Posted on 06/19/2002 9:51:22 AM PDT by Tired of Taxes
B-69. Home Schooling
The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience. When home schooling occurs, students enrolled must meet all state requirements. Home schooling should be limited to the children of the immediate family, with all expenses being borne by the parents/guardians. Instruction should be by persons who are licensed by the appropriate state education licensure agency, and a curriculum approved by the state department of education should be used.
The Association also believes that home-schooled students should not participate in any extracurricular activities in the public schools.
The Association further believes that local public school systems should have the authority to determine grade placement and/or credits earned toward graduation for students entering or re-entering the public school setting from a home school setting. (1988, 2000)
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1. Most parents I know who homeschool learn the subject with the child.
2. Those who don't, outsource.
I'm surprised you don't think parents capable of learning difficult subjects.
And the same could be said of teachers in many, if not most, school districts.
The studies, even after making the modifications you asked for, discovered that homeschoolers did just as well as publicly schooled children. Not as good as some homeschoolers would have others think, but the quality is definitely there.
Yet, homeschoolers are derided because they don't have a piece of paper saying they can teach. Even the ones with college degrees.
Two bad ideas. First, it's not fine. Forcing homeschoolers to use "approved" curriculum is a non-starter. If we wanted their stuff, we'd use it. We don't.
Second, vouchers come with strings. We don't want no steeking strings.
On the contrary. The dumbed down public school kids have little to offer for inovation and economic strength. They'll be social leeches or worker bees.
The better educated will become the new rulers some day. Being able to read and comprehend can do wonders for a political canidate or corporate leader!
And many people are currently unemployed. Homeschooling would take other families off the public tit by opening jobs for them.
No way! As a parent with kids both in school and homeschooling, I do not want a *dime* of tax money for my homeschool and would lobby actively against any plan like that. Tax money for homeschooling means more gov't control of homeschooling.
It depends upon the state.
Besides, we pay for many things through taxes that we don't use. I don't drive on 90% of the roads in my state, but I pay for them through gas taxes. I don't use public health clinics, but I pay for them through state income taxes.
Many homeschoolers would prefer to organize their own private activities, anyway. I don't speak for anyone but that's just been my observation.
Every family has to make this decision on their own, and no one should be pressured by any "agenda," whether it's the NEA's, or someone who says that homeschooling is the *only* way to do it (it's not.)
I'm not so sure about the "massive recession" part. Certainly the majority of homeschooling families have one parent at home full-time (usually, but not always the mother.) Many families have not structured themselves to live on one income. That limits the numbers of homeschoolers right there.
If more married mothers stayed home with their children, homeschooling numbers would rise. As more people homeschool in a given city, it gets more fun and easier for everyone, because the number of clubs, co-ops, private sports teams, orchestras etc. increases.
Even so, given that we are in a recession now anyway, and that most families have two working parents, I don't see homeschooling becoming a "universal" solution to the school question anytime soon. But people should be free to choose whether to do it or not based on their own individual circumstances.
I wouldn't worry about the welfare moms or others like that. Most lazy moms would much rather get the kids out of the house by sticking them on a bus. They demand all kinds of summer programs, after school programs, etc. It's really not an issue. Most homeschool families are very conscientious.
Can I take a minute to explain why this is a bad idea?
With some exceptions (NY, PA, MA) most homeschool states are relatively "free" - in other words, there are not that many restrictions on homeschoolers. I don't *want* government money, because it's far better *for the common good* in my state to have a very free, loose homeschool law.
At present my state says specifically that it may NOT control a homeschooled child's curriculum. It clearly says that a homeschool family does NOT need any permission from the school district, and doesn't need to notify them. If we got tax money, we would have to register, offer documentation, and probably adhere to some kind of mandated curriculum (can't have the kids watching TV all day long, you know.)
Homeschooling is *private* education and should remain entirely private.
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