Educational Options

Public School at HomePublic School at Home

•Charter Enrichment•COVA Online•Options Programs•HOPE•Alternative Programs

Private SchoolPrivate School

Public SchoolPublic School Home SchoolHome School

•Privately funded•Independent

Conoco Shell

Sinclair Chevron

I have watched, since the late 1990s, a rapidly increasing trend comprised of private individuals, corporations, organizations, …and public schools offering to “serve homeschoolers” with classes, computers, Internet access, “qualified” … teachers, books, texts, and so forth, all paid for with tax monies. In other words, homeschoolers are being offered (allegedly) “free” programs and materials to help them teach their children.

- Dr. Brian Ray, president of National Home Education Research - Dr. Brian Ray, president of National Home Education Research

InstituteInstitute

Please Hear Our HeartsPlease Hear Our Hearts The PCHE leadership does not judge anyone for having their The PCHE leadership does not judge anyone for having their

children in a public school at home program (PSAH).children in a public school at home program (PSAH).

We don’t believe that a family is any less of a Christian, or a We don’t believe that a family is any less of a Christian, or a homeschooler, if they use PSAH.homeschooler, if they use PSAH.

We don’t believe that any family is less spiritual if they are in a We don’t believe that any family is less spiritual if they are in a PSAH program. PSAH program.

We love and will support each and every family in our group, no We love and will support each and every family in our group, no matter which educational option you choose.matter which educational option you choose.

Again, please hear our hearts!Again, please hear our hearts!

Why Does PCHE Oppose Public Why Does PCHE Oppose Public School at Home Programs?School at Home Programs?

1.1. An Infringement of Jurisdiction. An Infringement of Jurisdiction.

2.2. Government control follows tax money. Government control follows tax money.

3.3. All Education is Religious, but is it All Education is Religious, but is it Christian?Christian?

4.4. Loss of Competition.Loss of Competition.

5.5. Increased Enrollment Increases Taxes. Increased Enrollment Increases Taxes.

6.6. Promotes Loss of Parental Confidence. Promotes Loss of Parental Confidence.

7. Loss of Liberty and Freedom – There is 7. Loss of Liberty and Freedom – There is no Such Thing as a Free Lunch. no Such Thing as a Free Lunch.

“… “… finding ways to draw homeschooling finding ways to draw homeschooling families back to the public school system families back to the public school system seems to me a necessary complement to seems to me a necessary complement to the passage of effective regulations [to the passage of effective regulations [to control homeschoolers.]”control homeschoolers.]”

- Rob Reich, a Stanford University professor- Rob Reich, a Stanford University professor

8. The lines between homeschooling and public 8. The lines between homeschooling and public school become blurred. school become blurred.

““In other words, both are “homeschoolers” and In other words, both are “homeschoolers” and both should be treated similarly by the state. both should be treated similarly by the state. That is, their thinking is that if PSAH students That is, their thinking is that if PSAH students are regulated and otherwise controlled by the are regulated and otherwise controlled by the state, why should not the same be done to state, why should not the same be done to homeschoolers?” homeschoolers?”

- Dr. Brian Ray, president of National Home Education Research - Dr. Brian Ray, president of National Home Education Research Institute Institute

Public School at HomePublic School at Home•Charter School Enrichment Programs

•Options Programs

•COVA Online Programs

•Alternative Programs Home SchoolsHome Schools•Private

•Independent

•Parent-directed

•No governmental control

Public School at HomePublic School at Home

Home SchoolHome SchoolGovernment Control

““[Government funded programs] greatly disturb [Government funded programs] greatly disturb me. It is the slippery slope of allowing district me. It is the slippery slope of allowing district control over home schooling.  It is the beginning control over home schooling.  It is the beginning -actually the continuation- of the weakening of -actually the continuation- of the weakening of the home school law.  It would allow [school] the home school law.  It would allow [school] districts to go before the state legislature and districts to go before the state legislature and show how well their "home school" programs show how well their "home school" programs work and, therefore, all families should be in work and, therefore, all families should be in them and not on their ownthem and not on their own.”.”

- Treon Goossen, Home Education Legislative Analyst/Liaison, - Treon Goossen, Home Education Legislative Analyst/Liaison, ColoradoColorado

““The Colorado Association of School Boards The Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) have made no secret of their dedication (CASB) have made no secret of their dedication to these programs to eventually have home to these programs to eventually have home schooling back under the jurisdiction and control schooling back under the jurisdiction and control of school districts. Why does the home schooling of school districts. Why does the home schooling community want to help such entities as CASB community want to help such entities as CASB and the NEA accomplish their goals?  It is like and the NEA accomplish their goals?  It is like handing bullets to the firing squad - aimed at us. handing bullets to the firing squad - aimed at us. Some even help them pull the trigger.” Some even help them pull the trigger.”

- Treon Goossen, Home Education Legislative Analyst/Liaison, - Treon Goossen, Home Education Legislative Analyst/Liaison, ColoradoColorado

““I hope the home schooling community will I hope the home schooling community will wake up to what is really happening here. I wake up to what is really happening here. I have no desire to be forced back under have no desire to be forced back under the jurisdiction and control of a school the jurisdiction and control of a school district.  What is voluntary now will only be district.  What is voluntary now will only be a distant memory if home schoolers keep a distant memory if home schoolers keep enabling the system against themselves.”enabling the system against themselves.”

