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These two called on me (without an appointment) while a court hearing instituted
by the L.E.A. was pending in relation to the education of my son Peter
whom I had begun to educate at home, away from
the demonic
influences of the local institution they call school. On reviewing
their remarks, I discovered they had made the following admissions:
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(1) |
'I am a caring father.' |
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(2) |
'Peter is an intelligent boy.' |
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(3) |
'I have a keenness for learning.' |
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(4) |
'I do not use academics as a substitute or excuse for
experience, or for doing work with my hands.' |
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(5) |
(That going far academically) 'is to do one's best only
within one's academic and mental ability.' |
Neither the true
meaning of their use of the word academic was offered
(probably because it is used euphemistically, in the same way that the word
school is a metonymy which actually means leisure).
Although the threatened court action failed to materialize, in anticipation of
it I prepared questions to be put to Mr. Finney and Mr. Portch at the hearing:
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R.T: |
"Mr. Finney, during your visit at my home, did you not inform
me that you are a trained teacher? Have you taught many children?" |
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Finney: |
(Admission that he was once a schoolteacher). |
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R.T: |
"So during your career as a teacher, you supposed you had the
right to teach
other people's children? But in so doing, you consequently did
not believe that parents have the right to teach their own children? Isn't that what
was implied by your visit at my home?" |
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Finney: |
(Reply). |
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R.T: |
"Do you still think parents have not the right to teach their
own children, as you conveyed when you came to see me about my son's education?" |
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Finney: |
(Reply). |
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R.T: |
"Are you not qualified to educate your own children at home?" |
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Finney: |
(Reply). |
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R.T: |
"So you believe in teaching other people's children, but not
your own? Why do you choose to leave your children to be taught by strangers?" |
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Finney: |
(Reply). |
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