Sep. 12, 2008
Pondering Liberty
As the school year starts there are always little skirmishes across the state that flare up. A new superintendent with a resolve to regulate. An old policy revisited.... Ironically, a new required subject in RI this year (well, really last year) is Civics. What I have to say is, "if you want us to study it, don't get mad at us when we start practicing it!"
Of late, I have reread Chris Klicka's article referencing the Supreme Court rulings that support our constitutional right to direct and control the education of our children. It causes me to ponder why nationally we cannot do away with all regulation regarding homeschooling. Once a parent has absolved the state of its responsibility to educate their children (the parent's children!) then why is there any more involvement by the state on any level?
It seems to me that we don't need to regulate what has already been proven, already recognized as good and necessary. For instance, in RI, Science is not a required subject. I do not know any homeschooler who does not teach science! Nor any private school! (although I seem to recall one public school had no funding for it one year.) I used to wonder, "why isn't Science required? That's just odd." but really it isn't odd. We don't need a law to tell us to teach Science (or any of the other subjects listed in our law for that matter). It's a given that Science is a good and necessary subject that is part of a well-rounded education. Similarly, No law tells parents to feed, clothe and shelter their children. It is the good and necessary thing to do. Also, it is a given (or should be!) that parents love their children and desire a good education for them. Why is it necessary to regulate us and make sure that we are giving our children an effective education? If anyone cares that kids get a good education, it's their parents! It's a given.
It seems that daily there are newspaper articles regarding the success and effectiveness of homeschooling. If it is the state's compelling interest to educate its citizens, it should be vigorously embraced when a parent takes it upon themselves to do this themselves. Parental involvement is one of the keys to classroom success even!
As society has provided education, parents have gradually given away their responsibilities and lost their rights. First the schools started feeding them at lunch, now they feed them breakfast too...what next? Will they keep them for dinner too? First they taught them to read, to write and with their figures....now sex education, now required classes in health and physical education. As children have been taken out of real life with parents, they need to teach it in school!
As far as I can tell, we don't need an amendment, we need to reference the ones we have that have been used in SC rulings already to support parental rights in general and in regard to education. It seems that even with the battles we are winning, we aren't quite fighting a war yet.......I think we need to fight a war.
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