I recently read Government Schools are bad for you kids: What you need to know. I found the book to be a powerful reminder of why my wife and I home school our children.

Many parents view the government's curriculum as being the best available. And they buy into the PR campaigns that claim government schools are producing educated young adults who are free-thinking, self-starters.

Such a claim couldn't be further from the truth.

Government schools exist to produce citizens who blindly support the government. Private and home schools can educate, but they tend to not produce "good little soldiers" for the political class.

Certainly, government schools teach the three R's -- it needs a relatively educated workforce. But it's main goal is indoctrination.

I cheered when James asks, "[W]hat does a 99 in a government school American history course mean?" and then answers with, "[T]hat the student has mastered propaganda 101."

This is so true. And I would extend that to include economics, etc. Every subject, other than the three R's (and now they are also suspect), has been subsumed into the state's program of indoctrination.

Don't believe it? Try getting your local school to present an alternative view of global warming. Or recycling. Or health care reform. Or, well, you get the idea.

James's book isn't just a reminder to those who already home school. It is an encouragement to those who are considering homeschooling. And it is a good counter to those who still buy into the belief that government schools are providing a "public good."