Michigan Government to Attack Home-Schooling Next?

As a supporter of home-schooling (and as someone who opposes government intrusion), a recent statement by a government employee got my attention. An employee at the Office of Children's Ombudsman was quoted as saying: "As long as home-schooling is as lax as it is, it's an avenue for parents to hide abuse." Because this came from a government employee, I take it that she believes the 72,000 children being schooled at home would be far safer sitting in a government school, where the all-seeing eye of the mighty State will protect them.

The common thinking among the pro-government folk is that children are the State's business first, and the parents are secondary; but if children must be taught outside of a government school, government should be as involved as possible. This is the argument starting to take shape in Michigan as we move into 2010. The Political Class, patting themselves on the back for all the laws passed in 2009 (and thus, all the liberty lost), are going to be spending the winter break looking for new ideas for new laws to be passed in 2010.

Sadly, liberty is becoming pretty scarce in Michigan. There's not much left that hasn't been recently touched by Lansing. Meanwhile the Political Class and the fans of government do not see the reality; with every law these government busy-bodies pass, private citizens are given more reason to pack up, gather their families, and move out of Michigan. Just within the last few years, strict state laws have been passed on:

* Seat-belts and child restraints -- children under the age of 8 and under 4' 9" in height need to be in a safety car seat. However the government also offered tax-funded coupons to parents who couldn't afford to purchase the required safety seats for their children. (Another example of government creating a problem, and then offering itself as a solution.)

* So-called "driver responsibility laws" -- which include hitting you with TWO tickets from the State of Michigan along with every one ticket written by a police officer for most traffic violations.

* State-wide smoking ban -- brazenly signed by Governor Granholm in a bar.

These are just three examples of the offensive, thoughtlessly short-sighted use of government in Michigan. Of course there have also been many additional laws, licensing fees, and taxes that have been driving away business owners as well. Chasing away employers then gives more reason for working residents to exit.

A recent study shows that people are leaving the state in search of a better economy and better "quality of life." Here is a free hint to the politicians: more liberty equals a better quality of life. More laws doesn't equal a better quality of life. Still, every time the Political Class gets into a huddle, they are seeking new ways to reduce the "quality of life" of the Private Class.

A major legislative target for Michigan politicians in 2010 may be home-schooling; with debate revolving around the tragic death of a girl who's abusive parents had claimed she was being home schooled. The story of the girl, chained to her bed while her home was on fire, is horrible. Yet the news coverage itself hasn't been about the girl's death. It has been about the fact her parents claimed to have been homeschooling her. Many of the headlines have been about the abuse and death of "a home-schooled girl," or that "home-schooling hid abuse."

This has triggered related news stories about Michigan's homeschooling laws; or rather, the lack thereof. Conveniently for the politicians, the abused "home-school girl" story was circulating the news media at the same time the politicians have been talking about school reform. This has given legislators and government employees an opportunity to point a finger to an emotional story, and claim that more government is needed. Of course the logic is laughable. The claim, quoted by reporter Ron French, that "as long as home-schooling is as lax as it is, it's an avenue for parents to hide abuse" is utterly ridiculous.

A 2004 report was filed by the U.S. Department of Education stating that "between 6 percent and 10 percent of public school children across the country have been sexually abused or harassed by school employees and teachers." 290,000 children experienced some sort of physical sexual abuse at the hands of a government school employee in a single decade, 1991-2000! In light of the factual data from the government itself, to protect children from abuse we need a decrease in government schools. As always, the answer to a problem is less government.

I posted a quote from that same report on the WOOD TV article carrying the "as long as home-schooling is lax" comment. One reader replied that she knew someone who had been physically abused in a Christian school. A good point, children are abused in Christian schools. But one of the preparers of the U.S. Dept of Education report, a Hofstra University academic named Charol Shakeshaft , compared the data of abuse in government schools with the data on abuse by Catholic priests. She concluded that "the physical sexual abuse of students in schools is likely more than 100 times the abuse by priests." So again, to suggest children are somehow safer in government schools is ridiculous; and the evidence seems to suggest quite the opposite.

The politicians need to leave the home-schooling parents alone. Furthermore, if they want to stop people from exiting Michigan they need to begin rapidly eliminating laws, and fees, and licenses, and more. The answer is always more liberty, less government. But the entire Political Class in Michigan, regardless of political party affiliation, think that if they just pass the right kinds of laws, things will turn around; and if they just grow government in the right direction, people will be helped.

There is some good resulting from the massive numbers of laws, and the loss of liberty in Michigan. Libertarians will have the last laugh; and this whole failed experiment in government growth will end up being a wonderful example to future generations. It will speak to the value of liberty, and the destructive nature of government.

In the meantime, New Hampshire is incredibly home-school friendly; which is just one of the 100+ reasons to exit Michigan. I hear the Free State Project callin' to me!

Sources:

"101 Reasons to Move to New Hampshire." Free State Project. 20 Dec 2009 .

Bomey, Nathan. "Michigan's Population Declines." Ann Arbor.com, 1 Dec 2009. 20 Dec 2009 .

Bomey, Nathan. "Michigan's Smoking Ban is Approved by Senate, House." Ann Arbor.com, 10 Dec 2009. 20 Dec 2009 .

Coroly, Heather. "Michigan Child Safety and Seatbelt Laws." About.com, 20 Dec 2009 .

Dougherty, Jon E. "Sex Abuse By Teachers Said to be Worse Than Catholic Church." NewsMax, 5 Apr 2004. 20 Dec 2009 .

French, Ron. "Homeschooling Hid Calista's Abuse: Michigan Has Lenient Homeschooling Laws." WOOD TV, 17 Dec 2009. 20 Dec 2009 .

French, Ron. "Home-School Law Puts Kids in Michigan At Risk, Some Say." Lansing State Journal, 21 Dec 2009. 21 Dec 2009 .