What's Wrong With This Picture?

Reading the essay on this page may make you angry enough to get involved. If you do become angry and don't know who to point it at, let me know. I can help you write the letters/faxes/emails that will get attention and just may make other people ask 'What's wrong with this picture?'.

Essay by : Jan Noble, 'The Steel Magnolia'

Civil rights are something that adults in this country hang onto like a life raft. They think that their civil rights are sacred.

However, the adults in the United States Of America have unknowingly given the educational institutions in their communities the right to violate their children's civil rights without repercussions.

The educators in this country can and do, on a daily basis...for the good of your children...violate those sacred civil rights without fear of any kind.

These same educators can search and seize, coheres and accuse, deny access to parents or other council. Just to name a few things. What can you do? Almost nothing. Where are the organizations who fight for our civil rights? Nowhere to be found. Kids don't count.

It's okay to sue over a fat persons right to take up two seats on an airplane. But it's not okay to sue when a teacher they detain and interrogate a minor child without any evidence and refuse to allow the child to call a parent for FOUR HOURS.

Or, what about the Principal who expels a young girl from school for fighting...because she was attacked on the school bus...and fought back. It's against the rules to fight. It's okay to attack, just don't fight back. Remember to be a good victim.

These are only a few of the many cases that have been brought to me over the years.

What can you do? Write, call, fax, and email your representatives. Start with the Whitehouse and trickle down. Do it every time. Make sure the School Board sees the names of the Representatives on the list. What will this do? Well it will scare them because the educators don't want people to know what is going on in our schools today. Work to pass laws that will make these violators accountable for their actions. Talk to other parents. I was stunned when I learned of how many people there are out there who have been victimized by the institution who is supposed to educating our children. I'm still amazed today.

What did I do about the abuses in my local school system? Wrote, called, faxed, and emailed everyone with an address that I could get to. It was a huge list. Eventually, I took my children out of public school and taught them at home. Why? Because the educators were taking out their spite on my children. I continued my fight thereafter and will never give up. What would Laura Ingalls Wilder think of schools today?

By virtue of graduating from high school you are not declared stupid. The educators in this country would have you believe that only they are capable of educating your children. Not so. The public school teachers are frightened of home schooled children because they are usually better educated then their product. Remember, your kid is reduced to a number when in school. It doesn't matter if they learn or not. The teachers are getting paid no matter what. Why? Unions. Teachers unions are fighting for their turf, not your children's education. The failure rate from high school in this country is nearly 50%. Scary. Surprised? Don't be. Can you think of any business that could survive a 50% failure rate? Well the schools can because they have become a government institution.

Oh my. What to do next. Well, if you love your children, take them out of public school and teach them yourself. Put them in a private school if it is an option. Any thing is better than leaving them in public school.

One of the benefits of home schooling is that your children are not exposed to the violence and filth that pervade our schools. You can also instill a few virtues on the side while they are working on their lessons.

Now, my kids will both tell you that I was not an easy teacher. I expected a great deal from them and still do. School goes on 52 weeks out of the year and if we want to take a day off, we do. I taught the principles of honor and integrity and hard work. You won't find these in public schools today.

But, more than any thing else I have ever done. I respected my children. I love them and want them to succeed and I will never treat them in the despicable fashion that our educators use today.

Your children do have rights. As a parent it is your job to teach them and make them as ready as possible to survive in the world as we know it. Don't start their lives by making them victims.

You have the power, use it. Begin by asking a simple question. 'What's wrong with this picture?'

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If you would like to trade stories, email me at steel_magnolia@mindspring.com

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