Obama on Homeschooling
The question was asked on a home school group today about Obama’s stance on homeschooling. I did some research today on this topic.
First, let’s start with Obama’s website. His does not mention home schooling once in his entire education plan.
There are supposedly 2 quotes from his book “The Audacity of Hope
On page 344 of The Audacity of Hope, he writes: “none of these policies need discourage families from deciding to keep a parent at home…For some families, that may mean doing without certain material comforts. For others it may mean home schooling….Whatever the case may be, such decisions should be honored.”
In Chapter 5 of The Audacity of Hope, Senator Obama writes that we should be guided by “Lincoln’s simple maxim: that we will do collectively, through our government, only those things we cannot do as well or at all individually and privately. In other words, we should be guided by what works.”
Statement from HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association):
HSLDA co-founder, chancellor of Patrick Henry College, and general counsel of the Home School Legal Defense Association, recently wrote a letter to the editor of the Washington Post dated Friday May 23, 2008 entitled “Why I Fear an Obama Presidency”. In the article, he states, “I have every reason to believe that an Obama presidency would be particularly harmful to the American family and the home-school community.” His main reason for “fearing” Obama is his support of the ratification of the U.N. Convention of the Rights of the Child, which is at odds with parental rights. (This was originally supported by the Clinton White House).
You can read more about the U.N. Convention of the Rights of the Child at their site. I have to agree with HSLDA on this treaty. This treaty undermines parental rights and will be a detriment to all families, not just home schoolers.
From NPR, a story about how Obama supports choice, but only choice within public schools or charter schools.
Obama also wants to give parents more options when they pick a school for their children, but he would limit those choices to public charter schools. He does not support vouchers for children to attend private and parochial schools.
Obama bows to the teachers unions and opposes the DC Voucher program. If he continues that trend, he will oppose home schooling as well because teachers unions oppose home schooling.
Back in February, it looked like Obama would be willing to back the teachers union and support the voucher program. The Illinois senator told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: “If there was any argument for vouchers, it was ‘Alright, let’s see if this experiment works,’ and if it does, then whatever my preconceptions, my attitude is you do what works for the kids,” the senator said. “I will not allow my predispositions to stand in the way of making sure that our kids can learn. We’re losing several generations of kids and something has to be done.”
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But by June, the teachers lobby convinced Obama to work against the program. The senator told ABC News last week: “We don’t have enough slots for every child to go into a parochial school or a private school. And what you would see is a huge drain of resources out of the public schools.”
Obama supports sex education for kindergartners. How long before he wants to make these same requirements on home schoolers. This is a rather extreme view. Why in the world do you want to teach 5 year olds sex ed?
“‘Barack Obama supports teaching sex education to kindergarteners,’” said Obama mimicking Keyes’ distinctive style of speech. “Which — I didn’t know what to tell him (laughter).”
“But it’s the right thing to do,” Obama continued, “to provide age-appropriate sex education, science-based sex education in schools.”
Even though Barack say he understands single parents, his wife, Michelle doesn’t understand it at all.
So I was disappointed to read the words of Michelle Obama as she bragged that her kids have “always known two parents to work in the household. And as long as we’re back in time for bedtime, they could care less where we are.”
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I also had to wonder: Does Michelle really believe her young children don’t care if they see her until bedtime? Does she sincerely believe her kids are just as happy with a nanny and a Secret Service agent as they are with mom and dad?
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In the aforementioned speech, Michelle Obama was addressing the National Partnership for Women and Families, a left-wing group whose chairman of the board is Ellen Malcolm, a pro-abortion radical who helped form EMILY’s List—a group obsessed with getting pro-abortion Democratic women elected to office. Michelle wanted the National Partnership to know she was one of them—a mother who worked.“I have always been, and probably will always be in one way, shape or form, a working mom,” she told them in her seven-minute speech.
The American Thinker has more analysis of all the additional money Obama wants to put into education. His idea of reform again is all about public schools.
Washginton DC actually made additional requirements for home schoolers in the city. As most people should know though, Congress has authority over the DC Schools.
Finally, in Illinois
Obama Voted against an income tax credit for parents who send their kids to private schools, religious schools, and/or who home-school their kids. (1999)
I still need to do more research into Illinois specific votes later this week, but there should be enough evidence here to prove Obama is not homeschool friendly and not friendly to parental rights no matter what his book says.
I gotta say, anyone who is beholden to the teachers’ unions will never, I say never be given permission to support homeschooling or genuine school choice in any way. Democrats are beholden to the unions and as a Democrat, so is Obama. Never mind the fact that his views on generally everything (except defense) are that the govt. knows better than you do and the Nanny State can take care of you better than you can.
