the basis of religion, and here is where the much celebrated "Separation of Church and State" becomes of great use. >I admire those who opt out, but the option is not available to all. I like the effect these parallel institutions create, as they serve to delegitimize the status quo.< Well those to whom the option is available should take advantage of it and build it so that over time the status quo becomes so de-legitimized the only potent option left will be the alternative institutions. I think this is a great opportunity for any group willing to lay the groundwork for success. Where churches are concerned their institutions could serve to make "opting out" more available to those who are members, creating symbiotic relationships (and lets face it, this is really how ministry to people usually begins). There was a time when in my area we were the only homeschooling family. Quite rapidly our number has expanded to over a dozen families. Most of these families now attend the church I attend because it serves as the hub of a very good homeschool support group. Out of these families I would wager half are now deeply committed to the Christian faith and would support the church regardless of its support group. The rest of the families are in various stages of commitment, and this is to be expected. But the fact is, they are all enthusiastic supporters of the church because it has helped them find a new and better way of life. The upshot to all this is this: these fathers now consistently love their families through words and action. They teach their children about life, and eagerly spend the time needed to do so. Their children see their importance, how they fit into the family's legacy, and accordingly they more eagerly learn from and obey their parents. The families are happier and have a vision of family pride and unity. And it does not hurt that significant goods, facilities and services are routinely enjoyed tax-free, and without government intervention. Such institutions will grow and gain attention. Increasingly people will understand the possibilities they present. As this happens more and more people will begin to contribute to them. Private schools will continue doing their excellent work, particularly if vouchers are ever implemented and they are allowed to accept them. Over time the public educational structure will either change for the better, become stigmatized as a federal welfare service for the underprivileged, or die. Either way the federal monopoly on education will be broken. >I would like to see one more run at smashing (or at least dismantling brick by brick) existing institutions before we follow Paul Weyrich's advice to drop out of society.< Weyrich did not advise dropping out of society. He speculated that it would be more prudent for social conservatives to withdraw from worldly pursuits (such as coalition politics and protesting - and I would add mediocre church pagents and covered-dish dinners) to instead build and support their own institutions. Dismantling brick by brick the existing edifice will never happen because most Americans are like sheep. They will continue spending $4000-$6000 per student annually for substandard education because they simply know no better and have not the courage to demand more of themselves. They need an accessible alternative before they move in force. Private schools help some, but are generally too expensive, in a direct sense, to the wallet. Homeschooling requires a change of lifestyle, and in this sense is expensive. But if it continues to prove itself superior to public education, then more parents will be willing to change to the simple life it requires. Homeschooling is very accessible. >The government will still wield an iron fist over those who don't have the luxury of creating their own institutions.< Firstly, it does not take a great deal of financial resources to do this. It takes good leadership and people who have a vision toward freedom. One must first embrace this vision, and having done so, be willing to pay whatever price is required to live up to it. Secondly, if government wants to wield an iron fist over a bunch of dead folk, then let it. And if those who remain would rather live under an iron fist then one ought not worry about them. They are obviously content to be where they are. >And who knows, in the future laws may be created to short circuit home schooling (they're already trying that) and other independence movements.< It is important to build higher educational institutions for the express purpose of protecting this parallel institution within the overall legal structure. (I have recently heard a few such institutions are now underway, and this is a very good thing.) If the young men and women trained in such institutions are successful, they will be able to defend against government encroachment using the government's own language, providing parallel institutions freedom enough to flourish. The logic is on their side, and only by overt hypocrisy will the government be able to stop them. If these alternatives are given enough time, they will gain enough supporters so that laws designed to short circuit them will fail consistently. In about 20-30 years, we will see a relatively small but not insignificant crop of homeschooled students coming into their own, and if they are as disciplined and well educated as the data seems to suggest, then they will bring to homeschooling a reputation for superior learning on the order of that shared by private schools. Then homseschooling will have little worry about laws to short circuit it. (Gotta run.)