For one year after the testing, all records shall be made available,
subject to the provision of G.S. 115C-196, at the principal office of such
school, at all reasonable times, for annual inspection by a duly authorized
representative of the State of North Carolina. (1979, c. 505; 1981, c. 423, s.
1.)
NCHE, our state homeschool organization, issued an alert encouraging non-participation with this extra-legal request. There are several amazing things here:
1. How in the world could anyone who has ever studied history or even current events think that the police station is an appropriate venue to ask people to come to for these record reviews? How could they think you would choose to bring your children into this situation? This appears to be an innocent mistake, yet I am totally flummoxed that anyone could be clueless enough not to realize this would be seen as pure and simple intimidation.
2. Homeschoolers are such nice folks that they really, really want to comply with the law such that some folks don't seem to care that this is way beyond the law and are thinking of participating. Beats me.
3. Some of the veteran homeschoolers among us don't seem to understand what is the big deal. Dear husband says it's the methadone effect[1]: the situation was so awful when they started homeschooling, that anything less than that seems just fine. However, this is a step towards less freedom, not more.
Here's the big deal: When we willing and voluntarily submit ourselves to government requirements beyond the law, we place ourselves in the position of providing an excuse for more regulation ("We're already doing it anyway. What's the big deal?") Loss of freedom is always a big deal and freedom relinquished is seldom regained. That's why the fight to regain freedom to direct your child's education was and is such a battle.
Samuel Adams said it well. Freedom costs, chains are free. Which do you want?
[1] methadone effect - Our family's term for something that is a step in the right direction for some, but the wrong for others. Methadone is a step in the right direction for heroin addicts, but for non-addicts, it would be a step toward addiction. Always move in the right direction.
2 comments:
Interesting. Does this imply that NCHE's recent advice to comply with the meetings (We have nothing to fear.) is akin to a dealer giving out free samples?
Or are they merely enablers?
NCHE's latest missive on this subject is bad. Horribly bad! Can we hope that some of the saner (former) leaders are going to step in and shake things up? Out here in the hinterlands the "crew" are talking mutiny.
"Some of the veteran homeschoolers among us don't seem to understand what is the big deal. Dear husband says it's the methadone effect[1]: the situation was so awful when they started homeschooling, that anything less than that seems just fine. However, this is a step towards less freedom, not more."
Exactly! One would think that someone who was once involved in so uphill a battle would understand the importance of not backing down from a force that would put more restrictions on homeschoolers. What happened to the flex of those muscles? What happened to the vision? Surely the Lord did not lead these veterans into battle only to show them that throwing up their hands and surrendering to the state that would seek to control of our children is His perfect plan. Surely we are not meant to put our hand to the plow and then turn back.
I've said it once and I'll continue to say it--how does giving up freedoms help secure them??? Why is it that just because some of the veteran homeschoolers chose to back down it makes it a good idea for all of us to give up our rights? That's the argument--"we have homeschooled for 20 years and have always cooperated with DNPE's requests." That only shows me that these folks have made the wrong decision for 20 years. How does a 20-year history of caving in to the state's extra-legal requests prove anything except these folks have given up the fight?
Good post, Melanie. Thanks!
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