Comments on: Homeschooled girl tied to bed, dies in fire

By: ThirstyJon

ThirstyJon — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:09:07 +0000

While what happened to this girl is horrible, it has nothing to do with homeschooling being any safer for kids than a public school. It is so like human nature to use irrational fears to grab more power! I wonder how many people will think ridiculous things like “because of that girl who died in the fire we shouldn’t allow or should restrict homeschooling?”

This is yet another argument for homeschooling. We need children to get a better education so that when they are older they will be able to see through such silly logic.

ThirstyJon
freedomthirst.com

By: Dana

Dana — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:12:54 +0000

Sue, these cases are difficult for everyone involved. But it appears there was enough evidence to follow up on her without pulling homeschooling into it. After all, the vast majority of homeschool families are also innocent. We cannot disrupt their families for fear of what might happen. We need some probable cause.

And I believe probable cause existed in Calista’s case. It is atrocious that the department did no more to follow up on her case.

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:42:18 +0000

my sister knew Calista and had reported her parents to D.h.s. She was also a first responder on the fire dept.There is no evidence so far that Calista was home schooled.She was removed from public school because of her”lying and stealing”this poor girl suffered alot of abuse and Dhs was called numerous times.I really feel that every home schooled child should be followed up on by some type of agency,just to make sure theres nothing going on.I mean ,there were red flags all over the place and no one bothered to step out side the box,excuse me no one bothered to look past policy and procedure,get off their duff.and check on that poor girl.What a worthless bunch of people we have protecting the innocent.

By: Dana

Dana — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:56:21 +0000

Thank you for adding that, Stephanie!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:30:03 +0000

I am catching up on my blogs and thought that I would post a good statement about homeschooling and abusive parents:

Homeschooling and Child Abuse: No Connection
http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/issues/child_abuse.asp

By: Mrs. C

Mrs. C — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:52:54 +0000

It’s interesting…

You know, we homeschool our 7 y.o. because the public school was constantly locking him in the closet and not helping him with an aide or other accomodations (he is on the autism spectrum).

It’s NOT abuse when the public school locks him up in a closet frequently and calls it a “safe room.” But what do you think would happen to me if I pulled something like that?

I wouldn’t do that to my child and I’m still very mad at the public schools for what they did to my kid.

I’ve no clue about this case, though. I don’t think when kids are murdered by their parents though that they investigate the public school - the whole thing is asinine!

By: Dana

Dana — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:32:32 +0000

I agree, Angela. Sickening, actually. It is hard to imagine…but actually, I think I don’t want to think about it enough to imagine it.

By: Domestic Divapalooza

Domestic Divapalooza — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:51:07 +0000

I think what happened to the girl is horrible!

By: Life On The Planet

Life On The Planet — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:32:09 +0000

I seriously doubt that there is any scientific evidence to back his assertions. Sounds suspiciously antecdotal to me! (Of course, that’s admissable in NE!)

Unfortunately, however, I am sure that a few homeschoolers are abusing the system (as well as their children). I got where you were coming from Dana, but I just wanted to make the point that homeschoolers, in those instances, should be treated like everyone else, and that the institution, if you will, of homeschooling should not be held accountable for the actions of a few if the public school system is not.

Off soap box:)

By: Dana

Dana — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:35:36 +0000

Hey, I just found something I like:

Adams v. [p403] Tanner, supra, p. 594, pointed out that mere abuse incident to an occupation ordinarily useful is not enough to justify its abolition, although regulation may be entirely proper.

Meyer v. Nebraska

And I didn’t mean to imply you thought that homeschoolers hide abuse in some greater level. I just wanted to point out Mr. Meadows appears to be pulling his “facts” out of thin air. If he isn’t, I’d like to see the sources. : )