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HEM SUPPORT NEWS - October 2004
~OCTOBER'S HIGHLIGHTED HOMESCHOOL ACTIVIST- Sarah Leslie
~COMMUNITY SERVICE- H.E.A.R.T.S., N.O.A.H. and Roots and Shoots
~ISSUES TO WATCH- The History of Homeschooling
~WEB UPDATES - Election Resources and more
~HEM RESOURCES - Some tried and true sources of information
~OCTOBER'S HIGHLIGHTED HOMESCHOOL ACTIVIST: Sarah Leslie
Lynn and Sarah Leslie are long time homeschool advocates and publishers who recently released: "Homeschooling Under Fire: The Iowa Homeschooling Crisis of 1989-90 A history of the plot to depict homeschoolers as truants and child abusers" By Lynn and Sarah Leslie, August 30, 2004 http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/04/homeschooling_under_fire.htm
It was my pleasure to interview Sarah Leslie this month and discuss the piece with her.
Mary: Sarah, I'm awed by the events that you wrote of within your excellent compilation. Thank you for this gift to the Home Education Community. What prompted you to write this story now after all these years?
Sarah: I was asked by the Iowa homeschool group NICHE to come back to Iowa to tell this story. The leaders, most of them old homeschool friends of mine, told me that that there was a new generation of homeschool parents that did not know the history of a time when homeschooling was dangerous and illegal. They wanted me to tell the story that we had all lived through firsthand.
To tell you the truth, I never dreamed that such a day would ever come. I had gone back into the woodwork and was simply an anonymous mom again. But in my heart, I knew that I MUST tell this story. I felt compelled to tell the story, not only because of my religious faith, but also because the time had now come when people might be able to listen and hear and truly understand the depth of the danger.
Yet, to tell the story was very painful. I had to wait an entire year from the time that I was invited to speak before I actually delivered the message. In that time I had plenty of opportunity to dwell on the past. I rummaged through old file boxes and notes that I kept. Memories kept flooding back into my mind. The events happened 15 years ago but they were as fresh as yesterday in my mind. To re-live them again was an emotionally wrenching experience. Once again, I was reminded afresh how perilous those times were. I remain amazed that the outcome was so miraculous. The dangers at the time didn't seem as real then as they do now. Many times I shuddered at how precarious our situation constantly was.
Mary: Now that homeschooling is legal in all fifty states, do you feel that home-educators can "rest" easy concerning their freedom? If so why, if not why not?
Sarah: Of course homeschoolers cannot rest. Yet many do. This is one thing that never ceases to grieve me. I have never fully understood how some can "trust" so easily. Even during the darkest hours of the Iowa homeschooling battle, there were families who were extraordinarily positive, naive, unaware of the dangers and doing activities that put their children in grave danger. Some whom we tried to warn actually covered their ears, closed their eyes and cried out, "I don't want to know!" to us. I had never encountered that type of reaction before.
In the years to come, during the decade of the 1990s, we were to experience that reaction many times from homeschoolers all over the country who did not want to believe the plans of education reform and the dangers that ed reform posed to homeschooling -- even when the evidence was staring them in the face. We were involved in publishing several publications that talked about the dangers of ed reform, specifically to home education, but this was typically met with apathy, resistance, and even occasionally some hostility.
It is true that our message was not one that was positive and upbeat. Our message was that constant vigilance was necessary to preserve the rights and freedoms to homeschool. There were and are dangers from many directions. Mary: You mentioned that you had acquired some useful legislative skills from your earlier work that helped you when the homeschool crisis came up in Iowa. What is the best advice you would offer those interested in participating, but who have no experience and feel intimidated by the process.
Sarah: The most difficult lesson that we learned is that we couldn't trust our own homeschool lobbyists, as I detailed in our paper. The second hard lesson we learned was that we couldn't trust conservative leadership either. As we detail in our paper, the worst part of our stand for homeschool freedoms, was resisting the terrible compromises of our own homeschooling brothers and sisters.
The days in which we live now are far more difficult than they were fifteen years ago. Back then there were actually "independent-thinking" legislators, who did not always tow the Party line. These were the men and women who aided us and assisted us. They were willing to take the risks associated with breaking ranks with their political Party. Some of them indeed suffered some financial loss (due to PACs pulling out their financing) and experienced the ostracizing and censorship of their Party leadership. In the ensuing years, we learned that State legislators are pressured in small group situations and sophisticated psycho-social indoctrination processes to spout the Party line. Because of this, fewer are willing to vote on principle for what is "right." Few take the time to research what they vote on. The political parties hardened their positions into concrete mantras that the legislators chant to us.
