Sorry, but this is too important for us for me to ignore simply because it is off topic.
The following is a letter written to Michigan Representative Dave Agema, my rep., concerning H.B. 5912 which would require Home School families to register with the local superintendent among other things. I can not over emphasis the importance of this issue, because it strikes at the heart of our rights as parents. These rights are from God, not the state, and not the majority of voters. They are fundamental.
Even many conservative Christian’s who are mighty Rush Limbaugh fans have a hard time seeing this. If you think the state ought to monitor a child’s education to make sure they are learning in the home, then you really need to read this post. I hope you do so openly, because it’s not just about Home Education.
And one more point that I did not include in the letter to Mr. Agema. Our state is consistently failing our children. Far too many of them are “behind” in several areas and many graduate without being able to read. It’s beyond comprehension that these people can insist that they try to remove our parental rights in this area.
I did not follow this argument below because it accepts the premise that the state would have this authority if they did know how to educate a child. They do not have the right regardless, but it’s curious how failures can impose their system upon those succeeding.
And now the letter:
Dear Rep. Dave Agema,
Concerning H.B. 5912 and Home School families.
I would like to know how you intend to fight against this bill and how much effort is planned on defeating it.
Parents have the fundamental right given to them by God, not the state, to care for their children. It is contrary to the fundamental principals of which this country was founded upon for the state to, without cause, remove a parents rights concerning their children. Unless probable cause of some harm or wrong doing can be established, the individuals home, family, and particularly children need to be beyond the reach of the state.
We already have laws in relation to the fourth amendment which give the state authority when a child’s welfare is at stake.
Michigan has been a safe haven for Home Educators for a number of years now, and we are attracting many more families who are devoting their time, resources, and energies into training their children. Many statistics show that, from the view point of the state, an educated well disciplined populace which cares for family life is beneficial in many ways. Michigan at this time is reaping the benefits of not having inappropriate laws devaluing family education. As our children enter adulthood, the positive impact on our state will easily be noticed.
In addition, there are countless statistical studies that show Home Education to be far superior to any publicly founded school in our state. I hesitate to use this argument, however, because in doing so, I am accepting the premise of the writers of this bill. Regardless of the supposed quality of Home Education, the state does not maintain the right to infringe on the home without cause. This “cause” is on an individual bases, not something imposed upon the entire populace. Unless we stand firm on parental rights in our state and country, whenever they are under attack, we will lose our rights as parents because the state will strip them away one at a time.
And one final personal note: Currently on HBO there is a mini-series about John Adams. He is one of my favorite founders. I read the book the series is based on and at some point it will be clear how John Adams feels about his children’s education and who is responsible. Many of the founders of our country were not schooled, but were taught at home and self-taught through books and life. It has amazed me how earnestly they sought books to read and the lengths they would go to acquire them. From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington; John Adams to even Abraham Lincoln; over and over again we see people who hunger for knowledge and learning; yet they, for the most part, were unschooled. While we do not live in their times, we do have the desire to provide that love of learning to our children. We desire to see them eager and longing to follow their passions and dreams, something which is far more possible when educating at home.
But if the state steps in with tests, evaluations, and benchmarks, we stand to lose much of that natural flowing curiosity about our world while instead we “get them ready for some test.”
Many families in the Home Education movement can attest to the fact that at times their child may be far behind in some subject because their passions lead them in other areas where they are far ahead. But guess what, it takes weeks only to get caught up when it’s necessary. It is amazing how much faster an older child learns when they are ready. The state’s “educators” stuck in their paradigm of how one learns best in large monogamous groups, all at the same level, will nearly faint at the thought of what I just said. Believe me, my family is filled with “educators” and I know. Yet, when they see it – when they see it with their own eyes, they marvel. They see children reading many books about historical figures, about horses, about some foreign country mentioned in church, and they discuss it at age eight or nine with adults, because they have a desire that they are allowed to follow.
But the state will strip this from us. They will see children behind in area “x” and pull the whole thing down. Maybe I forget what it’s like to be of the old paradigm (I was trained to be an elementary teacher), because I have been doing this with my family now for a number of years. I live it and love it; but an educator stands back all nervous because I’m not on target in some area. They miss the whole picture by seeing only the part.
Please help us fight for the rights of parents, all parents, in the state of Michigan.
—end letter—
Rep. Dave Agema personally called me on the same day that this email was sent to his office. He assured me that he opposed this bill and was a strong advicate for Home Schooling in Michigan. He sited a number of examples of what he has done to support Home Schooling in Michigan.
See the following links for more information if you are interested in Home Education, live in Michigan, or want to do more to protect Parental Rights.
http://www.homeedmi.net/
http://www.hslda.org/
http://www.parentalrights.org/
Link to the actual bill in PDF form: House Bill 5912
Filed under: Home Education, Parental Rights.
