Criminalizing Home Schoolers
Friday, Mar. 07, 2008 By KRISTIN KLOBERDANZ/MODESTO
Parents of the approximately 200,000 home-schooled children in California are reeling from the possibility that they may have to shutter their classrooms — and go back to school themselves — if they want to continue teaching their own kids. On Feb. 28, Judge H. Walter Croskey of the Second District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles ruled that children ages six to 18 may be taught only by credentialed teachers in public or private schools — or at home by Mom and Dad, but only if they have a teaching degree. Citing state law that goes back to the early 1950s, Croskey declared that "California courts have held that under provisions in the Education Code, parents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children." Furthermore, the judge wrote, if instructors teach without credentials they will be subject to criminal action.
This news raised a furor among home schooling advocates, including government officials. "Every California child deserves a quality education and parents should have the right to decide what's best for their children," Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement today. "Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education. This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts and if the courts don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will." "It's kind of scary," says Julie Beth Lamb, an Oakdale, California, parent who, with no teaching credentials, has taught her four children for 15 years. "If that ruling is held up, this would make us one of the most restrictive states in the nation."
The debacle originated with a suit over child abuse. One of the eight children of Philip and Mary Long, a Los Angeles couple, had filed a complaint of abuse and neglect with the L.A. Department of Children and Family Services. The agency determined that the Long children were being home schooled, taught by their uncredentialed mother while officially enrolled in independent study at Sunland Christian School. The DCFS then turned to the courts to mandate that the children attend public school so that teachers might spot evidence of abuse (a charge the parents deny). A juvenile court, however, determined that the Longs had a constitutional right to home school their children. The DCFS appealed and the case landed in Croskey's appellate court.
For years, the state of California has allowed parents to home school as long as they file papers to create a private school and hire a tutor with credentials or if their child participates in an independent study program through a credentialed school. In evaluating the Long case, however, Judge Croskey found that state law forbade any home schooling that was not taught by a credentialed teacher and that what California had been allowing was, in his judicial opinion, illegal. In 1953, another appellate court ruled against home-schooling parents who didn't want to adhere to California's compulsory education laws, which require kids between six and 18 to attend a credentialed school. The current case is most likely to be appealed to California's Supreme Court.
"We weren't trying to change the law on home schooling," says Leslie Heimov of the Children's Law Center, which represents the Long children involved in the case. "The law is accurate — it hasn't changed since the 1950s." She says the Center does not even have an opinion on home schooling. They just wanted to do what was best for the children represented in the case.
The fact that this sweeping ruling has sprung from such an individualized case is what has most outraged home schooling advocates. "Public schools are not a solution to the problem of child abuse," says Leslie Buchanan, president of the HomeSchool Association of California. Jack O'Connell, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction — the equivalent of a department of education — now faces the potential crisis of dealing with tens of thousands of truants. Does he know what will happen next? "I honestly don't know," O'Connell says, adding that his department is reviewing the case. "There is some angst in the field."
Aren't home schooled kids statistically "smarter" on average?
Aren't home schooled kids statistically "smarter" on average? Or is that a load of shit. Not that it would mean a whole lot anyway.
Aren't home schooled kids statistically "smarter" on average? Or is that a load of shit. Not that it would mean a whole lot anyway.
On average they have higher test scores. Some would argue that doesn't mean they're "smarter" but at the least they aren't behind public school kids. The law is bullshit; parents should have the right to educate their own children.
I'd imagine the HSLD is going to win this case as usual though, so I won't fret
Aren't home schooled kids statistically "smarter" on average? Or is that a load of shit. Not that it would mean a whole lot anyway.
On average they have higher test scores. Some would argue that doesn't mean they're "smarter" but at the least they aren't behind public school kids. The law is bullshit; parents should have the right to educate their own children.
I'd imagine the HSLD is going to win this case as usual though, so I won't fret
Under California law, would your parents be in prison?
PD, are your parents qualified to teach?
jesus - who on earth would want to be home schooled?
Go to school, you get social skills, sports etc... you might make *gasp* some friends!
