Huckabee: NEA or Homeschoolers?

by Susan Ryan

It doesn't seem possible to support both.

There have been a few bones of contention in the homeschooling community since Governor Huckabee and his supporters have proclaimed him a "champion of homeschoolers". 

Homeschoolers are a very diverse lot, for one.  Trying to pin them down to just one philosophical or political category is like trying to herd cats.  But most are very adamant about maintaining or furthering educational freedoms for homeschoolers.

It appears there are many homeschool conservatives who don't appreciate a presidential candidate with his signature on a law that restricted homeschooling freedoms in Arkansas.  Homeschooler Spunky Braun (Michigan) says it best here:

Huckabee and Homeschoolers

Huckabee and his supporters claim that signing the bill was his only option. But is that really true? No. He could have stood on principle and used his veto powers and challenged the legislature to override the veto. Or at the very least, he could have let the measure pass without his signature signaling his opposition to the state restricting the rights of homeschool parents. He did neither. Instead, he signed the law that added restrictions to homeschooling in Arkansas.

Huckabee’s signature demonstrates that he is not opposed to compromising our freedom to homeschool in the face of Democrat pressure. Do we want a President who will so easily surrender his principles in the face of sure opposition by Democrats in Congress?

I ran  into a Huckabee supporter's blog who had apparently addressed this issue with Governor Huckabee in November.  She also did her own digging in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette archives of 1999.  Governor Huckabee was questioned by One Mom on a November blogger call and was told this:

Huckabee and Homeschoolers … The Rest of the Story

With the implementation and success of the [Arkansas] Smart Start program some legislators wanted to reverse what we had done for Homeschoolers in 1997 and put in place very severe restrictions.

1997 provided more leniency for homeschoolers with Governor Huckabee's support in signing a homeschool friendly bill into law.  But 2 years later, the governor seems to have swayed with a caustic Representative's hot air and signed a new homeschool-unfriendly law.  It was stated that this law was passed because of the Democrat Party's pressure, but if this was what a Democrat had to offer in Arkansas about homeschoolers, his party should have shut Representative Jerry Allison down.  (Or at least told him to be quiet.) 

Why be intimidated by the likes of a legislator who doesn't want homeschoolers showing up at press conferences because he feels the children should be in school instead?    What's going on with pursuit of educational freedoms in Arkansas?  I'm still asking and still looking, but not finding anything yet that doesn't say that Governor Huckabee caved to at least one silly bully (Allison) by signing into law this 1999 bill. 

Governor Huckabee is also shown here at the NEA gathering and he has since won the support of the New Hampshire NEA chapter. From MSNBC:

This is the first time the state affiliate has picked a candidate in the GOP primary, and it follows Huckabee’s showing as the only Republican who spoke to the NEA convention in July

As I said on my blog; It appears that flip flops are in (or talking out of both sides of your mouth) during this cold winter season for the 2008 presidential campaign.

More from the homeschool community:

Huckabee and monolithic homeschoolers -Principled Discovery

Mike Huckabee and homeschoolers -Home Education Magazine News & Commentary

Comments

[Spunky]

Hi!

I explained in my post today why the Smart Start program led to the revision in homeschool law. If Huckabee is using that law as an explanation it is very weak as that law is VERY problematic for homeschoolers as well. I explain it all in my Dec. 18 post and link to the One Mom answer as well.

[tfb]

It really is scary how the general public and the Government feel they have an interest in your children's education or lack there of especially given the record of public schools.

tfb

[Spunky]

tfb,

What's even scarier to me are the homeschoolers who elect into office the very people that want to regulate them. Homeschoolers are usually independent thinkers, but for some reason when it comes to Huckabee they have just turned off their critical thinking skills.

