by Carolyn Martin
The final blow happens in the blink of an eye, but the events leading up to it are clear warnings of what is to come. How many warning signs must be fully visible before homeschoolers join together to stop the taking of our freedom to educate our children? Or will we buy into the fear and give away our freedom for safety like the nation did after 9/11?
In the wake of the terrorist attacks against our country in 2001, the misnamed Patriot Act, which gave the government increased powers to surveil and collect data on citizens in violation of our right to privacy, was passed. It also brought forth the creation of TSA along with new security provisions at airports. A new acceptance of a surveillance state from the American people was birthed, bringing into existence many more policies resulting in the diminishing of our freedoms over the past two decades since that attack.
Unfortunately, a large group within the generation growing up in the shadow of 9/11 does not question the government’s insatiable appetite for control. As governments grow, their appetite for control over the people’s God-given liberties increases. The government’s most effective tool is fear. In 2020, they used the pandemic to give themselves more power over disease management, stripping people of their individual autonomy, personal responsibility, and rights of conscience.
With the tremendous growth of homeschooling during the pandemic, state governments are using any flashpoint to cry out for tighter controls on home education. Their juggernaut control over the education system is loosening, threatening their ability to transform our society into a fully atheistic, socialist one. Homeschooling stands firmly on the unalienable, God-given right of parents to educate their children. In Colorado, that God-given right is being undermined through well-meaning legislation and rules in the name of protecting children.
What issues are being used to diminish our freedom?
Mental Health:
Hang around enough at the Capitol, and you’ll hear someone say that our children are in a mental health crisis. In the past six sessions, lawmakers have passed bills to address it. In the meantime, they have taken away the right of parents to direct the care of their children over 11 years old when it comes to mental health (HB19-1120). They’ve offered free mental health care (HB21-1258, SB24-001) and free assessments (HB23-1003) – all of course, without parental involvement or notification – and they want homeschoolers to participate. These programs are just the beginning of their efforts to give children rights that supersede parental rights.
Low Academic Scores:
The latest state testing results indicate that only 42.4% of 8th graders can read at grade level, and only 32.7% are proficient in math. Collecting more data seems to be the way to help solve the problem of the failing public school system. Legislators passed a bill (HB24-1364) to create a statewide longitudinal database system to track students through their work careers to figure out what the problem is and where to spend money to fix it. Homeschoolers generally do better academically, and it is only a matter of time before they ask for our personal data as a way to improve their bleak outcomes. In today’s information age, data is the key way of manipulating and controlling people’s desires and actions.
Inequitable Access to Education:
Public schools are failing the children they claim to serve, especially low-income and minority children. While some legislators believe the solution to the problem lies in reallocating additional money to those areas, others believe giving them the financial ability to go elsewhere is the answer. The School Choice movement is pushing to take federal and state education dollars and give them to parents to choose their children’s education. So much can be said about why this is a bad idea for homeschooling families, but one of the big reasons is because government money always comes with government oversight and control. As states implement these types of programs (ESAs, Vouchers, Scholarships, etc.), we are seeing the desire for increased government intrusion into the family (home visits, curriculum restriction, background checks, data tracking, etc.) through these programs.
Child Abuse:
No one wants to see a child neglected or abused by their parents, and the state does have a responsibility to intervene when parents are abusive. But, did you know that the state considers homeschooling a risk factor for abuse? Despite the fact that there is research to suggest that homeschooled children fare much better than their public school counterparts, bureaucrats, academics, and reporters continue to propagate this myth. The desire to protect children has led legislators across the nation to demand stronger controls on homeschoolers, and the pressure is heating up. Because this issue tugs at the heart strings, this is the issue to keep our eyes on here in Colorado.
Watch out for well-advertised “help” from the government (part-time public school programs) and ballot initiatives (#138 on School Choice) promising freedom. Freedom always comes at a cost. What cost are you willing to pay to stay free?
Trusting in the mighty power and grace of Jesus,
Carolyn Martin
CHEC Director of Government Relations
Carolyn@CHEC.org
720.842.4852
Email
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Great article. So what are your suggestions for being involved? Does CHEC have some type of department (so to speak) that we can join to stay on top of these issues and attend legislative hearings.
You mention the nuances on #138 school choice. And, you provide a link to review #138. It is nuanced in the sense that it’s not clear as to whether parents have a choice or not to opt out of funding by the government all together, thereby eliminating the government’s overreach of how homeschoolers choose to school.
Would love some insight here.
(from Carolyn)
Thank you for your comment! There are several ways you can get involved with the Colorado Homeschool Freedom Team. 1) Sign up for my prayer emails (chec.org/freedom) which come out once a week during the legislative session (January – May) and monthly the rest of the year (June – December). Prayer is powerful and very much needed and appreciated! Included in these prayer emails are action items to help you get involved. I also include a list of bills that are of concern and where they are in the process. 2) Join the Legislative District Connection (chec.org/ldc)! There are 100 legislators and I can’t talk to all of them. Legislators often listen more intently to their own constituents since they have the power to vote for or against them. I need people who are willing to write, email, and establish a connection with their legislators so that when an issue arises, they know a homeschool family who would be impacted by any impending legislation. We meet via zoom monthly to discuss current issues I’m seeing and be trained on how to take action. 3) Reach out to me anytime (carolyn@chec.org) with your questions or to set up a time to meet at the Capitol so you can see how the process works.
As for the ballot measure, stay tuned, we are working on getting further information out. Regarding possible impacts on those not accepting funding, I’d encourage you to read my blog post from 3-1-23 (https://chec.org/chec-blog/legislative-update-for-march-1-2023/), 2-21-24 (https://chec.org/chec-blog/legislative-update-for-february-21-2024/), and 3-6-24 (https://chec.org/chec-blog/legislative-update-for-march-6-2024/). And if you want to discuss further, reach out to me at carolyn@chec.org.