California Dept. of Education slams homeschooling; 'Outside the law'

CPI News - Conservative Press International ^ | August 17, 2002 | William Holzer - CPI Investigative Reporter

[CPI News]

California Dept. of Education slams homeschooling; 'Outside the law' By William Holzer -- CPI Exclusive

Click below for story: http://www.cpinews.net/archives/2002-q3/ca-dept-edu.slams.homeschooling/index.htm

The California Department of Education is once again trying to stop the fastest growing educational movement in the country. According to a new letter that is circulating through California school districts, "Parents who home school their children are operating outside the law."

The homeschooling community in California has begun to feel the affects of the latest attempt to change homeschooling policy. In a recent letter by Deputy Superintendent Joanne Mendoza, homeschooling is described as "not an authorized exemption from mandatory public school attendance."

Homeschooling has drawn increasing attention in America with homeschoolers going 1-2-3 in recent National Spelling Bees, as well as entering prestigious colleges like Harvard and Yale. It’s widely believed that the number of homeschoolers in America is between 700,000 and 1.2 million, with many studies showing homeschoolers scoring higher than their public school peers in academic tests.

Not everyone is happy. The National Education Association (NEA) – in their 2000-2001 resolutions – states that the NEA "believes that home schooling programs cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience."

The school district receives funds relative to the number of students attending public school, students that homeschool don’t fill the coffers of the bureaucracy. The per head revenue in California is roughly 4,500 dollars for each child that attends public school; the total amount of funds granted is determined by the average daily attendance (ADA) of the school.

The amount of money the school district could gain – if homeschoolers attended public school - is estimated at upwards of a quarter of a billion dollars per year.

This is part of the reason incidents between homeschoolers and the school system are common. The homeschooling community in California is prepared for action, lead by organizations such as the California Homeschool Network (CHN). Karen Taylor, the president of CHN, described the current trouble as "the same old story" and "some new employees trying to shake things up."

Another worry that has been expressed by homeschoolers is what junior colleges will do with this new development. Homeschoolers have historically used junior colleges as a supplement to high school level courses, as well as a method to finish general education requirements before entering college.

Despite attempts to stop homeschooling by the school district, it’s unlikely that junior colleges will stop admitting homeschooled students. Homeschoolers are extremely good students and unlikely to dropout of classes. Colleges do not run as much risk of refunding money to students that are unlikely to quit.

[usadave]

Don't forget the Governor has Emergency Powers!

Don't forget that the populace has emergency powers too - revolution!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The National Education Association (NEA) – in their 2000-2001 resolutions – states that the NEA "believes that home schooling programs cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience."

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THEM!

After all, then will never:

Learn how to put a condom on a cucumber.

Learn about Sally's two mommies and Doony's two daddies.

3) Be subjected to presentations by the gay, lesbian, transgender "socities".

4) Be indoctrinated into leftist revisionist history and enviromental wacko pseudo-science.

5) Miss learning about the founding principles of the country, and its civic bylaws.

6) Be introduced to the joys of drug taking.

7) Be prevented from saying a prayer thanking God Almighty for our blessings.

8) Be deficient in reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, social studies, etc.

Yes. They will certainly be missing out on a great deal of "experience". But they will emerge untainted by the psychopaths who are running the government schools nowadays.

[xzins]

News Flash! HOMEMADE donuts are THE BEST!!

Krispy Kreme's aren't even on the same list. It's major league vs minor league.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

RE#4

Simply astomishing! Unbelievable!!! Disgusting!!!!

And the fact that this is going on in broad daylight is even more astonishing. Parents nation wide had better wake up to this insidious corruption of children by these vile monsters.

The failure of the government schools to provide a sound eduction is reason enough to close down these schools. But the perverse social conditioning is beyond the pale. These perpetrators should be executed by militia, IMO. No, competition by decent alternatives -- home schooling, denomminational schools, private academies -- is the only answer. No need to shut the government schools down if parents weake up and transfer their children elsewhere. The key is VOUCHERS!!! Every concerned citizen should support a voucher program in their locality and push until it becomes law. Tell the NEA/Teachers Unions to go to hell, they're not getting your child or your friends' children.

[goodieD]

On my way to visit hubby but I can't help but chime in on this one. Our experience was relatively simple, we had to register as a private school. Even so, we were harrassed by the truancy officer for a week after notifying everyone properly..but still..compared to other places..not too bad, they kind of forgot about us and left us in peace.. but how does this idiot think we are "operating outside the law" ?? There is no law against homeschooling in California (at this moment)..therefore no homeschooling family in Cali is operating "outside the law"..
Quickie update on hubby: 2nd surgery tomorrow, he at least got to eat today so he feels better, memory still shaky, he calls me every couple of hours sometimes just to ask the time, but he's awake and talking. We just have to watch for pneumonia because he's flat on his back and can't move much due to leg traction. More later. THanks to EVERYONE for their support.

