I saw this bold proclamation recently: “Those who attack public education fear an educated public.”

As someone who regularly “attacks” public education I will testify that I’m not even a little bit afraid of an educated public. I’m trying to educate the public to the fact that public education (i.e. government schools) is not the ONLY way the public can be educated. It is possible to learn things without public school. Be suspicious of any educator who takes offense at that reality.

I am a product of public education. My dad taught 8th grade science. My mom taught high school chemistry. I graduated college with a teaching degree. So, I didn’t grow-up in a homeschool commune surrounded by preppers and doomsday prophets. I grew-up in the public education system.

Now I speak about the virtues of homeschooling and some people say I’m “attacking public education.” That’s because they fear educated people who aren’t indoctrinated with Secular Humanism. Children who are taught that there is an authority above The State are often difficult to control when they grow-up.

Fear causes some people to say crazy things like, “Parents aren’t qualified to teach their kids!” Of course, that’s wrong. Somebody taught those kids to walk, talk, dress themselves and use the bathroom facilities without the tutelage of a professional educator. Maybe those who attack parent’s ability to educate are fearful of becoming obsolete.

Well, fear not, public education system! The public will always need you. For many American families, education is not the primary reason the kids go to school. Parents are eager to get away from their kids and shipping them off to school doesn’t trigger as much guilt as putting them up for adoption or sending them to prison. Public educators need not worry about running out of young brains to wash.

My constant “attacks” will accomplish nothing. Public education is not going anywhere. It will continue to be the preferred method of producing average citizens (or slightly below average compared to other countries). It performs an important service to a huge number of people who prioritize convenience above everything else.

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”

(Deuteronomy 4:9)