Nov. 9, 2007 - Tax Credits for Homeschoolers
Just thought I’d pass this on about tax credits and why we as homeschoolers do NOT want them. These are REAL issues that we NEED to educate ourselves in if we hope to be homeschooling in the way we are lead to (either by God's calling or our own). We also need to help our fellow homeschoolers understand these issues at hand. Our freedoms are one government handout/tax break away from being eroded. Tax credits = more govt intervention. We need to educate ourselves and understand the issues w/ the elections looming on the horizon. (my emphasis added below) Mitt Romney says that parents who home school their children should get a tax credit. This will help to offset the expense of teaching. At first glance, it seems alright because maybe more parents would be willing to yank their children from their abusive government schools. But then you snap back to reality and realize ... any government involvement is doomed for disaster. Home schooling merely becomes a tool or a puppet for government officials. And of course, politicians use none other than taxes as incentives. Imagine a world where this kind of power didn't exist ... where the government wouldn't have to lure you and bribe you into making the right decision for your children - taking them out of the hands of government indoctrination. Romney says he also supports charter schools and vouchers, but on a state-by-state basis. Eh, it's a start. Competition for a better education can do nothing but make our children smarter, or at least give parents the chance to give their children a better education. Instead of a tax credit .. for which there will undoubtedly be certain "requirements and qualifications" ... how about a straight voucher? Either use it to send your child to a private school, or keep it if you're teaching your child at home.
Comments
Nov. 9, 2007 - Not really understanding...
Posted by netherfieldmom
I was just listening to Rush (replacement guy) today and he was discussing these tax credits. I thought they sounded like the right deal for us...how can gov't intervene? I could see where they can require something to get the tax credit, but that doesn't mean you have to do it...we don't get anything now, so if you didn't want to jump through the hoop you wouldn't be out anything and they wouldn't be taking the portion they do now for education we don't use, right? If we take a "voucher" and don't use it, can we turn it in for cash or something? I doubt that. I admit shallow knowledge on most of this, but like you, believe it is important to become informed. I can't stand the idea that people spend more time picking out their Starbucks for the day than examining candidates and issues!
Nov. 10, 2007 - tax credit
Posted by labellavita
Hee hee, the Starbucks comment made me laugh, because its sooooo true! :o)
I'm not thoroughly educated on this either, so don't quote me ;o), but from my little bit of understanding, its those govt controlled hoops that would come w/ the money, and I don't want to jump through any hoops. And I guess the term 'hoop' is relative depending on what state you currently homeschool from. I've told my DH I do not want to move to Pennsylvannia because you have to have regular evaluations from the state, they approve your materials, you have to have a yearly portfolio, etc (from what I've heard, I'm not in PA). In GA, where I live, I fill out a yrly form to homeschool, do a monthly attendance, and every 3 yrs starting in 3rd grade I test, but those test results are for my eyes only. I also do a yr end evaluation, but its for my eyes only. Its more hoops than I'd like, but its not intrusive in the fact that I just file it away. Other states are more unintrusive. I just feel the minute you get any kind of tax break, that money then comes with stipulations, "well, we'll give your your $x dollars back a yr, but *I* (govt) needs to see that you are using it for what its deemed to be used for, that your kids are up to par," whatever it is they think they need 'proof' of, and that typically means Control. The more I read and learn, the more I have become 'old-fashioned', more Constitutional in my beliefs. I vote for less govt. Less govt = less spending and more freedom.
A voucher seems like it is the best option yet, but then I'm still leery. I would love it to have some of my money back in order to school my kids because as it is we are paying twice, taxes and then when we purchase homeschool supplies, but (and I admit to not having thorough knowledge and understanding on this) I have not seen anything yet that I feel safe enough to trust big govt in. And until govt gives the American people the credit for having thinking, working brains of their own and don't need babysitters, I'm not sure I will.
I try to be optimistic, that the strength and might of the people will prevail, but we've been so undereducated in so many ways, its going to take a lot to make that happen.
Edited by labellavita on Nov. 10, 2007 at 8:09 AM
Nov. 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by hsmomof2
I'm a recent PA transplant, and it's not quite that bad. :-)
I can see several problems related to a tax credit for homeschoolers. The gov't would have to require proof of homeschooling. What form would that take? A letter of intent? A letter from the school district in which the homeschooler resides? How long would it be before homeschoolers requesting the tax credit would be required to show proof of performance? Subjects taught? Proof that certain topics are covered and, possibly, taught following the gov't preference toward attitudes? How would the gov't prevent fraud?
Why not reduce taxes that go to schools (typically property taxes) and have people who use the public school system pay more for it? Of course this has problems too which I won't list here since I've already written a comment as long as a post!
Why don't we just abolish the public school system, stop taxing for it, and let people figure out how to educate their children using whatever means they prefer? (Spoken partly tongu-in-cheek - this is also fraught with problems. But it's so attractive to me at times. Like property tax time...)
Nov. 10, 2007 - Oooooh!
Posted by labellavita
You sound like Ron Paul! I think I saw a video of him recently where he said that he wanted to eliminate the Dept of Education, which I think is a wonderful idea! To me that means that all education would then be private, schools would then have to COMPETE to educate your children and PERFORM (like they do in the Netherlands I think it is), and your money would follow you. Ron Paul is looking better and better to me. ;o)
But back to Graves of Academe and other sources I've read, if the govt wanted an educated populace, they'd have an educated populace. Its much easier to be dictator (and get funds) when you have an uneducated populace. ;o)
And about being regulated, that's why I don't want more govt intrusiveness. What if my DD doesn't want to anything all week long but Latin and math, but we don't do spelling or grammar? I find the standards and scope and sequences set by the powers that be very arbitrary. And don't want to bring them into my home. ;o)
Edited by labellavita on Nov. 10, 2007 at 2:28 PM