Parents arrested for failure to register homeschooled kids

[PotterWatch]

Quote:
As an unschooler, I realize that it seems crazy at first (I thought so myself when I first heard of it). Although it sounds as if the kids are allowed to just run around playing video games or doing whatever they want, but there really is thought and planning on the part of the parent. I fully expect my kids to be able to get and hold down a job despite the lack of curriculum. I know several unschooled kids who are are grown now and doing quite well even though they didn't go to school or even have a more scheduled homeschool experience.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Please stay on the topic as indicated in the original post. The original intent of this thread was not to debate "to homeschool vs. not to homeschool." Those kinds of conversations seem to get heated quickly.

 

[The Poultry Peanut]

FONDA -- A Montgomery County couple has been arrested on child endangerment charges for failing to register their children with the school district as they were home-schooled, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said Monday

You've got to be kidding me. Child ENDANGERMENT charges?!?...

 

[PineappleMama]

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Well, I imagine that could be answered by finding out who notified the media. If the district did, then they want everyone to know that this is what happens to people who flake out on paperwork. If it was the parents, then they wanted everyone to know that they were being targeted (unfairly?). Of course, journalists don't reveal their stool pigeons so we never know who set the ball rolling... or why. *shrug*

Regs wise. I KNOW that I do not have the discipline or patience to be a teacher. That's why I'm not one. I know that a trained, educated teacher would do a much better job than I could, so HS wasn't even a consideration for us. But, others don't take the time to really think about what all is going to be required. It's not just handing the kid a workbook. It's much much more. For those that get in over their heads the standardized tests/help from the district can be a way to correct things (either by helping find the right tools or by transferring into public/private school) before the child gets too far behind. It is for those (I think a small number in the total of HSers) that regs. like this are in place. For the other ?% that are doing fabulous it's an annoyance, but mostly a minor one to ensure that they get to give their child the best education they can. I've got nothing but respect for the parents who HS, it's a HUGE job. And those HSers I've talked too are way ahead of students in public schools... granted I've not spoken to many, maybe 20 or so... but each and every one was excelling so there's no way I'd knock it.

 

[AngieChick]

We have to register annually and the kids need to be tested every couple of years. There was just a notice on my local homeschool network that the county knocked on a couple of family's doors to remind them to get their paperwork in. A certified letter followed stating that they needed to get the paperwork in within 10 days or face truancy charges. They drove the paperwork over that day and got a receipt.

I consider the visit and certified letter as fair warning to comply with the law. If it went straight to charges without proper notification, then yes it would be a total overreaction.

 

[PineappleMama]

Quote:
I would agree, IF it was a new law. (IE recent changed to booster seat laws were 'enacted' back in Sept.... but warnings will be issued until June so there is plenty of time for word to be spread.) But this is a rule that was in place when they moved there, with a school age child. They ignored it for seven YEARS. Not didn't know, they admit to knowing, they just didn't feel like doing it. For cases where that's the case then straight to citation works for me, but I still say it shouldn't be endangerment... that's idiotic and extremist over a bit of paperwork. With the citation, if they can prove they didn't know (IE if only moved in a week ago) then they could talk to the judge. Otherwise, admit you did wrong, face the consequences and change the behavior... just like you'd want your children to do when they do something wrong.

When mine do something... IE running through the house and end up breaking something and say sorry... I tell them... "If you are truly sorry then you'll STOP DOING IT!"

Edit... Should NOT... not Should... oy... I need caffeine.

 

[Prettiest Frog]

Quote:
Minor correction - SOME homeschooled children continue to excel. Not all. In some areas, not even most. Some. Likewise, some homeschooled children in those states never actually learn to read.

I don't feel my kids need to be taught an "approved" curriculum or do standardized testing because, as you said, they are individuals and their learning curve will reflect that individuality.

Hopefully, you are teaching your kids to be well-rounded. Not all parents are and thus their children arrive at college woefully unprepared for general ed classes. For example, if my sister were to choose to homeschool, her kids would have perfect grammar, excellent spelling, a deep knowledge of world history, an extremely basic understanding of botany, a lot of misinformation on biology, and if they are lucky, they might know their multiplication tables.

