Bear all of the above in mind as you read this quote by Tom McCormack, charter school “consultant” for the Department of Education, at last month’s Nevada State Board of Education meeting…
“I would also observe that any time you have a situation where a student’s success depends upon something the parent does, that is unfair to the student. . . . Tying a student’s academic success, academic achievement, to something the parent needs to do is unfair to the student.”
McCormack was talking about a program administered by the Nevada Virtual Academy charter school which helps parents learn how to get more involved with their children’s education, but the statement clearly applies to home schoolers, as well, indicating an anti-parent disdain which is simply breath-taking. McCormack obviously believes only certified teachers are capable of teaching children, and parents have no business getting in the way.
With that in mind, now consider the following from Mike Smith of the Home School Legal Defense Association…
“Homeschoolers are united against teacher certification requirements. In just one example of the absurdity of teacher certification, a homeschool leader in California recently informed me that a student enrolled in that leader’s support group achieved a perfect score on the PSAT. Under the (California) court’s original ruling (against home-schooling last month), because the student’s mom is not a certified teacher, the student would not be able to finish high school at home.”
Yeah, Tom. What a shame the student’s success depended upon their being taught by their parents. How unfair to the student!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: When the time comes to finally start laying off some non-essential government employees, Tom McCormack should be the first to go.
Posted on April 21st, 2008 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada
I guess feeding them kids is unfair; roof over their head; clothes on their backs. Guess those parents are just trying to keep their kids down, man!