Obama vs. Homeschool?
This is just me trying to make sense out of a short ad I ran across on the internet and information that has begun filtering down through the homeschooling community.
What are Obama’s views on homeschool I have to wonder. Surfing the Internet today, like most days, I came across a small ad, a blurb,really. What it was for was to get information on financial aid to go to college. Who was the target audience? Women. Now, the blurb, by itself, is not what caught my attention. The title is what did it.
“Obama asks moms to return to school!”
Just this eye-catching header with the link for more information for financial aid.
Now, with the limited information provided in this short blurb, what would be your take on this?
We have long since surpassed the days where colleges were mainly populated by male students. Women have been regularly receiving higher learning degrees in increasing numbers across the board in different fields for a number of years right alongside their male counterparts. Knowing this, what would be another possible reason for,
“Obama asks moms to return to school”
Why then,the push endorsed by our president, it would seem,to drive moms back into school? What would be the purpose?That got me thinking. What are a percentage of these moms doing right now? Homeschooling their young children at home! (Not to take away from the fathers who also have ventured down this very same road,I know you are out there!) However, the majority of the daily teaching in homeschooling families generally falls on the mom’s shoulders.
HMMM. Interesting, An ad directed at women only, to return to school, with Obama doing the asking. Sounds innocent enough, on the surface, doesn’t it?
Get enough moms to return to school and perhaps the thinking is, maybe some will be homeschooling moms? Perhaps going back to finish a degree or add to one? What, is the hope that the mom will become overwhelmed between homeschooling her kids and taking college classes that she’ll close her school down and ship her kids back to the public schools? At least until she finishes her own college classes?
If that is the thinking behind this tactic, it is pretty pitiful. Clearly, there has been no attempt to get to know the typical homeschooling mom.
Homeschooling moms, typically, have learned how to budget their time quite well as every moment of every day is spoken for in advance. Not only do these moms handle the overseeing of domestic living; but they put together their children’s curriculum, according to state and federal standards, teach, grade and keep records for each child, keep doctor appointments and give yearly CAT/5 tests that satisfy the states requirements for homeschool.
This is just a quick peak into a day in the life of a homeschooling mom. Do you really think, in the age of computers, that moms would have to go to campus to class, unless they wanted to? Moms could take courses on-line right from home whenever it worked best for them.
So, yes, moms can and often do, return to school. They can juggle as many things as they need to, however, they also know the value of delegating as the need arises. After all, how can a child learn but by being given the chance to try! Which is a core value in most homeschooling families by the way.
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Post CommentRain
On May 28, 2009 at 11:35 pm
As a homeschooling Mom who has been wanting to return to college I am grateful for the potential help. I will continue to homeschool my children while I attend classes. There is no law, at least in Texas, as to what days or times I must teach my children.
Obama moms back to school
On June 3, 2009 at 4:35 pm
All valid points there.
But remember that moms can easily undertake online study, so there time expenditure will be considerably less than if they were to go off to college.
Moms going to school can only give them a brighter outlook on life so that they have something to do once their children are grown up.
More info can be found here:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Obamas-Moms-Return-to-School-Government-Grant-Scholarship&id=2397625
And as Rain said, most moms would be excited about this. The financial help is fantastic for those who could not otherwise afford college.
Angela
On June 7, 2009 at 4:41 pm
OK, play fair. Someone deleted my comment because it was not positive. I notice several others have been deleted as well. Is this article fake? Hmmmm, my guess would be yes.
Alaska
On June 8, 2009 at 12:21 am
I honestly think Obama’s aim is to get single moms back to school… not homeschooling moms who are supported by a spouse. I have read a couple of “ads” where the purpose is not to get moms out of their homeschool classroom, but to help out moms who don’t believe they have the option of gaining their education because all they have time for is work and their children. Just my take.
Gail Gunter
On June 8, 2009 at 9:31 am
Personal attacks are inappropriate, not helpful and come across as nothing but malicious spite. This is not the place for such things. Same goes for posting simply to tell us what your political views are, as another poster did. It is out of context to what is actually being asked.
Kathleen
On June 9, 2009 at 8:49 am
I’m not sure of the average education level of most home schooling moms. In my co-op & support organizations, near Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, most moms have college degrees. Doesn’t this ad seem more like an effort to remove the mother’s constant presence and attention from the educating of children, and the care of home & family and take her out of the home? How much longer must we undervalue the importance of nurturing homes? I am a lawyer. I value education of all people. I never intended to be a stay-at-home mom & dedicated home schooler. I was not raised to value such things. But I am also intelligent enough to face facts when I see them. And I now know, in America our children are undersupervised and undereducated. I agree that educating women is VERY important. The standard of living of a country increases when women & children have ready access to education and medical care. But I am EXTREMELY alarmed at the target of this advertising.
