Letter to the Editor: "State should examine, approve homeschooling curriculum"
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In http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/05/letters_state_… a letter to the editor , composed by Rev. Dennis Smith, Ann Nieuwenhuis, Debra Borgman & Miriam Fleming:
Do you think that the potential for indoctrination makes homeschooling a ‘threat’ to American society and to scientific/medical progress? If so, how would the state go about regulating religious ideology?
The trouble with homeschooling is not so much that it serves as a smokescreen for havens of child abuse, but that it can, with state sanction, substitute ideological indoctrination for actual education….The http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/mi/201006030.asp: HSLDA responded :
That said, the regulatory control of homeschooling is practically nonexistent. There is no state regulation of the content of basic courses. There are no test requirements and one can obtain a religious exemption from the requirement that the homeschooling parent be a teacher or work with one.
In short, homeschoolers are exempt from every educational quality control measure imposed on public education. The result of which is manifest in a recent Young Editorial Staff column in the Kalamazoo Gazette….
I confess that I don’t know what curriculum Justin Wing (in his April 17 column) was using, but he is simplistically biased in his assessment of the relative utility and versatility of adult stem cells over embryonic stem cells in research and applied therapy. His arguments echo the faith-based critiques regularly trumpeted by various ”right to life” ideologues….
As a person of faith and a citizen of this democracy, I pray that Justin’s vote at least be informed by real research, not just religious ideology masquerading as science. For that, I hold the state accountable, not just Justin and his parents.
Homeschooling either needs to be regulated by the state with the same rigor as public education or eliminated altogether.
In his letter to the Kalamazoo Gazette of May 27, 2010, The Reverend Dennis Smith called for elimination of homeschooling unless it is regulated by the state to the same extent as public schools. Provoked by an article on embryonic stem cell research by a homeschooled student who is a member of the Gazette Young Editorial Staff, Rev. Smith also expressed his opinion that homeschooling “serves as a smokescreen for havens of child abuse.” But the supposed child abuse by homeschooling parents is not the reverend’s main concern. Oddly enough, he asserts that the real culprit is the “ideological indoctrination” (Bible-centered education) by parents that is preventing their children from getting an “actual education.” Unfortunately, Rev. Smith’s opinions don’t line up with the facts….Original article by the student in question- http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/04/our_turn_shoul…
Dewitt T. Black, III
Senior Counsel
Home School Legal Defense Association
Do you think that the potential for indoctrination makes homeschooling a ‘threat’ to American society and to scientific/medical progress? If so, how would the state go about regulating religious ideology?
Reading this, I’m thinkin’….”So, the public school does nothing in the way of ‘indoctrinating’??” Huh.
And how on earth would you have a one-size-fits-all check list for religious ideology? Unless there was one religion….that would certainly make it easier.
And how on earth would you have a one-size-fits-all check list for religious ideology? Unless there was one religion….that would certainly make it easier.
"I pray to God this day to make me an extraordinary Christian." --Whitefield http://strengthfortoday.wordpress.com
that the objection to ‘religious ideology’ and ‘right to life’ teachings comes from a Rev.
It’s funny (but not “ha-ha” funny) to me that people continue to think that teachers and textbooks somehow manage to only convey perfectly objective and sterile facts in a vacuum.
It’s funny (but not “ha-ha” funny) to me that people continue to think that teachers and textbooks somehow manage to only convey perfectly objective and sterile facts in a vacuum.
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