I had no idea Rick Santorum's 7 kids are all home-schooled

[Cali_Democrat]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j4GzKPyF0CZnjUapZ-89Wa83qdgw?docId=dd18a91aa68a4d2c95218eabfb91363c

A Catholic father of seven whose kids are home-schooled, Santorum may seem to wear his conservatism as comfortably as his sweater vests. But he's walked a careful path, keeping the more provocative opinions that helped sink his re-election to the Senate in 2006 mostly out of his presidential campaign.

[izquierdista]

1. Which, in his case, means UNschooled

Poor kids. I can't imagine that a single one of them knows anything at all about biology, geology, foreign language, critical thinking, and a whole raft of other subjects. Probably can recite Bible verses and do a little cipherin', that's about all.

[rfranklin]

2. And he scammed the public education system

In November 2004, the Penn Hills School District, which was paying 80% of the tuition costs associated with the Santorum's five older children attending the Western Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, asked Santorum to repay $67,000 in tuition costs as the district believed that he and his family were spending most of the year in Virginia and did not meet the qualifications for residency status.[161] Santorum disputed the assessment and withdrew his children from the cyber education program.[162] On July 8, 2005, a Pennsylvania state hearing officer dismissed the complaint as not being filed in a timely manner. The school district sought reimbursement from the state and in September 2006, the Pennsylvania Department of Education agreed to pay the district $55,000 to settle the dispute.[163] In September 2006, Santorum asked county officials to remove the homestead tax exemption from his Penn Hills property.[164] Since 2006, Santorum has been home-schooling his seven children.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Santorum

[LiberalEsto]

3. Something is wrong with those kids

Look at those faces

[RZM]

6. I see some sad and disappointed faces

I believe this picture was taken at a concession speech. I doubt they would take 'daddy lost the election' with a smile.

[la la]

20. if you've been watching rickie frothytorum after primaries---

you'll see his daughters standing behind him with that SAME expression on their faces- sweartogawd---look for youtubes or pixs---you'll see what i saw---it's sad, but hilarious---what a happy family....

[LiberalEsto]

26. I feel sorry for them

I wonder if they are praying to escape.

[Cali_Democrat]

29. Me too

I couldn't imagine being home-schooled by my parents and my parents are actually sane.

[DefenseLawyer]

30. Ex-Senator's Son, or Daughter, just doesn't have the same cache. n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Yes, while Pennsylvania taxpayers paid for it.

http://thekitchencabinet.us/2012/02/12/rick-santorum-success-breeds-snipers/

"Furthermore, while living in Virginia, the Santorums apparently billed the State of Pennsylvania for over a hundred thousand dollars in education aid so that their children could be part of a cyber-charter school. Living in the State of Virginia, but charging the State of Pennsylvania for expensive services was apparently not well-received by Santorum’s constituents."

Whole story is here: http://motherjones.com/politics/2012/01/rick-santorums-school-scandal

[leeroysphitz]

5. It's spelled "homeskooled". n/t

[HockeyMom]

7. Support YOUR Church

Send them to CATHOLIC SCHOOL. You get a DISCOUNT after the 4th kid.

[Old and In the Way]

8. They'll probably be socially maladjusted.

Last edited Fri Feb 17, 2012, 07:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Forget the educational aspects of home schooling - I suspect for every brilliant teacher-parent, there are 10 idiot-parents overseeing their kid's education. The bigger problem is isolating them from their peers until their late teens...I think many are going to have lots of issues trying to fit into society when they are finally pushed out of the shelter into the real world.

on edit - qualify with "probably" in the subject line. Obviously plenty of anecdotal evidence to argue against the blanket statement. I even know a home-schooled person who graduated summa cum laude from Harvard and was class valedictorian. I just believe that a nation of home schooled children will weaken our social fabric and a majority of home-schooled children are not getting the education they'll need to compete in the 21st century. Being a good parent does not mean you are a good teacher. My opinion only, of course.

[antigone382]

14. I was homeschooled until the eighth grade, and I have friends who were homeschooled until college...

There were definitely flaws in both cases, but overall I would say that my friends who were homeschooled until college have come through somewhat shy and quirky, but with a remarkable degree of integrity intact, and spared from much of the insecurity and fear of nonconformity that the very brutal social world of public school can inflict on a person...not to mention the degrading nature of "zero tolerance" and other authoritarian policies.

Again, I would not say that my education or that of my friends was perfect, and I would not say that public school has no critical role in society (I am deeply opposed to the privatization of education and I want to see schools funded, and teachers given the tools to provide a truly enriching education); but I really don't see a connection between continuous homeschooling and social maladjustment.

