Posted by
Playful Walrus on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 12:45:13 PM
Ben Arnoldy writes in the Christian Science Monitor about the latest lunacy in the California courts – the attack on homeschooling.
For a movement that has gained greater accommodation in recent years, a state appellate court decision last month is a setback that, if not overturned on appeal, could force some 166,000 home-schooled students in California to enroll in conventional schools.
Which are currently moaning and groaning about cutbacks. How are they going to handle these extra students?
Governor Schwarzenegger said Friday he would go to the legislature if the ruling is not overturned.
Good. Do something right.
The case grew out of a home-schooled child's complaint of physical and emotional mistreatment by a parent.
If a child is being mistreated, then the state should intervene on behalf of the child. But you need not dismantle homeschooling to do that. This was a case of bad judicial activism.
California law stipulates two main exemptions to compulsory public school: enrollment in a full-time private school or instruction from a credentialed tutor.
Teaching credentials supposedly make all of the difference, you see. You could have your child taught by real-world experienced subject-matter experts (think Alan Greenspan for economics), but if they aren’t credentialed, it isn’t enough.
As the movement has grown, its autonomy has become worrisome to some.
Yes, like teacher unions, who exist mainly to siphon money to Leftist politicians and political causes, and to expand government so that there will be more government union employees paying dues.
Concerns center mostly on the need for state accountability in ensuring that children are educated to a certain standard. But, as in the California case, the potential for child abuse is also becoming an issue.
Yes, because we all know that children who attend public schools never suffer unreported abuse.
In a January report on a mother's murder of her four children in the District of Columbia, The New York Times framed the case around the isolation of homeschooled kids and the limited opportunity for checking on their well-being. Cases in New Jersey and North Carolina have produced similar coverage.
So all homeschooling is bad? By the same sort of reasoning, we can take the cases where public school teachers have molested students and we can therefore conclude that all public schooling is bad.
"If I were a state legislator, I would be worried about having legislation overseeing home schooling that is not being enforced at all, and the potential for bad child-abuse cases happening and the state being sued for, in part, not taking care of its obligations," says Ms. Yuracko.
I have a better idea. When some children’s rights attorney sues the state over a child’s abuse or neglect by their parents, how about we make sure that the parents are held responsible, NOT a bunch of taxpayers who did not perpetuate the abuse? Sure, the parents won’t have pockets as deep, but it is justice we’re concerned about – not money, right?
Let’s get government out of education and let people keep more of their own money to spend and invest as they please. If they have children, let them choose and support a school that offers what they want. People without children can still donate to schools.