California Homeschooling: Legal Representation Announced
Monday March 10, 2008
Two law firms have stepped up on a pro bono basis to figure out the best strategies for dealing with the court issues in the recent California ruling. Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, which is headquartered in Palo Alto, will be representing HSC. Baker & McKenzie, which has 150 offices around the world, will be representing CHN. These two firms will be working closely together ensuring that all arguments are covered and that they aren't' duplicating their efforts. They will also try to coordinate their efforts with HSLDA, CHEA and Family Protection Ministries.
This is good news. I'm glad to see the groups working together on this issue. I am confident that the years of work by the state and legal organizations will prove it's worth and this will be solved in a positive manner.
Comments
I am in total support of homeschooling. I think it should be a parent’s rights. I also would like to know why California waited so long to try to stop Homeschooling. If is was against their state code, then how was the first homeschooler allowed to start teaching without meeting the requirements? I feel it may be a money issue with the board of education, which is NOT a good reason to start reading the CODE and changing their minds now.
The Cal board of education is a mafia. You are not a teacher, but want to homeschool your children, you must pay for “protection”.
if your not a teacher you shouldn’t be teaching. Its just a way for parents to shelter and brainwash there children. If you don’t have the faith and conviction in your children to do what’s best and act how you’ve taught them you have bigger problems then the state.
“Not being a teacher” is oversimplifying the problem. Not everyone home schools to “brainwash” children. Far from it. I removed my two diabetic children from California public schools because they had no nurses or staff to even do a blood sugar check. Two weeks into the school year they nearly killed my 5-year-old by putting her into a state of unconsciousness feeding her sugar without insulin. I had two choices: stay at school all day or home school. I home schooled. The next year I did do the “stay at school all day” deal, and the following. But why should I have to? As a single mom with 4 kids, I also have to work.
Now, I am home schooling again, working from home, and my two children that are home schooled have tested higher than other kids in the public school system in the same grade levels.
Jon, though I have no issue with your opposition to home schooling, I must ask that you go about it in a better way. Sure, some home schooled children lack social skills and awareness, as you so crudely describe with “shelter and brainwash”. But there are many children who are able to get these skills from other activities, or even from their siblings or neighborhood. And I would also advise you to not bring insults into debates (”you have bigger problems then the state”), it just makes people not want to listen to what you have to say.
Parents are teachers,they just dont have a degree.
that does not mean that they are unable to administer the nessary fundamentals the child needs.
It should be a parents right!
Well, I have a degree in education and I’m still reeling from this. I know the court got involved specifically when one child said he was being mistreated and I do think that homeschooling parents should be accountable for the safety of the children. I do not agree that you have to have a degree to teach. That’s what curriculum is for. If you can read, and you can deal with your children without getting frustrated that’s all a homeschooling parent should need. Granted when my sons are in highschool and they want to take Calculus I will get them a private tutor, but that’s just common sense for me.
My belief and convictions is this here My children are my responsibility So if they are not getting there needs met in a big class room setting and there is no other alternative for them in terms of schooling other than sending them to a charter school where the children are cussing out teachers on a daily basis and or coming to class stoned out of there minds and you can smell the drugs but when addressed by the principal she states oh we are under staffed so this is what will have to be “EXCUSE ME “ I would rather home school my child and protect her .
Then to send her to school where there is no rules everyone if free to do what they want and act how they want with no recourse …
No thank you My child is begging me to be home schooled and she is 14 years old However I do have other children who excel in normal school setting but she wants to be homeschooled so I will honnor her request and there is nothing wrong with it..
I homeschooled my children for a year and the biggest mistake that I made was putting them back into “traditional” school. Homeschooled children generally test higher than their traditionally schooled counterparts. Homeschooled children are not brainwashed by their parents as stated by Jon. How is it any different than the state telling teachers what to teach students in school? Does that make them brainwashed by the state? It’s quite obvious that Jon has not done his research before giving his opinion.
Teachers are valuable and I admire them for what they do. That being said, anyone can get their degree and credentials to teach. Parents teach with passion. They want their child to succeed and will give them all resources to succeed.
We’ve decided to go back to homeschooling and I can’t wait until this school year is over so we can start the next one at home actually learning!
Im curious if anyone knows of any help I can get for my child who gets harassed for being “white” on a daily basis. She attends a public school that is 72 % mexican, and only 3.9 % white. This is an Elementary school by the way. This harassment has been going on for years.
Marlena, If your child is being harrassed and the school is not doing the diligance to have safe learning environment they should be held responsible! I found a helpful site http://www.jaredstory.com/been_harassed.html
an I cut and pasted an excerpt from it. You should check it out!!
What can you do if your child is being harassed?
Demand action!
Give the school a reasonable amount of time to work out minor problems to your child’s satisfaction and your satisfaction as a parent.
In cases of a major harassment situation such as a physical or sexual assault, call the police immediately. These type of serious offenses must be handled by the police and entered on the abuser or perpetrator’s police record or Juvenile Record. School Administrators can take some action’s against the perpetrator(s) but they are not police officers.
Document everything! Tape record statements, type them up and have witnesses sign the statements. Take pictures of injuries, places (buildings), people, etc.
Write letters to School Board Members. Write letters to Board members separately and after each incident of harassment.
Write a letter to the Superintendent. Write a letter to the Superintendent after each incident of harassment.
Write a letter to The Principal of the school. Write a letter to the Principal after each incident of harassment.
Go to School Board meeting and speak out. It’s not just your child that you are thinking about, but all the other children who are harassed and have parents who won’t, or don’t know how, to speak for them.
Write multiple letters to your State Representatives (The Education Committee). Tell them what is happening in your school and how your Administrators are handling your child’s case. Ask them to support State laws to protect kids who are whistle blowers and stronger laws to punish bullies and perpetrators of harassment. Write a letter to each member of the Committee separately and after each incident of harassment. Send a copy of your letters to the School Board Members, Superintendent and Principal of the offending school.
Write a letter to the Editor of your local newspaper. Do not embarrass your child with details, but write instead about your schools lack of response for harassed students in general.
Call a lawyer. If you have not been satisfied with the response you have received from School Administrators within a reasonable period of time, about two weeks, then hire an Attorney. If this is a case of a major harassment situation (# 2), such as a physical or sexual assault, call an Attorney within 24 hours.
Hope this helps!
I have no problem with my children attending public schools, except when it comes to my 16 year old daughter, who has Alopecia Areata, and I think homeschooling until she recovers is the right idea. Although homeschooling may cause my children to lack social skills, having a reason to homeschool my children might be the only choice ..and a good one. People should realize.. that children CAN actually learn better homeschooling.
I have always thought of having my child homeschooled but I have to work all the time. Now my 14 year old daughter is failing all her classes and I need to take action, her teachers say she is doing fine but tests and homework are a problem. I want to know if there are tutors or teachers to homeschool children because I simply have no time and I want my daughter to learn better.