Some Homeschoolers Don't Want State Help

By Trish Anderton on Friday, March 7, 2003.

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STATE LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING SEVERAL BILLS TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HOME SCHOOL THEIR CHILDREN.

THE PLANS WOULD GIVE MONEY IN THE FORM OF DIRECT AID OR TAX CREDITS TO HOMESCHOOLERS.

GOVERNOR CRAIG BENSON’S PROPOSED BUDGET GAVE THE IDEA A BOOST BY SETTING ASIDE 2-MILLION DOLLARS FOR THAT PURPOSE.

BUT IF ELECTED LEADERS ARE EAGER TO HELP, HOMESCHOOLERS THEMSELVES HAVE MIXED REACTIONS.

NHPR’S TRISH ANDERTON REPORTS.

STEWARTSTOWN IS A TINY COMMUNITY IN THE FAR NORTHERN REACHES OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

UP HERE YOU’RE AS LIKELY TO HEAR FRENCH AS ENGLISH ON THE RADIO.

THERE AREN’T A LOT OF STORES OR PEOPLE AROUND, SO IT HELPS TO BE SELF-RELIANT.

SHAWNA LAWRENCE AND HER FAMILY ARE CERTAINLY THAT.

002 00 and thousands of wild ducks and geese …

ON A RECENT WEEKDAY MORNING LAWRENCE KNEELS ON THE FLOOR OF HER LIVING ROOM

SHE’S GOT A COPY OF ONE OF THE LAURA INGALLS WILDER “LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE” BOOKS.

WHILE HER THREE YOUNGER CHILDREN PLAY, SHE’S READING ALOUD TO THE TWO OLDEST, 11-YEAR OLD DAMON AND 10-YEAR OLD AUSTIN.

THEY CAREFULLY WRITE DOWN THE SENTENCES IN THEIR NOTEBOOKS.

IT’S A DICTATION EXERCISE AIMED AT HELPING THEM LEARN TO LISTEN, WRITE AND SPELL

002 45 how ya doin? … I don’t think they’re going to like dictation very much

AFTER DICTATION LAWRENCE READS SOME QUESTIONS FROM A STUDY GUIDE.

THEY’RE DESIGNED TO GET AT THE RELIGIOUS AND MORAL UNDERPINNINGS OF THE STORY.

003 104 pa warned laura to avoid the men bc of their rough language. What does the bible say about people saying perverse things? We’re going to look up proverbs chapter two ….. (pages turning)

ONE REASON LAWRENCE HOMESCHOOLS HER KIDS IS TO GUIDE THEIR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT.

006 43 education is great, but they learn other things; other people’s morals or immorality. They pick up things and become diff kids when they go to school. I originally thought I’d just teach the first few years but I enjoy it and the kids enjoy it so, so far we’re up to the sixth grade.

LAWRENCE BUYS HER TEACHING MATERIALS HERSELF.

SO FAR SHE’S ONLY HAD TO SPEND A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR.

BUT AS HER CHILDREN GET OLDER THE COST GOES UP.

RIGHT NOW SHE’S CONSIDERING BUYING AN ADVANCED CURRICULUM THAT WILL COST A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER CHILD ANNUALLY.

SHE WOULDN’T MIND SOME HELP FROM STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

007 12 we do pay school taxes, plus we have out of pocket expenses. I think it wd be wonderful.

LAWRENCE SAYS SHE’D EVEN PUT UP WITH TOUGHER STATE STANDARDS IN EXCHANGE FOR THE HELP.

BUT OTHERS ARGUE THAT WOULD DESTROY WHAT HOMESCHOOLING IS ALL ABOUT.

CHRIS HAMILTON HOMESCHOOLS IN BROOKLINE.

I think homeschoolers have a lot to lose and not much to gain. Right now our biggest adv is freedom from reg. I think once money comes into our hands there will be push for acctabiliyt and that will mean end to our freedom.

HAMILTON ALSO WONDERS WHETHER THE FUNDING WOULD REALLY BE ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

ONE BILL THAT’S GARNERED A LOT OF ATTENTION WOULD HAVE THE STATE ISSUE VOUCHERS WORTH UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THAT MAY SOUND LIKE A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT HAMILTON SAYS IT’S A SMALL PIECE OF THE OVERALL FINANCIAL PICTURE.

I don’t know if a thousand dollars would tip balance for many families because the biggest expense is having one parent give up inc, and that’s usually a lot more than 1k.

SOME HOMESCHOOLERS SAY EVEN THOUGH THEY PAY TAXES, IT’S AGAINST THEIR PHILOSOPHY TO DEMAND A PIECE OF THE PIE.

ABBY LAWRENCE HOMESCHOOLS IN WOLFEBORO.

// I think it’s a mistake to think of tax money as a pool that anybody might start demanding for his own purposes to benefit some group. The more demands on that pool, the more everyone’s taxes go up.

LAWRENCE SAYS SHE MIGHT BE WILLING TO SUPPORT TAX CREDITS, WHICH KEEP THE MONEY IN THE TAXPAYER’S HANDS.

BUT SHE WORRIES THEY WOULD STILL LEAD TO GREATER REGULATION.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE KEN WEYLER OF KINGSTON SPONSORS THE BILL TO PROVIDE A THOUSAND-DOLLAR STATE VOUCHER.

HIS PLAN WOULD ALSO HELP PARENTS WHO WANT TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

WEYLER SAYS THE BILL IS AIMED AT HELPING PARENTS, NOT EXPANDING STATE GOVERNMENT.

23 30 we shd encourage parents to be resp, they are the first and best teachers. If they want tot each we shd support it.

IN FACT, WEYLER SAYS HOMESCHOOLERS ARE COVERED BY A PROVISION THAT PREVENTS GREATER MONITORING OF NONPUBLIC STUDENTS.

24 00 we put right in this bill that as result of bill there can be no increased oversight of the alternative school. So its not in the bill. The bill prohibits it.

BUT SKEPTICS DON’T PUT TOO MUCH FAITH IN PROMISES LIKE THAT.

THEY POINT OUT THE LEGISLATURE COULD CHANGE OR REPEAL THAT LANGUAGE LATER.

WEYLER’S BILL AND SEVERAL OTHER BILLS ARE NOW BEFORE VARIOUS HOUSE COMMITTEES.

IF APPROVED, THEY’LL GO ON TO HEARINGS IN THE STATE SENATE.

FOR NHPR NEWS I’M TRISH ANDERTON