[agrace]

Thanks for the update! I was pinged to your prayer thread, and although I didn't have time to post at the time I read the request, I did take the time to pray. Glad to hear he is doing better!!!

[watchin]

You're kidding. I never heard of homeschooling until I moved from NJ to WA - where I was surprised at the ease with which we could homeschool. An "intent to homeschool" form, and yearly testing (which nobody checks) are really all that are required.

So far we have two boys who have entered the "running start" program at the local community college, where they cover their last two years of high school concurrently with their first two years of college. My older boy received his HS diploma one week, and his AA the next.

After dealing with NJ automobile inspections I would have thought, well, you know ... you still live there.

[glory]

I don't think so Illbay. There is a growing segment of secular homeschoolers who are doing this for academic reasons alone. Many of those are leftists so it is with pride they send thier kids to these institutions. There concern was not with the agenda in schools, but the academics. Have met some of this type first hand in the homeschooling community. I would bet my bottom dollar the majority of those going into the Ivy League come from these families I mentioned and not the God fearing, American loving homeschoolers.

[Old Professer]

The homeschooling community in California is prepared for action, lead by organizations such as the California Homeschool Network (CHN).

They might get the spelling correct - led.

[agrace]

I know, it's unreal. Especially considering the strict HS requirements of our neighbor NY, and of course the ridiculous hassles at the DMV, haha.

I double-checked recently because like I said, I'm starting my daughter (officially anyway) in a couple weeks and sure enough, nothing needs to be done. No notification of intent even. The only time anything comes into question is if the school district feels they have reason to believe that adequate schooling is not being provided for homeschooled kids. Even then, it is their burden of proof - they have to demonstrate evidence. NJ law can be found here.

My husband and I are from PA originally, and I have wanted for years to go back, still can't get used to the cost of housing here, among other things, and we're still too urban for my taste (we moved from NYC when I was pregnant with my daughter)...until I found out the homeschooling requirements in PA are MUCH, MUCH stricter than NJ. Suddenly NJ doesn't seem so bad after all. :)

That's wonderful about your boys!!!

[Congressman Billybob]

Joanne Mendoza needs a good FReeping. Find out where this moron lives. Fill the sidewalk with adults, and home school students (who are taking a course in applied civics). Among the signs should be:

The People's Republic of Calofornia
Doesn't Own Our Children.

This Isn't a Teachers Rally.
All the words on our signs are spelled correctly.

My child gets "socialized" at home.
Once a week I beat him up and steal his lunch money.

For a student: I'm learning more about civil rights here,
than I ever would in a government-run school.

Mendoza is dumb as a hoe handle.
She needs to go back to school.

I think the press would cover this nicely. A good home-school teacher should give a short, fire-breathing lecture about freedom and personal responsibility as part of the rally.

Congressman Billybob

Click for latest column: "Good People, Naked People, People Who Are Wet and Wild."

Click for latest book: "to Restore Trust in America"

[Congressman Billybob]

Of course, the REAL signs should spell the word "California" correctly. I was just checking to see if anyone was reading.

Billybob

[ladylib]

There was a principal in CA (where else?) who decided that she had to inspect girls at a dance to see if they were wearing thong underwear, so she told them to pull up their dresses, right in front of everyone at the dance (and the idiots did, like mindless little robots. They should have kicked her butt down the hall and out of the building). Well, she has been demoted. She's not a principal anymore. They demoted her to a teaching position.

[ladylib]

But a lot of the citizens WON'T. Hey, who knows, Gray Davis might not be around much longer. Some else posted that the Green Party and the Republicans both support homeschooling.

[ladylib]

How can it be made illegal? It's legal in every other state in the country. Why should CA be any different?

[ASDFGHJK]

you assessment of the public school cult is overly generous.

[ASDFGHJK]

you = your

[Libertina]

"Parents who home school their children are operating outside the law."

the NEA "believes that home schooling programs cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience."

such as ...gang violence, socialist/communist/HATE America propaganda, destruction of religious beliefs, earing down of patriotism & family values, bad language, low standards, insolence, cheating, dressing like sluts...
Yes, public schools certainly DO provide a comprehensive education experience with which homeschooling cannot contend.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The proof that trial lawyers are in it for the money and the politics is that the NEA wasn't sued out of existance years ago for fraud and child abuse...at the very least contributing to the corruption of a minor.

[watchin]

I grew up in the other NJ. South Jersey, on the shore. Barefoot summers, swimming holes, and snapping turtles. Too much like Tom Sawyer to fit most people's impression of NJ.

But I never could get a car through inspection on the first try, and usually not on the second.