Beth
On June 9, 2009 at 12:08 pm
The Bible tells me that being a keeper at home is an honorable profession for a Christian wife/mom. I went through the public educational system into college, but now that I am a Christian I am adamantly opposed to this feminist women’s empowerment agenda encouraging wives to ‘get educated,’ to get a job, etc. It is an unbiblical emphasis. The ‘education’ the world offers, the emotional arguments to sow discontent with our God-given roles, the emphasis on public education as our savior and EVERYBODY needs it to succeed in life… I am disgusted with this latest ploy to financially entice women out of the home (yes, what else would getting an online education encourage besides ‘getting out of the box’ and putting your education to use?) “Education” isn’t everything, though it is worshipped as a veritable god. Obama, I’m not DUMB enough to fall for your “Moms Return to School” socialist agenda…
Jessica Schenck
On June 9, 2009 at 1:07 pm
This ad is not targeted at homeschool mothers, but at mothers period. Statistically, the percentage of mothers who homeschool is minimal compared to the populance of mothers. Factor in the number of young mothers who never finished high school and those who have a HS diploma but not any further education, and you will see that the target audience would be those mothers who have no skills. I would not think that homeschool mothers are what you would call ’skill-less or unemployable’. There are many mothers who have no degree or job, yet choose to send their children to public schools for various reasons, or even no reason at all.
If programs out there exist, what is the harm of taking advantage of them?
T
On June 10, 2009 at 7:14 am
Post #7 by Beth. You claim not to be dumb enough to fall for a supposed Obama hidden agenda but are very apparently dumb enough to fall for a completely ridiculous religious ploy. “my bible tells me to stay at home and be a good mom, etc.” I think you would make a great Mormon wife.
Robin C
On June 14, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Many mothers like myself have decided to put their educations on hold in order to ensure our children receive a college education. Now that I have successfully seen all of my girls through high school and into college, I have now returned back “online” and am earning my own degree.
There are great arguments on every side, however none is as silly as accusing our president of attempting to take moms out of their homes for any reason. And futhermore, if any woman desire to forego earning a higher degree; that is that person’s perogative.
Tara
On June 20, 2009 at 7:09 am
I do think many have missed the point of the scholarships being offered. Married moms don’t qualify; this money is for single moms. It is to help them get a leg up, to be able to better their situations. I for one hope that it helps many who are in need.
#9 needs to not slam what she does not know. I know wonderful mormon wives who have great educations and work, and many who have great educations and stay home to homeschool (and isn’t homeschooling what began this article?) Obviously, “T” has had some bitter experiences and I am sorry for her/him.
Marie
On June 20, 2009 at 10:19 am
I don’t know if this is a ploy or not but I do believe Obama is against homeschool. THat being said as a homeschool mom I indend to take I intend to take him up on his offer. I am looking at the bigger picture of what will happen to me and my children should something happen to my husband. I know that my place in is in the home nurturing and teaching my children but if my husband dies I will have to support them financially. Getting an education will not make me leave the home but it will provide the security I need if the worst happens.
Rachael
On June 22, 2009 at 10:12 am
A quote from the above: “but they put together their children’s curriculum, according to state and federal standards, teach, grade and keep records for each child, keep doctor appointments and give yearly CAT/5 tests that satisfy the states requirements for homeschool.”
That bothered me a bit. Each of our 50 states have different laws on what we as parents must do to be in compliance. Some states you must do all of the above. Others you do not follow that list. Painting what the daily life of a homeschooling parent with some “general brush” is misleading. Just like if you follow the show “18 Kids and Counting”. What Michelle Duggar does isn’t typical as well. Each family is unique.
That ad I see so much everywhere about Obama wanting Moms to return to school is misleading. Where do you hear Obama speaking about it on television or read about it on a newsfeed? I think the whitehouse.gov site should hear about how some advertisers are using the Presidents name to plant a small seed of fear in some Mom’s head that we better go to school or else.
Financing an education is very expensive, even if you plan to attend a community college. Having $30,000 to $100,000 in debt for the “provided security” the above reader talks about is not a decision to be taken lightly, even if Obama demanded that we really did it.
Willow
On June 22, 2009 at 1:24 pm
If you accept a government handout, you are actually enslaving your self. I have witnessed this in our community. People have come to rely on public schools’ breakfast, reduced or free lunches at school, after school ‘tutoring’ and then another ride home. So, I’ve seen 6 year olds get on a bus at 6:45am and not return home until 4pm or later. Yes, I said SIX year olds! So, in this example family that lives down the road from us, they only feed their children one meal a day during the week, they don’t pay for gas to take the kids to school, and they have ineffect free day care from 7am – 4pm. So, why can’t this mom get a job instead of welfare checks? They have a satelite dish, so she could use the internet. They have several cars in the driveway, so she has a ride to work. ???? But, this mom stays home, drives a nice car, has better clothes than most, etc. No wonder. The tax payers are footing the bill for most of her children’s food and care.