I'm guessing you're socially distinguished mentally-challenged but I'm not going to assume anything.jesus - who on earth would want to be home schooled?In my case I never wanted to but I really had no choice I had people in my school threating my life and nothing serious was done because they had no solid proof. My mom couldn't afford for me to goto a school anywhere else plus with me home she could do more during the day plus make sure I'm learning and not playing catch up in some of my classes.
Go to school, you get social skills, sports etc... you might make *gasp* some friends!
Only thing I lack in is the number of friends. Then again, do I really want friends that would pretend I never existed if I went away for awhile?
I'm guessing you're socially distinguished mentally-challenged but I'm not going to assume anything.jesus - who on earth would want to be home schooled?In my case I never wanted to but I really had no choice I had people in my school threating my life and nothing serious was done because they had no solid proof. My mom couldn't afford for me to goto a school anywhere else plus with me home she could do more during the day plus make sure I'm learning and not playing catch up in some of my classes.
Go to school, you get social skills, sports etc... you might make *gasp* some friends!
Only thing I lack in is the number of friends. Then again, do I really want friends that would pretend I never existed if I went away for awhile?
I think to be a teacher you only have to have a college degree and to take a certain test or something so a lot of parents may qualify but the main benefit of public school is that you build organization and teamwork skills.
I'm guessing you're socially distinguished mentally-challenged but I'm not going to assume anything.jesus - who on earth would want to be home schooled?In my case I never wanted to but I really had no choice I had people in my school threating my life and nothing serious was done because they had no solid proof. My mom couldn't afford for me to goto a school anywhere else plus with me home she could do more during the day plus make sure I'm learning and not playing catch up in some of my classes.
Go to school, you get social skills, sports etc... you might make *gasp* some friends!
Only thing I lack in is the number of friends. Then again, do I really want friends that would pretend I never existed if I went away for awhile?
I think to be a teacher you only have to have a college degree and to take a certain test or something so a lot of parents may qualify but the main benefit of public school is that you build organization and teamwork skills.
I hate when people insinuate that social skills and teamwork can only be achieved in a class room.
I hate when people insinuate that social skills and teamwork can only be achieved in a class room.it is a preventative measure to make sure the kid is able to function well with other students. if you have social problems, somebody besides mommy or daddy is going to notice.
PD believes in evolution, I think. He just thinks that it was guided by God's hands....how?
How so? He believes in evolution (scientific theory). On faith, he thinks that evolution was guided by a higher power (faith).the way ST works is that you use physical evidence to prove something, and there's no evidence AT ALL for god buttfucking mary or whatever so he's missing the point of the scientific theory. I don't know what to say about his faith other than that it kind of sounds like he would be a chickenshit.
I'm sorry, I didn't know all of that PR. :'(How so? He believes in evolution (scientific theory). On faith, he thinks that evolution was guided by a higher power (faith).the way ST works is that you use physical evidence to prove something, and there's no evidence AT ALL for god buttfucking mary or whatever so he's missing the point of the scientific theory. I don't know what to say about his faith other than that it kind of sounds like he would be a chickenshit.
QuoteI hate when people insinuate that social skills and teamwork can only be achieved in a class room.
i'd say you are a damn sight more likely to develop those skills in a class room where you have to spend a good XX years of your life, so - yes - the class room IS a vastly better environment to learn these skills.
Uhm, he's not believing that God is responsible for evolution because of scientific theory. He's believing that on faith. There is a crucial distinction there.so you think that PD believes that evolution was guided by god's hands, but that god has left absolutely no clue for anybody to be able to back that theory up scientifically? that wouldn't be believing in the scientific theory then. that's just a politically correct way to say that you have no interest whatsoever in becoming an evolutionary biologist.
QuoteIntrigued by the concept of Cumbrian 'social skills' - do elaborate.
I think the last people who should be making cracks about social skills are the Irish! ;)
We might be bottom of the league, but we're only a couple of points behind the irish ... and we've a game in hand.
Or is it the Welsh? i can't tell....
