Home-schooling link tenuous

JAMES TARANTO defends homeschoolers in The Wall Street Journal. As he points out the attack on homeschoolers in The New York Times looks even more fishy due to this.

The report goes on to concede that "for sure, the fact that Ms. Jacks's children last attended school in March in no way accounts for their deaths." The home-schooling link looks even more tenuous when you look at the Washington Post account of the case. On Sunday, the Post reports, Mayor Adrian Fenty fired six child-welfare workers, saying they "just didn't do their job." It turns out that the girls' absence from school was noted at the time:

Also Ms Jacks never filled out the notice to homeschool required of public school parents withdrawing their children from public school. School officials elected to take the Godmothers word that Ms. Jacks was homeschooling. No attempt to confirm this allegation was ever made by the school.

Update to the Jacks' Case

From The Washington Post
Although a social worker made at least two visits to Jacks's home, in the 4200 block of Sixth Street SE, no one answered the door to the rowhouse either time. Less than three weeks later, Child and Family Services staff members closed the case after receiving an unconfirmed report that the family had moved to Maryland.

"All the requisite information was available to our people, but the follow-up was never done," Fenty said yesterday. He praised Lopes's efforts to pierce the city bureaucracy as "exceptional" but also said such persistence and dedication ought to be the norm.

"She stands out, really, I think, because so many other people just didn't do their job the way they're supposed to," Fenty said.

Again this case had nothing to do with homeschooling. In fact Ms. Jacks never gave the notice required if a child was being withdrawn from a public school. Apparently too many of the people in the system failed to do their job properly. The children were truant from school, but instead of reporting them as truant the school took the Godmother's word that they were being homeschooled; the Mother was never contacted for verification or asked to give the proper notice. Child and Family Services were notified of suspected abuse and mental illness but they closed the case after an unconfirmed report that the family had moved. Plenty of people knew there was a problem, unfortunately the government workers that were suppose to protect these children failed to do their job. It's unconscionable that those with their own agendas are using this as an excuse to attack and harass legitimate homeschoolers.

Substance abuse, mental illness, homelessness and the failure of the child welfare agency to follow up on reports of abuse lead to these girls death.

At least six child welfare workers will be fired for failing to properly address complaints about a woman's care for her four daughters, who were later found dead in their home, the mayor said Monday.

So at least six child welfare workers didn't do their job, but the New York Times is blaming homeschooling instead of the child welfare workers, how irrational can you get?

Lopes called the city's child welfare hot line and said that she had visited the home, but that she was not let in by the mother, Banita Jacks. Lopes said Jacks told her she did not want Brittany going to school because she was afraid the girl would run away. Lopes reported seeing two or three younger children who also were not in school.

In a second call - this time to police - Lopes expressed frustration at being transferred among several city departments and said she was concerned about Banita Jacks' mental state. "It seems that the mother is suffering from some mental illness in which she is holding all the children in the home hostage," Lopes said.

Lopes clearly stated that the Mother was suffering from some mental illness but social workers choose not to intervene.

Lopes' call was not the first time someone had tried to alert the city about the family's situation.

In July 2006, a nurse who had been treating the father of Jacks' youngest two daughters called the child welfare hot line to report the family was living in a van and that the parents were struggling with substance abuse, officials said. The nurse couldn't provide an address for the family so social workers did not follow up.

Parental substance abuse was reported but because the family was homeless social workers didn't follow up. Maybe in light of all the evidence the New York Times should reconsider their article by JANE GROSS and do an article on how substance abuse, mental illness, homelessness and the failure of the child welfare agency to follow up on reports of abuse lead to these girls death.

Homeschooling wasn't the problem and tougher homeschool regulations are not the answer.

Tragically Ms Jacks murdered her four daughters. Irrationally the New York Times has chosen to blame it on Homeschooling, Lack of Supervision Noted in Deaths of Home-Schooled.


Other papers who are less biased against homeschooling are honest enough to admit that the government knew there were problems in the home. From The Sun Herald, Problems found at DC home before deaths .

