The title sounds almost like Milk Toast... which I've never had. How is it? (Please comment if you have an opinion on the subject <smile>)
The title could also refer to a couple hot topics these days, such as homosexuality in the media or public breastfeeding. As much as those are very important topics, to be sure, today's post is about something else entirely: The government and public education.
I read a rather interesting offhand comment today: "The school requires you buy tickets for milk."
Huh?
I think I've heard of this kind of thing before, but it just struck me as odd today. Perhaps it's not as indicative of a "the government will save you" mentality as it seems, but it sure feels that way right now. Almost as if someone, somewhere said, "Milk is good for kids. We can't force them to drink it at home, but we can make them buy it and drink it here in school. Let's pass some legislation for that."
It's just weird to me.
I also read a repost of a story Spunky wrote about the beauty of having choices. It's a fun little tale that is thought provoking. On the other hand, it's an analogy and so isn't perfect. But her point remains....
I am very thankful for the freedom we still have to homeschool our children and choose whether to buy milk for them or not. And I am not against public education, but if you haven't considered homeschooling yet I think you should.
I don't really have anything else to say about this at the moment; just these few loosely related thoughts.
By the by, there are many, many Other Posts of Note today... if you're looking for more content.
~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father
Heather, that is ridiculous. Crazy. Inane. Glad you're homeschooling now <smile>.
~Luke
Ugh. I HATE milk. I can't stand the taste. (But public breastfeeding... no problem with that and I've done it many many times.) I went to public elementary school and we were forced to get milk with our lunch. Water was not an option. So every time I bought lunch (which was most days), I got that carton of nasty milk, ate my lunch with no drinking anything, threw away my trash including that unopened carton of milk, and got a drink from the water fountain. I asked many times to not get the milk (I was just throwing it away after all) and was told that was no allowed. I HAD to take it. Blech.
Tina, it is my pleasure. I feel so honored that I can take part in the lives of homeschoolers everywhere through the blogosphere.
"Knee jerk reaction?" You are so right, Tony. Absolutely.
Sally, I'm always happy to give the heart a little workout <smile>. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Indescribable, you're right: You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. The same can be said for children and milk <smile>. But then we're talking about wasting resources... something that bothers me immensely <smile>.
~Luke
We can get kids to do a lot of things, but make them drink milk? Not my kids. On occasion I spent lunch with them when they were young (in the PS) and after eating my daughter walked up to the trash and emptied her tray - full milk, UNOPENED! INTO THE TRASH! So I guess you can make them buy it, but that doesn't guarantee they'll drink it!.....
We can get kids to do a lot of things, but make them drink milk? Not my kids. On occasion I spent lunch with them when they were young (in the PS) and after eating my daughter walked up to the trash and emptied her tray - full milk, UNOPENED! INTO THE TRASH! So I guess you can make them buy it, but that doesn't guarantee they'll drink it!.....
I couldn't tell if that blogger meant you HAD to buy milk tickets or if you wanted milk, you had to buy tickets.
I don't understand why you would need a ticket instead of just buying the milk when you wanted it.
But regardless of that...
Let me tell you about my favorite rant against the government: it's making auto makers put in airbags so our kids aren't safe in the front seat. And that seat belt law.
I keep thinking, "Why would the government tell me where my kid can and can't sit in the car? What business is it of theirs?"
I'm not against using seat belts. I'm just against being told I have to.
I'm gave a woman with a bunch of kids a ride in Alaska--we had seven kids and two adults and only seven seat belts. I got a ticket for the two kids not in belts. Like I should have just left them sitting on the side of the road.
The judge told me if I wanted to give people rides I should buy a suburban. So what's the poor farmer with the farm truck supposed to do? He can't load his kids up and take them to the beach in the back of the truck? How intrusive is that. Sure the kids may die. They may die on the trampoline or swimming or camping. We can't keep them alive when it's their time to die.
OK Rant over. Thanks for getting my blood pumping today, Luke. =0)
There was a situation in Tennessee at a group home that comes to mind after reading your post.
A young man with developmental disabilities comes home after working at a day program one afternoon, and as he had done every afternoon for countless months, goes immediately to the cabinet with a spoon, scoops out a spoonful of peanut butter, and eats it. Unfortunately on this particular day, he becomes strangled and chokes to death.
The very next day the state Dept of Mental Health/Mental Retardation releases a directive there is to be no peanut butter in state licensed group homes. Knee jerk reaction? That's how things work when the government is in charge. Hundreds of group home residents are denied peanut butter as a choice because of one tragic death that could have just as easily been a piece of fruit or a hot dog.
I applaud your dedication to homeschooling.
Hi Luke - thanks for coming by my blog and praying for my daugher and her friends. They're doing better. I know it'll take time. Thanks again!! Tina
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momof7kids