Before joining ICHE almost a decade ago, I sometimes wondered why ICHE took the position they did on some legal issues. I didn’t really question them—for I have always trusted this organization—but I simply did not understand why they were hesitant to shake the hands of various public schools’ offerings. What I came to realize is they are constantly looking down the road to see where the present trajectories take homeschooling. Will homeschoolers enjoy more liberties and opportunities or are we opening a door to actions that will potentially negatively impact our homeschooling freedoms?
Permit me to illustrate with a hot topic button … sports. Many homeschoolers would love for their children to play organized sports at their local public school, even being willing to lay down some of their liberties in the process. Several years ago, the IHSA (Illinois High School Asc.) kicked the can of homeschoolers in public school athletics down the road, allowing local school districts to choose whether to let homeschoolers play on their teams. Typically, in larger cities where the AAU (Amateur American Union) is taking their best players, schools are gradually opening their doors to homeschoolers to fill these increasing athletic gaps. In more rural communities, organized sports tend to remain more of a monopoly.
Regardless of locale, the sports predicament potentially poses some serious problems for the future of homeschooling. How so? First, for children to play sports, they usually must attend so many hours of public school each week. Wait a second, I thought we were pulling our children out of public schools due to so many spiritual and/or philosophical issues, so why are we putting them back in? Second, and a bigger problem yet, schools are required to make sure all athletes are academically eligible, whether they are public schooled or homeschooled. This means parents would have to submit their children’s grades to the governing authorities for permission to play. Of course, they would probably have to provide some type if attendance accountability. Can you see where this is leading? Yes, it would apply only to those doing sports … or would it … ultimately.
Any time we give the government any room in our homeschooling, it is the proverbial camel’s nose under the tent scenario. If you don’t know how this tale ends, the kind master who lets his camel come into the warmth of his tent is eventually kicked out by the camel, and the man is left out in the cold. Any time we open the door of oversight to the government, they will gladly walk in, and they have a record of never giving up what they have gained. Have you have heard of this thing called National Health Care? It behooves us to be extra careful in cracking the door.
Please, don’t misunderstand me, I would have loved for my boys to have had greater exposure in their sporting endeavors. One local coach tried to make a way for my sons to play for him but to no avail. One lesson in life that we must all learn is we cannot have it all. It is therefore important for us to choose the things that matter most to us, like educating our children according to the dictates of our hearts without the shackles of government.
The reason I share this now is nothing is really going on legislatively … thankfully. I am not, therefore, manifesting a knee-jerk, emotional reaction to a proposed bill. Instead, I am being moved intentionally by vision to train and give instruction for all homeschoolers not to go for a short-term gain at a much steeper long-term cost.
Another reason I share this perspective is that homeschooling continues to grow even as the public school system, especially in Illinois, continues its descent into the abyss of academic compromise, immorality, and exodus. You know things are truly heading south when principals who have over twenty years in are walking away from their lucrative positions in total frustration. Some homeschoolers want to cling to certain aspects of this failed system—such as sports—at all costs. They do not know our history and cannot fully appreciate all the sacrifices that have been made to make Illinois one of the best, if not the best, states in which to homeschool. They also do not realize how quickly we can lose these rights. Proper vision and instruction are necessary.
As we continue to navigate this legislative pathway, the ICHE Task Force is trying to anticipate future legislation in order to protect our freedoms. Hopefully, this article will provide some food for thought when a wolf’s trap presents itself in sheep’s clothing that compromises the safety of the entire flock.
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