Judge orders homeschoolers into government education

[Babs]

WND Exclusive

Court: Family's religious beliefs 'no evidence' of 1st Amendment violation
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Posted: February 29, 2008
3:24 pm Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2008 WorldNetDaily

A California court has ruled that several children in one homeschool family must be enrolled in a public school or "legally qualified" private school, and must attend, sending ripples of shock into the nation's homeschooling advocates as the family reviews its options for appeal.

The ruling came in a case brought against Phillip and Mary Long over the education being provided to two of their eight children. They are considering an appeal to the state Supreme Court, because they have homeschooled all of their children, the oldest now 29, because of various anti-Christian influences in California's public schools.

The decision from the 2nd Appellate Court in Los Angeles granted a special petition brought by lawyers appointed to represent the two youngest children after the family's homeschooling was brought to the attention of child advocates.

"We find no reason to strike down the Legislature's evaluation of what constitutes an adequate education scheme sufficient to promote the 'general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence,'" the court said in the case. "We agree ... 'the educational program of the State of California was designed to promote the general welfare of all the people and was not designed to accommodate the personal ideas of any individual in the field of education.'"

The words echo the ideas of officials from Germany, where homeschooling has been outlawed since 1938 under a law adopted when Adolf Hitler decided he wanted the state, and no one else, to control the minds of the nation's youth.

Wolfgang Drautz, consul general for the Federal Republic of Germany, has said "school teaches not only knowledge but also social conduct, encourages dialogue among people of different beliefs and cultures, and helps students to become responsible citizens."

Specifically, the appeals court said, the trial court had found that "keeping the children at home deprived them of situations where (1) they could interact with people outside the family, (2) there are people who could provide help if something is amiss in the children's lives, and (3) they could develop emotionally in a broader world than the parents' 'cloistered' setting."

The appeals ruling said California law requires "persons between the ages of six and 18" to be in school, "the public full-time day school," with exemptions being allowed for those in a "private full-time day school" or those "instructed by a tutor who holds a valid state teaching credential for the grade being taught."

The judges ruled in the case involving the Longs the family failed to demonstrate "that mother has a teaching credential such that the children can be said to be receiving an education from a credentialed tutor," and that their involvement and supervision by Sunland Christian School's independent study programs was of no value.

Nor did the family's religious beliefs matter to the court.

Their "sincerely held religious beliefs" are "not the quality of evidence that permits us to say that application of California's compulsory public school education law to them violates their First Amendment rights."

"Such sparse representations are too easily asserted by any parent who wishes to homeschool his or her child," the court concluded.

The father, Phillip Long, said the family is working on ways to appeal to the state Supreme Court, because he won't allow the pro-homosexual, pro-bisexual, pro-transgender agenda of California's public schools, on which WND previously has reported, to indoctrinate his children.

"We just don't want them teaching our children," he told WND. "They teach things that are totally contrary to what we believe. They put questions in our children's minds we don't feel they're ready for.

"When they are much more mature, they can deal with these issues, alternative lifestyles, and such, or whether they came from primordial slop. At the present time it's my job to teach them the correct way of thinking," he said.

"We're going to appeal. We have to. I don't want to put my children in a public school system that teaches ideologies I don't believe in," he said.

A spokesman for the Home School Legal Defense Association, one of the world's premiere homeschooling advocacy organizations, said the group's experts were analyzing the impact of the decision.

"It's a very unfortunate decision," he said.

Randy Thomasson, of Campaign for Children and Families, said under California law parents have the legal right to create a private school in their home and enroll their own children.

"Children belong to the parents, not to the state," he said. But he acknowledged that there's a great deal of misinformation about the status of homeschooling in California.

"For years the government school establishment has been lying to parents about the law. Just this week, a Los Angeles Unified school district employee lied to a mother who wanted to homeschool, telling her you must have a license, you must be credentialed and you must follow all the state curriculum. That's three lies in one sentence."

