(no subject)

This is strangely interesting, though I hope its powers are used for good (helping girls get clothes that fit, yes, but more so bringing to the fore the fact that our 'classical' conception of beauty is pretty far from accurate) rather than for evil (giving girls a high-tech way to obsess over how 'fat' they are).

Brought to you by the letter J.

Today seems to be a Day about Judaism.

I've thoughts on all three, but none I can really collate reasonably just yet. Something along the lines of "Yay. Boo. Hmm." In all cases, the simple fact is that I really don't know much at all about any of what's going on, a thing I'd like to change.

More on school.

This article on cheating in Grad school (with remarks on cheating in undergrad and highschool) brings up a number of thoughts. Is it in part the academic dishonesty of our students that's causing us such educational woes as presented Here and elsewhere in my blog? or is it some fault in the schooling system that causes students to cheat? Perhaps (and this is my preferred theory), as mentioned in the article, it's our society's focus on 'success' and getting ahead and beating the Joneses that causes these problems. It's always about getting the best job, the highest pay, the most stuff, and being on top. You know what? I'd rather be in a three-room apartment living paycheck to paycheck if I were happy and healthy than have the kind of 'success' that turns good men bad.

I will not compromise my children to The State.

At first, I resolved to homeschool my kids because I preferred the efficiency and style that homeschooling allowed when compared to the over-structured system of traditional education.

Then, I resolved to not-send my children to schools because I do not trust the government to raise my kids, and I will not stand for someone indoctrinating my children into a system of thought behind my back.

Most recently, I honestly fear for the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of my children if placed in the hostile environment that schools are becoming. I fear for their dignity. And I refuse to have my children harassed and brow-beaten and punished for crimes they have not committed.

I vow to do all I can to keep my children safe from schools.