Education. It is probably the most important thing we can offer our children in this great country. Does it matter then, whether kids are home-schooled or taught by licensed teachers in a school? Well, many think not, but according to new laws in California, it most definitely will matter in the very near future, unless something is done about it. Right now, parents of more than 200,000 home-schooled children in that state are reeling from a decision made by Judge H. Walter Croskey, in the Second District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles. The ruling states that children ages 6 to 18 may be taught only by credentialed teachers in a public or private school, and at home by mom or dad- but only if they have a teaching degree.
Croskey declared that “California courts have held that under provisions in the Education Code, parents do not have a constitutional right to home-school their children.” Furthermore, the judge wrote, if instructors teach without credentials they will be subject to criminal action. So, let’s get this straight; if California parents should choose to home-school their own children- even though they may have been doing it for years and years- they may be subject to arrest? Well, it specifically said “subject to criminal action,” so who knows.
The Gorilla finds this ruling personally outrageous and apparently Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger agrees and made this statement: ”Every California child deserves a quality education and parents should have the right to decide what’s best for their children.” This is not the first time a judge has ruled this way in California. In 1953, home-schooling was made illegal unless the parent was credentialed. The law has not changed since then, but the new ruling came after a case of child neglect and abuse occurred in a family, who home schools 8 children, and it brought the issue to the forefront once again.
“Public schools are not a solution to the problem of child abuse,” says Leslie Buchanan, president of the Home School Association of California. The decision is most likely going to be appealed, and with any luck, it will be. Let’s face it folks, school sure ain’t what it used to be. Some of them are no longer even safe. It should absolutely be a parent’s choice to teach their kids at home, but that is just the Gorilla’s humble opinion.
March 16th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Dear Gorilla, Thanks for bringing this point out for discussion.Most of the children I know who have been home schooled do very well whenever they go on to regular school education. There has to be something said for home schooling! The state of Massachusetts allows home schooled children to partake in after school activities;plays, assemblies,athletics,as well as school trips of educational benefit. Our local doctor’s wife home schools their children. The materiel provided in the programs subjects is easy for instructing adults to follow,regardless of their level of education and how long they have been away from school. By the time Thomas Jefferson was fourteen he was educated in Greek,French,Latin,as well as English of course. You are right on Sir, education is the best we can do for our children. The judge must realise that unless a child is in a public school, he can’t be fed the”modern progressive, secular nonsense” that they like to indoctrinate children with these days.