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Comment by silverbax88 | Hacker News Reader

Here's your chance to get up to speed -> John Oliver breaking it down in a lot more researched detail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzsZP9o7SlI

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The earlier comment suggests he would like to see the data, not a comedian's attempt to humorously analyze the data.

The data used is clearly listed in the John Oliver video, but you'd have to have checked to know that.

I don't comment on things I haven't read or watched, but it's clear not all of us do that.

There was nothing to suggest that it is not listed in the video... You may not comment without watching things, but it is clear you comment without reading things.

You clearly don't even read your own comments.

Actually, I went back to read it again just to make sure I didn't say that there was no listing of the data in the video. When I first read your comment you had me thinking I had said that, but nope, it wasn't there.

Maybe someone else said it? Did you accidentally hit the wrong reply button?

I've never seen his show cover any single topic where I have a lot of knowledge where I thought they did even a passable job at conveying facts. It is after all a "comedy" show.

Most criticism of homeschooling boils down to soft bigotry against religious minorities, and hippies.

John Oliver is a comedian, clearly someone with an agenda, that sends his children to very expensive schools where the issues that many children face while at school don't exist, and that doesn't mention any data other than anecdotal evidence to support his particular views.

> that sends his children to very expensive schools

Always look at where people talking about education send their own kids: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-teachers-union...

Most CTU members send their kids to CPS, or to one of the suburban public schools if that's where they live.

Maybe it's because they can't afford the private option?

CTU teachers are quite well compensated.

Are you sure? I assume younger teachers are the ones with younger kids starting school. I don't think paychecks for new starters and teacher assistants are that high. Unions usually care about employees with more years of service to the detriment of new employees.

Starting CPS salary is exactly where the average for the area is, but CPS also gets a huge amount of PTO, a good benefits package, and a defined benefit pension plan, and comp improves reasonably rapidly and (importantly) predictably. Rural teachers have it rough, but most of what you hear about teachers being underpaid doesn't apply so much to major blue city school systems.

> John Oliver discusses homeschooling, its surprising lack of regulation in many states, and, crucially, Darth Vader’s parenting skills.

This is a comedy bit. I've watched the first 7 minutes of this 24 minute video and the only research seems to be more conjecture.

I enjoy John Oliver too, but have you ever watched a segment on something you know really well?

> "Briefly stated, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect is as follows. You open the newspaper to an article on some subject you know well. In Murray's case, physics. In mine, show business. You read the article and see the journalist has absolutely no understanding of either the facts or the issues. Often, the article is so wrong it actually presents the story backward—reversing cause and effect. I call these the "wet streets cause rain" stories. Paper's full of them.

> In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story, and then turn the page to national or international affairs, and read as if the rest of the newspaper was somehow more accurate about Palestine than the baloney you just read. You turn the page, and forget what you know."

– Michael Crichton (1942-2008)

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