The more we see cases like the one involving Abraham Cherrix (which I blogged about on She’s Right), the more important it is for us as parents – especially us homeschooling parents – to know how candidates for political office feel about the parents’ rights vs. the government’s rights before we vote.
I am currently working on compiling questions to put together for a candidate survey that will be mailed out to all state-wide candidates in my home state of Vermont. This will allow homeschooling parents to determine which candidates share their views on the role of the state in homeschooling.
I was surprised to learn that there is no single view shared by all homeschooling parents. I hold the view that the government should play no role in home education, but I have come across other parents who feel that some government oversight is necessary.
Since there is such a wide range of views held by homeschooling parents, I would like to base the questions on as much input from the homeschooling community as I can, inside and outside Vermont.
What kinds of questions would you want to ask a candidate to determine if he or she is “homeschool friendly”?
You can respond in the comments field, or e-mail me here.
Thank you for your contribution to this effort.
I like to ask if they personally know any families that homeschool and if so, what impression they have of homeschooling from that knowledge. This is an open-ended question, the kind most candidates don’t want to take the time or the thought to answer, but it tells a lot more about the candidate than most sruvey-type questions.
Ask what laws they think should be passed to regulate homeschooling.
This tends to cut to the heart of the matter.
I think maybe an open ended question, like asking them to share their own convictions for or against, as a “government authority,” on homeschooling in general. Ask them straight out if they are for or against – and why.
Questions like “who ought to have the ultimate authority to direct or control the education of children in Vermont” might help. The closer the answer is the US Department of Education the worse it is, with “local school boards/whatever” or “local teachers” getting next-best places before “parents.”
Questions about obliquely anti-home education/parental control issues — daytime curfews, extending compulsory education ages, statewide testing, etc., might be helpful too. Just “do you support a daytime (8am to 3pm) curfew for children under 16″ and “do you support lowering the compulsory school age to [whatever is appropriate in Vermont]” would help. It’ll rope some politicians in on the “ooh, this sounds like something people will want me to support,” but honestly, those are the politicians who are more likely to vote for or propose stupid laws for exactly the same reason. And it’ll be a chance for parental rights types to take a stand in a low-key sort of way.
I’d ask a trick question–
Are you in favor of tax credits and/or vouchers for homeschooling families?
The only correct answer is something along the lines of “No, I believe that homeschooling is best served by minimizing ties to the government. Vouchers would lead to accountability.”
First of all I favor strings-free tax credits for homeschoolers.
I live in Vermont, too. Please ask them:
DO YOU THINK THE VT HOME EDUCATION LAW SHOULD BE BASED ON NOTIFICATION TO OR APPROVAL FROM THE DOE IN ORDER TO EDUCATE AT HOME?
Thanks, if you want to talk please e-mail me from my blog.
Thank you all for your responses. I appreciate the help. I will do a post about the survey when I get it all together.