So, I also saw the Obamination ad. I had not thought about the homeschooling issue, but my first thought was ‘who is going to pay for it?’ I figured out that it cost us $650 per year just to drive our son to school, and that was when gas was far below $3+ a gallon. Our taxes pay for buses. Our taxes pay for free and reduced school lunch programs. Our taxes pay for after school programs. Multiply our neighbor’s benefits by millions, and you have deficet problem. I don’t think the Obama’s are going to give their $90 million dollar a year income away to pay for it, but you can bet he’ll raise taxes.
Laura
On June 22, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Regardless of what you think of the offer, why would anyone want to take advantage of it? To work at a fast-food joint along with all the other college graduates who can’t find a job to save their life right now? You don’t need a college degree unless you’re becoming a doctor or lawyer.I joined the work force in the early ’80s having learned to type and take shorthand in high school. As computers were introduced into the business world we all learned on the job. I worked my way up from secretary to assistant director of successful museum in Santa Monica, and finally to executive director of a theatrical arts administration company overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets and 3 professional theater companies. No college degree, no handouts. I then chose to leave it all to become a wife and homeschool mom. Read between the lines, this is another way to take hold of us and our kids to be brainwashed in the system we know as public school. It’s undeniable now that the entire movement has been and is full-speed ahead on making us all completely dependent upon the government. Just say no.
Gail Gunter
On June 25, 2009 at 1:52 pm
“but they put together their children’s curriculum, according to state and federal standards, teach, grade and keep records for each child, keep doctor appointments and give yearly CAT/5 tests that satisfy the states requirements for homeschool.”
Obviously, most understand that this does vary from state to state. What I am getting at is simply this: Mom’s who teach their kids at home have learned how to budget their time. They can delegate chores to keep the house running smoothly, (help the kids learn responsibility through house or outside chores),while still, if they choose, continue their education from home using their computers. Like I mentioned in the article.
My big question is why is it simply directed at “Mom’s” in the first place. Not all males in our society have finished highschool or even gone on to college. They, also could “use this benefit” if it is on the level.
***Once again, keep it civil or you will be removed!
This is not a bashing site!
Trina
On July 3, 2009 at 11:49 pm
This is a silly advertisement, it is not even an issue. Obama did not sign a bill that is gender specific. The advertisement that you saw was the work of someone from classesusa.com, a company that sells information collected on their site to others.
M
On July 16, 2009 at 9:33 am
The reason Obama wamted to help single moms is because his mother raised him mostly by herself , He adored his grandmother and has two daughters. He is really trying to help women in general as the most important women in his life signify a lot to him.Now he is in a position which he cn get things moving , so he is.Simple there is no hidden agenda .
You view the world accordingly to how you feel inside about your world….you are filled of hidden agendas.
CLA
On July 17, 2009 at 10:51 am
This is so stupid. He is just trying to help. The negative overview with most people in here don’t see the point. You’re stuck inside your own world and want to lecture to others on how you want everyone to see.
RIDICULOUS!!!
JLangst
On August 25, 2009 at 6:49 pm
I think that the cause and effect is just to give parents (especially moms) back into school. This is what drives our economy, not going to school, but the stepping stones toward it. And most mothers seems to think that everything is over after having children. Theres many ways out there to get help.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Scholarships-For-Moms—Get-Help-Continuing-Your-Education&id=2691599
We just have to understand the situation the individual is in to see why this applies as something helpful.
Bianca Butcher
On January 2, 2010 at 6:34 pm
I agree with Alaska Obama knows that women in the workplace have always been part of story of what makes America great. Single moms in particular are going to see more of a challenge when it comes to making time to going to college and anything and everything that can guide them to make the right choice in making that first step will be appreciated. Check out this article:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Moms-Now-Have-a-Great-Opportunity-to-Improve-Their-Lives-Through-College-Grants&id=3476380
I think all the comments above are helpful, by the way.
Jenny Baty
On March 3, 2010 at 10:25 pm
The Obama single mom grant is the opportunity single moms have been waiting for to get a chance to finish school and it is out there for the taking. I really think moms are great—they sacrificed alot for us, especially for those single moms who quit studying because of early pregnancy. After all, they just deserve to finish their schooling as well…
all these I realized after discovering a very similar article which was so helpful. If you\’re curious to read it, you can find it here:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Obamas-Single-Moms-College-Grant&id=2801979