Whoa, Nellie!
When I came down with the plague recently, the first to succumb, it happened very quickly and with no warning, as plagues are wont to do. I was blithely enjoying the fellowship of dear friends at a baby shower (praise the Lord I didn’t infect anyone!), and when I came home, I abruptly keeled over, wondering if I would ever feel well again. That’s sometimes how trials come: they sneak up on you and you are plunged into a struggle you didn’t expect. The following bad news is that kind of broadside, and even those who are watchmen for such attacks were surprised at its suddenness and boldness.
The 2nd Appellate Court in Los Angeles, California has made a very disturbing ruling that if it stands could affect our right to homeschool in this state. Home School Legal Defense Association and Pacific Justice Institute are getting involved with an appeal (HSLDA with an amicus brief), and the case is apparently heading to the state Supreme Court. Please pray for a ruling that allows the freedom to homeschool in this state to continue. The initial case involved a family who had some issues that brought them to the attention of social workers, and they just happened to homeschool their children. This case was obviously used by some anti-homeschooling zealots to attack the fundamental rights of all parents. That is a common strategy in this battle: find the weakest people and use them to gain a foothold to establish a precedent to control the larger group. Especially disturbing is the following opinion in the court’s ruling, which undermines the appeal to freedom of religion for families who homeschool because they consider it a fundamental calling from God for parents:
The parents in the instant case have asserted in a declaration that it is because of their “sincerely held religious beliefs†that they home school their children and those religious beliefs “are based on Biblical teachings and principles.†Even if the parents’ declaration had been signed under penalty of perjury, which it was not, those assertions are not the quality of evidence that permits us to say that application of California’s compulsory public school education law to them violates their First Amendment rights. Their statements are conclusional, not factually specific. Moreover, such sparse representations are too easily asserted by any parent who wishes to home school his or her child.
Pray for the wisdom of HSLDA and PJI as they fight this out on our behalf. Consider giving money to Roy Hanson and Famiy Protection Ministries, who have been advocates for homeschooling and family rights in our state, as soon as possible, as they will also be a big help to us in this. We do not need to fear as God is sovereign and He fights our battles, but He uses us as means in the fight, and we must not be complacent, especially not now. Tomorrow (Friday, March 7) Focus on the Family’s radio show is hosting Michael Farris and Roy Hanson discussing this issue.
You can read more about the situation here:
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=58205
http://backwaterreport.com/?p=860
http://www.lewrockwell.com/greenhut/greenhut51.html
You can help by signing a petition at HSLDA’s website to “depublish” the opinion in which the appellate court overstepped its bounds by so broadly ruling against all homeschooling, rather than addressing only the case at hand. I will let you know if I hear of any other ways people need to get involved in this blatant attempt to usurp parents’ rights and trample their God-given freedom to teach their children at home.
In 1994, a California congressman tried to sneak a requirement into a bill that would mandate all teachers, with no exceptions, be certified in the subjects which they teach. An amendment proposed by Dick Armey, which would have exempted private and homeschools, was defeated in committee. But when homeschooling families learned of this threat to their freedom, they quickly mobilized and virtually shut down the switchboard at the nation’s Capitol, soundly letting their congressmen know their strong opinions against the bill. Nothing like it had been seen before in those marble halls, and the skid marks are probably still there from all the backpeddling that happened in response to the disgruntled constituents. We need that to happen again. So stay tuned for further developments, even if you think you live in a “safe” state. We are in this together.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Thank you Carmon for reminding me who it is that really fights our battles. I have to admit that my fears have taken over today, as I feel like my children are being ripped away from me. May we all continue to be faithful to God, and to pray for these faithful workers who are about to step into the lion’s den. And yes, every homeschool family from all states needs to be in prayer too. States don’t always stay “safe” forever. God bless!!!
March 6th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
We are definitely praying about this. We also signed the petition. Thanks for linking to it. It’s easy to fall into the “what if” senarios, but it is all in God’s hands. I’m thankful for organizations like HSLDA that keep on top of these issues.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Yes, the news was definitely disturbing. I was affected by it since hearing it, but you’re right, God is sovereign so we need not fear.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
We’ll be praying, listening and responding to whatever actions
need to be taken. I’m linking so readers who don’t homeschool
and may not be aware of what’s going on will tune in tomorrow, too.
March 7th, 2008 at 4:24 am
I heard this on the news earlier this week and wondered how it would affect you. There is no rest for the weary….
March 7th, 2008 at 5:22 am
As a public schooler I even find this news disturbing.I will be praying for you.
March 7th, 2008 at 6:06 am
Carmon, something really odd like this has just come up in TN also. It involves testing of all homeschoolers every year. If you knew the sad state of TN public education evidenced by the fact that they are unable to perform menial drive-thru tasks, you would think that the public schools should be taking homeschool tests. As it is, homeschool families are actually discussing moving out of TN if the law passes.
March 7th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Carmon,
Know that homeschoolers in PA are praying for you. I had been reading about this on World Net Daily. Today I got an email from a PA list I am on that included the link to sign HSLDA’s petition. I just sent it on to more than 120 families.
I remember very well that scare in 1994. We still serve the same God and He is MIGHTY!!!
He tells us over and over, Be Not Afraid.
Love and Prayers,
Kathy in PA
March 7th, 2008 at 9:56 am
My friend Lisa sent me the link to this post. Although I live in a state where we have great homeschool freedom, my heart is grieved for all of you in California. I am praying for you. My children and I are reading through Peter Marshall’s The Light and the Glory. And today’s chapter had this Scripture passage “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” This passage was a great reminder for me, because I had just finished listening to Focus on the Family, where this situation was discussed. I found myself getting anxious, not only for Californians, but for myself. Then I read this passage and got on my knees.
In Christ,
Patti
March 7th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I’m tuning into Focus now. I read some of it at WND already. Although I don’t live in CA, I’ve seen many attempts in our state to limit rights. Every year something comes up. We have someone here as well who watches over everything that goes on regarding homeschooling in our state. On her web site she published a conversation overheard a year or so ago between two state congressmen over the calls they were getting. They were asking, “What has them all riled up this time?” Homeschoolers are certainly a passionate group of people.
This has found its way into national news whether the media wants it to or not.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:29 am
I saw this too and am praying for you all.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Carmon, I received an email concerning this issue from our MO homeschool group. We are praying for the homeschooling families of California.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
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March 7th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
My son and I were in the car today when we heard about the ruling on the radio.
I am not surprised, even in our more conservative state, there have been rumblings from the Capitol to make it harder to homeschool.