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).

[JennieOsborne]

I am very offended that this is something that is being talked about. There are always going to be families that are not doing their job, and that are doing their job. Just like with schools. We all know parents that don't help with school work either. However, I would venture to say that this is not a huge percentage of the case with homeschoolers. I can't help but wonder if this has to do with shame the NEA and others are facing because we do better with our own children, and spend less money. I also wonder if it has to do with the fact that they do get less money for the schools, based on less students. You can't deny that if all the homeschooled kids went to school, that we would need more schools, more teachers, more everything......so aren't we in reality saving taxpayers more money? My last point is what happened to responsiblity? Aren't I responsible for my childs education, even if they were in school? Not the government!

[JennieOsborne]

pass this on

[RAT Patrol]

No money, no say

[Jeff Chandler]

>>one suggestion is to require homeschoolers to use public school books and lesson plans. <<

One of the points of homeschooling is to avoid the deconstructionist indoctrination, as found in the public (and private) school books and lesson plans.

[Mister Baredog]

I'd say your analysis hits the high points. Unions are pressing liberal CA legislators to try to errode the homeschoolers ability to choose that option..They were unable to pass a requirement that parents get "teaching certificates" BUT THEY TRIED TO DO JUST THAT! And they want people to think the Unions CARE about the children, BEAM ME UP!

[RAT Patrol]

It's about money. They feel they "lose" money (about $10,000 per kid) when parents remove their kids for home schooling. Of course, adding a kid costs them about $10,000, too. All arguments lead to more money for them.

[WarSlut]

"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.

Sure you did, Delaine.

There's a quick way to settle this one. Just put the track record of home schooled kids up against the record of public school educated kids. It won't be close, and everyone knows it (which is why the teacher's union hacks refuse to touch any such comparison).

Seeing the kind of lying propagandists infecting the public school system -- and the lengths they'll go to to protect their quota$$$ -- is making it a real easy decision for this dad.

[MississippiMan]

Part of it's about money. Most of it's about a loss of control over your children. If they don't have them, they can't indoctrinate/infect them.

MM

[Jeff Chandler]

>>(about $10,000 per kid) <<

$10,000 per kid X 20 kids to a classroom = $200,000 per classroom and they still can't read!

[chance33_98]

"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.

Even if they did, so what? I saw about 30 articles this week about kids being beaten, raped, etc and so on in the schools. By this woman's logic that means we should all pull our kids out of schools :) (mine are not in them anyway)

[WarSlut]

$10,000 per kid X 20 kids to a classroom = $200,000 per classroom and they still can't read!

That's the objective. Even when they finally do learn how to read, they still can't comprehend what it is they're reading until the classroom union rep tells them what it means. Or more importantly, what the union thinks it should mean.

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

[chance33_98]

[Osage Orange]

From the hit piece:

""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. "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll wager my next pay-check..that IF, Delaine Easton had more than "ONE" parent..she would have advertised the number.

Just another weak jab, at the HS'ing community.

FRegards,

[jwalburg]

One of the best threats homeschoolers could make when harassed by government and union officials (in states with overcrowded schools like CA) is that parents will enroll all homeschooling kids en masse if not left alone. Watch the panic then!

(Also, it's "fewer students" not "less students." Anything you can count, you say "fewer.")

[WarSlut]

Even if they did, so what?

Of course, but the story this hack tells is so absurd on its face, it's laughable.

Homeschool hicks are teaching their kids how to bury dead cats, then running to public school superintendents to show them the pages of their journals.

Uh-huh. You bet.

Not only is Ms. Easton a liar, but she's a moron.

[jwalburg]

Journal of public school student: "the condom went on the cucumber, the condom went off, the drug counselor came in, the pusher came in, ate lunch, had test, had another test, the condom went on the cucumber..."

[whereasandsoforth]

Learning about life and death has value. What is this one example pulled out of the air suppose to represent? And lunch is certainly important for a growing child. The sooner public schools wither and die the better. And those on the inside are starting to get that "death rattle" aren't they...

[duk]

Thirty states mandate regular testing for homeschooled students; 42 states require a set curriculum; parents in Michigan who teach their own kids must first earn a teaching credential;



My wife and I HOMESCHOOL here in the U.P. of Michigan. No one has ever told us we need a teaching credential!! My wife has a college education though. Seems this article has the facts wrong.

[Dakotabound]

"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.

From an unschooling viewpoint, let's pick that apart.

"Cat died." -- dealing with feelings of sadness and loss (oh, without professional grief counselors), medical issues, life processes, family relationships.

"Buried cat." -- Biological processes, religious rituals, health issues.

"Mourned cat." -- Emotional closure, religious beliefs.

"Ate lunch." -- Life goes on.

They probably got another cat, too. All without government input, filling out mindless worksheets, or being tested on what happens when your cat dies. Which would also be used to build your emotional profile in your official school file, in case you went nuts and started killing fellow students.

Unschooling

[Jeff Chandler]

>>And lunch is certainly important for a growing child.<<

You miss the point. It's supposed to be a federally funded school lunch, doncha know.