Homeschoolers View On The New Homeschooling Law?

Question

The California homeschooling law is now almost placed that students from ages 6 -17 have to attend a public or private school. This is a question to the homeschoolers in the California area, are you angry about the new law? This affects more than 200,000 homeschooling students sending them to crowded, noisy, and some scary schools. Even if you are in a very bad nieghborhood and you are homeschooling so you or your children do not be involved in the great mass of violence at the school. Please tell me how you feel about this new law.

Answer 1

I am outraged that the judge misinterpreted the law the way he did, and I don't expect it to stand.

You might find this interesting:

SCHOOLS CHIEF JACK O'CONNELL ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING HOME SCHOOLING IN

CALIFORNIA

SACRAMENTO - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack

O'Connell announced today that the California Department of Education has

completed a legal review of the February 28 California Court of Appeal

ruling regarding home schooling. O'Connell issued the following statement:

"I have reviewed this case, and I want to assure parents that

chose to home school that California Department of Education policy will not

change in any way as a result of this ruling. Parents still have the right

to home school in our state.

"Every child in our state has a legal right to get an education, and I want

every child to get an education that will prepare them for success in

college and the world of work in the challenging global economy.

"As the head of California's public school system, I hope that every parent

would want to send their children to public school. However, traditional

public schools may not be the best fit for every student. Within the public

school system there are a range of options available. Students can take

independent study classes, attend a charter school, or participate in

non-classroom-based programs. But some parents choose to send their children

to private schools or to home school, and I respect that right.

"I admire the dedication of parents who commit to oversee their children's

education through home schooling. But, no matter what educational program a

student participates in, it is critical that the program prepares them for

future success in the global economy. I urge any parent who is considering

or involved in home schooling their children to take advantage of resources

and support available through their county or district offices of

education."

Answer 2

As NJRoadie said, please check all facts.

Here's a quote

SACRAMENTO - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack

O'Connell announced today that the California Department of Education

has completed a legal review of the February 28 California Court of

Appeal ruling regarding home schooling. O'Connell issued the following

statement:

"I have reviewed this case, and I want to assure parents

that chose to home school that California Department of Education policy

will not change in any way as a result of this ruling. Parents still

have the right to home school in our state."

Answer 3

Sorry but you need to slow down, this whole California thing is an OPEN case at this time.

There has been NO LAW passed, and I for one do NOT see what the Judge has ruled as BECOMEING a law anytime in the near future.

This particular family has been on the Juvenile Court Radar for some time dealing with custody issues. Also you have to realize that the Lawyer who was trying to Prosecute this family didn't like what the FIRST Judge said which was that the parents were doing NOTHING wrong so he threw a snit fit and went to the Appeals Court and found a Judge who would tell him what he wanted to hear.

When the California Supreme Court gets done with the lot of them they will probably all feel about 1/3 of an inch high.

Everyone needs to calm down and not panic. Let the HSLDA, Gov. Swazenager and the California Supreme Court deal with this first before we all start getting in a tizzy.

Answer 4

New law...old law...bad interpretation...the result is the same. Leave it to some CA libs to try to make life more difficult for parents. Can you imagine the results if the schools have to absorb 200,000 students! Chaos. It's another try at institutionalizing all the children so they can be brainwashed. If the schools - and teachers - were ALL doing the job they are paid for, home-schooling would not be an issue.  I'm not even from CA, so I'll stop now, but it's a stupid idea!

Answer 5

I know your question is directed at residents of California but I just wanted to say that I am completely outraged that this is happening.

My family and I are hoping and praying that the law in CA will be overturned and made where parents can choose how their children are educated.

All of California is in our prayers!

Answer 6

Were this a new law, I would do nothing different.  I would continue to home school just as I always have.

But, as others have already pointed out, it is not a law.   CHN and others will fight the ruling, but meanwhile it's business as normal for CA homeschoolers :)

I see this whole thing as beneficial actually.  Maybe it can go all the way to the state Supreme Court and finally get CA to take the giant stick out of its rear in regards to hs'ing.

