The Homeschool Legal Defense Association asks, do you want free stuff, or a free way of life? In a recent report about the Nelson Plan, which hopes to attract homeschoolers into public school at home, the HSLDA points out the dangers of accepting the program?
Interestingly enough the program in only available to students “not currently enrolled in the system,” meaning children in schools cannot join the program and leave the school building. However, students currently homeschooling can join. I guess you cannot argue with the fact that they are trying to attract homeschoolers back into the public school fold.
According to the HSLDA,
Their target is you—the free, independent homeschool families of Virginia. Their bait? Free books, and other incentives. And if they act like public school at home programs in other states, they will eventually try to entice you with free computers, Internet access, and musical instruments! If you take the bait, your children will automatically become public school students, and your right to control their education will vanish.
So what is the big deal? You wonder. Your kids can continue to learn from home, while getting the same education children in school get. Well, here is the big deal.
Parents in Palmdale, California, recently learned a bitter lesson about losing control of their children’s education by placing them in public school. They filed suit against the public school system after their children were given a shocking “survey” containing questions of a sexual nature (e.g., asking children if they thought they were “touching their private parts too much”). In rebuffing the parents, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said, “….parents have no … right … to override the determinations of public schools as to the information to which their children will be exposed while enrolled as students.” 427 F.3d 1197 (9th Cir. 2005).
I know we have talked about this before, but under the circumstances, of current legislation being written to pay public schools to attract homeschoolers part time, it bears repeating again. Before joining any free public school at home program, investigate it fully, and be aware of what you are gaining, and losing. Also, investigate your other options.
Update: I am not saying that the public school at home programs are bad, but when free, they are dangerous. If you support public school, but need to homeschool your own child, especially for a short period, then this will be a good way to ensure that they will be able to step back into the school system in line with the students that are currently there. The service can be very good. You must remember however, that you are not a homeschooler, you just do public school at home.
If you homeschool for freedom of education, and want no part of the schools, to invite such programs into your home, and taking advantage of tax provided equipment, you open yourself up to scrutiny and loss of those very freedoms you are trying to maintain.
Related Articles: HSLDA: The Good, HSLDA: The Bad, and HSLDA: The Ugly.
*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.
*Want to know more about homeschooling? Start with the 2006 homeschool blog in review!