Parents Fight Governments to Homeschool

FOX News ^ | Tuesday, May 20, 2003 | Fox News' Trace Gallagher and Liza Porteus contributed to this report.

[JennieOsborne]

Critics argue there should be across-the-board accountability.

"We saw one parent keeping a journal of what the child was learning during the week and it was the cat died, they buried the cat, they mourned the cat ... they ate lunch," said Delaine Easton, former superintendent of California Public Schools.

One suggestion is to require homeschoolers to use public school books and lesson plans. But parents insist they're doing just fine on their own.

"On average, home school children test in the 80th percentile, which is 30 percentage points above the median," said Michael Smith of the Home School Legal Defense Association (search).

[Jeff Chandler]

Public school child's journal: Caught the cat, tortured the cat, killed the cat, ate the cat for lunch...

[Kuksool]

{Many say that as more parents pull their kids out of public school, confidence in that public school system quickly erodes and has a domino effect on other public policy issues.}

What a bunch of arrogant jerks! Since when high esteem for government educrats an entitlement?

[Jeff Chandler]

>>confidence in that public school system quickly erodes and has a domino effect on other public policy issues<<

And this is a bad thing how?

[jd777]

They're so worried about the homeschoolers , but if you ask to test the ability of their public school teachers they go ballistic.

[Kuksool]

Shutting down government schools will be the best thing that can happen for children.

[Anthem]

It's not just about the money, or even primarily about the money. The issue at stake for the education establishment is maintaining control of "public policy". From the article:

Public educators insist their only concern is that every child gets a good education. Many say that as more parents pull their kids out of public school, confidence in that public school system quickly erodes and has a domino effect on other public policy issues.

[John Jorsett]

I also wonder if it has to do with the fact that they do get less money for the schools, based on less students.

That's certainly a big reason. Another is that the State hates the idea of anyone slipping by their indoctrination program and exercising independent thought. They might start questioning the government, after all.

[Kuksool]

Government educrats in my area are whining about Bush's No Child Left Behind Act. They say that the act has rigid standards that threaten local control. They even go so far as to accuse Bush of plotting to destroy government schools. 2 years ago, I thought the No Child Left Behind Act was a barrel of porking spending for Sen. Kennedy. But since the NEA hates the act, I guess it must be a good law after all.

[Kuksool]

Ping!

[Jeff Chandler]

>>accuse Bush of plotting to destroy government schools<<

I like the sound of that.

[homeschool mama]

**Delaine Easton, former superintendent of California Public Schools**

This woman claimed to have a teaching credential for the State of California. She didn't/doesn't.

This woman claims to have seen a homeschool parent's daily journal of what goes on in their children's education. She wouldn't have seen such a thing because the State of California does not require that as a homeschooling stipulation. Attendance, yes....a list of homeschool activities, NO.

This woman is a liar...that simple.

[homeschool mama]

Thank you for the ping. See #31. :o)

[Jeff Chandler]

>>This woman is a liar...that simple.<<

A leftist telling a fib? Whoulda thunk it?!

[B Knotts]

It's ALL about money. That's the only thing most public employees care about. Especially Democrats.

[B Knotts]

Public schools are Democratic voter factories, and that's all they are.

Exactly!

[don-o]

Bump for later.

I love the educrats coming after home schoolers.

Actually, I pity the fools. They can blather all they wish; but make substantive moves, and we will fight and we will win.

[BibChr]

LOL, xlnt!

[ReagansShinyHair]

I'm a publik skool teacher. A good one. There *are* some tragic cases of homeschooling gone bad, where we get the kid in fourth grade after the mom gives up, and he/she is basically on a first grade level. However, if there's any way at all possible for me to do it, I'm homeschooling my own kids. No way would I want to let them near most public schools, and I know many excellent public school teachers. It's just the few bad ones that can really mess up your kids. Then there are the bad peer influences...

[Marine Inspector]

I also wonder if it has to do with the fact that they do get less money for the schools, based on less students.

Bingo

[gitmo]

"On average, home school children test in the 80th percentile, which is 30 percentage points above the median," said Michael Smith of the Home School Legal Defense Association (search).
...
Public educators insist their only concern is that every child gets a good education.

In that case, why not require government schools to adopt the curricula of homeschoolers?