State wants home-schooled kids in class(parents in The City view the edict as a call to arms

The Examiner ^ | 08/22/2002 | BY NICK DRIVER

[USA21]

State wants home-schooled kids in class

State school officials have drawn the line for home schoolers: either get a teaching credential or get your kids into school.

The Department of Education says kids who are home schooled are truant and their parents are ignoring the law.

Earlier this summer, Deputy Superintendent for Public Instruction Joanne Mendoza sent out a memo to public and private schools state wide warning them not to issue a key certification to home schools.

"In California, 'home schooling' is not an authorized exemption from mandatory public school attendance," she wrote in a memo. "Those parents who home-school their children are operating outside the law."

The state is using President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to force those who home school to obtain state-issued teaching credentials.

The deadline is less than two months away for annual certification of private schools -- including schools that operate out of a living room with just one student.

As of this school year, the state will not allow local schools to accept those certificates, called R-4 affidavits. Home schools are now required to register online with the state.

The hundreds of local kids taught by their parents in The City view the edict as a call to arms.

"They are increasing the pressure on us, using intimidating language," said Diane Keith, editor of Homefires, a Bay Area-based home school magazine. "But they are just blowing smoke -- there is nothing in the California educational code that says anything about home schooling."

Home schoolers -- whose numbers are rising 15 percent to 20 percent nationwide annually -- believe their kids get a better education at home than in public schools.

"Home-schooling parents have very high standards for their kids," said Victoria Reed, a home-schooling parent in The City. "My son scored in the 99th percentile on the Stanford 9 test at sixth grade.

It's obvious, I don't have 30 kids to police like a teacher does, so I can offer my kids much more, in less time."

[BlessingInDisguise]

"The state is using President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to force those who home school to obtain state-issued teaching credentials."

That's what happens when you elect a liberal like Bush into office.

[Bogey78O]

And to think. Public schooling was once considered an option. Now it's become the uncompromising rule.

What do we expect from the state that is bar none the stupidest.

[paul544]

Were you born stupid or just get that way?

[July 4th]

This won't last long. When the homeschooled kids show up to class and know more than the teacher, the schools won't want them there anymore.

[Aric2000]

One of the reasons that I did NOT take the $100,00 a tear Job in California.

That great socialist state can fall off the end of the earth for all I care. I would not move my family there, no matter how much they payed me.

I work for about half that by the way, in Washington state and they are really easy on homeschoolers here, even as left wing as they are here.

[Eva]

No, that's what happens when you live in the fascist republic of California.

It seems that Californians give up an awful lot to live in that state. It kind of makes me wonder why.

[mathurine]

If queers home schooled would there be any uproar?

[mathurine]

If queers home schooled would there be any uproar?

[Savage Beast]

"Liberalism": conformity, indoctrination, coercion. (There is nothing liberal, free thinking, diverse, or free about it.)

[Cindy]

2 Great Back-to-School Resources:

HOME SCHOOL LEGAL DEFENSE ASSOCIATION

THE EDUCATION PAGE

[tutstar]

bump & ping

California is out of line big time on this and I pray that some lawyer will have the guts to take them to the mat with this. The citizens of CA have either got to be crazy or brainwashed for allowing such control.

The kids belong to the parents not the state!!!

[SunStar]

It seems that Californians give up an awful lot to live in that state. It kind of makes me wonder why.

Most Californians are, for the most part, either politically stupid or suicidal. I can't wait for the day when I can move out of this state.

[SunStar]

Good point. Probably not.

[Destro]

You both came down too hard on Blessing. His point, made with humor is a valid one: The state is using President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to force those who home school to obtain state-issued teaching credentials

If the Socialist Republic of California can use Bush's law to do this to home schooling, then Bush should be taken to task for pushing a flawed law. IF TRUE.

This is the forst I am hearing that Bush's No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 can be used to do away with home schooling and maybe California's take on the law is wrong.

Time for the White House to step to the plate.

[ASDFGHJK]

I can't believe they are actually doing this. Another act in The Revenge of the Communists, which has been playing since November, 2000.

Hey, where are you, mother that homeschools in California -- can't remember your handle -- who was just buying a house early this year...are you still on FR?

[davisdoug]

Because it is a beautiful state. Family, memories and a desire to make it a better place to live. Yest ye forget. People flocked here in droves(and continue to do so) for what the state offers. The people have the numbers and power to take it back. We will and hope to once again be respected as being, all by ourselves, one of the top 10 economies in the entire world.

[Mixer]

Just make sure to keep them all home on 9/11.