Those Blasted Grass Roots Movements

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

25 Sep 2006 07:15 PM

I recently heard someone comment on how home schooling was one of those "grass roots" movements as if being a "grass roots" movement was a bad thing. Then I thought about it, and I realized he's right! Grass roots movements simply have to stop! After all, consider earlier historical efforts in grass-rootism.

Grass roots movements cause wars! About 200 or so years ago, these people decided that it was unfair to be taxed without having a say in the government. They start talking about it and before you know it--poor England has a grass roots movement on their hands that then leads to war.

Grass roots movements always lead to poor and undesirable outcomes. A while back in history, some women got to thinking that maybe they were as smart as the men folk. So they started reading, and getting ideas and before you know it--one of those grass roots movements ended up giving women the right to vote. I can see how we wouldn't want that.

And as if this isn't the ultimate in grass roots activism--some lady refuses to give up her seat on the bus because she's black. Now we have desegregation of schools and our country enjoys a relative tolerance unprecedented around the world.

Yes, grass roots movements are responsible for the Civil Rights movement, women's suffrage, and even the American Revolutionary War. Many of the freedoms we enjoy are a result of some little nobody somewhere deciding to advocate for what he believed in.

So is home schooling a grass roots movement? I suppose it is. I suppose it is the result of numerous parents rejecting the conditions of public schools. What will be the awful result of this grass roots movement? A better educated generation? Better public education forced through by educational choice? I cannot fathom.

One more interesting thing about grass roots movements. At the time, they always seem foolish to the "main stream"--until they become the accepted ideology.

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Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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Megan Bayliss (3586) 25 Sep 2006 08:26 PM

And may the grass grow quickly under the feet of those who dare to mow it down. FANTASTIC blog.

Valorie Delp (49340) 26 Sep 2006 03:13 AM

Thanks!

Gwyllum (301) 26 Sep 2006 04:31 AM

Great examples Valorie. One of my Grandmothers was the second woman to graduate in England with a science degree. She had little support from others, even in her own family at that time. Never was able to work within her chosen and qualified profession because of firstly, being a woman and secondly, she had one turned eye. Many of her descendants are head strong women who have graduated and continued with both professional developement and professional employment. Many of us have worked at the 'grass roots' level to empower the disempowered and bring about social, political and personal change. I'm now in my 60's and say, GO FOR IT to Grass Roots Movements - I even got chucked out of Central America for it!!

Valorie Delp (49340) 26 Sep 2006 04:37 AM

LOL--from what I understand, Central America is pretty famous for chucking people who think though.

dgbayliss (51) 26 Sep 2006 05:17 PM

Good entry. Thank you. It does make me wonder - - Is the public / mainstream education system a reflection of society, or is society a reflection of the education system? - - All sorts of run-away question come to mind reflecting upon that . . . It should not matter when/where/why/how an individual gained their education - so long as they EXCEED the minimum standard (using measurables set by 'authorities') they should be deemed 'educated' or 'competent' within a specific area. It is the measurement and authentication that has become problematic. Education is DYNAMIC, and for at least the past 150-years many people have been promoting the fact that it is time to-learn-how-to-learn, and to stop the spoon-feeding that leads to a specific-task -qualification and start teaching people how to adapt to the rapidly changing techno-environment (do a search for George Taylor, a prominent educator around the late 19C). I think that 'fringe' education methods, which 'home schooling' may be seen by some, may pose a threat to the socio-cultural swanky-status that some sub-cultures / intrinsic-socio-cultural-groups promote (a kind of conspicuous consumption). Unfortunately far too many young people are taught to achieve the MINIMUM standard (and are then praised and rewarded for achieving it) - Anybody can do the least expected, but is that what we really need? Home Schooling is a means of taking responsibility for the welfare and future of our children - and not leaving it in somebody else's hands - GO FOR IT. David Bayliss (Australia).

Valorie Delp (49340) 27 Sep 2006 06:18 AM

Thank you for your comments David. You've given me some good fodder for future blogs. . .