Slowly but surely they are taking our rights away!

[olde_fashioned]

What's next?

This is absolutely apalling. Do you want the government telling you how to raise your child? California's liberal courts have just ruled that "parents possess no constitutional right to homeschool their children." This is disgusting, maddening, but it is also scary. Our God-given and supposedly inalienable rights are being chipped away at, little by little.

The scope of this decision by the appellate court is breathtaking. It not only attacks traditional home schooling, but it also calls into question home schooling through charter schools and teaching children at home via independant study through public and private schools," stated Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute. "If not reversed, the parents of more than 166,000 students currently receiving an education at home will be subject to criminal sanctions," he continued.

[CLICK HERE to read more]

The wonderful HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) is doing everything they can to change this ruling, and to get it unpublished, which would mean it cannot be used as a law by other courts.

They are also getting up a petition, and we need all the signatures we can get! Please take a few minutes and sign it HERE.

Comments

[zaftig46.livejournal.com]

So interesting. I'm in Canada, but my coworkers and I were discussing homeschooling just yesterday and wondering what kinds of policies our own government has on checking for some consistency of content for the children that are home schooled. I guess the Californian justice system just took this a step further.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

"Checking for some consistency of content"? Do you mean regulating what the children are being taught?

[zaftig46.livejournal.com]

No, not really regulating, just how children who have been home schooled through high school get into university if they don't have the same transcripts that the kids who have gone through "the system" do. Like, how do you prove to the university that you have the basics of math, for example? I just don't know about these things, so we were discussing that.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Well, they take the tests to get into the universities (I don't know if you guys have SATs or what), and if they pass, they know their math. If they flunk, then I guess they don't! ;-P

[zaftig46.livejournal.com]

Oh, OK, I wasn't sure if the tests applied to home schooled kids or not. It always seemed to me that those standardised government tests had nothing to do with what we learned at school anyway, so it didn't even test how well we learned the curriculum! You might as well learn all sorts of other things, like homeschooled kids do in that instance! ;-)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Anyone can take them here for a fee, I believe, but I have no idea what you do in Canada.

[jordan-lynn.livejournal.com]

If you are homeschooled in my state (Alabama) you don't have to take a graduation exam like people in public schools do. Some private schools don't have a graduation exam either. But to get into college you must take an ACT or SAT. The SAT is free as far as I know, but it is not accepted for some colleges. The ACT costs $25 to take each time, and it is supposedly a harder test. All colleges accept the ACT. If you're homeschooled usually you have to the take the ACT in order to be accepted to a college, because a lot of homeschooled are not acredited. The homeschool I graduated from was not acredited, and I might not have been accepted to my college if I'd had an SAT score on my transcript. I had to have an ACT score.

I think that without proper regulations the children would have a rough time taking the ACT. I was not properly prepared, and I studied for three months prior to the exam and still did poorly, whereas a friend of mine showed up hungover to exam had not not studied at all and made a higher grade than I did. He went to a public school.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I know.

It's entirely possible -- this isn't the first time homeschooling has been endangered. They like to do it under the cover of "privacy" since they are to cowardly to do it openly. They know popular opinion would be against this.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I whole-heartedly agree. Plus, it's a well-known fact that homeschool graduates are smarter than the majority of public school graduates. Even the secular colleges like getting smart students to boost their grade standings. :-/

Other than pray, spread the word, join/support the HSLDA and sign their petitions? Not that I know of.

P.S. Done.

[zaftig46.livejournal.com]

homeschooling is the only way to raise children who "think outside the box"

I'm sorry, I don't know you, but I would disagree with that statement. I think even children who go through public or private conventional schooling can think outside the box if they are lucky enough to have parents, teachers, or other role models who encourage them to do so in a safe, non-anarchic way. Alternatively, their own life experience can mould them into something other than an automaton; not that I think any institution can produce true automatons, given the infinite variety of human nature.

[zaftig46.livejournal.com]

I would certainly classify myself as an exception, but that's mainly because of my quite complicated life history that made me look quite critically at any form of mass media or control, school included. My circle of friends has quite naturally evolved to include mostly people who are suspicious of blind conformism as well. I am not friends with the people you might classify as the norm, because I don't understand them or their motivations.
I guess we are lucky!

