Bob Chase (NEA) Responds to National Home Education Network about Homeschooling

National Home Education Network ^ | February 26, 2002 | Bob Chase

[hsmomx3]

The following letter from Bob Chase, President of the National Education Association, was sent to NHEN in response to an NHEN query about the reasoning behind the NEA's position that "home schooling programs cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience." [Read the entire resolution at http://www.nea.org/resolutions/00/00b-68.html] In his letter, Mr. Chase discusses the NEA's reasons for making their resolution.

February 26, 2002

Dear Ms. Hardenbergh:

Thank you for your recent comments about my speech at the National Press Club. I also appreciate the information on homeschooling and the National Home Education Network.

The Association is very concerned about the education and well-being of all children, and works to ensure that they are taught in an environment conducive to effective learning. The NEA Representative Assembly, made up of 9,000 delegates who represent the 2.6 million members throughout the country, is the Association's primary policy-making body. This body thoroughly discusses and debates every proposed policy before voting to approve or reject it.

During the 1998 RA, delegates approved the policy on homeschooling. They were concerned that homeschooled students were not provided a comprehensive education experience because they did not have an opportunity to interact with students of different cultures, economic status, or learning styles. They felt homeschooled students learned in a setting primarily made up [of] family members and friends.

We know that parental involvement is imperative for school achievement, but delegates were concerned that home schools were not required to use state-approved curricula. They agreed that homeschooled students have done well on national tests and were the top spellers in the National Spelling Bee two years ago, but felt home school instruction should meet certain state education standards.

These are some of the reasons delegates approved the 1998 resolution on homeschooling, and reconfirmed their position at the 2000 annual meeting. Members who want this policy reviewed may submit a proposal to the Resolutions Committee for presentation at the RA.

Thank you again for your comments and the materials on homeschooling.

Sincerely,

Bob Chase, President

[hsmomx3]

Sorry if already posted.

[coloradan]

They were concerned that homeschooled students were not provided a comprehensive education experience because they did not have an opportunity to interact with students of different cultures, economic status, or learning styles.

Top priorites for government schools:

Reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Interacting with students of different cultures, economic status, and learning styles.

[Cowgirl]

Dear Mr. Chase, As a homeschool parent let me express my concerns that teachers throughout this country are doing such a poor job of teaching in our schools. Not only that, but there seems to be a distrust of "parents and friends". Is this what you want our children to learn? You also state that NEA is concerned about all the children. This is not your job. You are only to concern yourself with the children placed in your institutions. You do not own our children.

[headsonpikes]

"They were concerned...They felt..."

They did everything but think.

These b*stards are political criminals; I hope they someday 'feel' the full force of an avenging American spirit.

[aardvark1]

were concerned that home schools were not required to use state-approved curricula</>

That's one of the main reasons we homeschool.

[RightField]

#4 ... excellent observation.

The NEA doesn't let the facts get in the way of their own arguments, do they?

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to and descriptions of the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[patriot_wes]

We know that parental involvement is imperative for school achievement, but delegates were concerned that home schools were not required to use "state-approved curicula."

Adolph Hitler said….”Let me control the textbooks and I will control the state. The state will take youth and give to
youth it’s own education and it’s own upbringing. Your child belongs to us already….what are you?”

Meaning....it ain't only about $$$$$

[Registered]

...different cultures, economic status, or learning styles.

I guess my subscription to National Geographic doesn't count...

[who knows what evil?]

The Association is very concerned about the education and well-being of all children, and works to ensure that they are taught in an environment conducive to effective learning.

That line blew the battery right out of my BS detector! Even my cats are ROTFLTAO!

[Registered]

Theey felt homeschooled students learned in a setting primarily made up [of] family members and friends.

Yep, so many have suffered from learning in that terrible setting of family members and friends...:

Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Leonardo daVinci, Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchill, Hans Christian Anderson, Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, The Hansons, Noel Coward, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Schweitzer, George Washington, Woodrow Wilson, George Washington Carver, Charlie Chaplin, Frank Vandiver(President Texas A&M University), The Wright Brothers, Stonewall Jackson, Douglas Mac Arthur, Robert E. Lee, John Quincy Adams, Patrick Henry, William Penn, George Bernard Shaw, C.S. Lewis, Pearl Buck...

[Khepera]

We do not want our children to learn to be socialists. We don’t want our children to tolerate perversion of any sort. We don’t want our children to be psychologically scrutinized and labeled. We do not want our children taught socialist lies about their heritage. We don’t want our children to accept ideas of other cultures we do not agree with. We do not want our children exposed to the abuse of other students who have been given free reign to terrorize their classmates. We don’t want to substitute techniques for how to take a test in place of learning the material that is in the test.

The NEA and public school teachers and officials are not qualified nor do they have the authority to recommend or otherwise dictate our curriculum They cannot even teach effectively in their own schools.

[ibbryn]

students were not provided a comprehensive education experience because they did not have an opportunity to interact with students of different cultures, economic status, or learning styles.

Why is it important that students interact with other students who have different "learning styles"? I'm assuming Chase means that since some students learn better through verbal input, others through visual, the students should interact with students who have found a different leaning style works best for them. Why? How does that help the student to learn their subject matter?

And is it really important that we have classrooms filled with students from diverse cultures? Armenian, Thai and Mexican kids could all have very different ways in with they interact with teachers, authority figures and other students. Isn't a class of students who have the same basic way of interacting with a teacher and each other going to be more focused on their studies than a group who is constantly trying to figure out if showing the sole of your shoe is going to create a blood fued that lasts for the next several generations?

I'm not saying that different cultures should not mix, I'm just wondering if the mixing of and understanding of other cultures should be the number one goal of my kid's math teacher.

[hsmomx3]

Same here. We love our curriculum (BJUP & ABeka)!!

[B Knotts]

Public education is child abuse.

[hsmomx3]

Let's see. I have three kids. We homeschool and yes, they each have different learning styles. As far as the cultural thing, my kids are a mix of Greek, Scottish, Irish, English, German.........does that count?

[hsmomx3]

I wish I had the guts to post your comment and others at our district website that is a forum for parents and/or educators. They'd force me off the universe!!

[B Knotts]

Only because they know it's true! :-)

[Lizavetta]

As far as the cultural thing, my kids are a mix of Greek, Scottish, Irish, English, German.........does that count?

Nope.....only ethnicities with pigment count.

[Registered]

Comments?