Customer Reviews

The Harsh Truth About Public Schools

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I've known Bruce Shortt for several years. His critics,
and there will be many in the education establishment
when they catch wind of his book, will find the truth
about Bruce hard to take: He is an excellent home schooling
father; from what I can tell, an excellent husband; and
he is certainly an honest researcher into the state of
school-by-government in America today.

Unlike many who carp about "public schools," Bruce does
not believe that if he and his pals could just get in
charge that everything would be OK. He recognizes that
the whole idea of having the government run schools makes
as much sense as having government run factories, farms,
insurance companies, etc.

His critique is not aimed at the PEOPLE in the system.

His critique is about the system itself---that "public
schools" from the beginning were intended to reduce the
role of the family and increase the role of government.

His purpose is not to advise on how to "fix the system."

His advice is to parents: Get your children out of the
system! Home school them if you can. If that's not possible,
find a private school where the textbooks, teachers, and
other parents will be reinforcing what you and your spouse
are teaching your children.

Shortt lauches a broadside at the government school system. Some may recall that Mr Shortt was one of the sponsors of a push to get Christians to pull their children en-masse from the public schools. Although the resoltuin never passed Shortt was added to the long list of enemies of the DOE and NEA.

Shortt fires his broadside with a number of weapons, some from the Christian perspective, but most should be of issue to nay parent concerned about the childrens future.

While you can go about whether schools should exclude religion from the curriculum or not - this argument has proponets on both the Christian and secular sides, Shortt's most powerful criticisms have nothing to do with religion.

In my view the points made by the author are very strong indeed and boil down to basically the schools are "dumbing down" the curriculum, children are bored silly and many have to be drugged ( Ritalin, etc ) in order to put up with the hours of stupifying boredom in the dumbed down classes.

Shortt makes a good case. He argues also that reform efforts are futile since the system is structed in a way that will resist any attempts to reform any thing other than cosmetic features.

There are many fine works on the history of public education, and we don't need to go into them extensively here, but Shortt points out that the current system was modeled after the old Prussian system, Prussian schools considered children to be the property of the state. The state treated them that way. They were taught to be obedient to the state and their main purpose is to advance the interests of the state.

For this goal, real education was unnecessary and even counter to the overall intention of public schools. The author makes a strong case that the US public schools are designed exactly in this format.

It certainly explains the current level of literacy in the country. Some states even keep statistics on the illiteracy rate of high school graduates!

This was only the case here in the country AFTER the adoption and evolution of the public schools to it's current form. Many argue that public schools are a failure. Shortt seesm to present the argument that they are accomplishing exactly what they are designed to do: mold the children into willing consumers of the products of big business and obedient servants of government.

The aims of state schools were to transform thinking, highly individualistic and very literate citizens into an unthinking, collectivized mass. The slow but steady decline in literacy of all kinds was a by-product. I have to agree, that is what they are designed to do are succeeding.

Shortt points out that , "The truth is harsh, but simple. Those who control government schools want your children and they want your money. They don't want you sticking your nose into what they consider their business ... " (p. 323).

Shortt's recommendation: vote with your feet. Shortt has an plethora of reasons why Christians ought to homeschool their children or place them in private Christians schools. His arguments ought to be listened to by non-Christians. The dysfunction that has fallen over government-sponsored education, after all, affects Christian and non-Christian children alike.

The truth be known, homeschooled children excel over their public educated couterparts by a wide margin. Most hoemschooled chilren at at least 4 grade levels above their public educated friends.

As Philosopher Stevn Yates points out:

"The "harsh truth about public schools" is that they are an enemy not just of Christianity but of academics, personal and intellectual independence, and even children's safety.

They cannot educate, which is unsurprising since over the past couple of decades their focus has been on inculcating political correctness and teaching job skills ... Their aim has not been education but the production of desirable forms of mass behavior. The government-sponsored educational system is thus the major contributor to the dumbing down of the country."

All parents and not merely Christians owe it to their children to read this book.

First of all I am not a Christian so I don't have an axe to grind with regards to that point of view. I do have an M.Ed. and 4 children 3 of whom have graduated from college and another in his second year majoring in Chemical Engineering and doing quite well. That said after reading Shortt's book here are my brief perceptions since some excellent reviews have already been written.

The book is very well researched and annotated with an extensive bibliography. The Christian theme is not overbearing and does not detract from the information presented. The points that Shortt makes are cogent and significant and validated by ample research and anecdotal examples.

The fact that Shortt is not a teacher should not impact on one's decision to read the book. Teachers have been indoctrinated by the same educational system that they are now a part of and very naturally participate in supporting a $500 Billion system which provides them with their livlihood. How objective can we expect them to be? That's like asking a fish swimming in polluted water to evaluate the quality of the water he is living in. (Assuming, of course, that we are dealing with an educated fish who can converse intelligently with us as well.)

The fact is, teachers have a lot at stake and are not apt to rock the boat and make any kind of appreciable difference in the system that they help to support. And even if they did, controls from the top would probably suppress it in some way that maintained an even keel in the status quo and made sure that no meaningful or lasting change in direction would actually take place.

