A little bird told me that on February 29, 2008, the Second District California Court of Appeals ruled that parents do not have a constitutional right to "home school" their children. Home schooling is now being outlawed to home school in the sate of California unless the child is supervised by a certified teacher for a certain number of hours every day. When I heard this, I was utterly amazed. This hits a little too close to home. In fact, if this eventually happens, it will affect my home.
I was home schooled till about 5th grade, and then moved on to Smith Flat Charter School. I begged my mom and dad to please please please let me go to a real public school! I needed the social interaction and the chance to get away from home. I hated being labeled as a "white and pasty home school kid" (I was not white and pasty, and I had lots of friends everywhere, and healthy social skills). For years my parents denied me this--until my freshman year in High School. I attended a public high school here in California, and absolutely hated it. I gained a lot of friends, tried out for and made the Varsity Cheer team, joined the yearbook staff, was cast in the high school musical, participated in clubs, and I realized how good I had it at Smith Flat.
I wouldn’t trade that year in public school for close to anything. It was great experience! But who could resist waking up and 9 in the morning and not having to go anywhere? I could finish my homework in 3 to 4 hours as opposed to 8 hours at school five days a week. This left my day free to do other things. I have a greater love for my family.
My mother has home schooled not only myself but my two little sisters, and plans to do the same with my 2 year old brother. She's been great! She worked at my pace of learning, whether it was slower, though most often faster, than the rest of the kids my age in government controlled schools. And she's holding no credentials or degree.
To get down to it, Home school is not government controlled! All free public schools are regulated and controlled by the government. This is no conspiracy theory, its fact. Our tax money goes towards the operation of all public schools in the form of a grant. With this grant come attached strings. There are certain things teachers can and cannot teach, people can and cannot say, and certain things that must be taught that is out of the hands or discretion of student's parents. If the schools fail to follow XY and z of the government's requests, the money is removed and, of course, the school cannot operate.
Indeed, public schools are not the only options out there. There are private schools and many other forms of schooling that are completely legal and not government funded. I suppose what irritates me the most is that something that has been alive in our country from the beginning could be terminated so easily and without much thought!
I have no problem with private schools, though some of them are extremely expensive. Many of my friends go to private schools, and they are very smart people. Also, they can be tailored to fit the needs of the students. There are private schools that specialize in anything and everything. Though this is the case, there are still parents out there who choose to keep their children home and away from the bad influences that other kids might have on their own children. For example, the unnecessary drama, drugs, alcohol, unhealthy relationships and the list could go on. Some people disagree with parents who "shelter" their children, but everyone raises their children differently. Who's to say only one way is the right way?
I'm sure there are a lot of angry home school moms out there right now feeling pretty aggressive. There are lots of angry home school moms out there who have produced many successful and well educated people.
I’m interested to see where all this goes.
Sort of. I attended public school until 9th grade and was then home schooled. My younger sister and I essentially home schooled ourselves because my mom and dad both had to work, but we turned out fine and did well. I'm now in the honors program at my college and have about a 3.7 GPA - but everyone's different and needs a different approach to their education. Some people do better in a public or private school because they can have structured discipline and some kids need a different approach. It really is up to the parents and the child to determine what is really best for them, whether or not everyone agrees.
People put way too much emphasis on the "social" aspect of public school in my opinion, and seems to be the only thing most people bring up when they do talk about what's wrong with home schooling. The last time I checked school was for learning and for education.
What would be the specifics of this new regulation? Would the certified teacher be paid for as a government employee, or would the cost be shouldered on the parents? If so, then that law should absolutely not be passed as that would then force parents into putting their kids into public school because they couldn't afford the mandated teacher.
i totally agree with you on too much emphasis in the social department. it was over-rated so i left. and yea! there are families out there who the public school system works wonderfully for. i suppose i forgot to mention im not against that system! oops. but anyways, as for specifics
the certified teacher could either be the parent, or an outside source. im not sure as to who would be the bearer of cost. and yea, that would be a problem. i've been searching for more information on the matter, but its slim.
I wasn't meaning to say that you were against the system, it was just a thought I had :).
And your welcome :).
What the FUCK?
So parents are REQUIRED to send their kids to schools full of goverment-controlled propoganda? They are FORCED to have their kids be taught by people who their parents may disagree with?
That's pretty... shocking, to say the least. And scary.
This looks like a great candidate for a Supeme Court challege, and I seriously doubt that this decision will survive a Constitutional challege at that level, and I think it unlikely that it will even stand up in the State Supreme Court.
percivale
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In my school district there was a big stink about the School Board wanting to write warnings about evolution in the science books. I've already started homeschooling my five year old. We have a huge emphasis on outside activities and social interaction. I understand that homeschooling is not for everyone, but it can be a great opportunity to give children a Renaissance education that is catered to their talents and needs. The cookie cutter approach of the schools can make it hard for students to achieve excellence - not mention the lack of arts teaching and extremely conservative tone in classrooms near where I live.
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For some families and under the right circumstances home schooling is fine. My nephew that lives in CA is being home schooled this year. In his program they are sent material and he has interaction with a teacher online. They also provide the computer. With my nephew the main things that drove them to home schooling was how poor the public schools were in their area, among the lowest in the country. But also, because they live in an area that has a high rate of violence. My nephew who is only 10 years old was robed on his way home from school, by some of his fellow class mates. The fact that they found a program that has interaction with a teacher via the internet is the only thing that made it possible for him to be home schooled as my sister has 2 children under the age of 2 years, and does not have the patience to teach anything academic anymore. She had really wanted to send him to private schools but those are extremely expensive where they live.
So, is this type of home schooling considered supervised by a certified teacher? I would think so but with the government you never know.
-E-