Humble Beginnings

Beware of Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

As you know, I live here in  Texas - the grandest state in the nation.  However, as a homeschooling parent, I'm ever watchful of the wolves that may come to the door to invade my homeschool doing what they think is best for my family (state laws, Child Protective Services, truancy officers, etc.).  We live in a state that requires very little of homeschooling families - just so long as the basics are being covered, we don't have portfolios to turn in, or state assessments to meet, or even home visits.  We are truly free and independent to teach our children what we think is best for them.

I received a TOS Partner email this morning regarding Texas Tech University's Outreach and Distance Education program (they're calling it Texas Tech University Independent School District).  After reading the email and going over their website (TTUISD), it's pretty clear to me that the Texas Education Agency (who is overseeing this program) is trying an alternate route to reach homeschooling families in Texas. 

My guess (and it's only an educated guess) is that if this program takes off, they may try to make it mandatory to do "public school" in our homeschools.  This is nothing more than the public school education packaged for homeschoolers.  It's governed by the Texas Education Agency, has certified Texas teachers available to answer questions and is sent out through Texas Tech (which in all honesty is a great university).  However, isn't the point of homeschooling so that our children don't have to go through public school like we did?  That they can learn about what interests them in a fashion that best suits their learning styles - not public education in a box?

This is just a thought but I think this is also a way for the public schools to get "federal funding" for homeschoolers (in a sense).  They charge an incredibly high amount per class ($95 per course for kindergarten) - which probably offets the federal funding they don't receive since our children are at home, not in public school.

I think it's a little scary when the TEA is doing this.  They may try to casually start infiltrate our homes (okay - infiltrate may be a little strong, but I couldn't think of a better word) that we don't notice that our homeschooling freedoms in Texas are slowly eroding.

As I said, now's the time to watch for the wolves in sheep's clothing...they're coming faster than you think.

Untitled Comment

{ 09:58 , Tuesday, July 8, 2008 } { Posted by GypsyFarmGirl }

You actually make a very good point here in expressing your concerns, if you or any of us that home school began to take things like this lightly, I can bet you most of us would be mandated to make our kids go to "government schools".
Its good that you are being cautious, and we have every right to question the intergrity of any program that is vying for our kids attention.

JEANNIE

Untitled Comment

{ 11:13 , Tuesday, July 8, 2008 } { Posted by mequit73 }

I also home school in Texas. I receive that Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) newsletter and invariably it freightens me every month. I home school because of an incident I had with the public school in which they called CPS (I explained that in detail on my blog so I won't get into it here). While CPS (after removing my children from my home for 17 days on unfounded bull) completely cleared me and returned the children with no further involvement in my life, I'm still on their radar screen as having had a contact with me, you know? So, I know I'm walking a fine line and it is very frieghtening. I ended up removing my children from public school in the middle of a school year. The school told me I couldn't just remove my children without notice and that they'd probably have to report me. Oh yeah? Watch me. The school actually asked for a cirriculum. Naturally, I said no thanks and nicer words for "bite me."

As much as the experience is freaky with Texas school though, it isn't just Texas that you need to worry about. Many states have tried over and over again to basically eliminate the home school experience and ultimately when one of those states is successful in doing so, THAT's when you need to stop worrying and start panicking. In Minnesota, for insance (where I come from), you have to have a bachelor's degree to teach your children without taking testing and/or having a certified teacher involved. There is heavy regulation about the subjects you teach and I believe in that state also regulation about how many days your children have to attend (in Wisconsin, I know there is because I have a friend who taught there).

You are right on in your suspicion about the TEA's involvement. They aren't doing it out of the kindness of their hearts I guarantee you. Thanks for the update. Maybe you should write to the THSC and have them investigate it or at least express your concerns so that others around the area may know, too.