Dear Editor,
Santa Rosa County home schooling families have been receiving letters from Superintendent Wyrosdick's office threatening criminal prosecution if they fail to comply with his new directives – directives nowhere authorized by law. The homeschool law is explicit; according to Department of Education reference, superintendents may not add to the statute. From Wyrosdick's response, it appears he feels when parents notify they have established a home education program, they are enrolling their children into public schools. This is not the case. However, if parents seek to receive services within the public system, proof of residency (one of Wyrodick's unauthorized directives), could be helpful to reduce fraud. Public officials' striving to reduce fraud by overreaching their authority is an end-justifies-the-means approach and a greater evil. At issue is not what merit is in Wyrosdick's concern, but that of his using unauthorized means. His recourse is the same as any public official's and citizen's in a country based upon law: seek legislative redress. Taking license with the law violates what our nation stands for. Even more than private citizens, our elected officers by their example exert great influence on the citizenry's development and respect for the law – especially youths'. This is rightfully a concern in Escambia and all counties – the same Florida statute governs all.
Leslie Henderson
Pensacola
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Proof of residency not required in Florida statute for home schooling