[Susan Ryan]

Senator Lightford (Ed Committee Chair) thinks IL homeschoolers' lack of accountability to the state is "scary". Even though the teacher unions do not like NCLB requirements for testing, she thinks homeschoolers should be tested. With that attitude, it seems to be about control and power rather than education.More about Senator Lightford's thoughts and legislative prospects for next year are here:
http://www.eduwrit.com/blog/?p=899

I've seen homeschoolers supporting universal preschool here in IL 'for those who need it'. They won't send their children to preschool, but there are others 'who need it'. I find that condescending. Logic and reason would be helpful under the circumstances.

Thanks, Spunky. I'm off to read your second installment.

[tfb]

It was written:

she thinks homeschoolers should be tested

My reply:

HomeSchoolers should be tested - against whatever criteria their parents deem appropriate. :)

tfb

[tfb]

It was written:

she thinks homeschoolers should be tested

My reply:

HomeSchoolers should be tested, against whatever criteria their parents deem appropriate.

tfb

[tfb]

Susan writes:

I've seen homeschoolers supporting universal preschool here in IL

My reply:

My unfortunate experience with most HomeSchoolers (except the Mormon ones)is that they are very liberal in terms of wanting more social programs - period.

I am baffled how they want freedom on one hand and then support policies which at heir very essence involve the Government "taking" the fruits of one person's labor to "give" to someone else. Stealing is stealing: that you "vote" in order to deprive your neighbor of the fruits of his labor does not make it more honorable.

tfb

[Susan Ryan]

tfb, you're hanging around the wrong crowd. :-) Actually, I agree that there are many who homeschool because it's a good fit for their families at that time and aren't really concerned outside their family legal comfort level. But Freedom is Not Free. At the same time, homeschoolers in general seem to be much more savvy about their rights than the general public. I think the general public finds that really annoying and offensive.

I will say that several local homeschoolers here in central IL get it.
Have you read Larry and Susan Kaseman's articles and research in Home Education Mag? Kasemans are just north of us in WI and they helped found the Wisconsin Parents Association. Good stuff.

[PhilCollins]

Education shouldn't be an issue in presidential campaign. According to the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, federal involvement in education is unconstitutional.
Education should be a state a local responsibility, only. The Dept. of Education should be eliminated, and the No Child Left Behind Act should be repealed.

[tfb]

Susan writes:

tfb, you're hanging around the wrong crowd. :-)

My reply:

That may be. I our area the only home schooling groups we have found are Christian home schooling. Now given my woman is a Lutheran Sunday school teacher and all, we obviously have nothing against Christians, but the ones we have met via these groups "all" seem very liberal.

Maybe it is the area we are in. But whatever happened to personal responsibility?

I'll look for the author you mentioned.

tfb

[Educational Kids Website]

I have to agree with tfb, with the track record the goevernment has with public schools do they really need to get involved with homeschoolers?

[Jerry]

Bingo, Phil. Abolish the Federal Dept of Ed; it's worthless and extra-constitutional.

And speaking of worthless, who exactly is it that claims to support Mike Huckabee? This guy is a flaming mess of liberalism and dishonesty; he is the second coming Bill Clinton, the man from Hopeless.

I can never find anyone who disagrees, but I have a feeling I'll find one here.

[tfb]

It was written:

I can never find anyone who disagrees

My reply:

That would be Jon Zahm...oh Jon... :)

tfb

[Jon Zahm]

Of course I remain an enthusiastic Huckabee supporter. He is the strongest, most consistent conservative on life, 2nd Amendment, traditional marriage, and is the only governor to appoint a home schooling parent to the State Board of Ed. Plus he supports abolishing the IRS and implementing the Fair Tax. People are getting worked up over a candidate speaking at an NEA convention. I was an NEA member when I worked at a high school. Not all NEA members are liberals. In Illinois union membership is mandatory if your job is organized.

[YNM]

Susan ... there you go with that brush again. You know, it's not testing requirements that teachers unions take issue with. It's using a single test as the only indicator of student achievement and educator accountability.

Oh, and then there are those unfunded mandate issues.