A woman found in her home with the decomposing bodies of her four daughters was suspected by a social worker of holding one of the girls hostage as early as April, city officials said.

An investigation into the family was closed weeks later because child and family welfare officials thought the family had moved to Maryland - even though authorities there couldn't locate the family.

So in April social workers knew there was a problem, but because they thought the family had moved the investigation was closed. Note the investigation wasn't closed because of homeschooling but because they thought the family had moved out of their jurisdiction.

The oldest girl, Brittany Jacks, stopped attending classes in early March. A social worker from the Booker T. Washington Public Charter School went to the home April 30 and called police after she was denied entry, Fenty said.

The social worker reported that after speaking to Jacks she appeared to have mental health issues and "that she was possibly holding Brittany hostage by refusing to allow her to attend school," Fenty said. A police officer who responded also was denied entry, but Jacks told him she was home-schooling the children.

Fenty said social workers visited the home several more times in the following weeks, but there was no answer when they knocked at the door. He said the case was closed May 16 because they believed the family had moved to Maryland after finding an address of a relative they believed she was living with.

So the social worker reported Mom had mental health issues they attempted to visit several more times, but when no one answered the door they decided the family had moved to Maryland and closed the case May 16th.

These children did not die because of lack of supervision of the home-schooling process, but because social workers who suspected Ms Jacks had mental health issues failed to follow up and prematurely closed the case. Homeschooling wasn't the problem and tougher homeschool regulations are not the answer.

The Truth About Homeschoolers

Why do people feel the need to bash homeschooling. I respect wrekehavoc's right to send her children to public school, why doesn't she respect my right to homeschool? Her post home(school) is anywhere you hang your head is full of BS.

First she says

there’s something very isolationist and elitist about homeschooling

What??? It's not like we stay home all day. In fact as I type this my youngest son is at a Team Fusion 364 meeting.

one of the most important skills i think kids need to learn is how to make decisions — smart ones —on their own.

I agree. But homeschooled children are just as capable of making decisions on their own as public school children are.

why would anyone want to be with anyone 24/7?

Jeez, did I mention that my youngest son is at a Team Fusion 364 meeting and I am here blogging away to my hearts content. Homeschoolers do not spend 24 hours a day 7 days a week with their kids.

do the parents make conscious and deliberate attempts to ensure their kids meet other kids from different racial, religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds?

Why wouldn't our children meet kids from other backgrounds? Homeschoolers come in all different races, religions, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. We belong to an INCLUSIVE Homeschool Group that has allowed us to befriend homeschoolers of many varied backgrounds.

what i want to know is what happens when these kids go to college and subsequently enter the real world.

The same thing that happens when a public school student goes to college.

what happens when they don’t understand any of the cultural references of their peers?

Why wouldn't they understand the cultural references of their peers? We watch the same TV shows, we have Internet access, we play video games. In short my kids do the same things public school students do in their free time.

Did I mention my oldest son, who is 18, is in his third year of a Computer Science degree and loves college. Homeschooling allowed him him to move at an advanced pace instead of being held back by his public school peers. Homeschooling allowed him to spread his wings and soar instead of having his wings clipped by a school system that insist that all children must learn at the same rate.

Consent Of The Governed: Utah Homeschool Mom Threatened With Jail

Consent Of The Governed: Utah Homeschool Mom Threatened With Jail

I have to agree with Judy, I wonder what facts have been left out of WND's version of the Utah Homeschool Mom's story. It'll be interesting to see what new facts come to light as the story unfolds. I am so happy I live in Mississippi which is very homeschool friendly, hopefully we can keep it that way for future generations.

What's wrong with these people

Angela over at Mother Crone's Homeschool wanted to start a cooperative homeschooling academy. The facility she hoped to use turned her down because..........................