Answer 7

Get your facts straight PLEASE !  

It is not a "new law" it is a court ruling.

http://www.hsc.org/Appellatedecision

Answer 8

Actually it isn't a new law.  It is a poor interpretation of an old law from the 1950's.

It will not stand.

The Governor of California has already promised to uphold parents' rights to home-school.

Even if all of the schools were peaceful and well run by great people I would STILL homeschool my children.  I'm nearly done since my youngest is 17.  If I had it to do over again -- I would do what I did.

Home-schooling is a great way to be involved in your childrens' lives.  As a parent you will always know what kind of day they had.  You will know what things they are struggling with and how to help them.  You will know which things are the most interesting to them and you can tailor their education to meet their needs.  

You meet hundreds of wonderful people when you are home-schooling.  Your family becomes a part of a huge family of people that like to get together on a regular basis for games, sports, clubs, etc.

Home-schooling enables a child to learn to think with their own mind instead of parroting what "the group" is saying.

I love home-schooling so much that I am sorry to see my time coming to a close --- but hey, there are still the grandbabies!  I own the only van in the family -- field trips here we come!!!  Whoo hooo!

Any laws that try to squelch parents from home-schooling will not be honored by very many.  There is always a way around it.

Answer 9

I feel bad for the homeschooled children who now have to give up something so wounderful. I think its not allowing parents to choose for themselves,  Are Parents in Cali so stupid they cant choose for themselves? Its just another 'Nanny law' the power hungry gov puts in place to make sure Children from cradle to grave think the way the gov wants them to think. Rate be badly but its the truth.

Answer 10

There is a growing backlash against Homeschooling. In both Germany and now also in Brazil parents have had their children taken away because of Homeschooling. Now it appears that an anti-homeschool movement is beginning to make moves in North America. What concerns me is the usurping of parental rights, a much larger issue.

Note the above quote, in the previous response.He doesn't say they'll have the right without a teaching certificate does he?

Answer 11

As other folks have repeatedly pointed out, there is no new law in California.  This was a (mis)interpretation by an appeals court.  Today, the California State Superindendent of Public Instruction issued the following statement:  

March 11, 2008

E-MAIL: [e-mail]

SCHOOLS CHIEF JACK O'CONNELL ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING HOME

SCHOOLING IN CALIFORNIA

SACRAMENTO - State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Jack O'Connell announced today that the California Department of

Education has completed a legal review of the February 28 California

Court of Appeal ruling regarding home schooling. O'Connell issued the

following statement:

"I have reviewed this case, and I want to assure parents

that chose to home school that California Department of Education

policy will not change in any way as a result of this ruling. Parents

still have the right to home school in our state.

Every child in our state has a legal right to get an education, and

I want every child to get an education that will prepare them for

success in college and the world of work in the challenging global

economy.

As the head of California's public school system, I hope that every

parent would want to send their children to public school. However,

traditional public schools may not be the best fit for every student.

Within the public school system there are a range of options

available.

Students can take independent study classes, attend a charter school,

or participate in non-classroom-based programs. But some parents

choose to send their children to private schools or to home school,

and I respect that right.

I admire the dedication of parents who commit to oversee their

children's education through home schooling. But, no matter what

educational program a student participates in, it is critical that

the program prepares them for future success in the global economy. I

urge any parent who is considering or involved in home schooling

their children to take advantage of resources and support available

through their county or district offices of education."

This is the guy who would enforces homeschooling law.

The case, folks, is now closed.

Please stop spreading rumors.

Answer 12

If home schooling ever becomes illegal in Louisiana then they'll have to take us to jail kicking and screaming! Never will I give up our right to home school!

As for Ca the Governor has promised to protect home school. I think the judge has put himself in a pretty tight spot. Will be interesting to see how this turns out in the end especially since it will effect so many. If it goes bad it can effect almost any state in the union since so many follow in Ca's foot steps.