Homeschooling in the Golden State
Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 8:48AM I was asked what I thought about the ruling issued this week by the California Apellate Court that declared homeschooling to be illegal in the state of California. Before I share my thoughts, I thought I'd provide some news articles:
On January 10th, 2008, The Californian Newspaper reported :
"The governor has touted 2008 as "the year of education" in California, but after Thursday's budget address, educators may be calling it "the year of slim pickings." In the address, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed a $141 billion state budget for the year starting July 1 that would slash nearly 10 percent of the funding for public education as part of a plan to erase an estimated $14.5 billion revenue shortfall over the next 18 months.
Schwarzenegger proposed reducing education spending by $4.4 billion, of which $400 million already promised to schools in this fiscal year would be held back."
Just over one month later, on February 21st, the Los Angeles Times reported:
"California's budget shortfall has swollen to $16 billion from $14.5 billion..."
On the same day, the Associated Press also commented on the estimated shortfall in California's budget:
"California's nonpartisan fiscal watchdog on Wednesday said the state's budget shortfall has grown to $16 billion...last month, Schwarzenegger pegged the shortfall at $14.5 billion through June 2009...Schwarzenegger proposed cutting $4 billion from classrooms..."
So, prior to this story, California's financial situation was already bleak. Governor Schwarzenegger has already proposed taking four billion dollars from the public schools to help solve the budget shortfall. I doubt our liberal legislature will take anywhere near that amount, but there will probably be a compromise of budget trimming and tax increases when it is all said and done. Regardless, spending needs to slow and revenue will need to increase.
Here's the deal, in California there are 6.2 million enrolled students in the public school system. Right now...without doing anything...there is not enough money in the budget to educate these kids (well, actually there is enough money...we're just wasting it on social programming and illegal residents...sheesh!). I tried to find out how many kids are homeschooled in California and couldn't find a consistent number...but the estimated range of homeschoolers is near 200,000 (of those that have reported their kids to the government).
First, the last thing the California legislature wants is an extra 200,000 kids "in the system." Besides the financial burden, there is an issue of needing more space in already crowded schools and having to hire more educators (which means more administration...and more on-campus cops!). For example, in our local town, the high school was built to hold 900 kids. In 2003, there were 2,400 kids on campus (portable buildings galore!). The town petitioned the voters to pass a local measure to build a new high school, which was completed in 2007. The new school is full of students and the first high school still has over 1,400 in attendance. Aside from the grass roots petitions and lobbying that they will receive, the legislature will understand that this simple court ruling does not pencil out in the budget. Someone just needs to follow the money trail and find out the truth...private homeschoolers pay for a system they don't use...and then pay again to educate their children...they need more people to homeschool, not less!
Second, the last thing the California Department of Education (and each County Board of Education) wants are a bunch of home educated kids (...or actually, their high standard setting parents!) showing up for class, board meetings, etc... Can you imagine the demands that will be placed on teachers, administration, board members when these kids get injected into the system? Have you ever found two homeschooling families to even agree on math curriculum? Can you imagine what happens when the new curriculum is issued every year... This will take some forward thinking, but the court ruling is only setting up more grief, not less!
Third, Conservative Christian homeschoolers are the ones that have voiced the most concern in the past few days. But, they are not the only ones to home educate in California. There are many liberal non-Christian homeschoolers in this state that recognize the same broken education system and have pulled their children out for different reasons. Like me, they do not want to suddenly re-introduce their children back into the system. They may not be as organized as the Christian homeschool community, but my point is that the legislature will hear from constituents throughout the state and from both sides of the political spectrum.
Fourth, it's an election year... We haven't heard from our congressional leadership, but as of today...several state legislators, the state superintendent of schools and the governor have all weighed in their support of homeschooling families.
What about us? As of now, we're not moving. California is still sunny and warm and we can still homeschool the mangokids. If we did move...it would be to the tropics...we will homeschool under beach umbrellas and stop to watch the breeze on the ocean. Homeschool classes will include surfing and sailing, and we will teach the mangokids how to make hats out of palm fronds... We will sleep more in the afternoon...and Kendra and I will grow old on beans, salsa and lime-stuffed coronas...
quietly making noise,
fletch
Reader Comments (12)
Okay....I've never read your blog before but I love it already. You gave this a wonderful perspective. Thank you!
You make some interesting points. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. But doesn't the state get federal money for each child enrolled in government school? Maybe my thinking is foggy, but this was my impression anyway...
Sounds like your cirriculum falls under the Jimmy Buffet method... you know classical, C. Mason, unschooling and Buffet? But then I guess you'd be drinking Margaritas, not Corona's.
