Unschooling? Neglect? I don't know...

[JenniferB]

Originally Posted by Cadam

In case no one has said this today: Thank you for stepping-in and loving these children enough to fight for them and their education. Your efforts will/ are making a profound difference in their lives.

Yes, I agree. God bless you Donna. You are awesome!

My dh was "homeschooled" as he played in the dirt all day outside his mother's place of work. She wouldn't let him go to school because of the evil government influences. Bitter much? Yep!

[Stacy in NJ]

Originally Posted by DB in NJ

Removed my comments because my answer is biased due to the fact that this is how my sister "taught" her kids, who I now have since she moved away to Canada on Valentine's Day to be with the love of her life (who she had only met a week before), leaving her husband and children. My niece is 14 and is working below the level of my 5th grade son. My nephew had done 7 pages of math all year and nothing else. Nothing. He's flourishing now, but my niece is set in her ways and refusing to learn from me. She's at least 4 years behind in her work, thanks to my sister's "homeschool philosophy" a/k/a neglect.

Sorry. Do I sound bitter?!?!

This is good news about your nephew, though. How wonderful that he's doing well. I hope you find a way to reach your niece.

I admire you for taking on this responsibility.

[Lovedtodeath]

Originally Posted by momof7

The OP only sees the kids 1x/yr. She is making judgments based on conversations with someone who is admittedly depressed. If I were talking to someone close right now, I might come across as not educating my kids b/c I am not sleeping, tired to the core, disliking homeschooling at the moment (especially high school. I am really hating teaching high school right now and I am not doing as good of a job as I should).......but that does not mean I am educationally neglecting my kids.

Yep. I sound like I am not educating my daughter about half of the time.

Originally Posted by nono

You know, I was thinking about this situation this morning. I guess it would vary by state, but in NJ, the lack of compulsory education or its equivalent falls under the Board of Ed's auspices, not Youth & Family Services. Charges for not providing an equivalent education start with a $25 "disorderly" fine.

I am so glad someone finally said this. I was wondering this whole time who you would contact, because I was pretty sure it wasn't CPS. I know of one homeschooling mom who was forced to send her kids to Public School. They were not taken away, etc. It was many years ago and I, of course, do not know what agencies were involved.

It is confusing, though, because I know of another mom who is being threatened with CPS and possibly losing custody because of truancy.

[Renee in FL]

Originally Posted by Lovedtodeath

Yep. I sound like I am not educating my daughter about half of the time.

I am so glad someone finally said this. I was wondering this whole time who you would contact, because I was pretty sure it wasn't CPS. I know of one homeschooling mom who was forced to send her kids to Public School. They were not taken away, etc. It was many years ago and I, of course, do not know what agencies were involved.

It is confusing, though, because I know of another mom who is being threatened with CPS and possibly losing custody because of truancy.

I think it depends on the state. About 10 years ago I knew someone whose ds was absent for weeks at a time. She was prosecuted criminally, but I do not think social services was involved. This was after one year of her ds (4th grade) missing several months of school (they moved and then moved back, but he never went to school.) He repeated the 4th grade and again he was truant many, many days. She was prosecuted at the end of that school year.

Of course, she told me it was not her fault because she left for work at 6am and couldn't insure that he actually got on the bus!

[Lovedtodeath]

She was prosecuted? What was the penalty/result?

[Renee in FL]

Originally Posted by Lovedtodeath

She was prosecuted? What was the penalty/result?

Probation, fines, minimal jail time. It was a serious case though as he missed so much school and she had numerous chances to make a change and she didn't. This was Harnett County, NC in 1999.

[tricia]

Being that she is your sister and you are truly concerned then I would say something in kindness. Otherwise, I would let it go. She and her hubby are the ONLY ones accountable before God for their children and no one else. Really, being even her sister I still don't see that the choices she makes really should matter to anyone else. I'm not saying this in a spirit of meaness by the way. I just think we should be more live and let live.