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Tina P.
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Does anyone else feel the sting of having to pay taxes toward public schools? We don't even *use* the schools, and don't support what they stand for, yet we have to pay money so other people's children can go to be babysat by frustrated, often endangered teachers (I've heard horrible stories about the dogs being run through middle schools looking for drugs, s*x escapades in bathrooms, on buses, just rotten activities).
Is there anything in the works (via HSLDA or something else) ... maybe some tax breaks ... for home schoolers in the future? If not, why is the government, after all these years, still ignoring us?
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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MaryM
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In our county, 59% of our property taxes go to the school district. We currently have a bill being proposed in our state legislature for a tax credit. I'm curious if other states have anything like this. I do think anything like this would be state not federal.
Quote:
Action Alert:
January 25, 2008
Colorado--Calls Needed Now to Help Pass a $1000 Tax Credit for Homeschoolers
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:
How would you like to save up to $1,000 on your property tax? If you are interested in this, please take a moment and call members of the House Finance Committee to pass Rep. Kevin Lundberg's tax credit bill, H.B. 1081. Kevin Lundberg is a homeschool dad who has drafted a piece of legislation which would benefit all students.
H.B. 1081 is called a bill for an act Concerning Tax Credits to Support Education in the State. This bill creates three property tax credits.
(1) A credit for tuition payments to an independent or parochial school or homeschool educational expenses for a student who previously attended a public school;
(2) a credit for contributions to a non-profit school tuition organization that provides scholarships; and
(3) a credit for tuition payments and expenses for an independent or parochial school or homeschool expenses that do not require a student to previously attend public school. |
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Lisbet
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This burns me up too, seriously. Seriously. It also burns me up when each fall I have to submit my intention to homeschool, including an outline of my cirruculum and materials - then I get the 'okay' from the school super. 
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
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folklaur
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The problem with any "tax" incentives, breaks, etc with homeschooling, is then the government, and the IRS, will need to define WHAT and WHO a homeschooler is. This is a concern among many homeschoolers, especially in states where there is very little regulation (like here in AZ - there is no testing, no reporting, no record keeping requirements - we have to let them know - one time - that we are homeschooling - and that's it. we never have to talk to them again...) If you get the IRS involved, the requirements, and proofs, etc, will certainly go up.
I know, I also used to really wish we got some kind of tax break/credit as homeschoolers - I knew teachers got to take a credit for money they spent for their classrooms. But the more I learned about it, the more cautious I have become in regards to it.
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JodieLyn
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And depending on how it's done.. you can get more than just needing proof you homeschool for the irs.. it could become akin to reciving public funds.. which means then the gov't gets a say in what and how you teach
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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Lisbet
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"Public Funds" ARG!! Just who makes up the 'public' anyway!!
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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JodieLyn
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yeah.. but I'm thinking like the voucher type things.. that's recieving funds more like public schools would.. and then there you are.. 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Molly Smith
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MaryM wrote:
In our county, 59% of our property taxes go to the school district.
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Ours is 73%!!
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Molly Smith in VA
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Taffy
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As the wife of a high school teacher, I feel the need to speak up here...
We must remember that, unfortunately, not every child is fortunate enough to have a parent who is willing and/or able to homeschool him/her. And these children deserve an education too, which is why public school is so important.
I do realize that many teachers are burnt out, incompetent or simply waiting for retirement. Most are also harassed by parents who don't want to deal with the work of raising children and expect the teacher to do the job for them. My husband has had run-ins with parents like this many times. He's also had to deal with school boards who definitely don't have the children's best interests at heart and are more interested in making their own jobs easier.
But, there are public school teachers out there who are absolutely worth their weight in gold. And there are many children who come from less than ideal circumstances who go on to live happy and productive lives due in part at least to the supports they received at school. My husband generally works very long days and goes to a huge amount of effort to help his students succeed and master their course material. He is a public school teacher who has taught that abortion is wrong and that there are absolute rights and wrongs. He cares very much for all his students (including the irritating/annoying ones) and works very hard to help them succeed in life.
