Birth to 18 Good or bad for homeschoolers?

The US Government has an overdeveloped sense of themselves. Puffed up pride as my grandmother would have said. I’m not even talking about the current economic troubles. I am talking about the governments interest in extending schooling to every child from birth through the age 18. What does this mean for those of us with families? Will this affect homeschooling? What about special needs children?

I would say that there is quite a bit concerning. HSLDA Homeschooling Legal Defense Association, did an article on this subject. I highly recommend it.

I would like to take this a bit further though. If the government believes that they, not we the parents, can adequately care and raise a child for 8-10 hours a day from birth what are parents supposed to do. The quick answer would probably be go to work.  I begin imagining big factories and industry….. I imagine China.

Are we going to be “asked” by the government to limit our family size so that the birth-18 system is not over taxed?After all there would be a HUGE price tag attached to the birth-18 system.

Then what happens if at a 20 week ultrasound you find that your child has something drastically wrong? Would the government “suggest” you terminate  so your child doesn’t overly tax the system?

If you think I am just taking flights of fancy here. Maybe your right. I hope you are. I look at China. This is a country that use to venerate the elderly and take great  pride and joy in large families. Now they are leaving  their daughters and disabled at orphanages or worse aborting them.

If you think something like that couldn’t happen in the US, what about abortion rates for down syndrome babies. Gov. Palin’s decision to have Trig  made a senior Canadian  OB/GYN make this  statement

The following is taken from Stones Cry Out

Sarah and Todd Palin’s decision to complete her recent pregnancy, despite advance notice that their baby Trig had Down syndrome, is hailed by many in the pro-life movement as walking the walk as well as talking the talk.

But a senior Canadian doctor is now expressing concerns that such a prominent public role model as the governor of Alaska and potential vice president of the United States completing a Down syndrome pregnancy may prompt other women to make the same decision against abortion because of that genetic abnormality. And thereby reduce the number of abortions.

Published reports in Canada say about 9 out of 10 women given a diagnosis of Down syndrome choose to terminate the pregnancy through abortion.

Dr. Andre Lalonde, executive vice president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Ottawa, worries that Palin’s now renowned decision may cause abortions in Canada to decline as other women there and elsewhere opt to follow suit.

I noticed this Dr was more concerned that the abortion rate would go down.

What would happen to homeschooling. There could be more restriction starting with added age restrictions. Then if a curriculum is designed for an infant would the school system insist that we as homeschoolers have to provide an equivalent? When is too early to formalize learning? Right now the arbitrary number is 5-6. How low could that number go?

Special needs homeschoolers have always been considered an “at risk” group. We are more prone to stricter regulations. More likely to get a Children’s Protective Service visit. In the new era of constant schooling will there be a place to allow slower learners. I am already disturbed at the trend to centralize learning and then arrest or harshly punish a child who acts out behaviorly, even with a diagnosised disability such as autism. I may be a pessimist but I see the government asking for federal requirements in homeschooling. If the union gets into the mix you can pretty safely say that they will try to strangle homeschooling out of existence, starting with special needs homeschoolers.

Are we going to let this happen? No! The homeschoolers as a group have shown themselves time and again to be willing and able to uphold their rights under the Constitution. Schooling our children in a manner that we chose is part of that. I highly recommend that you take this time to prepare should your call or letter be needed. HSLDA does an excellent job updating you for state and federal legislation that needs to be watched or encouraged. You can sign up for their newletter for struggling learners, daily radio spot and the legal notices I told you about. If you know of other places that keep updated about homeschooling laws please let me know. Together we can stand strong and keep our rights!

God bless friends!

PS  Spunky Homeschooler did an article similar. If you have time go check it out!