Biblical Womanhood: If you needed another reason to consider homeschooling...

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

If you needed another reason to consider homeschooling...

"Mom and Dad" as well as "husband and wife" effectively have been banned from California schools under a bill signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who with his signature also ordered public schools to allow boys to use girls restrooms and locker rooms, and vice versa, if they choose.

"We are shocked and appalled that the governor has blatantly attacked traditional family values in California," said Karen England, executive director of Capitol Resource Institute.

"With this decision, Gov. Schwarzenegger has told parents that their values are irrelevant. Many parents will have no choice but to pull their children out of the public schools that have now become sexualized indoctrination centers."

Read the full article.

This is sad beyond words. And to think people were so excited about electing a Republican to be the California governor.

50 Comments:

Sarah L said...: Yikes!; 11:48 AM
A New Life said...: :-( Yuck. I'm over here in Northern Virginia, where it's starting to bleed blue. I really wonder what's going to happen by the time my little girl reaches "school age."; 11:58 AM
Re4mdmom said...: As a Californian who voted to recall our previous governor, Gray Davis, I have to say that the Governator is much better than his predecessor. California is weird. We love Republican governors (the last several governors have been Republicans) but everything else is Democratic. Go figure!

This bill is outrageous. Thankfully, I think the vast majority of children will continue to use the right bathrooms...

Thanks for posting the link.; 12:09 PM
Ana said...: I cannot believe it. I live in Southern California and people wonder why I want to homeschool my boys. I've taught in public schools for eight years and though I work in a relatively nice school I see daily how society has a negative influence on children. Now with this bill, yuck. I told everyone not to vote for him again, but they did not listen. Let us pray that something be done for the sake of all the children who are not lucky enough to be homeschoole.; 12:12 PM
Tammy C said...: Glad that I don't live in California.We are almost done with public schools and have never run into anything that strange in Ohio,North Carolina or Mississippi.; 12:28 PM
Trixie said...: I just read the full article.
Oh. My. Goodness!

Let's just open the minds of little children and pour raw sewage in. My heart goes out to the dear little ones and their families.

Trixie; 12:33 PM
dwiebes said...: I think that this bill hasn't gone as far as this article says it has. I also think that most schools are talking about having seperate bathrooms for those who are considered "transgendered" Also it seems that govenor Arnold actually vetoed the bill twice. I think that is would do us all some good to research this a little further(not to say that the prospect of the whole thing is okay, I am SO against this and it makes me feel sick to my stomach, and thankful that I don't live in california) Blessings!!!; 12:45 PM
Tracy said...: I don't even have the words. Appalled. That's about it.; 12:47 PM
Carla said...: I just can't believe this! I am not saying it's not true, I am saying it is shocking! I totally disagree with it! What next??

Carla; 12:48 PM
Leigh said...: Oh boy! Ick!; 12:52 PM
Martha A. said...: CA is always the leader it seems in the liberal movement. It is sad, but not unexpected.; 1:12 PM
2tired said...: This was on Worldnet Daily I believe. A pretty reliable source.

Ack. It made me sick to read it. My sympathy to all you who are stuck in California with these horrible influences!; 1:14 PM
Crystal said...: dweibes: If you wanted to send some articles, etc. concerning what you stated, I'd definitely like to take a look. I have usually found WND to be a pretty reliable source. However, I always want to make sure that what I post here is accurate and truthful so please do send it my way.; 1:17 PM
Stephanie said...: My husband sent me this article from WND today and I am just sick about it. We are homeschooling our children (just starting as our oldest is 4 1/2), and each day I become more thankful that God has led us to this decision. We don't live in CA, but I wonder if other states will be influenced by what they are doing in CA. Praying for all children to be taught how God designed a man and a woman for each other, as husband and wife, no exceptions.
Stephanie; 2:08 PM
Lisa said...: The following quote from the linked article really concerns me:

"The advocacy group also warns schools against bringing parents into any such discussion with students."

It sounds like they are removing parents from the picture by any means. They are forgetting that these are still OUR children.; 2:09 PM
Lisa said...: I'm in California with a fifth grader in public school. I thought that the fact Arnold had vetoed it before that it was gone. I'm sadly mistaken!!; 2:17 PM
Mrs. Jo said...: Sick and wrong! I think this will drive even a lot of non-Christians to homeschool, and even more Christians. I know the school shootings in recent years have upped the interest in homeschooling too. Maybe governors will get the message when they see how many kids are switching to private or home schools.; 2:35 PM
Mrs. Pear said...: While I think this will begin with lipservice only, it begins a very slippery sloap that California will slowly slide down while people are not watching.

