Illinois House Panel Advances Bill to Strengthen Homeschooling Oversight

[FreeinChrist]

An alternative to the current teacher's union is hardly a conspiracy. There is no shame in trying something new when past programs have failed.

Claims that teacher's unions are doing what that article, such as it was, said they were doing is conspiratorial.

 

[A2SG]

Supporters pointed to cases of abuse, arguing that some parents use homeschooling as a shield for abuse and neglect.

Illinois House Panel Advances Bill to Strengthen Homeschooling Oversight

The measure, known as the Homeschool Act, would require families to notify their school districts when they decide to homeschool, and that parents or guardians who teach their kids at home have a high school diploma or equivalent.

news.wttw.com

Seems to me this, alone, should be sufficient reason to pass the bill. From the article:

The news organizations’ reporting documented cases where children endured severe abuse at home, unnoticed because they were not in school.​

​

One such case, referenced in Wednesday’s hearing, was that of Zion Staples, a 9-year-old boy from Rock Island who went missing in December 2022. His mother, who had a long history of abuse and neglect allegations, was able to homeschool him despite previously losing two children to foster care. Police later determined Zion had accidentally shot himself while playing with a gun. His mother hid his body in a trash can for months before authorities found him. She pleaded guilty to felony endangering the health of a child and was sentenced to two years in prison in April. ​

Irrespective of any issues with the public school system, this kind of thing should not be allowed to happen under any circumstances. Period.

That said, I would also support any attempts to improve academic standards at any public school....though, I don't see how that can be accomplished with things like vouchers or charter schools taking away funds from public schools.

-- A2SG, public funds for public schools....how is that not a no-brainer....

 

[Valletta]

Seems to me this, alone, should be sufficient reason to pass the bill. From the article:

The news organizations’ reporting documented cases where children endured severe abuse at home, unnoticed because they were not in school.​

​

One such case, referenced in Wednesday’s hearing, was that of Zion Staples, a 9-year-old boy from Rock Island who went missing in December 2022. His mother, who had a long history of abuse and neglect allegations, was able to homeschool him despite previously losing two children to foster care. Police later determined Zion had accidentally shot himself while playing with a gun. His mother hid his body in a trash can for months before authorities found him. She pleaded guilty to felony endangering the health of a child and was sentenced to two years in prison in April. ​

Irrespective of any issues with the public school system, this kind of thing should not be allowed to happen under any circumstances. Period.

That said, I would also support any attempts to improve academic standards at any public school....though, I don't see how that can be accomplished with things like vouchers or charter schools taking away funds from public schools.

-- A2SG, public funds for public schools....how is that not a no-brainer....

Report: 500 sexual misconduct complaints against Chicago Public School employees

Chicago Public Schools’ top watchdog reported 470 sexual allegations from students against employees.

www.illinoispolicy.org

Sexual misconduct, misuse of funds and employees under investigation: Details from new Chicago schools report

Recommendations were made for CPS to improve transparency, its handling of high school sports, and its spending.

www.cbsnews.com

The public school problems are ongoing, and you want to put these people in charge of homeschoolers?

 

[A2SG]

Report: 500 sexual misconduct complaints against Chicago Public School employees

Chicago Public Schools’ top watchdog reported 470 sexual allegations from students against employees.

www.illinoispolicy.org

Sexual misconduct, misuse of funds and employees under investigation: Details from new Chicago schools report

Recommendations were made for CPS to improve transparency, its handling of high school sports, and its spending.

www.cbsnews.com

The public school problems are ongoing, and you want to put these people in charge of homeschoolers?

Is that what I said? No, it is not.

Yes, there are issues within the public school system. Predators exist everywhere. Which is why we have people within the public school system who investigate issues of misconduct, sexual or otherwise, and prosecute those who commit those crimes. Public school children have that protection, but currently, Illinois homeschool children do not. They should have it. Parents can be predators too, sometimes.

Just in case there's any question, I fully and unequivocally support ANY attempt to prosecute ANYONE who mistreats a student, regardless of where that student learns arithmetic, spelling and whatever else.

Where is the problem with that?

-- A2SG, a complete and total lack of oversight can too often be a breeding ground for predators.....

 

[Pommer]

Report: 500 sexual misconduct complaints against Chicago Public School employees

Chicago Public Schools’ top watchdog reported 470 sexual allegations from students against employees.

www.illinoispolicy.org

Sexual misconduct, misuse of funds and employees under investigation: Details from new Chicago schools report

Recommendations were made for CPS to improve transparency, its handling of high school sports, and its spending.

www.cbsnews.com

The public school problems are ongoing, and you want to put these people in charge of homeschoolers?

