Puteri’s Musings 2

Parents who lack teaching credentials cannot educate their children at home, according to a state appellate court ruling that is sending waves of fear through California’s home schooling families.

Advocates for the families vowed to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court. Enforcement until then appears unlikely, but if the ruling stands, home-schooling supporters say California will have the most regressive law in the nation.

“This decision is a direct hit against every home schooler in California,” said Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, which represents the Sunland Christian School, which specializes in religious home schooling. “If the state Supreme Court does not reverse this . . . there will be nothing to prevent home-school witch hunts from being implemented in every corner of the state of California.”

The institute estimates there are as many as 166,000 California students who are home schooled. State Department of Education officials say there is no way to know the true number.

Unlike at least 30 other states, home schooling is not specifically addressed in California law. Under the state education code, students must be enrolled in a public or private school, or can be taught at home by a credentialed tutor.

Full story here.

This court ruling is certainly a blow to families who home school their children. California is well known for being a nanny state and this is just the latest case of government interfering in the decisions that are best made by parents who want the best for their children.

I have been thinking about home schooling my children myself but now I am not so sure especially if the ruling is enforced. The only way I know how to comply with the situation is to get my own teaching credentials or pay for a credentialed tutor.

I hope parents bring this case all the way to the Supreme Court.

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