"Now we have judges going crazy and actively separating children from their parents."

A legal outline for parents' homeschool rights in California, published by Family Protection Ministries, confirmed Thomasson's description.

The state's legal options for home educators include establishing a private school in their home by filing a private school affidavit with state regulators or enrolling in private school satellite instruction programs or independent study programs, it said.

The Long family had been involved in such a program with Sunland Christian School, but the appeals court took the extraordinary step of banning the family from being involved in that organization any longer, since it was "willing to participate in the deprivation of the children's right to a legal education."

A number of groups already have assembled in California under the Rescue Your Child slogan to encourage parents to withdraw their children from the state's public school system.

It's because the California Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger worked together to establish Senate Bill 777 and Assembly Bill 394 as law, plans that institutionalize the promotion of homosexuality, bisexuality, transgenderism and other alternative lifestyle choices.

"First, [California] law allowed public schools to voluntarily promote homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality. Then, the law required public schools to accept homosexual, bisexual and transsexual teachers as role models for impressionable children. Now, the law has been changed to effectively require the positive portrayal of homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality to 6 million children in California government-controlled schools," said Thomasson.

Even insiders joined in the call for an abandonment of California's public districts. Veteran public school teacher Nadine Williams of Torrance said the sexual indoctrination laws have motivated her to keep her grandchildren out of the very public schools she used to support.

The Discover Christian Schools website reports getting thousands of hits daily from parents and others seeking information about alternatives to California's public schools.

WND reported leaders of the campaign called California Exodus say they hope to encourage parents of 600,000 children to withdraw them from the public districts this year.

The new law itself technically bans in any school texts, events, class or activities any discriminatory bias against those who have chosen alternative sexual lifestyles, said Meredith Turney, legislative liaison for Capitol Resource Institute.

There are no similar protections for students with traditional or conservative lifestyles and beliefs, however. Offenders will face the wrath of the state Department of Education, up to and including lawsuits.

"SB 777 will result in reverse discrimination against students with religious and traditional family values. These students have lost their voice as the direct result of Gov. Schwarzenegger's unbelievable decision. The terms 'mom and dad' or 'husband and wife' could promote discrimination against homosexuals if a same-sex couple is not also featured," she said.

Karen England, chief of CRI, told WND that the law is not a list of banned words, including "mom" and "dad." But she said the requirement is that the law bans discriminatory bias and the effect will be to ban such terminology.

"Having 'mom' and 'dad' promotes a discriminatory bias. You have to either get rid of 'mom' and 'dad' or include everything when talking about [parental issues]," she said. "They [promoters of sexual alternative lifestyles] do consider that discriminatory."

The California plan still is facing a court challenge on its constitutionality and a possible vote of the people of California if an initiative effort succeeds

source

[SippinTea]

You already know my first thought, I'm sure: 

If those were my kids, I'd be moving to another state right now.

California has a long history of making it hard for homeschoolers, and unfortunately, the Long family does not hold a membership with the Homeschool Legal Defense Association. HSLDA is trying to step in and bridge the gap at the moment, but of course it's 'iffy' whether or not it's too late to do any good.

If anyone from GP wants to take a stand for homeschoolers, you can sign the web petition from HSLDA here: http://www.hslda.org/

Ruby

[Niki]

I agree, SippinTea, about them needing to move. That was my first thought. They need to get out of California.

[sunlight]

dude...

[Sis]

This is really scary. First California but it spreads. I know that most homeschoolers are networked. They home school but get together with other homeschoolers in their various cities to go on field trips and other trips, picnics, etc.

These people make it sound like the kids are held hostage in their homes and don't go out at all. They interact with kids in the neighborhood, they go to church, usually, they get together with other homeschoolers.

The homeschoolers on the average test way higher than schooled children, have better manners and respect others than public schooled children.

