Illinois Homeschoolers get knock on the door from police
A public school superintendent has sent police in squad cars to the houses of homeschooling families to deliver his demand that they appear for a "pre-trial hearing" to prove they are in compliance with the law.
Bruce Dennison, regional superintendent of schools in Bureau, Stark, and Henry counties in Northeastern Illinois, has contacted more than 22 families, insisting that they need his approval to conduct education at home.
Dennison is exceeding his authority, according to Chris Klicka of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, or HSLDA, who argues that homeschooling is legal in Illinois and families do not need school district approval to teach their own children.
"He's muscling the homeschoolers pretty heavily," Klicka told WorldNetDaily. "One truant officer told a family that he 'could take away the kids if he wanted to.'"
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I have 5 children that went to the Geneseo public schools. Amazingly, at least two of them said that fun was the main topic. As a result my two oldest girls had to get additional education to get decent jobs. I have one son that has the academic knowledge of an 8th grader.
But in the 70's, I can say they had a great football team. Which seemed to be the main focus in that school.
I have taught in Australian high schools for 14 years and also home schooled my own children (not at the same time). There are schools that should be closed down and started agian. Some have no law and order. Parents need to be able to do the best for their children, especially Christians, in this humanistic education system. If they taught the truth and had the laws to control or remove dangerous and rebellious students then more parents would send their children. The law can stop prayer in a public school, but it can't in our homes.
Good suggestion, Brian. If you choose to do so, also please visit www.hslda.org to understand the legal facts of the matter. If Mr. Dennison is confronted by hundreds of polite letters pointing out his lack of authority, it might make a good impression.
On a similar note, the usurpation of authority by a government agency is not rare. I've got a few acres of farmland, and have recently learned that the USDA regulations often bear little resemblance to the law.
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12/5/02 5:36 PM
