Homeschoolers to Wear Badges or Be Questioned

Just a few scant days ago, the British government televised what is to be an annual event, a Day of Remembrance for the Holocaust. During the ceremony various people from countries around the world told of the terror of genocide, and the hope that by remembering such full-scale horror, perhaps their nightmare would not be repeated. Not only the nightmare of the Nazi exterminations, but of Rwanda, Bosnia, and so many others. Time and again it was said that by branding, and then hating that which is different, the seeds of the destruction of a free society are sown.

It was therefore a great shock to me to find that this same British government is asking home educating families to wear a badge when out in public. Yes, a badge. Remind you of something? It is a shameful fact that a local education authority in Somerset notified home educating families that they are proposing to issue them badges to wear in public. To not do so invites home educating families out and about on their normal day to day business subject to possible questioning by police. The reason? The government of Britain thinks stopping persons with school-aged children in public will combat truancy. I fail to see how branding a group with a large symbol upon their chest will combat truancy. This is a ridiculous notion. Even an i.d. card as a "public pass" will not combat school attendance behavioural problems.

A much better idea would be for a school to report an apparent truant to the proper authority, who can check it out. After all, they do still take attendance, do they not? If they really wish to go after these kids, let them deal with it, after all, home educated children are not truants, so why put the onus upon them? When school assessments are done, inspectors should rate the efficiency they have for dealing and reporting their truants, not by pestering persons on the street and harassing persons for not wearing their duly designated badge. Or are the ideas of the past not truly dead? Who will they brand next?

It should be noted that only families who decide to follow the LEA's advice on how to educate their children will be awarded these badges. Also alarming is the fact that several districts within the U.S. already have i.d. cards as a requirement or have ideas similiar to this one on the discussion table. Homeschoolers, beware.

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