Rod's Alter Ego

A Brief Diversion

The purpose of this blog...well, right, it really doesn't have one, tho I will say that from the start I have at least strived to maintain an insouciant tone. And I've guardedly tried to keep it from veering into the political space. Yet every once in a while something so outrageous comes along to yank the chains of incredulity, that it merits drawing your attetntion to it.

To wit: The California legislature has concocted a proposal that would delete the following two existing prohibitions from the State's official language pertaining to public schools: 1) teaching the merits of communism, and 2) the freedom to assemble to discuss overthrowing the US government. Don't believe me? Check it out¹.

And by all means treat yourself to a stroll through the comments to that post. A lively bunch of cynics they are. Far more entertaining than the shallow punditry you're likely to hear on a cable news stream.

In a related decree the State now also forbids home schooling by parents lacking a teaching certification. Must one be a card-carrying Libertarian to angrily oppose these increasingly egregious insinuations by the State into private affairs? Come to think of it, maybe the deletion of prohibition #2 above isn't such a bad idea after all. Indeed, let's start with the California legislature. I know, I know, we're a nation of laws, we can't have people threatening anarchic action every time something isn't decided in their favor. Yeah, well, The Third Reich had laws, too. I'm just saying.

And evidently not just me.

Comment #39 from the first link above:

Regarding the teaching credential provision for homeschooling, just what the hell does that mean? My husband and I homeschool our kids. We both have Ph.D.s. I taught college for awhile. Yet, according to state rules, I am not qualified to teach in public schools because I never got "credentials," which means taking classes in education and passing exams determined by the state. Mark my words, this is the camel's nose under the tent. The education bureaucracy of California is trying to stomp out folks like us who won't conform to their dictates. The fact that they now officially allow communism to be taught in CA schools just gives me even more reason to keep my children away from those dreaded places.

Drawing a comparison between a socialistic regime (pick your favorite) and the metastatic creep of the American government (or its 50 disciples) inevitably invites this putative reassurance: "Sure, but that couldn't happen here. Not in America." Pffft. I ask you: How far under the tent flap must the camel's nose be before the whole camel is in the tent?

Civil disobedience is the best way to deal with situations like this. See Thoreau. I can't tell you how many times I've run free at dog parks where the rules insisted I be leashed. Risky? Yes. Was I concerned for my safety? At times, sure. But I did it to stand on principle, to do what was right, to exercise my natural right of self-rule! (And partly also because Master refused to bring a leash). Anyway...

So my advice to California parents, and parents everywhere, go ahead and home school your children and don't tell the Nanny State. Doubtless some will find themselves living next door to some niggling neighbor, an accomplice to the State, who will tattle on them. Fine. Stand up, be counted, be heard. Be a modern Thoreau. Face prison. Do it for country.

...

Presently we're getting hammered with snow. 14 inches? Probably. Nevertheless, we're all going to the Farm for an hour of lawlessness off leash!

[1] Lileks (scroll down)

Update: 6:07 PM, 3.8.2007: Below: The Farm at ~10:30 am (me included for scale only). The snow hasn't stopped falling since then, in fact it's picked up quite a lot. Ugh.