Comments on: NE’s anti-homeschool bill, one senator responds

By: Kelly Butler

Kelly Butler — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:50:01 +0000

I am so for homeschooling. i am homeschooled and i love it so much. i dont have to deal with all the crap that there is on campus. who ever is opposed should not homeschool and leave everyone else alone.

By: Shawna

Shawna — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:41:00 +0000

A great example of government of the people, for the people and by the people!

By: Dana

Dana — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:47:21 +0000

That is discouraging…I haven’t heard from anyone personally, yet, but have seen others responses from two other senators on the committee: one for the bill and one against. Hopefully the one for the bill is from the same senator as the one who wrote you back!

Hope to see you on Wednesday! We have to leave early, but are hoping to be able to at least hear Senator Erdman speak before leaving.

By: Terri

Terri — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 03:14:27 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing the letter from Sen. Erdman. It encouraged me. My husband sent out numerous letters - one to each member of the Education committee and the Gov. (asking himto veto it if it comes to him).

We have received only one response letter from the woman on the committe and said she is in favor of testing home schoolers. a friend of mine received the same response as well. THAT discouraged me, so it is VERY refreshing to read this today. Thank you so much for posting. We will be there on WEd. as well.

Blessings!
~Terri

By: Principled Discovery » NE legislature’s contempt for ALL parents?

Principled Discovery » NE legislature’s contempt for ALL parents? — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 07:36:57 +0000

[...] John left an excellent response to my entry on Nebraska’s proposed anti-homeschool legislation: LB1141 is condescending and contemptuous to all parents; homeschool, private, parochial, and [...]

By: Dana

Dana — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 06:21:13 +0000

Excellent comment, John. I think that is worthy of a post of its own. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts!

By: John

John — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:48:18 +0000

LB1141 is condescending and contemptuous to all parents; homeschool, private, parochial, and public. These limitations upon the educational choices proposed by LB1141 usurp a parent’s primary obligation, authority, and responsibility for the education of their children. This is constitutes an attempt to redefine the State’s current level of parens patriae. The mere consideration and introduction of this bill is nothing short of an all out infringement and assault upon the liberties of the citizens of Nebraska. The State does not posses a higher authority than the parent.

The legislature should focus instead upon repairing the disastrous mess the State has created within the current public school system. The members of the State of Nebraska Legislature instead should be considering ways to understand why private schooling, including homeschooling, has proven overwhelmingly to be a more successful method by which parents have chosen to educate their children. Consider the real possibility that the answer to this success lies within the parents and not the State?

The burden of responsibility to show accountability of results is not that of the parents. Contrary to Senator Schimek’s assumption that parents owe some burden of proof to the State, the actual burden of responsibility falls upon the State to convince parents that the public school system is a viable option for their children. When parents believe that the system provided by the State does not meet their standards, needs, and expectations; current and effective alternatives exist. The results that the State has continuously shown through the public school system is the reason that the families of nearly 50,000 children in Nebraska exercise their liberty to choose a private school (parochial, private, or home school) for their children. These families do this with no additional tax burden upon the State, all the while continuing to contribute their portion of taxes to the public system.

Perhaps now is the time to focus upon a few real pressing issues such as to the failure of public school system to provide a decent education to rather large segment of children enrolled and even consider vouchers to relieve the burden the State places upon the families who have opted out of the State’s public education system.

By: Dana

Dana — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:31:06 +0000

Lisa, I am so glad you are going to be there! I figured Senator Erdman would be an ally since he already tried to kill it, but it is nice to know that at least two are in our corner, so to speak. I’m sure there are many more. Howard has already indicated support for the Bill, and I can’t imagine that the chairman would be against it given his public stances on education, but maybe I’m wrong.

By: Lisa @ Me & My House

Lisa @ Me & My House — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:20:50 +0000

Hi Dana,

My friend, who goes to church with Senator Erdman got a similar reply from him. He will not allow this bill to pass. We all need to be vigilant in getting more Senators to take this stand.

And we need to be sure to connect next Wed. See you at the capital!

By: Dana

Dana — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:11:25 +0000

They don’t get the press, but there are actually quite a few. Now to figure out how to get them to multiply! : )