How true is this? HSLDA alert - IMPORTANT
pmteet
Is this just another HSLDA scare tactic? I personally do not agree
with most of what they stand for. But if tis is true it is scary.
I hope you can shed light on this.
October 12, 2006
HSLDA--Help Defend Homeschooling
Dear HSLDA member,
We have less than four weeks to go before the crucial mid-term
elections.
The results of this November 7 will significantly impact the direction
of
the country because, for the first time in over a decade, control of
both
the U.S. Senate and U.S. House is realistically at stake. A change in
party
control could have a wide ranging impact on homeschoolers.
Based on Home School Legal Defense Association' s experience of
protecting and defending homeschooling on the state and federal
levels,
I can
assure you that the Republican majorities in Congress are friends of
homeschooling.
This is not only demonstrated through their actions, with
Congresswoman
Marilyn Musgrave sponsoring HoNDA, which helped many homeschool
families
who were facing discrimination via quirks in federal law, but is also
clearlystated in the party platform: "We [the Republican Party] defend
the option for homeschooling and call for vigilant enforcement of laws
designed to protect family rights
and privacy in education."
This strong, positive stance on homeschooling is not shared by many
Democrats and their education union allies. It is very clear that the
Democrat Party's ties with the National Education Association have and
will
continue to influence its stance on educational freedom, and we know
how
the
NEA feels about homeschooling.
I also want to remind you what will occur should Democrats take the
majority in the U.S. House: George Miller of California will likely be
the
Chairman of the Education Committee. Twelve years ago, George Miller
attempted to
introduce an amendment that would have required that all teachers,
including homeschool moms, be certified teachers.
He will try something similar if he ever gains the chairmanship of
this
important committee.
Our homeschooling freedom is fragile. One amendment passed by a
Democrat-controlled House and Senate could find its way into law.
HSLDA will do everything, with your help, to stop this from happening,
but
our job, to defend your right to homeschool, will be much easier with
government leaders who support our position. We are all in this
together
and the homeschool community must play its role to defend our
own freedom.
The lines are clearly drawn for us on the homeschool, life, and
marriage
issues. I am convinced that we must do all that we can to ensure that
Republicans maintain control of Congress on November 7.
To that end, HSLDA PAC has endorsed candidates in key races around the
country, and in the last week of the campaign, the PAC is sending out
numerous teams of homeschool students to participate in key House and
Senate
races. These young people will be working hard to "Get-Out-The- Vote."
They
will campaign door to door, make literature drops and call thousands
of
voters. This work must occur if we are to prevail. Time and time
again,
it
has been shown that an effective grassroots effort can sway a
political
race, even if the polling data is against your candidate.
I'm asking that you not only vote and volunteer for the pro-family
candidate in your area, but that you help support these young people
in
their
efforts.The PAC will be helping pay their travel, lodging, and food
expenses for
the last week of the campaign. It is possible to donate online to the
HSLDA
PAC
with most of what they stand for. But if tis is true it is scary.
I hope you can shed light on this.
October 12, 2006
HSLDA--Help Defend Homeschooling
Dear HSLDA member,
We have less than four weeks to go before the crucial mid-term
elections.
The results of this November 7 will significantly impact the direction
of
the country because, for the first time in over a decade, control of
both
the U.S. Senate and U.S. House is realistically at stake. A change in
party
control could have a wide ranging impact on homeschoolers.
Based on Home School Legal Defense Association' s experience of
protecting and defending homeschooling on the state and federal
levels,
I can
assure you that the Republican majorities in Congress are friends of
homeschooling.
This is not only demonstrated through their actions, with
Congresswoman
Marilyn Musgrave sponsoring HoNDA, which helped many homeschool
families
who were facing discrimination via quirks in federal law, but is also
clearlystated in the party platform: "We [the Republican Party] defend
the option for homeschooling and call for vigilant enforcement of laws
designed to protect family rights
and privacy in education."
This strong, positive stance on homeschooling is not shared by many
Democrats and their education union allies. It is very clear that the
Democrat Party's ties with the National Education Association have and
will
continue to influence its stance on educational freedom, and we know
how
the
NEA feels about homeschooling.
I also want to remind you what will occur should Democrats take the
majority in the U.S. House: George Miller of California will likely be
the
Chairman of the Education Committee. Twelve years ago, George Miller
attempted to
introduce an amendment that would have required that all teachers,
including homeschool moms, be certified teachers.
He will try something similar if he ever gains the chairmanship of
this
important committee.
