Peter meets us in town-halls on a regular basis. His smiling face and that of his dogs-we love dogs in Oregon; they go everywhere we go-are common sights in our communities.
This year, Art Robinson, a Republican, is running against Peter and has stuck his campaign signs on every parcel of land not occupied by a democrat. Before any body knew what party or ideas he was representing, his name became a household oddity.
So, who is Art Robinson, and why am I talking about him in an essay about schools?
The answer is simple: Art Robinson hates public schools! He thinks parents who send children to public schools are abusing their children!
Don't take my word. Go google him and find out for yourself.
Art Robinson has home-schooled his children, has produced videos and materials for homeschooling children where racial bias,religious conservatism, and environmental disregard, are ideas woven in the lessons he created and has sold to families. He wants everyone to believe what he believes.
And that brings me back to my original topic. There are all kinds of people who prefer home-schooling. But, to run against public schooling, the right of every young person to be educated and exposed to many ideas, to participate in a democratic society fully conscious and prepared, that right is being denied by Art Robinson.
"We want government out of our life!" is a rallying cry by the new voices running for political office. Well, I do want government to fulfill its functions, to protect, to educate, to make rules by which each of us is treated fairly. I don't want government to stay out of schools. I want national standards in teachers' preparation, national standards in curriculum benchmarks, national standards for certification and for assessment.
It's hard not to take a stand this political season.
Not taking a stand will mean the end of life as we know it!
