By Jim Brown
A pro-family leader is questioning a CBS Evening News report that attempted to expose what the network calls a “dark side to home schooling.”
Outraged families across the U.S. have responded to a CBS “Eye on America” report that aired last week. The report linked various child abuse cases across the country to home schooling and then seemed to emphasize that link, even though the relationship between home schooling and the alleged abuse was generally questionable. (See Earlier Articles: October 15, 2003; October 16, 2003)
Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association, believes CBS was clearly advocating more state regulation of home schoolers. But he says such biased coverage is not an anomaly for the network.
“The recent CBS Evening News coverage on home schooling was very negative in its slant,” Wildmon says, noting “That doesn't surprise me because the home-schooling movement is predominantly a part of the Christian community — and I think CBS, as a network, has been at odds with the Christian belief system for quite some time.”
The “Eye on America” investigation highlighted child abuse cases involving parents who appeared to be home schooling their children, although it was not clear whether all the parents in these cases were actually complying with home-schooling guidelines.
Either way, Wildmon says, the CBS News report was unfair and obviously slanted.
“There was very little focus on the positive things. There's so much positive out there about home schooling, and yet CBS chose, in the segment I saw, just to focus on a few negative incidents around the country,” he says.
Others who favor home education tend to agree. Since the report was broadcast, home-schooling families have been contacting CBS and its advertisers to express concerns about the network's agenda.
To many schooling proponents, the CBS “Eye on America” report appeared to be a blatant attempt to raise alarm and stir sentiment against home schooling as an option and a parental right. Nevertheless, Wildmon says he is hopeful that as home schooling continues to grow and succeed in America, common fears will be alleviated.
(This article courtesy of Agape Press).
