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I was removed from middle school in the 8th grade, and then returned to the public school system for the 9th grade (beginning of highschool in the U.S.). Halfway through 9th grade, I was again removed (in fact, at my own behest and thanks to the graciousness of my mother).
I was never schooled with discipline. I was raised by a single mother, and she was very, very busy with her career. We had a deal that she would finance the books and tools I asked for, if I would be at least somewhat diligent in teaching myself. Of course, the other requirement involved me passing all of the standardized tests.
I did, despite the fact that I worked full-time (illegally) at 14.
Public education in the U.S., in my opinion, is mostly fluff and bullshit. They sadly fail to teach you how to learn, which is truly something that can only be learned by the individual. Because the system totally discounts the value and importance of individual expression and interpretation, the public school system will always fail to generate unique thinkers capable of educating themselves throughout their lives. Which, I think, ought to be the goal. While the U.S. will produce plenty of perfectly unique and intelligent people (evidenced by many members of Barbelith), that occurs in spite of, not because of, the U.S. public school system.
I wasn't isolated. I hung out with gutterpunks and "neo-hippies", played guitar on streetcorners, and in general, was a social misfit of sorts - but social is the keyword, here.
I recall very, very fondly my experiences in homeschooling. I credit my mother's decision for a lot of the better aspects of my personality and intellectual style, if you will.
There's my take on it. |
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