We live in Southern CA, and all I can say is that, unfortunately, I am not surprised, and we plan to home school exclusively.; 2:36 PM
Dawn said...: Yeah this article was just...ummm...you know what...I don't have any words. I will say it made me ill as I kept reading.

It won't be long till other states grasp the idea.

Oh I am sure that adults are going to love their children calling them and their grandparents by their first names among other things.

*sigh*

Well Christians, look at it this way, we are yet another step closer to the return of our Lord!
Things will continue to get worse, but we can be excited to know that our Father is on His way! :)

Love,
Dawn; 2:42 PM
Sandi said...: Shocking and disgusted. We have Christian family members who live there and I often wonder whether they will now consider homeschooling their children now that they are older. This country has lost its morals/values. When we say God Bless America it is truly WHY should God Bless America, especially when laws like these are plassed.; 3:10 PM
Word Warrior said...: I had heard this was on its way...I'm really surprised, though, that the governor approved it.

"And He will give them over to a reprobate mind"...

I would plead with parents--in any state, because there is already enough humanism and other junk to indoctrinate our children--I plead with you to teach your children at home when you rise up, and when you lie down, and when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way.; 3:29 PM
Noah said...: Repulsive!; 3:29 PM
Leah S said...: All I can say is "Thanks Mom for homeschooling me!" Yes, I was born and raised in California. Thankfully I live in Arizona now!; 3:36 PM
Anonymous said...: California is one of the most restrictive states to homeschool in. The laws are pretty tough - I'm pretty sure a parent has to have a degree in education if they want to homeschool.; 3:48 PM
Anonymous said...: Insanity! When I was in college they had co-ed dorms, an all boys dorm and an all girls dorm. I absolutly refused to be in the co-ed dorm.
Are people crazy now a days? I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the sexual harrassment/ violent crimes against women are going to shoot through the roof. Men are wired to be visual creatures. Why put them in a situation that makes it all but impossible for them to control themselves day after day?; 4:10 PM
Anonymous said...: No, I'm a homeschooler in CA and there are a few different options for homeschooling, each with different requirements. One of the options is to file an affidavit with the state to establish the home school as a legal private school, and that does not require a degree in education, or any degree at all.; 4:16 PM
neuropoet3 said...: Actually according to The Homeschool Legal Defense Association there are actually 4 different options for people who want to homeschool in California. If anyone reads this and wants to find out for themselves what the law actually is I strongly suggest going over to www.hslda.com. We need to protect our children!; 4:24 PM
Jennifer said...: A family member told me about this report on WorldNet Daily on Sunday. It was so alarming I was trying to verify it from another source. As of Sunday I could only find it posted on WorldNet and people who were posting the story on their blog. There are enough conservative papers, blogs, and radio talk show host that would jump on this story if it were true. So I have not passed it along to anyone else yet. I could not find with the CA state websites that this legislation had passed. I sincerely hope it is not true, though I can see it in the future with the road our nation is traveling.; 4:38 PM
Laura said...: I recently linked to this WND article myself -- I'm a Californian and share your dismay -- but I think it's important to remember that the WND article presents what *might* possibly be considered "discriminatory" in the future. The law doesn't actually ban "Mom" and "Dad" at this point -- but it's a logical supposition that things like that could be problematic as the meaning of this law is litigated in years to come.

Arnold has been a real disappointment. He was an improvement over the alternatives (Davis and Bustamante) and has done a few good things, such as roll back the car tax and recently he rejected taxpayer-funded college financial aid for illegal alien students. However, a conservative he's not.

California is actually one of the least restrictive states in the nation for homeschooling -- you wouldn't expect that given how "blue" the state is, but it's true! Private/independent homeschoolers simply form a "private school" and fill out a form notifying the state the private school exists. That's pretty much the end of it. It does not have to be headed by a certified teacher. There is no actual government oversight other than them filing away your private school affidavit alongside those of religious schools, Montessori schools, etc. There are other options, including being taught by a parent who is a certified teacher or via a public charter such as California Virtual Academy. Homeschoolers thus have a wide range of homeschool options ranging from completely "doing your own thing" to using taxpayer-funded curriculum, depending on individual families' beliefs, needs, etc.

