Free Republic

A rapidly increasing number of American families are opting out of sending their children to school, choosing instead to educate them at home. Homeschooled kids now account for roughly 3 percent to 4 percent of school-age children in the United States, a number equivalent to those attending charter schools, and larger than the number currently in parochial schools. Yet Elizabeth Bartholet, Wasserstein public interest professor of law and faculty director of the Law School’s Child Advocacy Program, sees risks for children—and society—in homeschooling, and recommends a presumptive ban on the practice. Homeschooling, she says, not only violates children’s right to...

There is good news and bad from the states on school choice, as compiled by the Heartland Institute in its School Reform News. First, the bad news: • "A Minnesota family choosing to educate their child at home was threatened with legal action by local government school officials over alleged violations of the state's laws requiring compulsory attendance. In December 2015, Wayzeta Public School District (WPSD) officials notified the family of their alleged failure to file a 'mandatory' notice of intent paperwork. WPSD included in the notification a warning that it planned to file charges with local law enforcement and...

Ok,a co-worker is looking to join the USAF. He called the recruiter and after answering a few "get to know you questions" he then asked where he went to high school. My buddy replied he was home schooled and has a High School diploma thru PA homeschool. The recruiter told him that was a problem because the military doesnt take homeschooled grads. Now, this guy has a degree from a state college and is smart. I have never heard of such a thing. My question is has anyone heard of this and what recourse does he have. Thanks in advance

School choice is changing the face of education in the United States in 2012. In spite of the increasing cost of public school education, parents are no longer satisfied that it is preparing their children for the competitive world of the 21st century. They are turning to home schooling or charter schools that meet their expectations.

Although–or, perhaps, because–liberalism has dominated public education since the 1960s, test results and competency in general continue to decline, much to the stated chagrin of officials in the school system and local, state, and federal governments. Barack Obama has made reforming the education system in America one of his highest priorities. “[Education reform] will require a willingness to break free from the same debates that Washington has been engaged in for decades – Democrat versus Republican; vouchers versus the status quo; more money versus more accountability,” Obama has said. “And most of all, it will take a president who is...

Homeschooling is a growing trend in the United States today. Many thousands of parents wary of government indoctrination of their children, not to mention tired of the plummeting level of actual education threatening our kid’s futures, are taking their children’s education into their own hands and setting up homeschools. The trend is also starting to alarm the bureaucrats in government that count on using our children as a device to bring in state and federal tax money as well as teachers unions that relish the power of controlling our progeny. Consequently, state governments are increasingly looking at regulations meant to...

HOME SCHOOL MOMS QUESTIONAIRE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. DECLARATION OF NON-PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FORM FOR HOMESCHOOLERS-OUR RIGHTS 101 FY (SCHOOL YEAR - INDEFINITE) Can the school board guarantee my child’s safe return home from school each day. This includes the time that they are entrusted to your care during school hours. This includes but is not limited to safety in the rest rooms, in the hallways, on the stairways, in and under the bleachers, in the lunch room, in the class rooms, on the playgrounds, or on any school property. COMPLIANCECan the school board guarantee that a member of it’s...

A three-judge panel of the California Court of Appeal has determined parents in that state have no legal right to home school. A Christian attorney in Sacramento says unless the ruling is reversed, literally thousands of students in the Golden State will be subject to criminal sanctions. (click here for special webcast starting at 2 p.m. CST) California Justice H. Walter Croskey has stated in an opinion that "parents who fail to [comply with school enrollment laws] may be subject to a criminal complaint against them, found guilty of an infraction, and subject to imposition of fines or an order...

1) Mandate high school graduation or equivalency as compulsory for everyone below the age of 21. Just as we established compulsory attendance to the age of 16 or 17 in the beginning of the 20th century, it is appropriate and critical to eradicate the idea of "dropping out" before achieving a diploma. To compete in the 21st century, all of our citizens, at minimum, need a high school education. 2) Establish high school graduation centers for students 19-21 years old to provide specialized instruction and counseling to all students in this older age group who would be more effectively addressed...

West Seattle High School seemed too violent and private school seemed too elitist, so Barbara Tippett looked across the water to find the right school for her son, Sky. Starting this morning, his first day of high school, Tippett will drop off Sky at the Fauntleroy ferry dock to catch the 6:45 boat to Vashon Island. He won't be alone. About 75 Seattle kids commute the same way every day — filling two school buses that shuttle them from the Vashon dock to the island's three public schools. The rural, 550-student Vashon Island High School meets Sky Tippett's criteria of...

How many parents would say that as their teenager gets older and shows more and more maturity, that is the time to begin clamping down and placing more restrictions on him? It does not make sense. Most parents would be glad to allow their teenager more freedom if he is demonstrating he can be trusted to be responsible.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS - GET OUT NOW ! by Gary DeMar Why do Christians waste time and money in defense of public (government) education? I heard a spirited defense of America’s primary governmental indoctrination centers at a conference I attended this weekend. While Christians try to “save” their beloved public schools, another generation of young people is seduced by the anti-Christian worldview of public education. This view is not popular with the majority of Christians. Blasting public education in America is akin to blaspheming all that is holy and good. In order to justify the continued support of public education, the...

They started off so well. Their missions, at least in theory, were right. Charter schools gave willing parents the option to become heavily involved with their children’s education. They gave willing parents the educational tools, via online curriculums and/or text-based curriculums, to teach their children in the home and away from the corruptions of campus cultures and inordinately large numbers of poor teachers with radical agendas. But, just as public schools fell to U.N mandates, including anti-Christian, anti-intellect, anti-ethics and morality, and Socialism-based social engineering education, charter schools have also fallen. Under the same public funding umbrella as public schools,...

4Parents.gov is part of a new national public education campaign to provide parents with the information, tools and skills they need to help their teens make the healthiest choices. There is no substitute for caring parents who are involved in their children's lives. If preteens and teens are going to make the choices that will enable them to become healthy adults, they need parents to talk frankly with them about sensitive topics like sex and relationships. Parents who have been reticent to talk with their teens and preteens about these issues now have a new resource in this website. The...

Rapid growth seen in number of conservative Christian schools SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Frustration with public education seems to be growing among the nation’s Southern Baptists, with supporters of Christian schools and home schooling arguing that if God is absent from the classroom then their children should leave, too. The number of conservative Christian schools grew by nearly 11 percent between 1999-2000 and 2001-2002, to 5,527, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s latest statistics. Earlier this year, a resolution proposed at the national meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention — which guides the nation’s largest Protestant denomination — urged...

My alarm clock blares loudly at 7:30 a.m. I open my bleary eyes and reach towards the offending noise. Just then, my door opens. My mother, cheery at any hour, bounds into the room. "Wake up, wake up, rise and shine," she proclaims. When I mumbled and roll over, her voice drops an octave. "Get up. It’s time to do your school work!" Who said home schoolers have it easy? Looking back on my education, I feel privileged to have been home schooled through all my school years. Yes, that’s right – grades kindergarten through 12. Most people don’t realize...