A quick course on home schooling

Re “No ban on home schooling,” March 12

Regarding California Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell’s policy of allowing home schooling for parents who merely file the private school certificate: How will California be able to enforce the compulsory education laws if he removes himself from the leadership and support of the school districts, county superintendents and county child welfare departments?

Because private schools are unregulated in this state, and home-schooling parents do not even need to worry about free-market forces demanding some basic quality level for teaching and education, isn’t his position an all-out abdication of his sworn duty to ensure that every child in this state be provided an education?

I believe the court’s ruling regarding home schooling was correct constitutionally, legally and morally. O’Connell has betrayed his oath to uphold the California Constitution and the education code.

Martha A. Torgow

Northridge

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As the mom of a home-schooling family, I can vouch that despite societal stereotypes of right-wing religious zealots, home schoolers are a diverse group of people. Our reasons for home schooling are equally diverse.

The one thing that we have in common is a deep love for our children and an environment that allows our children to flourish into high-quality, literate, socially responsible and productive adults.

One reason that home schooling is successful is that we are largely unregulated. Our children have the ability to learn at their own pace, in a flexible environment. Each family’s needs are different. Some families have children with special needs.

We have found that a one-size-fits-all approach fails our children. In this regard, a one-size-fits-all approach to standardizing and “testing” home schooling will fail home-schooling families. Home schooling needs to remain a legal and unregulated option.

Karri A. Lewis

Lakewood

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Re “Learning power,” editorial, March 12

I am a former public school teacher, and my husband has been a public school teacher and teachers union member since 1993. We are also home schooling our children. There is no conflict either of interest or of philosophy in this -- we value education highly and value every family’s right to choose how best to educate their children.

As noted in your editorial: “Private school teachers do not need a credential to instruct a class of 20 or 30 students. Why should parents need one to teach a few children at home?” However, you follow that with a call for the Legislature to “impose reasonable regulations -- such as a yearly lesson plan or portfolio of student work -- that encourage these schools’ individuality and ensure that children aren’t home all day watching reruns of ‘The Andy Griffith Show.’ ” There are no such “reasonable regulations” imposed on private schools -- why impose them on families who have committed time, money and energy to educating their own children? Really, if we just want them out of our hair, there’s no need to place them in front of “The Andy Griffith Show” -- we’ll just send them to our local public school.

Rebecca Camacho

Stockton