Message to all Homeschooling Families

To all Homeschoolers and Friends/Family of Homeschoolers I offer the following for your edification and information only.

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." -- John Quincy Adams

Just a little info about me, my wife and I are long time members of the Libertarian Party (since 1996). This election cycle we supported Congressman Ron Paul. Since he is no longer in the running for President of the United States, we will have our own Party to support.

As for the presidential ticket the Libertarian Party selected this year and I must say: There has never been a more pro-Homeschool ticket out there--EVER!

Former republican Congressman Bob Barr was selected as our Presidential Candidate and self-made millionaire Wayne Allen Root as our VP Candidate. Bob Barr left the republican party and joined the Libertarian Party some time ago. Though he was not my first choice for the ticket, he was better than some of the other choices and still better than the choices the two big parties have.

I have attached an article by Mr. Barr regarding Homeschooling and also the link to his website. Wayne Allen Root has been a long time Libertarian and I have attached a portion of the "I Stand For..." section of his website (and the link) regarding education. Even though they have the money to send their children to any school they'd choose to, Mr. Root and his wife homeschool their 4 children!

As Homeschoolers we pride ourselves on our "self-education" and it especially shouldn't be any different when it comes to deciding who to vote for. That is one of the many reasons why we, the Evans', do not rely on the general media (TV and radio) for our information, but seek it out ourselves.

This information is only given for edification, not party bashing or to be in any way offensive--sorry if you find it that way. We just like to think for ourselves and have found that most homeschoolers do as well. So without further ado:

BOB BARR

Home school ruling should strike fear
by Bob Barr April 2, 2008

Home schooling is an important component of Georgia's educational framework. Many thousands of families across the state school some 40,000 children in their homes. It is a system that continues to work well for Georgia parents so inclined.

From my own experience as a member of Congress who personally reviewed hundreds of applications for admission to our country's military academies, I can attest to the fact that high school seniors who had been home schooled for all or part of their academic careers competed favorably in all aspects of academics with students who attended public or private schools. Georgia is not alone in recognizing the value of home schooling; virtually all other states do as well.

However, that vital system of home schooling is now threatened. Georgia parents, legislators and others who care about fairness and choice in education, and who value parental rights and individual freedom, should take note and take steps to ensure that a recent court decision in California does not take hold in our state.

While those of us east of the Mississippi, particularly here in the South, are aware that California courts generally render decisions favoring maximized government control and minimized individual liberty, a recent appeals court in that state is breathtaking in its disdain for historic notions of individual and family freedom.

The California Court of Appeals has effectively outlawed home schooling, and the ripple effects of this judicial tsunami may be felt even here in the Peach State.

The facts underlying the California case did not even relate directly to the institution of home schooling, but rather involved alleged abuse and neglect. Notwithstanding this, the decision took an unexpected turn when the majority ruled that every child in the state must be enrolled in and attend full time either a public or accredited private school, where they are to be taught only by state-certified teachers. Only parents who are state certified could home school their children.
The intent of the California jurists to completely abolish home schooling could not have been clearer: "Parents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children." To ensure the message was not misunderstood, the court held that violators could be prosecuted and jailed. With the stroke of a judicial pen, home schooling parents in California became common criminals.
In Orwellian language, this decision sends a clear message that children are to be considered obedient wards of the state. Parents who might disagree with the state-developed and state-sponsored curriculum or teaching methods are slap out of luck. Home schooling is simply not an option.

The California court decision not only bows to longstanding cries from teachers unions that home schooling undermines their role, but also wholly disregards the unique needs and wants of both parents and students who choose to home school. For many children, home schooling is the only viable alternative to a system that is not effective in light of their specific needs and desires. Home schooling also offers a constructive way of keeping children from becoming dropouts, by promoting tailored curricula to help students excel and want to learn - traits glaringly lacking in much of the public school population.

Even more troubling is the risk this decision poses to home schooling nationwide. California, as the nation's most populous state, unfortunately serves in many respects as a model to other parts of the nation. The huge number of textbooks used by California's public schools, for example, often prompts publishers to tailor the content of their publications to that state's desires.
Clearly also, the California court decision raises the truly dangerous possibility that shortsighted courts in other parts of the country will rush to act in a similar fashion. There is the harrowing specter of dissolving entirely a family's right to control education.

Rather than calmly waiting for the effects of the California court's opinion to be felt here, Georgia legislators and other state leaders should be speaking loudly and clearly against this destructive decision. They should already be reviewing our laws as they relate to home schooling - to strengthen them against the onslaught that has now been empowered by the California Court of Appeals.

http://www.bobbarr2008.com/

WAYNE ALLEN ROOT

*I support Freedom and Parental Choice in the Educational System- The constitution does not allow for federal government interference in the education of our children. As a matter of fact, the word "education" never appears once in the Constitution. We need to get federal government out of the education business. We need to give parents and students the freedom to pursue the education of their choice- just as my wife and I do by choosing to home-school our 4 children. I support giving parents control of the education of their own children, instead of government bureaucrats. I support utilization of school choice, vouchers or tax credits on the state and local level to increase education competition; encourage private, parochial and home-schooling; reward superior performance for educators; create magnet schools which give principals autonomy over budgets, hiring and firing; and streamline bureaucracy- giving our education dollars to teachers and kids, NOT bureaucrats and administrators.*I support the total elimination of the Department of Education on the federal level. The more we spend on education, the WORSE the results, the more damage we do to our children. In 2000, the Dept. of Education budget was $33 billion. Today it is $64 billion. Has education improved? Have drop-out rates improved? Have reading or math scores improved? We've doubled the budget- yet the results are worse than ever. What a great example of bureaucracy, hypocrisy and waste. Hey a billion here and a billion there- pretty soon we have some real money at stake!

http://www.rootforamerica.com/

Other Political Parties include, but are not limited to:

The Constitution Party
Dr. Chuck Baldwin, Presidential Candidate.

Dr. Baldwin says

"I wholeheartedly support the unimpeded right of parents to provide for the education of their children in the manner they deem best, including homeschooling or private or religious instruction. My Administration will oppose any and all federal legislation that would interfere with or restrict that liberty. "

http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmJhbGR3aW4yMDA4LmNvbS8=
http://www.constitution-party.net/

The American Patriot Party

We are for school choice. States and local communities and individuals choice of home schooling and private schools are encouraged. We are for removal of the federal department of education, the tax burden it creates and removal of its national control of private, state and local community schools as well as from home schools.

See APP on Education.

The American Heritage Party

Education: Our Creator has assigned to parents the authority and duty of educating children. All teaching is related to fundamental assumptions about God and man, and cannot be separated from religion. Therefore we support the separation of school and state, "freedom of conscience in education" legislation, and the operation of home schools and private schools unencumbered by government.And there are many others.

Even the Green Party supports a parent's right to homeschool their children.

http://www.gp.org/


Check out http://www.thirdpartywatch.com/ for information on more choices this election.

Happy learning and keep up the good work!