Mainstream media has again assumed a direct relationship exists between child abuse and homeschooling. A Washington couple has been accused of withholding food and water from their 14-year-old child. Following up on a phone call from a neighbor, officials found the girl; she weighed only 47-pounds.
According to prosecutors, Long confirmed to the deputy that she considered the girl a behavior problem and that she restricted the child’s water as discipline. The woman said she had been home-schooling the girl and her 12-year-old brother for four years. ~ Wash. father, stepmother charged with mistreatment
But, there is more to the story…
Three years ago, in March 2005, CPS agents investigated a complaint from the girl’s schoolteacher after the child had talked of harsh treatment at home, including being locked in her room and deprived of food.
Investigators found the girl thin and confirmed her allegations, CPS spokesman Thomas Shapley said Monday. It’s not clear what happened next, although CPS officials say the mother received counseling. ~ Carnation girl, 14, found starved to 48 pounds
Like almost every case of abuse tied to homeschooling the children in this case were not “hidden” from the watchful eyes of government employees as the first article implied. The girl’s plight had been reported to Child Protective Services. A caseworker had visited their home and found the girl thin and confirmed the abuse. The kids had been being homeschooled at the time of the first allegations. The teacher who filed the complaint saw them as part of a weekly alternative program. The social worker determined that the crisis was over and the case was closed. The children never returned to the alternative program. Shouldn’t red flags be flying all over the place when parents pull students out of the public eye in the midst of a confirmed abuse case? Why would a case of abuse be closed after a mere thirty-days? Why wasn’t there a plan in place for following up with this family? I am not advocating that social workers should be assiged to oversee all homeschoolers. But, the right to oversee your child’s education, like all rights, can be taken away when a person has demonstrated that he or she cannot responsibly handle this freedom.
When will the media ever learn that homeschooling and child abuse are not the same issue?
3 responses so far ↓
Lori // 14 October 2008 at 12:28 pm |
I don’t think so, especially when the media believes that a parent who takes his/her job seriously is “abusing” the child’s rights.
Mrs. C // 14 October 2008 at 1:20 pm |
Well, it seems anything parents do that’s “different” must be suspect right off the bat. That includes forcing your child to go to church and do some chores.
I think there’s also a bit of the jealousy going on as well. Parents who have things together and are homeschooling can make the average ps parent feel bad if they let themselves. (I’ve found ps parenting can be VERY HARD work though in all honesty, but another issue. I’m just talking about what things “look like” on the outside.)
I think there’s also a bit of that “SEEEE? Those perfect little homeschoolers are abusive! Lookit this story!” thing going on as well.
Just my opinion, FWIW. Have linked.
Principled Discovery » Another homeschooled abuse victim // 14 October 2008 at 11:58 pm |
[...] at Shanan Trail shares the horrific story of a teenage girl tortured by her step mother and forced to live on six ounces of water and some toast every day. [...]