Wake up, homeschoolers, you've overslept

  by Fran Eaton

I'm going to express some frustration this morning with my homeschooling friends.  I know it's Sunday and all, but come on, folks.  Whoever is leading the homeschooling movement in Illinois needs to wake up.  They are lethargic, tired and disengaged.  Maybe they're too busy raising their families.  Whatever the reason, the current situation is not acceptable.  Something's got to change.

This week, Governor Blagojevich signed into law a bill making Illinois the nation's first state to offer preschool to any child, not just those with special needs or deemed "at risk."   While he doesn't have enough money to provide all day schooling to every 3 and 4 year old in the state this year, he hopes to in the future.  "We'll go back to the legislature" to get more funding,  Blagojevich promised.

This morning the Chicago Tribune carries a story pointing out that Illinois' compulsory attendance age is 7, not 5, as many believe.  The story is agenda-driven.  It's there to start the drumbeat about the need to lower the compulsory age to 5 again.  The battle fought last year is not over.

Where were the homeschoolers in the fight against preschool expansion?

As hard as groups like Eagle Forum and Concerned Women for America lobbied against preschool expansion this spring, we couldn't get homeschoolers interested in the battle.  It wasn't theirs to fight.  After all, they had had a victory in stopping the lowering of compulsory attendance to 5, they said. 

That just doesn't cut it.  The fact is last year's battle to lower compulsory school attendance was just the tip of the iceberg.  Anyone at the Capitol that day knows Senator Kwame Raoul told the Senate Education Committee, "I wish this bill was lowering the age to 3!"   They also heard other committee members, including State Senator Deanna Demuzio, agree with Raoul, concerned about the preschoolers in their districts. 

After passing the Senate, the bill died simply because it was just a few votes short in the House Education Committee. 

Homeschoolers are naive to believe the Governor's universal preschool bill is not going to put pressure on lawmakers to lower the compulsory age from 7 now to 5 next year and 3 the next. 

Homeschoolers are arguably one of the best organized activist networks in the state.  At least they were when our family was homeschooling, from 1985 to 1999.  Since then, I know of pockets of well-organized groups, but fear the statewide strength has waned because a new generation of homeschooling families feel unthreatened by the same school authorities that hounded us in the 80s.

Wake up, homeschooling friends.  Just when the public school system is at its weakest, homeschoolers cannot continue their myopic outlook and concern themselves with only the issues that directly confront them.  They need to engage in the bigger process if they want to preserve their freedoms.  Once lost, they will not be regained.

Here's a list of things you can fight against if you want to maintain Illinois' homeschooling freedoms . . . 

• the lowering of compulsory attendance from 7 to 5 to 3 years
• the expansion of universal preschool
• the expansion of universal government children's health care
• the expansion of the children's mental health screening program
• the erosion of parental rights
• more mandatory vaccinations

and that's just for starters. 

Wake up, friends.  You've overslept almost too long.

Comments

[Susan Ryan]

Thank you, Fran. That was unfortunately just for starters. I heartily second your Wake Up Call for our homeschooling community.
Continuing with your list:

-Regional Offices of Education and individual public school districts brazenly demanding non-mandated Home School Registration Forms to be filled out annually. These forms go to the Data Analyis and Progress Reporting Dept. at ISBE. Home School Registration forms aren't necessary to educate children successfully. Rather it's busywork for busybodies to try to herd us cats. We'll take care of our own family's backyard and public school authorities can take (better) care of their school yard.

-passage of statute Public Act 93-0661 without a homeschooling word; "in order to ensure that all Illinois students and teachers have the opportunity to enroll and work in State-approved educational institutions and programs, the State Board of Education shall provide for the voluntary registration and recognition of non-public elementary and secondary schools."

-the use of our educational successes in the homeschool community by promoters of virtual public schools by using media to proclaim the 'security' of a certified curriculum or teacher.
Certification as necessary for educational success has been a disproven need for centuries.

-the raising of the compulsory attendance age to 17 from 16 a couple of years ago.

-agendas of public officials not being called out by the homeschooling community; such as Williamson County State's Attorney Garnati,his staff and the truant officer M. Sullivan pursuing a "test case" for homeschoolers by use of a public school truancy case [Kim Harris].

[Truthful James]

Let me third that.

What we are seeing in addition, through the brazen mask of "helpfulness", is an undertaking in our midst of the left wing over what should be the special provenance of the family -- the inculcation of moral values necessary not only for the family unit but also for the preservation of a civil society.

