Serious doubts. All because of a humble little (and newly formed) Political Action Committee right here in Nebraska.
The New Nebraska Network (NNN), according to their website, is the “state’s premiere source of progressive online political commentary and community-building.” A rather partisan objective, but partisan political commentary is an important part of a strong and vibrant republic. I only note this because I found the attacks on the “partisanship” of Republicans amusing coming from a site devoted to promoting Democratic ideals and candidates.
The entry in question also accuses Governor Heineman of “strong-arming” for endorsing Beau McCoy and accuses the governor of “looking to…McCoy to help drive his political agenda on the floor of the legislature,” as if that were a seedy and underhanded thing for a governor to do. Most disturbing, however, is the sudden involvement of homeschoolers on behalf of McCoy.
One of the great peculiarities of this race is the involvement of the home schooling movement on McCoy’s behalf. McCoy is actually a product of home schooling, and they’re evidently looking to get him elected so he might champion their cause in the legislature. In fact, a newly-formed Nebraska Home Educators PAC has formed, dedicating itself primarily to McCoy’s election. Your Next Unicameral: The Moats-McCoy Battleground in LD 39
Minor correction: the Nebraska Home Educators PAC is dedicated primarily to identifying and promoting those candidates who oppose increased governmental oversight of Nebraska homeschools, not just Beau McCoy. The confusion, however, is understandable since it has chosen to focus on only two races given the proximity of the election.
But what is a PAC for? It isn’t to champion the causes of others. Nebraska homeschoolers had a bit of a scare after Senator Schimek introduced LB1141 to mandate testing of all Nebraska homeschools. Are we looking with suspicion at Rex Moats’ acceptance of an endorsement and money from the Nebraska State Education Association? Certainly they are hoping he will champion their cause in the legislature? Or do homeschoolers somehow lose the right to organize, participate and petition their government simply because, oh, I don’t even know why. I guess because we have such a tyrannical role over our children who have no choice but to obey our every whim for our own political gain?
Before I get to that, however, let’s make absolutely clear what a PAC is.
A committee formed by business, labor, or other special-interest groups to raise money and make contributions to the campaigns of political candidates whom they support. From the Free Dictionary
NHE-PAC falls into that last category. Basically, a group of free citizens in a free republic exercising the right to organize ourselves for the support of the candidates we feel strongly about.
This development becomes a little bit disturbing, though, in light of this PACs suspect efforts to recruit home schooled children as free labor for the McCoy campaign. When young people get involved of their own volition, as a step in developing their own political consciousness, that’s a definite benefit to our democracy. But, where this involvement might cross the line into their school curriculum – dictated by parents pursuing their own political purposes – one starts to get a sense of why so many have such serious doubts about the quality and integrity of home school education. Your Next Unicameral…
Our “suspect efforts to recruit home schooled children?” Let’s look at the rather brief entry linked as support of our nefarious goals to corrupt the youth. The beginning is just some upcoming events in need of volunteers. Then comes this, where we ask to make slaves of your children.
Volunteering in this election not only provides valuable assistance to candidates who strongly support the independence of Nebraska homeschoolers, but it is also an excellent way to teach your own children about government and the importance of personal involvement. My political awakening, so to speak, began when I was sixteen and volunteered to canvass neighborhoods in a Congressional election. I had the opportunity to meet the candidate, speak with other volunteers and learned so much more about the election process than I ever did from my textbooks in school. Volunteer Opportunities for the McCoy Campaign
That is it. And I would like to point out that, while my dad took me out to canvass those neighborhoods, I was publicly educated. Not homeschooled. Even non-homeschooling parents can have an impact on the developing political awareness of their children. Now, the NNN says itself that youth involvement is a valuable step in building a young person’s political consciousness and as such is beneficial to our democracy. The benefits I mentioned, those of teaching your children about government and the importance of personal involvement, are true for all families, regardless of political persuasion and the educational choices of the family. Even if you go stuff envelopes for Rex Moats, your children will gain the same benefits.
The stereotype that we as homeschoolers somehow control our children’s minds is pervasive, but I contend that every family has the right to share their values, religious beliefs and their political preferences with their children. Most do. And this study did not come from homeschooled families:
Father’s party preference is the single most important influence in the family, and is independent of class. Even before becoming old enough to vote, an individual forms loyalties in the home which indirectly as well as directly influence voting. Electoral Politics, Dennis Kavanagh, p. 133
Unless we are somehow advocating shielding children from all political influence of their parents, the statement is absurd when focused solely on homeschool families. And I suspect the NNN might be a tad surprised at just how many homeschool families are out there campaigning for Democrats. Including the daughter of one of our PAC members who is a member of the young Democrats on her campus and is campaigning for Obama.