Isn't that worth supporting?
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Susan
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Sarah M
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Tina P. wrote:
Is there anything in the works (via HSLDA or something else) ... maybe some tax breaks ... for home schoolers in the future? |
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I just spoke with someone active in homeschool law here in WA, and she said the trouble with tax breaks is that as soon as the government gives homeschoolers more freedom (especially where money is concerned), they have to require more accountability. So, the last time this issue was brought up in WA, it was put to rest because the state (and we have a *very* homeschool friendly law in WA) said taxpayers would demand more accountability from homeschoolers if we were given tax breaks. I, for one, would rather pay the dang taxes and have the freedom to teach my children in our unschoolish way than get a little tax break and have to conform to tests and textbooks.
Just a thought. But I do understand your frustration. 
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stefoodie
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What about a voucher system? Would that maybe work? (Not that it would happen anytime soon.) I remember watching this show (20/20? Nightline?) a couple of years back discussing how this would motivate schools to really be "the best", and people could pick and choose which school to send their kid to. Or, we could use the vouchers for homeschooling. Based on the little bit that I understand I think this would be the idea scenario. But no idea how to make this happen. Isn't this similar to how schools are run in Europe? I think the show featured schools in Sweden(?) that did it this way.
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stef
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lapazfarm
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I guess I kind of agree with Taffy on this one. Although I would love it if my taxes were lower, I don't begrudge the funds going to public schools. The schools are there for my children should I choose to use them, just as are the roads should I choose to drive them, the library, the police,the parks, and many other public services that I may use or not as I see fit. So, sure I would love a little more $$ for curriculum or whatever, but I just think of it as one more public service that I help to support for the good of the community at large, whether I use it or not. Part of being a citizen.
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Theresa
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Angie Mc
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No, I don't feel a special sting towards taxes going to public education although at times I feel the overall sting of taxation  .
lapazfarm wrote:
| Although I would love it if my taxes were lower, I don't begrudge the funds going to public schools. The schools are there for my children should I choose to use them, just as are the roads should I choose to drive them, the library, the police,the parks, and many other public services that I may use or not as I see fit. ....I just think of it as one more public service that I help to support for the good of the community at large, whether I use it or not. Part of being a citizen. |
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I look at paying my taxes in this way as well. For me, it is a consolation to look at my taxes as a contribution to my community rather than as an issue to cause me angst. Also, after moving from PA to AZ (like Laura described above,) I now enjoy a level of respect and freedom in home educating that is priceless. I am very cautious about anything that might undermine this situation.
Love,
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Angie Mc
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JodieLyn
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hmm, I tend to think of donations and support as being optional not regulated by the gov't..
and it would be nice to see a percentage of that tax that I'm required to pay come back to help pay for my own children's schooling.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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JuliaT
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If you had asked me last year what I thought about paying taxes, even though my children do not attend school, I would have said that paying taxes is part and parcel of being a member of our community. I would have said that it doesn't really bother me to pay taxes.
However, things in my life have changed this past year as has my opinion on paying school taxes. Seeing that I am paying taxes just as every other ps child's parent, I should be able to use the services that the ps children use. At least this is how I see it as well as many others that I have talked to. In our region, however, that is not the case.
My ds needs speech therapy desperately. The school board has denied him that service because he is homeschooled. Even though, I pay taxes and pay for a big chunk of my curriculum, he cannot access the service of a speech therapist.
What really upsets me is that I know of many children who are getting speech therapy because they cannot pronounce their "l's" or they use the wrong pronoun in the context of a sentence. Other than this, they talk fine. I can understand everything they say quite clearly. My ds, who is 7, talks like a 4 yr. old. People cannot understand a word he says. He stutters so bad that he has developed facial ticks in order to get the word out. It enfuriates me, that my ds is being denied help because we hs, even though I give them money in the form of taxes.
