[nmh]

"We do not believe in assessing our children based on a number or letter. Their education process is their personal intellectual property," said Bryant.

Sounds like a nutcase to me. Why wouldn't a homeschooling parent test their kids? Something fishy going on here. Just what is it that these kids KNOW that can't be measured by a test? Furthermore, why should these kids be excemt from testing? Why must they be the exception to the rule?

[SarahW]

What is a public school system doing regulating homeschooling? There should be state law that takes that discretion away from local districts with political points to make and axes to grind.

There are multiple ways to assess academic progress, (Virginia law names several) and the school district should not be choosing it, not should they choose the test used if testing is the method picked.

I have my son tested because it's convenient and he tests well. But I agree it is actually a poor measure of what he has learned...though it is one way to compare his progress with that of other children.

In our state, I tend to think the portfolio and/or yearly testing is overly intrusive. I'd prefer to give the tests *I* think I need to evaluate his progress, on my own terms and my own timetable, and to have him take the state achievement tests only when public school students do, which is every few years.

But I would object vociferously if the discretion for what tests and when was handed over to the local school district.

[jmc813]

What if the authorities thought you were a homophobe and wanted to test your kids' knowledge of "diversity" and "tolerance"?

[SoulStorms]

Sounds like a nutcase to me. Why wouldn't a homeschooling parent test their kids? Something fishy going on here. Just what is it that these kids KNOW that can't be measured by a test?

I don't think there is anything wrong with being an exception to a rule, especially if it's a bad rule. However, I tend to agree that something doesn't smell right.

If the parents are preparing their kids for the world, the need to have some way to assess their progress. I can't imagine a caring parent who would teach their homeschooled child to be afraid of measuring their academic progress.

It seems there are so many tactics that could have been taken by these people if they didn't like the laws. They could have lobbied, protested, or sued.

At worst, they could have submitted to the testing, and then moved to a state with reasonable requirements. Instead, they have freaked out their kids, and lost custody of them to the state.

I don't know what they believe they can accomplish by letting social services take their children away. I would have to find another way. It's not worth it to die on that hill.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Sounds like a nutcase to me. Why wouldn't a homeschooling parent test their kids? Something fishy going on here. Just what is it that these kids KNOW that can't be measured by a test?

Well, per the link below (from an educrat publication), "A Harvard graduate, a Boston University graduate, and an MIT Ph.D. failed the Massachusetts new-teacher assessment test", so I'm sure the Massachusetts education establishment can figure out how to design a test that home-schooled kids would flunk.

http://www.education-world.com/a_admin/admin109.shtml

Funny how the educrats scream bloody murder when anyone tries to make THEM take tests, but then they think it's totally unreasonable when homeschooling families refuse to take tests.

[yellowroses]

The government does NOT own my children. I am the provider to my children. It's not a matter of simply "testing" - this involves the parent's RIGHT to bring up their child as they deem fit. If no sexual, mental, emotional, or physical abuse is taking place - the state has NO business interfering.......

[eno_]

Question of the day: Should jackboot licking posters be "excemt" from havine their own education called into question?

[SuziQ]

Sounds like a nutcase to me. Why wouldn't a homeschooling parent test their kids? Something fishy going on here.

The Bryants decided to push this using the Constitutional argument, and put their kids at the forefront. I don't agree with their decision, but I don't live in the Waltham school district, so I don't know how ticky the School Dept. is. Homeschoolers in MA are divided on the issue; some agree with the Bryants, some don't

Our MA town is very hands off concerning homeschool. I sent a letter of intent along with a one page description for each child of the subjects we'd cover and the main resources we'd use. I don't consider that too much to ask, though there are many homeschoolers who do. We sent our letter Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested. We got the green card back, but never heard another word. Fine with me; I did what was required of me. We did standardized tests with both kids last year for our own info, but we won't do that this year.

[SERE_DOC]

"Sounds like a nutcase to me.

You are a moron

Why wouldn't a homeschooling parent test their kids"

because the kids are theirs, not the states you simple minded boob

[asformeandformyhouse]

Sounds like a nutcase to me. Why wouldn't a homeschooling parent test their kids? Something fishy going on here. Just what is it that these kids KNOW that can't be measured by a test? Furthermore, why should these kids be excemt from testing? Why must they be the exception to the rule?

As Jeff Foxworthy would say, "Here's your sign".

[ConstitutionLover]

They want to be the exception to the rule because they want the publicity.