[sabrinafair2.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'm in shock. I can't believe they were able to do that. I had no idea why they would do that until I read some of the comments.

I personally don't agree with some aspects of homeschooling, but there's no way that I'd ever support a law that makes it illegal. That's ridiculous.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I'm no law expert, but all too often these renegade judges take liberties they do not legally have.

What aspects, may I ask? Just curious.

[sabrinafair2.livejournal.com]

I've heard about this whole new approach to homeschooling called unschooling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unschooling) which I disagree with. The children basically get to pick out their own curriculum.

I also have two close friends who had parents who did not *know* what they were doing when they homeschooled them. It's caused them a lot of grief later down on the road. Not to mention if you are homeschooled you can't take IB or AP classes.

I also think a lot of parents who homeschool are trying to shelter their kids too much from the world. Parents are kidding themselves if they believe they can always protect their kids from the "big, bad world".

But if a parent *knows* what they are doing and the children are socialized with lots of other kids, I think it's fine and I don't think that anyone should take that right away. In California do homeschoolers regularly have to take tests to see if they are at the same level of their public school counter-parts?

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

What is wrong with consulting a student's preference in choosing study materials? I'm not saying that if the child hates math, you don't teach them algebra, but if kids want to learn about something they're already interested in, airplanes, for example, why not select a unit study on the history of flight?

A lot of the criticisms I've heard against homeschooling come from people who have come into contact with a negative experience, or children who's parents didn't teach them well enough. Not all homeschoolers are alike, and the group as a whole should not be judged for the mistakes and shortcomings of a few.

Again, what is wrong with trying to protect your child from the ugly world? There is a difference between "sheltering" from unnecessary dangers (bad peer influences, school violence, sex and drugs, perverted teachers, etc.) and raising a sheltered child who is ignorant of the ways of the world. Not being exposed to the negative elements of life doesn't have to mean one is unaware of them entirely.

In California do homeschoolers regularly have to take tests to see if they are at the same level of their public school counter-parts?

Not that I'm aware of. But to be honest, I'm not so sure that would be a desirable thing! California's schools are some of the most pathetic in the entire nation, so for a homeschooled student to be "at the same level" as their public school counterparts might mean they aren't learning very much, either!!

[jordan-lynn.livejournal.com]

I agree, a law should not state how to raise children, but there are a lot of people who abuse homeschooling. I think that has to stop. I also object to certain aspects of homeschooling, but I certainly don't think its any of my business to tell people how to raise their kids, and it isn't the place of the government to do so either.

But then again, the government is in place to help us all lead better lives, and there have to be some rules and regulations, but making it illegal to homeschool is taking it too far. A more moderate law to regulate what kids learn (at least to make sure that the four core subjects are learned to adequately prepare children for college) would be much better. That way it would be harder to abuse the system and also it would allow people to homeschool their children in a safe environment. A lot of people who homeschool are Christian who do it to keep their kids from the influence of adults and children who do not share their beliefs. While I disagree with that for my own personal reasons (though I am a Christian) I do think that it is not only a family choice it is also a religious one. Since it is legal to practice whatever religion you want in our country it should be legal to homeschool your children for the same reason.

I Was Homeschooled - long comment.

[jordan-lynn.livejournal.com]

And I have a very mixed experience with it.

I spent 4th - 6th grade homeschool using a Christian homeschooling program. I was able to excell in English and Literature (I had gotten to a 12 grade level by the time I was in 5th grade) but I did poorly in math because my parents were not good at it. When I went to public school I failed pre-algebra three times. I was homeschooled again in 11th and 12th grade and I hated it because I wasn't in the Christian program anymore and I did all my homework online. I didn't feel as if I learned anything and I was adequately prepared for my ACT. I studied for months and I only made a 12 on the math portion, which is a VERY bad grade. It was only my good grade on the reading and English portion that saved me and I made a high enough score to get me into a decent college. I also missed out on two proms.

I think that parents do have the right to homeschool their children, but that it should be a highly regulated process. I did not get a proper education because my parents did not do a very good job of homeschooling me. If it were not for my own desire to learn I would not be the educated woman I am now, and let's face it, most kids these days do NOT have the desire to learn. Kids these days are mostly lazy and would rather not learn. Teaching kids is a lot harder than most parents think, and my parents were not up to the task, as much as they wanted to be.

