Attendees at the recent "Keeping the Promise" Dropout Summit, held in Nampa earlier this month, learned that the Health and Welfare Department could not intervene with parents who were keeping their children out of school, because "educational neglect" was not recognized as a category. Fulcher's bill, S1017, remedies that, creating the category "without proper education" and allowing H&W to intervene.
However, Fulcher's bill also adds that a chid who is being "privately instructed at home by his parent or guardian" is considered to be properly educated -- which completely removes any teeth from the bill; a parent charged with not sending their child to school can simply say they're being homeschooled and get let off.
While the majority of parents who homeschool are doing so legitimately, some tell the district their children are being homeschooled without actually doing any instruction. Due to the way Idaho’s homeschooling law is written, any parent can say their child is homeschooled and there is no oversight, said Nick Smith, deputy superintendent as the State Department of Education at the "Keeping the Promise" summit. “Our hands are really tied,” he said. “I receive calls all the time from parents who’ve just moved to Idaho from other states,” where people are asking how to register and get a curriculum. “I have to explain, we don’t have registration, we don’t provide a curriculum, we do not regulate, we don’t oversee the process at all,” he said. “I don’t see any legislation discussed to change that.” Senator Dean Mortimer (R-Idaho Falls), who has served on the Senate Education Committee for two years, agreed, saying there was “no political will in the legislature” on that issue.
During debate on the Senate floor, Fulcher decided to postpone his motion for one legislative day to further discuss the issue with "stakeholders," whom he did not identify.
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Forgive me if I assume here, but it seems the tone of your article indicates disapproval?
ReplyDeleteTo be completely honest, I was homeschooled. I received an excellent education, and have never felt that I could have achieved more through the public school system. (I realize you state that "While the majority of parents who homeschool are doing so legitimately, some tell the district their children are being homeschooled without actually doing any instruction.")
However, in my mind, the core issue at stake in this decision is not whether or not children are receiving a 'complete' education, no matter how that is defined and by whom. The issue at stake is whether or not we, the people, believe it is the government's job to control what and how our children learn.
My personal opinion is this: If, at any time, it becomes the 'duty' of the government to assure education for every single child and to oversee all education, parents will very shortly afterwards cease to have any 'rights' whatsoever to influence or make decisions on what their children are exposed to and what philosophies they are taught.
This may seem a somewhat reactionary statement - but think about it. Are you really willing to relinquish the right to have a say in what your child learns? Are you really willing to give that responsibility away, along with the keys to any control of your child's exposure to teachings and philosophies you disagree with?
I believe the right to teach your child your viewpoint, your religion, and transmit the information you believe to be important for their maturity and survival in the world is not one to be lightly thrown aside.
There will always be problems with any system that does not deny its citizens the right to make choices. But that does not mean that the right to choose should be taken away.
Heidi Blodgett
@punctuatingr
Well spoken @punctuatingr I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDelete@richbreton
Very good point. I wonder how, then, to keep parents from abrogating their responsibility as parents and claiming they're homeschooling their children when in fact they're doing no such thing. Or are you saying there is no way to do that without taking parents' rights away?
ReplyDeleteI suppose the gist of what I'm saying is that it's not really any of the government's business. I realize they have a perceived 'value' in making sure their citizens are educated - or at least educated according to their values and standards - however, this whole argument is footed back in the controversy regarding just how much authority the government should have.
ReplyDeleteMy view, and that of many other Libertarians, is that the purpose of a non-tyrannical government is merely protection of private property. That's it.
So, not to get into a political philosophy debate, but to answer your question - nope. None of their business, and they should have no authority to oversee how parents (or any other citizens!) choose to fulfill their personal responsibilities.
One point I do want to make clear here - I am not saying that it is right for parents to abuse their authority. I am saying that it is not the government's right to interfere. Nor do I think it wrong for colleges and universities to have entrance requirements, as that is their discretion.