Posted by Howard Richman on March 27 2008 at 09:38:47:
In Reply to: Here´s a commentary in favor of the CA court ruling! posted by Howard Richman on March 26 2008 at 09:30:52:
Here´s a selection from the commentary by Roger Phelps:
Randy Thomasson, executive director of the Campaign for Children and Families non-profit, said a big point of contention between homeschool advocates and child-welfare officials is spanking. Many parents who are homeschoolers also claim the right to discipline children by physical punishment, known perhaps figuratively these days as "the rod."Howard"Child-protective services officials say homeschooling isn´t right," Thomasson said. "They are mostly concerned with spanking."
However, a line must be drawn when a child is observed to have been bruised, and authorities suspect a parent, Thomasson said.
"If you see bruises, that´s it," he said.
Court documents in the ruling suggest that the homeschooling Long family of Los Angeles County is reclusive, and allegedly is abusive. The Long case arose when Phillip Long was reported to have physically and emotionally abused one of his children. A court filing also notes that Long is said to have "recently opined that educating children outside the home exposes them to ´snitches.´"
Joseph Piazza, child-welfare officer for the Folsom-Cordova Unified School District, said he handles "a handful of calls in the course of a school year" about households within the district where a non-enrolled child lives, and that a significant portion of those concern "families that are not committed to homeschooling."
"There are so many people underground," Piazza said. "Their concern is to have a shield from scrutiny. You tell by the condition of the yard, whether the blinds are drawn. It looks more shut-in. Then, lack of schooling becomes secondary. Is your wanting to use a shield worth the maybe 10 percent who are being victimized? Even 3 percent comes out to a big number statewide."
Piazza sees a loophole that exists in laws around private education as a card that can be played by reclusive householders.
"I call at a house and say, ´Bobby is not in school,´ and the first word out of their mouths is, ´Homeschool,´" Piazza said. "It´s like an ally-ally-oxen-free. But if citizens want that through their legislative representatives, OK."
Many homeschoolers declare their home a private school. A credential isn´t required of a private-school instructor.