Re: I Was Homeschooled - long comment.

[jordan-lynn.livejournal.com]

I have known people who were homeschooled by strict parents who did very well. I know a 14 year old girl who has already got enough credits to graduate in a year. She is very intelligent and has a bright future ahead of her. She's also very well adjusted socially because her mom takes her to dance classes and church functions so she can be around other children and socialize. Really she misses out on nothing. But a lot of parents who homeschool are not like this mom. A lot of them assume their kids are doing the work and don't take much intrest in the learning process. I know two girls who are being homeschooled who are not learning anything. They don't have to do any work in the program they are in, they are not required to submit work of any kind. They are 16 years old and read on a 5th or 6th grade level, they cannot do any algebra. They told me that they don't think they need to learn these things or go to college because their mom is showing them how to be housewives. No joke. I'm not making this up. I also know a 7 year old girl who told her mother she didn't like school anymore, so her mom took her out of school and is "homeschooling" her, but she can barely add and subtract and she doesn't read at all. That is sad.

Yes, parents have a right to teach their children, provided that someone is making sure that they TEACH.

With as much violence as there is in schools today I understand why parents would want to teach their kids at home, but there are a lot of things I missed out being homeschooled. I am shy and I feel like I'm not smart enough to be going to college I'm attending right now. I was not prepared for the college experience. I'm doing well in my classes because I spend nearly every waking hour studying, and yet because my parents did not teach me any math I am still on the brink of flunking out of my math course which is technically a high school math class.

Re: I Was Homeschooled - long comment.

[jordan-lynn.livejournal.com]

I don't want my kids to be like me and have the same kinds of stresses I do. When/if I ever have children I will be putting them in a private school if I can afford it. Hopefully it will be safer than a public one.

Also, there are schools for children who do not learn at the same pace as others, or for gifted children. Those are great alternatives for homeschools. The kids can be taught by professionals who know how to teach the gifted and the ones who learn at a different pace. Some are expensive and some are free. It is hard to be accepted to such schools, and it can be costly, but what is more important than the education of a child? Nothing.

I have had to struggle SO hard to pay for college because my parents can't afford to help me. I know that when I have a family and I am considering the education for my kids, there is no amount of money that I will not spend to make sure that they don't have to deal with what I have gone through. Whatever I can afford is what they will get, and I would rather go without to give my future kids a better future than mine. My parents were selfish and squandered a lot of money on a lot of stupid things. My parents were lazy when it came to my education and very wasteful. I learned from them, somehow. I taught myself almost everything I know. I do not owe my education to them at all, and I don't want my kids to say the same about me.

Re: I Was Homeschooled - long comment.

[jordan-lynn.livejournal.com]

I know that some kids come out of homeschooled situations as very intelligent and well adjusted persons, but I have only seen it happen a couple of times out of the many homeschooled people I know, and I know about 30. So if that tells you anything... Most of them know nothing of the world around them, and that can be considered a good thing to some people, but to me it is a very bad thing. I believe that parents who try to protect their kids from everything are doing a bad job of raising their children. My parents did one thing right with me. They didn't try to protect me from anything, they taught me to protect myself. I am a better person for that, a stronger person. That is the best education anyone can ever have.



--- I'm sorry that I posted so much, I just thought that you might like to hear the story of someone who had been homeschooled ---

[littleflower518.livejournal.com]

It is *my* OPINION that the liberal government wants to take away ALL of our rights!!! Pretty soon we wont be able to pray in our own homes!! This is really pathetic!! Sadly, it doesn't surprise me in the least! Liberals scream tolerance and they are THE MOST intolerant group of people around. Sorry....this is upsetting.

I think they should mind their own business...if they don't like homeschooling....don't homeschool!!!

Sheeesh!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, Lindy!! :-)

[twilight-luvers.livejournal.com]

This is appalling!

I was homeschooled for seven years and I'm so grateful I had that opportunity. I believe that home schooling helped me to mature greatly beyond my peers, and also prepared me intellectually for college and advanced high school classes. It taught me to think for myself, to explore my own way through life. It is ridiculous that government is trying to remove a parent's right to decide their own child's education.

