Charter Schools - Stay Away from Them

Posted By Ina Woolcott

WOW - stay AWAY from Charter Schools!!!! Glad I don’t live in the USA…those in the Government responsible for this really are sly old foxes. Whoever came up with this idea is ingenious…unfortunately.

Presently, it is estimated that 1.5 million children are being educated at home, and the number increases 15% each year. These homeschooled children are winning awards, their test scores are off the charts, and their accomplishments are in the news daily. Colleges around the country now covet these exceptional young people. The National Educational Association of teachers and their socialistic ideas of Goals 2000 are unable to control these 1.5 million homeschooled children. Or are they?

Enter the Trojan horse of homeschooling—the Charter School. Charter schools are public schools in disguise. Homeschoolers are lining up to enrol and get their “free money.” Charters offer you “free” money for signing up, “free” computers and Internet service, “free” textbooks, “free” horseback riding or gymnastic lessons, ski passes, courses, etc. The state gives around $5000 to the charter school for each child enrolled. About $1000 goes to your “Educational Facilitator” (a public school teacher who is your overseer); $1000 goes to you (of course not in one lump sum or to use at your discretion—more on this later); and the remaining $3000 goes to the charter school (for administrative expenses). A few schools divide the $5000 into thirds. Either way, someone is making lots of money!

The charter school is a public school and the students enrolled are public school students. Three years ago there were 17 state-mandated guidelines in California. This school year (2002-03) there are 250 guidelines.

By enrolling in a charter school you are:

· Inviting the government into your home. Your children are now public school students, and your children’s homeschooling records are now public information. When you bring government money into your home, you give the government control over the activities in your home.
· Agreeing to allow your assigned Educational Facilitator into your home to observe your family once each month. (Some are now asking for twice a month visits.) Did you know they are trained to look for abuse and neglect, to observe children’s behaviour, and to read and analyze written answers on tests and papers? Did you know it could be just about anyone? The government is not as discriminating in hiring teachers as you would be!
· Permitting the government to dictate what resources you use to teach your children. You must file a purchase order that will be authorized before you receive your books. Usually the resources you order must be returned to the charter after you have used them.
· Encouraging the government to increase taxes to pay for all these charter schools to grow, as “needs” demand. More students create the need for more money, the need for more administrators and the need for more accountability. This encourages growth of government, not cutbacks.
· Affirming to the government that it has a say in how your children are educated, and that the charter schools are necessary.
· Consenting to governmental control of homeschoolers not just as of public school students. Their controls have only just begun.
· Letting the government dictate what you teach your children. The state laws prohibit religious instruction in public schools.
· Giving up your freedom to raise your children as God has instructed you.

To read the full article click : Charter Schools - The Trojan Horse of Home Schoolinng

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