Child services needs a bit of home-schooling

QMI Agency via Sun Media via Ottawa Sun ^ | 2011-05-13 | Brian Lilley

[Clive]

What do you get when you combine a police state with a nanny state?

I wish this were a joke, but it’s not. It’s the reality of a Quebec family forced by a court to send their kids to school and daycare after an anonymous snitch complained to authorities.

This family from Quebec’s Eastern Townships simply wanted to teach their children at home, something that is allowed in the province. They have not been charged with neglecting their four children, they are not facing any accusations that their kids are not well looked after.

So why is a judge ordering them to school, and why does the government have any say at all?

“The government is willing to go to whatever means to force their ways on my family,” the father told Sun Media’s Kris Sims in an exclusive interview.

The father has requested that we not identify the family, pointing out they live in a small town and don’t want to be any more stigmatized than they already are.

In November 2009, the parents, who had been teaching their children at home, received a summons to court. The court heard an urgent motion that saw their two eldest children ordered into the public school system.

This past March their youngest two, aged three and five, were ordered into daycare for “socialization.”

The parents sent us photos of the classroom they had set up in their home and it looked absolutely idyllic. A couple of desks by the window, shelves lined with books.

Now those desks sit empty while the children head to the local school.

The father says his children are not flourishing under their new, court-imposed conditions.

“They had her in a ‘special’ class, and she got laughed at and picked on by other children,” the father said of his eldest daughter.

And his son?

“He is calling home to his mom, saying he doesn’t like being at school.”

That a court judge heard this case and didn’t simply tell child services to mind their own business is outrageous. That the courts not only ordered school-aged children into a specific system, but also ordered children younger than school age into daycare is doubly outrageous.

Parents are the first and primary educators of their children. Most of us choose to hand over the day-to-day direction of that education to teachers at the local school, but parents still have, or should have, plenty of sway.

If parents choose not to use the public school system, they can choose private school, or opt to homeschool. It is no business of the government.

Short of abuse they should just butt out.

Can you imagine what will happen if this ruling is allowed to stand?

Mothers who choose to stay home with their children until they head to school may have that option yanked away from them. There is also the question of where does it stop? Will parents who don’t choose the appropriate extra-curricular activities be forced to enroll their kids in piano lessons?

This ruling is being appealed by the family and supported by the Home School Legal Defence Association. Whether you homeschool or not, you should support this family and their appeal with as many dollars as you can, otherwise you might be next.

[Clive]

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[squarebarb]

Ordering children into day care? Unbelievable!!

[netmilsmom]

They can come and live with us.

[Dr. Sivana]

If they really want to fight this, they are going to have to be willing to go public with names and pictures. It is hard for people to identify with an unknown family in an unknown place. It is also harder to nail down the officials in question.

[Dr. Sivana]

Ordering children into day care? Unbelievable!!

This is not unknown in Canada. Years ago, there was an infamous case where nuts and twigs homeschoolers were ordered to provide television and meat for their children.

[MrB]

The names and pictures of the social workers involved should be made public as well.

Folks, if you’re homeschooling, join HSLDA today.

[Dr. Sivana]

Folks, if you’re homeschooling, join HSLDA today.

Yes, yes, and yes. We are members. Great organization.

My wife's family is Canadian (and members of HSLDA), and they are good for Canada as well (maybe even more so, given the more widespread caprice shown by the Canadian judiciary, taking advantage of a populace mostly used to being compliant and trusting government.)

HSLDA is now involved in this case, as it can have far-reaching consequences for its members.

[MrB]

A few years ago, I had just gotten my tax return before the homeschool conference. HSLDA was offering a special deal at the conference, so I signed up as a lifer.

[Clive]

The new cable channel Sun News Network has taken up this case as a cause. One of their reporters has done an in-camera interview with the children's father. Several commentators and contributors on the Sun News Network have taken been presenting arguments in favour of home schooling, including presenting evidence that home schooled children have a better record of success in University than conventionally schooled children, Also, they have presented research that home schooled children are generally as well socialized or better socialized because home school parents tend to get their children involved more in community activities and social events.

