Aug. 3, 2006 - Visiting the local school board, what fun.
Yesterday I drove to my local board of education to deliver my letter of intent. I had planned to send this certified mail but waited a bit too long. Ky law requires a notice two weeks before their school calendar starts. Unfortunately, I did not realize our local county begins school a full week ahead of neighboring counties.
So, my children and I proceed to the front desk of the school board building. (As we are walking I inform my children when they don't know what part of a building to go to, find the front desk.)
The lady was quite friendly.
"Good afternoon." I say.
"Good afternoon! How may I help you?" She says
As soon as I informed her why I was there everything changed.
Gone is the nice smiling lady.
No more smiles for me.
She looks over my letter of intent and asks if my boys attended in their school district last year.
"No." I say.
"Oh! Well then we are going to need information from you. We will need your children's date of birth and...." she starts.
"No. That is not legally required." I say.
"Oh, okay." is her reply.
It was quite obvious she fully understood the laws concerning homeschooling in Kentucky. She was simply hoping I did not know the laws.
Today I am wondering just why exactly did she want my children's information?
What did she plan to use it for?
What made her think that she, a complete stranger to me, deserved any of this information?
She (and the rest of the school board) have nothing to do with my school. They have nothing to do with my children. They are strangers to me as I am to them.
But, did I ask for her children's information?
Perhaps next time I am in a situation like this I will ask her for likewise information. I am sure she would not approve. For, after all, I am simply a stranger who has no business with that knowledge.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot.
I made her give me a receipt stating that I did turn in my letter of intent. For some reason I feel like that particular letter could get accidentally lost.
Comments
Aug. 17, 2006 - Money is the Issue
Posted by Anonymous
Well done - both for knowing the law and not backing down when intimidation was tried.
Three years ago when we ventured into the world of homeschooling (Alberta, Canada) because school was not working for one of our sons, we found that those in the public school system who were legally responsible for supervision of homeschoolers (two visits per year to see progress and offer support) were playing money games. Most parents here who think they 'homeschool' (1/4 funding -half of which must be available to parents for resources) really do 'school at home' - meeting government curriculum and standards expectations and writing government tests since that allows the school divisions to receive full funding. School divisions must legally supervise homeschoolers but most do not wish to and thus do not inform parents of their options - a case of doing what is required by law without the heart desire to do the job right.
Mama Martin
