NMR ISSUE 32

Astrological Forecast 32
Boredom's Natural Cure
Calling the Winds of Change
Editorial 32
Electromagnetic Energy and Crop Circles
Esoteric Symbology of the Tarot
Letters 32
Midsummer Hunt
Pilgrimage to the Parthenon
Swan, Wallaby, Bull
The Magical Flute
The Old Devil
Vernal Equinox - A Druid Tradition
Worlds Collide!

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Our Children:
Sociopaths or Good Germans?

The article in your most recent issue (Vol. 6 No. 3) titled Pagan Parenting: Home Schooling was of particular interest. The author made some interesting points, but I believe missed some others.

First, she maintains that we have a tradition of separating church and state, and so States should not be subsidizing religious institutions—like private schools, since the predominate number of private schools are religious (of one sort or the other). She uses this argument as a rational to praise the defeat of a voucher bill in California. Let me point out that the current school system is an outgrowth of the patriarchal belief system, and was developed as an adjunct to the factory system. As such it is a state subsidy of a type of religion—the worship of money.

Her incidental arguments concerning several people she knows who home school their children are just that—incidental. Incidental evidence can be used to prove any point—the fact that there are lesbian Witches, for example, could be used to argue that all Witches are lesbian. Her arguments concerning the value of socialization in the school system are hollow at best—the socialization many children achieve is to be rude to adults, afraid of one another, and subject to overwhelming peer pressure. Her experience with the school in her neighborhood has been positive, but many, in and out of the Craft, have not had so fortunate an experience.

Finally, and most unfortunately, is her defense of the school system as a place where people are prepared to function in society, to stand in line, to wait your turn, to follow instructions! This, after her enumeration of the advantages of home schooling: children can receive individual attention, may proceed at their own pace, pursuing their own interests, more flexible schedules, and spend more time with their families (and extended families, too). How unfortunate that she seems to feel that these benefits should only be made available to, again quoting, learning disabled children. All others, apparently, should be prepared to go to work in an economy that is hierarchical, scarcity- and competition-based, and ultimately supportive of a system of religious belief that will lead to the death of our race (and the wounding of the planet that will take millennia to repair).

It is my belief that children will learn what they need to learn, and that some combination of home-schooling and other, newer forms of schooling/learning will be there to help them—but only if we move now to change the current death-lock that the public school system has on education. Just because the Christian Establishment has left itself a loophole called private schools does not mean that Neo-Pagans and Wiccans should not take advantage of that loophole for their own benefit. As we do so, the forms and goals will change for the better—if we do not, then we have once again left the field open to be played only on the terms that the Christian Right wants to dictate. We have more than our own children to consider here—we have a duty to the Goddess to consider how our choices will effect the planet.

I would urge all those who practice the Craft to examine their choices from the perspective of a legitimate community, rather than as isolated individuals. Anything that is available to other organized groups can be available to our community as well—including political representation, economic benefits, and the protection of the court system—once we learn how to present our case as well as the right wing Fundamentalists have. If we stay isolated, our voices raised only within the relative safety of the Circle (and the circle of our friends), then we will gain little. For Magick to work, there must be clarity, energy, and emotion—as above, so below—in all the forms of our lives. Certainly our children's education is that important.

Blessed Be!

Reverend Paul Michael Amyx, ICADC
The Consorts' Radical Alliance For Truth
Tucson, AZ

I hope that neither Amanda's original article nor this response settles this issue. The question of home schooling deserves each person's careful consideration. Each must be able to seriously consider both pro and con, rather than following an unconsidered emotional response. I'm sure if we focus on how we want to change society and remember that we still have to function in it as it is now, we can maximize the benefits and overcome the problems of whichever choice each of us makes.

Roll Out the Beyerl

The Hermit's Grove is Paul Beyerl's new educational center [opening in July] located in the Seattle area, offering classes and herbal gardens. The Hermit's Grove also offers a catalog of books, educational materials and tapes plus The Hermit's Lantern, a new monthly educational publication on herbalism, astrology, tarot, gem therapy and magick. For more information write: Paul Beyerl, 9724 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98033.