Sympathy Pain

You may know I am not a fan of homeschooling your children, so you may be surprised to learn that I helped a mom that home schools today.

She called me at work. She had found my name on the school web site that I which I taught. She has 2 daughters and wants to get them involved in Theatre. So I took about 15 minutes to walk her though all the programs the city has to offer. I gave her contact names and numbers, along with opinions of each organization. I also gave her the name and number of someone who was homeschooled and does tons of theatre in the area as a good contact person. I didn’t have to do this. I was at work, got the message, and called her back. I could have just given her a single name, or not called her back at all…I mean after all, I am evil in the eyes of homeschooling moms all over the blog world. But I really don’t have anything against them, just mainly the “your wrong, I’m right” attitude, the unwillingness to believe that homeschooling is not always the right answer, and the hatred for the public school system. Not all homeschoolers have these beliefs, but the vocal ones usually do. I hope I helped this lady out and I hope I get to work with her kids. She didn’t sound like a militaristic homeschooler so we will probably get along fine.

It takes a village…and I’m trying.

Ok, it’s been a long time since I poked the homeschoolers. I’ve been really good…and really busy. But I started reading about the court decision in California saying homeschooling is illegal unless the parents have accreditation.

This all stemmed from a case brought up by a homeschooled child who accused the parents of neglect and abuse. DEFACS got involved, tried to make the 8 kids in the home go to public school which might catch the abuse. A juvenile court said, “no the parents have a right to homeschool”, even if their is a question of neglect. Then it ended up in an appeals court.

On Feb. 28, Judge H. Walter Croskey of the Second District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles ruled that children ages six to 18 may be taught only by credentialed teachers in public or private schools — or at home by Mom and Dad, but only if they have a teaching degree. Citing state law that goes back to the early 1950s, Croskey declared that “California courts have held that under provisions in the Education Code, parents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children.” Furthermore, the judge wrote, if instructors teach without credentials they will be subject to criminal action.

Now, here’s my peace offering…just because you are a certified teacher doesn’t make you an angel…you hear the but right?…BUT, I have to believe that you would be a better in home educator if you had some schooling. Also, if it were more regulated and controlled by “The Man”, it wouldn’t seem so hit or miss with what level a homeschooled student was at academically. Without some kind of system wide structure or checks and balances, it seems like a very uneducated way of educating your child. It’s like having a loose leaf curriculum. Just add and subtract whatever you don’t like or aren’t good at for something you are but may not be essential to your child’s future.

And one of my favorite parts about this, Governor Arnold has said that “even if the case is held up in the California Supreme Court, uncredentialed parents will still be allowed to educate their children — that there is nothing that requires the state to aggressively go after people.” So, break the law that’s fine. And a great way to teach our future how to behave.

“Bobby, we are studying law today…which you are breaking by being taught at home…so only half pay attention.”

I was reading Summer’s Christmas Eve post and jumped over to a post about a Home Schooling Mom being elected chair of the Board of Education for South Carolina. Yep, that’s right, Kristin Maguire, a home schooling mom of 4.

Well, we know I have been struggling with the whole home school view point, and when I read this I thought…”Bravo South Carolina”. Really. I think it’s great. I don’t know this persons credentials, but seeing that she wanted a better education for her children seems a perfect fit for this position. I’ve always said the public school system needs out of the box thinkers. If you are willing to go against the norm and educate your child at home, I think that does show some positive initiative. I’ll be interested in seeing how this turns out. I would hope she really has a love for education and uses her position to better the system.

Part of my problem with the Home School army is the apparent attitude that public schools can do no right. It does my heart good to see someone say, the school system is not right, I pulled my children from it, but I now want to help fix it.” This attitude I can get behind. It’s a positive approach to the problem, instead of just throwing verbal grenades. I’d love the public school system to get to the point that no one feels the need to home school their child. That one day people will be excited about sending their child to P.S. 101 or J.B. Henderson Elementary.

The post states:

And if you wish for something better for your children, does it mean that you can’t work for something better for other people’s children?

Exactly. We live in a country full of single parents and households that cannot financially or educationally pull off home or private schooling. So, if you can do something “better” for your children, do so, but also try to help those who can’t.

Bravo South Carolina.

Every year the NEA passes a set of resolutions. I’d like to say that I am not one of those “well if the NEA says it, it must be so”, guys. They did help me with some legal issues that arose while I was teaching, so I believe they can be a great help to educators, but I am not a blind follower. I do, however like to read the resolutions to see what the climate of the NEA is from year to year.

So in the LEARNING ISSUES NOT RELATED TO SPECIFIC DISCIPLINES section of this year’s resolution, right after the B-74. Classroom Use of Animals is the section on home schooling.

