In this review of the "Educational Goods," the author provides a set of comments that might extend the worthy framework provided by Brighouse, Ladd, Loeb and Swift. In particular, the author calls attention to the ways in which continued work within this project might broaden its conceptualisation of educational goods, increase the scope…

In this brief comment on "Educational Goods," I raise two worries about the authors' proposed normative framework for educational decision-makers. The first concerns the omission of rationality, or responsiveness to reasons, from the list of educational goods; the second concerns the inclusion of parental interests in the list of…

We gratefully reply to our five commentators, responding to their criticisms and comments under the following headings: parochialism and curriculum; rationality and truth; production and distribution; perfectionism, decision-making and disagreement; adultism and parents' interests; non-consequential educational goods; and self-education. [For…

Largely led by parents of school-age children from around the country, the opt-out movement has gained momentum in resisting the overuse of standardized testing. The author, a teacher educator, former K-12 teacher, and parent, argues that the opt-out movement is raising awareness regarding standardized testing and opening the door toward policy…

John Locke is often taken to be a staunch defender of parents' rights in the realm of education. In fact, Locke's pedagogical reasons for preferring home education to school education do not necessarily apply to similar choices in modern contexts. Locke's political argument for defining education as a duty of parents rather than the state does not…

In 1978 Congress passed an astonishing piece of legislation that gave Native American tribes a considerable amount of jurisdiction over matters of child custody and the adoption of their children. In 1976, the Association of American Indian Affairs gathered statistics relevant to the adoption of Indian children that Congress found "shocking…

Every child gets assigned to a public or private school chosen by some adult. The question is which adult should hold that authority by law and exercise it in practice. Our Federal Constitution recognizes the authority of custodial parents; but our systems of tax-based schools effectively dethrone working-class parents and the poor; most of whose…

This reply addresses concerns raised by Dr. Harmon in "Beyond 'Cain v. Horne.'" In response to the issues she raises, I explain that the appropriate constitutional inquiry is not whether there is some incidental financial benefit to private schools but whether a challenged voucher program was enacted to assist students in obtaining the…

For close to three decades, his Eminence Zenon Cardinal Grocholeski, worked at the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura as notary, chancellor, secretary and prefect. A professor, scholar, and canonist of exceptional ability, he is considered one of the world's most prominent experts on the Code of Canon Law. In light of his competence and…

Michael Hand, in his recent 'Religious Upbringing Reconsidered' in this journal, has claimed to find a logical problem neglected by earlier writers on religious upbringing and parental rights. In this paper, I argue that he has mis-described the terms in which he poses the alleged problem.

Parental freedom to teach their children at home has been promoted as a right that a democratic society should allow. Before it can become a workable educational alternative, underlying issues regarding the balance of power between society and parents must be settled. (Author/JOW)

Reviews the specific provisions of state and federal statutes relating to parental visiting, contrasts provisions with those in several model acts, discusses the purpose of visiting as reflected in the statutes, and concludes with recommendations for statutory reform practices offering a compromise between terminating parents' visiting rights and…

Discusses some of the myths surrounding home-based schooling and some of the activities of Education Otherwise. Myths refuted include compulsory education and the illusion that only qualified teachers can educate at home. (JOW)

This article argues that we live in a culturally, politically and religiously diverse society and that faith schools are the "product", rather than the "cause", of this diversity. As an easy target for those with fears about social cohesion, faith schools are being "scapegoated". (Contains 4 notes.)

Considers the lack of opportunities for meaningful interactions between male prisoners and their children. The family-related policies of the New York State Department of Correction Services and their implementation in local institutions are given as examples of the problem. (Author/BB)