California Homeschooling: Legal Representation Announced
Monday March 10, 2008
Two law firms have stepped up on a pro bono basis to figure out the best strategies for dealing with the court issues in the recent California ruling. Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, which is headquartered in Palo Alto, will be representing HSC. Baker & McKenzie, which has 150 offices around the world, will be representing CHN. These two firms will be working closely together ensuring that all arguments are covered and that they aren't' duplicating their efforts. They will also try to coordinate their efforts with HSLDA, CHEA and Family Protection Ministries.
This is good news. I'm glad to see the groups working together on this issue. I am confident that the years of work by the state and legal organizations will prove it's worth and this will be solved in a positive manner.
Comments
I am in total support of homeschooling. I think it should be a parent’s rights. I also would like to know why California waited so long to try to stop Homeschooling. If is was against their state code, then how was the first homeschooler allowed to start teaching without meeting the requirements? I feel it may be a money issue with the board of education, which is NOT a good reason to start reading the CODE and changing their minds now.
The Cal board of education is a mafia. You are not a teacher, but want to homeschool your children, you must pay for “protection”.
if your not a teacher you shouldn’t be teaching. Its just a way for parents to shelter and brainwash there children. If you don’t have the faith and conviction in your children to do what’s best and act how you’ve taught them you have bigger problems then the state.
“Not being a teacher” is oversimplifying the problem. Not everyone home schools to “brainwash” children. Far from it. I removed my two diabetic children from California public schools because they had no nurses or staff to even do a blood sugar check. Two weeks into the school year they nearly killed my 5-year-old by putting her into a state of unconsciousness feeding her sugar without insulin. I had two choices: stay at school all day or home school. I home schooled. The next year I did do the “stay at school all day” deal, and the following. But why should I have to? As a single mom with 4 kids, I also have to work.
Now, I am home schooling again, working from home, and my two children that are home schooled have tested higher than other kids in the public school system in the same grade levels.
Jon, though I have no issue with your opposition to home schooling, I must ask that you go about it in a better way. Sure, some home schooled children lack social skills and awareness, as you so crudely describe with “shelter and brainwash”. But there are many children who are able to get these skills from other activities, or even from their siblings or neighborhood. And I would also advise you to not bring insults into debates (”you have bigger problems then the state”), it just makes people not want to listen to what you have to say.
Parents are teachers,they just dont have a degree.
that does not mean that they are unable to administer the nessary fundamentals the child needs.
It should be a parents right!
Well, I have a degree in education and I’m still reeling from this. I know the court got involved specifically when one child said he was being mistreated and I do think that homeschooling parents should be accountable for the safety of the children. I do not agree that you have to have a degree to teach. That’s what curriculum is for. If you can read, and you can deal with your children without getting frustrated that’s all a homeschooling parent should need. Granted when my sons are in highschool and they want to take Calculus I will get them a private tutor, but that’s just common sense for me.