A loose noose gets the goose! A loose noose is hardly noticed and certainly not threatening. It is for that very reason that it is such an effective snare. Slow and steady, the noose is drawn tighter. By the time the goose suspects danger, it is too late. The noose is already tight.
The choking goose can struggle all he wants – his fate was sealed the moment he allowed the noose to rest gently around his shoulders. Of course, it’s not geese that I am worried about.
The purpose of this post is to dispel the myth that “harmless regulations” are actually harmless! It is frightening to see how many fellow homeschoolers are complacent as the government draws their noose tighter and tighter around our homeschooling necks. We say things like: “Well it’s not that bad.” “I already do that so I don’t mind.” “Well, it is California. What do you expect?” Each time we excuse them, those who would ban homeschooling draw the noose a little tighter.
When we do protest, we are too easily pacified by explanations that the new restrictions are really minor – hardly a change at all. In reality, all government regulation is an assault on homeschooling and should be treated as such. No matter how benign the regulations seem, their effects are devastating.
3 Harmful Effects of Regulating Homeschooling
1. The Right to Regulate: It makes no difference what the regulation is, so long as it is accepted. The moment a regulation is accepted, the right to regulate has been established and from then on proceeding regulations will be easier to push. In fact, while the severity of specific restrictions may still be challenged, few will ever again question the legitimacy of the initial “right to regulate.”
2. Homeschooling is Dangerous: The under lying assertion of any regulation is that without it, bad things happen. So, homeschooling regulations imply that parents cannot be trusted, that left to their own devises they might ruin their children. In fact, the risk of unregulated parents is so high that it requires a special laws to protect children.
3. Regulation is Banning: Make no mistake, a regulation is a ban, or a form of banning. For example, say a state passes a law that homeschools must have 1,400 classroom hours. Well, then they have just banned all homeschools that teach only 1,399 hours or less. Or, lets say that the state decides homeschools must meet state education requirements, didn’t the state just ban every homeschool that has a different idea about what should be taught and when? In each case, the state is effectively banning homeschooling by forcing homeschools to turn themselves into schools! The reason most parents homeschool is because they have rejected the school model for some reason or other, but through regulations the state forces school on our children whether we like it or not.
It is not the government’s responsibility to tell us what our children need to learn and for how long. God assigned parents with that responsibility! Homeschoolers should fight like our lives depend on it the moment we feel the loose noose of “harmless” regulations draped across our shoulders.
Whether you agree or disagree, we’d love to hear your comments. If you liked this post, please like us on facebook! Thank you for your support.
So, what can we do about this, besides spreading the word, voting & hoping/praying for the best? Any suggestions? I totally agree with you, by the way. We just need to know WHAT to do.
Well, for the most part I think you nailed it, we can “spread the word, vote and pray.” Besides that we can support organizations and people that have the time and resources to fight back on our behalf, like the HSLDA. We can also call our representatives and let them know how we feel about existing regulations. Usually, when new regulations are introduced, homeschoolers fight, but if the regulations pass we just let it go. I think that is the wrong answer. We should let our congressmen know every single day just how displeased we are until their restrictions are overturned.
Networking is also important. We should connect with other homeschoolers through blogs and social media. If homeschooling restrictions are introduced in other states we should unite with those homeschoolers. Then we can ask for their help when regulations are introduced in our own states. After all, we are in this together!
I hope that gives you some ideas. Thanks for commenting and raising the question.
Also consider networking with your constituent representative and senator. Have a couple hundred parents working with their legislators to education them and inform them of your concerns, then you start building relationships.
Great points! Thanks for always making me think!
This is the reason that Michael Farris, Chairman and founder of HSLDA started ParentalRights.org. Check out the website and contact me if you have questions. We are pulling a statewide volunteer leadership team together to protect the rights of parents. Please sign the petition and join their online network at https://secure.parentalrights.org/np/clients/parentalrights/survey.jsp?surveyId=1 .
OK, so what do we do about it?