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Homeschooling Works
Homeschooling Families: Ready for the Next Decade
A Foundation for Ongoing Conversations
(Informed by the
National Homeschool Association's
Roundtable Conference held at
Becket, Massachusetts, October, 1996)
HOMESCHOOLING WORKS!
- People are born ready to learn. Learning involves everyone everyday.
Living
and learning are not separate activities. Learning cannot be contained
in a
place or time. Learning is too wonderful and powerful to limit it by
turning
it over to conventional schools.
- Children need the love and support of their families and communities,
just
as adults do. Throughout time, families have raised their children to be
knowledgeable and competent adults. Having a sincere desire to
homeschool
qualifies a parent to homeschool. A homeschool is a good place for
people to
heal from the inaccuracies and injustices that accompany labels such as
ADD
and LD.
- People gain social experience and skills by interacting with a diverse
group of people of all ages. Homeschooling provides opportunities for
such
interaction easily and naturally.
REGULATION
- Hundreds of thousands of families are showing that homeschoolers do
not
need to be regulated by the state. There is no evidence that any
regulations
foster better homeschooling.
- To maintain homeschooling freedoms, homeschoolers learn what rights
and
responsibilities they have, refuse to do more than the minimum required
by
law, and avoid setting precedents that exceed the law and cause
difficulty
for homeschoolers. Laws and court cases cannot protect our freedoms. Any
law,
even one that is viewed as good, can do damage. No law, no matter how
good,
is enough. Exercising our rights and responsibilities daily and
consistently,
even on seemingly small points, is essential.
- We oppose special regulations or requirements for small groups of
homeschoolers, such as those who want to play sports; those who have
been
labeled "at risk," "ADD," "LD," etc.; and those who have been accused of
truancy. Increased regulation of any homeschooler can easily lead to
increased regulation of other or all homeschoolers. Homeschoolers are
not
joining the bandwagon to beat up on those for whom conventional schools
do
not work.
- Attempts of homeschoolers to regulate each other are unnecessary,
complicated, divisive, and dangerous.
FEDERAL AND STATE GOALS AND STANDARDS
We are concerned about the way state and federal standards in education,
standardized tests and assessments, and school-to-work programs are
moving
conventional schools toward "compulsory education" (different from the
currently required "compulsory attendance") which will undermine the
basic
freedoms needed to maintain a free society. We are committed to
resisting the
homeschooling movement being drawn into this web of compulsory
education.
NOT MIXING CAUSES
For homeschooling to remain about homeschooling, we must resist being
used by
others for their agendas.
DIVERSITY
There are many approaches to homeschooling that work. A major strength
of
homeschooling is the diversity of people, methods, and philosophies
involved.
Having close connections across diversity lines is a radical act.
Homeschoolers foster diversity by:
- Respecting and celebrating diversity.
- Respecting anyone's desire to homeschool while remaining true to
principles
that make homeschooling freedoms possible.
- Understanding that what supports one family's homeschool might not be
right
for another's.
- Working to maintain the rights of families to make their own decisions
regarding the education of their members.
- Developing and maintaining inclusive organizations across cultural and
religious diversity lines.
- Describing to others the diversity within the homeschooling community.
- Refusing to speak for homeschoolers; rather, providing forums for
individuals' voices to be heard.
SUPPORT
The knowledge and effective support homeschoolers offer one another are
major
strengths of the homeschooling movement. Homeschoolers who create and
participate in support groups, share resources, and gather for
activities and
discussions are making an important contribution to the growth and
stability
of the homeschooling movement. Grassroots organizing and networking have
been
a source of the homeschooling community's strength.
VOUCHERS
We would not expect the government to give away tax money with no
strings
attached and no accountability. Government programs to supplement
homeschoolers' educational resources (by providing services or funding)
would
have accountability strings attached. We realize that vouchers given to
families would lead to increased government presence in our homeschools.
Vouchers inevitably lead to increased government regulation and
unacceptable
reductions in our homeschooling freedoms.
CONCLUSION
Homeschooling strengthens families and communities. Strong homeschools
are an
asset to our communities and our nation. They provide alternatives to
conventional schools, save taxpayers' money, and provide valuable
perspectives on learning and education.
This statement was written to stimulate discussion,
not to speak for all homeschoolers.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPRODUCE
THIS STATEMENT AND DISTRIBUTE IT WIDELY.
National Homeschool Association
Post Office Box 290
Hartland, Ml 48353-0290
513-772-9580
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