More loss of rights: The California Second District Court of Appeals (Los Angeles) ruled that home schooling families no longer have the rights to raise their own children under penalty of law, unless the parents are credentialed teachers. Some reading this (and the article in Time) will argue the point that the judge didn't say that, he said that they couldn't home school children without being credentialed. That is the subtle difference in what we see as our right, and what the state says is our right. Those who home school typically do so because we see this as our parental responsibility, it is how we raise our children. By taking our children from us and forcing them to be taught things which we oppose in an environment that is often hostile is giving the state the authority over parents.
While Kentucky (my state) currently offers legal protection from such legislation, it can be a dangerous precedent if the law stands. California's own Governor - Arnold Schwarzenegger said "Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education. This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts and if the courts don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will." Finally some common sense.
The case in California stems from one in which a charge of child abuse and neglect was filed against a couple apparently from one of their children. I will not argue whether or not this child was abused or neglected. I have seen many a case of both some by those in the public school, private school, and home school. If this kid was abused or neglected I feel that the state should have taken this child out of the home. However, the state should not have made a charge that the child MUST be home schooled and that all home schooled children should now move into the public sector. In essence, 200,000 children in California will now pay the penalty of one family, and that is if this family is guilty. Do we see a publicly schooled child who is abused and say that he should now stay home? That is a good solution for some, but to say that all publicly schooled children should now stay at home is just as a ridiculous solution.
I am a parent. I choose to raise my children. I believe that this is my unalienable right. If a parent chooses to have their children raised by the state then that is their right as well. Heaven help this country if we lose the right to raise our own children.
While Kentucky (my state) currently offers legal protection from such legislation, it can be a dangerous precedent if the law stands. California's own Governor - Arnold Schwarzenegger said "Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education. This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts and if the courts don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will." Finally some common sense.
The case in California stems from one in which a charge of child abuse and neglect was filed against a couple apparently from one of their children. I will not argue whether or not this child was abused or neglected. I have seen many a case of both some by those in the public school, private school, and home school. If this kid was abused or neglected I feel that the state should have taken this child out of the home. However, the state should not have made a charge that the child MUST be home schooled and that all home schooled children should now move into the public sector. In essence, 200,000 children in California will now pay the penalty of one family, and that is if this family is guilty. Do we see a publicly schooled child who is abused and say that he should now stay home? That is a good solution for some, but to say that all publicly schooled children should now stay at home is just as a ridiculous solution.
I am a parent. I choose to raise my children. I believe that this is my unalienable right. If a parent chooses to have their children raised by the state then that is their right as well. Heaven help this country if we lose the right to raise our own children.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home