The Conservatarian

It seems some members of our our esteemed Tennessee legislature want to pay students for good grades. From what I read, similar programs in other states appear to work. I have a few problems with this idea:

• This sets a precedent for children that if they want to do something well then they should get paid for it.
• The only people who should pay for good grades are parents. The state paying for good grades simply brings about another aspect of the nanny state.
• No one is saying where the money is coming from. Is it current lottery money? Is it current tax money? Will it be in the form of new taxes or bonds? If it is tax money, let me remind our legislature: It’s not your money!
• If these rewards come from my tax dollars, will my home school students qualify (not that I would accept the money, out of principle)?

What are your thoughts on this? For more information, go to http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=8046201. There is a video there also.

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Here is the article:

State lawmakers are looking into paying Tennessee students for good grades.The “Education Pays” act is making its way through the General Assembly.12 states across the country have a similar measure it place that rewards students for good grades with cold hard cash.”I think kids respond to cash,” said Rep. Brian Kelsey.  “I think we all respond to cash and then we hope at that point they will also respond and appreciate learning.”The proposal is for a pilot program in the top four counties with the highest number of “At Risk” students.For instance, in Memphis, 175 students, the top students in one grade in one high school would get $100.$100 would go to the top 50 students in one Hamilton County high school.In Knox County, the money would go to 50 elementary students and in Davidson County, it would apply to 50 middle school students.One advocate from Georgia, who testified before lawmakers in Tennessee, said why not give it a try.
     
Jackie Cushman, “Education Pays” advocate, said, “The real question is does it work and that’s why you have a pilot program.  Does it actually work?  We know something’s don’t work.  The question is will this work and I think we won’t know until we try it.”Students wouldn’t be the only ones making the grade moneywise, their parents would get $50 as well.Kim Chambers, parent, said, “I think that would be good.  I think it would give the kids incentives to work harder.Patty Brown, parent, said, “I think anything that can encourage kids to do better in school is very important.”Sue Knowles, parent, said, “It would probably work for my kids but whether or not I agree with it? No, I don’t think I agree with that one.”The “Education Pays” act has now passed in the House Education Committee.  Its Senate counterpart may take it up next week.Texas is among the 12 states already trying some form of paying for grades at 10 schools in Dallas.Officials said they have seen a dramatic rise in the number of students passing advanced math and science exams, attending college and scoring higher on college entrance exams. 

This is shocking and unexpected, and it is critical for all of America to become aware and get involved in this California state court ruling. 

As a home schooling parent, I have witnessed first hand the difference between public, private and homeschool methods, and my son is better off in a homeschool environment. I have heard so much made over socialization, the capability of parents to educate their children, and how laws should be passed for this or that issue as it pertains to not only homeschooling, but to every facet of life in these United States.

Socialization? People constantly comment on how well spoken, friendly, and gregarious my son is. My daughter is the same way (we begin her home schooling next fall). Who would I rather be the biggest influence on my children, me and my wife, who can determine what they are exposed to on a daily basis, or a classroom and schoolyard full of jocks, bullies, extroverts, and introverts, all with their own value systems? For the most part, my son’s peers in school have very different morals than we do, and furthermore, they have no idea what they even base their value system on. My wife and I not only educate my son, we also enforce and re-enforce our value system to our children, and we explain to them why we have the values we do; in other words, we explain the principles behind our moral philosophy, which are grounded in the words of Holy Scripture, our Bible. I do not want my son tainted by the values of ignorant children. I am fully persudaded that all children are ignorant, by the way, including mine, which why they need us, not their peers, to provide their social and moral framework for their lives-not the school/government indoctrination center. I also do not want the values of a morally relativistic, pluralistic, and hedonistic government placed upon my children either.
On a side note, I live in Tennessee, and only three legislators are keeping a bill alive here that will force us to teach our kids according to the curriculum used by state schools. What makes it so insidious is the fact that it is being done under the guise of forcing private and home schooled students to take the same tests in Tennessee as public school students. This in effect forces parents and private schools to go by the same curriculum in order to pass, although the state curriculum is inferior to what we give our children. Hence, parental rights to teach our choice of curriculum is effectively removed, and the dual crux of home school liberty and parental rights is broken.

I do not care for the nanny state, thank you very much. As I have heard quoted elsewhere, a government that is big enough to give you everything you need is also big enough to take everything away.

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Here are some links to keep you informed:

Petition regarding the appellate court ruling: https://www2.hslda.org/Registrations/DepublishingCaliforniaCourtDecision/

http://www.hslda.org/

http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/ca/200803060.asp

The actual court opinion: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B192878.PDF

Good article on Lew Rockwell: http://www.lewrockwell.com/greenhut/greenhut52.html