Elections and Decisions

As most of you know Texas had it’s primary election on Tuesday that 4th. I voted and went back to see what the delegate selection process looked like. Apparently, statewide interest in being a delegate was down this election cycle, which meant that the precinct’s typical 16 slots weren’t even filled. I will be a delegate to the Senatorial District Republican Convention. It will likely be tougher to become a state delegate, but I’ll let you know how it goes.

Only one person who gets this newsletter lives in a state that hasn’t held it’s primary yet (Pennsylvania), but I would recommend being a delegate just for the experience. Also, just as I plan to build a little resume in my head for why I should be selected as a state delegate, I would recommend the same thing for you at your local precinct.


A Note on Homeschooling

My wife knows a woman from her prior working experience who dropped out of high school when she was young and got her GED. Her husband has little to no college either and works at a refinery. This woman decided to home school her three boys. All three have done very well while attending a well-respected private university in Texas with large academic scholarships. What she was able to accomplish for her sons has always impressed me.

In California, as in several states, there are significant barriers to home schooling. In particular California has had a law to require home school teachers be credentialed. According to a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle it seems that around 166,000 children in California were not being taught by “credentialed” parents according to the state. In a court case filed by the government, a family was home schooling their children under distance learning in conjunction with a private school. The private school would check on the children and learning environment four times a year.

The appeals court of California found that they had no constitutional right to home-schooling and that they were in violation of state truancy laws. What really struck me was not the interpretation of the existing law, but the comments made by the lead judge in the ruling.

Justice H. Walter Croskey wrote "A primary purpose of the educational system is to train school children in good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state and the nation as a means of protecting the public welfare," (emphasis added).

The family is appealing to the California State Supreme Court. Hopefully, the high court will avoid fascist rhetoric in their decision.

What do you think about home schooling? Tell me what you think.