"After much discussion, this council does not believe that homeschooling is beneficial to the local community. While this proposal is wonderful, we only wish that those talented and committed parents would instead focus their efforts to helping the public school system . "

The myth that 'homeschooling' is somehow harmful to public schools and therefore not beneficial to the community is one of the most detrimental to homeschoolers. That a church would use this nonsense to deny the use of facilities to homeschoolers is maddening. So I came up with some questions for them and all the other ignorant people out there that think homeschoolings isn't beneficial to the community.

• How do you think parents spending time with their kids harms the community?
• How do you think rearing well behaved and intelligent children harms the community?
• How do you think educating children harms the community?
• Do you really think the public schools want parental help (most of them do not, just ask a public school parent that wants to be involved/have input in their child's education)?

Schneider: Lack of oversight for home-schooled alarms educator

Sharon Ganssley of the Shiawassee Regional Education Service District, which covers Perry Middle School, said that as far as she knows her district has never pursued charges against a home-schooler.

That, despite the fact that they sometimes see kids pulled from schools who shouldn't be.

And who does Ganssley thing should decide which kids should be homeschooled? IF the public school system had the power to decide which students should remain in the public school system they would insist on keeping the well behaved, high achieving kids that make them look good. The bottom line is parents have the right to decide how their children should be educated, not some crusading teacher, and not a bunch of bureaucrats.

HT: HE&OS

Is he really a homeschooler?

Is a teen who left the public school system because of bullying really a homeschooler? Greg thinks so

another 14-year old home schooled boy was arrested in a Philadelphia area suburb, having been found in possession of an arsenal of weapons and explosives, apparently part of a plot to exact revenge from his former (public school) classmates.

In my opinion he should have been referred to as a former public school student, that would have certainly been more honest as the majority of his school age life was spent in the public school system. The other boy Greg referrers to in his post was never homeschooled, so why is the post entitled Latest Homeschool News? Your guess is as good as mine. As for cmf's comment.

the real cmf // Oct 14, 2007 at 7:59 pm
the word “enabling” comes to mind…did you notice that the boys obesity mirrors the mothers obesity? Here is another one that fits my thesis of “homeschooling as a way to hide family dysfunction ”.

Am I suppose to believe the boy wasn't overweight the whole time he was in public school? My guess is the teens obesity is why his fellow public school classmates bullied him. I have noticed plenty of public school students who are obese, does CMF consider their familes dysfunctional?

Alasandra addresses the eight homeschooling concerns educators had and offers eight public school concerns she has

The post Educators Criticize Homeschooling list eight homeschooling concerns. This is my reply to them.

1. Deprive the child of important social experiences.
I assure you homeschooled children aren't deprived of social experiences. Some homeschool groups even have their own proms.

2. Isolate the student from other social/ethnic groups.
I'll repeat myself yet again as it seems educators that criticize homeschooling are incredibly slow learners. Homeschoolers are a very diverse bunch. Homeschoolers come from all social/ethnic groups.

3. Deny students the full range of curriculum experiences and materials.
Homeschoolers are free to pursue their interest. Parents are free to pick the best curriculum for their students. Homeschooled students often use honors or advanced placement textbooks not available to all students in the public schools. See Why Homeschooling Works ~ No or Little Bureaucracy .

4. Provide education by non-certified and unqualified persons.
A teacher's certificate does not automatically make one a good teacher. See Why Homeschool's post on teacher certification. Also many of the "teachers" in the public schools are also non-certified and unqualified.

5. Create an additional burden on school administrators whose duties include the enforcement of compulsory school attendance laws.
This is complete and utter bs. The solution of course would be to emulate states like MS. All I am required to do is turn in a certificate of enrollment stating I will be homeschooling to the school attendance officer in my school district. This is the same procedure private school students follow. No additional burden is placed on school administrators.

6. Not permit effective assessment of academic standards of quality.
Homeschoolers are free to take the ACT & SAT just like public school students do. Numerous studies have been done that show that homeschoolers often score higher on the ACT & SAT then their public school counterparts do. Homeschoolers are also free to take any other test their parents deem necessary at their parents expense.

