Reason, and the Freedom, to Homeschool

This morning on TV, my husband, who was watching the news, learned about Sharon Angle.  I am not sure what particular flavor of news program he was watching, I assumed it was a major network though.  What he wanted me to know, was that she was a politician who used to home school her children before she got into politics.  In fact, she told the news reporter that fighting for the freedom to home school is what lead her into politics.

My hubby was struck with interest .  He was surprised to see the media, and her, a politician, talk about her experience in removing her kids from public school, as well as her being a home school mom for years.  I thought I should at least know a little bit about who this woman is.  So I looked around a bit to see who she was, on the internet.

Also today, I was talking with a friend who retold to me the story, of how her friend recently visited his child's second grade public school classroom and was appalled at the politics being taught to such young kids.  My understanding is that he, a pastor, had some words with the teacher about it all and that he is now planning to home school his own kids!  I am inspired to write about it because it amazes me that the topic of homeschooling... and the freedom to do just that. would come up twice in one morning, first on the news and then at a friends house.  

For many people, the idea and concept of homeschooling kinda "tweeks" the brain.  It's abnormal.  School and going to school seems to be the "normal" course of events.  In fact, the first question to a kid under the age of 16 is usually, "What school do you go to?" 

(EVERYONE "goes" to school.)

It seems that going to public school is expected, anticipated and for many folks, seemingly necessary... sometimes, even so that mom and dad can work.  Sometimes people choose to homeschool because of the kind of job or job schedule and location of the family or maybe they want a Christian education and there is a high cost for private school.  Another reason could be related to the special abilities or disabilities of a child, but for many, as in the case of this dad who discovered that the classroom was not what he thought it would be like at all, it is just good ol' common sense to Home School. 

With all of the great reports about homes schooling and it's success, it is no wonder so many people want to try it.  Often though, they are just homeschooling because it seems the thing to do.  Then they just want someone to come long and tell them how it works and what to do to make it work for them.  It is not that simple.  The first thing one needs in order to homeschool sucessfully is a conviction of heart.. the notion that an education at-home, outside of the public school arena, is for you. 

That is what happened to this man, and I can so-relate to that experience even though my personl experience, of discovering a "reason" to homeschool, took place over 20 years ago.   This takes us back to Sharon.... who was told by the school that her son failed kindergarten... and she put him into kindergarten a second time only to discover here he was not taking the self image well of being labeled a “flunker” or “too slow” by his classmates at the local public school.   Not only did Sharon start homeschooling, she started a homeschool group in Winnemuca, Nevada.

Today, Sharon Angle is the GOP Senate nominee for Nevada.  She told the news this morning that it was her experience with the laws of education and homeschooling, that prompted her into the political arena today.  In a National Review Article, she recalled what the judge had to say in a courtroom about  "home school":
 
‘I know it’s the law that you can homeschool in Nevada, but the law should be that you can’t, unless you live more than 50 miles away from the nearest school,"

So, consider this:  It was the law that one could home school, but Sharon and friends still found themselves in a courtroom, with a judge, who disagreed with the law.  They had to defend the freedom, the right, to homeschool.  his is certainly a reminder of the need to be vigilant and protective of the homeschool law we have today in Washington State.

I just want to remind us all that this judge's attitude about home school laws is still the mentality of some people.  They would like to change or nullify it if they could. Many people think you cannot teach your own children at home unless you are in some way shape or form "attached" to the local public school system, "accountable" to the school.  I just want to take the opportunity to note that Home School is separate and distinct from public school.  There is public school, private school, and home school.

Now, I do not endorse Sharon Angle in particular, in fact, I never even heard of her until today.  I sure am glad to know there are people, like Sharon Angle,  interested in politics, people who want to work in politics to preserve and protect our freedoms, and most of all, who understand the value and the many issues surrounding homeschool.