I have been told that I will have to pay for private therapy, which is $50 an hour. We can't afford that! That is $200 a month. So, yes, it makes me very angry that we have to pay taxes, especially when we are denied the same services that are given to ps families who also pay taxes.
I am sorry for the high emotional content of this post. You just got me at a weak moment. (No, I'm not pregnant, just sick )
Julia
mom of 3 (8,7,5)
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lapazfarm
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Julia, there is no need to be sorry! your feelings and opinions are just as valid as anyone else's and please don't feel the need to apologize for them.
It is shameful that the services your son needs are denied him, taxes or not.
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Theresa
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JodieLyn
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Julia - I don't know if it's the same there.. or if you have insurance that would do it.. But I have my girls in private speech therapy (one short term one longer expected).. just 30 min. a week.. but we have options and decided that we prefered setting aside the money for this out of our tax return than using some of the other options.
Anyway.. I was also told that a medical doctor can refer a child to a speech therapist and that medical insurance may cover it. It would be something worth looking into for you.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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Molly Smith
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Oh, I fully support the public school teachers and students. The reality is that the majority of children go to public schools. Many of them will be our future doctors, entrepreneurs, priests, etc. Some of them may grow up to be my future sons- or daughters-in law. I want them to be well-educated and I want their teachers to be top-notch. I think teachers should be paid for their difficult work and that schools should offer plenty of extracurriculars. I live in a county where the schools are top-notch, and I am thankful for that in case anything should ever happen that would necessitate enrolling my own children.
I just happen to also live in a county with extremely high property taxes, and when I get the bill and see how many thousands of my dollars are going to the public schools each year, it stings a little. Honestly, I don't begrudge the schools their money. I would just like a little of it back to put toward my own children's education. However, it means more government intervention into our education, then I will gladly forgo the tax credit.
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Molly Smith in VA
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Servant2theKing
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I used to struggle with resentment over the fact that we are actually paying three times over for education...first for public schools through taxes, second for parochial schools and relig. ed. through our tithe, and third through all of our homeschool expenses. Then the Lord revealed to my heart that we ought to be profoundly grateful to Him for the incredible privilege of keeping our children home, and if need be, ought in turn be willing to pay infinitely MORE for that blessing! Every time we scrimp and scrounge to make ends meet I thank God over and over that we are able to live this life and that I am not forced by financial circumstances to work outside the home and am thus able to homeschool! We as homeschoolers are incredibly blessed to be home with our children...no amount of money in the world can compensate for such a blessing! If we in turn pay our taxes and tithes, freely and generously, we are blessing others who do not share the incredible blessing we have of having our children with us and being able to live and love and learn together as a family! That fact was brought home even more intensely on 9/11, when schools were clamouring to send children home...I was SO thankful to the Lord that ours were right there beside me where we could pray and trust in God to take care of us. Every time we struggle with the woes of taxes or finances, we turn to thanking God as we "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's" and we turn our thoughts toward "rendering unto God what is God's"....to God be the Glory and the Praise that He allows us to live this blessed life we call homeschooling!
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Angie Mc
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This is all so interesting. I see two basic questions being answered here. The first has to do with the topic of taxes, especially those earmarked for public schools, how these do or don't (should or shouldn't) provide access to wanted services for home educators, and different options for governmental redistribution of income (vouchers, tax breaks, etc.)
The second has to do with the individual heart of the matter - the potential for these types of issues to sting. In addition to some of the other great ideas listed above, here's one of my favorite tips to minimize the sting factor. If I know or feel that a material good has been taken from me without my consent, I give it to them as a gift. For example, if I loan my friend a book and it is never returned after all civil efforts have been exhausted, instead of being resentful, I tell myself that I gave her the book as a gift. Purse stolen? I control what I can (shut down the credit cards and checks) then give the rest as a gift to someone desperate enough to steal. This has proven to be a valuable habit of thought for my own peace, especially in situations where I have no control and/or feel that I have been taken advantage of.
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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Topic: Paying Taxes for Public Schools
