APRIL 20, 1999 - LITTLETON, COLO.
Columbine spurs interest in home schools Parents investigate education alternatives in aftermath of shootings Associated Press
DENVER — Educators say more parents are looking into home-schooling in the aftermath of the Columbine High School shootings.
Suzy Parker, program assistant for the Colorado Department of Education, said she has been receiving five calls a day, about twice as many as normal. Many of the calls have come from the Littleton area, she said.
"One woman who lives right near Columbine called me the day of the shooting and told me, 'We're not doing this anymore,' Parker said last week.
The department reported 68 inquiries from parents on home-schooling in the month since Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 students and a teacher before committing suicide.
Christian Home Educators of Colorado, the state's largest advocate organization, has received 400 inquiries since the tragedy, Executive Director Kevin Swanson said.
On average, the organization receives 60 in a month.
"There are usually a lot of reasons why parents consider home-schooling their son or daughter, but a lot of the people who have called have commented on the event," Swanson said.
School officials said they won't know for a few months whether an exodus to home-schooling is in the works.
Denver Public Schools reported the number of students who leave the school district was up by five since Columbine.
"We're seeing a slight increase. It's hard to put a magnifying glass over it at this point to figure out why," district spokesman Mark Stevens said.
Denver school officials compared the number of students lost in April and May to the same two months last year.
"I was expecting more, but we've only had a couple of calls," said Laura Harmon, home-school liaison for Douglas County School District. "I did have one person who wanted to home-school her child tell me specifically it was because of what happened at Columbine."
May 25, 1999 | Print this page
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BACKGROUND
Full index of the shooting Reconstruction of the shooting TimelineLocation the schoolFloorplanWeapons used
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AUDIO
'Friend of Mine' Listen to the Columbine Memorial song sung by Columbine students Jonathan and Stephen Cohen.
911 tapes
Interview with Arun Ghandi |
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PHOTOS
A Daily Camera photo essay detailed the tragedy of April 20 and the recovery and remembrance in the following weeks: photo essay
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INTERACT
With the recent rise in school violence, do you feel schools are still safe? vote here
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THE INVESTIGATION
Man pleads innocent to helping Columbine killers get weapons Relatives angry about handling of case Parents of Columbine killer seek to limit evidence access Investigators meet with Harris' parents CHS investigators focus on computers FBI investigator's son linked to case Killer reportedly took Luvox antidepressant Detectives question shooter's girlfriend Bombs found in cafeteria Portraits of the killers Killer's diary describes plot of hate |
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SCHOOL VIOLENCE
Teenager threatens classmates Students accused of plotting shooting Violence in Georgia School violence stuns nation Teen wounds six fellow students Teens charged in alleged school attack plot Michigan teenagers charged in plot Other school shootings 1927 school bombing killed nearly 40 children Suspensions, arrests across country La. school site of another shooting Facts: Death in schools 'Blood in the School Yard', from the Cincinnati Post full series |
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REACTION
Time: Duo sought immortality Aftershocks continue to hit Columbine Columbine lawsuits multiply High schools' 'cult of the athlete' under scrutiny
Parents of Columbine shooters sued Columbine spurs interest in home schools Columbine healing fund raises $2.3 million CU frat shows support for Columbine 'Healing bear' arrives to help in Littleton Doctors: Guilt a normal reaction for survivors Media the message? Broomfield couple campaigns to 'Erase the Hate' What now? |
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GUNS AND LAW
Inaction on gun control could prompt ballot issues Democrats say they'll carry gun laws favored by Owens Owens says tougher laws wouldn't have prevented tragedy State senator plans to revive bill on concealed-handguns Despite pressure, more gun control measures unlikely Columbine dad lobbies Washington Senate passes more gun controls Columbine killers also wounded the NRA Senate rejects any new restrictions on gun-show sales
Gun control strife Leaders scrap gun bills Guns and legislatures |
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HOW TO HELP
A drive has been established to raise money for a memorial for the victims of the Columbine High School tragedy. Contributions may be mailed to the Columbine Memorial Fund, c/o The Jefferson Foundation, 809 Quail St., Building 1, Lakewood, CO 80215.
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