Although I generally consider myself a conservative democrat, I have to say that I am unable to support Obama in this election. His questionable alliances and choices are of real concern. Though I do not believe he has any devious intent, he strikes me as somewhat naive and unable to make sound decisions. I also am entirely opposed to limiting parental rights. Too many of his plans involve too much big government. I believe we should be willing to help our fellow Americans in real need, but handouts and bailouts are counterproductive.
Neither candidate seems the perfect choice, but my gut tells me Obama is just not ready to be the President.
Mccain has too many questionable alliances and has no clue about the economy. And if you are going to go with the bailout, you might want to see that Mccain also voted for it. Do some research people. God forbid something should happen to Mccain and Palin takes over. That would be a disaster.
You mean unlike Obama’s connections with Ayers, Wright, Flager, Rezko, Odinga, etc.
The bailout should never have happened. I think McCain and Obama made a mistake voting for it.
I don’t trust the government to do what is right so I don’t trust Obama when we thinks he can take my money and have the government spend it better than I can.
Wow…It’s the parens choice, and rights–He can’t just take away the rights of the American people
obama will be a crudy president!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that all opinions of those who cannot even bother to correctly spell the word “cruddy” are invalidated.
Oh yeah…and “Obama,” being a proper noun AND used at the beginning of a sentence, must be capitalized.
I have strong concerns over the Obama Presidency. Parents need to decide what is best for their families. Families need to decide how to best use their own money. We need less government. Not more. McCain was not a great choice but I had to resolve myself to voting for him as given the choice between the two I had to follow who spoke more for my core values. I don’t fit in the Democrat box or the Republic box as many issues I care about go to one side - but others the other. I am concerned unlike the plethora of elated people around me.
I meant Republican box - oops - typeo
I am wondering if someone who considers homeschooling a good option, but is not currently doing it, should get their kids out of our public schools now? I am not a fan of public schools in any way, but as a single parent I don’t have too much of a choice. I have figured out that I can do it, I would just have to be creative in doing so. I am already sickened enough about Obama being elected as his extreme views do not coincide w/my values & morals in any which way. I do not want my children being taught by Obama brainwashed people who think that they know best for my children. I am thinking that maybe, just maybe, if Obama tries to ban homeschooling, their might be some type of grandfathering in of families who already homeschool. What do you all think?
It is going to be difficult fro him to ban homeschooling outright. Each State has their own laws he would have to overturn. He will however strengthen the power of Public Schools by limiting choices for those who do want to take their children out of the system.
With the increase in taxes that are coming, choice will be even more limited for many families due to the costs. That will be both for homeschooling and private schools.
Homeschooling is difficult and takes a lot more time, but IMHO it is well worth it.
People need to get their children out of government schools now. What do we expect when we send our kids off to be raised and educated by the NEA, then send them to ultra-liberal universities, then they go out and vote! It is no wonder that each generation is getting more liberal and that now we have a Democratic president and congress.
I’m a bit confused. I was under the impression that democrats where “pro-choice”. However, they do not feel it best to let a parent decide what means of education their child should have? Additionally, they want to remove your choice of whether or not to have medical insurance; whether or not to own a gun; when children should be taught sex education; the list goes on. I can only assume that they feel most Americans would not make the best choice for themselves in these instances…..unlike having a baby aborted.
Obama is a socialist. Of course, he doesn’t support homeschooling. No need for further discussion, debate, or analysis.
Confused, you hit it right on the mark.
We’re in for 4 years of pure haedes. The kooks are crawling out of the woodwork.
Confused:
Exactly!
Actually democrats are more like socialist/communist thinking - they want to control. Obama thinks he knows what is best for everyone, that’s why he never gave specifics of how ‘change’ was going to happen. If you watched him yesterday, you might have noticed how he kind of controls the situation & what he tells us about what is going on.
Scarey stuff……..
I definately agree about getting the kids out of school now, but I am thinking he is going to make it that homeschooling parents must have teaching certificates, just like what happened in that one state (article from above that someone else linked).
Obama is neither the antichrist nor the Messiah. He is just another politician. For 40 or 50 years we have watched politicians take our hard earned money and throw it away. Obama will do no different. I can’t see how anyone would expect him to buck a 40 - 50 year political trend. He will do the same as those who came before him and those who will follow him for the foreseeable future. Confused makes an excellent point. What good does it do for the government to “rescue” freedom and liberty and then withhold it from its citizens. The paradoxes in our political system are astounding. They seem to believe that the best way to get out of debt is to borrow (and waste) more money…hmmmmm.
There they go again … people using “God forbid” in their statements (post #3) - as if it automatically puts God on their side. LOL
NOT.