2006 ACT High School Profile Report Check out this National Data! 9,117 homeschoolers average composite score was 22.4. [1,206,455 students took the test in all, averaging 21.1.] [0.76% homeschoolers] Emailed to me from Jim Sconing, Director, Statistical Research Department, Research, 319/337-1709 (From A-Z Home's Cool)

7. Violate health and safety standards.
What Nonsense??????

8. Not provide accurate diagnosis and planning for meeting the needs of children of special talents, learning difficulties and other conditions requiring atypical educational programs.
And the public schools do??????

In the interest of fair play Alasandra ASKS PARENTS TO CONSIDER THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS MIGHT:

1. Deprive the student of important family time.
2. Introduce the student to bullies and drug dealers.
3. Deprive the student of the best education available to him/her.
4. Your child might be taught by a verbally, physically or sexually abusive teacher. Your child also might be taught by one of the many "teachers" in the public schools who are non-certified and unqualified.
5. Misspend tax money.
6. Your child will be taught to the test. Test taking is all important, actual learning will take a back seat.
7. Force children to have pelvic exams without their parents consent.
8. Not provide recess and enrichment programs. Also your child may not be allowed to go to the bathroom when they need to.

Some good advice was offered.

Barber suggests that parents who are considering homeschooling their middle and upper school teens, contact local colleges regarding admissions policies for homeschooled students. In addition to placement testing in reading, writing and math, some colleges require a minimum score on a GED test. The entry requirements for your child's college of choice should be researched long before a homeschooled child's junior year.

But it's a tad misleading, if your child scores high enough on the ACT (28)/SAT they will not have to take the GED. But you do need to research what subjects are required. Most want a foreign language in addition to English, Math & Science requirements. Most colleges will take a transcript certified by the parent if your child was homeschooled. Make your child's transcript as easy to read and understand as possible. The admissions officer at my eldest son's college stated that she wished all the public school transcripts looked as professional and as well laid out as mine did (what a boost to a homeschool Mom's ego).

Bending the Twigs: Here We Go Again...

Crimson Wife addresses the homeschool bashers at Bending the Twigs: Here We Go Again...

Giving Homeschooled Students Wings

The goal of every parent should be creating an independent adult capable of thinking for themselves and taking care of themselves. So how do homeschool parents teach their children to be independent.

1. We teach them to think for themselves. To critically analyze information. Where did the information come from? Is the source biased? And to do research before forming an opinion.




2. We allow our children to make many decisions on their own. And reap the consequences of their decisions.




3. We encourage our children to follow their dreams, and to work toward their goals.




4. When our children are old enough we encourage them to work outside the home.




5. We teach our children to manage their money wisely and to save for big purchases.

Some critics of homeschooling who failed to do their research lament that homeschoolers do not participate on sports teams. Nothing could be further from the truth.

rhowardlee wrote: 8h 27m ago
Teaching children right from wrong and instilling family values is the responsibility of the parents.

Well at least we agree on something.

Teaching reading, writing and arithmatic is the responsibility of teachers.

Why? Parents are perfectly capable of teaching their children reading, writing and arithmetic.

The average homeschooled child receives many benefits, from one-on-one tutoring to more efficient study time to closer family bonds. Homeschoolers are well-socialized and thoroughly prepared for the "real world," easily gaining employment and entrance to colleges. Also homeschoolers excel academically, scoring above the national average on college entrance exams and earning merit scholarships.

The biggest disadvantge of home-schooled individuals is the lack of social integration. They miss out on team sports and can't learn about school spirit.

This is the most ignorant nonsense I have ever heard. First of all many of the large homeschool groups have their own sports teams, other homeschoolers participate in recreational sports leagues in their communities. Homeschoolers do not miss out on team sports (Perhaps rhowardlee should do some research on homeschooling before making absurd statements about homeschoolers). But more to the point I thought children were sent to school to get an education not play sports.

Learning to feel a part of something is a necessary part of growing into mature adults. If they cannot experience that in an environment of public education, they will that experience elsewhere, possibly in a hostile environment.

