The School Survival Movement: Abolish Compulsory Schooling

[GamerGurl]

(10-01-2014 02:34 PM)TheCancer Wrote:  Compulsory schooling is a complete failure and needs to be abolished. In America, the real number one reason compulsory schooling is unlikely to die in our lifetimes is because tens of millions of people have come to expect and demand free daycare from the government. American public schools aren't institutions of education; they're gigantic babysitting factories. No child should be forced to go to school and the public should not be forced to fund daycare factories disguised as schools. In my opinion, not only should compulsory schooling be abolished but public school in general also needs to be abolished.

I would also like to add, and it surprises me this has been controversial even here, that while students should not be forced to go to school, it is also true, that while schools do exist, educators, and I do use that word loosely, should also have the choice not to have to babysit chronically hostile and disruptive students who take a bad situation and make it much worse for everyone involved. If you are really anti-school you should be pro suspension and expulsion. Everyday out of public school is better for everyone except for the parent who depends on free daycare.

I'm surprised you think that! And you're a teacher yourself, correct? o.O

I do at least think that compulsory schooling should be abolished, but the public system in totality? I just want to avoid being viewed as those right-wing Christan extremists. There is some proof that the public school system has helped others, and I personally know of some students who like school—and think others need to go as well, sadly—so I don't think we may need to totally abolish the system, but it certainly is in need of major reforms.

I do very much so agree on that assessment of schools being huge daycare centers, too. I think this requires a different discussion, but I do mainly think this has happened because of most parents holding 9 to 5 jobs, and during that time they want their kids being somewhere either than home (possibly instead of having "fun"). This is possibly something these parents experienced themselves when they were kids. Anyone else care to add-on to here?

Personally I feel indifferent about public schools being abolished—I wouldn't mind whether or not it was abolished—but I certainly do think they're in need of major reforms.

As for your last point, the only thing I would think is controversial on SS is this. There's some who want to be more "legitimate" and try to reach out to groups like Student Voice, which don't exactly focus on compulsory schooling, rather, issues students have with school outside of compulsory schooling. And then there's others who'd rather focus on SS and focus towards an official movement to end compulsory schooling itself.

I wouldn't mind trying to work alongside groups like Student Voice if they'd be able to endorse our movement, though. In the end all that matters is that we have people and communities who want to stand alongside SS and end compulsory schooling. That is all I, and many other School Survivalists, ask for.

Lastly, I wouldn't be total pro-suspension. IDK how it works like where you live, but where I live there also exists IN-school suspension, so maybe pro-out-of-school-suspension.