I hope someone can help me. I actually do not do homeschool but someone I know does -- actually doesn't but says she does. My dilemma is this. This person has several children that aren't getting an education at all. Who can I contact to report this? Someone else I used to know only turned in a curriculum and attendance report but didn't have to prove the children were educated although I know they were. This other person I'm talking about is most definitely NOT teaching her children anything. They do nothing but play all day. I am very concerned about the education of these children.
In general I would say it is very likely that you don't see every single thing the people do every day. It you saw my house from the outside you might decide that all my son does is play all day. Having grown up home schooled and home schooling my son, home schooling looks an awful lot like playing all day. Look at it this way, it could be worse, they could be in public school
It's not your place to be concerned about these children's education. They are not YOUR children. Most children will learn more through play than they will sitting in a classroom! Let the parents be the parents.
Before you turn someone in, you would be wise to know the laws in your state. My state has no requirements for reporting to the state, curriculum approval or testing of any kind. It is a huge matter to report someone to authorities when children are concerned. You had better be very sure that your accusations are worth having children potentially stripped from their parents' arms until human services can make a determination, which can takes months. I don't believe your thoughts on the children's education is worth that, do you? If it appears they are playing all day in a happy home, my advice is to stop dwelling on what you believe should take place in their home and let them live their life in peace.
If this is truly legitamate I would contact HSLDA and have them check into it first. They are here to protect homeschoolers so they can investigate to make sure that the children are being educated. Turning someone in is a very serious accusation and should not be taken lightly. As others have said what we see on the outside is not always what is happening behind closed doors. My neighbors see us going out almost everyday but do they know that we are going for piano lessons, hockey practice, gym class, etc... probably not. You can go do HSLDA (homeschool legal defense association) website and get their number.
I'm not sure HSLDA does, but I can't say for sure it doesn't. Even if they don't, I'm sure they would tell you the best way to proceed.
That's more of what I was thinking as a way of proceeding. This is such a serious situation that getting social services or other legal authorities involved could really damage a family. At least HSLDA would be the ones to represent a family if a case were to be brought about so I'm sure that they would like to be notified before things got out of hand. Like Jackie said I'm sure that they would then tell you how to proceed.
First and foremost before you turn anyone in for something that you feel is occuring, be sure you know what you are talking about. Know the homeschool laws. I knew a school board member who was nothing more than a trouble making old bitty who thought she could burn down a legitimate homeschool family because every morning at 10am she saw them playing outside. I told her that was about the time the ps had recess and PERHAPS those kids were on recess also. She didn't have a comment. She was only concerned about seeking revenge on this family because she did not agree with homeschooling. If the state does not have specific laws, there is really nothing you can do. Be sure you have thought about what your accusations could do to this family before opening pandora's box.
My inlaws were concerned that I wasn't actually homeschooling my DS because when they came over I would talk to them and allow him to play with his legos or some other form of creative activity. I figured we could count that time as recess, or art. That or he could read a book. How was I to teach at the same time as visit with them. We made up the time in the evening. Or on the weekend. DS was more than willing to do this, since it meant that he was actually able to visit with his grandparents some. They saw no schoolwork being done when they were there and just assumed the worst. So now I tell them they will have to sit in the livingroom while we continue lessons if they choose to visit during his school hours. Harsh, but they were the ones that were uncompromising first. Maybe you see the same as them. It is hard to teach when you are visiting with someone. I figure we don't have set days in which to do this. As long as the hours are accounted for I can go all summer long to catch up. Not that I want to, but the freedom to do so is there.
When we were homeschooling DS, he spent a great deal of time outside, investigating nature. We had to endure the occasional snide comment about him not ever doing any schoolwork, but these people didn't see how much time we spent on book lessons in the evenings, after I got home from work, or in the earlier part of the morning before DH got busy with his work, or on Saturdays, Sunday afternoons, etc. They didn't see DS doing "free reading" in bed before sleeping, either. All they knew was that he was out roaming the neighborhood when he "should have" been doing school... He chose to take his GED, and when to take it, and he "graduated" and got on with his life a whole year earlier than his former ps classmates.
Unless you're with them 24 hours a day, you can't say that they never do school work. Homeschool does not automatically mean hours of sitting at the dining room table, doing workbooks & reading textbooks, while mom lectures from the teacher's manual. There are many different methods of homeschooling. Also, since homeschool students get one-on-one time, it takes much less time for them to finish their work (generally speaking). Depending on what grades they're in & how the kids work, sit down work may take as little as 30 min a day. Just because you don't see these kids doing workbooks, reading textbooks, and taking tests, that doesn't mean that they aren't being educated. Before you report this family, maybe you should find out more about the situation. You might be surprised. You might find out that they are learning a lot. It's possible you're right & this mom is not providing her kids with an education. However, it's also possible that you're wrong. Why cause problems for this family unless you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there is true educational neglect happening?
I don't think its your right to turn anyone in. If the kids are healthy and not hurt. Leave them allow. You don't know what goes on behind close doors. they might do more then you think. If you don't live there, you wouldn't know. Some people unschool which they can. There are many ways of learning. Not just sitting reading a book. Have you been to public school lately. Well I have friends who were telling me the week before Christmas she had to sign forms for her daughter to watch Disney movies in Math, Science and History. Did anyone report them? NO! So I would be careful what you do, unless you live with them and know for sure this is going on and then its now of your business. You might be the one with the egg in your face.
I see this person has not been back on. Way to go girls, you gave them the right answers. No one knows until they walk in our shoes.
Yes, Ohio Mom I get so tired of people always wanting to get after the homeschooler. there are so many ways of learning and teaching a child. And ps of all places should know that.
I think you should most definitely butt out. It's not your concern, leave the parents alone to make their own decisions about schooling their children. I actually had someone report me, and the cops came to my house. I always let my children play outside in the morning (we have a fenced in back yard) because they have a LOT of excess energy, and letting them run around outside made them more focused to do schoolwork in the afternoon. Many times, they would actually be doing science activities outside as well. Anyway, some "dogooder" called the authorities and said that I had school aged children that were outside playing during school hours. It was ridiculous! If more people paid more attention to their own lives and left everyone else alone, we wouldn't have this problem. Unless you are seeing black eyes, cigarette burns, broken bones, etc...all the time, there is no need to report anything! I agree with everyone else that you can't understand what happens behind closed doors. Thanks, and sorry I kinda got on my soap box, just feel very passionate about this subject... Jennifer
:roll: Too bad people don't do things the old fashion way! Why not just take over some cookies and get to know your neighbors? I am almost sure you will come away with a different perspective.