Homeschoolers have many opportunities to feel "a part of something". They are "a part of" their families. Family members work together and support one another. They are "a part of" the communities they live in, where they often volunteer their time. Lord Epa and I recently helped set up for a political forum in our community. They are "a part of" various organizations - homeschool groups, scouts, recreational sports teams, 4-H, etc. Attending public school is not the only way to be "a part of" something.

Marcy Answers the Question ~Do Homeschooled Kids Have Wings?

Marcy over at Marcy's Musings responds to Mr. Neuharth's editorial in her post, Do Homeschooled Kids Have Wings?

Top Myths About Homeschooling

I am totally mystified by the number of people who know absolutely nothing about homeschooling but feel compelled to write post on homeschooling full of misinformation and false assumptions. Here I will address some myths about homeschooling that have been propagated on Wikibooks.


Top Myths About Homeschooling
1. Children are being deprived of important social experiences.

Not true, homeschoolers socialize with a wide variety of people. We socialize with fellow homeschoolers in our homeschool groups, we socialize with public school students on recreational sports teams and other organizations like scouts. We are active in our communities.



2. Children are isolated from other social/ethnic groups.

Again not true, homeschoolers are a diverse group and almost every social and ethnic group can be found in the homeschooling community.



3. Children are denied the full range of curriculum experiences and materials.

Again not true, parents are free to pick the best curriculum for their students. Homeschooled students often use honors or advanced placement textbooks not available to all students in the public schools. See Why Homeschooling Works ~ No or Little Bureaucracy .



4. A burden is created for the school administrators.

How?????? School administrators have NOTHING to do with homeschooling.



5. Homeschooling does not provide effective assessment of academic standing.

Homeschoolers are free to take the ACT & SAT just like public school students do. Numerous studies have been done that show that homeschoolers often score higher on the ACT & SAT then their public school counterparts do. Homeschoolers are also free to take any other test their parents deem necessary at their parents expense.

2006 ACT High School Profile Report Check out this National Data! 9,117 homeschoolers average composite score was 22.4. [1,206,455 students took the test in all, averaging 21.1.] [0.76% homeschoolers] Emailed to me from Jim Sconing, Director, Statistical Research Department, Research, 319/337-1709 (From A-Z Home's Cool)

Homeschoolers Excel in ACT College Entrance Exam

Homeschooling Statistics

Homeschooling Maintains Academic Success

6. Many times children are taught by adults not certified in education.

So?????? A teacher's certificate does not automatically make one a good teacher. See Why Homeschools post on teacher certification.


7. The whole approach is isolationist in nature.

Homeschooling is not isolationist in nature. Homeschoolers go on field trips with other homeschoolers, we participate in our communities and we work together on projects. Homeschooled children often have a wealth of experience working with people older and younger then they are as well as people from different backgrounds. This experience translates well into the work place.

Not only have we been able to meet students and teachers from other countries through Friends & Flags, homeschooling has allowed us to travel to Hawaii, Washington D.C and San Diego, CA where the culture is vastly different then here in South Mississippi.

Aelfric worries about socialization of homeschoolers

Aelfric says
I am all for the right of a parent to home-school his or her child, but it's a choice to be carefully undertaken. Few parents can bring the intellectual diversity and educational acumen to bear that the panoply of school teachers could (not that all individual teachers are great, but as a group, I think they are great). Also, home-schooled children tend often to be insufficiently socialized. This is not all of them, of course, but I would venture to say a significantly larger number than children who attend schools. Home-school parents often think parentally-supervised socialization time is sufficient to replace the experiences children get at school, but there is a vast difference between social time with one's parents immediately about and the comparative 'independence' of the school system. Again, I don't mean to argue against home-schooling, only to point out some of the issues which should be considered. Thank you.

Jeez this statement is so full of misconceptions I don't know where to begin.

Few parents can bring the intellectual diversity and educational acumen to bear that the panoply of school teachers could .
Why not????? Teachers are human beings just like parents are. What makes public school teachers so 'special' in Aelfric eyes? The majority of homeschool parents not only bring intellectual diversity to their children they teach them to be curious about the world around them, to ask questions and form their own opinions.

