California Bans Homeschooling?
Posted: Monday, March 10, 2008
by Abigail Richards
In an effort to stop parents from teaching without credentials, a California appeals court ruled that California law requires parents to send their children to full-time public or private schools or have them taught by credentialed tutors at home. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the ruling left an estimated 166,000 children as possible truants and their parents at risk of prosecution.
Parents can be criminally prosecuted for failing to comply, Croskey said.
"A primary purpose of the educational system is to train school children in good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state and the nation as a means of protecting the public welfare," the judge wrote, quoting from a 1961 case on a similar issue.
To see the ruling, go to http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B192878.PDF
This ruling stemmed from a child welfare case in which the state felt two children were not being educated properly. The parents had enrolled the children in a private school, but the judge said the school was also contributing to the poor education of the kids.
The Chronicle article also reported that Michael Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association, said the ruling would effectively ban homeschooling in the state.
"California is now on the path to being the only state to deny the vast majority of homeschooling parents their fundamental right to teach their own children at home," he said in a statement.
I don't want this to become a debate over if homeschool is right or wrong, or maybe this is just what this is for the state of California. I just think California has overstepped the line in this area.
The paper quotes a woman who homeschools her children who has a degree in law and I am to believe that a teacher is more qualified than her at teaching the children she knows and loves? I believe that if I lived in dangerous South Central L.A., I would want to homeschool my children as well. Or worse, in one of those super liberal schools.
As parents, I think we have the right to decide how our children are educated. I personally could never homeschool, mainly because I would be committed to the mental hospital. Besides, I live in an area where the school district is really good, educated teachers as well as safe and morally the same as my beliefs. But some parents have that natural gift of teaching or it is necessary for whatever reasons. For example, I know a child who has peanut allergies and therefore, has to be homeschooled because it is life-threatening to attend public school.
Some parents can offer a better education for their children then their local district. I don't even want to discuss the costs of private schools. This ruling is absurd and oversteps the personal boundaries of the family. Our country was founded by families educating their own children. Why would they find it acceptable to tell them they can't do it?
I admit there does need to be some guidelines. I have seen some really uneducated homeschool teachers in my lifetime. But outlawing homeschool completely oversteps the personal rights of the family.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)And so it begins. Perhaps they should, 4 times a year, match test scores between homeschooled and public schooled children.Michael- that is a great idea! Where I lived a few years ago, a homeschool girl actually recorded the highest SAT score in history. So I think it would be a great measure! Great point! Thanks for commenting!
Interesting article, Abigail. I have heard of homeschooled kids exceeding and falling well behind their private and public school peers. It used to be a requirement that all homeschooled kids were tested, I think every other year. For some families, homeschooling works great, for others, it isn't a wise option, but a blanket homeschool ruling like the one made in CA doesn't fit everyone. Bottom line, it may be about money. The NEA may be calling in some favors.Exactly what I was thinking! Thanks so much for commenting!
I thought the primary purpose of education was to educate, that is: read, write and add up. The 'collective' comes as a consequence of belonging and group, but it is not the primary purpose of going to school! Is the quoted law really from 1961 or 1691?Hannah-Great question! Thanks for commenting!
Welcome to the world of tyranny! Soon you'll need to get a permit to think - but first you'll need to obtain a license!Scary thought! Thanks for commenting!
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