Complacency is not an option
The unfolding legal challenge to homeschooling in California caught many by surprise. Here is what happened - courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle:
“The ruling arose from a child welfare dispute between the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and Philip and Mary Long of Lynwood, who have been homeschooling their eight children. Mary Long is their teacher, but holds no teaching credential.”
“The Second District Court of Appeal ruled that California law requires parents to send their children to full-time public or private schools or have them taught by credentialed tutors at home.”
The entire background is here:
As of March 25th, 2008, The California Court of Appeal has agreed to re-hear the case. Michael Farris, chairman of HSLDA commented: “This is a great first step. We are very glad that this case will be reheard and that this opinion has been vacated, but there is no guarantee as to what the ultimate outcome will be. This case remains our top priority,” he added.
The lesson we can all take from this is that, once again we as home educators must be vigilant. Many of us in the homeschooling community have grown complacent in recent years. We in Ohio have enjoyed a long run of stability and favor among the mostly home school friendly Republican majority in state government. That stability could be in danger as the political winds change throughout the state and the nation.
Not everyone in California was unhappy about the court’s decision. The ruling was applauded by a director for the state’s largest teachers union.
“We’re happy,” said Lloyd Porter, who is on the California Teachers Association board of directors. “We always think students should be taught by credentialed teachers, no matter what the setting.”
It is important that we know exactly who our political adversaries are. There are organizations right here in Ohio that are actively seeking to restrict or regulate home education.
How can PEACH members do their part? Here are five suggestions:
- Get to know your state and local elected officials. Find out where they stand on homeschooling. If there is a local or state official that isn’t “homeschool friendly” work to support a candidate who is. If there isn’t a suitable candidate, consider running yourself.
- If you are not already a member, join HSLDA. I personally consider membership a must for any homeschooling family.
- Consider supporting ParentalRights.Org. (Truth in advertising - My daughter is the Deputy Director of the organization.) They are working on a long term solution to the issue via a constitutional amendment.
- Join CHEO - Christian Home Educators of Ohio. They work to promote homeschooling at the state level. They also employ a part-time lobbyist to stay abreast of possible legal threats and to maintain relationships with lawmakers.
- Be alert. The California case described above began as a child welfare case and the proceedings were kept secret until the ruling was handed down. As a result, HSLDA and the California State knew nothing about it. If you hear or see anything that causes concern, let one of the PEACH officers know about it.
If we each do our part, hopefully we won’t be caught flat-footed if a challenge like the one in California happens here.
Sometimes we need a reminder
Growing up I attended a Christian school. As part of the discipline procedures, the teachers would give out “reminders”. After a certain number of reminders, some other unpleasant punishment would follow. They were trying to remind us to do good, as to avoid the unpleasant punishment.
I find that I often need reminders–why exercise? Why try to eat healthy? Why do I homeschool? Why continue to be diligent with training my children? Some days are just hard, frustrating and discouraging, and a homeschool mom needs someone to come along beside her and remind her of the bigger picture. Our Heavenly Father is the first One she needs to go to for help. The Lord also has provided her husband, and at times, a good friend to help encourage. My husband often comes to my rescue at the end of a hard day. In addition, I have a good friend that I’ve be known to call and ask, “Tell me why we homeschool again!”
If I fail to reach out for help and “reminders”, I can start down a slippery slope that leads to further discouragement, irritability and other certain unpleasant things.
A friend let me borrow Help! I’m Married to a Homeschooling Mom: Showing Dads How to Meet the Needs of Their Homeschooling Wives by Todd Wilson. On page 32 he says:
We knew very little about homeschooling, except our reasons for doing it:
- To protect our children from ungodly, worldly influences.
- To train our children to influence the world for Christ.
- To teach our children to love God with all their hearts at all times.
Those reasons have been our solid ground because, like every other homeschooling mom, my wife has doubts.
Doubts assail us all. Having our reasons clearly identified serve as a foundational reminder of why we homeschool. Scripture verses written on note cards and taped around the house are also good.
Think about what encourages you and what reminds you to keep going because sometimes we all need a reminder.
Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (NAS)
Lest I forget Thy love for me
King of My Life, I Crown Thee Now
Jennie E. Hussey, 1921
King of my life, I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be; Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, Lead me to Calvary.
Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid, Tenderly mourned and wept; Angels in robes of light arrayed guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.
Let me like Mary thro’ the gloom, Come with a gift to Thee; Show to me now the empty tomb, Lead me to Calvary.
May I be willing Lord, to bear Daily my cross for Thee; Even Thy cup of grief to share, Thou hast borne all for me.
Refrain:
Lest I forget Gethsemane; Lest I forget Thine agony; Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary.
Listen to this hymn on Cyberhymnal.org
May you and your family focus on the sacrificial atoning blood of Christ offered for us on the cross.
The Parable of the Lily
The Parable of the Lily written by Liz Curtis Higgs is a great book to do at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring. This story teaches children about forgiveness with the emphasis on what Christ did for us (EASTER!)
The Homeschoolshare site has a lesson plan/unit study that goes along with this story.
I like this story as it has many lessons to teach:
- Forgiveness
- seeds/soil/planting
- Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13)
- Disappointment/contentment
- Thankfulness for the sacrificial, atoning work of Christ on the cross
- and many more!
Unstacking Issues of Home and Heart
I tend to stack things: papers, laundry, scrapbook materials, books, oh! the list could go on and on. If it can be piled, I pile it. Mostly this is an unconscious act; a pile of school papers gets started slowly, 2-3 sheets at a time. “I’ll grade this later,” “I’ll file this on Saturday,” and soon the pile is 5 inches thick. As so it is with clean laundry, books and other stackable materials. The stacks become a hindrance to the peacefulness and tidiness of my home.
It struck me this week, how I also tend to do this with my heart issues. I set aside hurt feelings, a harsh tone, selfishness, etc. to be dealt with later. However, too often later doesn’t come. As a result, I begin to get irritable, frustrated, sad and unkind with those around me. I get “too busy” to spend time daily with God which, of course, perpetuates the stacking.
Now that I am aware (and convicted) of my stacking, what steps can I take to reduce the stacking and avoid stacking in the future? Whether the stacks be physical (paper, laundry, books) or spiritual (attitudes, feelings, and sins), the starting point is the same. Confess my stacking to God. Ask His forgiveness as well as strength and wisdom to deal with things promptly and purposefully.
Some good practices to cut down on stacking in my home:
- Handle a piece of paper only once. As soon as paper, books, whatever, come into the house or into my possession, I need to put them in their places.
- Have a place for everything, including a library shelf or basket for borrowed items.
- Recycle or throw away things I no longer need or have room to store.
- Enlist the help of my children with age appropriate chores.
To avoid stacking in my heart:
- Deal with wrong attitudes and hurt feelings right away-as soon as I’m made aware of them.
- Keep short accounts of my sin.
- Make my time with God a daily priority.
- Ask God to continue to reveal piles that need to be dealt with.
- Be on the look-out for the warning flags-unkindness to others, frustration, irritability, etc.
- Rely on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts and actions.
Below is one of my favorite quotes:
A cup brimful of sweetness cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, no matter how suddenly it is jarred. Amy Carmichael
My cup can only be filled to the brim with sweetness if I’m walking closely with the Lord, obeying and leaning on Him. My desire is that my heart not be filled with stacks, but of sweetness; His sweetness and goodness.