Best wishes,
Laura; 4:44 PM
Anonymous said...: Bill O'Reilly is covering this story on his show, tonight (10-16-07)

http://billoreilly.com/show?action=viewTVShow&showID=1562#1

-Zan; 4:56 PM
Bethany said...: Thank you for posting on this issue! I live in California and just began my first year of homeschooling. I have never been more thankful for this!

This is such a lesson for us Christians. Fear God, vote Biblically, don't compromise. I believe that is what happened when he was voted in...; 8:02 PM
Mandy Grace said...: I was appalled and disgusted to see that our governor passed this bill. In one article I read when I was researching this yesterday, it said Schwarzenegger passes either 76% or 78% of the bills that come through the democratic legislature. He's a Democrat in Republican clothing.

I also heard that because CA has the largest market for textbooks in the U.S., textbook suppliers will most likely start making one generic book according to the new standards (with no terms like "mom" or "dad," etc.) that they will supply to the rest of the country as well.

This is awful! Praise God for homeschooling.; 8:50 PM
Bethany Sue, CFO said...: That is just digusting. My mom grew up in California many years ago and she went to public school. She said that they used to pray everymorning before classes...yep..in public school. Well, you are right my friend, just another reason we are homeschooling our children.; 9:31 PM
Diana said...: Hmm. We actually had a report today in our newspaper claiming that children in public schools spend more time studying religion than science!
You can read the article for yourself here: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/more-study-time-in-religion-than-science/2007/10/16/1192300769088.html
"AUSTRALIAN primary school students spend more time in school assemblies and religious education than they do studying science, a study has found...

Primary schools reported they were finding it virtually impossible to spend enough time on core subjects because their curriculums were cluttered with life-skill subjects such as manners and nutrition."

I'm not sure when manners and nutrition became 'clutter' in a child's learning and development, but anyway :P; 1:51 AM
Anonymous said...: This stuff just rots my socks, but you know how many folks send their children to Magnet Schools within the public system not realizing that the curriculum used is international baccalaureate which is the UN world education curriculum. It is every bit as bent on stealing the innocence of our children. Check out edwatch.org type international baccalaureate in their search engine. Don't do this on a full stomach!

Note: This is the curriculum that will soon be nationalized in the U.S.

jodie
Homeschooling In ARkansas; 7:40 AM
JL said...: Okay, I can understand the disgust and totally agree with it. However, why not, instead of just ranting about how much we disagree....why not do something about it? Why not, instead of bowing to the system and allowing them to do as they please - why not start fighting it? There has to be a way! Take for example the many, many battles that have been faught and won for our second amendment rights...why not stand up for the rights of our families?
I have no intention whatsoever of sending my children to a public school. Even a 'good' Christian school is out of the question for us because even there you never know what your kids are going to run into. Not everyone who sends their kids to Christian schools is a Christian and not everyone agrees on everything. Our children are the most precious gift we have been given (to us as parents) so why put them at risk by tossing them into who knows what?
These people have been getting away with too much for too long. It's about time we stood up and did something. Just what I don't know, but if we all put our heads together we have to come up with something!
As for this being another reason not to send your kids to a public school...just try watching the local news every day for a few months and you won't need any other reason! During the school year, almost every single week it seems there is another new scandal being reported on. From that alone, my mind was fully made up - or I should say, everything I had already decided was fully confirmed!
We have organizations that fight for our rights in other areas, we need something to stand up to the government when it comes to our schools. Their involvment needs to be kept to what is necessary. We need to stop them from trying to take over and dictate to us how we should be raising our children. We need an organization that is going to speak for us, say what we want to be said. One that is going to represent the real desires of the people of this country when it comes to our families. If they want schools like this, then they can fund them from their own pockets. It is our money they are using so lets step in and tell them how they can use it! We need to do something or it isn't going to stop!; 7:47 AM
Crystal said...: JL:

Absolutely!

Evil prevails when good men and women do nothing.

That's one of the main reasons that my husband went to law school. You better believe we'll be fighting for religious liberty and parental rights. We're *passionate* about not letting the government take over and take away our God-given, Constitutional rights.; 8:22 AM
pfg blogmatron said...: "Republican" isn't synonymous with "Biblical". Besides, what family connection does Arnold have? hmmmmm?