In some cases, we learned the hard way that the legislators were being heavily lobbied by powerful and rich outside organizations, who sometimes claimed to be conservative, pro-private education, or even pro-homeschooling. But often their lobbying was at odds with what was best for homeschooling in our state. The local grassroots effort became much more difficult. Outside "experts" were calling the shots, defining the debates, and paying the bills (PACs, etc.). In fact, during the decade of the 1990s, some of our best and brightest anti-education reform leaders across the country were "bought" by national advocacy organizations and began to compromise in major ways.
In our present era the only hope is that grassroots homeschoolers will rise up, possibly even in opposition to their own leadership, and draw a firm line for no more compromise. We know already, simply based on the ed reform plans, what the end goal is. NO child will be left behind. This means that every child is to become part of the "system." This means that the reformers are intent on monitoring, databanking and assessing (testing) each child into conformity with State Standards. When the crisis comes, when the pressure mounts to a national drumbeat (possibly even a "manufactured "crisis") for more "accountability" for homeschoolers, what dangerous compromises will be forged by homeschool leaders? The "battle" may take place first within the ranks of homeschoolers themselves, dividing those who homeschool out of "preference" from those who homeschool out of "conviction" once again.
Mary: I know you have a good understanding of "School to Work" and "Outcome Based Education". Do you feel these programs have gone away or are they intertwined with No Child Left Behind? Do you see similarities now with the connections being made with homeschooling and child abuse?
Sarah: No Child Left Behind is the ultimate culmination of every education reform plan that floated around during the decades of the 1980s and 1990s. It first came to public awareness in George Bush (Sr.) America 2000 plan. Then in Clinton's Goals 2000 plan. These two plans gave birth to NCLB. Outcome-based and school-to-work are simply components of the massive plan to reform education. In fact, this plan is not only directed at education, but intends to overhaul the entire "social sector" of American society -- families, churches, private institutions, charities, etc. Everything is to be based on a structure of "accountability" for "outcomes."
Mary: What positive efforts do you suggest homeschoolers do to prevent history from repeating itself?
Sarah: In our paper, we outline the strategy -- if you want to call it that -- used to defeat the bad bills in 1989-90. As you can see, the "strategy" involved some rather "radical" activities -- compassion and caring for one another, not compromising, not endangering anyone else's children, standing firm against severe threats of persecution, and peacefully explaining our position. In fact, you will note that our position was one of non-resistance which is something not taught to homeschoolers in most of their popular theologies. Yet there is a strong historical and philosophical place for this type of "action" and it proved to be the wisest course.
Why did we achieve success? Of course, I believe there was Divine help. But it was more than that. It was because there was a committed core group of people who were willing to stand no matter what the cost. It was because this group took the time to thoroughly educate themselves about the dangers. It was because they sacrificially devoted themselves to the effort and educated others. In the end, it was because they did not compromise.
I wish that every homeschooler would take the time to educate themselves about the dangers of education reform. Back in the late 1990s we published Charlotte Iserbyt's landmark book, "the deliberate dumbing down of america: A Chronological Paper Trail", which details a hundred-year history of education reform. This book should be read by every homeschooler who wants to stay informed, understand current events, and grasp the details of education reform and its dangers to the family and all truly private education.
Mary: Thank you so much for sharing your time an again for your wonderful work," Homeschooling Under Fire: The Iowa Homeschooling Crisis of 1989-90 A history of the plot to depict homeschoolers as truants and child abusers." I hope others will pass this history along to many others.
~ COMMUNITY SERVICE
Last month H.E.A.R.T.S. (Homeschoolers Educating, Assisting, & Reaching-out Through Service) announced their fall project 'Hats for the Homeless'. To see what the next project is and how you can get involved, visit their website at: http://www.h-e-a-r-t-s.org or visit AHA-HEARTS http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AHA-HEARTS/ to see if there is a chapter near you. IF not, you might consider starting one!
Also, The Lake Ponchatrain Area Homeschoolers Roots & Shoots is just getting started and already they report that they've had one service project (collecting donations, clothes and art supplies and sending them to homeschooling families who were devastated by Hurricane Ivan) in Pensacola. To learn more about LPAH Roots & Shoots please visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPAH_rootsandshoots/ To learn more about Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots visit: www.rootsandshoots.org.