Home-school parents often think parentally-supervised socialization time is sufficient to replace the experiences children get at school, but there is a vast difference between social time with one's parents immediately about and the comparative 'independence' of the school system.
Where do non-homeschoolers get the ridiculous notion that homeschoolers are with their parents 24/7? We drop our kids off at soccer ( or whatever recreational sport our children participate in) practice just like public school parents do, they go to scout meetings, Sunday School Classes, and various other activities without their parents in tow, they hang out with their friends (some of whom are public school children) just like public school students do. Why oh why don't these people bother to learn about homeschoolers before making idiotic statements based on false assumptions?

Bending the Twigs: Are Home Educators "Self-Absorbed" or Self-Sacrificing?

Bending the Twigs: Are Home Educators "Self-Absorbed" or Self-Sacrificing? How about neither. I love my life, I love homeschooling I am not sacrificing anything in order to homeschool, but neither am I self -absorbed. Honestly do you know any parent who has time to be "self-absorbed"? I didn't think so.

I just wonder why Ms. Marilynn Rose, felt it necessary to insult millions of homeschoolers whom she has never meet. The alumni directory identifies Ms. Rose as a staff member in the Stanford Management Science & Engineering department. I would never dream of implying that staff members of Stanford are self-absorbed. For one it's a generalization, for another I don't know all the staff members of Stanford. I certainly wouldn't base a blanket statement like that on the one or two I do know. So how can Ms. Rose justify saying

I can verify that the self-absorption (and hubris) of the parents is
clearly the common denominator among the homeschooled."

Great work Crimson Wife.

Homeschooling is Okay, Unless You're a Fundy

Drop by All Things Hold Together to read the post Homeschooling is Okay, Unless You're a Fundy

Homeschool Bashing by So~Called Progressives, A Troubling Trend

kestrel9000's attack on homeschoolers is only the latest attack in a troubling trend of non-religious liberals attacking homeschoolers. They are so afraid of Christian Fundamentalist they would create a police state outlawing religion if they could. He makes such stupid statements as........
We'll look at deceitful propaganda and how it's being inflicted on America's children - aided by irresponsible, misguided parents who place their extremist, antiAmerican religionist agenda above the mental health and intellectual strength of their children - below the fold.

Parents aren't irresponsible or misguided just because they are religious or have beliefs differing from kestrel9000's. Funnily enough one of the complaints kestrel9000 makes is that homeschoolers aren't exposed to diversity and are intolerant, but kestrel9000's own statements show what an intolerant person they are.

Kestrel9000 also fails to address the deceitful propaganda found in PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Apparently deceitful propaganda in public schools is OK with kestrel9000 and those of his ilk. Not to mention the deceitful propaganda kestrel9000 seems intent on spreading about homeschooling.
Nonetheless, 57% of the American population disagree with home schooling (Rose, Gallup, & Elam, as cited in Lubienski, 2000, privatization.) This is because there are many reasons to remain in public schools and condemn the home schooling movement. A few of these reasons are: a lack of sufficient social experience, lack of proper learning materials, and insufficient instructors, as well as a destruction of the public school systems. Therefore home schooling is destructive to the students who are home schooled, and to those who are left in the public school systems....Also, when a child is home schooled, they are not able to experience a variety of teachers and teaching methods. They are confined to their parents or one or two tutors. This does not properly prepare them for what they will encounter when they enter the collegiate level. They will have a difficult time adjusting to their new teachers and the myriad of ways in which those teachers will educate them. Most children who are home schooled have not experienced people of religions, races, and backgrounds different from their own.