What's the problem? They want to teach kids to "think for themselves" meaning trying to get them away from Judeo-Christian principles. Government-controlled kids. If they don't think like their parents, they will be easier to control.  There is a long-reaching reason for public schools to be dumbing down education every generation. The government can't control people who are really well educated.

[Chinadoll]

Yeah, I'm concerned.

Being in a private school where several of our kids were homeschooled because of the Mormon-biased curriculum in the public schools and more of this (yeah, Western US)...

What next?   Ban Christian schools?

Nai

[SippinTea]

This is really scary. First California but it spreads. I know that most homeschoolers are networked. They home school but get together with other homeschoolers in their various cities to go on field trips and other trips, picnics, etc.

These people make it sound like the kids are held hostage in their homes and don't go out at all. They interact with kids in the neighborhood, they go to church, usually, they get together with other homeschoolers.

The homeschoolers on the average test way higher than schooled children, have better manners and respect others than public schooled children.

What's the problem? They want to teach kids to "think for themselves" meaning trying to get them away from Judeo-Christian principles. Government-controlled kids. If they don't think like their parents, they will be easier to control.  There is a long-reaching reason for public schools to be dumbing down education every generation. The government can't control people who are really well educated.

Exactly.

The thing is: the whole idea of teaching kids to "think for themselves" is a firm belief of the homeschoolers my family networks with. It's the public school students I know that have a hard time thinking outside the box, and think homeschoolers are 'weird' for trying to break the mold.

I don't want my (future) kids having a government-controlled pre-programmed mind thankyouverymuch.

*mumbles* Where's B when ya need him? He's much more persuasive in an argument than I am.

[Sis]

The schools use "teach them to think for themselevs" but they're telling them what to think and it's not the same as their parents, so the kids THINK they're thinking for themsleves. It's long, boring, and scary as everything. One reason I quit the school system and went to museum education.

[Nelle]

I plan on putting my children in public schools (if I'm still around this area) because I know the quality of education I got in the school I attended.

I still believe I have the right to put my child in whatever type of school that meets their need. The government shouldn't be allowed to take that part away from me..

[gabbtastic]

i dont have much faith in homeschooling..... from personal experience most the parents dont actually teach their kids and the kids just get off not doing school work. i also think school teaches social behavior that cant be effectively taught by a parent, its something we have to learn as children with other children..... i know there are like special program for homeschooling parents where they all hang out with their children and i guess thats ok? i dont like homeschooling but i guess it works for some ppl although u can always tell the kids who have been homeschooled lol

[Babs]

both my sons were homeschooled, and when they did their college exams they both tested out about 6 years ahead of their age groups.

i have seen good and bad in homeschooling.

i am not against public school or for it. just bothers me to see our choice being threatened to be taken away.

[gabbtastic]

i agree tho.... i mean if the parents can provide proof that they are actually schooling their children then whatevs i dont see why they shouldnt get to choose
and like i said it was thru my personal experience lol im sure there are good homeschooling parents out there i just dont know them

[Babs]

our area is a very big homeschooling area, the homeschool association is really large and the boys loved it.

we had field trips, bowling, skating, all kinds of activities. the association in the area we were in met every friday for activities.

being in the association was and is a good thing, gives you contact with other homeschoolers and families, and you can get good physical activities and all. plus your children dont feel so secluded

if i had children right now i would homeschool from day one, no question.

[Sis]

i dont have much faith in homeschooling..... from personal experience most the parents dont actually teach their kids and the kids just get off not doing school work. i also think school teaches social behavior that cant be effectively taught by a parent, its something we have to learn as children with other children..... i know there are like special program for homeschooling parents where they all hang out with their children and i guess thats ok? i dont like homeschooling but i guess it works for some ppl although u can always tell the kids who have been homeschooled lol

Um when the public schools talk about socializing, they mean socialist. Not getting along with others.

