Posted on 09/04/2015 11:25:04 AM PDT by MichCapCon
The left-leaning nonprofit ProPublica recently ran an article on home schooling that opened by relating an anecdote from 2003. It tells of a 19-year-old man in New Jersey who weighed just 45 pounds and was found rummaging through a neighbors garbage. The explanation for how such a thing could happen is delivered by a state politician who says, I was told it was because he was homeschooled.
The story, co-published on the liberal Slate.com, then quotes Ellen Heinitz, who is the legislative director for a Democratic state representative from Detroit, about her experience with a national homeschooling lobbying group called the Home School Legal Defense Association. Heinitz works for Rep. Stephanie Chang, whose House Bill 4498 would mandate homeschool registration and increase other regulations.
Ive never seen a lobby more powerful and scary, Heinitz was quoted as saying. They make the anti-vaxxers seem rational. This is a reference to people who believe vaccines are dangerous.
Karen Braun, a nationally known homeschool education activist from Michigan, said the story is part of a trend to get the public to view homeschooling with suspicion.
Shes throwing out a caricature, Braun said. What she is really exposing is her own contempt for people who act outside of the state and for people who think they know whats best for their children.
Braun said some school districts are becoming more accepting of homeschooling. Some districts are partnering with homeschool families. The public school district gets money for the homeschool students who participate in certain elective classes. Lapeer Community Schools is one of the districts involved in the homeschooling partnership.
When asked to estimate how many children are being homeschooled in Michigan, Braun said:
You cant. And thats a good thing. How many parents breast feed? Why would you care? Why is it an important thing? Its free people acting on their best interests of their family. Thats the beauty of liberty. Thats the beauty of freedom.
Cathy Keller, a homeschooling parent from Jackson, said the liberals in education and government want to control every aspect of citizens' lives. She said the homeschooling phenomena is growing as are the curriculum options.
Basically, school is being redesigned by parents because of a failed model that has been hijacked and corrupted, Keller said. If they had a successful model, they would be attracting participants, but they won't tolerate our freedom of choice. So I could go on for days and days about why I homeschool and why I dont want liberal minded bureaucrats deciding what they want for my children. The parents who abuse their children are the problem, not because they say they homeschool. The majority of homeschooled kids are successful because someone is taking time to give them personal instruction. There are successes and failings in both the public schools and in home schools, but they don't control homeschools and there lies the rub.
There are no official estimates of how many people homeschool in Michigan. Registration is not required for parents who homeschool, but there is provision for voluntary registration. The law does require parents whose child does not attend public or private school to provide an "organized educational program" in the subjects of reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar.
Yeah, she's scared of homeschoolers the way demons are scared of Jesus Christ.
Given what I’ve read and heard about MI public schools, why is anyone surprised that home schooling is on the rise there?
Ellen Heinitz probably thinks Planned Parenthood are rational, regular folks in comparison.
Interesting.
“Yeah, she’s scared of homeschoolers the way demons are scared of Jesus Christ.”
That’s about it. Thus the desperation. I spend sixteen years in the indoctrination camps, before becoming a Christian in the end and putting myself through what amounted to a lengthy cult-deprogramming to unlearn their teachings. My four kids are blessed to be free of them.
My anecdotal evidence--I have 9 grandchildren, 5 of whom are school age. Three are in public schools and are doing okay to very well. Two are being home schooled and are off the charts on the upside. Small sample, but larger than the one ProPublica used.
Anecdotes are like A$$holes, everybody has one, I would bet however that the idiot would be unable to provide any evidence to back up his story. My niece was home schooled, graduated high school at 16, went to Berkeley on a scholarship and graduated with a double major at 20. Yup a homeschooling horror story for sure.
Ping Megan dear.
Is the Homeschooling Lobby bigger than the NRA?
I thought they had all the Lobby Dollars?
HSLDA YOU GO BABY!
I love and miss Michigan.
HSLDA is just a legal defense org that will come to the aid of homeschoolers so they wont get railroaded. They would not cover up wrongdoing, abuse, as any officer of the court is expected, but defend a parent who is too busy teaching and parenting to be up on everything the school system might deem their right to intrude or force or inquire. Liberty Counsel in another venue.
People so irrational as to not only identify as democrat but work for other democrats are the last people to talk about being rational. They should be fitted for cages.
I am of the opinion that if a multi-millionaire conservative (I am working towards that) wanted to significantly impact the long term direction of the US, they should create a home school system that included:
- instruction for parents (teach how to teach)
- education for the kids (with strong morals and Pro-America message)
- a system for testing and grading the students
- tips for dealing with school districts
- state by state review of laws
And make it all free over the internet.
Basically take over the home school market and then work to get the curriculum into school districts. That would have the potential for a huge impact.
How about the disaster that is called the NEA...????
And ALL wars are started by leftist/liberal philosophy.
That can't be right -- liberals are staunch defenders of choice!
Great statistic!! I would like to use it in future debates. Question: where does it come from?
I was told it was because he was homeschooled.
So someone told you something different and you interpreted it this way. I know so many people who came from public school who are druggies, alcoholics, homeless, sluts, etc.
FWIW, my father is an atheist who felt that the standards for the public schools were bad, so he taught me things over the summer between years. It’s rediculous how stereotypical this hack politician is being.
Democrats are scary.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.