Paradise Post reported on Feb. 18th that the Butte County District Attorney’s Office was examining the ministry, No Greater Joy Ministry in connection to 7 year-old Lydia Schatz’s death. The Paradise Post has recently published a follow up piece, Questions about ministry grow, the district attorney talks of Michael and Debi Pearl and their No Greater Joy Ministry:
In addition to the quarter-inch plumbing supply line, District Attorney Ramsey said he now has evidence that is a direct connection between the Schatz case and the teaching of the Pearls and No Greater Joy Ministry. However, he would not disclose the evidence at this time. It is unlikely however, that the Pearls or their ministry would be, or could be, held accountable in any legal sense.
Ramsey doesn’t believe such a charge “would fly.” He says the Pearls have specifically warned its followers against hitting children, or spanking in any way that severely injures children – which the Schatzes are accused of doing. They also warn parents not to spank their children in anger.
Even if the Pearl’s can’t be held legally accountable Muse Mama is bringing back the boycott:
I am asking that other parents join in another Boycott. But I think we need to go a bit further than just our blogs. I think we need to talk to our Pastors, write letters to our Homeschool organizations, write local talk radio hosts who might discuss it, and talk to other parents. We have to get the word out that these methods don’t place the rod of discipline in parents hands, but a loaded gun. If parents follow these instructions to the letter, it is a manual for child abuse.
In the May 5th, 2004 edition of the NewsComm Newsletter, Editor Ann Lahrson Fisher, wrote:
Because homeschoolers are routinely stereotyped by the behaviors of a tiny minority, homeschooling freedoms for all may be endangered. Can homeschoolers who decry the whipping of children afford NOT to speak out against this antiquated child rearing practice?
And if the media comes knocking, hoping for another horror story for the Dark Side of Homeschooling Part 3 – Baby Whipping, just what are we going to say to them if we don’t stand up against using this device?
I recommend you read the voices of these strong Christian women:
in which I discuss the unthinkable
The Pearls, abuse and a false gospel
How many children must die before Mike & Debi Pearl are held accountable?
Tags: Ann Lahrson Fisher, Bring Back the Boycott, child abuse, Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz, Michael and Deb Pearl, No Greater Joy Ministry
The Romieke family asylum case is getting more coverage.
The New York Times – Judge Grants Asylum to German Home Schoolers
“It is definitely new,” said Prof. Philip G. Schrag, the director of Georgetown Law School’s asylum law program, who added that he had never heard of such a case. “What’s novel about the argument is the nature of the social group.”
But, he said, given the severity of the penalties that German home-schoolers potentially face, the judge’s decision “does not seem far outside the margin.”
Here is Mark Krikorian, writing on the Center for Immigration Studies site:
This is yet another example of misuse of asylum, as we see our domestic culture wars bleed over into asylum policy; first it was feminists and homosexual-rights campaigners, then disabilities-rights activists, and now homeschoolers.
What we’re not doing well is drawing the distinction between governmental or social practices that we disapprove of, on the one hand, and conduct so abhorrent that it creates special immigration rights for people who have no other options.
Rand Paul’s campaign site headlines – Feds victimize homeschool family.
“Children belong to God and their parents, not the government,” Rand said. “It’s a matter of basic human rights that we stand up for these people and the Obama Administration should hear from us on this.”
Tags: German homeschooling, political asylum, Romeike Family Asylum
This article is a must read:
In 2006, I took the leap from public school teacher to home-school mom for my kindergarten daughter. I did what most home-school mothers do and joined a home-school group for support. To be honest, I thought I would be lending most of the support. I had the elementary education degree and many successful years of teaching under my belt. They should be so lucky to have me in the group.
Ego check! They didn’t need my advice on materials… I was overwhelmed by all the information, materials, activities and co-ops that these families were using.
As I made my way into this world, I was amazed at all the new options and ideas I had never seen or heard of as a public school teacher. These parents had a right to snub me and my ego.
Ex-teacher Amy Travis lets you in on the little secret about homeschooling that has been driven out of the public narrative by rhetoric and political posturing.
The secret? For decades homeschooling families have lead the way with their understanding of kids and learning. As this conventionally trained educator tells us, “in home-school circles I don’t even mention I was once a teacher in the public schools. It means nothing in the home-school world, and from what I have witnessed, it shouldn’t.”
Read the entire article here.
Tags: elementary education degree, homeschool support group, homeschooling, public school teacher, regulating homeschooling