[laundry_queen]

24. Yes, that's definitely one thing that's a myth

about homeschooling. Stuffing 30 kids of the exact same age in the same class for 12 years is not 'normal' socialization ie the kind humans were designed for. Children need (and want!) to have more contact with adults, babies, seniors, etc.

Yes, some homeschooled kids get terrible educations. This is dependent on the parents. I know many adults who were homeschooled as children and they are all totally and completely normal, in a social sense. My daughter's babysitter was homeschooled for 10 out of 12 years. She also went to college. She has nothing but good things to say about homeschooling (And she's a super cool and smart and wonderful person! I'm so glad she watches my daughter all day...). And now-a-days it's so easy to homeschool because there are so many pre-designed curriculums to choose from, and many that are delivered online. I can see the appeal.

Anyhow, yeah, I agree with your post.

[XemaSab]

15. I totally disagree

Hanging out with elementary school kids teaches you to be an elementary school kid, hanging out with middle school kids teaches you to be a middle school kid, and hanging out with high school kids teaches you to be a high school kid, but hanging out with adults teaches you to be an adult.

All of the kids I've known who were home schooled are really smart and self-directed, with none of that "Duhhh... let's go drink beers and date-rape chicks" or "I have to be dumb so boys will like me" mentality that is all too common among young people.

[tsuki]

9. He stole $55,000 from the Penn Hills Educational District to

pay for his homeschooling in Wherever, VA. It is one of the reasons he lost by 18%.

PS Don't tell MSM about it or the fact he was named the most corrupt Congressperson of 2005-2006. It will interfere with the sainthood they are trying to anoint him with.

[Quantess]

10. Wow, I did not know that.

Although I'm not all that surprised. The scum rises to the top.

[joeybee12]

11. Don't tell the MSM...until AFTER he's the nominee...

So much baggage, so little time.

[phylny]

27. He lives in Great Fall$, Virginia.

Used to live in Leesburg.

[Ilsa]

12. No wonder his wfe has a "reverse smile".

In all the pix I've seen of her, her smile is upside-down or flat across at best. I think it indicates deep feelings of either confusion, frustration, or hostility. Something isn't right. Also, look at his eldest daughter in recent pictures. Same thing.

[la la]

21. the kids, too- have the same *look* on their faces n/t

[2ndAmForComputers]

13. Yeah, yeah, I know, the idea of homeschooling isn't inherently bad...

But damn. The bulk of its proponents are not exactly the best advertising, now, are they?

[Progression]

16. Those faces....

Home schooled or indoctrinated?

[Proud Public Servant]

17. What you've gotta wonder is

why not Catholic school? What, the nuns aren't conservative enough for him?

[LeftyMom]

18. They'll never admit it, but a lot of these turbo-Catholics get their ideas from RW Protestants.

The things he says about birth control and kids really sound more like a Quiverful Protestant than a very observant Catholic, and the spacing and number of kids is more typical of a QF family than one doing whatever variety of sympto-thermal family planning they prefer these days.

[LeftishBrit]

19. Poor kids. Imagine being educated by Rick Santorum!

'Now the lesson for today is about animals. How many animals can we name, that people will start marrying if we tolerate those evil gays? Good, dogs are one. Yes, cats. Elephants - yes, perhaps, but the elephant is a very noble animal; it represents my great party. Turtles, yes, very good. Jellyfish, yes, possibly. No, Mary, we don't talk about dinosaurs; that brings up the whole topic of evolution. No, you don't need to learn about that; it's something very sinful and leftist that a very sinful and leftist man called Darwin invented. It's evil. That's why it's called evil-lution. Penguins? Very good, Peter; penguins are a particularly sinful animal; someone once even wrote a book about gay penguins. That's why God banished them to the South Pole.'

[w8liftinglady]

22. I DO know some kids who were homeschooled who adjusted well....but

They also had a lot of social interaction with kids their ages...and were allowed to be themselves.

I have a feeling these kids feel nothing but suppressed catholic Guilt...spoken by one who has been there.

[Riley18]

23. Why not send the kids to Catholic School?

They look more like the RW religious fanatics than Catholics. No wonder that dad with 19 kids endorses him.

[fascisthunter]

25. yup... so he can brainwash them... control what they hear and see

creating fuck-ups for our future

[Raine]

28. Lately he's been letting more and more of the crazy out

and what he himself doesn't let out his opponents will.