Four ICHE Board couples and Executive Director, Kirk Smith, attended the National Alliance and HSLDA Conference in Nashville last week. The annual State of the Nation was given with several reasons for homeschoolers to be increasingly watchful. It was reported that there are some concerning bills and conversations occurring at state and national levels. Ironically, calls for more legislation are coming from both blue and red states.
Child abuse is the gateway opponents are using to get their legislation rammed through. In addition to the abuse case that we reported here in Illinois, a West Virginia teen actually died of her abuse. While ICHE obviously stands against any type of abuse, the need for homeschooling registration is not the answer because homeschooling is not the problem. What is? The failure of various government agencies like Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and Children Protective Services (CPS) who are supposed to protect our children. In both of these high-profile cases the children were already registered in the government systems before the parents sought to further hide their heinous deeds by deciding to “homeschool”. They had received several visits, but these agencies, whether through understaffing, incompetence, or both, failed these children, and now officials are trying to blame homeschooling with the goal of limiting parental rights.
One line that was of particular concern was when one legislator said that if new measures can positively affect “even one child,” it will be worth it. This is purely emotional manipulation, void of any logic. What he doesn’t say is how adverse legislation would affect tens of thousands of children—not just one—who are presently flourishing under the homeschooling umbrella. For instance, what will happen to thousands of homeschoolers who could potentially be sent back into the public schools where bullying and abuse abound? According to research conducted by the Crimes Against Children Research Center and published by the National Center for Victims of Crime, some facts about school abuse include: 1 in 5 girls endure sexual abuse before the age of 18. 1 in 20 boys are abused or assaulted sexually before turning 18. This legislator’s perspective is ludicrous.
It is important for homeschoolers to stay vigilant. The best way to do that in Illinois is to receive ICHE’s weekly e-blasts and important alerts. Simply go to the homepage and click on the blue Newsletter Sign up, located at the top of the page. Executive Director Kirk Smith said, “ICHE tries to never cry ‘Wolf!’ In the past, others have jumped the gun by sending out alerts and caused unnecessary anxiety and confusion. We are constantly working behind the scenes to protect our rights and have been highly successful through that avenue. Almost all legislators want to do what is best for their constituents, but many are ignorant of homeschooling history and law. This is why we prefer the quiet approach as we do not wish to embarrass anyone. Thus, when we do put an alert out, this means we have exhausted all other attempts, and we need to respond en masse.”
In addition to signing up for the e-blast and alerts, homeschoolers must be in prayer for those who are in authority, so we might live quiet and peaceful lives. (1 Timothy 2:2) It is only by God’s grace that we remain so free in a state that has been so plagued with corruption over the decades. While ICHE and her sister organizations work hard, we must have God’s favor as He sets kings in their places.
Finally, please consider a generous gift to ICHE as we help pay for lobbyists in Springfield. These individuals are constantly looking out for legislation that could negatively impact homeschooling freedoms here in the Land of Lincoln. If present trends persist, ICHE will very likely be called upon to bear increased financial responsibility.
By God’s grace through the ICHE family’s faithful support, we will continue to sacrifice for this and present generations’ right to homeschool.
On the West Virginia incident:
https://hslda.org/post/west-virginia-threatens-new-restrictions-we-re-ready-to-respond
https://wvmetronews.com/2024/06/10/senator-homeschooling-not-to-blame-for-14-year-old-girls-death/
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