Just one reason for me to add to my increasingly LONG list of reasons to get out of this state.
MKM
Right. And murder/suicide is NEVER heard of among kids attending public schools!
North Carolina should examine its public-schooling laws to see if they provide cover for pedophile teachers who sexually abuse their students...
MKM
-PJ
Wed, Apr. 17, 2002
Teens death review calls for scrutiny of home schooling laws
The Associated Press
North Carolina should examine its home school laws to see if they provide cover for parents who abuse their children, according to a task force that reviewed the murder-suicide of three Johnston County teens.
The Child Fatality Review Team, which released a report this week, found that home-school laws allow persons who maltreat children to maintain social isolation in order for the abuse and neglect to remain undetected. It called for a task force to look into the issue to make recommendations to the Legislature.
The team that reviewed the circumstances of the murder-suicide last July said Johnston County social workers tried to protect the children but lacked some tools that could help prevent future deaths from child abuse or neglect.
Brandon Warren, 14, and Bradley Kyle Warren, 13, were found shot to death in their home outside Princeton along with half-sister Marnie Warren, 19. The review did not cover Marnies death because she was not a juvenile. The three teen-agers were home-schooled.
Law enforcement officials concluded that Brandon Warren used his mothers .22-caliber rifle to kill his brother and sister before shooting himself.
The review team conducts such studies when abuse or neglect is suspected in a childs death or protective services workers were involved with the child.
Jeff Townsend, president of North Carolinians for Home Education, said he didnt see a connection between home education and the teens deaths.
We think its a reach to connect an incident like this to home schooling in general, he said Wednesday. Basically what theyre saying is the potential exists for every home schooler out there to fall into this trap because theres no government overseer.
The team did not find fault with Johnston County Social Services, which had been trying to work with Nissa Mae and Boyd Kent Warren Jr. before their children died.
The team recommended that county social services departments have better access to state and national criminal background information, something the state Division of Social Services is already working on. Federal law now severely restricts access between states.
Johnston social services workers had pushed the Warren parents to clean up their dilapidated mobile home, which was filled with animals and trash, and tried to visit the mobile home to check on the condition of the children. The Warrens refused to let social workers into their home more than once in the weeks before the teen-agers deaths.
The Warrens were found guilty in December of failing to properly secure the rifle used in the childrens deaths and were sentenced to 45 days in jail. The Warrens also had been convicted in Arizona in 1991 of misdemeanor child abuse.
The state review team commended many aspects of the efforts on behalf of the Warren children. The team noted that social services employees worked many hours to protect these children.
Earl Marett, director of Social Services for Johnston County, said the review pointed to statewide issues.
Certainly, theyre sort of like lessons learned, and Im sure the Division of Social Services and local county departments of social services will work to try to make any changes that would be beneficial to protect children in North Carolina, Marett said.
Next, the report will go to the State Child Fatality Task Force, which has members from a cross-section of agencies that deal with children. Team members are expected to take relevant recommendations back to their agencies. The task force also can make recommendations to the Legislature.
These people may have had problems with the basics, that is, providing a clean, healthy living environment for their children. Some people can't handle fundamental parenting, irrespective of whether they were qualified to educate their children at home. Having said that, I should add that I am as pro-homeschooling as one can be and the proud aunt of two bright, healthy and well-adjusted homeschooled girls.
I took my child out of school because a teacher was abusive to the class, and even smacked my daughter! in front of witnesses no less!!! (among other things to boot.)
It's probably best if I just sit back and chuckle alittle while instead of commenting on this article. ;)
Wha...?
Are they looking for a clause, subsection that says "Abusive Parents"
Article XXX Subsection X-XXWhat total idiocy. You might as well say that for every marriage license.If you are an abusive parent and would like cover for your actions, submit such-and-such a form....
Here is what Article 39 says of Nonpublic schools:
In conformity with the Constitutions of the United States and of North Carolina, it is the public policy of the State in matters of education that "No human authority shall, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience," or with religious liberty and that "religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind . . . the means of education shall forever be encouraged."For the rest of homeschooling requirements, Click here for the rest of NC Non-public education statute.
If I "see" my 10 year old Forp pickup as a $150K sports car, will it become one? Must be a slow news day.
I didn't think so.