Right In Texas

If you have evidence that teaching is not happenin...

2011-11-28T08:05:30.824-06:00

If you have evidence that teaching is not happening, the school district is required by law to enforce the compulsory attendance laws.

The key is evidence. People can't just claim that education is not happening. Some want home schoolers to be required to "get permission" to teach their kids at home to "make sure that all students get an education" ignoring the fact that a significant number of public school students can't graduate in spite of the certified teachers and accredited public schools they attend.

Somehow there is a double standard and that's ok, because teachers are certified and the schools are accredited but homeschool should be monitored by the state. I disagree.

WHAT IF YOU KNOW FOR A FACT THE PEOPLE ARE NOT TEA...

2011-11-26T16:47:50.131-06:00

WHAT IF YOU KNOW FOR A FACT THE PEOPLE ARE NOT TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN ANYTHING FROM HOME I MEAN NOTHING. WHAT DOES THE STATE OF TEXAS DO THEN JUST LET THE CHILDREN GROW UP WITH NO EDUCATION AT ALL BECAUSE THE PARENTS JUST DON'T CARE?

CPS is out of control, and, yes, they do take chil...

2011-11-20T00:48:04.651-06:00

CPS is out of control, and, yes, they do take children from homes so they get more federal tax dollars. This is happening to my daughter at this time. The cause: a false positive on a drug SCREEN, not a drug test. Their alleged mandate is to keep families together; but, they lose tax dollars if they do that. Trust me, I know for a fact tax dollars drive Texas CPS's cases. That's why I no longer work at a company I was working at - I couldn't stand the thought of it.

CPS has more authority that our police department....

2011-11-20T00:06:43.895-06:00

CPS has more authority that our police department. I was told by my county police department I have to right to disciple my children, but in return CPS has the right to call it abuse and remove them!! WHAT!! So what they are really saying is.. dont disciple your children and when they become of age and get into trouble with the police because they have no respect for authority, they can just go to jail!! Most of the CPS workers I have come in contact with are not married and dont have children. WOW!! So anyone can call them and tell them whatever they want and CPS will just come "kiddnap" your kids. Then make the parents jump through hoops to get the kids back. My kids want to come home!! They are depressed and unhappy. Not to mention are still grieveing over the suicide of their father 2 years ago the 29th of Nov 2011. My family has been riped apart by these 9 to 5 paychecks. I promise they dont care about my kids after 5 pm or on the weekends or holidays...while my kids and I cry 24/7. This will be the very first Thanksgiving and Christmas my kids not only get to miss their deceased father, but me also. In my opinion this is not protecting the kids..its torturing them and is abuse and neglect by CPS.

People desperately need to know their rights. Not...

2011-11-18T17:46:17.043-06:00

People desperately need to know their rights. Not only home-schooling parents, but as Americans as well. People in power do outrageous things all the time and we assume they have the authority to do it. Let's have classes specifically to educate our children on their rights and how to defend them. Land of the free and home of the brave! A government by and for the people.

A CPS worker told me that if a parent refuses to a...

2011-11-16T07:39:31.977-06:00

A CPS worker told me that if a parent refuses to allow CPS to come into their home and interview the children, CPS makes a note of that fact in a file which then shows up as negative information if a criminal background check is ever done on the parent.

I am very sorry your family had to go through this...

2011-11-15T22:15:21.733-06:00

I am very sorry your family had to go through this. I feel blessed this has not happened to us.

Thank God for THSC!!! They do come into your home ...

2011-11-15T09:44:27.346-06:00

Thank God for THSC!!! They do come into your home accussing you of wrong doing. When I first pulled my child out of public school because of the teachers...they too called cps on me. The poor girl came over and was not expecting what she saw. She saw a calm child and parent. She saw that not one of the accusations were true. They had said my daughter was on drugs and so forth. Was horrible. She was sitting in her pajamas playing her PS2 and eating breakfast and drinking choc milk. The girl talked to my daughter upstairs in her bedroom and saw she had everything and all the pictures I had taken of her were all over the house. She saw all the food, etc. It was a surprise visit so I had no idea they were coming. I laughed. I also asked the girl if she had kids of her own? Then I told her about the school. She actually appologized for them. I didn't accept. The school is still going. The teachers are all still there. The asst principal is still there and still making peoples life living hell. Sad Sad Sad. Yes I also went to the superintendents office. They DONT care. Never have, never will. The same time I took my daughter out of their school I found out 5 other parents did too. Gosh, you would think that would say something. Nope. They get paid either way. Hmmmmmm

Hogwash. Save the kids that need saving, and leave...

