Fearful Dementoids, Unite! November 18, 2008

So, it seems Joy Behar of The View thinks that homeschoolers are demented, and that homeschooled children learn to be afraid of other children. Forward the time to about 5:45 to hear the beginning of this discussion. The “demented” comment is about 7:08.

Here is a partial transcript of this section of the show, in case you missed some of it or your YouTube isn’t working. It’s not quite word-perfect; they kept interrupting each other and it was hard to catch everything. This began as a discussion of where the Obama girls should be educated.

JOY: I think that these kids [the Obama children] should be educated in the White House … this is my feeling …

ELIZABETH: Like homeschool?

BARBARA: You think they should have homeschool? Nooo…

JOY: Other children. They should bring them in and make a Little House on the Prairie.

ELIZABETH: Little House on the Prairie?

JOY: Yes, in the White House. That would be what I would do.

ELIZABETH: I’m all for homeschooling, I think it’s actually a good thing…

JOY: A lot of them are demented when they’re homeschooled, come on. [ROLLS EYES]

ELIZABETH: No they’re not, I have a lot of friends who are homeschooled.

JOY: [ROLLS EYES] Please!

ELIZABETH: That’s not true, a lot more parents now are actually homeschooling because it’s less expensive …

JOY: They’re afraid of children! They, they learn to be scared of other children!

ELIZABETH: No, they’re still on soccer teams …

JOY: Mommy and Daddy telling them everything [WAVES HANDS DISMISSIVELY] 

ELIZABETH: That’s not true, that is a complete stereotypical … they do it in consortium with other parents, and the kids play on teams and …

BARBARA: You’re isolated enough in the White House without not getting out and seeing other children and having …

JOY: That’s right, bring other children into the White House.

ELIZABETH: [unclear] wouldn’t turn that down, that’s kind of cool.

WHOOPIE: You know what I think, I really think that it would be hard for other kids to have the Obama girls in their class.

The discussion returned to the Obama girls after this exchange. I admit I’m a bit torn between refusing to give them any publicity – obviously what they want – and pouring outrage on their heads. Well, just on Joy’s head. Elizabeth stoutly defended homeschoolers. Barbara was not as vituperative, and attempted to calm things down, but still she obviously has some incorrect views of homeschooling.

Here you can contact ABC and The View regarding this public vilification of homeschoolers. Choose “The View” from the drop-down menu, and please BE POLITE! Also be as grammatically correct as possible. Let’s make a good impression!

Never Let Them In November 18, 2008

They need a warrant. They need to let us know the allegations against us. They need to pursue reasonable avenues to investigate unsubstantiated and potentially baseless claims from a single anonymous source – say, maybe, talking to the parents or possibly seeking input from friends and neighbors before they force their way into our homes and grill and strip search and generally traumatize our children. 

Homeschool family harassed by social worker : Once again a social worker acting on an “anonymous tip” has bullied her way into a homeschooler’s house – this time, the anonymous tip was from eight months previous. You can see how truly worried they were about the children by that time span. Fortunately while the strip search of the children was going on – which revealed nothing untoward, of course – the mother got her wits about her, called HSLDA, and handed the phone to the social worker. HSLDA informed the social worker that she was violating federal law, and the family is now considering legal action.

Fortunately this particular case did not end in the children being removed from their home, though the social worker did recommend, on her way out, that the family subject themselves to psychological evaluations. To what purpose, I wonder? To evaluate and work through the trauma to which the children had just been needlessly subjected? The family declined and apparently also decided (wisely, one must regretfully assume) not to recommend the social worker go find someone to do some psych work on her. 

We all hope and pray we will never hear that dreaded knock on our own doors, but in the interest of being prepared, here are some pointers. The main thing to remember is do not let them in without a warrant, nor let them speak to the children unless ordered by a judge. Also find out the allegations if you can.

Homeschool Legal 911

When Child Protective Services Calls

What Should I Do When Child Protective Services Knocks on My Door