Rather than remediate the adults who have chosen to bring children into society and then abandon what should be their primary responsibility to both family and society, the government reaches down and begins the public educative routine before most parents have shaped their children to meet the panoply of greater or lesser moral values in the schoolhouse.

It is in that unnatural environment that the child will spend if not the majority then the plurality of his waking hours.

Public schools by law may not teach the bases of moral conduct. Parents have always been faced with a stark choice. Either form their character at an early age or have them subjected to the vagaries of the beliefs of their teachers and their peers.

If the latter, the parent spends the rest of the time devoted to the child, tweener and teen years trying to catch up.

This all kids baloney, this pre-pre-pre school 'service' gives the parent an excuse to attend to his or her own selfish interests and in some sense justifies the behaviors of the adult in a corruptive society.

G.B. Shaw, I think, wrote 'childhood is such a wonderful time; it's a pity that it has to be wasted on the children.'

The education monopoly and the education establishment benefits. Taxpayers pay for programs which have like head Start demonstrated some benefit but eroding completely by the fourth or fift grade.

Society would be better if a program were initiated to the young adults who had left school early were to be provided remedial education as a condition of welfare.

Any program particularly designed to free adults from family responsibilities is suspect. The basis for the republic lies in the functoning family and its encouragement and, yes, discipline of the individuals therein.

[David P. Graf]

You know, I don't understand all the complaints raised against preschool in this article. Teachers have told me that they can tell pretty easily which kids had preschool and which didn't. The ones who did are much better prepared than their peers because they've already learned some of the basics and are familiar with how to act in a classroom. What's wrong with that?

[Truthful James]

David --

"Teachers have told me..."

First, to tell you, they must be kindergarten teachers. because if they are first grade teachers, what did the kindergarten teachers do?

Second, I infer that you are implying that no parent can prepare their child for the school situation.

I don't believe you feel that way, but if that is what you mean, once past procreation there is no need for a family structure. Just turn them over to the State.

[Priscilla Jael at Culture Campaign]

Fran, what do you suggest we do to prevent lowering of the age for compulsory school attendance? I'd like to suggest some specific actions that individuals can take.

[Donna]

I resent the implication that only homeschoolers are the ones asleep. Hello all you parents of public schoolers!

When has anyone with a child in the public school system stood up and supported homeschooling? I understand the premise that what happens with and in the public schools could trickle down to us homeschoolers, but fighting the public schools battles are not the top priority in my life.

I am not in favor of universal pre-school, nor am I in favor of lowering the attendance age. But seeing as so many with children in the system think it a wonderful thing, as they get to pawn their children off on others even sooner, why is my lone homeschooling voice even relevant?

[committeeman]

There's no battle over whether to have compulsory education. The argument is where to set the age. Is there a huge difference between 7 and 6 or 17 and 16? How many 6 year olds aren't in school (or being home schooled) anyway?

[David P. Graf]

A quick reply to Truthful James: I wouldn't infer anything about families in my comments. My feeling is that if you have the opportunity to take advantage of preschool, then do so. The program doesn't force people to send their kids to preschool. Why, then, is it seen as such a threat?

[Fran]

David:
If you're a family that makes sacrifices to be a one income family, yet are forced to pay preschool for others, it is a threat.
We have fought long and hard to keep kindergarten as optional here in Illinois. Most children fare better if they're not forced into the artificial environment of structured classrooms at ages 3, 4, 5, or for some, even 6. It should be a parent's decision when their individual children should be required to learn in a formal setting. They know what's best for their own.
The Perry Preschool Project study showed that while children in the Head Start program started out at an advantage with their preschool background, by second grade, they evened out in their academic achievement, and those who weren't placed into school so early tested out the same as those attended preschool.
Voluntary preschool is a threat because when attending preschool becomes standard, the next step is requiring school attendance at that age.
Whether politically correct or not, toddlers will always fare better emotionally when they have the security of their mother's individual attention rather than being one of a herd of peers. Many young couples have determined their children deserve their mother's attention, and willingly forego a much-needed second income so their babies will have the best. The more mothers who care for their own children, the less burden on taxpayers. That's the way it has been and the way it should be.
This new universal preschool program is not needs-based. A mom in Naperville, Wheaton or Wilmette can have taxpayer-funded day care while she takes tennis lessons. That seems unfair to overburdened taxpayers.
And don't forget . . . Illinois is paying for preschool, but 200 days late in paying its Medicaid bills.

