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In a message dated 1/28/02 10:36:48 AM, PSoroosh@... writes:

<< WHY should we let the law define who is and who
isn't a real homeschooler? I'm discouraged that people don't think about the
further ramifications of that kind of thinking. >>

I understood the argument made here, though, about the law eventually
changing to make homeschooling all as accountable as those enrolled directly
with the schools.

As usual, I'm coming from a place of concern about methodology and learning
theory while others are being more politically minded.

I would really hate to use my child as a political pawn one way or another.
For some people, though, they think of government first (how to bring it
down, how to abide by it, how to hide from it, or whatever) and non-political
realities later.

When I speak at conferences, I run through my notes before to try to make
sure what I'm saying will be as true anywhere, regardless of state law. And
when people ask me about state law, I tell them they need to ask the locals.

Unschooling works the way it works because of the way people work. It works,
if allowed to work, because of the relationships between people, and because
it uses people's natural proclivities, working with human nature instead of
against it. It works, when it works, without regard to the physical point on
earth of the family practicing that philosophy.

Now if a family's in a state that requires annual testing, that's
unfortunate, and they might not be able to relax into unschooling, or just
might have to be eclectic if they intend to fulfill all state laws. I
haven't volunteered to tweak families' lives to match a certain state or
country's laws. I've volunteered to help people see how kids learn naturally.

So politics are out of my chosen and accepted arena. I learn what I know
about it peripherally, and with resistence. I'm grateful that there are
people who do pay attention to such things, but we don't ALL have to live
right at that point of awareness.

But still, I wouldn't care if our local school was getting the money they
would get if my kids were in. I wish they would. I wish our departure would
mean better student-teacher ratios, and more money to go around for the kids
remaining.

Sandra