Do you find this odd?

Question

I just read this article about the recent court decision in California:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/07/MNJDVF0F1.DTL

Here's a quote from the article:

"Heimov said her organization's chief concern was not the quality of the children's education, but their "being in a place daily where they would be observed by people who had a duty to ensure their ongoing safety.""

If they are saying they want children to be with people who have a duty to ensure their safety, they should leave them with their parents.

There are MANY instances of children being abused by teachers, and even some female teachers are beginning to prey on students.

I find it odd that people are more trusting of teachers (who are strangers to the child) than they are of parents. In addition to being odd, it is also a bit scary.

Answer 1

teachers MUST go through background checks before they are hired.  also, what they're saying is they want to make their primary effort to increase the reliability of the people the kids are w/.

Answer 2

IDK

Answer 3

Right.  The parents ARE the first line of defense for a child.  It is our job to guard and protect their safety.

That safety has often been hindered by the current format of public education.  Their mental, physical and spiritual well-being is often at risk.  

So, if the "people" that work at the school are parents why does Heimov trust them more than any other parents?

It is very scary to know that our families are being put into Heimov's hands.  He is JUST a person.

Answer 4

Well if that's their primary concern then why not just make raising a child the criminal offense.

You prepared dinner for your son? *gasp!* Five years in prison!

You gave your toddler a bath? 20 years!

You tucked your little one into bed and...READ HER A BEDTIME STORY?? Good god, you must be deranged! You'll do LIFE for that one!

If there was any sort of child abuse taking place in that home, punnish the parents and take the kids somewhere where they'll be safe and cared for. Don't go and take away the rights of the majority of parents who aren't hurting anyone and who actually give a d**n about their kids' futures, and don't go ruining it for those of us kids and young adults who actually benefit MORE from homeschooling than we EVER would from public school.

Answer 5

um....idk lol

Answer 6

There is a move in this country to undermine the rights of parents and for the government to take over the parents role.  The latest attack on homeschooling (by Reich) says that parents won't raise "tolerant" children and that kids need to be taught things different from what the parents think.  This is scary stuff.  It is also becoming mainstream.  Don't be surprized when most of the brain dead American public cheers when the right to homeschool is taken away.

Answer 7

I agree! yes they should be at home with their parents (if that is what the parents chooses) because nobody is going to protect my children, in the manner that I will.

I find it odd too that people are so trusting of teachers! I have witnessed teacher with both my kids that were verbally, emotionally, and mentally abusive. One teacher called my teenager "stupid" and then told him " you will never amount to anything in life because you are just stupid". When I went to the school and reported it to the principle, she said "Well, I have heard that from her before, so this doesn't surprise me"!

Oh My Goodness! And nothing was done to this teacher and she has many parents filing complaints with the school board. I don't trust any teacher simply because the system doesn't do a darn thing about it unless the student is able to record their "abusiveness".  There is a lot more going on behind the closed doors of these classrooms than most people are willing realize! I think there should be camera's in every single classroom in every state in this country! Background checks DO NOT work! So, yes it is "odd" and "scary" as you have put it. I am also a bus driver and I have listened to other drivers verbally mistreat students as well. The line doesn't stop inside the school either! Higher standards need to be set.

Answer 8

What's odd in this case is that if they're really concerned about abuse they could either take the kids away from their parents, if they think it's that bad, or require that a social worker of some kind (or doctor if the abuse is physical) has regular access to the children. I don't really see that sending them to school is going to help at all.

Answer 9

The socialist courts of CA are all for anything weird, but anything decent they forbid. I am sure this will be thrown out in an appeal... the homeschoolers do have back up.

I would want to know what 'abuse' this kid was dealing with, since there are 7 other kids with no complaints. Did Dad take away her computer and she got mad and called social services making up some sort of nonsense to 'punish' her parents?  Many teenagers would turn their folks in just for sending them to their room.

If that was my kid I would call social services and tell them they can have her. Put her in foster care and she can meditate on what she did to her folks,her siblings and the 166,000 fellow students who are benefiting greatly!

