Homeschooling in 2012?

What will the laws in YOUR state look like four years from now? From Spunky Homeschool:

"Something that might affect homeschoolers in a future administration would be the passage of national testing and standards. In the past, homeschoolers have successfully fought and won exemption from such requirements, but with every new administration comes new uncertainties.

Who the next president appoints as the the Secretary for the Department of Education will tell us quite a bit about their priorties and the adminstration's education agenda. Both Obama and McCain currently oppose national standards. That doesn't mean that we're safe from national standards, the pressure on the next president to accept national standards is mounting. "

You know, I was really hoping to be a purist and vote third party. But the more I hear on the homeschool blogs about Obama's being an NEA favourite for a reason, the more I think it's time to bite the bullet and vote McCain. Because McCain is just a little less unpalatable than Obama. Really the clincher for me was some arguments Terry had been putting forth for months combined with Spunky's recent posted "response" from the Obama campaign about where he stands on homeschooling:

"Q. Do you support home schooling?

A. Barack Obama respects the decisions reached by some parents to home school their children, provided those parents are conforming to the laws and regulations set forward by their states governing home-based instruction."

Holy crap, Batman! You've gotta be kidding. The parent's "right" to homeschool is determined by the state, and he'd be OK with states like Vermont and Massachusetts continuing to stomp on PARENTAL RIGHTS to educate their children as they see fit?? Or it's OK with him that parents in New York have to submit stuff to the state QUARTERLY and provide lists of all curriculum materials used? AND an annual "norm-based" assessment? That's just nuts, considering the number of public high school graduates who can't read well.

Side rant: You know who determines the "norms," don't you? Well, it isn't me or my children... I've seen how they scan for children to be models in these tests and it's flat-out racist. To imagine, they wouldn't let MY kid help form one of these testing standards JUST because I was white and had been to college and/or my children aren't signed up for handouts. As if that has anything WHATSOEVER AT ALL to do with whether my child or yours reads at grade level. Racist. Classist. STUPID.

Really, when you handpick students to be just what you want them to be, you're going to get just the result you want. I mean, why don't you just fill in the bubbles yourself with a number 2 pencil if you're gonna be that picky? I haven't decided if this "national norming" is an insult to me because I'm white and *happen* by the absolute grace of God Almighty to do well financially, or if it's an insult to the other races out there on God's green Earth that their races are singled out for special "helps" on these idiotic tests. And last I checked 'round my house, all children aren't neurotypical. Here I have Woodjie getting LOTS of help from the state and do you know how often he speaks? I haven't heard a word from him yet today, and usually we might hear ONE before "nigh nigh" at bedtime. Mayyybe if he's feeling chatty, we might get two "done"s after dinner. HE is supposed to do well on a stinkin' "nationally normed" test? The pigs. Would I have to justify that "Woodjie doesn't talk and therefore can't read aloud well enough to master state standards of proficiency," quarter after quarter with them if I lived there??? OK, another day. But a thought in my head that isn't quite formed yet. When I think it out all the way, I'll let you know.

In any event, do you see one party more than another as being more homeschool-friendly in this election? Um, and not just the Presidential election, either. There are, like, ya know, so TOTALLY more people to vote for than just the president. Realllly. FYI. :]