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Communication FUNdamentals
Mar. 2, 2008
Judge Orders California Homeschoolers into Public Education!
February 29, 2008
World Net Daily Article: Judge Orders Homeschoolers into Public Education
Religious beliefs 'no evidence' of First Amendment Rights!
I was truly shocked to find this article as I have homeschooled in the state of California for 9 years and never really had much trouble. However, in light of SB777 and AB394 there has been a loud call to action for Christians to withdraw their children from the public school system here. I think this might be the reaction to the call for a mass exodus.
Specifically, the appeals court said, the trial court had found that "keeping the children at home deprived them of situations where (1) they could interact with people outside the family, (2) there are people who could provide help if something is amiss in the children's lives, and (3) they could develop emotionally in a broader world than the parents' 'cloistered' setting."
1) Gestapo State now has the authority to direct parents as to who their children may interact with? 2) The People's Republic of California is now the only authority on what might be 'amiss' in a child's life? and 3) On what authority does the state of California presume to decide what benefits a child emotionally by 'broadening the world' his/her parents provide?
Their "sincerely held religious beliefs" are "not the quality of evidence that permits us to say that application of California's compulsory public school education law to them violates their First Amendment rights."
"Such sparse representations are too easily asserted by any parent who wishes to homeschool his or her child," the court concluded.
Right! Because we can't have parents making educational decisions for their own children this easily even if it does happen to be LEGAL in ALL 50 states, now can we?!
"For years the government school establishment has been lying to parents about the law. Just this week, a Los Angeles Unified school district employee lied to a mother who wanted to homeschool, telling her you must have a license, you must be credentialed and you must follow all the state curriculum. That's three lies in one sentence."
The article goes on to say they are appealing and that HSLDA is looking into the implications of this descision. What this judge did is ILLEGAL! I don't think it can stand. But watch out California! And watch out all you homeschoolers in the rest of the 50 states where homeschooling has been legal for quite some time! This situation is not isolated to California nor will the reversal of this judges decision reverse the animosity public schools have for homeschoolers.
I don't know what possessed someone to turn in this family, but I will caution you to speak respectfully of and to those who do not homeschool. Though homeschooling is legal in all 50 states (this judges ruling not withstanding!), there are many who don't understand it. Misconceptions and mistrust abound. The best way to combat this is with truth shared respectfully using a more 'matter of fact' approach. The more emotional you are when discussing a sensitive issue, the more the other person may take offense. Once offended, a person might be tempted to share misinformation about your homeschooling family with the 'authorities'.
"An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of the citadel." Proverbs 18:19
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Posted by
Crimson Wife 
Mar. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment