Homeschooling Is Child Abuse : One Proposal to “Tighten Up” Rules

I have sat back and watched this entire tragedy happen right before my very eyes and haven’t had the nerve to speak up about it… until now.

As a parent, you and I have every right to make choices that we see best fit our children. That includes the right to homeschool. My husband and I homeschool our children for a myriad of reasons that will be reserved for another post, but the bottom line is that we should be allowed that right. Ever since this twisted Turpin case has come about, all homeschoolers are under fire. 

Without regard to all of the people that dropped the ball in this particular case, including friends and neighbors who almost called the cops because they suspected something was up with the Turpin family… multiple times, this case is not reflective of homeschooling families as a whole.

Now, while there are cases on record of abuse in homeschooling homes, the percentage is few and far between compared to that of public school abuse. It is estimated that around 10% of students currently in public school have been abused by a teacher or faculty member. That amounts to 4.5 million kids.

But:

“Homeschool is the problem”

Lawmakers have decided that homeschool parents need more “oversight” and that this abuse happened because California has “no rules” governing homeschool. 

Let me give you some FACTS about homeschoolers so that you get a better idea of what our requirements are. 

According to the HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association), California is one of 15 states that require families to file an affidavit with the CA’s Department of Education once a year. In California, each child must attend school or comply with the homeschool laws starting with the school year in which he or she turns 6 by September 1st and ending on the child’s 18th birthday. 

There are a few different ways you can homeschool:

Private School Details: If there is an affidavit filed for a private school, it is required that “private school authorities are responsible for initiating contact with the appropriate local authorities (city and/or county) regarding compliance with ordinances governing health, safety and fire standards, business licensing, and zoning requirements applicable to private schools.” In this Turpin case, all of those boxes were left unchecked.

ALSO- here are the requirements of said private school “teachers”—> 

Umbrella Program Details:

• Your child is enrolled in a public school.
• They go to class in a brick and mortar building 1-2 days a week.
• You are given a curriculum that aligns with public school curriculum.
• Standardized testing. 

Charter Program Details:

• Public schools funded by the government where your child does not have to attend a class, ever.
• Educational funds are used for the curriculum of your CHOICE.
• Required meetings with an assigned and credentialed teacher or ES (Education Specialist) every 20 days with work samples submitted.
• Standardized testing.

With those requirements and details listed; this one appalling case has lead lawmakers to jump to conclusions about homeschooling as a whole.

“I am extremely concerned about the lack of oversight the state of California currently has in monitoring private and home schools.”

-Assemblyman Jose Medina

So because it is assumed that this one horrific case is “commonplace” among other homeschooling families and shows a “disturbing homeschooling pattern”, there is a relatively easy solution:

One particular lawmaker is proposing that states should require forced annual assessments which include a yearly walkthrough of your home, interviewing your children and forced check-ups from an appointed doctor, all completed by a mandatory reporter. This is an attempt at creating at least two opportunities for a trained professional to recognize abuse.

What are your thoughts on this subject?