California Homeschool Ruling

Sign the Petition!!!

As a homeschooling family we used to be very very active politically while I was growing up. As life got busy my activity in it all slowed down greatly since Mother and Daddy had been the motivators behind it all. Growing up when the laws of homeschooling were still very unclear our little family was one of the many pioneering families that helped it take root. As a case in Arlington ( Arlington VS. the Arlington School District) got national coverage Mother was actively involved and fighting every step of the way for our homeschooling rights. It is something I have never taken for granted...especially having had our children in public school for awhile....but it is also something that I did not help protect either. This has been enough to spur me back into political action and rejoin the fight politically to help save the erosion of the values that are held so dear to every parent's heart and stand against what some officials are trying to enforce on every family.

This is taken from an email my sister wrote about this fight for freedom that she and her husband are now both actively involved in as this case continues.

"This is ALL over every homeschool loop you can imagine! I sent this one to you, as you can take action, too. Quickly and without much ado, just sign the petition from Home School Legal Defense Association. Michael Farris is the founder of this organization, and has personally led in the legal defense of homeschool cases across the country, as well as trained up lawyers to do the same. He's never belonged to the American Barr Assocociation, as he vehemenantly disagrees with their creeds. We went to hear him speak just last week in Dallas at Fellowship Church on Park Lane. Fascinating! He's written an amendment to the Constitution for parental rights. We are onboard at a grassroots level, with more action to follow! Go to parentalrights.org and read all about it. There's hope yet!! We're still here in America along with every other conservative, right wing adult, whether homeschooler or not. And don't forget...there's an entire new generation of young people (whose numbers out-do the liberals, as we've believed in propogating while they've aborted and birth-controlled their own) who are quickly coming of age to not only reverse some of the recent damage to our nation, but set new precedents of righteousness for future generations. I know the wicked will become more wicked and the righteous brighter towards the end of time, but there is still a world harvest of new believers that will be won to Jesus through these bright lights who will set on a hill and not under a bushel for the sake of Christ. Though a one-world government is in the prophesies of Scripture, it doesn't mean that America has to concede while we're alive!! Nor does it mean that America cannot become better before it gets worse. Maybe, we're a key instrument in this world harvest. We've been chosen from the beginning for a great purpose, and I don't think that the God-fearing founders of our nation will be dishonored...especially with so many who still believe what they fought for, in such a miserable end to our nation!"

You do not have to homeschool and you do not even have to plan on homeschooling your children. But the overall tone of this as the US heads into dictation of where we can and cannot put our children and what we are and are not allowed to do is sickening. Please pass the word! Due to this recent ruling in California Court, Michael Farris from Homeschool Legal Defense Assoc. is asking everyone, EVERYONE to visit http://www.hslda.org/ and sign the petition they will be presenting to the courts in California. Michael Farris stated you do not need to be a homeschooler or even a member of HSLDA to sign the petition. I would like to add that the only requirement for signing is that you care about the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children. Please go to http://www.hslda.org/ today and sign the petition. Let's all come together and let our voices be heard. Please pass this request on to everyone to sign. This is not something to be taken lightly in any way. it is a very very serious matter in every regard. For those of you who do not know the whole story and how this ruling came about the story is wrapped in a nutshell below.

So far as of 8:15 this Sat morning this was posted on the petition page.

100,128 signatures so far!




Here is “the deal” in a nutshell (as stated by the Homeschool Legal Defense Association) –

A California Court of Appeal recently decided that homeschooling is illegal in California unless a parent is a certified teacher. (how ridiculous is that! In California the classes you take to get your credential are mostly classroom management, teacher organization & other “politically correct” classes including how to teach non English speakers - tell me WHY any home school parent would need those classes to effectively teach her own children?????)

The case arose in a confidential juvenile court proceeding. (IE - behind closed doors - how sneaky is that!) The family was represented by court-appointed attorneys and Home School Legal Defense Association did not become aware of the case until the Court of Appeal case was published on February 28, 2008.

The Court could have restricted its decision to the facts before it, but instead, it issued a broad ruling that effectively outlaws home education in California. The Court also certified its decision for publication, which means that the decision can now be cited as legal authority by all other courts in California.
The family and their California counsel are planning to appeal to the Supreme Court of California, which could result in reversal.
Another option to keep homeschooling free in California is to petition the Supreme Court of California to “depublish” the opinion. If the opinion is “depublished” then it cannot be used by other California courts and this threat to homeschool freedom will be neutralized for other California homeschoolers.
HSLDA will be formally petitioning the California Supreme Court to depublish the opinion. We would like to show that many other people, both in California and across the country, care deeply about homeschool freedom in California.
Please show your support for this effort by signing the petition today at the following link and encouraging others to do the same! (And please don’t say - “I don’t homeschool” or “I don’t live in California” - if we let our parental rights continue to get eroded - it is ONLY a matter of time before it will be an issue that DOES effect you and then you will be wishing you had made a stand!!)
https://www2.hslda.org/Registrations/DepublishingCaliforniaCourtDecision/

If you would like to hear more - Focus on the Family has a radio broadcast today over the court decision made in CA to make homeschooling illegal. http://listen.family.org/daily/A000000997.cfm

Please pass this information on to everyone who believes in parental rights!