And just out of curiosity, why do we view familial control of the education of a child so suspiciously without ever stopping to think about the implications of a state-controlled education system? Why, in a free nation, do we trust the state more than the parent?
Regardless, even with a whole army of home schooled children “volunteering” for McCoy, this is still going to be a very close race. Your Next Unicameral…
Love the “volunteering” in quotes. Because this whole effort is so dependent on the children that we encourage parents to bring along rather than leave with a sitter. Since we are so concerned about children who might possibly be dragged out to stuff envelopes against their will for their parents’ political agenda, why don’t we also take a look at another prominent Nebraska PAC? As if we were prominent, but that is another matter. As of May of this year, the Nebraska State Education Association had contribued $3,774 to Moats’ campaign. As of September of this year, the Nebraska Home Educators PAC had contributed exactly $0 to McCoy’s campaign. And how does the NSEA come by that money? Not by donations, as we come by ours. Even if we do happen to talk Pete Ricketts into sending a check our way. The NSEA takes dues from its members, regardless of their political affiliation, and forwards it to the candidates they determine will champion their cause in the legislature. Not all members are happy about it. I paid dues to the Texas chapter of the NEA for two years while I was a teacher, and resented every dime of it that was forwarded to candidates and causes I disagreed with and viewed as bad for education. It is actually quite an important consideration. According to research, approximately 90% of education PAC money is spent on behalf of teacher’s unions. In fact, the same study states in its introduction that “teachers occupy a low cost position for organizing.” But never mind them, their numbers, their money and how they come by it. Let’s focus instead on the 2,000 homeschool families in Nebraska, and the fear that some of them might assign one of their children to work on a campaign for some sort of credit.
I guess stereotypes and ignorance have long formed the basis for “serious doubts about the quality and integrity of a home school education.” I shouldn’t be surprised.
Note: I am a board member of the NHE-PAC, but the thoughts expressed here are strictly my own.
homeschool, homeschooling, home education, NHE-PAC, Beau McCoy, Rex Moats
I know many public school parents who have their child volunteer to work on a political campaign. I also know public school teachers who encourage the students under their supervision to work on a political campaign. Some even go so far as to offer extra credit to students who do so.
So why isn’t that a problem for the NNN?
Homeschoolers certainly have the same rights as public school parents and teachers. For anyone to imply otherwise is absurd.
Very good entry, Dana. Unfortunately I’m not up on Nebraska politics and can’t comment intelligently on some of the specifics you mentioned. I can tell you, however, that both my public and home-educated children “volunteer” to clean and help out around the house. I just have more time and undue influence on the homeschooled ones and keep them more tightly squashed under my repressive boot. :]
It’s the usual double standard of arrogant elitists- it is only acceptable to brainwash children if it is being done by professionals.
How could that possibly be any worse than this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtGrp5MbzAI&feature=related
P.S. My children are “volunteered” to do chores around the house, also. I’m very certain they would rather be out campaigning!
I gave you an award over at my site.
Interestingly, I remember in my public high school, we got extra credit if we volunteered for campaigns or joined Young Republicans/Democrats. Was that coercion of “volunteers”, whose service has crossed into the curricula?
Dana-
I appreciate your commentary and am sorry if you think NNN in any way mischaracterized the efforts of the Nebraska Home Educators PAC. I do not consider myself opposed to home schooling in any way, although I must confess that I do not share your perception of some great threat in our state legislature taking a greater interest in assuring the quality of those students’ educations.
As for the potential blurring of parent’s political objectives with their childrens’ school curriculums, all I did was note:
On this point, you yourself concede:
We are acknowledging the same bias in these statements. The only difference is that, while I recognize the stereotype as unfair, I wouldn’t say its wholly lacking in credibility.
By the way, I am acquainted with young Ms. Dick. She is a fine young woman whose intelligence and compassion are an inspiration to many.
Thank you Kyle. If you recognize the stereotype is unfair, why do you choose to further it?
