"Dangerous?"

According to the Herald, there's been some legal changes changes for homeschooling families in Pennsylvania, and homeschoolers in Washington State should "read all about it," especially if you are a homeschooling who has never felt the pinch of going against the flow of what is commonly called, called "public education."  This article does an excellent job of pointing out the value and validity of the educational choice called independent homeschooling, or as our law refer to it, home based education.  It reminds us of  the precious freedoms we in Washington already enjoy to homeschool while Pennsylvanians, jump through a lot of hoops to do it and are still having to take legal stands to make it happen. Pennsylvania homeschool parents, with the recent passing of House Bill 1013, are experiencing freedom.  

No longer do they have to undergo the public school superintendent’s review of their child's individual portfolio at the end of each school year.  Also, they can now issue their children a homeschool diploma instead of being required to obtain a diploma from a "certified" diploma issuing organization, which can be costly.  It's great news... right?  Yes it is! But, you have to understand....  not everyone likes parents having this freedom. 

Officials from the Albert Gallatin Area School District,are quoted as saying, “It’s very difficult to say that the diploma has the same value, or merit, when issued by a parent, when the criteria aren’t clear,” ( this was the assistant superintendent for the district.)  There is also a quote of Gary Serock, "homeschooling coordinator" and "attendance director for the Albert Gallatin Area School District." He's not in favor of the change.  He says,, "It’s “dangerous” to allow a parent to give his child a diploma."

Dangerous?  

  Synonymsto "dangerous" are words like, "hazardous," "menacing," "threatening," "treacherous."  The word means "involving possibly harm or death."  Dangerous to whom or what?



Everyone knows that good parents have their child's best interest and success in life at heart.  They will make sure their kids are learning what they need to succeed.The onlyy thing in danger is his job as "attendance director" or "homeschool  coordinator" at the school.  Even in WA we have laws governing homeschooling that must be complied with and these arein place because of the collaboration of lawmakers, parents and school personnel... for the benefit of the children's education.... not to protect someone's governmental job.

Dr. William Edmonds, Dean of Admissions at California University of Pennsylvania, is also quoted in the article in support of the things that homeschooling families have done.  He says that home-schooled students have performed very well at the school  In fact, the article reports that "twenty-six home-schooled students entered Cal U of PA in the fall of 2013, and 21 entered the university in the fall of 2014. In reviewing their coursework, grades, standardized test scores, and their overall high school experience, Edmonds said the students performed very well before college and are also performing well at the university. 

Dr. Edmonds also said that homeschooled students go through the same review process to enter school as every other student..  The school reviews transcripts, GPA and SAT score as well as things the individual studies of the students in subjects like English, Mathematics, Science, and Art.  He is quoted as saying,“I remember one home-schooled student in particular who entered Cal U with a 4.0, and a SAT score of 1410,” He added, “She also graduated from Cal U with a 4.0. We’re pleased. We welcome home-schooled students and we wish them best.”

 Besides the fact the the article demonstrates more "proof"  that homeschooling works well in the educating of some of America's children, there are a couple of other specific things that this article sheds light on for us in Spokane.  One, is that when concerned citizens write or call their legislators it does make a difference.  It reminds us to never hesitate to write your legislators in support of home based education.

We also see that Pennsylvania homeschool families have formed their own support groups. They meet occasionally to do fun things with a group of kids.  /This is another reminder, to be active in the homeschooling community by being a part of local homeschool cooperatives and support groups too, or start your own!  Always help support our state homeschool groups like WHO, (the Washington Homeschool Organization,) homeschool lobbyists, like  CHNOW (Christian Homeschoolers Network of Washington,) and our national homeschool organization, HSLDA, (the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.)  And remember, that there is a clear distinction of between home based education (homeschooling) and publically funded "school-at-home" programs offered through the district offices.  Don't take parental rights,  homeschooling freedoms or responsibilities for granted.

Many a homeschooler has given their child a quality education without being under the direct oversight of the local public school. It has been being done even long before there were even public schools.  Even in the public eduction system, the parent's support of the child and their involvement in their child's education is what often makes or breaks sucessful schooling.  The best public schools employ public servants who work for the benefit of children, educating them to be the best they can be as they grow, but some people simply view public school is a means of promoting their own agendas of careers or philosophy. even simply a means of securing themselves a rather lucrative kind of job.  Neither parenting, nor homeschooling, is something that you'll find people doing for the money.

Lastly, the article serves as a good reminder to be vigilant to do our best at what we do as homeschoolers, to encourage one another and even pool our resources together too; for there are those who disapprove of parents overseeing the education of their own children and would like to stop them from doing what they dare to do.  There are some who also dislike the concept of private schools.  This is because there are those who think they know better, (always,) than you do for your own kids and some of them will even label you awful things, like "dangerous" if you make the decision to use your freedom to choose something besides public education to school your kids.

Read the article referred to here in the Herald-Standard, Jan 12, 2015
(Be sure to watch the video news report too!)

A quote, from Thomas Jefferson, one of the founders of our US of A:

"I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery"   

See: montecello.org

Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem"  

 It has also been translated as, "I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.")