Police seize 10 children from homeschooled family.

[lavagirl]

BREAKING: Police Seize 10 Children From Homeschool Family Because They’re Off-Grid | Off The Grid News

[cookderosa]

BREAKING: Police Seize 10 Children From Homeschool Family Because They’re Off-Grid | Off The Grid News

This has been in the news. You can find her (and her pics) on Facebook as well as lots of video and police interactions. I don't think homeschooling or off-grid is the issue (where you supply your own power, etc) they don't actually have walls even- their residence is made from pallets and tarps. I believe their arrest was from them stealing water off a neighbor's property and when confronted threatened the neighbor with a gun. I don't think this is a lifestyle case, I think it's a case of health and welfare of the children.

[UptonSinclair]

Is there a difference between home school and unschool? I taught my son at home but he had an organized curriculum. Though I defend parents rights to choose how they school their children, there must be some minimum of what they are taught to prevent them from becoming a burden on society. It also sounds like it was a mistake for them to advertise their choices to the world. If you choose to live this different from others it is best not to scream, "look at us".

That being said, there are far better ways to handle these situations than to put children in foster homes. The state simply needed to provide a temporary housing situation where the family could remain together while they worked out what needed to be done for the family to stay together. Rather than being confrontational, the situation could be handled proactively.

[cookderosa]

Is there a difference between home school and unschool? .

Legally, no. Each state sets the homeschool laws, so it's possible to comply using an unschooling philosophy. It's also possible to choose NOT comply with your state's laws, which many people do proudly....of course there are consequences of getting caught.

[Lindagerr]

I think it does homeschooling a disservice to focus on that as to why these children were taken away. From my reading it seems as these children have had an unhealthy and unsafe environment and that they have been warned to make things better.

If the children had a warm space with walls (even cloth walls) with no feces within I would say they were taken away unfairly no matter if they had electricity or unschooled (although it sounds like the version of unschooling they did was unproductive). I just feel that the media has tried to sensationalize this as the government seizing these children because the family lived off the grid or were home-schooled.

[Devanna]

The children were not seized because the parents were off the grid, they were seized because they were in a dangerous situation. Homeschooling was not the issue, neglectfulness on the part of the parents was. I'm glad the authorities have stepped in to protect the children.

[cookderosa]

The children were not seized because the parents were off the grid, they were seized because they were in a dangerous situation. Homeschooling was not the issue, neglectfulness on the part of the parents was. I'm glad the authorities have stepped in to protect the children.

Exactly- and sometimes people say "homeschool" when what they mean is "no-school" or "truant"

[Devanna]

Exactly- and sometimes people say "homeschool" when what they mean is "no-school" or "truant"

Yes, unfortunately.

[UptonSinclair]

Exactly- and sometimes people say "homeschool" when what they mean is "no-school" or "truant"

Well said cookderosa. I worry that people who claim to be homeschooling while providing no formal instruction for their children do a disservice to true homeschool situations. I think many people go into homeschooling without understanding the commitment required.

[cookderosa]

Well said cookderosa. I worry that people who claim to be homeschooling while providing no formal instruction for their children do a disservice to true homeschool situations. I think many people go into homeschooling without understanding the commitment required.

Whenever I hear people say how easy it is, I worry that they are probably in for a shock- or their kids are.