Wednesday, September 28, 2005
"Home School" Language Is Not Wanted
Within the language is the phrase "home school" which is repeated in Section 6, Section 8, Section 9 and most importantly, in the Title.
The point has been made in various homeschooling organizations and states that such language will negatively change the status of homeschoolers where they educate their children under a private school exemption without "home school" mention. Under the private school exemption, homeschoolers may also receive the protections of the large and more legislatively powerful cover of the brick and mortar private schools.
A few years ago in Illinois, HSLDA attempted the same "clarification" or infringements when they tried to insert "home school" language into Illinois legislation. They attempted to codify Illinois 'homeschooling' status. The very idea was unanimously and resoundingly beaten down by Illinois homeschoolers.
One has to ask for whose or what organization's advantage was this attempted? Not Illinois homeschoolers, as was apparent in the phone calls and messages given to the sponsor of the bill despite his good (but misguided) intentions. The consequences of such language was explained further by an Illinois homeschooling activist here.
But yet, the same problem that was foreseen by Carol Severson of the Eagle Forum in deals struck by HSLDA for their members in Illinois during a crisis have been ignored by HSLDA. Instead they have expanded on their narrow objectives by the introduction of this federal Home School NonDiscrimination Act.
The same type of situation occurred in Michigan as related by a Michigan homeschooling dad who also happens to be a lawyer
If this bill (HR3753/S 1691) is split into separate bills, this "home school" language will follow each section. Every single word laid out across 4 different congressional committees right now will affect us if this is passed.
Harvey Bluedorn stated the obvious very well in 2003 and it still has meaning regarding this attempt at federal legislation of homeschooling in his piece On Trying To Fix What Ain't Broke.
The point has been made in various homeschooling organizations and states that such language will negatively change the status of homeschoolers where they educate their children under a private school exemption without "home school" mention. Under the private school exemption, homeschoolers may also receive the protections of the large and more legislatively powerful cover of the brick and mortar private schools.
A few years ago in Illinois, HSLDA attempted the same "clarification" or infringements when they tried to insert "home school" language into Illinois legislation. They attempted to codify Illinois 'homeschooling' status. The very idea was unanimously and resoundingly beaten down by Illinois homeschoolers.
One has to ask for whose or what organization's advantage was this attempted? Not Illinois homeschoolers, as was apparent in the phone calls and messages given to the sponsor of the bill despite his good (but misguided) intentions. The consequences of such language was explained further by an Illinois homeschooling activist here.
But yet, the same problem that was foreseen by Carol Severson of the Eagle Forum in deals struck by HSLDA for their members in Illinois during a crisis have been ignored by HSLDA. Instead they have expanded on their narrow objectives by the introduction of this federal Home School NonDiscrimination Act.
"While this may be a good arrangement for the families directly involved in this problem, what will happen to the other families throughout the state who aren't members of HSLDA?" Severson asked today.As was stated, homeschoolers need to watch out for homeschoolers. We are a tiny minority as is, but protections shouldn't be provided for an even smaller homeschooling minority with no regard for the others.
The same type of situation occurred in Michigan as related by a Michigan homeschooling dad who also happens to be a lawyer
Under the influence of a misguided state senator [he admitted this when faced with the problems created by the Revised School Code] who was a new home schooler, the Senate inserted a provision defining home-schooling in terms of a separate exemption to the compulsory attendance law, the infamous subsection (3)(f). This so-called exemption was made even more onerous in the Michigan House under the guidance of a home-schooling representative who was closely allied with HSLDA. The exemption was expanded in the House to include standards that would have permitted local school district officials to closely regulate home schooling families."
If this bill (HR3753/S 1691) is split into separate bills, this "home school" language will follow each section. Every single word laid out across 4 different congressional committees right now will affect us if this is passed.
Harvey Bluedorn stated the obvious very well in 2003 and it still has meaning regarding this attempt at federal legislation of homeschooling in his piece On Trying To Fix What Ain't Broke.
posted by Publius, 10:41 AM
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The H.R.3753/S.1691 blog is an online source of information for people working to kill the bills -- again --, and keep homeschooling from being further defined by federal legislation.
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