I have already addressed the socialization issue in other post so I am not going to address it here. Apparently whoever wrote this bit of propaganda is unaware that homeschoolers can purchase the SAME textbooks public schools use if they choose to do so. We are also free to find more challenging, up-to-date textbooks then the public schools use. As for the instructor bit whoever wrote this propaganda seems to place quantity over quality. Apparently they believe it is better to have 100's of mediocre instructors instead of one outstanding instructor. As for the destruction of the public school system that's not my problem. But does the writer also feel that those couples who choose not to have children are destructive to the public school system? If not why do they believe that my choice not to use the public school system is destructive to it? I still pay taxes that support the public school system even though my children do not benefit from it. The idea that homeschooled children will have trouble adjusting to college is complete and utter hogwash, as numerous studies will attest and as I can address from personal experience.

Kestrel9000 is also paranoid enough to believe that NCLB is some sort of conspiracy to destroy public schools.
From Washington Monthly and a piece by Kevin Drum:

Question: Why would NCLB mandate an obviously unmeetable standard? And now that it's up for renewal, why would Republicans continue to insist on that obviously unmeetable standard?

Answer: Because the 100% goal isn't just rhetorical. It comes with penalties. If you don't meet the standard, you lose money, you're officially deemed a "failing school," and your students are eligible to transfer to other schools. And needless to say, by 2014 there won't be any satisfactory public schools to send them to because 99% of them won't have met the standard.

Followup bonus question: What incentive does anyone have to label 99% of America's public schools as failures? That's crazy, isn't it?

Answer: Anyone who wants the public to believe that public schools are failures. This would primarily consist of conservatives who want to break teachers unions and evangelicals who want to build political momentum for private school vouchers. The whole point of NCLB for these people is to make sure that as many public schools as possible are officially deemed failures.

This, it could be argued, is part of a larger, and more sinister, agenda.

Apparently trying to insure that those children stuck in failing public schools get a decent education is a sinister agenda by the Christian Right to destroy public schools (who knew). There are many problems with NCLB, but does anyone seriously believe this conspiracy theory c***?

What's terrifying to me are the nuts who want to abolish homeschooling because they don't like it. What gives them the right to take away my educational choices for my children? Especially on the basis of false assumptions and jingoist public school defenders propaganda. Here are some of the idiotic comments to kestrel9000's post.

I'm opposed to homeschooling in general, because of its deleterious effects on the public education system, and its potential to result in a parentally-inflicted social retardation. I'm happy that you feel you are a success story. But I also feel the risks outweigh the benefits, and left to me, I would abolish the practice.
Magic 95.5 (800)296-9267 Cobalt6

Luckily it's not up to Magic 95.5 and I sincerely hope it NEVER is.

listen here (0 / 0)
I am a gay man who has been victimized by Joshua's generation and I can and will fight back. Once these people put a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot that targets you and your very place in society come back and talk to me then.

Home schooling hurts society and it is a primary weapon the the religious right. One that needs to be taken away.

And I stand by my statement, the success of the few does not justify the damage to the many.
Peace.

"My name's Dr. Multimillionaire and I kicked your ass." --Rep. Steve Kagen D-WI to Karl Rove
by walja on Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 07:39:42 PM PDT
[ Parent ]by kestrel9000 on Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 02:13:12 PM PDT

BS homeschooling does not hurt society, intolerant jerks like walja hurt society. Walja seems to think he should have the ability to take away my right to homeschool, this is as odious as the mistreatment of gays. I have the RIGHT TO HOMESHOOL, Walja has the right to be gay. He doesn't have the right to impose his beliefs on me or my children.

Wouldn't be necessary (2+ / 0-)
the law would be the law, and you'd either be willing to send your kids to a school run by profesional educators, surrender your kids to CPS, or shoot at the SWAT team. These would be your choices. You would have no others, especially when considering your children's educational requirements would not satisfy the law in the intervening period of time during which any litigation you might undertake would be in work. Your kids don't get to go uneducated while you litigate. Therefore: Which would you choose?
Magic 95.5 (800)296-9267 Cobalt6
by kestrel9000 on Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 04:54:09 PM PDT

What a horrible world, sounds like Anthem by Ayn Rand or 1984 by George Orwell, no choices just turn your kids and your life over to the state. Again I am glad Magic 95.5 isn't in control. I would choose to get rid of nutcases like Magic 95.5 that think they should be able to dictate how I raise my children.

