[coloradan]

Bookmark bump to make some phone calls ...

[jgrubbs]

Previous Thread

[rs79bm]

I would mostly agree with this. I guess at some point, if the parents so desire, they would take some sort of standarized test to assess where their kids are in relation to other kids of their age. But, nobody should be able to force them to do it, if they don't want to.

[Arkinsaw]

They should really consider getting the heck out of Massachussetts at some point. Its no place for a free person to live.

[dark_lord]

Interesting situation. One the one hand, we don't want "the state" especially as represented by social workers to decide to just take custody of kids because they don't like the fact that the parents haven't had their kids take a standardized test. On the other hand, we don't want some nut cases deciding that home schooling means they can keep their kids pig ignorant so that all they are fit for when they are adults is welfare and crime.

While I am in no way sympathetic with the state, most home schoolers are happy to take standardized test because they consistently show how much better educated they are than the publicly schooled kids. And face facts -- if you want to get into college after home schooling (well, the vast majority of colleges especially if you want to pursue a real degree) you are going to have to take standardized tests to get in.

To take the position that homeschoolers are exempt from standardized testing (which is the least intrusive way for a state to determine that, yes, the kids are actually being educated instead of watching the cartoon channel all day) is like saying "heck, I'm a good driver, I don't need no stinkin' license, so I ain't gonna get one!" Well, yeah, maybe you are a good driver, and maybe you aren't, but if you are going to be on the roads with the rest of us we would like more than just your word on it!

[Freedom4US]

This isn't about education. It's about control.

Not quite. It's about control of education, and as you correctly note, the minds of children. The fascists are getting anxious, since these matters have to be decided one way or another for society as a whole soon. The educrat statists know the jig is up.

[grania]

Seeing as private school students do not have to take these tests in Massachusetts, it is beyond bizarre that this can happen. The parents should maybe connect with a private school and do the homestudy through them. Or, maybe a clever lawyer could get the parents defined as a private school.

I think there might be something in the home-school laws that gives the schools some rights to test the students and some obligations to let those students be involved in activities and maybe some courses. The testing goes both ways. There have been school systems that have been seriously embarrassed when home schooled students get the best grades on Iowas.

[unixfox]

Let the lines be drawn. Thsoe who step across deserve what is coming to them.

[kimoajax]

My wife and I home schooled both our daughters. We faced this same question and so we understand the reasons or fears behind home school parents not wanting their kids to take such standardized government tests (getting on a government list of some sort to later to be used for who know what purpose).

That said, it would be better for the kids if their parents side stepped the issue and had them independently tested/certified (what thousands of other homeshoolers do every year)....and live to fight another day on larger questions. Just because the government sees fit to use kids as political fodder, it does not mean parents should.

[appalachian_dweller]

Bump for later reference...

[Saundra Duffy]

This kind of thing makes me so mad I could scream!
S C R E A M !!!

[Courier]

The State is correct.

Parents can homeschool but the State has a compelling interest to know that these kids are not being subjected to what would amount to child abuse resulting in an uneducated person who may end up on the State dole at best, a sociopath or psychopath at worst.

All the government wants is to know they are really being educated.

From the parents' behavior, I believe the State has good cause for concern.

[Courier]

The State is correct.

Parents can homeschool but the State has a compelling interest to know that these kids are not being subjected to what would amount to child abuse resulting in an uneducated person who may end up on the State dole at best, a sociopath or psychopath at worst.

All the government wants is to know they are really being educated.

From the parents' behavior, I believe the State has good cause for concern.

[Courier]

The State is correct.

Parents can homeschool but the State has a compelling interest to know that these kids are not being subjected to what would amount to child abuse resulting in an uneducated person who may end up on the State dole at best, a sociopath or psychopath at worst.

All the government wants is to know they are really being educated.

From the parents' behavior, I believe the State has good cause for concern.

[Courier]

The State is correct.

Parents can homeschool but the State has a compelling interest to know that these kids are not being subjected to what would amount to child abuse resulting in an uneducated person who may end up on the State dole at best, a sociopath or psychopath at worst.

All the government wants is to know they are really being educated.

From the parents' behavior, I believe the State has good cause for concern.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Statement: " An INSANE situation up in Waltham, Massachusetts."

Response: Assuming the truth is being reported correctly: Do you not have trees in Massachusetts? Do you not have feathered creatures? Is not tar and/or molasses sold in the State? Was not something dumped in Boston harbor a long, long time ago? I do not understand?

[katiebelle]

To take the position that homeschoolers are exempt from standardized testing (which is the least intrusive way for a state to determine that, yes, the kids are actually being educated instead of watching the cartoon channel all day) is like saying "heck, I'm a good driver, I don't need no stinkin' license, so I ain't gonna get one!" Well, yeah, maybe you are a good driver, and maybe you aren't, but if you are going to be on the roads with the rest of us we would like more than just your word on it!


Very good point! I think we could come up with several examples along those lines. TO go to college these children at the very least will eventually have to take the GED, correct? What about the ACT and SAT as well? I am afraid as well meaning as these parents might be they are losing sight of the big eventual picture. You know there are lots of occupations that require standardized testing as well. Doctor, lawyer, teacher, stock broker, police officer, just to name a few.

[Lancey Howard]

Massachusetts? Haha, who cares? Those people get what they vote for up there.
It's why people in surrounding states refer to them as "mass-holes".

On the other hand, one day somebody is going to get really serious about defending their children from the government schools and their "fisting for kindergardners" curriculum and just start mowing the scumbags down. Then there will be all kinds of hand-wringing about how the government needs to confiscate firearms from people.

(Yawn) The beat goes on in that sick pisspot, Massachusetts.

[ccmay]

That number not to call again to reach Susan Etscovitz is (781) 641-8500

Also, please don't call the 24 hour hot line at 617-231-4882, or 800-792-5200 inside Massachusetts. They don't (yet) know the story of the Bryants and the commissar of childrens' propaganda who is harrassing them. They'd be very annoyed if anybody called.

-ccm

[peteram]

Goose-stepping, swastika waving, Nazi people! What a bunch of socialistic fascists!
UNBELIEVABLE!