Good citizens
Hopefully everyone has heard about this case; some of the actual reaction quotes are remarkable. To review:
With this case law, anyone in California who is homeschooling without a teaching credential is subject to prosecution for truancy violation, which could require community service, heavy fines and possibly removal of their children under allegations of educational neglect.
Loved this quote from the Judge who ruled in this case:
“A primary purpose of the educational system is to train school children in good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state and the nation as a means of protecting the public welfare,” the judge wrote, quoting from a 1961 case on a similar issue.
And this one too from the head of the teacher’s union:
The ruling was applauded by a director for the state’s largest teachers union.
“We’re happy,” said Lloyd Porter, who is on the California Teachers Association board of directors. “We always think students should be taught by credentialed teachers, no matter what the setting.”
At least they’ll be saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
Comments are closed.
It appears that the initial reporting in this case was based on a misunderstanding, and that homeschooling in California is not really in any danger.
I don’t think that’s right, though. Hudson says, “In other words, the enrollment of the Longs’ children at Sunland Christian School is not a form of homeschooling and, therefore, does not fall under the exemption in the California Educational Code allowing for parents to teach their children at home.”
But there is no such exemption.
The post on which Hudson relies says this:
Technically, yes, I think that a court should interpret the California Education Code as allowing homeschoolers to incorporate as a private school.
Unfortunately, the decision seemed to rule out that possibility as well:
Then on page 14, the court derides “the ruse of enrolling them in a private school and then letting them stay home and be taught by a non-credentialed parent.”
What is important is the way anti-homeschoolers think. See:
http://americascultureofconservatism.blogspot.com/