I am writing to express my concern about the implementation of a law designed to encourage homeschoolers to enlist in the military. (Pub. L. 105-261, div. A, title V, Sec. 571, Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2033) This law establishes a pilot program in which homeschool diploma recipients will be treated as high school graduates in determining their eligibility for enlisting in the armed services. However, the Center for Naval Analyses is surveying homeschooling organizations for ideas about how to identify "genuine" homeschool graduates. Results of the survey will be inaccurate because it is not based on a representative sample of homeschoolers. However, the survey will probably be used to justify increasing the requirements placed on homeschoolers who want to enlist. Please stop spending public funds on this survey. Do not use the results of this survey to increase enlistment regulations or procedures or to change the law. Instead, implement the law as passed. For more information, see www.homeedmag.com/HEM/172.00/clmn_tch.html
I realize that the armed services may be concerned about dropouts enlisting by claiming to be homeschool graduates. However, an old legal maxim states, "Hard cases make bad law." In other words, a law or regulation designed to ensure that dropouts cannot pose as homeschool graduates when enlisting in the armed services is likely to be so complicated and difficult to enforce that it will keep out many of the homeschool graduates the armed services are seeking and have little effect on dropouts trying to enlist. It makes more sense to conduct the pilot program according to the requirements of the law.
Please reference this letter as a matter of record in reports related to the Center for Naval Analyses' survey of homeschool associations.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