If Quebec is like Ontario, the press has a problem with identifying the family. Ontario law prohibits the press from publishing any information that could have the effect of identifying a child that has become the subject of a Children's Aid Society investigation. I think that Quebec law is the same.

[JoeProBono]

DONATE

[Dr. Sivana]

If Quebec is like Ontario, the press has a problem with identifying the family. Ontario law prohibits the press from publishing any information that could have the effect of identifying a child that has become the subject of a Children's Aid Society investigation. I think that Quebec law is the same.

Good point. My wife's family has been trying to persuade us to move to economically vibrant Canada, but the home schooling and hate speech rules are enough to make us disinterested.

[rawhide]

Who is paying for daycare? The parents? Isn’t that unlawful taking of a person’s money?

[Jerrybob]

>...something that is allowed in the province.<

I have real trouble with government ALLOWING me to do things. That is SO good of them.... /s

[gscc]

You are always welcome in Northern Virginia - vibrant economy and a vibrant home schooling community. It is also the home to HSLDA!!!!

[Clive]

Please remember that this case is in quebec.

One of the commentators on Sun News has pointed out that Ontario is not causing problems for home schooled families and that British Columbia is actively assisting people who wish to home school their children.

[Dr. Sivana]

One of the commentators on Sun News has pointed out that Ontario is not causing problems for home schooled families and that British Columbia is actively assisting people who wish to home school their children.

I am aware of that. I am also aware that an anonymous neighbor decided to call DCFS on a member of my wife's family, and made quite a bit of trouble ... in ALBERTA!(the homeschool inspector, I admit, was an overall good guy who wasn't looking to make trouble) Granted, DCFS can be troule anywhere, but it seems like their powers are broader, and wielded with more cheek in Canada.

Here in Illinois, you don't even have to report that you ARE home schooling, or even that you have children of school age. Illinois is messed up, but it is homeschool friendly.

On the other hand, you can still (barely) buy real toilets in Canada, which is what we did when we built. Flights within Canada cannot be nearly as obnoxious as the TSA here. And, our relative trajectories are problematic. U.S. in decline with Pierre Elliot Obama at the helm ... Canada in ascendency with Harper and the willingness to exploit natural resources.

[chargers fan]

It is scary when the government comes for your kids (almost like the pigs with the dogs in Animal Farm). As someone who was homeschooled for a few years though I would offer caution to homeschooling parents also. It doesn't have to be at school but please socialize your kids. I ultimately asked to go back to regular school because of the loneliness I felt every day. I've seen several homeschooling families that just keep their kids at home or church... nothing else and there is a noticable difference in the way they interact with people (not knowing how to start or end a conversation or saying something that social tact would have taught them to not-- commenting on a girl's weight). Now to folks like the Tebows that made sure their kids weren't cooped up in the house and only seeing their parents every day (I believe the Tebows homeschooled Tim while still having him play sports) I say cudos. Homeschooling or private schooling is a great way to keep your kids out of the government propaganda but I just offer their one caution.

I hope people understand that this isn't an attack or anything of the sort but flame suit on just in case.

[Clive]

Perhaps things have improved since you were home schooled. Today, home schooling parents have access to support systems and awareness of the need for socialization is greatly increased.

Even in the conventional school system the children get much of their socialization as extra curricular activities and off campus and out of school hours activities. Even hanging around the mall is socialization. The problem is to ensure that appropriate socialization is encouraged and inappropriate socialization is countervailed. (I deliberately chose "countervailed" instead of "discouraged" or "prevented".)

[Dr. Sivana]

You are always welcome in Northern Virginia - vibrant economy and a vibrant home schooling community.

I actually applied for positions in D.C. and Front Royal VA with an eye for raising family in northern VA. I didn't get either position, so we are staying put for now. Downstate Illinois is held hostage by Chicago.