2011-11-14T20:33:15.969-06:00

Hogwash.
Save the kids that need saving, and leave the ones that don't need saving, alone.
This, apparently, is too damned difficult to educate our "overeducated" unemployed and indebted college grads in the tender intracacies of competent execution of just policies, and with fair results?
(while millions trot off to figure out how to "excute" financially industrial swindles of the first degree...for fun and profit.)
Our three ring circuses are killing kids and their families.
If each state does indeed get all that fat funding, then fire all the boobs who pretend they know what they're doing, replace them with actual expensively and thoroughly licensed ACCOUNTABLE professionals (renewed strictly on an annual basis,) and pay them the wages that attract only the best, who only make it through incredibly difficult competition.
....um, I have to jump through all those hoops, to qualify for a job that affords me far less opportunity to do any damage - to anyone.
(Why aren't farmers and fisherfolk running this country? They have more sense.)

I disagree, Mr. Anonymous. "Precisely because...

2011-11-02T11:51:52.089-05:00

I disagree, Mr. Anonymous. "Precisely because such a comparison or reference may sometimes be appropriate, Godwin has argued that overuse of Nazi and Hitler comparisons should be avoided, because it robs the valid comparisons of their impact." I would argue that this is one of those appropriate comparisons. Just as Hitler encouraged citizens to turn in their neighbors for violation laws of the Third Reich, Arlington is encouraging its citizens to turn in those who "may" be guilty of truancy.

You do realize that by violating Godwin's law ...

2011-11-02T11:10:53.394-05:00

You do realize that by violating Godwin's law and comparing this policy to something Hitler would have done, that you have invalidated your entire argument, right?

it disgusts me that parents are having to go throu...

2011-10-30T07:28:28.652-05:00

it disgusts me that parents are having to go through such custody battles with grandparents..not even being married to them or them even paying child support!! the justice system has let parents down by letting grandparents that are malicious and always suing for custody of the grandchildren.parents should be able to authorize what is in the best interest of their own children and allow limited visitation with such people.i am hoping the laws will change very soon in texas and other states regarding a grandparent wanting custody and interfering with the parent child relationship.

Children of illegal immigrants are allowed to play...

2011-10-29T12:43:45.336-05:00

Children of illegal immigrants are allowed to play high school sports. My child who is an American citizen cannot play because he is a homeschooled student. I pay taxes,his grades are passing and more update than public schools each day, yet he cannot play football at our local high school. Is this not discrimination?

The reason why mandamus is unlikely to succeed in ...

2011-10-16T09:48:43.410-05:00

The reason why mandamus is unlikely to succeed in this instance (although it certainly should) is that the we are talking about the 2nd Court of Appeals, which is Texas' version of the 9th Fdl Circuit out in CA: the most liberal, invasive, disprespectful of parental-rights appelate court in the state. If this parent had been in almost any other appelate disctrict in the state, his problems would have ended long ago based on the grandparents' inability to produce evidence against the man, and based on the basic rights parents have to be left alone in their parental decision making when there isn't evidence that the parent is abusive or neglectful. TPRRA is a vital piece of legislation for all parents in Texas. In addition to passing it and other legislation designed to roll back the legal assault on parental rights that is going on in Texas family law, there needs to be changes to the composition of the 2nd Court of Appeals. Fortunately, the wisdom of the Texas Constitution includes judicial elections. The homeschool community and all liberty-loving parents should turn send a strong message in the next election cycle that this kind of abuse of parental rights will cost judges their jobs. That is the only thing that most politicians truly understand.

Thank you, Tim, for your involvement for us on thi...