But you noted a little more than just the stereotype. My first reaction to the post was actually to your transition:
This development becomes a little bit disturbing, though, in light of this PACs suspect efforts to recruit home schooled children as free labor for the McCoy campaign.
NHE-PAC is a “disturbing” development because we encourage parents to involve their children? It seems that you are playing directly to the stereotype, even if you yourself think it is unfair.
I am glad you do not oppose homeschooling on its own. As to how much it needs to be regulated, we clearly disagree, but I don’t have a problem with that. In my view, “accountability” refers to the state’s accountability to the citizenry, not the other way around.
Anyway, thank you so much for responding. Discussion is the whole reason I started blogging in the first place. And I’ve been reading your blog for awhile and appreciate all the effort you guys have put into it, even if I disagree with a great deal of the politics on the site.
Interesting that what is considered normal for public school parents is suspicious when practiced by home educators. It’s obviously acceptable for public school parents to involve their children in civics, so why the ’suspicion’ of any other family that gets involved in the community by volunteering to campaign for candidates they believe reflect their views?
It is the height of bigotry to vilify what we don’t understand, and the paranoia about homeschoolers as a KoolAid-drinking cult proves again and again how ignorant many folks are of why and how parents choose to home educate, as well as what it means to stand for the idea that citizens are accountable to the state for the legal decisions they make in their private lives.
What’s really disturbing is to read that a stereotype is ‘unfair’ and yet somehow ‘credible’ in the same sentence. In that case, blondes are dumb and men are pigs and blacks are violent and gays are all fashionistas. Those stereotypes are stupid and immature, and yet why is it socially acceptable to target homeschoolers with this same kind of prejudice? It’s a real shame that grown-ups who should know better by now can’t seem to shed the last of their ‘Breakfast Club’ antics.
“….NNN in any way mischaracterized the efforts of the Nebraska Home Educators PAC…..”
Why apologize for doing exactly what you intended to do?
I guess the “Fairness Doctrine” would have made this issue much easier for you all at NNN.
At least then you wouldn’t have an opposing view to so call ‘mischaracterize.’
“…while I recognize the stereotype as unfair, I wouldn’t say its wholly lacking in credibility.”
Huh? Somebody explain his logic to me, please.
Seems to me if a stereotype is unfair, then it is lacking in credibility. Yes? No? Help me out here.
Many stereotypes have a certain kernel of truth to them (therefore not totally lacking in credibility), but are exaggerated and/or overgeneralized (therefore unfair).
To give an example that I can make because I’m of Irish heritage myself: the stereotype of the drunk Irishman. As it turns out, Ireland does have the second-highest alcohol consumption rate in the developed world and nearly twice the rate of DUI-related fatalities as the European Union average. But there are plenty of Irish who do NOT abuse alcohol. So the stereotype is unfair while not completely lacking in credibility.
But you have backed up your stereotype with that bit of fact. What facts have been presented against homeschoolers? None but the stereotype.
The homeschool stereotype is IMO more analogous to the idea that redheads have a bad temper. People see red hair and make an unearned association with no basis in reality. Folks see a home educator and assume that no one would actually want to be with their kids all day unless they were up to no good.
“Folks see a home educator and assume that no one would actually want to be with their kids all day unless they were up to no good.”
Substitute “teacher” for “home educator” and “other people’s” for “their” and they might have a point!
I could understand questioning the motives of someone who is willing to be stuck in a classroom with 25+ children (who are not their own) everyday. I find that kind of behavior to be highly suspicious!
(In case my mother, the public school teacher is reading this, I’m JUST KIDDING!)
Here is a teacher who was suspended for less:
http://www.education.com/magazine/column/entry/Obamateacher/
I don’t know what actually happened in the class, so I can’t really comment to the particular case. But in general, there is a distinct difference between parents taking their children along to volunteer in a campaign and a teacher in a public school doing the same.
As a homeschool graduate helping out on the McCoy campaign myself, the article posted on “New Nebraska” was both ridiculous and unfounded. Campaigning has always been a voluntary and incredibly fun activity for me, and the same is true for every teen I’ve worked with for the past few years.
Thank you for posting on this. I look forward to reading more!
Unfortunately, it is always easier to play to stereotypes than it is to deal directly with differences of opinion.
Parents on both sides of the aisle encourage participation in their young people…just look at all the videos out there about kids singing for Obama. So long as the parents know what is going on and are in agreement with it, I think it is a good way for children to be encouraged to take citizenship seriously.