On February 28, 2008 the Second District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles ruled that all children ages 6 to 18 must attend public or private school full time until they graduate from high school or be tutored by a credentialed teacher. Since there are about 166,000 home schooled children in California this ruling basically means that parents who home school their children must have a state teaching license in order to educate their children.
As a former teacher and school administrator I can appreciate the concern of the state to see that children are properly educated for without an educated citizenry no nation can long survive. What I do not appreciate is the arrogance of a judicial ruling that presupposes the best people to educate children are those with teaching credentials. There is plenty of statistical evidence to prove that home schooled children receive quality education from parents who lack formal credentials given by the state. There is also plenty of statistical evidence that proves the public school system in many cities is woefully inadequate to educate children properly.
In exposing any ruling against parents by judicial activists, I would recommend that parents start naming names and asking specific questions. "Judge Brown, do you think you can educate and rear my child better than I can? Local principal Mr. Smith or Ms. Jones, do you really believe you can impart knowledge and guide my child in life better than I?"
By leaving the rhetoric of discussion in the realm of the abstract such as, "The state has an invested interested in the welfare of its children," etc., the personal touch is lost and so by default individuals who are no different than you or me in ability in certain areas gain the ascendancy in the discussion. Who is to say that my next door neighbor, "Ms. Jane Arrogance" who works for the state, is able to do a better job than I am doing in rearing my child? Parents, in the act of confronting judicial activism make it personal and name names. This alone will change the dynamics of the discussion.
American parents must remember that every child born is a gift of God to the parents, not to the state, i.e. another HUMAN. By arguing over concepts void of personal names the arrogance of judicial activism is enhanced, and that must be arrested. I say again to home schooling parents, fight for your children. Protect them from well meaning but misguided and delusional legal provocateurs who would rob you of your God given possession. Name the individuals by name as often as possible while debating the issues. Home school parents, make it personal because it is very personal. The "state" is nothing more than other individuals no better than you in this matter.