Our homeschooling freedom is fragile. One amendment passed by a
Democrat-controlled House and Senate could find its way into law.
HSLDA will do everything, with your help, to stop this from happening,
but
our job, to defend your right to homeschool, will be much easier with
government leaders who support our position. We are all in this
together
and the homeschool community must play its role to defend our
own freedom.
The lines are clearly drawn for us on the homeschool, life, and
marriage
issues. I am convinced that we must do all that we can to ensure that
Republicans maintain control of Congress on November 7.
To that end, HSLDA PAC has endorsed candidates in key races around the
country, and in the last week of the campaign, the PAC is sending out
numerous teams of homeschool students to participate in key House and
Senate
races. These young people will be working hard to "Get-Out-The- Vote."
They
will campaign door to door, make literature drops and call thousands
of
voters. This work must occur if we are to prevail. Time and time
again,
it
has been shown that an effective grassroots effort can sway a
political
race, even if the polling data is against your candidate.
I'm asking that you not only vote and volunteer for the pro-family
candidate in your area, but that you help support these young people
in
their
efforts.The PAC will be helping pay their travel, lodging, and food
expenses for
the last week of the campaign. It is possible to donate online to the
HSLDA
PAC
Sandra Dodd
-=-Is this just another HSLDA scare tactic? I personally do not agree
with most of what they stand for. But if tis is true it is scary. -=-
Turn off the radio.
If that doesn't make sense to you, listen to "Chicken Heart" by Bill
Cosby, and THEN turn off the radio.
Stop getting HSLDA mailings. They want poor homeschoolers to send
them $100 (probably more now) so they can make $200,000 each (or more
now) a year to try to turn the U.S. into a creationist theocracy .
Don't even read their stuff.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
with most of what they stand for. But if tis is true it is scary. -=-
Turn off the radio.
If that doesn't make sense to you, listen to "Chicken Heart" by Bill
Cosby, and THEN turn off the radio.
Stop getting HSLDA mailings. They want poor homeschoolers to send
them $100 (probably more now) so they can make $200,000 each (or more
now) a year to try to turn the U.S. into a creationist theocracy .
Don't even read their stuff.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
pmteet
Thanks. I do not belong nor do I willingly get mailings from HSLDA. I
am against everything they stand for. This was sent to me by another
homeschooler. BUT with the elections coming up I wanted to make sure
I was well informed about what could happen with my vote, especially
as I am torn between candidates.
I assummed that it was a scare tactic but again, I just wanted to make
sure. I figured you guys here would know the answer.
Thanks,
Michelle
am against everything they stand for. This was sent to me by another
homeschooler. BUT with the elections coming up I wanted to make sure
I was well informed about what could happen with my vote, especially
as I am torn between candidates.
I assummed that it was a scare tactic but again, I just wanted to make
sure. I figured you guys here would know the answer.
Thanks,
Michelle
Schuyler
Even if it does make sense to you listen to Chicken Heart by Bill Cosby. I love Chicken Heart. Hmmm...I'll go listen to that now.
Schuyler
www.waynforth.blogspot.com
Schuyler
www.waynforth.blogspot.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Sandra Dodd
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2006 4:17 PM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] How true is this? HSLDA alert - IMPORTANT
-=-Is this just another HSLDA scare tactic? I personally do not agree
with most of what they stand for. But if tis is true it is scary. -=-
Turn off the radio.
If that doesn't make sense to you, listen to "Chicken Heart" by Bill
Cosby, and THEN turn off the radio.
Stop getting HSLDA mailings. They want poor homeschoolers to send
them $100 (probably more now) so they can make $200,000 each (or more
now) a year to try to turn the U.S. into a creationist theocracy .
Don't even read their stuff.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pamela Sorooshian
The ability to think clearly and critically is something we all
probably want for our kids - unschooling allows their thinking
ability to develop really well because they get to pay attention to
what matters to them so they naturally think deeply about those
things. When teachers or homeschooling parents try to force kids to
think about things that don't matter to them, they, naturally, don't
think any harder than they must in order to get a decent grade (if
they care about grades) - and the whole thinking process can feel
very inauthentic to schooled kids - like it isn't really their own
thinking that they're doing.
One of the reasons that clear critical thinking skills are so
important is so as not to be swayed or manipulated by statements such
as this HSLDA alert.
I think the most important critical thinking skill is to always read
everything while keeping in mind the author's underlying motivation.
In other words, read ALL seemingly objective statements as, in fact,
someone's beliefs that are based on their own biases, self-interest,
world view, etc.