That's sorta the point of faith, dude. It can't be proven empirically.people who have faith don't usually feel the need to avoid proof..I mean having faith isn't the same thing as making up weird scientific theories just so your minister still loves you. which is why I said: he's missing the point of faith and the scientific theory.
ichi, he may be exaggerating. he did once say he was the only white guy allowed to say "nigg@" in a certain section of D.C. and I mean we were all like that at his age so I'm guessing it's either because of social depression or fear of humiliation that he decided to go with homeschooling.
I wasn't serious about the N word thing but I could get away with alot that whitey normally couldn't. I am however serious about my school problems. I used to sit on the bus listening to my white people CDs and I'd get called out and told that I'd get my ass kicked. Luckily, one of the girls on the bus, who was a grade higher then me was nice enough to keep them from beating my ass.
My mom pulled me out of school because of all the shit I'd get. I would get chased home, spit on and all types of shit. The day my mother took me up to get my shit was great. The guidance consoler pulled my mother to the side and told her how one of my class mates was overheard talking about how he'd fuck me up and shit.
Middle School was awful. I'm glad I did the home schooling thing.
i was homeschooled through my last 2 1/2 years of high school, and due to my parents both working full time, i did the vast majority of my studies alone.
all throughout my time in school my parents had fought for accelerated learning curriculums. school was always too "easy" for me, and they looked for anything that could help me move forward and be challenged. the schools could never deliver. they did a bunch of bullshit tests to determine if i was "gifted," teachers offered to give me more work, they forced me to take classes in a different language. all useless, when the base problem was with the curriculum itself.
schools spend tons of money on special education for the mentally challenged, those with adhd, and other learning disabilities. but they don't spend a penny on any sort of accelerated learning courses for those children who do learn fast.
they would ask "well, if school is so easy for you, why are you complaining? there are plenty of kids who have to struggle for every point they make on a test -- you should consider yourself lucky."
when i became older and was sick and tired of being unhappy with my education and seeing my parents fight with the school systems, i sat down and wrote a formal letter to the principal of my high school, voicing my concerns and resigning from the school. with my parents support, i drafted a homeschool curriculum.
i finished in one year what it took the rest of my friends 2 1/2 years to complete. it took discipline, especially since i had a job and friends as well. for the first time i felt confident and happy with my education.
I remember reading Clinton was the worse president ever, abortion doomed the country, and FDR was a fool for not listening to Gen. MacArthur (ie destroying godless China) :/
And? It has little to do with one's level of education. It would be unwise to simply not teach evolution because once you go to college it comes up in bio classes, albeit not much; I've taken many biology classes in college and have rarely been tested on evolution principles.if you're in a classroom learning it you'll probably try to be more open-minded than if your parents are teaching it.
We focused on math, english, science, and reading (social studies, general reading, etc)
And? It has little to do with one's level of education. It would be unwise to simply not teach evolution because once you go to college it comes up in bio classes, albeit not much; I've taken many biology classes in college and have rarely been tested on evolution principles.if you're in a classroom learning it you'll probably try to be more open-minded than if your parents are teaching it.
We focused on math, english, science, and reading (social studies, general reading, etc)
And? It has little to do with one's level of education. It would be unwise to simply not teach evolution because once you go to college it comes up in bio classes, albeit not much; I've taken many biology classes in college and have rarely been tested on evolution principles.if you're in a classroom learning it you'll probably try to be more open-minded than if your parents are teaching it.
We focused on math, english, science, and reading (social studies, general reading, etc)
There isn't much that's open minded or critical about evolution in public schools. But I agree with you in essence
And? It has little to do with one's level of education. It would be unwise to simply not teach evolution because once you go to college it comes up in bio classes, albeit not much; I've taken many biology classes in college and have rarely been tested on evolution principles.if you're in a classroom learning it you'll probably try to be more open-minded than if your parents are teaching it.
We focused on math, english, science, and reading (social studies, general reading, etc)
There isn't much that's open minded or critical about evolution in public schools. But I agree with you in essence
And what's up with gravity? Why, i's just a theory! Where's equal time for Intelligent Falling?
Ben Stein is going to outlive us all
good! you're smarter than Ben Stein
Ben Stein is going to outlive us all
People said that about Nixon, too, and look at him. Or Hillary Clinton, who is dying a very public death along the lines of Rasputin as we speak.