I cannot say I have ever seen as much conversation about homeschooling as I have this past month. It started, of course, with the California verdict declaring homeschooling without credentials illegal.
This ruling has been followed with a literal flood of articles, opinion, and comments. While the majority of the articles are positive toward homeschooling and parents rights, the comments are brutal, critical, and often immature. I have personally been trying to ignore the bru-ha-ha, but decided to speak up because I feel that the California verdict has affected the views of many towards homeschooling… in a bad way. I want to know what readers think (but all comments must be mature).
Here are some of the online arguments that have popped up in the last few weeks.
One public school teacher spelled out her path to becoming a teacher. It included a bachelor’s degree, State Test, 50 hours of classroom observation, taking a credential program for 30 graduate units, pass more tests, and proving competency. She followed the statement with “Then have some people on message boards insult all of your efforts.”
I saw no insults on the boards specifically towards teachers. This is why homeschoolers and many public school teachers do not get along. They take our decision to homeschool personally.
Some see this as a fight for the future of public schools. They feel that homeschooling is a danger to the current state of public education.
Is that a bad thing?
Another comment addresses the exceptions to the case of abused and neglected children whose parents only claim to homeschool them.
Credentialed adults abuse kids all the time. Just read the New York Times Education Section and you’ll see. Nevertheless, since a case of abuse is what brought up this elevated level of buzz in the first place, I would like to ask you, the public a few questions.
The basic gist of the current homeschool complaints is that the non-homeschooling public seems adamant that there should credential requirements for homeschooling parents. Is there a consensus on this?
Do you feel this way?
If so, then why?
Please leave your answer in the comments section.
*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.
*Words a homeschooler Should Know