Here’s a headline below on a subject I’ve always found puzzling, while some of our state representatives seem to find the focus irresistible (or possibly diverting from real problems):

Rep. Woodrow Stanley, D-Flint, looks to crack down on homeschool truancy

MLive By Blake Thorne

State law does not require annual registration of home school students.

“Kids must be in school in order to learn,” Stanley said in a news release. “This bill requires parents to report their child’s attendance records, giving home schools the same standards as public schools. Passing this bill is a no-brainer, it’s necessary for Michigan students.”

Reporting attendance records and personal information to the Education Department might offer the same lack of privacy public school students have, but I doubt education standards correlate. Passing this bill is a no-brainer if you’re trying to increase the public school reach into private schools.  That notion doesn’t seem appropriate if families are paying for the private schools/homeschools and do not need to answer to their public servants. Homeschoolers answer to their families and that requires high accountability standards.

Seems like HB 4250 – registration of Michigan homeschooolers with the Education Department – is the least necessary component in the current condition of public schools, including Michigan’s.  The public school truancy problem should be resolved with the tax-funded truancy officers.  Not being in Michigan, maybe I’m missing the news about gangs of homeschoolers running amuck on the streets.

It doesn’t seem like a problem to solve.

Feb 17 2013 in News-Commentary, State News SusanTags: HB 4250, homeschool registration, Michigan homeschooling, Representative Woodrow Stanley, school attendance records
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