- Treon Goossen, Home Education Legislative Analyst/Liaison, - Treon Goossen, Home Education Legislative Analyst/Liaison, ColoradoColorado

Why Do Parents Choose PSAH?Why Do Parents Choose PSAH?

1.1. No record keeping.No record keeping.

2.2. Little course planning.Little course planning.

3.3. Free!Free!

4.4. No worry about high school transcripts.No worry about high school transcripts.

5.5. Little need to find help with student trouble Little need to find help with student trouble spots/weaknesses.spots/weaknesses.

6.6. Relief from everyday responsibility or having a Relief from everyday responsibility or having a day off.day off.

7.7. Don’t see dangers of secular curriculum. Don’t see dangers of secular curriculum.

What Can PCHE Do to Help?What Can PCHE Do to Help?

1.1. Vision, vision, vision! Vision, vision, vision! 2.2. Teach about PSAH annually. Teach about PSAH annually. 3.3. Encourage co-ops within PCHE. Encourage co-ops within PCHE. 4.4. Loaning curriculum.Loaning curriculum.5.5. Used Curriculum sales. Used Curriculum sales. 6.6. Classes on record keeping and Classes on record keeping and

transcripts. transcripts. 7.7. Mentoring program. Mentoring program.

““In spite of the enticements offered by charter In spite of the enticements offered by charter schools, parents should realize that charter schools, parents should realize that charter school programs are simply creating little public school programs are simply creating little public schools in our homes. The teaching may take schools in our homes. The teaching may take place in a private home, but the government is place in a private home, but the government is pulling the strings….We do not need the pulling the strings….We do not need the government’s “free” money. The price is too government’s “free” money. The price is too high.” high.”

- Chris Klicka Senior Counsel of the Home School Legal Defense - Chris Klicka Senior Counsel of the Home School Legal Defense

AssociationAssociation

““Are you about to give up what you believe, Are you about to give up what you believe, or should believe? … This lack of or should believe? … This lack of consideration makes it especially possible consideration makes it especially possible that a movement now underfoot in that a movement now underfoot in America will drastically undermine the America will drastically undermine the God-ordained and parent-led home-based God-ordained and parent-led home-based education that has made such great education that has made such great advances over the past three decades.” advances over the past three decades.”

-- Dr. Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Dr. Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research InstituteInstitute

"It concerns us that if a lot of homeschoolers "It concerns us that if a lot of homeschoolers start accepting benefits from schools, start accepting benefits from schools, ultimately we’ll all end up being challenged ultimately we’ll all end up being challenged by legislators to do the same thing. We by legislators to do the same thing. We think that would be a step backward, and it think that would be a step backward, and it concerns us a lot. That’s the reason we concerns us a lot. That’s the reason we oppose it." oppose it."

- Michael Smith, HSLDA president- Michael Smith, HSLDA president

““The great bulk of homeschoolers think the The great bulk of homeschoolers think the more we get entangled, the more likely it is more we get entangled, the more likely it is that we are going to be regulated. This is that we are going to be regulated. This is proving to be very divisive within the proving to be very divisive within the homeschool community. All of a sudden homeschool community. All of a sudden we’re at odds with each other." we’re at odds with each other."

- Jim Farthing, newsletter editor of the Christian Home Educators - Jim Farthing, newsletter editor of the Christian Home Educators Confederation of Kansas.Confederation of Kansas.

““Home educators who invite the government Home educators who invite the government into their home school are placing into their home school are placing themselves in an extremely vulnerable themselves in an extremely vulnerable position, especially when it comes to the position, especially when it comes to the Biblical demands of spiritual discipleship Biblical demands of spiritual discipleship on behalf of their children.” on behalf of their children.”

- Inge Cannon of Education Plus- Inge Cannon of Education Plus

Professor Robert Reich, of the Department Professor Robert Reich, of the Department of Political Science at Stanford University, of Political Science at Stanford University, in a report entitled, “Testing the in a report entitled, “Testing the boundaries of parental authority over boundaries of parental authority over education: the case of homeschooling,” education: the case of homeschooling,” concluded that while the state should not concluded that while the state should not ban homeschooling, it must nevertheless ban homeschooling, it must nevertheless regulate its practice with vigilance.regulate its practice with vigilance.

Professor Reich asserts that children, as a Professor Reich asserts that children, as a matter of justice, should be able to choose matter of justice, should be able to choose their own values, beliefs, pursue an their own values, beliefs, pursue an occupation, and endorse traditions that are occupation, and endorse traditions that are different from those of their parents. Since different from those of their parents. Since the parents may be opposed to both the parents may be opposed to both alternative views and decisions made by alternative views and decisions made by their children, the state must ensure that their children, the state must ensure that the child has the opportunity to make the child has the opportunity to make these choices.these choices.

Reich’s proposed manner of regulation is to Reich’s proposed manner of regulation is to require periodic assessments that would require periodic assessments that would measure homeschoolers’ success in measure homeschoolers’ success in examining and reflecting upon diverse examining and reflecting upon diverse worldviews. The only fair way to assess worldviews. The only fair way to assess success in learning different worldviews is success in learning different worldviews is to require the student to be taught these to require the student to be taught these diverse worldviews.diverse worldviews.

From HSLDA News, November 14, 2005From HSLDA News, November 14, 2005