Joel Turtel is an education policy analyst and author of "The Welfare State: No Mercy For the Middle Class." He lives in New York State.
From the Publisher
Parents, what if your local public school is a menace to your child's mind,
education, and future? What if public schools are hopelessly beyond repair
and simply cannot give your children the education they need and deserve?
Do you have children who do poorly in school or are bored or frustrated with school? In contrast to what most public-school officials will tell you, in most cases the problem lies with the schools, not with your children. It turns out that millions of children, including yours, have good reasons to hate public school, reasons that you as a parent should not ignore.
In his hard-hitting new book, "Public Schools, Public Menace: How Public Schools Lie To Parents and Betray Our Children," Joel Turtel argues that public schools have become so dangerous and such a waste of time for America's children, that parents should vote with their feet and look elsewhere to educate their kids.
In "Public Schools, Public Menace," the author reveals:
Turtel explains why parents should think seriously about taking their children out of public school, permanently. Children don't have to suffer through 12 years of a mind-numbing, third-rate public-school education. "Public Schools, Public Menace" explores and gives a detailed Resource list of many quality, low-cost education alternatives that parents can take advantage of right now, from accredited Internet schools and computer learning software to inexpensive learn-to-read and learn-math books and home-schooling.
He also shows parents how home-schooling can be a lot easier, less costly, and less time-consuming than they might think.
Joel Turtel is an education policy analyst and author of "The Welfare State: No Mercy For the Middle Class." He lives in New York State.
From The Critics
Samuel L. Blumenfeld - Syndicated columnist, author of "Homeschooling: A
Parent's Guide To Teaching Children," and author of seven other books on
education and public schools,
"This is an excellent, thoroughly documented and detailed exposition of
what's wrong with the public schools. The author makes it clear that parents
have a responsibility to make sure that their children get a good education,
which is no longer to be had in a government school. His chapters on the
widespread drugging of children by the "educators" and the negative affects
of such medication should be read by every parent with a child in a public
school. What can parents do about it? The author outlines the benefits of
homeschooling, which is no doubt the best alternative to the public schools
available to parents. How can a parent homeschool if he or she has to work?
The author addresses that problem and provides some very creative
suggestions. If you are a parent wrestling with the problem of education for
your children, this book is for you. It's also for the average taxpayer
who's been wondering what the educators have been doing with the billions of
dollars they get. They certainly don't educate."
Dr. Laura Schlessinger - Internationally syndicated Radio talk host, and
author of: "Stupid Things Parents Do To Their Kids",
"This book is a must-read for every parent. It is sad but true that the
public school system in America threatens the values of families and the
welfare of students. It is for that reason that Dr. James Dobson and I urge
parents to take their children out of public school and either home-school
or find private, traditionally religious schools."
A reviewer, 08/06/2006
A critically important reference
The American public school system was once the chief mechanism for
assimilating children into the mainstream culture and preparing them for
lives as adults with respect to employment, patriotism, and civic
responsibilities. That mechanism is now broken and seemingly beyond repair.
'Public Schools, Public Menace' reveals how contemporary public schools
deceive parents with respect to the quality of the education and personal
safety being afforded their children how the public school system's approach
to literacy is actually impairing children's ability to read why millions of
school children are routinely subjected to mind-altering medications how
public schools are indoctrinating children with anti-parent, anti-American,
and anti-Judeo/Christian values and offers parents twenty-two specific
danger signals alerting them as to when they should remove their children
from a public school and seek an alternative for their educational needs.
Author Joel Turtel parents quality, low-cost education alternatives that are
immediately available to most parents which range from accredited Internet
schools, to inexpensive teaching books, to 'user friendly' computer
software, to traditional home-schooling, plus tutoring, teaching materials,
and college-admission sites. Even parents with low to middle-incomes can
provide their children with viable alternatives to the public school.
