18 April 2015

Homeschooling in the Mitten State

Michigan looks like a mitten and is located at the top of the map.
Looks like Mitchelle Blair killed her kids and put them in a freezer, and the crime wasn't discovered for two years.  Two years.  I gather Grandpa called or otherwise tried to make contact, but he was able to be convinced for a time that they couldn't come to the phone and/or visit because they were homeschooling.

That's right.  He's pretty smart.

And the neighbours never saw these kids for the past two years.  These kids never emerged from their home, because they were homeschooling.  Makes total sense, right? 

Michigan State Rep. Stephanie Chang held a press conference to remind people that homeschoolers are normal people and they're not all murderous thugs keeping their kids inside for years at a time.  Similar conferences have been held after terror attacks to remind citizens that every Muslim is not participating in some crazy jihad.   Everybody stay calm.

Kidding.  That response would have been the normal thing to do.  Instead, in true "make a law to fix some weird situation that just happened and probably won't again for another 20 years" fashion, Chang just decided to make up a new law.  Under her proposed regulation, homeschoolers would have to "register" and be checked twice a year to be sure they're not dead... or something.  Snarky internet comments indicate that really, freezers are to blame just as much as homeschooling, so we need for everyone to have a semi-annual freezer check as well.  Get ready to let the cops into your house so they can peek at your frozen pizzas, folks.  :)

Update:  Michigan State Senator Phil Pavlov has vowed to fight this and not allow it to get out of committee.  Here's his facebook page, which you can look at for more details.

6 comments:

  1. Some people are easily fooled and others too quick to turn a blind eye. If I didn't see a neighbours kids for more than a week I'd be worrying and asking about them.

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    1. Well, that's really on top of things! We don't need more laws. Murder's already illegal. We just need better people like you. Though honestly, unfortunately, knowing someone is missing doesn't prevent the murder, though... it might/ might not have prevented the second murder? You can't really second-guess these things I suppose.

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  2. I read about that... it's disgusting! But a sad indication of how family ties/neighbour/community ties have broken down in the past 30 odd years.

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    1. I agree, Chris! People must be intentionally gullible not to miss a kid for two YEARS.

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  3. I love your style in making a point here Christine. It's a sad event and a sad response.

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    1. Oh, it's a HORRIBLE event. And I do think CPS should have had actual eyes on the child in this case, not sure why it did not happen. They had been involved with the family for many years and most certainly dropped the ball on this. Perhaps they are too busy snatching children away from over-educated "free range" moms who let their kids walk to the park.



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Non-troll comments always welcome! :)

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