Most home school parents have their kids do the work. Home schooled kids have to take the standardized tests just like any other kid in the system. At least I have never met a home school parent that lets their kids goof off. I know a couple hundred of them. Some from work and some from churches.

Home schooled kids get up early, get most of their work done by noon, and they can get some fresh air during the day instead of sitting inside, or they go on their field trips, or do things with their parents.

The behavior coming from home schooled kids is usually better than public schooled kids. The behavior they learn there in many cases, like in large cities, is drugs, goofing off, skipping classes, making out in the hallways, etc. Even the better schools back home are full of kids that want to go to private schools becuse of the "drug behavior" of the kids in public schools.

It's something that people tell each other that the kids are cut off from anyone else by home schooling. That they don't learn skills when they learn at home, That's total bunk. Actually they learn MORE social skills because the public schools don't teach social skills, and these days with the laid back manner of teachers, and nothing being right or wrong, they behave pretty much like they please and nobody says much about it. Every time I had to go to a school to teach a lesson, from the museum, the kids behaved horribly. When they were in the museum I had control, but they would mouth off at the school and talk back, yawn, act bored, file their nails, or whatever they wanted and the teachers didn't say word one to them.

It's not a "special program" where they all hang out. They are networked. The families that homeschool get together. Sometimes when one family is having problems teaching something, they go to another family's house and get tutoring from the other teachers. Or if they're all on the same lesson, they get together a couple at a time and study together, or go to the library. They don't always get together in large groups to go to museums, etc. They KNOW each other, count on each other befriend each other. Again, they play with the kids in the neighborhoods, and at church.

I can tell home schooled kids, too. They're better behaved, and much more intelligent that public school kids.

[Ashlee]

Ok, things like this really tick me off.  People who don't know what they are talking about are just trying to interfere in other peoples lives.

Wolfgang Drautz, consul general for the Federal Republic of Germany, has said "school teaches not only knowledge but also social conduct, encourages dialogue among people of different beliefs and cultures, and helps students to become responsible citizens."

Specifically, the appeals court said, the trial court had found that "keeping the children at home deprived them of situations where (1) they could interact with people outside the family, (2) there are people who could provide help if something is amiss in the children's lives, and (3) they could develop emotionally in a broader world than the parents' 'cloistered' setting."

These are the excuses used by every ignorant person against homeschooling.  If you've never tried it, you don't know.  I was homeschooled for the last two years of high school.  In those two years, I worked harder and learned more than all my years in school.  I loved learning.  I was also more socially involved than ever before.  I was in different homeschooling clubs, and also clubs like 4-H where I could be around kids from public school too. There, I met people with other beliefs and cultures, and became friends with them.  I also had plenty of leaders around me that I could trust with any concerns I had at home.  In one of the clubs, we adopted a highway, went to visit the elderly in the nursing homes, and also cleaned up and repainted the bridges in the park.  I still think of that every time I go there.  I was over the community service committee.  There is soooo much more i want to say, but I'll hush now and get back to my shopping.

[Ashlee]

i dont have much faith in homeschooling..... from personal experience most the parents dont actually teach their kids and the kids just get off not doing school work. i also think school teaches social behavior that cant be effectively taught by a parent, its something we have to learn as children with other children..... i know there are like special program for homeschooling parents where they all hang out with their children and i guess thats ok? i dont like homeschooling but i guess it works for some ppl although u can always tell the kids who have been homeschooled lol

Yes, I do admit there are some parents who do not homeschool correctly.  However, working it the public school system, I have seen children who fail because of lack of parent involvement.  I also see children who have troubles so bad at home that they can't/won't try.  I also see some who have appearingly perfect lives, but still refuse to try.  In the school system, a child may do alright if they had a little one on one. However, because most teachers in the public school system care more about disciplining the children than teaching them, or because the teacher:child ratio is waaayy off, or....whatever, there are a lot of children who slip through the cracks in the public school system.

Tell me, what's the difference?