B-75. Home Schooling
The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs based on parental choice
cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience. When home schooling occurs,
students enrolled must meet all state curricular requirements, including the taking and passing of
assessments to ensure adequate academic progress. Home schooling should be limited to the children of
the immediate family, with all expenses being borne by the parents/guardians. Instruction should be by
persons who are licensed by the appropriate state education licensure agency, and a curriculum approved
by the state department of education should be used.
The Association also believes that home-schooled students should not participate in any
extracurricular activities in the public schools.
The Association further believes that local public school systems should have the authority to
determine grade placement and/or credits earned toward graduation for students entering or re-entering
the public school setting from a home school setting. (1988, 2006)

I am putting no opinion here, I just want to get your thoughts and feed back. I’m still getting hits on the home school conversation from old, so I wanted to show a little of the research I’ve been doing.

And, fyi, I’ve been quoted once again on Summer’s site. I never intended to become the bad guy or the focal point for the home school nations ire, but, so be it.

home school, nea

I would like to continue the “conversation“, but I think I need to pause. I have a list of things I want to say about some of the comments, positive and negative, listed on Summer’s site, as well as others, but have decided to let it lay…for now. I have questions, but am afraid that they will be viewed as cliche and ignorant. This site is about putting out there positive information for parents. I would be more than glad to discuss any personal issues you have about my and my “own life” on my personal site. Do me a favor though…don’t guess about my home life…this site is pretty open about things that have happened to get me to where I am.

It does seem strange that I have posted things about AIDS in Africa, miscarriage, and a parent who’s child is sick, yet this is the topic that has gotten more responses from loving parents than anything else. I feel my misconceptions about home schooling have derailed what I wanted for this site.

I’m really trying to not take an aggressive tone. I feel like I got carried away with my original post, but that doesn’t make most of those questions or perceptions any less valid. It doesn’t mean I’m not willing to listen also feel like the majority of the responses are telling ME to be open mined. It needs to be a 2 way street.

We are all passionate about what is best for our children. Let’s keep it about that passion. I’ll try not to make things personal in the future. I ask the same of both camps.

So, there’s the olive branch. I really do want the possibility of an open conversation on this and other parenting subjects. Thank you for those who have attempted this as well. We are about to start our new family and will have questions and opinions that I will post on this site. That is what it is for. And if you have constructive knowledge to add, I welcome it. I’ll even take a jab now and again. I want to share all aspects of parenting with my readers. I will try to play nicer, if we can all agree to that. If you don’t like what I have to say, feel free to chime in, but if you can’t play nice, go find another sandbox.

Keep the info coming. Thanks Christine for this article about college admissions and the homeschooler.

Because of the recent post, I know many of you saw this article and thought, “Oh Hell, Bryan has some anti Homeschooling fador now.” But I read this article and my first reaction was, “Why on Earth do you buy your child an arsenal of weapons at age 14…or any age?”

He was taken out of his high school because he was picked on. I don’t know to what extent this was, but it seems it was a major issue and something had to be done. But it also seems that this child was extremely unstable, and probably not just from the bullying at school. He was planning a Columbine type attack…using a arsenal the Canadian army is envious of.

“This was a smart kid that clearly believes he was picked on and was a victim,” Castor said. “He had psychological issues and began to act out on those feelings.”

His mother has been charged with some weapons violations. This was, as Will stated, a case of a home that had bigger issues than trying to home school.

So, no, I don’t see this as a direct result of home schooling. I also don’t see this as a direct result of the bullying. I believe this kid was failed by the school system, and his mother. Someone should have seen him as a psychological time bomb and found help for him. This mother should have never attempted homeschooling…or parenting it seems.

OH, and his father:

Authorities said Friday that the boy’s father also tried to buy his son a rifle in 2005, but was not allowed to because he was a felon, authorities said Friday.

Frank Cossey was sentenced to house arrest for lying about his criminal record when he went to buy a .22-caliber rifle for his son in December 2005, police said Friday. On his application he said he had never been convicted of a felony, but he had pleaded guilty in 1981 to manslaughter in a drunken driving death in Oklahoma and sent to prison, police said.

I fell horrible for any child in this position. He was in a horrendous home, and seems that either the school never acted, or he was pulled by his mother before they could help.

“No child left behind?” here’s one. Any thoughts?

How bout you gun enthusiast? I’m not a fan of guns. Never had to shot anything…other than at a stunt show (I was the Joker)… and Batman had it coming, bastard. I just don’t see why anyone would need this firepower…unless you were being hunted a 17 headed ninja…then you’re screwed anyway.

homeschool, dillon cossey, Michele Cossey, no child left behind

Ok…I know I’m about to get blasted for this…or ignored…or have a legion of homeschoolers come roll my house…but not very well…but I really don’t understand the militant position most homeschoolers or homeschoolees take on their position. It’s like a cult. Very fast to jump on the anti public school wagon, but damn, don’t make a derogatory comment about home schooling. I have known a few…some have done very well in the world some have not…kinda like the world of those from public schools. Socially, they seem underdeveloped…especially directly after “graduation”. I’ve read the articles that shout accolades about homeschooling scores and placements and how awful public schools are. So here’s by 2 cents. (more…)