Charter Schools: Trojan Horses of Homeschooling
BevK May 22nd, 2006
http://www.moorefoundatio…eschooling.html
Charter Schools: Trojan Horses of Homeschooling
By Judy Shewmake
You’ve all heard of the legendary ten-year battle between the Greeks and
Trojans. It ended when the Greeks sent a huge gift horse with Greek
soldiers secreted inside. While the city of Troy slept, the soldiers
sneaked out and opened the gates to let in their comrades, and the city
of Troy was taken captive.
The same thing is happening to homeschoolers today. Many of you are too
new to homeschooling to know what the “pioneers” of the homeschool
movement went through 15-20 years ago to secure the right to educate
their children at home and to ensure this right for you today. Mothers
were jailed, Child Protective Services removed children from their
homes, and families fled their homes in the night. Talk to any long-time
homeschool parent and you will hear how battles were fought in state
legislatures and courts to obtain the right to homeschool. You’ll learn
of the many hours that went into setting up support groups and
organizations to help homeschoolers to be independent from government
involvement and to learn how to homeschool. You’ll also find out how
there was virtually no homeschool curriculum available. ABeka wouldn’t
even sell materials to homeschoolers (until they found out how
profitable it was!).
In the county where we live, the principal of the local public school
along with the superintendent of education sent homeschoolers letters
and tried to coerce us into the public schools with threats of dire
consequences and pressure to conform to their interpretation of the
state law. It was a long battle, but we didn’t give in. We sought
advice, resisted the pressure, and helped in our small way to win the
freedom to homeschool our children in the way that God had impressed us
and our constitutional rights allowed. Many other more serious battles
were fought at the same time around the United States.
Presently, it is estimated that 1.5 million children are being educated
at home, and the number increases 15% each year. These homeschooled
children are winning awards, their test scores are off the charts, and
their accomplishments are in the news daily. Colleges around the country
now covet these exceptional young people. The National Educational
Association of teachers and their socialistic ideas of Goals 2000 are
unable to control these 1.5 million homeschooled children. Or are they?
Enter the Trojan horse of homeschooling–the Charter School. Charter
schools are public schools in disguise. Homeschoolers are lining up to
enroll and get their “free money.” Charters offer you “free” money for
signing up, “free” computers and Internet service, “free” textbooks,
“free” horseback riding or gymnastic lessons, ski passes, courses, etc.
The state gives around $5000 to the charter school for each child
enrolled. About $1000 goes to your “Educational Facilitator” (a public
school teacher who is your overseer); $1000 goes to you (of course not
in one lump sum or to use at your discretion–more on this later); and
the remaining $3000 goes to the charter school (for administrative
expenses). A few schools divide the $5000 into thirds. Either way,
someone is making lots of money!
The charter school is a public school and the students enrolled are
public school students. Three years ago there were 17 state-mandated
guidelines in California. This school year (2002-03) there are 250
guidelines.
By enrolling in a charter school you are:
* Inviting the government into your home. Your children are now
public school students, and your children’s homeschooling records
are now public information. When you bring government money into
your home, you give the government control over the activities in
your home.
* Agreeing to allow your assigned Educational Facilitator into your
home to observe your family once each month. (Some are now asking
for twice a month visits.) Did you know they are trained to look
for abuse and neglect, to observe children’s behavior and to read
and analyze written answers on tests and papers? Did you know it
could be just about anyone? The government is not as
discriminating in hiring teachers as you would be!
* Permitting the government to dictate what resources you use to
teach your children. You must file a purchase order that will be
authorized before you receive your books. Usually the resources
you order must be returned to the charter after you have used them.
* Encouraging the government to increase taxes to pay for all these
charter schools to grow, as “needs” demand. More students create
the need for more money, the need for more administrators and the
need for more accountability. This encourages growth of
government, not cutbacks.
* Affirming to the government that it has a say in how your children
are educated, and that the charter schools are necessary.
* Consenting to governmental control of homeschoolers now just as of
public school students. Their controls have only just begun.
* Letting the government dictate what you teach your children. The
state laws prohibit religious instruction in public schools.
* Giving up your freedom to raise your children as God has
instructed you.
Most states have a similar law: I’m quoting California Law, Article IX,
Section 8. “No public money shall ever be appropriated for the support
of any sectarian or denominational school, or any school not under the
exclusive control of the officers of the public schools; nor shall any
sectarian or denominational doctrine be taught or instruction thereon be
permitted, directly or indirectly, in any of the common schools of this
State.” Translation: By law, if your children are enrolled in a public
charter school, you cannot teach them using a Christian curriculum,
neither can you teach Christian values or doctrine in your home.
So you say to yourself, “I’ll buy Bible curriculum from my own budget.”
That won’t work. Notice this part: “nor shall any denominational
doctrine be taught…or permitted, directly or indirectly.” For now,
charters want students (and the money that comes with them), so most are
ignoring Christian instruction at this time. But there is the danger
that the charter could get in trouble in the future. As the government
gets more and more involved, the noose will continue to tighten on
homeschoolers–it already has!
Trust God to provide finances for homeschooling resources and a
computer. You don’t have to have gymnastic lessons and ski lift tickets
or even a computer to homeschool successfully. It’s not so expensive to
homeschool your children that you can’t do it without the government’s
help. This just plays into their “cradle to grave” mentality.
I’m really not “anti-government,” because government has a purpose and a
place in our society. I teach my children how our government works,
about our right to vote and the government’s rightful place in our lives
and in society. However, I am totally against the government telling us
how to teach our children. “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto
to God what is God’s,” means that there is a dividing line. Charter
schools cross over that line when it comes to my children.
It’s almost as if the fight for the right to homeschool 15-20 years ago
was for naught, because now parents are running to the government and
giving back all that was gained. Never forget how God has led
homeschoolers in the past and know that He will be faithful to us in the
future, if we are faithful to Him. It is our God-given responsibility
and right to “teach them [God’s words] diligently to our children.”
Prayerfully consider this Biblical advice with regards to the education
of your children. Proverbs 23:1-4, Genesis 14:21-23, 1 Timothy 2:1-2,
Joshua 24:15, Isaiah 26:13, Hebrews 13:5, and 1 Timothy 5:8.
Pray for guidance and blessing, and “tell God your needs and don’t
forget to thank Him for His answers” (Philippians 4:6). God never
intended for the government to teach your children; He gave that
wonderful privilege and responsibility to you, the parent (Deuteronomy
6:6-9).
© 2002 by Judy Shewmake, a homeschool mother since 1985, author and
homeschool newsletter editor.
Permission granted to reproduce completely, in entirety, from title to
copyright notice, without alteration, for non-commercial, homeschool
educational purposes only.
