UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell’s comments highlight the urgent need for homeschooling legislation

UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell recently gained a lot of popularity after stating that he was afraid that public school would turn his son gay. The most disturbing aspect of his tirade is that the lack of homeschooling laws means parents like him can homeschool their children without any supervision.

Mitchell is a mixed martial arts fighter who competes as a featherweight in the UFC. However, he recently gained attention for a number of hateful and disturbing remarks he made in a video posted on Instagram. In the video, she holds her son and begins to provide updates on his weight and health. Things quickly take a turn when he suddenly tells his followers not to vaccinate their children because “it could kill them or give them autism.” According to him, “vaccines are poisonous.”

The topic then changes to homeschooling, and Mitchell states, “We’re going to have to homeschool all our kids or they’ll all be gay. That’s why I homeschool Tucker, because I don’t want him to be a communist. I don’t want him to worship Satan. I don’t want him to be gay.” He then complains that public schools have removed the Bible from their curriculum. He states, “They took it (the Bible) out of the schools and replaced it with Edgar Allan Poe, who lived with his cousin. My son won’t read Edgar Allan Poe, OK? He will read the Bible.”

In addition to being opposed to vaccines and revealing that he would not even allow doctors to test his child for PKU, Mitchell also stated that he believed the world was flat and had no gravity. The scariest part of his comments is that Mitchell will be able to homeschool his son and teach him these views if he wants.

There is a dangerous lack of regulation around homeschooling

Homeschooling is an important option for parents and children, who have the right to choose the form of education that is best for them and their lifestyle. However, most would be shocked to realize how little supervision there is for homeschooling. Someone like Mitchell can simply cite “religious beliefs” as a reason for homeschooling and get permission to do so with no questions asked or qualifications required.

They do not have to explain why a public school does not accommodate their beliefs, even though the actual justification may be that they do not want their children to become “gay communists” and one must ask whether this is actually a legitimate reason to teach child at home. In 11 American states, parents don’t even have to notify the state or school district of their intention to homeschool. Their children may be abruptly removed from school or not show up at all with no questions asked, which is very scary. Well, almost All some of the worst recent child molestation cases, such as those of the Turpin family and Ruby Franke, occurred in homes where parents managed to hide their abuse under the guise of homeschooling. Despite this, homeschooling is still unregulated.

In the vast majority of states, parents are not asked to provide a curriculum or proof of their child’s education, and homeschooled children are exempt from mandatory state testing. Parents like Mitchell have complete freedom to teach their children that the Earth is flat, feed them conspiracy theories about vaccines, or insist that their only textbook is the Bible. Meanwhile, many parents also use homeschooling to avoid the need for vaccinations or physical examinations. In her memories EducatedTara Westover revealed that her parents’ lack of confidence in healthcare was so severe that they couldn’t even get their children or each other medical attention due to injuries suffered in a car accident. Few seem to understand that homeschooling parents not only have unlimited control over their children’s education, but also their health and well-being.

Growing up in a Christian, conservative family, I was homeschooled until ninth grade, and I often look back on this experience with surprise that no one ever checked on me or my five siblings. Since we lived in Wisconsin, my parents had to declare their intention to homeschool. So they told state officials that there were six children in their home who were homeschooled, but they didn’t have to prove that we were actually homeschooled. They did not have to provide the school authorities with detailed justification for their choice or curriculum. Considering that no one ever checked anything my parents reported or did, I often wonder how these government officials even knew that all six of us were registered and were definitely receiving an education in this home when no one even physically watched us he did not see ?

State and school officials never once thought about us getting an education or even living and doing well. Meanwhile, reform and regulation are difficult when parents like Mitchell can invoke parental rights and the right to teach and raise their children as they see fit.

It’s strange that no matter how many cases of molestation are associated with homeschooling and how many stories like Westover and the Duggars appear, no one has ever bothered to talk about children’s rights. One day, when he is old enough, Mitchell’s son should have a say in what type of education he wants and which one best suits his needs. However, in the current system, children have no say, and state and school officials pay no attention to what is best for the child – they rely solely on the parent’s decision. Many children automatically receive a questionable home education throughout their childhood simply because their bigoted parents think they will become gay if they get a real education.