Another service group, Project Noah is set up to help families in financial crises (e.g. death of a spouse, divorce, loss of income, natural disasters, severe family illness, etc.), Project Noah is available to replace curriculum to the homeschoolers of Texas during their hour of need. They have recently begun to expand slowly and were reported to be working to make contact with the Florida Homeschool Network in order that families that want to send books to Florida will have place to send them to. You can learn more about Project Noah by visiting their web page at: http://www.projectnoah.org/
~ISSUES TO WATCH
The History of Homeschooling
It's been said that some home educators are "stuck in the past" because we often refer to the history of home-education while objecting to the new blended home-education/public schools. We live in the present and know that an understanding of our history is vital for our preservation. We are aware of and appreciate the commitment by others to defend our right to home-educate our children free from external control and constraint. The Leslie's "Homeschooling Under Fire: The Iowa Homeschooling Crisis of 1989-90 A history of the plot to depict homeschoolers as truants and child abusers" is an excellent example of that very commitment and history.
We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to remain vigilant. However, in today's complex political world, it can be hard to remain vigilant. Recently I was reading " A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn" and a statement caught my attention that may help us. It reads: "Sometime in 1992, the Republican Party held a dinner to raise funds, in which individuals and corporations paid up to $400,000 to attend. A spokesman for President Bush, Marlin Fitzwater, told reporters: "It's buying access into the system, yes." When asked about people who didn't have so much money, he replied: "They have to demand access in other ways."
How do we demand access? Certainly few of us have the kind of money to lobby as is spoken of by Mr. Fitzwater. So, what do we do to gain the access to legislators and others? The power of knowledge is much more valuable than the power that money can buy because information is often free to those who will take the time and effort to find it. Each of us can study homeschool history, ask veteran homeschoolers what it was like to homeschool in the early days. If there are home-education laws in place, we can learn how they were formed and how to effectively communicate with our legislators. We can let our legislators, media and community know that we are aware of our rights and that we will work to protect them.
Within support groups, I often hear new people ask for some type of guidance as to how to home-educate properly. We can assure them that they are the experts concerning their family's learning needs and that we will be happy help them find resources. As support groups, we can help new families have a successful journey by sharing with them the importance of protecting and knowing their home-education rights. Many of these rights are fundamental and to protect them one must also be aware of the government laws that may be in place. As we share this information, new families become empowered and are able to follow their hearts and their own convictions while they live and learn with their families.
Here are a few more home education history resources:
Home Education Magazine's Foundations of Freedom
http://homeedmag.com/INF/free_index.html
The American Homeschool Association's History of Homeschooling Discussion group, which you can join by visiting:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AHA-HistoryofHomeschooling/
"Back to Basics Reform Or...OBE *Skinnerian International Curriculum?" by Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt (FREE downloadable book)
http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/pages/back_to_basics_reform.html "The Underground History of American Education"
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/index.htm
More recent history: Home Education Magazine's News and Commentary
http://www.homeedmag.com/whts_nw.html and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HEM-NewsComm/
As we study our history, this knowledge becomes a springboard toward a future where generations to come can enjoy the same benefits for their family as we do.
~WEB UPDATES AND RESOURCES
A few election resources: Frontline: The Choice 2004: Is a PBS "By the People" Election Special and it will air October 12, 2004. The Frontline website says: "As Americans prepare to choose their next president, FRONTLINE offers viewers a special, two-hour dual biography of the two candidates who hope to lead the nation for the next four years." Visit the web page to learn more: http://www.pbs.org Homeschoolers for Bush http://www.hs4bush.net/ Homeschoolers for Kerry / Edwards: http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/articles/092804.htm On the Issues http://www.issues2000.org/default.htm Disabled Parents Who Homeschool Discussion Group
There is a new group recently set up for disabled parents who homeschool. This group is set up to serve parents who are disabled. The parents setting the group up are disabled and their home-educated child is not. This forum will give disabled parents an opportunity to discuss homeschooling, parenting in general and the issues that they face while homeschooling. To join in the dialogue, please visit their inclusive group at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/disabledparentshomeschool Happy Belated Birthday to the Military Homeschooler! September 28th marked their first year! Congratulations and thanks for such a wonderful source of information. They are located on the web at: www.militaryhomeschoolers.com/ Self University Newsletter
http://www.autodidactic.com/newsletters/selfnews.htm
~HEM Support Group Resources
Starting a support group
http://www.homeedmag.com/groups/start.html
Finding Support
http://www.homeedmag.com/groups/find.html
Staying Informed
http://www.homeedmag.com/groups/find.html
Home Education Magazine Articles and Columns
http://www.homeedmag.com
HEM's News and Commentary
http://www.homeedmag.com/HSRSC/hsrsc_gn.html
HEM's Online Newsletter
http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcm_hemnewsltr.html
Be sure to bookmark Home Education Magazine's Support Group page,
which can be accessed at:
http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcm_groups.html
If you need your listing updated or your group would like to be added, email me at Support Groups Email and it will be added in a timely manner.
See you next month!
Mary Nix
HEM's Support Group Liaison
Groups@homemag.com
http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcm_groups.html
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