Rather than rehash other reviews let me just say this. As a life long self educator who is constantly reading and the father of four children who are products of the public school system had I have read this book sooner, my children would either have been home schooled, privately educated or given a private religious school education. The present system is not a system of education but rather a system of indoctrination. We are dumbing down our children and they are being injected with the viewpoints of controlling elites who do not want their lies being passed off as truth, questioned by inquisitive open minds.

As Shortt points out in his chapter- School Reform: A Popular Delusion, it is very unlikely that any real reforms will take place within the system. It is too entrenched and the amount of money at stake is astronomical. Plus the NEA and educational lobby is very powerful and as mentioned before would be one of the forces to suppress real reform which is probably not likely to happen anyway.

Shortt also points out with a well documented example from Kansas City where a school district was given all the money they wanted to overhaul their system and the end result was a decline in educational performance not an increase. So money doesn't appear to be the answer as well although educators would have you believe different as our school taxes continue to rise.

My suggestions would be to acquire the book if you have any interest in the education of your children and/or grand children and read it and make your own decisions. It is well researched and written in an easy to read and interesting manner.

Additionally, Shortt does not leave you without resources and alternatives if you wish to pursue a different educational direction for your own or other's children as he provides many links and sites and additional reading to help you to launch your own research into the alternatives.

If you are not Christian, I would not that be an issue preventing you from examining the material presented. Shortt does not proselytize to the point of distraction in this book. Quite frankly, I came away with a softer view of a potential Christian educational orientation. I would rather have my children be provided with a Christian moral compass (even if I do have some issues with it) than the immoral, free for all being passed off in the educational system today.

Plus, you remember that fish that I was talking with earlier? Well, he also highly recommends the book as well. And if a fish recommends it.....well I think that just speaks for itself, don't you?

When you begin reading The Harsh Truth About Public Schools four words will come to your mind: "Thank you Bruce Shortt!" The reason for this is that this courageous Texas attorney unmasks the deceptive veil of public schools and provides explicitly clear biblical reasons to end your association with them n-o-w!
There are eight chapters and nearly one thousand endnotes of information to share with your friends who have not yet decided to exit the government schools. In addition to "outing" the curriculum (and the unbiblical reasons behind it) Shortt takes apart the ten most common objections people voice about exiting their children, such as:

o Our school is different
o My child is "salt and light"
o Our school has some Christian teachers
o What about my child's social skills?
o I went to public schools and turned out fine

Perhaps no objection more epitomizes the reason to exit public schools than the one that states: "I turned out fine." Implicit in this rationalization is the idea that "there is nothing wrong with my worldview, since I think about today's issues the same as other Christians." Yet, research shows that less than one in ten adults has a Christian worldview. This means that if your view of the world and current events mirrors the views of "most everyone else," your worldview is in serious need of help
Shortt also includes valuable information to assist you make the decision on whether to home school or use Christian day schools.
If you haven't made the decision to exit your children (and maybe even yourself) from public schools, get a copy of The Harsh Truth About Public Schools today.
May we all say, "Thank you Bruce Shortt!" for providing this most excellent and timely resource.
Buddy Hanson, President, Christian Policy Network
bhanson@graceandlaw.com

This is our 18th year of home-educating and I've read many books on public school education. When I ordered it, I couldn't imagine how much different this book could be. The author only mentions the word "homeschool" possibly three times. All the other information is about what is happening in our public schools today with a massive amount of footnote material to back it up.

Some of the material was so horrifying to me, I felt physically ill while reading it, but I told myself if our American children have to go to school and face this every day, I should be able to at least read what they were going through and, God willing, do my part to see it didn't happen to those in my circle of influence.

This book is so full of information, you can't read it quickly. It takes time to digest the material and actually realize what you are reading is true. When you finish the book, you alternately feel hurt that our children are facing this on a daily basis, angry at a government establishment that allows these things to go on or actively promotes the agenda, and wanting to do everything in your power to make sure it doesn't happen to other people's children.

Brace yourself; this is a tough read, but it's probably the most important information you'll get in a long time about what's happening to children across America every day, and what you can do about it.

Sometimes the truth is harsh, but it needs to be said. That is exactly what Bruce Shortt has done in his new book. His conclusions are supported by both hard facts and credible research. Those questioning the importance of resolving the educational issues discussed in this book often attempt to dismiss the facts in favor of advancing various social agendas, thereby sacrificing the truly significant questions of life on the altar of tolerance. This book exposes the great gulf between truth and tolerance, and provides practical solutions for change.

Twenty-five years ago, the Southern Baptist Conservative Resurgence began over an educational issue. Two brave and godly men, Judge Paul Pressler and Dr. Paige Patterson were the true heroes, which led the charge to return us to biblical orthodoxy.

