Michigan Lawmakers Want Homeschooled Children Registered Like Dogs and Inspected by Social Workers

PJ Media ^ | 04-20-2015 | Paula Bolyard

[Chickensoup]

We had a local representative years ago called Peter Mills who decided to regulate homeschooling at the behest of the state teacher’s union.

When the hundreds of homeschoolers showed up at the capitol to speak at the committee hearing, the matter was thrown out of the committee. His proof that homeschooling was needing monitoring was that someone told him so.

Never fight against a group that has all day to fight back, who can band together, marshal a cogent argument, and provide extra credit to the kids while doing so.

[DungeonMaster]

For homeschoolers? Seriously? Then I'm really glad we left Iowa before my daughter was born. I thought submitting test scores or a portfolio was bad enough. My husband and I are in complete agreement that social workers do not get a foot in the door without a warrant.

When we started homeschooling over 20 years ago Iowa was notoriously the strictest state requiring either a teaching degree or direct involvement with "the home school assistance program" from the public school system.

[DungeonMaster]

I just wonder what mandatory visits from the “authorities” teaches the children about family, parental respect, and the system we live in.

It turned out to be a very nice thing. There was no malice on the part of the "Home School Assistance Program". The teacher who visited took our kids out for pizza and offered all kinds of helpful advice to my wife. She became very close with us and our 8 kids and it was pretty neat having the same teaching assistant for some 15 years.

[DungeonMaster]

See #42 and #43 if you please.

[DungeonMaster]

As homeschooler you are visited once or twice a month by who??

See #42 and #43 please.

[Chickensoup]

Whether you are monitored by the government with candy or a stick, you are still monitored and give up freedom.

[JimRed]

Those people who are incapable of homeschooling don't want their kids hanging around the house.

I was referring to those who want to, try hard but simply are not good at it. Like me, playing the piano.

[wintertime]

My bet is that those parents who are incapable of homeschooling have children who, if institutionalized for their schooling, will fail there as well.

There is a reason that I believe this is true. Why?

Answer:

It has been my anecdotal observation that academically successful institutionalized children and successful homeschoolers have parents that value education, have similar home routines, and study habits. Both groups of successful children ( home and institutionalized) spend about the same amount of time **at home** studying.

So?...If both groups of academically successful children ( home and institutionalized) are spending the **same** amount of time doing homework in the home, then maybe that is where all the real hard work of learning is happening. Maybe, the only thing an institutional school does is send home a very expensive curriculum.

I have repeatedly asked for studies from people who claim to be teachers. No one ever has and one Stanford professor e-mailed me and told me studies to investigate where the bulk of learning happens ( classroom or home) have never been done. It is entirely possible that we spend up to $25,000/per year/ per children on government schools that are completely ineffective.

[wintertime]

She was a nice government guard. How lucky for you.

[Pining_4_TX]

Great news! Homeschoolers must remain vigilant. If only government would get out of education at all levels, there would finally be some improvement and innovation in education.