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Thanks to my friend, Robert Brenner, for sharing these photos taken in Cape Girardeau, Missouri last night. This is not an endorsement, just an opportunity to share great photos. I will also share some video of Santorum, when I had a chance to ask him education related questions as he campaigned in Missouri earlier this year.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdwzks_yG1E&list=UUcCkXB3kczV9VcuNfNiOE_w&index=1&feature=plcp]

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Enjoy this video! For all who read Homeschooling United and do not homeschool, perhaps this will answer a few questions about what it is that we actually do all day.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xJHt-m3VX6o]

Home Schooling Legal Defense (HSLDA) issued this statement today about a Missouri school districts deceptive tactics to add to the coffers of the public school funds. It’s all about the money, folks and public education will stop at nothing to get more of your money…..

Missouri–Branson Using Ploy to get “Declaration of Enrollment”

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:

Branson Public Schools recently sent a misleading letter to area homeschool families referring to the homeschool statute and saying, “In order to meet these requirements, we will need the attached form [a Declaration of Enrollment] completed and returned to us.”

Missouri law allows a family to file an optional “Declaration of
Enrollment.” It is rarely, if ever, to a family’s benefit to file it.
If filed, it may be treated as a public document and be made available
to any interested party, whether their intentions are honest or
otherwise.

When public schools use tactics like this, the motive can often be traced back to money. Public schools may get a little extra money from the state for every family that files the optional declaration.

If you think you might be one of those few families who might be benefitted by filing, please call so we can talk.  Otherwise, feel free to disregard a school’s invitation or demand to file.

Sincerely,

Scott Woodruff
HSLDA Senior Counsel

It is always important for citizens, especially homeschooling citizens to be aware of what the laws are in your state. There will always be someone who is willing to take advantage of those who are less than vigilant about protecting their freedoms.

Bob McCarty shares a poignant story of a “One Room School House” that maybe most homeschoolers would relate to in the present day. For Your Entertainment/Enjoyment …..

Most homeschoolers could be described as the cultural role model for parental involvement, at least as far as education is concerned. Homeschoolers themselves may tell you that definition would go even farther, because we know homeschooling is more than just providing “education” to our children. It’s a way of life. Sadly, our larger culture has come to think of education in a different way. The state of Missouri mandates it as an entitlement. Is that a good thing?

Read my latest posting on 24th State. It’s time for the culture to look at education in a different way.

HSLDA has issued another alert for Illinois homeschoolers. It seems the Illinois legislature just can’t let go of the autonomous, free and independent homeschooling citizens and is trying, yet again, another tactic to bring home education under state mandates and control. Legislation to raise compulsory school age is being considered and will likely see action in the coming days. The following alert has been issued by HSLDA.

From the HSLDA E-lert Service…

Illinois–Please Call Now to Oppose Compulsory School Age Increase

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends,

A bill that would place young people under compulsory education for an additional year is being heard in committee today in Springfield.

Compulsory age in Illinois ends at age 17 right now.  Rep. Jehan
Gordon’s HB 2985 would raise it to age 18.

The committee will probably vote on the bill within a few days.  They need to hear from you that making an additional year of a young person’s life subject to state mandate is not acceptable.

REQUESTED ACTION:

1. Please call your representative if he or she is a committee member
(see list below). Use our Legislative Toolbox at 
http://www.hslda.org/toolbox to find out who your representative is.
Even representatives whom you think already oppose the bill need to hear from you.

2. If your representative is not on the committee, call the
chairperson, the vice chairperson and the minority spokesman (seebelow).

3. Your message can be as simple as:

“Please vote NO on HB 2985. Parents, not state officials, know whether their 17-year-old young adult should pursue formal education or some other preparation for life responsibilities. The additional cost of forcing unwilling young adults into a formal school setting should not be added to the current taxpayer burden.”

This bill would undermine the freedom of all parents.  It is not
necessary for you to identify yourself as a homeschooler.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Elementary & Secondary Education Committee Members:

Chairperson : Linda Chapa LaVia
(217) 558-1002

Vice-Chairperson : Fred Crespo
(217) 782-0347

Minority Spokesperson : Jerry L. Mitchell
(217) 782-0535

Member: John D. Cavaletto
(217) 782-0066

Member: Marlow H. Colvin
(217) 782-8272

Member: Monique D. Davis
(217) 782-0010

Member: Lisa M. Dugan
(217) 782-5981

Member: Kenneth Dunkin
(217) 782-4535

Member: Roger L. Eddy
(217) 558-1040

Member: Keith Farnham
(217) 782-8020

Member: Esther Golar
(217) 782-5971

Member: Jehan A. Gordon
(217) 782-3186

Member: Camille Y Lilly
(217) 782-6400

Member: Rita Mayfield
(217) 558-1012

Member: Bill Mitchell
(217) 782-8163

Member: Donald L. Moffitt
(217) 782-8032

Member: Thomas Morrison
(217) 782-8026

Member: Harry Osterman
(217) 782-8088

Member: Sandra M. Pihos
(217) 782-8037

Member: Robert W. Pritchard
(217) 782-0425

Member: David Reis
(217) 782-2087

Member: Pam Roth
(217) 782-5997

Member: Darlene J. Senger
(217) 782-6507

Member: Karen A. Yarbrough
(217) 782-8120

BACKGROUND

Not all 17-year-olds belong in a formal school setting.  Some would be better off in a work training program, apprenticeship, obtaining valuable work experience, etc.  This decision belongs to parents, not state officials.

Pushing unwilling older students into the classroom will disrupt the other students who truly want to learn. Since many 17-year-olds have the size and strength of adults, classrooms could become even more violent.

Raising the compulsory age does not help young people.  Some of the states with the highest graduation rates have the lowest compulsory attendance cut-off age. Most states have a compulsory attendance cut-off age of 16 or less.

Illinois already has a higher age (17) than most. Taxes would inevitably rise to pay for more classroom space and teachers. When California raised the upper age limit of compulsory attendance, taxpayers were forced to pay for the building of new schools just to handle the older, unwilling students and their behavior problems.

For more information on compulsory attendance, please see our

memorandum at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7918

Thank you for your calls on behalf of freedom in Illinois.

Sincerely,

Scott Woodruff
HSLDA Senior Counsel

Missouri needs to monitor the actions of Illinois very carefully. Compulsory school age bills are a hallmark of Race To The Top, and Missouri has several of these bills up for consideration in this legislative session. While none of these bills are set on the calendar to be heard/debated as of this posting, that doesn’t mean it can’t happen before the end of the legislative session. It is also possible any of these bills could be hidden in an omnibus bill at the end of the legislative session. Please continue to monitor the progress of these pieces of legislation.

HB179Raises the compulsory school attendance age to 18 in all school districts unless the student has successfully completed 16 credits towards high school graduation

HB752Changes the laws regarding the compulsory school attendance of certain students

HB835Requires children in the St. Louis City School District to attend school at age five

SB20Modifies the compulsory attendance age for the St. Louis City School District so that students must attend school from five years of age to eighteen years of age

SB21Requires kindergarten attendance at the start of the school year for children who turn age five at any time during the calendar year

SB124 Requires children in the St. Louis City School District to attend school at age five

Here is a copy of the Educational Freedom Pledge. It supports a parent’s right to be the authority on decisions relating to educating their own children above all other entities, including but not limited to the federal or state governments.

Educational Freedom Pledge PDF

As soon as I learn how to navigate the world that is WordPress, I will have a permanent downloadable document for you to use, in the sidebar, so that you can approach your own representatives with the pledge and urge them to protect your parental rights as they relate to your children’s education.