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Hi Mary,
My wife and I have been homeschooling for 18 years now. We have about 7 years to go and for my daughter's sake, I hope we are not interrupted by these new laws in other states. I cringe every time someone speaks of having the government in charge of anything. I know some wonderful people who work for our government, but sometimes their ideas about things just make you want to crick your head and say things like "wah?".
I have recently been in discussions with someone here at Adland about a similar subject. They believe that home schooling should be banned for the sake of the children growing up to be properly socialized and prepared for the harshness of the world. Yikes! Okay, there was one homeschooled kid that we ran across who wasn't quite in the groove of getting along with other kids. But, I think it would have been worse for him if he had went to public schools. It was simply his character to not be like everyone else. He just wanted to be himself! What is wrong with that?
My kids are the popular ones in our large neighborhood. We have some neighbors who you would imagine have the best and smartest kids on the block. One is a police officer and the other is a certified elementary school teacher. Their kids are flunking and fight with everyone on the street... except at my home where they spend a lot of time. We hear all kinds of horror stories of what goes on behind the walls of the public schools where teachers and administration think they are in control.
Of the many home school families that we know, none of the "teachers" are certified teachers, but they happen to be great dedicated parents who want to see their kids grow up with great self esteems and to be happy. Most of these kids excel at everything! All seem to find their own way into college without scholarships and grants. They work and pay their own way if the parents don't have it. Wow! I have to say that most are very picky as to whom they socialize with, but that is a good thing in my book. Oh, I could go on and on about the benefits of home schooling, but it might become boring and doesn't really fit this subject.
What do I think about this new law in California? I think it stinks! I think those 160,000 kids and their parents and families and friends should be on the streets rioting... but they just happen to be of the most law abiding down to earth kind people you'll ever know. Besides, the kids are probably being little busy bees studying something of great interest.
I'm going to begin activating my political connections to speak out against this unnecessary law from spreading around this nation.
Thanks for letting us know what is going on.
Joe
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