High Stakes

The 2018 Oklahoma Legislature has begun and as home educators we have a big stake in what happens at our state Capitol. Constitutional Home Educators Alliance works to advance your rights as home educators and to protect you from attempts to pass laws which would interfere with your parental right to do what is best for your children. To understand why we do this, we only need to think about why we educate our own children instead of letting the State educate them. What drives us to, in effect, go back to school ourselves so that we can more effectively teach our children? What is so important that we are willing to deprive our family of a second full-time income? Why do we take on the extra work of teaching academics to our own children -- a job most parents in our society decline? Well, for starters, we know we can give our children a quality education because we can custom-tailor each child's studies to his or her needs. We can allow them to work and learn at their own pace and choose a curriculum that fits their needs and our values. Our children avoid a lot of peer pressure and possible bullying that are common in institutional school settings. As a result, they are more likely to become self-sufficient leaders as adults.

"Although government has a proper role to restrain and punish those who are bad, it can also interfere with parents who are doing good for their children."

For Christian parents, home-based discipleship without a constant message from the public school that God is irrelevant is the most important reason. We can be the main influence on our children instead of someone who does not share the same belief system. All of this depends on the opportunity to do what we know is best for our children, without government interference. And that is where the Legislature comes in. Although government has a proper role to restrain and punish those who are bad, it can also interfere with parents who are doing good for their children. And, unfortunately, there are strong political forces acting at the Legislature every session to do exactly that. This year is no exception and we would love for you to ally with us on March 6, as we labor to protect our freedom.

We will be holding training session on the evening of March 5 to get our Allies familiar with legislation and share some tips on how to speak with your legislators. At that training session, we will be hearing from HSLDA lawyer, T.J. Schmidt on parental rights and other federally based legislation that directly affects home educators.

"...we know we can give our children a quality education because we can custom-tailor each child's studies to his or her needs."

Then on March 6, we will use our presence at the Capitol to deter broader changes which would cause collateral damage to parents' ability to rear and protect their children without government interference. Our Allies will be in the offices of every legislator in the Capitol delivering packets of information about home education, an update on bills we support or oppose, a goody bag for the office staff, and a friendly face. We can only do this as you faithfully walk beside us. Please attend Legislative Impact Day 2018 and pray for God's protection on families in Oklahoma and home educating families in particular. Come prepared to encourage your state senator and state representative to support home education freedom as issues come up this legislative session. You have a lot at stake. We all do.