Charlie Crist Governor of Florida took a look at homeschooling, and said it was good. A proclamation was issued on March 25, 2007. Here is an excerpt.
“WHEREAS, the State of Florida is committed to excellence in education and to public policy that strengthens the family and recognizes parental choice in pursuit of that excellence and the importance of parental involvement in education… I Charlie Crist, Governor of the state of Florida, do hereby extend greetings and best wished to all observing April 1-7, 2007 as Home Education Week….”
So homeschoolers were not only recognized in 2007, but were also given a week of their own. Way to go Governor.
Before you take out your party hats, I feel a need to point out some concerns. Florida is a state under heavy homeschool regulation. Just one day after the aforementioned proclamation was decreed the HSLDA sent out a letter stating “Calls needed now to stop expansion of state control over homeschooling”. In that letter the raising compulsory attendance rate to 16 was the biggest concern. Another major concern is the homeschool charter schools, also known as public school at home. Apparently restrictions are being added that say to enroll in one of these programs, the student needs to be in a public school the previous year. Since many homeschoolers belong to this program, you can see that this is an attempt to get homeschoolers back in public schools. A large percentage of homeschoolers, use the charter school option.
So while it is great that the Florida Governor has publicly praised homeschooling in the state of Florida, I have to wonder if it is not a rouse to pacify homeschoolers whose feathers have recently been ruffled.
*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.
*Want to know more about homeschooling? Start with the 2006 homeschool blog in review!