[TK]

I am very committed to homeschooling my children. I have educated my 12 year old, all but the first couple of months of kindergarten, at home and plan on homeschooling my younger children (3, 1, and due in Oct.) as they get older. I walked away from a thriving business that I owned and opperated to stay at home with my children. I sat here and cruched the numbers, my family is giving up over $750,000 in my income in order for me to stay at home.
Fran, my question is this, what can we do? I make phone calls to my Senator, (the one who claims we have meth labs in our homes and that is the only reason we keep our children home)and get NO RESPONSE. I have other people call, write, and e-mail her. I have written letters to the editor, when the opportunity arises. NOTHING. I get pretty much the same response from my Rep. What more should I, or could I, be doing?

[Suzanne]

Just a note to make Fran's comments more personal... We ARE one of those "young couples" who "have determined their children deserve their mother's attention, and willingly forego a much-needed second income so their babies will have the best."
First let me dispel a common misconception.. We were married first, then had children, only 2. We are blessed to live with my husband's grandmother, otherwise I would have no choice but to work and send our children to public school (We homeschool). It angers me that our society expects, no forces couples to have dual-incomes. It was more or less optional when our parents were raising us. Though looking back, I can see that it was already starting. My mom did work part-time while we were in school. My husband's mom did the same thing.. at least until the mortgage was whittled down. Now with state-provided pre-school (i.e. free child-care), moms will have even less of a reason to stay home. They won't be "working just to pay for child-care."
It scares me that this cycle will just continue to worsen. Will my husband ever be able to earn enough to provide for us? Will I have to take on a summer job? Who would watch my kids then? I can't rely on my in-laws, they have their own problems.
And what about the next generation? I fear that future salaries will not keep up with inflation, unless you expect both parents to work.

[Rhonda Robinson]

I began homeschooling almost two decades ago, and plan to retire in about six years. When we began, there were parents in other states sitting in jail for teaching their children at home.

Choosing to homeschool was one of the hardest decisions we have ever made. Once made, we fought family, neighbors and the local school for our rights to do so.

In 1994, federal legislation was proposed that would inadvertently outlaw a mother teacher her own children. Homeschoolers sprang into action, and shut down the white house for three days by jamming all their communications. Faxes and phone calls poured in, and legislators got the first taste of what concerned parents could do. C-SPAN broadcast lawmakers holding stacks of faxes, saying they could not vote against their constituents.

I remember one legislator saying, if they are this organized; they are certainly capable of teaching their own children.

Today, those old lines of communication between support groups have deteriorated. Most of us, sat idly by while a homeschooler in IL, was forced to put her children back in school.

Homeschoolers today do not view the local school or its authorities as a threat. But make no mistake, while we sleep, plans are being made in the public school camp to limit if not thwart homeschooling. Constant vigilance is the price of freedom.

Fran, is right, there are many battles to fight. We can’t afford to fight only when the battle is raging on our own doorstep.

[Larry Hau]

I confess I was asleep on this one. I knew this has been one of our governor's pet projects for a long time, but I didn't know it was coming up for a vote.

At the same time, I'm surprised I didn't get a wake up call, since I get e-mails from several homeschool lobbying groups. Fran, do you have an e-mail list? If so, how can I get on it?

[Chris]

I knew something like this was being considered but didn't know it was up for a vote.

Considering recent studies are showing that preschool is bad for the children, we should be fighting it. It's obviously the wrong course of action for the children, wrong for the taxpayers, and wrong from a biblical perspective. So basicly it's just wrong.

-Chris

[Jen]

I was uninformed as well. I'm convinced that the numbers of new and inexperienced homeschoolers means a less organized group to meet these issues with an effective, cohesive action. But, it is our responsibility to be aware of these political moves.

What makes me so frustrated with this whole idea of public preschool is the failure of the rest of the system to do what it is supposed to do. Thank you, Governor, for proposing a very expensive plan to fail our families and kids on an even grander scale than ever before. Surely he is counting on our bottom lines to fund his grandiose plan. It's timed so well with his numerous other agendas, and we are still trying to pay his bills as a state. But, hey, we shouldn't worry because the Legislature is footing this bill.

When will big spenders with ideas like this start to consider reality. The reality is that our school system is a shambles for a myriad of reasons. Making it bigger before making it better is a disgrace. When we can't afford our system as it is, such that it is, this is a disaster just waiting to happen!

[allison H]

I was so glad to read this...I have felt this way since I have started hsing my four children in 04. It is really difficult to get people moving when they feel so safe, even though the home school environment we so enjoy in Illinois can change at anytime if we stay as idle as we are now....

I have to admit that as we (my family) struggle to get moved I have ot been as active getting info and sounding the alarm amoungst my fellow local homeschoolers.

However I am struggling to get a homeschool group started at the new place we are moving to. I hope to light a fire up under marion county illinois's hsing parents bottoms...after I have my baby though...

