Hey homeschool parents, the state wants your kids!

The last day of session in March, a bill was introduced, HB5912, that simply requires parents of children being educated at home to REGISTER their children by name, age and address, with the superintendent of the school district they live in.

The sponsor of the bill told me this was about accountability. ACCOUNTABILITY? Home school children score significantly above traditional public school children in any area you want to look at. Meanwhile, Detroit public high schools have a dropout rate of 75%.

And they want to hold the home schoolers accountable? Who is more accountable than Mom and Dad? Did the Democrats who sponsored this forget that the Michigan School code gives the right to educate to the parents?

"380 Sec. 10. It is the natural, fundamental right of parents and legal guardians to determine and direct the care, teaching, and education of their children. The public schools of this state serve the needs of the pupils by cooperating with the pupil's parents and legal guardians to develop the pupil's intellectual capabilities and vocational skills in a safe and positive environment."

I cannot think of a reason why the state needs to know who is educating their children at home. The bill gives no rationale for this legislation. One cannot help but wonder whether the public education lobby might have had something to do with this...hmmm, come to think of it, every home school child that ends up attending a government school means at least $7,200 for that school.