Posted on 02/09/2017 6:22:32 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Among the initial opposition to Betsy DeVos' confirmation this week as education secretary were calls on social media by parents, including liberals, to start homeschooling their children.
That reaction to DeVos a billionaire school-choice advocate who has never worked, attended or sent her kids to a public school reflects how polarizing her nomination was.
It also comes layered with paradox.
That's because DeVos, whom the Senate confirmed Tuesday to head the Education Department, is herself a big proponent of homeschooling.
In a 2013 interview with Philanthropy magazine, DeVos, who has invested in private and charter schools and is an advocate for their expansion, said homeschooling was "another perfectly valid educational option."
She continued:
We've seen more and more people opt for homeschooling, including in urban areas. What you're seeing is parents who are fed up with their lack of power to do anything about where their kids are assigned to go to school. To the extent that homeschooling puts parents back in charge of their kids' education, more power to them.
DeVos' emphasis on school choice is a natural fit for the homeschool movement, whose members span the political spectrum but are largely conservative Christians who resist government oversight. That group has helped fuel remarkable growth in recent years, carrying the movement from the fringe and closer to the mainstream.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
I don't think so.
From what I see, home schooling expenses are not tax deductible, and your property taxes are still going to the public schools you're no longer using.
-PJ
What a great idea! With all the left in homeschool, maybe public schools could start having prayer and Bible classes again.
Tax dollars are allocated based on number of students.
More homeschooling means less students in public schools.
Homeschooling avoids the leftist indoctrination carried out in public schools.
Homeschooling makes kids smart and able to think independently. Independent thinkers become conservatives.
I'm suggesting that, regardless of the allocation of tax dollars to students, the deduction from your wallet is the same.
-PJ
School budget allocations are based on the number of students.
Besides, the effects might be minimal as student headcounts are equalized at the state level for uniform spending across school districts.
-PJ
Hey NBC, what was homeschooling a “backlash” against for the last thirty years?
Property taxes among government committees and councils are fought over in the allocation process.
If public schools have fewer students, there is less budget allocated for them.
Homeschooling has a negative effect on public school budget allocations. This is why public school unions fight home schooling. But too bad them, the connectivity provided by the internet has made homeschooling a far superior choice.
Homeschooling networks have sprung up everywhere. Parents and community leaders are kicking the pants off the public school system with test scores, ethics, behavior, civic responsibilities, stewardship. Once a parent decides to homeschool or participate with a homeschool learning coach network, they never go back.
I agree with you. And I think many of these parents will put their kids right back in public school when they realize Junior is a little beast. I’ve seen it many times.
Homeschooling is hard work! I’m a public school educator (it’s hard work, too!) and I have nothing but respect for parents who can make homeschooling work for their children.
(I’m on my lunch break, by the way! :) )
Don’t they get locked up for doing that? Didn’t we just hear about that happening several times lately?
Who knew playing dems/LIEbs was sooooo easy! Hell if not for all the RINOs we could have steam rolled the Dims years ago instead of having to wait for someone like President Trump!
OK, once for old times sake (seems like forever doesn’t it)
Go Trump Go!-)
Very true! Libtards have children as pets.
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