2008 House Bill 5912 (Mandate homeschool parents register family’s name with public school authorities )

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Introduced by Rep. Brenda Clack (D) on March 19, 2008, to require the parents of children who are homeschooled to submit the local school intermediate school district at the beginning of each year the name and age of each child who is being educated in the home, and the name and address of each parent or legal guardian.
- Referred to the House Education Committee on March 19, 2008.

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1) Re: Save the Children [by crazycajun on December 11, 2008]

[quote user="Anonymous Citizen"]This is a good step in attempting to help the children who are not getting educated to the level of public schooling. Several famalies I know have children at the middle school ages and, cannot read or write as well as a 3rd grader in the public schools. Annual testing similar to Minnesota would be a great step to save these kids.[/quote]

i know SEVERAL homeschooled kids, and all of them KNOW HOW TO SPELL FAMILIES. i know ONE publicly educated graduate who DOESN'T.

ain't that amazing......

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2) Re: Resonse to Accountability??? [by crazycajun on December 10, 2008]

sounds like we have another michigander against homeschooling simply because it's popular here to be against homeschooling.

they seem to equate putting kids into public indoctrination centers with "PROTECTING THE CHILDREN". by the way, where was all that protection when they GRADUATED all those people who can't read at a sixth grade level, i've met hundreds of them.

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3) Re: Resonse to Accountability??? [by publis on December 10, 2008]

You said, "Currently there are no legal rights for Michigan's child protective services or for the truancy officers in Michigan."

I assume you mean that they have no power, but that's ridiculous. I used to work for an agency that partnered with CAPA (Child Abuse Protection and Awareness), and they have a powerful advocacy program. I'm glad that they do, because many children are abused and neglected in this state, and their needs have to be addressed. I know; I was a mandated reporter of abuse.

Child abuse and neglect laws are defined here: http://www.childresource.cc/abuse.php but I wonder if you didn't get a response from the authorities because there was no true neglect. Many children can't read at their grade level, in public school or not. Homeschooled children begin to read at different ages, just like kids in public schools. The point is to teach them to read, right? After that, practice makes perfect (or at least fluent!)

Some people who want to hurt others use "child abuse" accusations; this is especially true in custody cases. And when the accusation comes from a family member who relies on "the rest of the family's" opinion for a source, the case will be even harder to prove. Because it does have to be proven. Can you prove that this child is being neglected? Other than a lack of equivalency, I mean. By that ruler, many children in public schools are being neglected, too. How do you know what her readling level is? She may prefer reading material at a lower grade level because the story is more interesting to her, etc. Maybe if you spent some time with your neice and nephew, you will realize that there are many ways to assess education. Are the children polite and well-behaved? Respectful? Do they respond to you? Do they know about the world around them? They may be fluent in areas in which you haven't "assessed" them, and their ability to navigate in the world may surprise you.

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