Posted on 02/07/2011 5:43:08 PM PST by DeaconBenjamin
SPRINGFIELD — Parents of home-schooled children would have to register their kids with the state under a proposal that could be debated in the Illinois Senate in coming weeks.
State Sen. Ed Maloney, D-Chicago, says his proposal could be a way to track how many students in Illinois are schooled at home.
“I was surprised to learn that in Illinois, there are virtually no rules or regulations relative to the concept of home schooling,” Maloney said.
“This is just the first step toward establishing, I think, some accountability.
I think people do a good job at this, but how do we know that everybody does?”
Home schooling advocacy groups such as the national Home School Legal Defense Association and Illinois Christian Home Educators were quick to oppose the idea, saying existing mandates are enough.
Home-schooled students must receive an education equivalent to public schooling, according to current Illinois state law.
The pending legislation contains no provisions for measuring home-schooled students’ academic progress or otherwise expanding the state education mandates.
Christine Martin lives near Neoga and teaches her fifth-grader at home. Martin has home-schooled some of her five children and put some of them through public schools, she said.
Martin is part of the East Central Illinois Home Educator Network, a Christian-based group that organizes field trips, testing and social connections for home-schooled students. She said she has access to the same resources public schools use.
She said she didn’t think registering home-schooled students would solve the problem of parents who might try to avoid educating their children by using home schooling as a cover.
“I personally don’t think more legislation is going to solve that problem,” Martin said.
“I don’t think registering as a home-schooler is going to fix that.”
Home-schoolers aren’t required to register their children with any government entity, but parents can choose to notify their regional office of education or the state board of their intention to teach their children at home.
Mary Fergus, a spokeswoman for the state Board of Education, said the state doesn’t track home-schooled students.
“They really are considered to be another form of private education,” she said. “We’re not out there monitoring children in their homes.”
There also are no state testing requirements for home-schooled students.
The legislation is Senate Bill 136.
I hope they are as sensible as you! They wouldn’t happen to be single?
Great story, thanks for sharing. FReepmail me or ping me if you’ve got other good ones.
It's a shame. There are a lot of good people in Illinois. But at the same time it seems too many of them have been beaten into submission, so much that they won't even consider things like this to be a threat to liberty.
The last thing Texas needs is a bunch of blue state refugees coming down here to make the same mistakes that ruined their previous home states. But that's what zombies do.
Tennessee is beautiful! I’ve always liked that state, but then I am partial to the southern states.
I agree...
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
If we believe Scripture then is sounds like we cannot even start gaining wisdom and knowledge apart from God. There is no way that the public schools can teach true wisdom and knowledge.
A thought that crossed my mind after watching the DVD was that I should invite friends over to watch “Agenda” and then follow it with “Demographic Winter”...I would think that a lot of what is happening would become clear in peoples minds.
God bless
I really hope more FReepers see the DVD and have watch parties with other like-minded friends.
Don’t expect many leftists to “see the light”, though.
As one Amazon reviewer stated, after he showed it to some young people and leftist teachers, they were angry at him and told him they DIDN’T WANT the traditional America that the movie was trying to defend. They wanted the “change” promised by socialism.
“some young people and leftist teachers,”
And there in lies the reason that NO Christian family should send their children to public school.
God bless
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