Obama and Homeschooling

Angela M., a South Florida homeschooler, forwarded this along with permission to share it here:

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In response to the “Candidates Views on Homeschooling” email that has been circulating, I just wanted to add what was missing from the analysis. If you actually go to Vote USA [which works to connect voters with candidates], there was plenty on the site that McCain had no response to, and neither of the candidates answered every question, it was not just those two that Obama did not answer.

Under parental involvement, Obama specifically says, “But there is no program and no policy that can substitute for a parent who is involved in their child's education from day one.” and, “Responsibility for our children's education has to start at home. We have to set high standards for them, and spend time with them, and love them. We have to hold ourselves accountable."

He also says in his general education statement that his "comprehensive plan to provide a world-class education for all Americans will... Empower parents to raise healthy and successful children by taking a greater role in their child's education at home and at school.”

Many of McCain’s responses were taken from his McCain for President website dated back to 1999.

I also wanted to share what I believe to be vital information for anyone out there that is trying to discredit Obama for being against homeschooling. The following information was received directly from Obama’s Campaign Office. All you have to do is ask.

------ Forwarded Message
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:04:06 -0500
Subject: Obama Campaign on Homeschooling

Hi Angela,

It was very nice to meet you today, and I really appreciate you coming in for more information. Here is what I have regarding homeschooling so far.

Issue of Homeschooling

Barack Obama and Joe Biden are firmly dedicated to reforming our education system so that children of all ages, socio-economic status, etc. have the opportunity to receive a world class education all the way from pre-school through college, not only making education affordable and accessible to all but also by rewarding expert, accomplished teachers for taking on challenging assignments and helping children succeed, raising education and performance standards, and eliminating/reforming programs that are not working.

A significant element of Barack Obama’s education plan is to Empower parents to raise healthy and successful children by taking a greater role in their child’s education at home and at school. As Obama stated during his convention speech this year, “We must also admit that programs alone can't replace parents, that government can't turn off the television and make a child do her homework, that fathers must take more responsibility to provide love and guidance to their children.”

While Barack Obama has never specifically discussed the issue of homeschooling in his speeches, debates ,etc. (because the majority of Americans send their kids to public or private schools) I can assure you that he is 100% supportive of parents who choose to school their kids at home and encourages all parents to take a proactive role in their children’s education.

Thanks for your support!

Best,
Claire Lehman

Field Organizer - Central Boca

Barack Obama - Florida Campaign for Change

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/flhome

clehman@floridaforchange.com

------ End of Forwarded Message

I also wanted to add two quotes from Obama’s book, “The Audacity of Hope” - the first of which talks specifically about homeschooling...

In his chapter on Family, he outlines many policy ideas to help parents meet the family-work balance and provide flexibility to parents’ schedules so that they can spend more time with their children.

“Of course,” he says on page 344, “none of these policies need discourage families from deciding to keep a parent at home, regardless of the financial sacrifices. For some families, that may mean doing without certain material comforts. For others, it may mean homeschooling or a move to a community where the cost of living is lower. For some families, it may be the father who stays at home – although for most families it will still be the mother who serves as the primary caregiver. Whatever the case may be, such decisions should be honored.”

He goes on to say “our modern culture sometimes fails to fully appreciate the extraordinary emotional and financial contributions – the sacrifices and just plain hard work – of the stay-at-home mom.”

In his chapter on Opportunity, he says on page 159 that we should be guided by “Lincoln’s simple maxim: that we will do collectively, through our government, only those things that we cannot do as well or at all individually and privately. In other words, we should be guided by what works.”

Homeschooling works, and has been proven to work.

Obama wants to help families spend more time with their children, and if homeschooling is their choice, and it works, then I have no doubt that he will support the growing movement of well-educated homeschooled youth around the nation. Sometimes you just have to look further to get the right facts, and know that you won’t always get a fair representation of the candidates’ views from organizations that obviously have an opinion.

Thank you.

Angela M