密歇根新闻广播 在家上学到底是好是坏

In recent years, the number of American families choosing to homeschool their children has been on the rise. Federal data estimate that the number of homeschooled students more than doubled between 1999 and 2012.

Michigan is one of 11 states that does not require parents who are homeschooling their children to have any contact with state or local education officials.

While many homeschool advocates believe that fewer state regulations give parents the freedom to develop a learning environment that works best for their children, some groups are drawing attention to the potential for abuse in that system.

Rachel Coleman is the executive director of the Coalition¹ for Responsible Home Education. She says under Michigan law, parents who want to homeschool their children are supposed to provide an organized educational program that covers a wide variety of subjects.

But parents are not compelled to alert local school districts to their decision to homeschool, and the state does not track the educational progress of homeschooled children.

There is no form, there is no list, and nobody checks in, she says.

Coleman says this lack of regulation can lead to safety risks. Children who attend school interact with a range of adults, teachers, coaches, guidance counselors² who are mandated³ by law to file a report if they have reason to believe a child is being abused. But Coleman says since homeschooling parents have total control over who their children see, it's easier for abused children to slip through the cracks.

Historically, legislation aimed at improving the state's ability to regulate homeschooling has not fared well in the Michigan Legislature. Lawmakers who oppose new regulations have argued that they place undue⁴ burden on loving, law-abiding homeschooling families.

But Coleman says increasing the state's oversight⁵ of homeschooling is not meant to inconvenience the many families who actively⁶ and compassionately⁷ educate their children at home, it's meant to provide support to the children who don't have that infrastructure⁸.

We're not talking about making life harder for the responsible homeschooling parents, we're talking about catching⁹ the cases where parents are abusing the homeschool law and using it to harm children.

Listen to Stateside's conversation with Rachel Coleman to learn more about homeschooling laws in Michigan, and the changes she would recommend lawmakers make in order to better protect children.

And tune¹⁰ in tomorrow, when we'll hear from Mike Donnelly, an attorney with the Home School Legal Defense¹¹ Association. He'll tell us why increasing state oversight of families who choose to homeschool won't make children safer, and what he thinks would make a difference.

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 counselors   

n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师

参考例句：

• Counselors began an inquiry into industrial needs. 顾问们开始调查工业方面的需要。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We have experienced counselors available day and night. ) 这里有经验的法律顾问全天候值班。） 来自超越目标英语 第4册

3 mandated   

adj. 委托统治的

参考例句：

• Mandated desegregation of public schools. 命令解除公立学校中的种族隔离
• Britain was mandated to govern the former colony of German East Africa. 英国受权代管德国在东非的前殖民地。

4 undue   

adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的

参考例句：

• Don't treat the matter with undue haste.不要过急地处理此事。
• It would be wise not to give undue importance to his criticisms.最好不要过分看重他的批评。

5 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

6 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

7 compassionately   

adv.表示怜悯地，有同情心地

参考例句：

• The man at her feet looked up at Scarlett compassionately. 那个躺在思嘉脚边的人同情地仰望着她。 来自飘（部分）
• Then almost compassionately he said,"You should be greatly rewarded." 接着他几乎带些怜悯似地说：“你是应当得到重重酬报的。” 来自辞典例句

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

10 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

11 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。