Comments on: Potential abuse cited as reason behind proposed OK homeschool law

By: Sharon

Sharon — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:44:21 +0000

I have been home schooling my 8th grade daughter since October 09. I withdrew her from public school and filled out the forms they asked me to. My son, who is in the 9th grade, is failing due to being sick at the beginning of the year and really never catching up. Right before I withdrew him from school, I received a letter for each of my children explaining truancy and that I can be fined or go to jail. This agency has requested what curriculum I am using, what testing and grades I am reporting and what standardized tests are they taking. I can provide them with all the above except where we will do our standardized testing. Are they out of line asking for all this information from me ?

By: Freedom of Education Blog » Blog Archive » Pending Bills Would Affect Oklahoma Homeschoolers

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:51:32 +0000

[...] as Principled Discovery points out, 74% of Oklahoma fourth graders are below grade level in reading and 77% are below grade level in [...]

By: Shawna

Shawna — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:25:14 +0000

Once again, the government is sticking its nose where it does not belong. Our government needs to fix what is broken, not actively search for other ways to interfere in our daily lives. These proposals are RIDICULOUS.

By: Dana

Dana — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 07:46:59 +0000

Wilson’s imagination? The NEA? A teacher he talked to? Hard telling, because he doesn’t cite any sources. Nor has he offered any supporting documentation for his bill at this time.

By: Shauna

Shauna — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:24:25 +0000

“On the average, homeschooled students who go into public schools are two years behind students their age, Wilson said.”

Does anyone know the source of this supposed statistic?

By: Mrs. C

Mrs. C — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:24:32 +0000

Have blogged and linked on the “teaching about Jesus all day” thing. I’m sure secular homeschoolers are glad to know they’re doing such a great job with those Bible verses. :]

By: Sunniemom

Sunniemom — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:21:48 +0000

You could apply the same thought process to every sale of baseball bats, belts, and duct tape. All have been used to abuse children, so everyone who purchases one of these items should fill out a form with their name, address, social security number, names and birth dates of all children in the house, and submit to visits to make sure that these objects are being used in the manner in which they were intended.

“If just one child was saved from abuse…” is such a “Have you stopped beating your wife yet” type statement, because if you object to any invasion of gov’t into the private lives of citizens on behalf of “the children”, then obviously you think it is OK for children to be abused.

Rubbish.

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:06:17 +0000

The bill allows the police, truant officer, school administrator or their designee… so if the principal okays it, any one he or she picks can pick up your kid and assume temporary custody!

The PS system does not have the authority to require private citizens to get their stamp of approval.

By: Dana

Dana — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:58:25 +0000

Rebecca, in our system you are supposed to be proven guilty of something before being searched or before your property is seized. Why do we respect that in suspected drug offenders, and not in people educating their children?

Because you or someone has decided that homeschooled kids are just being taught about Jesus all day doesn’t make it so. There are a lot of false stereotypes out there. And while I’m positive their are homeschoolers out there doing less than a stellar job, I know their are public schools doing the same. But the state has the right and responsibility to oversee public schools. Those parents have entrusted their children to the state and their needs to be accountability for that trust.

I on the other hand am a private citizen who has done nothing to arouse suspicion. And yet the state can come in and question my children just because?

It makes sense for officials to be able to question a public schooled youth found away from school during school hours. It is their responsibility to keep track of those kids.

And while I wouldn’t raise a big fuss about my child being stopped and asked what they were doing (how would an officer know the difference?), once the fact the child is homeschooled is established, fair has nothing to do with it. The state has no jurisdiction over that child.

Unless s/he is breaking a law, and if you are homeschooled simply being out and about during school hours is not breaking any laws.

By: Nikki Bandy

Nikki Bandy — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:57:13 +0000

FYI…. as a rule, my 4 children watch NO t.v on school nights! We do learn a bible verse each day, I am trying to counter what negative influences my children were subjected to for the years they were in public and private school! In 1 day my children learn more math, science and history than in a week of classroom! Moreover, My kids, My decision. When officials can promise my children a safe environment for learning, I might consider a return. I am not ambivalent about MY choice! I have a responsibility to keep my children safe, and be smart enough to retain extra tutoring when my education doesn’t fit the bill! Back off government…. don’t mess with the momma bear!