In this case, once we're aware of the basic facts - that HSLDA is a
right-wing political organization that uses homeschooling as a
platform for promoting their overarching agenda, then we can evaluate
everything they say with that in mind. (If anybody hasn't look into
their activities, just spend a few minutes googling "The Generation
Joshua Project" and the goals of Patrick Henry College.)
Using our knowledge about this organization and the people and
activities they support, we can understand that providing legal help
is their way of garnering a devoted following which they then use to
support certain political goals.
A couple of things to keep in mind - a fact and an idea:
Congresswoman Republican Marilyn Musgrave is an extremist - extremely
anti-United Nations, anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, anti-science,
and anti-environmentalism. You decide if you're actually worried
about her being voted out.
It puts homeschooling legal freedom more at risk for HSLDA to create
the impression that all homeschoolers are right-wing Republicans/
members of the Christian Right and that Democrats are all anti-
homeschooling. It is HSLDA, itself, that is endangering our freedom,
by setting up this false conflict. When Democrats DO take over, it
would be better for homeschoolers if they were NOT under the
impression that we are all in synch with HSLDA's platform.
My point isn't to discuss HSLDA - not appropriate for this list. Just
using them as a jumping off point for thinking about critical thinking.
But how we respond to HSLDA's alerts is based on our own critical
thinking skills. I'm just saying - if we are finding it hard to
figure out what HSLDA is up to, then we might give some thought and
time to developing our own clarity of thinking, research ability, and
decisionmaking skills - in order to better help our kids learn to be
discerning and competent thinkers, themselves.
-pam
probably want for our kids - unschooling allows their thinking
ability to develop really well because they get to pay attention to
what matters to them so they naturally think deeply about those
things. When teachers or homeschooling parents try to force kids to
think about things that don't matter to them, they, naturally, don't
think any harder than they must in order to get a decent grade (if
they care about grades) - and the whole thinking process can feel
very inauthentic to schooled kids - like it isn't really their own
thinking that they're doing.
One of the reasons that clear critical thinking skills are so
important is so as not to be swayed or manipulated by statements such
as this HSLDA alert.
I think the most important critical thinking skill is to always read
everything while keeping in mind the author's underlying motivation.
In other words, read ALL seemingly objective statements as, in fact,
someone's beliefs that are based on their own biases, self-interest,
world view, etc.
In this case, once we're aware of the basic facts - that HSLDA is a
right-wing political organization that uses homeschooling as a
platform for promoting their overarching agenda, then we can evaluate
everything they say with that in mind. (If anybody hasn't look into
their activities, just spend a few minutes googling "The Generation
Joshua Project" and the goals of Patrick Henry College.)
Using our knowledge about this organization and the people and
activities they support, we can understand that providing legal help
is their way of garnering a devoted following which they then use to
support certain political goals.
A couple of things to keep in mind - a fact and an idea:
Congresswoman Republican Marilyn Musgrave is an extremist - extremely
anti-United Nations, anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, anti-science,
and anti-environmentalism. You decide if you're actually worried
about her being voted out.
It puts homeschooling legal freedom more at risk for HSLDA to create
the impression that all homeschoolers are right-wing Republicans/
members of the Christian Right and that Democrats are all anti-
homeschooling. It is HSLDA, itself, that is endangering our freedom,
by setting up this false conflict. When Democrats DO take over, it
would be better for homeschoolers if they were NOT under the
impression that we are all in synch with HSLDA's platform.
My point isn't to discuss HSLDA - not appropriate for this list. Just
using them as a jumping off point for thinking about critical thinking.
But how we respond to HSLDA's alerts is based on our own critical
thinking skills. I'm just saying - if we are finding it hard to
figure out what HSLDA is up to, then we might give some thought and
time to developing our own clarity of thinking, research ability, and
decisionmaking skills - in order to better help our kids learn to be
discerning and competent thinkers, themselves.
-pam
Diane Bentzen
> One of the reasons that clear critical thinkingskills
> are so important is so as not to be swayed orThe alerts always remind me of my brother in law's
> manipulated by statements such as this HSLDA alert.
football games. I was helping him explain to my sister
why *this* game is the most important one of the
season: you know--it's the preseason, the games that
set up the play for the whole season. OR it's the main
season, the meat and potatoes of the whole season--the
most important games of the season. OR it's the
postseason play--determining the champions and clearly
the most important games of the season.
These alerts are like that--whatever seems to be
happening right now is breathlessly important, whether
it is or not. And then there's the issue of whether or
not you agree with their specific agenda items.
:-) Diane
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