If my half-brother homeschooled, his kids would know how to open a beer, clean the house, and stay out of daddy's way. They might pick up the alphabet from Sesame Street, if they keep the volume down fairly low and only watch in the living room. His reason for homeschooling would amount to 'too lazy to fill out the school forms and drive them everyday, besides, I never graduated high school and I manage'.

You personally are not an ignorant parent, but there are completely ignorant people out there who choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons. For example, I know a man who is a geo-centrist. He will not allow his children to attend public school because he doesn't want them taught 'lies'. I feel for those kids, and frankly, I think what he is doing to them does qualify as child endangerment as those kids are not gaining any skills to deal with the real world and are being taught a decidedly warped and outright fictitious view of reality. The fact that this guy is a racist and colors his teachings of biology and history in that manner really doesn't help.

That's the reason for the approved curriculum and the standardized testing. It may be the only chance those kids have at being able to survive their first encounter with the real world.


Teachers pick up a lot of abuse. Sadly, there are people who choose to home school because they want to be fully in control of their children's lives or don't want to get caught molesting their kids. Not a lot of people, but some. Registering and the occasional test and check up is the only chance the system has of catching the abuse, which is probably why a red flag got raised in this instance. It was probably assumed the parents in question didn't register because they had something to hide, and sadly, it's a fair enough assumption.

The registering, approved curriculum, and standardized testing may be an inconvenience, but when you look at the reasons they exist, well, that inconvenience starts to seem a bit of a trifle.

Let's face it, you are welcome to add whatever you wish to the approved curriculum, and a smart kid can get through the entire curriculum by 4th grade anyway. I wasn't home schooled, and I was reading at a college level in 3rd grade.



For the record - I have nothing against homeschoolers, and have considered doing such myself. I'm just pointing out why the laws exist and why the authorities reacted the way they did. We here at BYC are all perfect, but the rest of the world sadly lags behind.​

 

[rainplace]

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[PurpleChicken]

Seems to me like the system and the news station sensationalized this a bit.

Whether you believe in homeschooling and/or registration is proper it seems this never should have made it to a news agency, especially since it the curriculum was so quickly accepted. Now these people have to deal with the rumors, here-say, and permanent stories on the net.



For the record none of my children will ever be part of our public school system, at least until college level. That's not a gripe against the thousands of WONDERFUL public school teachers, it's a gripe against the systems, curriculums and the unfortunates with incompetent parents they would have to sit next to in class.

 

[PineappleMama]

Exactly. Seems like, and I could be way off, but aren't there rules (privacy laws?) that make it where schools can't call up the news and discuss a students school records? Seems like if these children were under district supervision that they'd get the same protection (again, IF it exists) as any other student.

That is one thing that chaps me about the "unnamed sources"... they blatantly break the law by disclosing such things, then totally get away with it because the journalist cares more about their career being advance by walking over others rights than about upholding the law. I'm all for free speech, but I shouldn't have to worry that a teacher/administrator is going to relay my private and protected by law information to anyone they want. Sorry, sort of off topic, but I am curious about those laws. Around here it's a big thing. With the PTA for instance. Parents who want to volunteer fill out a form with the District, a background check is run, and if you're approved your name (and only your name) is available for the PTA to verify. Even with that though, unless you have specifically filled out a form stating that you want to be contacted, and include your preferred method -phone,address,email- then the PTA cannot contact you in any way for any reason. The only way they can notify you of upcoming thingies is with flyers sent home to all students announcing events. And under NO circumstances can a teacher/staff give the PTA the contact info for ANY student or parent... ever. Maybe that's just a Texas thing?? But seems to me that if there's that much protection of information, that calling the media and discussing a child's attendance, curriculum, names, and pass/fail of testing/grading would be a major No No!! If I was the Super I'd very much like to know who on my staff did it (could at least narrow to which office) if nothing else to prevent a lawsuit!!

This may be totally moot in this case. Could have been the parents that did it. But there've been other instances where 'sources' leaked things like this and I think it's just sick of them to get their gossip dose of the day by hurting innocent children... for any person to do so is sick, but for an educator... someone who supposedly cares, who dedicated their career to children... just a new level of wrong.