To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

Iowa Homeschoolers Outraged at "Orwellian" Bill That Treats Them All Like Criminals

Emily Jones : Feb 21, 2019  CBN News

"Rep. Mascher's HF 272, in addition to resurrecting long-dead paperwork requirements for homeschool families, treats them all like criminals. Without explaining who is going to pay for it—with school and child protective personnel already stretched beyond the breaking point—she wants to command that state agents come into the homes of every single homeschool family in the state four times a year." -Scott Woodruff

(Des Moines, IA)—[CBN News] Homeschool advocates are speaking out about an Iowa bill that requires school and court officials to conduct health and wellness checks on families who homeschool. (Photo: via CBN News)

HF 272, introduced by Rep. Mary Mascher, would make homeschool families who do not report to their school district subject to regular home visits.

"The board of directors of a school district shall conduct quarterly home visits to check on the health and safety of children located within the district who are receiving independent private instruction or private instruction," the bill reads.

The bill also says these home visits "shall take place in the child's residence with the consent of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian and an interview or observation of the child may be conducted."

If parents do not give consent, then "the juvenile court or district court upon a showing of probable cause may authorize the person making the home visit to enter the home and interview or observe the child."

The bill does not specify what defines probable cause in this case, which makes some homeschool advocates uneasy.

"This bill essentially puts homeschooling families on the level of parents who have been accused or have had a finding of child abuse or neglect," writes Shane Vander Hart, editor of Truth in American Education.

HF 272 also requires homeschool parents to submit proof that their child is up to date on vaccinations, submit their educational plans for approval, and agree to have their children participate in annual academic testing.

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) senior counsel Scott Woodruff said the law is a waste of time and money.

"Rep. Mascher's HF 272, in addition to resurrecting long-dead paperwork requirements for homeschool families, treats them all like criminals," Woodruff said. "Without explaining who is going to pay for it—with school and child protective personnel already stretched beyond the breaking point—she wants to command that state agents come into the homes of every single homeschool family in the state four times a year."

"In what world do we waste money poking into the homes of thousands of people when there is not the slightest reason to believe an individual has done anything wrong?" Woodruff asked. "When people who believe that the government can, and should, solve all problems, this is the kind of utopian dream they dream. Dreams like that only get us closer to an Orwellian world."

Iowa lawmakers have also introduced similar bills called HF 100, which calls for health and safety checks, and HF 182, which critics argue will limit the freedom of many homeschool families.

The bills' mandating health and wellness checks are a response to the deaths of two Iowa girls who were severely abused by their adoptive families after they were removed from public school.

Still, critics don't believe mandatory house visits is a good solution.

"State reps like @marymascher pushing HF 272 want to remind Iowans they own your children. Force health and safety checks on homeschool families just because they are homeschooled. How dare you raise your kids without government you monsters," one Twitter user said.

"HF 272 stay in your lane, out of people's right to choose what's the best education for their kids, and kids health, DHS, Iowa, Mary Masher, enough of the medaling in people's private lives," another wrote. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

Trump Under Fire for Endorsing the Bible, Urging Americans to Pray

Whistleblower Claims Stormy Daniels 'Hush Money' Scheme Cooked Up by Michael Cohen to Extort Trump before 2016 Election

Speaker Johnson Announces He'll Invite Netanyahu to Address Congress

Federal Appeals Court Rules Pennsylvania Must Only Count Mail Ballots With Dates, Signatures

Illegal Alien Charged with Murdering a Michigan Woman Was Deported Under Trump But Snuck Back into US Under Biden's Watch

President Trump to Join Wake Honoring Slain NYPD Officer, While Biden Attends Fundraiser

Woke Disney Surrenders!

Illegals Using Fake Skimmers at Self-Checkouts to Drain Consumers' Bank Accounts; Here's How to Guard Yourself

Elon Musk to Pay Embattled Doctor's Legal Fees after Speaking Out against COVID Lockdowns

Safety of Women Hangs in Balance after Oral Arguments on Abortion Pill Regulation

New Federal Gun Grab Law Would Criminalize Shooting Ranges, and Even Private Security

Treasury Sec. Yellen: Biden Has NO Plan to Save Social Security

Maryland Governor Says 'Keep on Praying' for Families of Missing Workers after Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Chick-fil-A Abandons Long-Held 'No Antibiotics' Pledge on Chicken

The War in Myanmar: Karenni Resistance Fighters Ask for Prayer and Practical Help

The World Is Facing a Major Population Crisis by 2075 If Birth Rates Keep Falling

FDA Admits COVID Vaccines Cause Seizures in Toddlers

'Hamas Is Celebrating' after US Abstains from UN Security Council Ceasefire Vote: Netanyahu Cancels Visit

Kamala Harris Won't Disclose Why Biden Campaign Is Active on TikTok Despite Security Worries

Special Counsel Report Reveals University of Delaware Misled Courts to Hide Biden's Senate Records That Likely Hold Sexual Assault Complaint Filed by Tara Reade



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



BCN Plus

Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com