I actually do believe that there should be no government regulation of homeschools. We can still compare the completed product - graduated students - with public and private ones if comparisons are important which I don't think they are. Homeschoolers can take the SAT or whatever else they need to get into college and the government can stay out.
Because I just don't understand how one can logically say "this far, no further". The government can make us take tests, but can't mandate curriculumn. Or can demand certain subjects be taught, but not how or the exact content. Can require one parent has a high school diploma, but not teacher certification. A certified teacher evaluating the child, but not a psychologist. Etcetera, etcetera. It is none of the government's business!
Child abuse situations I concede to the government because they have a beauracracy in place and because the optimal solution - grandparents, neighbors, and church stepping in - won't always work. But I'm talking about physical abuse, starving a child or beating him. Denying a child education (which I am firmly convinced only happens in a sitation that is objectively abusive anyway) cannot be a standard for abuse. What should happen in such a sitation? Extended family or church should step in. Yes I'm aware that this isn't a perfect world and that won't solve all cases but hard cases make bad law. I want the law to respect the rights of the 99.99% of the good parents, not be written to deal with the 0.01% of bad parents.
"I actually do believe that there should be no government regulation of homeschools. We can still compare the completed product - graduated students - with public and private ones if comparisons are important which I don't think they are. Homeschoolers can take the SAT or whatever else they need to get into college and the government can stay out"
I agree.
I think where it stands in our state is that a homeschool family does have to notify their local district that they are homeschooling.
That way they don't have to worry about getting hotlined for educational neglect.
Some of them choose to come into the schools to take various tests - and some of them prefer not to.
"Denying a child education (which I am firmly convinced only happens in a sitation that is objectively abusive anyway) cannot be a standard for abuse. "
That's a tough one - but an interesting observation that a child who isn't being educated is probably being abused in some other way/shape/form. You are probably right on that one.
I ask because ever since those 2 boys were rescued from that freak the issue has been on my mind.
That boy spent 4 years with that monster with no intervention from anyone. How incredibly sad.
"I want the law to respect the rights of the 99.99% of the good parents, not be written to deal with the 0.01% of bad parents."
Agreed - I just hate to think of what that .01% goes through.
It should depend on how intrusive the regulations are. Requiring an Individual Home Instruction Plan to be filed at the start of the quarter, and evaluations of the student at the end, should be a minimal intrusion upon parents who are actually educating their kids. The only people for whom an IHIP should prove problematic are those not actually instructing their kids - the .01%.
The law has to balance the privacy interests in the 99.99% of good parents against the state's legitimate interest in ensuring that all 100% receive an adequate education and are not abused.