Pressler said he decided to take action when he discovered the kind of teaching various Christian young people with whom he had worked were receiving at Baylor University.
"They [the students] called me to come and see what their textbooks were saying, what they were being taught at Baylor so that they could know what was right and what was wrong," he said. "The books were just liberal garbage. We worked it through with these young people ... to try and keep them from going down the tubes. Driving back from Waco that night after looking at those textbooks, I promised myself that I wasn't going to sit back anymore, that something had to be done. I called Paige Patterson the next day and that's where it all [began]." - Judge Paul Pressler, Pressler: Conservative resurgence was grassroots movement, Baptist Press, Mar 30, 2004 By Jeff Robinson

"In the final analysis, we did not attempt a reformation movement because we thought it would succeed, but because we sincerely believed we were right about the inerrancy of the Bible, and because we did not want to tell our children and grandchildren that we had no courage to stand for our convictions." - Dr. Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, "Anatomy of a Reformation: The Southern Baptist Convention, 1978-2004"

Pressler, however, credits concerned laypeople with effecting deep changes that ultimately righted the denomination. "The heroes of the conservative movement are not those whose names were in the press. They were the grassroots people who loved the Lord and loved the convention and loved God's Word and wanted to make sure that Southern Baptists returned to what [the Bible] teaches."

Twenty-five years later, a new reformation has begun, again by concerned laypeople, who love the Lord, love the convention, but most importantly, love God's Word enough to solidly construct the education of our children around it. By endorsing Dr. Shortt's book, The Harsh Truth About Public Schools, Pressler and Patterson have passed the "Southern Baptist Baton of Courage and Truth" down to Bruce N. Shortt, Ph. D. and T. C. Pinckney, Brig. General, retired, and 2nd Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention. These two men, our generation's true heroes, were the co-authors of the Christian Education Resolution, historically rejected by the messengers of the 2004 Southern Baptist Annual Convention. General Pinckney's courage in 2001, as he warned the Southern Baptist Executive Committee that we were losing our children, was the inspiration for our ministry. Dr. Shortt's solid and extensive research, proving The Harsh Truth About Public Schools, provides the sound Biblical foundation for our mission. The title is appropriate, because the book made me angry, sad, and physically ill, but empowered! It will NOT tickle your ears, but my Bible says the Truth was never meant to. I know it's true, from our family's personal experience with government education.

Parents: I'm pleading with you to read it. We are praying for "no Christian Child Left Behind!"

Pastors: As shepherds, is it not your role to tend the flock? For the children's sake, please read Dr. Shortt's book. Our children are dying spiritually, emotionally, and physically. If you are a homeschooling father and pastor, we are praying for you. We know there are many of you being persecuted for being obedient. Like Pressler, Patterson, Pinckney and Shortt, you will always be able to look your children in the eye, and say you had the courage to stand for your convictions.

This book is excellent! The volume of research(88 pages of endnotes) alone is quite commendable. Christian parents beware! If you read this, there will be no more excuses, no more denial, and no more justification for putting your kids in the local public school. The information is simply too overwhelming and too convicting. Shortt answers so many of the arguments used to keep children in public school such as: But MY child's school is different, THAT would never happen in our schools, there are still SOME good teachers around, REFORM of the current system is possible,etc..I especially liked the chapter where Shortt goes into lengthy detail explaining why the Public Education System is INCAPABLE of relevant change. He explains why the trend toward secualar humanism cannot be reversed as it now exists.
Additionally, I highly recommend the chapter "My Child is on the Honor Roll"-this chapter finally explained to me why highschool seniors I know were making higher SAT scores than I did in 1992, when I know for a fact they can barely read a newspaper.

Nothing affects our children's future prospects more than their education. Yet most family education decisions are made on the basis of habit, out-of-date memories, and public relations propaganda from the teachers' unions and the rest of the public school industry. The Harsh Truth About Public Schools provides a comprehensive look at what the public schools have become, shows why they are a danger to children and our culture, and discusses the alternatives. While the book rests on a wealth of research, the style makes it a good read. Because it is topical, I found that I didn't have to read the chapters in sequence - I could simply read around the book as I became interested in different issues. In addition, the author manages to find humor from time to time in the otherwise grim reality that is the public schools.

If you have school age children, grandchildren, nephews, or nieces this is the book to read. Nothing else provides such a comprehensive view of the $600 billion/yr public school industry. I don't think that any family education decision can truly be informed without the information contained in The Harsh Truth. Finally, I should mention that while the author writes as a Christian, the systematic data, the examples, illustrations, and arguments would be of vital interest for any family concerned about the future of its children.

I purchased this book after listening to Bruce Shortt speak at a small group I attended. I had always believed that Homeschooling was a preferred way of teaching, but that the public schools were a "good" alternative. However, after reading this book and seeing MANY of the things Bruce talks about demonstrated by students in the public school system, I believe this book has a lot of merit.

Bruce does NOT say that ALL adult Christian teachers should leave the public school system and does encourage those who decide to stay in it to be Salt and Light. However, our children (especially those who are younger) are not the ones who have that mandate. The Bible states that we should set them aside for a time to be trained. Instead, most parents are sending their children to a "Secular-humanist" seminary.

The research in this book is well documented and very convincing. Reading this book with an open mind will undoubtedly convince you that the public schools are not a good place for our children.