That Ugly Homeschooling Ruling in California

In response to a teacher's union rep on NPR, who suggests that there is some doublemindedness in requiring training from those strangers who work with OUR children in the public sector but objecting to the state requing that same training of PARENTS in the private sector, April at Question the Culture explains, carefully so that the dullwitted can understand it, why taxpayers may require certification, training, and other oversight over institutions that use their money, but the institutions do not get to have oversight over the family:

If the I, the citizen, gives money through taxes to the state so that the state can fulfill a public need (e.g. build my roads, supply my water, educate my kids), then the state must be held accountable to me, the citizen, for the wise use of those funds and the competent completion of said tasks.

It does not follow that if I don't delegate a task to the state, then the state has the same right to monitor me. If I give the state money to provide food for children at school, I expect the food to be nutritious and without contamination. That doesn't mean the state has the same right to come rifle through my fridge and "certify" my grocery list.

The populace is demanding standards and accountability from public schools because 1) they are hired, delegated, entrusted by the citizens to do a job, and 2) they are failing to do the job they have been delegated: i.e. educate the children. In our particular form of government, the people are (ultimately) the boss. If you aren't doing the job you're hired for, the boss gets to demand improvements, and if improvement is not forthcoming, to fire your sorry self.

She also made me snort my coffee up my nose, but I don't mind. You'll have to click on the link to see why.

Judy Aron at Consent of the Governed offers some reasoned commentary.

Dana at Principled Discovery also has some temperate and useful words of wisdom:

So I am looking at this with some personal interest as well. And I am asking a few basic questions:

* How strictly can a court interpret the intent of the legislature?
* Would legislation have helped, had it been introduced back in 2002?
* Has the political climate changed in the last six years such that these kinds of measures are made easier or more difficult now?

Until recently, the nationwide trend has been toward deregulation, a fact emphasizing the growing acceptance of homeschooling in the public’s eyes and the strength we have in our ability to organize on issues important to preserving our liberties. However, we have a concurrent trend in American politics toward centralization. Homeschooling does not fit very well into this and I think we may be feeling the consequences. All the more reason to remember that our liberty is our responsibility.

Here's my untutored, off the cuff impression: There is a need for some concern and action. There is a need for informed responses. Homeschoolers should not panic, but they should not be complacent here, either. On the other side, Lew Rockwell and WND should never be your only sources for anything. IMO, they are interesting, and more than a few notches above the National Enquirer when it comes to reliability- but not quite enough notches above it to be a primary source.