God bless,
Christine
Great thoughts, Helps to relieve some of my fears. The chirstian homeschool community, I am afraid, can get a bit hysterical at times, and then there are all kinds of heresay messages on yahoo groups.
Susan
Christine...
They are called "Buffett Stuff-Its" and you wedge 1/2 a lime down the neck of an ice cold...nearly frozen Corona. I would love to school my children at the end of a sun-soaked dock while dipping my toes in salty water and watching them do flips into the ocean. I could become the http://www.themangotimes.com/music/12voltman.mp3" rel="nofollow">12 Volt Man that Jimmy sings about (follow the link!)
Fletch
In Mississippi the Homeschool families teach their kids paintball, building tree houses and how to gut deer. That's the beauty of homeschooling, it adapts so well to the local environment.
So, after posting this information yesterday, even our local newspaper got into action. The Modesto Bee published an article this morning about the public education budget cuts:
Again, they need more people to homeschool...that will help their budget. You can read http://www.modbee.com/local/story/234295.html" rel="nofollow">the entire article online at the Modesto Bee.
Fletch
Fletch, I think that you are right on the money. This really is a minor issue; however, public response to this matter will influence the real “attack� when it comes. I don’t mean to sound conspiratorial, but the people and organizations who promote so much of the ungodly programs in our public schools truly believe in what they are doing. They have an earnest desire to wield their influence in the lives of every child; not just those in public schools. And you can rest assured that they will be watching how America responds to this and plotting their course.
In 1993 Hawaii’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of homosexual marriage. That was fifteen years ago! Yes, a voter initiative eventually overturned this ruling, but what’s more important is that America’s political myopia prevented it from seeing where this was going. Since then, the homosexual activists have proven to be very patient and very wise in their attack on traditional marriage while American conservatives have proven to be very foolish and very gullible. Fifteen years ago the conservatives could have and should have pushed for defense of traditional marriage on the federal level. Now the road will be much harder and the likelihood of defeat is much greater.
I agree with your points concerning California’s broken system and the financial suicide of outlawing homeschooling. However, fiscal responsibility is rarely a driving factor for our bureaucrats. If the homeschoolers in this country are as smart as they think they are, as smart as I hope they are, then they will see this and take action now. And make no mistake about it; this is not just a threat to homeschoolers. Once the government has established the precedence that it controls education then it will reach into private schools as well. This may not be a big issue right now, but it will be a big issue next time. And I pray that American conservatives will use this as the opportunity to build momentum for a constitutional amendment to protect parental rights. If something is not specifically defended in the constitution, then it is much more vulnerable to attack.
And while the dream of moving to the tropics is nice, do not under estimate the power of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. They claim “global� authority and that’s just another reason for us to stand and fight.
Hey all!!
Great post....(this is my first visit to your site, and I feel compelled to post..woohoo!)
My kid (& one on the way) aren't yet old enough to be in the school system, but I find it amusing that my wife and I have seriously considered homeschooling, and her cousin is actively doing it for her three kids. The amusing part is that they both have degrees in education and have worked in California schools. What does that say about the system??
The one question I have, is what are the numbers on the home-schooled kids. I know they have to be evaluated every so often by a certified someone. What level are these kids at. The handful of kids that I've met seem to be more self confident, less judgemental, and feel really comfortable actually sitting and talking with adults. They have also all seemed quite smart. Since you homeschool, Mr. Mango Times, do you know the numbers on how homeschooled kids score as compared to "regulat" schooled kids.
I realize that there are many advantages to being homeschooled that may not be "testable" in the traditional sense, but any stats would be a wonderful way to add fuel to this fire. I suspect that homeschool kids score better. But how I feel and what the facts are could be two different things ;)
Great post, and I look forward to reading more of your blog!
It's been a while since I have ventured over to The Mango Times, but it was enjoyable as usual. I definitely appreciate your insight Fletch from a California Homeschooling family.
I would agree with William is that this is the way that secular progressives work. Yes, this decision will likely be overturned in one way or another, but the issue will come up again and again and eventually, in a place where there is apathy, it will hold. Once it holds, it spreads and before you know it, it becomes the law everywhere.
Anyway, thanks again for the local pr\erspective. I'll leave the tropics to you. One year in South China was enough for me. Take care.
Praying for the situation from Texas! The Lord bless you...
I agree your line of thinking. Thanks.
I had to laugh at the image of homeschooling parents forced to place their children into classrooms . . . though it wouldn't really be a very funny thing to witness. 80)
William, Max, Polar Bear...welcome to theMangoTimes! Enjoy your time here...