Answer 10

My children go to public school I not only admire home school parents but envy them as well.And yes I do find that odd.You have no idea how many times I have had a run in with a teacher over what I concider abuse to my children especially my AD/HD son who not long ago was sent out of his classroom and told to talk to a picture of  his teacher because he was talking to much to his teacher or had his lunch taken away and made to go hungry because the lady said his lunch wasnt nutritous enough Oh and did I mention he is only 7 yrs old?I have always wanted to do home schooling but am not sure if I could keep up. And thats because I love and want to protect my children.It doesnt matter how educated teachers may be they are always safer with there parent because not only because its our duty but because its our heart. SO I SAY WAY TO GO HOMESCHOOL MOMS AND DADS!

Answer 11

That's like saying that all teachers are going to be abusive though. Sure there are a few, but MOST teachers are not.

I don't find it strange at all that a child would trust a teacher more than a parent. It's natural. Plus in the end, as long as the child is safe and NOT doing drugs or other "bad" things, does it really matter? A child need a role model and just happens to be a teacher. That's not bad.

Answer 12

Since this was from an abuse case that happened with a family who home schooled, I believe the decision made by the court was a good decision.  There are families who do homeschool for the wrong reasons and abuse their children in the process.  If the children are homeschooled and the parents keep them hidden, then there has to be somebody to look out for these children.  In a school setting, it is a teachers job to protect children and to both notice and report any signs of abuse.  Had the children been in a school setting, the abuse wouldn't have been as bad as it was, and the children would have had an outlet to help themselves and each other.

In response to Jazzys question to me...  I did not state what you are implying anywhere in my answer.  Just as people cannot group all home schooling families in one catergory, YOU cannot group all teachers into one catergory based on actions taken by ONE teacher.  You are implying that by one clip from CNN that ALL teachers are abusive and mean... If I were to do that, then I would say that since the child from the Cali case claimed to be abused, then ALL hs families must be abusers....  That isn't the case at all.  I never implied what you are stating.

edit to Glee... .I never claimed to take away your parental rights, and yes... some parents do homeschool for the wrong reasons.  Some parents do it to shelter or abuse their children and not to actually teach them. I applaud the parents who actually go out there and create smart, active children with the process of home schooling...  It's the ones who have their own personal brainwashing, abusive agenda that I have issues with.

Answer 13

I agree...That is werid!

Answer 14

I find it interesting and odd that there is no information anywhere on the alleged abuse...

Since there is no information about this, I am inclined to conclude that the allegations were unfounded.

I would like to know the "rest of the story."

Answer 15

Yes, people shouldn't do that!

Answer 16

I am a teacher.  It is my job to do both.

Answer 17

True enough. When did it stop being taken for granted that parents have their children's best interests at heart? When did the home stop being taken for granted as a safe haven? What Brave New World is this?

Anyone who would consider it natural for a child to trust a paid government employee over their own parent "natural" has some serious issues from their own childhood to over come. I am sorry for whatever happened to you, but it must occur to you that this is not the experience of every child? In my area a local teacher raped a twelve year old student. He was fired, but given a letter of recommendation by the principal.  (I think we can assume was also him to be a pedophile.) He'd moved away for a new teaching job and would still be trusted to watch over children if someone had not found out and called a reporter. Who knows how long they had been raping girls in their care. They may be teaching again today.

So much for back ground checks.

How can you trust a bureaucracy over a person?

EDIT: "There are families who do homeschool for the wrong reasons"

Really? Exactly who are you to decide what the "right" reasons are and are not? Your personal opinion does not trump my right to parent as I see fit.

That is, unless you want me up in your house dictating how you run your household..........

Answer 18

yea i think that is wierd. teachers have no rights to abuse a student in or out of school

Answer 19

you know what my advice is to well i ddint even read it sucks for u hahahahaaha i am evil actually eviler!!! jk just kidding no i am just reading everything but i hope u good luck eith everything

Answer 20

I was listening to Sean Hannity, and he was talking about it..

The government needs to back out of peoples lives, they want to control everything.

Answer 21

It's because the ruling was for a case of child abuse by a homeschooling family. The "logic" behind the statement is that if the child were in school, s/he wouldn't have been abused the way s/he had been.

Of course, totally doesn't address the issue that there are plenty of kids in school who are being abused at home by their parents and nobody's the wiser or nobody has enough proof to warrant a report.

Answer 22

Yes, it is weird and dangerous.  My child was abused by a teacher and almost murdered by a classmate.  And our local public school?  A teacher pleaded no contest to sexual assault.  A principal quit after being publicly threatened by a teacher.  A math teacher quit because he could no longer abide the fact that he was expected to teach advanced math to kids who had been rushed through the early grades and did not really know the basics.