This may have been posted before, but was recently sent around on an email list locally. Quoted from: PDF format meeting notes B-75. Home Schooling The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs based on parental choice cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience. When home schooling occurs, students enrolled must meet all state curricular requirements, including the taking and passing of assessments to ensure adequate academic progress. Home schooling should be limited to the children of the immediate family, with all expenses being borne by the parents/guardians. Instruction should be by persons who are licensed by the appropriate state education licensure agency, and a curriculum approved by the state department of education should be used. The Association also believes that home-schooled students should not participate in any extracurricular activities in the public schools. The Association further believes that local public school systems should have the authority to determine grade placement and/or credits earned toward graduation for students entering or re-entering the public school setting from a home school setting. (1988, 2006) I went and skimmed/read parts of the original piece, and remembered seeing this particular quote before, which may have been here?? Emphasis mine: B-47. Sex Education The National Education Association believes that the developing child’s sexuality is continually and inevitably influenced by daily contacts, including experiences in the school environment. The Association recognizes that sensitive sex education can be a positive force in promoting physical, mental, emotional, and social health and that the public school must assume an increasingly important role in providing the instruction. Teachers and health professionals must be qualified to teach in this area and must be legally protected from censorship and lawsuits. 28 The Association urges that formal sex education should include parent/guardian orientation and be planned and implemented with careful attention to developmental needs, appropriateness to community settings and values, and respect for individual differences. The Association also believes that to facilitate the realization of human potential, it is the right of every individual to live in an environment of freely available information and knowledge about sexuality and encourages affiliates and members to support appropriately established sex education programs. Such programs should include information on sexual abstinence, birth control and family planning, diversity of culture, diversity of sexual orientation and gender identification, parenting skills, prenatal care, sexually transmitted diseases, incest, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, homophobia, the effects of substance abuse during pregnancy, and problems associated with and resulting from pre-teen and teenage pregnancies. (1969, 2002) Here's a petition that's been started: The Petition Site
Yes, this is very important, because we want our homeschooled children to be right up there with all of the public schooled children who are all passing all of the state assessments and progressing so well! I am not a big public school basher, but this kind of stuff makes me want to be one. :lol:
Holy cow! They want to talk about incest, too? To a point I can go along with some sex ed--these are the FACTS, etc. But that's a little much!
Oh, it is there. Try this link: http://www.nea.org/annualmeeting/raaction/images/2007-2008Resolutions.pdf I frequently watch bills being introduced, NEA policies, and anything that may have some influence on the legalities and regulations on homeschooling. It's kind of a hobby. What really irritates me is that the NEA constantly oversteps its authority. First of all, homeschooling parents are not employed educators! The NEA is a union for the purpose to improve the quality of jobs for its union members who are teachers employed to educate children. It has no public officials elected to be over education as local BOEs do! Its NEA members are servants to education, not authorities over education. Therefore the NEA does not have, nor should it ever have, any authority over any one or any group of people outside of its membership! With that in mind, they really have NO business whatsoever to have any policy about home education! We don't need more regulation, as being pushed by the NEC--they really need to leave homeschooling alone. They advocate against homeschoolers having access to public schools activities, so they, likewise, need to stay out of ours. Second,... well, you won't find this in their policy per se, but this article speaks for itself. Ohio Teacher Doesn't Have to Pay Union Dues Over Abortion Stance As I said, the NEA constantly oversteps its authority as if it has the right to control all education and moral issues!
It is against the law in Missouri to be a teacher and NOT be a member of the Teacher's Union. I think this is just asinine. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, so I know all too well the intent from which unions were born out of (Andrew Carnegie has his name on half the buildings in town). I can't even fathom how they got to this point. I agree that they have no business interfering in homeschooling since homeschoolers are not members. It doesn't even have logic to it.
That is pretty much how it is here. We have to register. Failure to do so can result in jail time. The department send someone to interview you and look at you curriculum and determine if you are a suitable person and have suitable curriculum. You can't access any ps resoures, extra curricular or otherwise. There are no tax breaks. All educational expenses are borne by the parents. And you can only hs your own kids. But at least we don't have compulsory testing/assessments. sigh.
"When an opponent declares, 'I will not come over to your side.' I calmly say, 'Your child belongs to us already… What are you? You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In a short time they will know nothing else but this new community.'" --Adolph Hitler
That may change because an Ohio teacher's case set a precedent based on First Amendment rights. This is an excerpt from the article I gave a link to above.
Except that she didn't win the right not to pay the dues... she won the right for the dues to be paid to another charity. It's still a victory, but not entirely.
This is why I suggest that people study law. Basically, all children are wards of the state that the state allows you to clothe, feed, and house as long as it does not disapprove with how you do it. However, the point is that the NEA is NOT a government agency, although it acts like it is at times and people think it is at times.
Okay I actually DID study law - that is what I went to college for. And by my comment I was not trying to debate anything. Furthermore I do not agree that my child is a ward of the state - this isn't a point I want to debate with you - it is how I feel and that is that. AND I am aware the NEA is not a government agency but the gov and agencies of any kind be it local state federal whatever seem to stick themselves where some of us feel they do not belong. Period. I was ranting okay????? Geesh! Sometimes people need to chill out.
For the record, I don't think seeking was trying to debate or get on anyone's case. At least, that's not at all the way I read what she wrote. Then again, I've been wrong before . Legally speaking, my children can be claimed as government wards at any moment, without warning, and it can rarely be fought... successfully (at least in Missouri). It's scary, really. Knowing that, I'd be inclined to agree with the idea that I am only allowed to raise my children as I see fit as long as the government allows me to do so.
Okay. I am glad to hear it. I point out these distinctions because, most people, including most homeschooling parents that I personally know, are not aware of these distinctions. I am cool with what you are saying. I am just concerned about ignorance in regards to the law and how government functions.
Yeah, well. It is not a perfect world. Still, that they do not get access to the money and that other teachers are following suit makes me all tingling!