Are you suggesting that the legal and efficacious method of educating children known colloquially as “homeschooling“ should be totally unregulated?

 

[Valletta]

Are you suggesting that the legal and efficacious method of educating children known colloquially as “homeschooling“ should be totally unregulated?

Why do you want government people with such a poor record to oversee homeschooling? Give the children a chance! To me it is more government overreach. Others, as per the below letter from Lutherans, feel the same way:

Loading…

mcusercontent.com

 

[A2SG]

Why do you want government people with such a poor record to oversee homeschooling?

Because any oversight is better than NO oversight whatsoever.

Let me remind you:

The news organizations’ reporting documented cases where children endured severe abuse at home, unnoticed because they were not in school.
​

One such case, referenced in Wednesday’s hearing, was that of Zion Staples, a 9-year-old boy from Rock Island who went missing in December 2022. His mother, who had a long history of abuse and neglect allegations, was able to homeschool him despite previously losing two children to foster care. Police later determined Zion had accidentally shot himself while playing with a gun. His mother hid his body in a trash can for months before authorities found him. She pleaded guilty to felony endangering the health of a child and was sentenced to two years in prison in April. ​

Do you really want things like this to be allowed to happen?

Give the children a chance! To me it is more government overreach.

When the government stops children from being abused, even by a parent, it isn't overreach.

Others, as per the below letter from Lutherans, feel the same way:

Loading…

mcusercontent.com

If anyone feels the above example is preferable to oversight of any kind, then I don't give a pair of fetid dingo's kidneys what they think.

-- A2SG, are these people going to provide oversight in place of the government?

 

[Larniavc]

A better law would be one firing (plus civil penalties) all bureaucrats in areas where more than half of the children cannot pass competency tests for reading. The children are entitled to a basic education and these bureaucrats need to answer to the parents.

Someone always has to be threatened or punished in America. Why not prevent such issues instead; rather than only springing into action after the fact?

 

[Valletta]

If anyone feels the above example is preferable to oversight of any kind, then I don't give a pair of fetid dingo's kidneys what they think.

-- A2SG, are these people going to provide oversight in place of the government?

Are you saying Chicago, with five hundred sex abuses cases in one year, should be telling the parents exactly what they must teach their children? What if they say the children must attend drag queen shows, or even worse change their gender?

 

[A2SG]

Are you saying Chicago, with five hundred sex abuses cases in one year, should be telling the parents exactly what they must teach their children?

Wait, did I say that? Let me check....nope, didn't say that.

You can find out what I actually wrote by reading the posts. Just a tip.

What if they say the children must attend drag queen shows, or even worse change their gender?

What if they danced the hokey pokey and turned themselves around? Now, that's what it's all about!

Tell you what....why not address what I actually wrote, instead of deflecting to other stuff that has nothing whatsoever to do with a single word I wrote, hmm?

-- A2SG, save us both some time.....

 

[Pommer]

Why do you want government people with such a poor record to oversee homeschooling? Give the children a chance! To me it is more government overreach. Others, as per the below letter from Lutherans, feel the same way:

Loading…

mcusercontent.com

It’s government overreach to make sure that its youngest citizens are properly educated?
Why have a government at all, if that’s the case?

 

[Hammad Rasheed]

Education is essential, but balance is key. While oversight ensures quality, excessive government control can undermine parental rights and flexibility in homeschooling. The real question is: how do we create a system that protects children’s education without unnecessary bureaucracy? Open dialogue is crucial!

 

[Pommer]

Education is essential, but balance is key. While oversight ensures quality, excessive government control can undermine parental rights and flexibility in homeschooling. The real question is: how do we create a system that protects children’s education without unnecessary bureaucracy? Open dialogue is crucial!

Hello and welcome to CF and forum 909!
Though your points are well taken they’re awfully generic.
While academic freedom is essential in a liberal democracy, and homeschooling is a valid method to teach children, the government has to take reasonable actions to ensure that all its educable children are being well served or risk losing a generation to ignorance.

 

[Larniavc]

Are you saying Chicago, with five hundred sex abuses cases in one year, should be telling the parents exactly what they must teach their children? What if they say the children must attend drag queen shows, or even worse change their gender?

Or EVEN worse go to a church minister on their own!