I want to bring to your attention Ohio Senate Bill 248 - commonly known as 'Teddy's law'. If this were to become law there would be significant changes to homeschooling - including the option of social services to recommend that your child NOT be excused from school.
Senate Bill (SB) 248 was introduced on December 3, 2013, and would require children’s services to review all homeschool notices (the paper you turn in each year) to determine whether homeschooling is “in the best interest of the child.” Under this proposed legislation, children’s services would be required to meet with parents who choose to homeschool and conduct separate in-person interviews with each of their children. Children’s services would then make a recommendation for or against the excuse from compulsory school attendance.
Children’s services would automatically be required to recommend against homeschooling if they determine it is not in the child’s “best interest” or if the family has any record of a child welfare investigation, regardless of the result of that investigation. If there is a recommendation against homeschooling, the superintendent would be ordered to delay excusing the children from public education for the purposes of homeschooling until the family participates in a CPS parenting “intervention.” (Basically, you would have an open case with Child Protective Services)
The ramifications of this law would not only negatively effect those currently homeschooling (about 20,000 children in Ohio) and intimidate families considering home schooling, it would also take the limited number of social service workers away from serious cases of abuse and focus their attention on home schooling families simply because they choose to home school.
The writers of this law assume that homeschooling is abusive and that parents can not be trusted with the safety of their own children, rather government workers should be trusted with the safety and education of all children.
Here is the Grandfather of the victim explaining this in his own words with Ohio Senator Cafaro
The most tragic part of this story is the young man who lost his life. Teddy's abuse was reported by friends, neighbors, public school educators and even other family members. The very people this bill places in charge of the safety of home educated children, are those who ignored the pleas of multiple mandatory reporters and ultimately contributed to Teddy's death by doing nothing.
Please do not assume that some one else will respond to this proposed legislation. As parents WE are called to protect and advocate for our children, not CHEO, or the HSLDA, or even our home school group leaders.
I respectfully ask that you take a moment to contact - via phone call - your state representative.
When you contact these offices be firm and polite. Although this law is misguided, it was drafted in response to a terrible tragedy, and we should keep Teddy’s family in our thoughts and prayers.
If you live in Licking, Perry or Coshocton County your representative is:
Tim Schaffer - also a member of the Education committee - not eligible for another term
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-5838
If you live in Fairfield or Muskingum County your representative is:
Troy Balderson -also a member of the education committee - he is up for re-election in 2016
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8076
You can contact the bill’s sponsors using the following contact information:
Senator Cafaro (Primary Sponsor)
1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-7182
Email: http://www.ohiosenate.gov/senate/cafaro/contact
Senator Brown (Cosponsor)
1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-5204
Email: http://www.ohiosenate.gov/senate/brown/contact
Senator Turner (Cosponsor)
1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-4583
Email: http://www.ohiosenate.gov/senate/turner/contact
Senator Schiavoni (Cosponsor)
1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8285
Email: http://www.ohiosenate.gov/senate/schiavoni/contact
Here is a link to the full HSLDA story http://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=bill%2Fsenate-bill-248-require-childrens-services-review-homeschooling
1 comment:
Well written, Amanda, and good points! Regardless of whether this bill goes much further, it is shocking to me that anyone would ever come up with it, or think it is a good idea. It is almost like CPS or the state is using homeschoolers as a scapegoat for them not doing their job. Argh. I cannot imagine having one of those state workers in my house and vying for their "approval."
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