Posted on 01/20/2009 3:08:35 PM PST by Sopater
In September, an HSLDA member family in Sinton was visited by a social worker who had a list of allegations an anonymous tipster had called in. The list included that the family homeschools, that the children are sent to bed “really early” and do not play with neighbor kids, and that there are firearms in the home.
The family knew better than to let the social worker into their home and called Home School Legal Defense Association for help. Senior Counsel Chris Klicka took the call and advised the family to let the social worker see the children, so she knew they were fine. In addition, Klicka had the family tell the social worker that he would be contacting her soon to set up an appointment.
After the social worker left, Klicka had the family compile letters of reference from relatives and friends who could vouch for the care the parents provide. In addition, Klicka drafted a letter and sent it to the social worker explaining that all the allegations were false. Klicka did confirm that the family does indeed homeschool their children and also keeps firearms in their home (although locked and inaccessible to children).
The letter further explained that homeschooling is legal, and that the family followed the Texas Supreme Court’s guidelines for operating a homeschool program. Klicka also explained that the possession of firearms in the home was legal, and that the firearms did not present a danger since they were kept completely out of reach of the children.
The letter indicated that the parents would be willing to schedule a time for the social worker to visit their house and talk to them about their children. Klicka made it clear, however, that the family would decline any request to enter their home and interview their children since the family already let the social worker see, and talk briefly with the children, during the initial visit.
After receiving the letters from friends of the family, as well as the letter from attorney Klicka, the social worker arranged to meet the family later and was again able to see for herself that the allegations were false. Social services has since dropped the case.
HSLDA Social Services Contact Policy
We desire to advise our members in every contact with a social worker and/or police officer in investigations resulting from allegations of abuse or neglect. If homeschooling is an issue, we will represent our member families until the issue is resolved. On Fourth Amendment unreasonable search and seizure issues, HSLDA will advise our members whenever the privacy of their home is violated by forced or coerced entry for the purpose of an unsubstantiated investigation. HSLDA membership benefits do not extend to court actions resulting from non-homeschooling matters. However, in circumstances where there is a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment, HSLDA may, as we have done in the past, choose to take the case in an effort to establish legal precedent.
Did you have at time machine?
It’s going to get a lot worse.
Funny, I had a Lib tell me that a house WITH a TV was abuse...Hmm...
And you willhave my support to whatever extent needed...keep up the good work!
We do the same in our homeschool group as well. I would bet that the majority of homeschoolers do too. The idea that homeschoolers ‘cheat’ when testing their children is, disgusting
The article did not state how early the children were sent to bed. How early is considered to early?
Considering the stories that come to light from time to time that expose public school teachers “helping” their students on standarised tests by giving them the answers, yes, it is real nervy of them to question our integrity.
Amen! I have a dear friend in W.VA that was visited by CPS due to an anonymous call. She & her husband are wonderful parents. She was totally freaked out for about a month; the time it took to get the all clear.
It depends on what test you use and what its purpose is. Some tests require administration in a group setting with college-educated proctors. Others can be administered by anyone, anywhere. Some states require certain tests under certain conditions, and others don’t.
I administer tests at home, because they’re strictly for our diagnostic use: “Ooops, Sally didn’t learn fractions after all. Summer school!” Our state requires that they “take a nationally standardized test,” with no other guidelines. (And the state isn’t allowed to ask for the results, either!)
I looked at EVERYTHING in the house also starting around the 2nd grade....but never touched the guns......found my father’s Divirce papers and pictures used to teach my older sister about sex.......
I had a brother and 2 sisters.........So, I got a locker and a lock for my stuff real quick.......
One fine day in the 50’s we lost power at our school and got out early. Just as my friends and I walked off the school grounds, we caught the local VDOT workers changing all the “up” roads to down and all the “down” roads to up. That’s when I discovered the terrible truth in “We’re from the government and we’re here to help you”.
This organization seems to be on the ball, and getting results without aggravating Child Protective Services.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of being adversarial, but it’s important to remember that when the system is working properly, CPS are not bad guys, and save many children’s lives, in life-threatening situations. But it’s not easy.
In most any State, the CPS are either two aggressive or not aggressive enough, so it is very helpful when an organization like this knows not just what to do, but how to say it. Saving everybody a lot of grief.
My family had the same experience with similar results...our problem was generated by a call WE made to child services concerning a neighbor leaving her two kids alone and going out drinking and carousing for several days at a time. CS never even visited the home. And while in MY house, accused me of being an “absent” father because I was in the Navy! Never trust a government agency.
I believe that this bill will be aimed at the tests used to see how well the child is doing grade level work. For Obama to imply that a bill is needed and approved teachers need to administer these tests is to imply that the homeschoolers doing annual grade level testing aren’t to be trusted.
Of course homeschoolers do various diagnostic test for their own use. I do not believe that is what the legislation is referring to.
Absolutely. Anyone can call and say anything, for any reason. They need to be identified, if not to the people being accused, even though the law says that people have the right to face their accusers, at least some official would know who it is, and a follow up could be to ask that person WHY they filed a false claim, and made the state spend all that money investigating it.
Ain’t that the truth.
I can stare straight at a can of bean and ham soup in my cupboard and still not be able to find it. And it’s not because of poor eyesight either. I still have 20-20. That runs in the family. Eyesight stays good until about age 55, then only the close-up vision suffers, then about age 65 the cataracts sets in and by age 75-surgery or blindness-take your pick.
I don’t know what the problem is. I can dump all my tools out of my tool box and spread them around and not be able to find what I want...get disgusted and leave, come back 10 minutes later and spot it right away.
Similar problems with hearing. I can hear a car door slam half a block away from inside my house. I can hear dog whistles and the high pitch whine of an incandescent lightbulb at half power from a dimmer switch. I can hear a TV running when it’s on mute...the tube gives off a very faint whine. From upstairs, I can hear the gas valve open on my furnace in the basement a fraction of a second before it fires up. I can hear the sound a pebble makes on the pavement when it’s stuck in the tread of my car tire. I can hear tire scrub when the front end is out of alignment. I can tell you which cars in traffic are terribly low on oil just by the engine sounds.
But I have problems comprehending voices. I’m constantly saying “sorry, what?”, “come again?”, “can you repeat that?”. If someone speaks with an accent, I get a headache concentrating so hard to make sense of what they are saying. WHen I get tired of trying to decipher people’s words, I cut them off and start talking loudly so I don’t have to work so hard anymore at listening.
Well this post sure has nothing to do with the article.
Bullsh!t.
All the kid needs to do is use the key...same as you do.
Golly gee, I’m really impressed/s
Why can’t you just tell the brat to not shoot anyone with it?
Ya gotta know your kids. Unfortunately, my second could wreck a junkyard with a rubber hammer. More likely that he would just lose something, ruin the finish on it, or blow it up by putting the wrong ammo up the spout. He'd be very sorry afterwards, but sorry pays no toll.
You folks, like myself, were Born To Inventory. Hope you were able to put this superpower to good use in your lives.
I was home schooled for almost two years in Chattanooga cir. 1973-74. Because two of the three foster sisters (I was the taken in one) failed parts of the evaluation we were all ordered to re-attend public schools. Promptly bused to an all-black attended and administered school I learned that prejudice is far worse when the minority has a whipping horse delivered each weekday.
I ignored the “teachers” drivel, got tough and read up on my own. At a time when we should be eliminating the Secretary of Education it looks like we’re going to see Quincy Jones, first Secretary of Culture.
On a petri dish.
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