Home School Family Day

We took three of our kids and went to the Home School Family Day in Lansing this week. It was a nice opportunity to tour the Capitol Building and see where our representatives and senators work as they make the laws that govern us. We were also afforded the opportunity to protest the Proposed HB 5912 which would require the registration of children who are home schooled. Proponents claim this is merely a formality with no intention of using this information. This rationale may work with someone educated in a public institution but any thinking person understands the only reason to register home schooled students would be to use this information. In a previous post I noted the California court ruling as a clumsy, heavy handed approach in dealing with home schooled children. Registration is a more subtle method of putting ones fingers on the “problem”. The educational system feels threatened by the successes academically, socially and spiritually of home schooled kids and this is simply the first step in addressing their concerns. For a vision of my fear one only need look to the raid on the polygamist compound in San Angelo, TX. The authorities reportedly received a phone call from a minor alleging abuse both physical and sexual from her husband who was alleged to be much older. Despite being on site for 8 days authorities have yet to locate this 16 year old girl whose phone call prompted the raid. This inability to find the caller troubles me greatly as does the fact the sheriff pulled out an action plan that was developed 4 years previously at about the same time the group purchased the compound. It would seem the authorities were ready and waiting for an opportunity to investigate and while I do not want to suggest that ones religious beliefs may allow for abuse or violation of the law it is clear the authorities are inordinately concerned with the life style within the compound. We, as home schoolers, are also off the reservation as far as the establishment is concerned and I believe they should focus their attention on their broken public school system and not concern themselves with home schooling unless of course they are looking for tips on our successes.