Augusta kids killed (Another Homeschool Killing)

Helena Independent Record ^ | 8/27/2002 | CAROLYNN BRIGHT

[xsmommy]

thrill out of bashing us

WHERE was i bashing homeschoolers, i repeatedly said that i thought it was the optimum situation for those that CAN! i thought we had all agreed that there are nutjob parents that SHOULD NOT, and when homeschool mama attempted to equate nutjob teachers with nutjob homeschooling parents, i only attempted to point out that there is hopefully a safety net that catches the wacko teachers and that there is no such safety net for homeschoolers. PERIOD. i didn't say that there were MANY nutjob homeschooling parents, but we can name at least 2 offhand, andrea yates and this woman, so while the extreme minority it DOES happen. Sheesh! again, i think that the chip on the homeschoolers shoulders gets in the way of reason on occasion.

[homeschool mama]

To assume homeschoolers have no accountability is an ignorant statement. My tone was not meant to be nasty...just stating fact.

[bokonon]

Yeah.

[xsmommy]

maybe accountability was the wrong choice of words, see 281

[Sangamon Kid]

...but as a parent, who is overseeing the wackos and stupid people who are homeschooling their kids?

You have stumbled upon the proverbial fork-in-the-road. Do parents have ultimate oversight or does government? If you give the feds oversight, when does oversight become interference. And should stupid people have as much right as people who are more intelligent? Who decides who is stupid, or unqualified?

I would rather let ALL parents have unabridged rights to homeschool their kids, even at the risk of situations like this happening, UNLESS the parent or parents have some history of criminal abuse.

[homeschool mama]

why?

[xsmommy]

i am in NO WAY advocating gov't oversight of homeschooling!!! i think stupid, crazy and impatient people should be free to school their children as they see fit, the inadvisability of doing so, notwithstanding. my only beef is with those that trumpet homeschooling as the ONLY way to go, and there are those on this forum that hold that view.

[Intimidator]

i think that the chip on the homeschoolers shoulders gets in the way of reason on occasion

You hit that nail on the head. For the record I also have no problem with homeschooling as long as the parent is capable.

[homeschool mama]

**when homeschool mama attempted to equate nutjob teachers with nutjob homeschooling parents, i only attempted to point out that there is hopefully a safety net that catches the wacko teachers and that there is no such safety net for homeschoolers. **

Ahhh..but there are safety nets for homeschoolers. That's why I stated before that you should do your homework before making random judgements.

[xsmommy]

so THEN, a child has no more reason to be schooled by a nutjob teacher than he has to be schooled by a nutjob parent. so everything is ok then. and andrea yates and this woman just slipped through that net? i am NOT doubting that there is such a thing as a safety net for homeschoolers, but i only raised this in response to your proposition that there are nutjob teachers that are an equal threat.

[CholeraJoe]

For the record I also have no problem with homeschooling as long as the parent is capable.

If the homeschooling parent is formally trained in educational techniques and certified by a regulatory agency, I have no problem either. When mothers with a GED insist on homeschooling their kids I get pretty worked up.

[Brush_Your_Teeth]

When they are in private school they only have to worry about coke in the bathroom and the gangs of bloods and cripts in public school who carry out school shootings.

[Tired of Taxes]

i didn't say that there were MANY nutjob homeschooling parents, but we can name at least 2 offhand, andrea yates and this woman, so while the extreme minority it DOES happen.

Well, of course, it happens. It happens more often among non-homeschoolers, too. But, is anyone here advocating a "safety net" to watch non-homeschooling parents? No. So, WHY would you advocate one for homeschoolers?

Certainly, there are "whackos" and "stupid people" in every group. But, if someone posted here that some working moms are whackos and stupid people and questioned who is watching them to make sure they're raising their children right, wouldn't you consider that to be a negative comment coming from someone who has a beef with working moms? I think you would.

[Sangamon Kid]

i am in NO WAY advocating gov't oversight of homeschooling!!!

Take a deep breath. I wasn't saying you were advocating anything, but merely stated that you had stumbled upon the crux of the issue....Who has oversight over children, parents or government? This will be the issue that all the politicians, intellectuals, bureaucrats, social activists, and their cousins will be debating. Nothing new here. They've debated this issue since the homeschool movement got off the ground in the 60's or 70's.

[summer]

RE your post #262 - Maybe. But, people have been known to yank their kids out of public schools after a week too.

[CholeraJoe]

It happens more often among non-homeschoolers, too.

Back this assertion up with facts. How many children are killed by their teachers in public or private school? That's what we're really talking about.

[xsmommy]

SAFETY NETS are not the issue. ASSUME that there are equivalent safety nets for homeschooled kids as well as kids in other educational institutions. the bottom line remains that there are those that should NOT homeschool. You do the homeschooling cause no service by going off half cocked against someone who FROM THE GET-GO, proclaimed herself a full backer and supporter of homeschooling. If you want acceptance and greater participation in pressing the homeschooling issue, you really need to watch the boulder-sized chip on the shoulder and not attack people who are ON YOUR SIDE!

[xsmommy]

well apparently i stumbled onto the HOT BUTTON phrase of ACCOUNTABILITY that sent both Tired of Taxes and Homeschool Mama right off the beam! hey guys, lighten up!

[xzins]

The problem here is not homeschool vs. public school, but another deranged woman. My comment about shooting him was tongue in cheek (and some obviously missed that). But supposedly, her argument was with him, not the kids.

Part of the problem around here is people missing humor that should slap them in the place.

One of my favorite biblical stories is where God tells Abram that Abe's gonna have a son. Abe chuckles to himself.

So God tells him he's got to name the boy, Isaac....meaning "laughter."

Sort of a light-hearted moment with God. Tells me a lot about what God would be like if we would just let Him.

[homeschool mama]

**so THEN, a child has no more reason to be schooled by a nutjob teacher than he has to be schooled by a nutjob parent. so everything is ok then. and andrea yates and this woman just slipped through that net? i am NOT doubting that there is such a thing as a safety net for homeschoolers, but i only raised this in response to your proposition that there are nutjob teachers that are an equal threat.**

Oh please. Just calm down, k?

Charter schools, private ISP's, support groups are some avenues of accountability for homeschoolers. I lead a group and every single family is deeply committed and successful in their homeschool lifestyle.

You seem to desire dragging homeschoolers through the mire, xs. There are wacko public school teachers, yes. Obviously their accountability methods don't work too well, eh?

You need to understand that there is accountability and support in the homeschool community. HSLDA is in your backyard so to speak. I would suggest you take time to do a search on their website for accurate homeschool information..rather than ignorant judgement.