The claim to exemption from the compulsory school attendance requirement in Virginia because of religious beliefs was the subject of three recent articles in the Virginia newspaper, The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg.
- 16 April 2006, Is state or family responsible for ensuring a child’s education?
- 17 April 2006, Parents at odds over children’s schooling
- 18 April 2006, Is it time for exemption law to be revisited?
By itself, the religious exemption apparently doesn’t equate to ‘homeschooling’ because the exemption relieves the parents from answering to the state, something Virginia homeschoolers are required to do.
The two articles also deal with separate issues, one being a difference of opinion between ex-husband and ex-wife concerning the schooling of their children after the divorce, and the other a dual discussion of whether the religious exemption law should remain on the books, and whether some families ought to use the exemption in order to homeschool. The issue is slightly muddled as all the people in the articles who are using the religious exemption are also homeschooling.
Other information and discussions (not as many as I expected) concerning the Virginia religious exemption are at:
- Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute: Religion and the Public Schools
- VAHomeschoolers: Religious Exemption from Compulsory Schooling
- O’Donnell Web, 18 Apr 06: More on Virginia’s Religious Exemption
- HomeschoolBuzz.com, 18 Apr 06: Virginia homeschool exemption law to be revisited
HEM
Helen
Tracy
mark
marynix
ann-lahrson-fisher
valerie
sandi
david
Yeah, I was a little surprised at the lack of commentary on that too. Although the lack of follow up editorials in the Richmond papers is probably a good sign.