'Public School, Public Menace' should be required reading for anyone
concerned with the present state of public education and is a critically
important reference and guide for parents alarmed at what their children are
being subjected to in their local community schools.
A reviewer, A parent considering home schooling, 05/09/2005
Beware of Public Schools
How Public Schools Endanger Our Kids, May 9, 2005 Reviewer:
Ellen Graye
(Philadelphia) At last, someone has said it! The author has brilliantly
examined our public schools and proclaimed rightly that these wretched,
government-controlled schools are 'beyond repair.' With devastating facts
and clear logic, Joel Turtel showed me the seamy underside of public
schools. He explains how these schools hurt children in ways I had never
known before. I was shocked and appalled at what this book revealed about
these schools. The author made me understand why our children's reading,
writing, and math skills keep getting worse every year. The book explains
how public schools dumb-down our kids with idiotic teaching methods like the
anti-phonics whole-language reading method that cripples children's ability
to read. He shows how these schools warp children's values and sometimes
force shocking sex-education books and videos on innocent children in
so-called sex-education classes, usually without parents' consent or
knowledge. I was shocked at the chapter that showed how public-school
officials coerce parents into giving their children mind-altering drugs like
Ritalin for children who 'don't pay attention' in class or fidget in their
seats because these bright children are bored-to-death with their classes or
teachers. And I never realized how anti-parent these schools really are, and
how they try to indoctrinate kids with anti-religion and anti-American
ideas. I had always thought that with enough money, these schools could be
'fixed' and finally made to give our kids a decent education. The author
explains why public schools can't be fixed --- because they are a government
monopoly that gets its students and its money to operate by force, by
compulsory attendance laws and school taxes. He shows how this government
education monopoly, like any monopoly, turns these schools into arrogant and
insulated education prisons for our kids. The author also attacks teacher
licensing, tenure, and dozens of other 'sacred cows' of the education
establishment. Finally, the second half of this book is really positive. It
shows parents how they can take their kids out of public school and give
them a great education at home. I didn't realized all the education options
parents have today. But the author explains about the new, low-cost Internet
schools, home-schooling, and many other resources parents have today. He
even has a Resource section in the book where he lists Internet school
sites, home-schooling resource sites, parent networking group sites, and
much more. He shows parents how they can educate their kids at home using
these Internet schools, the computer, the Internet, low-cost instruction
books, public libraries, and much more. Even more important, I loved the way
he answered typical parents' fears about taking the scary step of
home-schooling. The author talks about parents' most common fears and
questions about home-schooling, and gives parents many resources to help
them gain the confidence to home-school their kids. The book even shows
parents with only high-school diplomas twenty-two ways they can home-school
their kids, even if they have full-time jobs. This is a wonderful, brilliant
book that every parent should read. Any parent who worries about the
terrible education their kids are getting in public school, and wants
something better for their kids, should read this book.
Also recommended: No Mercy For the Middle Class by Joel Turtel
A reviewer, a parent with two kids, 05/09/2005
Taking My kids out of Public SchoolPUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC MENACE
I learned why I had to take my kids out of public school, May 9, 2005
Reviewer: Harold V. (Chicago) This book is a must-read for anyone interested
in the education of our children. This sorely needed book is a wonderful
support for a parent like me who was debating whether to home-school our
kids. Before reading the book, I had some misgivings about our local public
schools. However, after reading this book, I discovered how harmful these
schools can be for my kids. I had no idea about the Ritalin drug problems,
the stupid anti-phonics reading method, and anti-Christian values taught in
public schools, etc. This book gave me the courage and ammunition I needed
to get my wife to agree to join me in home-schooling our children. Harold V.
Also recommended: No Mercy for the Middle Class by Joel Turtel
What People Are Saying
"Public Schools, Public Menace is a great resource for any parents who are
interested in better education for their children. It is written with
passion and insight."
-M.D. author of: "A Choice For Our Children: Curing the Crisis in America's
Schools"
- Alan Bonsteel