Here is news & web mentions currently for SB777. It is worded to easily be turned to the benefit of those of the Christian faith also not desiring discrimination. Can you sense the flurry of legal activity on the horizon? I can. Arnold may have done Christians a favor in the broader view. Yet, remember, what we see now is just the tip of the iceberg of what unfolds before Jesus returns. So be encouraged and stand in Christ.

http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2006-20,RNWE:en&q=SB+777&um=1&sa=N&tab=wn; 9:20 AM
Anonymous said...: Sorry, but living in a state that "gives you 4 options for homeschooling" is restrictive. It is your God given right and responsibilty, not something that a State government grants you. It's none of the State's business how you educate your child. It's a parents responsibility and right to raise up a child and train them in the way they should go. The State should be hands off. There are states that require nothing - not notification, zilch. Compared to other States CA scores an F in there restrictions for homeschooler's. It's a slippery slope when you have a state indoctrinating children in the public school sytem into alternative lifestyles to butting their noses into all those homeschoolers who've given affidavits to the government about homeschooling. Big Brother in CA knows where the homeschooler's are and it's only a matter of time. If you've given them an affidavit then they have you on a "list" somewhere just because people believe it's ok to notify the government on how they raise their children.; 9:29 AM
pfg blogmatron said...: Living in this world and even in a country such as ours where there is a "separation" of state & religion(state is to stay out of the affairs of faith not the other way around as has turned more the thought these days) isn't always without bumps. Christians have hope everywhere geographically though we live in a country where we aren't persecuted as elsewhere around the world. It could be that way here yet don't think for a minute...for a second that God isn't in total control with His vessels of mercy and vessels of wrath.

Here is a map of home educating requirements across the country.
http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp

It doesn't harm believers to follow the law seeing that God is over government...or to have to stand firm in what God says when the law of the land sidesteps Him ~ not really when we have hope in Christ in the here and the hereafter. Let's be Daniels. Respectful to those that oppose. Righteous. Victorious in Christ. Yes? Gentle as doves...wise as serpents. http://www.biblebb.com/files/mac/sg45-99.htm

God is still good and always will be; we are very blessed.; 10:35 AM
Laura said...: "living in a state that 'gives you 4 options for homeschooling' is restrictive. It is your God given right and responsibilty, not something that a State government grants you. It's none of the State's business how you educate your child."

I completely agree. However, the statement I was answering was that California is one of the "most restrictive states" in which to homeschool. To my knowledge, there are relatively few states which give the complete freedom you describe -- which I very much agree is the ideal.

Here, for example, is a discussion with a list of the "no oversight" states -- this particular post lists only 8. After that, TX and CA are listed as the easiest states. Other sites on the web vary somewhat in their assessments, but in my research over the last few years CA usually comes up in the Top 10 for "least government oversight."

I do know many California homeschoolers choose not to inform the state of their private school's existence at all -- that's an ethical choice for parents/Christians to weigh individually, balancing the Christian principles of "rendering unto Caesar..." with their God-given rights to raise their children as they see fit.

I recognize this discussion is veering somewhat off topic; however, it may well be of interest to those parents dismayed by what is described in the original post who are interested in homeschooling in CA, so I hope it's OK to continue to contribute this info on CA homeschooling to this thread. :)