I signed the petition!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

It is ridiculous, and thank you for signing the petition! :-D

[ancientwhispers.livejournal.com]

I've just signed the petition. This is apalling indeed. The government does not have the right to dictate to parents how their children should be educated. It should be solely the decision of the parents.

Thank you for informing us of this attack on our freedoms.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you for signing it! We need to preserve our rights.

My brother informed me, so he deserves the credit. :-)

[ancientwhispers.livejournal.com]

In that case, please thank your brother on behalf of me! ;-)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

That I will most certainly do! :-D

[midenianscholar.livejournal.com]

Okay, I saw your comment on my blog and I asked Mom about this. This is basically what she said:

There was a family in CA who were known for child abuse, etc., and had been accused several times. Not exactly a model homeschool household. When they filed the case, they made a slight mistake. Likewise, when the judge gave them their judgment, he worded it in such a way that it sounds like he is attacking homeschooling as a whole, not just the homeschool family being tried. But while that family might be stopped from homeschooling, it doesn't mean that all of homeschooling will be taken out of CA. It does mean that there's going to be a big uproar, and likely some laws changed around--which may not be a bad thing. Apparently CA is pretty ambiguous in homeschool law and there do need to be changes.

Does that make sense? (Not that petitions and all that aren't good! Just clearing up some of the foggy details...)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Is this the same family the ruling was brought against?

It may be that we are "over-reacting" but I would much rather jump to conclusions and stop this kind of behaviour in it's tracks, rather than be complaisant only to regret it later.

(Yes, it makes sense, and thank you!)

[midenianscholar.livejournal.com]

Yes. So the family is the one who will be stopped. But the case has brought up homeschooling and such, so it will probably start getting more attention.

Right. I agree. But it's important not to overreact so much that in your haste you make it worse. (Not saying you are! Just saying from personal experience.)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Okay.

Right, oh, I know. ;-D

btw -- who is that in your icon?

[midenianscholar.livejournal.com]

That's Kate Austen. She's in LOST. It's a Jane Austen reference. ^-^ (LOST references just about everything under the sun, which is partly why it's so cool.)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

So Kate's last name in Lost is Austen? Neat!!

The references might be due to the fact that it's JJ Abrams. I know he stole a ton of material for Alias. If you are at all familiar with the general storyline, and ever watch a Korean movie called Shiri, it's soooo blatantly obvious where he got all his ideas. He ripped the "big red Rambaldi ball" straight out of that movie, which was made a few years before Alias. [/meaningless factoid]

[midenianscholar.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen Alias. But I know in LOST he isn't stealing ideas (hate it when they do that) as much as he incorporates books/quotes/history into the story to add depth. :)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Oh, well that's good. I love things that are very "literary" in that sense.

In Alias they always chased artifacts/relics related to some Umpteenth Century inventor they named Rambaldi -- IMVHO he was supposed to be Da Vinci. ;-)

[shabby-chick.livejournal.com]

I am so glad that you are against this. We signed the petition against it, and are praying that God will work His hand in this. Once California approves it (if they do), what does it mean for home-schoolers across the country? It's so tragic! I might have to go to public school!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I am most certainly against it! ;-) Thank you for signing the petition.

As for what might happen if the HSLDA fails, I have no idea. We can only pray that they succeed.

I AM A CHRISTIAN

[lucilla27.livejournal.com]

This makes me very angry.
My son goes to Catholic school and our baby girl is still to little for school.
Everyone has the right to home school there child. We teach our children about God and Jesus Christ everyday. This is very scary.

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

"Hi. We're from the government, and we're here to help."

Yeah, right! :-P

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

*snort* Yeah, sure -- helping to take your freedoms away and spend all your money is more like it!

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

nods.

[oldfashioned84.livejournal.com]

I heard about this the other day and it made me so angry too! It's almost not even worth having children anymore since the country is making it too difficult to raise them decently. I almost don't want to take the risk at this point since I wouldn't want my child to turn into a school system clone.

I'm heading over now to sign the petition. I can only hope that things will change and not spread even further to other states.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I would never, ever think it wasn't worth having children. It's just not worth living in such a liberal state. ;-P

Thank you!