Mom threatened with jail for teaching kids at home

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | December 16, 2007 | Bob Unruh

[metmom]

My oldest daughter was awarded scholarships at a big name university because of her SAT scores and the major she picked. There was lots available despite the fact that she was homeschooled through graduation. The university awards them based on criteria other than whether or not the student attended a public school.

[wintertime]

Her 3 older siblings managed to rack up nearly 2 years of AP courses. This, of course, was free, except for the cost of the test.

In this state, she is not permitted to take the GED exam if she were to leave school. That means NO access to government scholarships at their state universities. They would have to pay for these courses on their own, and the usual path to state and federal scholarships and loans is blocked.

But,,,hey!...What is the cost of a child’s soul? I suppose we could ask Esau. He traded his birthright for a bowl of stew.

Again. I can hardly stand to watch it. I’ve seen this so many times before.

[Amelia]

But she has this year’s paperwork. Just not last year’s. How many years’ worth of paperwork should she keep?

That's one reason none of it makes sense. If she has this year's paperwork, and the district has approved her homeschooling plan (which it apparently has), how can the judge say her children must attend school?

If she has an approved homeschool plan, and is following it, I don't see how the judge legally could say the children have to be enrolled in public school.

The article is very poorly written; for example, the sentence

So when she went to court with her juvenile son to have the charges dismissed (under a case held in abeyance procedure) stemming from a clash among children, she suddenly was presented with four counts against her for failing to comply with the state's compulsory education requirement.

is almost nonsensical, and leaves more questions unanswered than answered.

I have to wonder if perhaps the woman is a single mother who is working during the day, and if the children are out on the streets getting into trouble when they should be doing their lessons.

[StarCMC]

National Home Educators Legal Defense (NHELD)

[Wallace T.]

I am not saying that HSLDA is perfect, and I am sure they have some flaws. However, a homeschooler should have some prepaid legal representation available in case the authorities decide to attack the family. As even school officials and judges in red states are prone to abuse their authority for one or another reason, the need for legal representation is incumbent. An untrained mother or father trying to represent themselves before cops, social workers, and truancy officials who are willing to bluff, if not lie outright, has an extreme disadvantage. There is an old saying that a lawyer who represents himself in court has a fool for a client. That is even more true for the civilian trying to represent himself, whether in a homeschooling situation or not.

[StarCMC]

I agree with you. Our state doesn’t have a lot of regulations, and they are very easy to follow.

[StarCMC]

Why? Does a public school parent have to pay for legal counsel on retainer just in case? Ok - I hear what you're saying. But if I need a lawyer, I will get one. And there's a much better organization out there -- NHELD.

[ZGuy]

Thank you. I’ll check them out!

[Wallace T.]

One of the most serious problems we have is the meshing of common interests between the nanny state advocates of the left and the “law ‘n’ order” mentality of the authoritarians of the faux right.

The meshing of the muscle of the military and police forces and the ideology of the social engineers will be the death of all liberty in America.

[Wallace T.]

Does a public school parent have to pay for legal counsel on retainer just in case?

When you consider some of the brainless actions of school administrations under the "zero tolerance" mentality, that may not be a bad idea for those who must use public schools. The most recent stupid case I have heard of was one where a ten year old girl who brought a steak knife to school for the express purpose of cutting a steak her mother packed for lunch was taken to the police station and suspended for ten days. In the current environment, it is safe to state that the public official is not your friend, and too often, civilians are subject to official oppression for minor infractions or even none at all.

[wintertime]

The meshing of the muscle of the military and police forces and the ideology of the social engineers will be the death of all liberty in America.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I have never been so hopeful. Freedom still has a chance. We now have the Internet, talk radio, cable, and satellite.

My tag line reads: Good ideas win! Why? Because people are not stupid.

[darkangel82]

and the “law ‘n’ order” mentality of the authoritarians of the faux right.

Of which there are many on FR.

[Wallace T.]

The authoritarians among us are far more open than in the past. So are the internationalists. If there ever was a conspiracy, it no longer exists. The leftists are open about their desires to destroy Western civilization, American sovereignty, the white race, the Christian and Jewish faiths, and even logic and reason. The Republican Party has mostly been transformed into a pale shadow of the party of Goldwater and Reagan. McCain, Romney, Giuliani, and Huckabee are little more than Democrats Lite. You are right insofar as there is the possibility that alternate media may permit an endrun around both the liberal establishment and their RINO sidekicks.

[wintertime]

You are right insofar as there is the possibility that alternate media may permit an endrun around both the liberal establishment and their RINO sidekicks

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I am religious. I pray for this every day.

[RGSpincich]

crzymomto4 is her screenname on many boards.

Transportation problems, MS and low income make for a difficult life. Teenage kid(s) may have decided not to be helpful. That can throw the whole family into a tailspin if they are on the edge anyway.

[imjustme]

Do you have any other organizations you prefer or would recommend for legal representation instead of HSLDA?

In 10 years I have never felt the need of legal representation.
Sorry I can't recommend any since I haven't looked into them.

[uptoolate]

Let's see, she kept the affidavit that she signed and threw away the confirmation that makes her case. Then she says that she has received an exemption this year. It sounds like more than a fax confirmation. Obviously she didn't get one last year and never followed up as to why. She's been homeschooling for ten years,. Homeschooling is not being attacked, her actions are. There is a good chance that this woman is in over her head. Four or five kids and probably not much of a support system, until now. Hopefully she can get the help she needs to pull it together.

Seems to me that the state has become a burden to this womans role and parental right to raise and educate her blessed children. Affidavits here, confirmations there. File paperwork, paperwork, paperwork...

The judge should have told the state that it needs to make it easier on the woman by getting out of her way!

[RGSpincich]

The judge should have told the state that it needs to make it easier on the woman by getting out of her way!

By "out of her way" I take it you mean she should, also, find a job that she can perform to pay her own bills. Wouldn't want the state burdening her with that SSI check every month.

[agrace]

This is outrageous. Hopefully HSLDA will get involved and this will be resolved quickly.

She said she had received a confirmation the fax to the school was received when she sent it, but likes to clean out her paperwork before the start of a new school year, and apparently had disposed of it.

OK, big mistake. I never throw anything out that pertains to homeschooling. Although from the sound of things, she wouldn't have much sway with this judge if she did have it.