Best wishes,
Laura; 10:58 AM
Terry said...: This law sounded so far fetched that I refrained from commenting until I read the actual bill on CA's government web site. It's every bit as offensive as WorldNet Daily described. In response to the commenter who stated that this legislation can be twisted in favor of Christians, I can't see that as a possibility after reading the bill. It appears to be a direct assault on traditional and religious values.; 11:08 AM
Anonymous said...: Yes, we must follow the laws, but what are we going to do when the laws get to the place of "all children will be educated in a school sponsered by the state"; 11:49 AM
Sheri said...: I am a follower of Christ living in California and I have to say that the World News Daily story is pretty dramatic. I went to the source, the actual law, and read it and it doesn't mention anything about taking away the words "Mom", "Dad", Husband" or "Wife". The law is an anti-discrimination law that protects against ANY discrimination in textbooks, actions or deeds in public school systms, against race, religion, gender or disability.
Being a mother of a child with delays, I am grateful for discrimination protection, wouldn't you want that for your child?
While I completely disagree with homosexuality, transgender and bisexual lifestyles as going against God's words, God does not give Christians the right to discriminate or judge. Jesus reached out and loved the prostitute at the well (a VERY taboo thing in his day as well as now). He did not condemn her and so these children that are confused, or growing up in a home with '2' mommies shouldn't be treated poorly because of it. The people with 'alternative' lifestyles that contradict God's word don't need more judgment heaped on them. That's not gonna make them coming running to God. It is by showing unconditional love, as Jesus did, that will, according to the Bible, win people over. They need to see Christ's unconditional love and this law protects race, religion, gender/sexuality, disability (which are the same categories as employee discrimination)from discrimination in the school system, either through words, textbook or actions by administrators. What's wrong with that?
World News Daily, in my opinion, has overblown this law. Here's the link to the law as it reads, if you are interested in reading it for yourself. info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0751-0800/sb_777_bill_20070223_introduced.html

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...
Peter 3:15; 12:17 PM
ana said...: In response to a post that said that having 4 options to homeschool your child was restrictive and the state has no right to tell us as parents how to educate our children I must say that it is a way of defending those children whose parents really don't know what they are doing. I teach at a public school(I hope to homeschool soon). Two years ago i had a student who was "homeschooled", she was nine years old and did not know the alphabet, did not know how to read or writ or do basic arithmatic. they finally caught the mother and the girl was sent to school. The child suffered so much the first two years, hiding in the bathroom during recess and lunch, not talking to anyone. I know we should be able to choose how to school our children, but unfortunately a few ruin it for the rest of us.; 2:54 PM
Lesley said...: My heart is heavy. Every time I hear of a happening of this nature, I can't help but think of the spiritual battle that is taking place. Our children have been being attacked with such darkness that it sometimes feels like the whole world is out of control. Yet even in these times, we can have courage. Greater is He that is in us! We need to stand strong and together, encouraging one another. Thank you to all the wonderful participants of this blog and of course thank you Crystal for creating a place where we really can share our fears, faith, and friendship!; 9:00 PM
Anonymous said...: As Christians we cannot just blithely give up our rights and responsibilities as parents. Sorry but I'm afraid our world view is not Christian if we think "Oh CA gives us four options to homeschool our own children. Isn't that great they give us rights to train our own kids as we see fit" or "some homeschoolers mess it up so it's a good thing the state is there to protect our children because they do a much better job overall since they are professional" The same people who want to get these "anti-discriminatory" laws passed will want to outlaw home school. Sorry this is not an issue any Christian should be taking lightly. ANY restrictions on how a parent parents their child is too restrictive. There is no such a thing as "light" restrictions when it comes to government inteference into our families.; 10:27 PM
Anonymous said...: Here ya go. Birth control for middle schoolers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21358971/

a quote from the article

""A supporter, Richard Verrier, said it’s not enough to depend on parents to protect their children because there may be students who can’t discuss things with their parents.""; 8:32 AM
Anonymous said...: Just wanted to let you know that Liberty Counsel and American Center for Law and Justice help to protect Christian liberties in public schools. They have both taken issues to the Supreme Court, and I would not be surprised if this law made it all the way to the Supreme Court. Let's pray that it does, and that the Judges there make a Godly decision. We personally support Liberty Counsel and my parents and parent-in-laws support the other. They are both great and I would encourage anyone who would like to make a contribution, or contact them about this issue to do so. I'm sure if you google their name you can find their web sites. I agree that this is not a time to say yuck only, but to fight and pray. I too homeschool, but I know that even though this is the ideal, most will still continue to use the public school system and this will directly affect our society at large. Thank you Crystal for bringing this to our attention.

Adrienen; 1:10 PM
Samaria said...: That's horrific. I'm a 14-year-old private schooler in Maryland, and as a person who has experienced discrimination because I don't support homosexuality in any of its forms, I can fully understand the issue in this. My sister is five, and I can only imagine what she would think in only a few years regarding homosexuality if she was in this kind of school system.

Shameful and sad, it all is. Disgusting.

I can only imagine seeing a guy, straight or no, in the same locker room as me. I'd BEG my mom to send me to a Christian school.; 9:17 PM

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

If you needed another reason to consider homeschooling...

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