[Susan Ryan]

I think that people might be worked up that Governor Huckabee was courting the NEA, Jon. It wasn't mandatory for him to speak at their convention.No other Republican candidates did, as I understand it.

YNM, I have no use for NCLB. Just for one,I think it harms children that need educational help and support the most. That's been my experience.
I'm afraid an unfunded mandates complaint hits the ground with a thud in the homeschooling community. I pay school taxes.

I see a lot about Bush/Kennedy not providing funding for the mandates. Do you want the mandates if they're fully funded?
Actually, I didn't know that teachers unions don't have a problem with testing requirements. I would have hoped they would want to move away from the focus of teaching to a test. I did see the NEA piece about having a portfolio or such. Senator Lightford seems to want a test.
Portfolios are what most homeschoolers put together over the years. Some in states with unfunded mandates such as Arkansas or PA. Some, as in IL, who do it because they want to have such for their kids; unmandated.

[Jon Zahm]

Huckabee is endorsed by Michael Farris, the head of the Home School Legal Defense Association. That speaks volumes.

[Susan Ryan]

Jon, it speaks volumes of what? Please, some Huckabee supporter write logical volumes of why homeschoolers should support him. There have been volumes written by homeschoolers about why we shouldn't.

HSLDA estimated that only around 5% of Illinois homeschoolers belong to their group. Maybe that speaks volumes?

If HSLDA support is noted in hopes that folks won't think past their nose, I see via Spunky's information, that HSLDA's Generation Joshua Director Ned Ryun adamantly opposes Huckabee.

[a.mehki]

i am now having second thoughts about mr.huckabee.

[Ayn R. Key]

I do not understand why homeschoolers should should support Huckabee. He does not favor the practice. When the NEA endorsed Huckabee, they had this to say:

"The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs based on parental choice cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience. When home schooling occurs, students enrolled must meet all state curricular requirements, including the taking and passing of assessments to ensure adequate academic progress. Home schooling should be limited to the children of the immediate family, with all expenses being borne by the parents/guardians. Instruction should be by persons who are licensed by the appropriate state education licensure agency, and a curriculum approved by the state department of education should be used."

"The Association also believes that home-schooled students should not participate in any extracurricular activities in the public schools. The Association further believes that local public school systems should have the authority to determine grade placement and/or credits earned toward graduation for students entering or re-entering the public school setting from a home school setting. (1988, 2006) pp. 45 B-75"

Given that, perhaps a second look is worthwhile, such as to seek whether this was a randomly given endorsement or whether Huckabee actively sought it. It turns out the latter is true.

While governor, Huckabee increased the vaccination schedule for public schools AND PRIVATE DAYCARES. He stated that federal funds should be used to pay for arts in public schools under No Child Left Behind. In 1999, Mike Huckabee signed into law a bill which added major restrictions on homeschooling parents and which was opposed by the HSLDA.

Is that what is desired as the best candidate for those who prefer to homeschool?

[Bob Morrison]

Amy... your are mistaken.

The NEA made No such statements in their endorsement of Gov. Huckabee. Remember... they endorsed him... he did not endorse them.

You have taken NEA positions out of context to make it seem like they made these statesment as points of support for the Governor.

This is just NOT TRUE!

The Governor has a strong record on homeschooling and certainly the strongest of any presidential candidate. He is the ONLY one that has signed home schooling legislation into law and appointed a home school parent to the state Board of Education.

He has always stated the role of education as a state right.

If there is a better candidate who's views are more aligned with the home school community please tell me who it is.

[Susan Ryan]

Bob, NEA positions are NEA positions; no matter where they land. NEA doesn't support homeschooling. They do support Governor Huckabee.

There have been many governors who have signed homeschooling legislation. Some governors that did that signed homeschooling legislation that was good for homeschoolers. Governor Huckabee put his authority and name on bad homeschool legislation in 1999.

[Multiple Income Streams]

Excellent article and commentary!