Why do homeschoolers have to pay school taxes?

Question

And schoolers don't have to pay homeschool taxes?

If you don't use the system it's unfair to have to pay that chunk of change to something when the state could easily have a homeschooling fund; something to support needy homeschooling families. Give em books, computers, et cetera.

It seems really unfair that my family has to pay in to a system that does absolutely nothing for us. I have nothing against supporting society at large -I support welfare programs I don't need- but it seems remarkably one-sided.

It just seems like we could at least get a break.

If I have to pay for a school kid's math book he should have to pay for mine.

You keep on saying, "Well, you're choosing not to use the system." Well, there's nothing keeping the vast majority of school kids from being homeschooled, so aren't they not using my system?

Mostly I'm just trying to have as much of a debate as is possible on Yahoo Answers. I think the public education system should be supported but I also think that if you get a break for going to private school you can get a break for not going to any school.

Just a break. Right now homeschoolers are actually helping the school system a lot more than they think: they get the money from my parents, but they don't have the two extra lunches to prepare, two sets of books, two lockers, basically two kids in the system.

I also think that the government should support it's citizen's right to educate their children how they see fit and have a state sort of fund from which homeschoolers could benefit. But that's another question.

Answer 1

I understand what you are saying but, the public school system is available to you, and you have made the choice not to use it. Choices sometimes have a price.. Then there is the cost of educating 12,000,000 illegal children who's parents do not have the time or money to home school...(I don't blame them for coming here for a better life)..I do blame our government for not protecting our boarders though.

Answer 2

I partially agree with you - there is a huge potential for the public schools to reach out to *everyone* in their community, and offer free drop-in services to those who would like to use it. But, I would argue that there's no reason why homeschoolers should get preferential treatment in this.

Right now, the public school system is how it is because of demand; demand of the parents who use it and demand of the state. There is so little demand from the community to provide this kind of service, that it would be a waste of money.

Libraries are homeschooler's publicly funded resource center. And well as anyone else who would like to study more on a topic.

The internet is not publicly funded, but it's free. You can use that.

There's really no reason to take money that is intended for public schools and use it for homeschoolers or private schoolers. If you feel that you can't homeschool effectively without the support of the public school, perhaps it's not the right choice.

Public schools, among other things in our community are socialist constructs. We put money into the pot to create this system. Not in order to benefit our own family. The money is there to provide a universally accessible system for everyone. That's the basis of the fund, and that's how it's divvied up. If every tax payer who didn't have children in the system asked for " a little break ", then who would pay for the system primarily? Tax-paying citizens with children who go to the public schools. That would put an undo stress on them, not to mention create an increase in taxes because if everyone who didn't go to school got a tax break, where would that money, which was originally designated for public school funding, come from? Tax-paying families with kids in public schools.

It's not unfair that homeschoolers pay school taxes any more than it's unfair that people without children have to pay into it, or people who have children in private school.

The only way to make it "fair" by your definition would be to repeal the tax for *everyone*, then charge families by a sliding scale to attend the public schools. If we don't charge people to attend public schools, the money has to come from somewhere. And agin we're back to "who funds the schools if not the families who use it?"

So, what do you think about about public school funding and giving money to homeschoolers?

Answer 3

I think the primary reason would be to not encourage homeschooling! While the government has realized it needs to allow parents to exercise their rights, it's not as though they actually want people to homeschool. I've heard in some places, you don't have to pay school taxes if you are sending your child to private school--the government undoubtedly sees private school worth, plus the parents' money is going to a school--so they allow that.

In general though, everybody has to pay taxes to the schools, not just parents. So it really isn't a matter of using the system or not.

I have to say that I don't mind supporting the system, but I'd like at least a bit of a tax break!

Answer 4

It doesn't seem fair, but here is the thing you are choosing not to use it. It isn't like you are paying for something you can't use. Everyone pays school taxes...businesses, people without children, people who private school, and homeschoolers. It is the way the system is set up and to be honest as homeschoolers don't we know public schools need all the help they can get.

Answer 5

Why does a person with only one child have to pay the same as a person with 4-5 children? It takes more money and resources to educate the 4 children and therefore the parent/parents should pay more. Since they have the time, energy, and wishes to produce that many children, feed and clothe them, etc, they should pay more. Then they get tax break benefits with the IRS tax deductions so both are incentives to have more children.

Answer 6

I don't have any kids, I'm 53, and I ALSO have to pay those taxes. Maybe I should try out for quarterback at my local high school. Why not? It's the same logic you're using.

Answer 7

Everyone has to "pay into the system" ... even 90 year-olds who never had any kids!! Just because someone chooses to be home-schooled instead of going to a taxpayer-financed institution is a private decision. If supplies for home-schooled individuals are too expensive, then perhaps the parents need to re-think their position and send their children to "normal" schools instead ...

Answer 8

If the math is too complex for you - perhaps you should not home school.
I do not "like" paying to plow and pave your road as I do not drive on it.
I do not like public swimming pools because gangs hang out there.
Public librarys are a waste because no one reads.

Yeah everyone has a complaint. If only the people who used the "public" systems paid for them per use there would be very few public systems. The math is simple we all chip in so that society in general improves. There is waste, but education? Try living next to stupid people.

Answer 9

A democracy cannot function without an educated electorate. Thus the cost of providing an educated electorate should be spread over all those who benefit; which is everyone within said democracy.

This is basic libertarianism (aka classic liberalism).

Answer 10

homeschoolers pay for the same reason as the people that go to private school... because everyone pays taxes