First some full disclosure. My wife homeschooled my son for five years. He had attended private school from kindergarten through 4th grade.  Over time it became clear that we could do a better job.  My wife, who had left her job working for the County of Riverside’s Office on Aging,  has a bachelors degree and a Masters in Social Welfare from the University of California. She also had time.  The curriculum she sought out came from a company that promotes classical theories of education. My son  studied Shakespeare and Geometry.. Spanish and Biology.  There were frequent field trips and writing workshops with other homeschool children.  We always intended on him having a traditional high school experience which is what he is enjoying now.   His was on the Deans List for academic performance in his first semester and is currently near the top in each one of his classes including Honors English. He  also plays on the  varsity baseball team.  

In my view our decision to home school him was an unqualified success.

I can’t speak for all homeschoolers but others we know are  families dedicated to a quality education of their children which is why they chose to school at home in the first place.  Each one of the parents has had a college degree or better. From all I have seen the are cared for in a loving environment with plenty of opportunities for socialization. 

But now the California 2nd District Court of Appeals has effectively made homeschooling in the state against the law.  It is quite possible that the State Supreme Court will uphold the decision. That means the issue should be taken up in the California legislature for debate although I don’t think the homeschooling community will get much sympathy there either. The Democrats in the legislature dominate and they in turn are dominated by the California Teachers Association, a union that dislikes homeschooling about as much as it hates charter schools.

In his decision Justice H. Walter Croskey  wrote  ”A primary purpose of the educational system is to train school children in good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state and the nation as a means of protecting the public welfare.”  He was quoting a 1961 case on a similar issue. The point he missed though is that it is exactly with those goals in mind that people take their children out of the public school system.   I dare the good judge to traverse any public school campus and gauge the students  ”good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state”.. a lot has changed in 47 years. 

I’m just glad my son’s high school years came when they did.