Ok....I did go overboard, but I cannot believe how a person can write a simple thing like taking a test and be vilified. You would have thought I killed animals or something. I apologize for the verboten language and attitude, but I feel that I was attacked for a simple statement that could have been handled differently on all sides. I would have answered these yesterday but I was on duty all day and night long (Sunday and then I worked all day today)
I figured you were working or tied up and couldn't respond.
I hold the homeschool ping lists and was going to ping this thread to them anyway. I just did it as part of my response because it was easier.
The comment of yours that set of the firestorm was this.....If the students do well on the national standardized testing then they should be allowed to continue homeschooling. If they fail them or are below level than they should not be allowed to homeschool.
It's the *allowed* part. Allowed by whom, do you suggest? Did you think through what you're advocating?
It isn't the taking of tests that's the issue with homeschoolers. In NY standardized testing is required at certain grade levels and NY homeschoolers are fairly well regulated. That chafes at some. It didn't bother me. Knowing I was accountable helped give me the motivation to do the work. It at least gave me an excuse to the kids of *why* they had to do the work.
I tested my kids every year anyway because it was either submit test results or a evaluation of their progress, which is a royal pain in the butt. The testing was easier. But that didn't mean my kids got a better education because they were tested.
What irritates, and alarms, homeschoolers is the idea that they must be accountable to someone for the success of their homeschooling.
There are several reasons for that.
One is the abysmal failure public schools are. We're doing a far better job and we have to answer to the public education system which is inferior to us to let them know that we're doing what they consider an acceptable job?
No.
Another issue is being *allowed* to homeschool as long as we meet some arbitrary criteria. And if we don't meet that criteria, then what? Send them back to a public school which isn't doing as good a job? And just who does the public school system answer to when they fail in the education a child? The kids stay in that school. They aren't required to send them somewhere else for a *better* education. What they're doing is holding homeschoolers to higher standards and more accountability than they themselves.
That is not received well either.
The other issue is just who do the homeschoolers answer to? Inevitably, it's a government agency. That then is giving the government intrusive power over private citizens, all for our own good, of course.
The government is in no position to determine the quality of a child's education and the success of a homeschool. That means they have to set up the standards, determine compliance, and enforce compliance. And if you refuse, or don't meet their standards, then what? DSS at your door for educational neglect or child abuse, FORCING you to send your child back to public schools if you can't afford private education, which is actually a reason many choose homeschooling. Private schools aren't cheap. And they aren't without their problems either.
Glad you could muster it...nevertheless.
Always thought you were a woman....So at least we got that cleared up.
If by "duty" you mean military....I thank you for your service.
That all said....you might need to read up on Home Schooling...and Catholic, and Christian Schools...while you're at it.
FWIW