I home school my children and I write primarily as a child advocate–mother and teacher.

So I was disturbed to find that we have a new category for neglect–educational neglect.

Certainly if children all over this country are being forced to sit around and watch soap operas that would be a problem. But as a legal category educational neglect is a dangerous designation.

1. It draws focus and resources away from other types of abuse.

2. Education can come in many, many different forms. Who will decide what sorts of learning are valid and which are negligent?

3. Where do home schoolers and unschoolers fit? Will we be forced to conform to public school bureaucracy to call off the dogs?

4. I know my children are safer with me than in a public school. They are ahead of arbitrary grade levels. They study languages, play instruments, write adventure stories, practice…

Mark 3:20-26 (NIV)
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. [21] When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” [22] And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub ! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” [23] So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? [24] If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. [25] If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. [26] And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.

I deliberately break this story up. The next few verses are very important to me…

But…

Mark 3:11-19,27 (NIV)
Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” [12] But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was. [13] Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. [14] He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach [15] and to have authority to drive out demons. [16] These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); [17] James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); [18] Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot [19] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. [27] In fact, no one can enter a strong…