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- May 8, 2017
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- Progressive
We have all, by now, heard about the horrific conditions in the California home, where 13 children were held captive. Ironically, the home was also registered as a private school.
Informal schooling arrangements have been defended, by some, as an expression of freedom from the government, a way that children could be educated far from the eyes of a prying, "big-brother"-like nanny state. The situation detailed in 13 siblings ages 2 to 29 'held captive' by parents, some shackled, officials say - ABC News shows the dark side of such arrangements. For one thing, exposure of the children to schools would disclose alarming situations rather quickly, to Child Protective Services, where warranted.
Not that I am a fan of CPS. I have had some bad experiences indeed. Once, a special ed meeting for our special needs younger broke up in disorder after the chair wanted to declassify the autistic son. My wife was visibly upset. CPS was called on her for coming back to the school to ask for another meeting. That complaint was dismissed as "unfounded."
The second one was for lecturing my son on bullying. He didn't complain, quite the contrary, but it was pried out of him. The third one, the most ridiculous of all, sprang from a "hickey" my older son gave my younger son while playing. Neither are gay or violent.
But I digress. Children who are never seen nor exposed to the eyes of the schools or even neighbors may have grievous harm inflicted on them. I believe total privacy is a bad thing. There must be a balance.
Informal schooling arrangements have been defended, by some, as an expression of freedom from the government, a way that children could be educated far from the eyes of a prying, "big-brother"-like nanny state. The situation detailed in 13 siblings ages 2 to 29 'held captive' by parents, some shackled, officials say - ABC News shows the dark side of such arrangements. For one thing, exposure of the children to schools would disclose alarming situations rather quickly, to Child Protective Services, where warranted.
Not that I am a fan of CPS. I have had some bad experiences indeed. Once, a special ed meeting for our special needs younger broke up in disorder after the chair wanted to declassify the autistic son. My wife was visibly upset. CPS was called on her for coming back to the school to ask for another meeting. That complaint was dismissed as "unfounded."
The second one was for lecturing my son on bullying. He didn't complain, quite the contrary, but it was pried out of him. The third one, the most ridiculous of all, sprang from a "hickey" my older son gave my younger son while playing. Neither are gay or violent.
But I digress. Children who are never seen nor exposed to the eyes of the schools or even neighbors may have grievous harm inflicted on them. I believe total privacy is a bad thing. There must be a balance.