God bless fran and please let me know of anything I can to help fight the homeschool fight...

[D.]

Hi,

I'm new to this site and don't know where to put this, but I think this one belongs at the top of the list of everything else that we should be fighting for-- here is a website that can explain it much better than me:

www.freedomtofascism.com

It says we have become a fascist country and explains how we can fix it.

[Colette Bernhard]

I'm a homeschooling democrat who is "crossing the line" here for this issue. I, too, am opposed to universal (or worse, mandatory) pre-school.

Several months back, I independantly wrote an empassioned plea to my state rep asking him to withraw his support of the universal preschool measure, citing reliable studies that show pre-schoolders need emotional atttachment more than academic drills in an insitutional environment. I appealed to what must be his fond memories of teaching his own, now older, children their colors, abc's and numbers.

C'mon! you think parents are less "qualified" to teach their kids the things they would "learn" in preschool? Let me repeat: that's colors letters and numbers. My guess is that kids who attended preschool tend to be more subdued and used to school-type routines, but I'd be interested to know the demographics of the groups of kids who the previous poster's "Teacher Friends" found to be more prepared if they attended preschool.

While I acknowledge some parents might not be able to or want to help their young children learn the barest of basics, and I think it would be nice if they could find an affordable preschool, I don't think we should be funding it with tax dollars. I, too, fear the probability that this is the foot in the door to lower the mandatory school age.

It's grim when kids are in school WITH NO RECESS IN MY AREA (Chicago) all day. Now my mayor (Daley) has declared he wants to put an end to Summer.

I see this as goverment complicit with big business to train people to expect mindless drudgery all day. Give my kids Summertime to dream and relax and let go of the stress of the school year! Y'know -- a little freedom during childhood!!!

Yes, I agree that in the last few years the statewide homeschool community has slacked off. Perhaps they don't even remember the visits that some Western Illinois families experienced a few years ago -- when Truant officers visited some homes and insisted on seeing attendance records for their homeschool. (I read about it here!)

This is my favorite news source for Illinois homeschool issues. Thank you for your coverage and this opinion piece.

[Colette Bernhard]

I'm a homeschooling democrat who is "crossing the line" here for this issue. I, too, am opposed to universal (or worse, mandatory) pre-school.

Several months back, I independantly wrote an empassioned plea to my state rep asking him to withraw his support of the universal preschool measure, citing reliable studies that show pre-schoolders need emotional atttachment more than academic drills in an insitutional environment. I appealed to what must be his fond memories of teaching his own, now older, children their colors, abc's and numbers.

C'mon! you think parents are less "qualified" to teach their kids the things they would "learn" in preschool? Let me repeat: that's colors letters and numbers. My guess is that kids who attended preschool tend to be more subdued and used to school-type routines, but I'd be interested to know the demographics of the groups of kids who the previous poster's "Teacher Friends" found to be more prepared if they attended preschool.

While I acknowledge some parents might not be able to or want to help their young children learn the barest of basics, and I think it would be nice if they could find an affordable preschool, I don't think we should be funding it with tax dollars. I, too, fear the probability that this is the foot in the door to lower the mandatory school age.

It's grim when kids are in school WITH NO RECESS IN MY AREA (Chicago) all day. Now my mayor (Daley) has declared he wants to put an end to Summer.

I see this as goverment complicit with big business to train people to expect mindless drudgery all day. Give my kids Summertime to dream and relax and let go of the stress of the school year! Y'know -- a little freedom during childhood!!!

Yes, I agree that in the last few years the statewide homeschool community has slacked off. Perhaps they don't even remember the visits that some Western Illinois families experienced a few years ago -- when Truant officers visited some homes and insisted on seeing attendance records for their homeschool. (I read about it here!)

This is my favorite news source for Illinois homeschool issues. Thank you for your coverage and this opinion piece.

[Terri]

One of the most important aspects of the Garnati story is his complete disregard for the Constitution. He made another comment to the paper saying "well the ROE says it has the authority to check up on them". So we are to assume he gets legal advice from the ROE? This is an attorney. Does he go to the local baker to get legal advice on murder cases? Neither Scoma nor Levinson give the ROE or truant officers the right to inspect curriculum, attendance sheets, or instruction. Neither Scoma nor Levinson take away the families right to be safe and secure in their home. Neither Scoma nor Levinson demand families give up their 5th amendment rights. They don't have to prove anything. Innocence is presumed in America until there is enough proof to get a warrant to prove guilt. Garnati has allowed his office to be used as a puppet by the local truant officer to harass and bully innocent families in his county.