I am sick and tired of all these so called progressives that think it's perfectly permissible to bash homeschooling and homeschoolers. Apparently they never see the irony in their haste to spread false propaganda about homeschoolers, their insistence on stereotyping homeschoolers and disparaging them and then labeling them intolerant. These homeschool bashers are the intolerant ones and they have no interest in understanding why parents would choose an educational choice for their children other then public schools.

kestrel9000 Attacks Homeschooling at Daily Kos

First off I am going to take umbrage at the title of the post, Revisionist History: The Christian Right and the Miseducation Of Our Children. Shining Celebi and Lord Epa are mine and The Big Kahuna's kids they do not belong to anyone else. The idea that children belong to anyone other then their parents is a serious fallacy.

Here it is tempting to digress into a discussion of whether, though parents have the right to raise their children as they see fit, that right includes programming their children with a falsified and distorted view of history, while simultaneously weakening the educational resources available to children in public schools. This, however, is not the purpose of this composition.

Apparently kestrel9000 is another loony who thinks I should send my children to the substandard public schools for the greater good. I am not responsible for Mr. & Mrs General Public's kids, I am responsible for my own kids and part of that responsibility is making sure they get the best education possible. Just like I make sure they get the best health care we can afford. It never ceases to amaze me that no one quibbles with a parent seeking the best medical care for their children but they hurl abuse at parents who seek the best education for their children.

Also kestrel9000 seems to believe that only Christian Fundamentalist homeschool and seems to be completely ignorant of the fact that there are liberal secular homeschoolers.

kestrel9000 trots out the same old anti-homeschooling rhetoric we have heard numerous times before our kids will be socially stunted without public school socialization, our kids will not be able to cope in the 'real world' (what world does he/she think we live in while we homeschool?), our kids are abused because their 'bad' parents are denying them a public school education. Their thinly disguised hatred of religion is also troubling. They display a disheartening lack of tolerance for homeschooling while maintaining that homeschoolers are intolerant.

Yet these same conservatives are silent when I object to my tax dollars being used to instill their children with distorted, revisionist history.

kestrel9000 is showing their ignorance again. Their tax dollars in no way benefit homeschoolers. Does kestrel9000 think their tax dollars go to private school children? If not why does kestrel9000 assume their tax money goes to homeschoolers? Like private schools, homeschooling is an educational alternative to the failing public schools. So kestrel9000 stop your b****** and stop harassing homeschoolers. We have every right to provide our children with the education of our choice.

Other post on this topic

1. Post on Socialization at Alasandra.
2. Post on Homeschooling at Alasandra.
3. Home Schools Run By Caring Parents at Home~schoolers Rule.
4. But They Are So Normal at Home~schoolers Rule.

The Importance of Independent Homeschooling

Many non-homeschoolers ask why homeschoolers who are doing a good job are opposed to stricter regulations regarding homeschooling. Here are some of the reasons.

• Homeschoolers have seen time and again how petty Department of Education Bureaucrats and Public School Officials have misused and abused existing homeschool laws to harass homeschoolers.
  
  
• Independent Homeschooling allows parents the ability to be flexible and adopt a curriculum that is suited to their child. The freedom to use the education method and the curriculum that works best for each individual child is what has made homeschooling the success that it is. We have no reason to believe that bureaucrats wouldn't try to impose the current educational fads on us if allowed to. See Why Homeschool: This sounds like a classic reason why public schools are having trouble.
  
  
• By being freed of the constraints to keep the public school calendar homeschoolers are free to travel with their families, homeschool at the times best suited for their family, and adjust to accidents, family emergencies and illness.

There are many more reasons and I encourage my homeschool readers to leave a comment or a link telling their reasons. But as we are on summer break and today promises to be a beautiful day I am headed outside to work in the Whiskers Memorial Butterfly Garden.

Links to other post.

Consent Of The Governed: A CT Homeschool Icon Defends CT Families

Two Districts Demand Records

Warning for Virginia Homeschoolers