Edit:

Oh, and about that, you can always tell the kids who have been homeschooled?  Yes, you can.  They are generally the ones making 4.0's in college and the ones that their professors have a hard time challenging.  Their social and verbal skills are far greater than those in public school.  I don't know about where you come from, but here the children who were homeschooled are held in high regard.

[Babs]

exactly!

[apsurf]

Why do we have to focus so much on disciplining children in the public schools? because alot of parents won't or just leave it up to the teacher.  I have taught in the public schools, and several experiences were bad.  But many were also good. I was in a public school all my life.  Sometimes the teacher is so streached out that they can't always give the attention that each child needs.   But frankly in this day and time, many parents and kids just don't care, so it isn't the teachers fault in every case.
As for my kids(IF I ever have any) , I would rather homeschool, but I am not afraid to place them in public schools, in fact I know several private christian schools (including one I worked at) that my children would never set foot in at all.

[SippinTea]

Sis--That was one awesome post!  I'd start quoting, but I'd just end up quoting the whole thing. LOL

TotL--I agree wholeheartedly. I do know several families that use the label 'homeschoolers' as something to hide behind, and don't teach their children adequately (at all??). That is NOT homeschooling, anymore than someone who lightly claims to believe in a higher power is now suddenly a Christian. Those are the families that hurt real homeschoolers by giving us a bad name.

Brandon--I have a number of good friends that teach in public schools, and I'm certainly not blaming them for children's bad behavior. I hope I didn't come across that way. You're absolutely right--it's the parents responsibility to teach self-discipline and good behavior at home. And the fact you pointed out about teachers being stretched out between too many kids is exactly one of my issues with that type of schooling. It's an impossibility for one teacher with a classroom full of kids to give the attention that each child would want/need. But that certainly isn't the teachers fault. Anyone brave enough to teach in a public school classroom has my respect. I apologize if anything I said made it sound differently.

[Sis]

It's simple, Brandon. If a teacher has no control over his/her classroom he/she is totally ineffective.

[Nerd]

Whoooo...

Weeell, I plan to homeschool my kids. Somebody else said it pretty good.

I don't want my (future) kids having a government-controlled pre-programmed mind thankyouverymuch.

[JakeLeonard]

I agree, SippinTea, about them needing to move. That was my first thought. They need to get out of California.

***in worst Arnold Schwarznegger mimic***"The state of California has no comment. Arnold will quash down any opposition. Anyone who rejects this ruling is an educational girlie man."

Let's see if he makes a dumb comment like I mimicked.

[Backseat Radio]

My parents wanted to put my brother and I in a private Christian school but the year I started kingergarten all of the UPC based schools in the area closed down.  We ended up in public school because mom didn't have the quality of education to feel comfortable doing home schooling.

Personally I think its up to the parents to check out the schooling options in their area and pick whats best for their children.  Any direction you go theres good and bad.

I know of a case where a young person was pulled out of public school and put into "homeschooling' because the parent wanted absolute control.  The gal was getting into the apostolic faith and the parent didn't want that and used "Homeschool" as a ploy to pretty much imprison the gal at home since they lived in the country and she didn't have a drivers liscence.  I also have a cousin who was pulled from public school and put in home school and as far as I know she's never finished her education.

Because of those two cases I have a bad taste for homeschooling.

[Sis]

They may have quit public school, eventually, too. If they don't want to get an education, it doesn't matter what kind of schooling you are involved in. My daughter was in public school and refused to do the work. Half the time she refused to go. She was stubborn, refused to listen to me or anyone else. Nothing I could do. Being in public school doesn't guarantee they will complete school.

[SippinTea]

Whoooo...

Weeell, I plan to homeschool my kids. Somebody else said it pretty good.

I don't want my (future) kids having a government-controlled pre-programmed mind thankyouverymuch.

Personally I think its up to the parents to check out the schooling options in their area and pick whats best for their children.  Any direction you go theres good and bad.

Right.