2011-10-14T17:51:48.971-05:00

Thank you, Tim, for your involvement for us on this front. Being a liaison and ambassador is important and requires someone with your wisdom and graciousness. You are such a blessing to Texas Homeschoolers.

Why is it not time for a writ of mandamus?

2011-10-11T19:08:29.153-05:00

Why is it not time for a writ of mandamus?

And that is the crux of the matter. The grandparen...

2011-10-10T15:43:17.103-05:00

And that is the crux of the matter. The grandparents in this and many other cases want to have the same rights as parents and they are in fact not parents!

I think the phone issue can be resolved by the gra...

2011-10-10T14:43:46.499-05:00

I think the phone issue can be resolved by the grandparents giving the girl her own phone which THEY pay for and which she keeps. I've seen that work in divorces where the parent who fears being cut off gives the kids phones at that parent's expense.

This father is fortunate he is not in Louisiana. L...

2011-10-10T08:43:05.916-05:00

This father is fortunate he is not in Louisiana. Louisiana law does not permit Jury trials in these cases. Parents are at the mercy of the judge.
Emily Wagner

Federal law requires states to allow children of i...

2011-10-02T18:26:31.071-05:00

Federal law requires states to allow children of illegal immigrants to attend public school. As full time students they would be eligible to participate in UIL activities.

Can anyone tell are illegal immigrants allowed to ...

2011-10-02T17:56:13.065-05:00

Can anyone tell are illegal immigrants allowed to play football while private school students and homeschoolers are denied?

I know quite a few homeschool graduates and it ama...

2011-09-30T10:25:31.655-05:00

I know quite a few homeschool graduates and it amazes me to see them taking on roles in different professional jobs and participating in politics, etc. I see them as well-rounded people. I would like to see this type of study done on a broad scope. Of course, I have a stake in HOPING that you are right and it was a dud - because I have two teens who have been homeschooled and they SEEM to be doing well in all of those areas mentioned - as they tell me their hopes and goals for the future and seem to have a clear defined purpose set in their minds. About the politics, I would HIGHLY doubt that my kids don't become involved. Here's an article about one of my best friends and how she's educating her kids on the "campaign trail": Daze of Adventure Political Adventures

After almost 10 years of me homeschooling my child...

2011-09-29T15:23:54.506-05:00

After almost 10 years of me homeschooling my children, (one child now in college), my sister admits that she will never believe that homeschool can be even as good as public school. It defies logic to me. Some 'opinions' have become religions in and of themselves.

Mr. Pennington, The EO language, indeed, sounds s...

2011-09-27T15:47:47.283-05:00

Mr. Pennington,

The EO language, indeed, sounds simple enough (even if it is backward-thinking). But I am curious whether you read the AAPS position/analysis statement on it, and (if so) what you thought of it.

I think Perry has a mixed record on parental rights. He has been helpful to homeschoolers, for sure. I like that. Vetoing SB1440 was a good thing, too.

He still hasn't backed off on his shocking support of CPS in the YFZ debacle, even though a great many constitutional conservatives and supporters of parental rights blasted CPS' actions and Perry's position. He probably won't have to face up to that one in the primary, though, as it would too easily be spun as "look, he hates Mormons" (which I don't think is true). So, he'll unfortunately get a pass on that one, when he really needs to be called to account for backing CPS' outrageous and (per the TX Supreme Court) illegal actions.

I get my information from the executive order itse...

2011-09-27T12:06:43.639-05:00

I get my information from the executive order itself (RP 65):

"Parents’ Rights. The Department of State Health Services will, in order to protect the right of parents to be the final authority on their children’s health care, modify the current process in order to allow parents to submit a request for a conscientious objection affidavit form via the Internet while maintaining privacy safeguards under current law."

The EO provided for submission of the affidavit online.

The description of the process by websites which may or may not have a political agenda, does not seem to be entirely correct.

For the record, I do not support Governor Perry's issuance of the Executive Order. However, since the Governor does not have a pervasive pattern of infringing on parental rights, nor does he seem to have an agenda to impose a federal vaccine requirement, it seems this is a very minor, non-issue in the selection of a Republican nominee when there are issues of far greater importance facing our Republic.