SC HB 3364
Melinda
Dear Group,
First let me state that I have never posted here
before, though I am a list member.
My group partner is a regular. Kelly Lovejoy and I
are co-founders of SOS, School's Out Support, the SC
Unschoolers group hosting a conference in October.
To the best of my knowledge, we are the only unschool
support group in the state. Notice of the bill in
question was prominently posted on our site. In fact,
I sent out 2 notices to members urging them to call
and email the sub-committee members. It also urged
any members who could do so to come to the hearing on
Wednesday.
I have no interest in re-igniting the conversation
regarding this bill. I am not an HSLDA member or
advocate. I do know their policies and can't imagine
how it is possible to be an unschooler and comply with
their requirements. (I'm sure that I'm going to stir
up some dust with this statement. Oh, well ; )
I would like to point out that legislation, and its'
ramifications, is COMPLICATED.
Not to acknowledge that is naive.
I have learned a lot about how the legislative process
works and what types of action/inaction are
appropriate re. HS issues. I have learned mostly by
hanging out with those who have been in the trenches.
As I said, my partner at SOS spends a lot of her
online unschool time here. I spend mine at the
NHEN-legislative and other legally oriented sites.
It is very easy to dismiss as unimportant what you do
not understand.
The reasons that legislation is introduced are often
locally specific. Sometimes they are specific to the
bill sponsor alone. Every state is different. SC is
not PA or FL. Legislation that impacts homeschoolers
is not an ongoing threat in every session here. So ...
when it does come up, paying attention is a good idea.
I could go into detail about why the outcome of this
particular situation was so important, including why
not having it pass or even be further considered is
important to all who homeschool in this state ... if
I didn't have to get ready to go to ice skating.
But, hey, don't take my word for it. Get to know the
climate in your state. Research and draw your own
conclusions.
I simply understand that my ability to do all those
things- to live the life of an unschooler- is easier
with less rather than more legal regulation.
Additional regulation = more of my time wasted.
Legislatively speaking, firmly closing a door does
make it less likely to be opened again anytime soon.
The turnout on Wednesday was a display of strength and
unity in the SC homeschool community. That's how the
legislators perceived it. It does help us maintain a
position of influence. As an interested party, I am
more than happy with the results and believe that it
will serve us well in the future.
It should also be noted that the proposed bill had the
potential to impact qualification for college
scholarships that are supposed to be coming soon as a
result of the recently introduced state lottery. Not
to mention eligibility for any/all state employment.
I'm in Columbia, the capitol. It is the largest city
in the state and a huge proportion of the jobs
available are through state government agencies
I could go on ... but I think that the oft' quoted
"All politics are local" applies here, and most
everywhere re. HS legislation.
No Chicken Little,
Melinda Nolan
=====
: D Melinda
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Mother's Day is May 12th!
http://shopping.yahoo.com
First let me state that I have never posted here
before, though I am a list member.
My group partner is a regular. Kelly Lovejoy and I
are co-founders of SOS, School's Out Support, the SC
Unschoolers group hosting a conference in October.
To the best of my knowledge, we are the only unschool
support group in the state. Notice of the bill in
question was prominently posted on our site. In fact,
I sent out 2 notices to members urging them to call
and email the sub-committee members. It also urged
any members who could do so to come to the hearing on
Wednesday.
I have no interest in re-igniting the conversation
regarding this bill. I am not an HSLDA member or
advocate. I do know their policies and can't imagine
how it is possible to be an unschooler and comply with
their requirements. (I'm sure that I'm going to stir
up some dust with this statement. Oh, well ; )
I would like to point out that legislation, and its'
ramifications, is COMPLICATED.
Not to acknowledge that is naive.
I have learned a lot about how the legislative process
works and what types of action/inaction are
appropriate re. HS issues. I have learned mostly by
hanging out with those who have been in the trenches.
As I said, my partner at SOS spends a lot of her
online unschool time here. I spend mine at the
NHEN-legislative and other legally oriented sites.
It is very easy to dismiss as unimportant what you do
not understand.
The reasons that legislation is introduced are often
locally specific. Sometimes they are specific to the
bill sponsor alone. Every state is different. SC is
not PA or FL. Legislation that impacts homeschoolers
is not an ongoing threat in every session here. So ...
when it does come up, paying attention is a good idea.
I could go into detail about why the outcome of this
particular situation was so important, including why
not having it pass or even be further considered is
important to all who homeschool in this state ... if
I didn't have to get ready to go to ice skating.
But, hey, don't take my word for it. Get to know the
climate in your state. Research and draw your own
conclusions.
I simply understand that my ability to do all those
things- to live the life of an unschooler- is easier
with less rather than more legal regulation.
Additional regulation = more of my time wasted.
Legislatively speaking, firmly closing a door does
make it less likely to be opened again anytime soon.
The turnout on Wednesday was a display of strength and
unity in the SC homeschool community. That's how the
legislators perceived it. It does help us maintain a
position of influence. As an interested party, I am
more than happy with the results and believe that it
will serve us well in the future.
It should also be noted that the proposed bill had the
potential to impact qualification for college
scholarships that are supposed to be coming soon as a
result of the recently introduced state lottery. Not
to mention eligibility for any/all state employment.
I'm in Columbia, the capitol. It is the largest city
in the state and a huge proportion of the jobs
available are through state government agencies
I could go on ... but I think that the oft' quoted
"All politics are local" applies here, and most
everywhere re. HS legislation.
No Chicken Little,
Melinda Nolan
=====
: D Melinda
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Mother's Day is May 12th!
http://shopping.yahoo.com
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/10/02 9:09:01 AM, melinda2u@... writes:
<< It is very easy to dismiss as unimportant what you do
not understand. >>
Sorry I did that, then.
Perhaps instead of "Chicken Little," our analogy should turn to "The Boy Who
Cried Wolf." After so many false and created alarms, I have learned to
ignore HSLDA's screams for help.
I'm glad others were aware and involved then.
MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than the above, though, is the discussion you're
intending to affect didn't take place on this list, but on
[email protected]
<<First let me state that I have never posted here
before, though I am a list member.>>
It's okay that you're not reading your digests. <g>
If you want to join that group and post your objection there, I will
reiterate my apology. If you want me to take your post to this group and
share it with the other group, I'm willing to do that too.
It might be worth knowing that the person who brought the matter to the other
group's notice WAS supportive of HSLDA and seemed to be giving them full
credit for the action.
(Apologies to others who are just on this group and not unschooling-dotcom
for the side-story.)
Sandra
<< It is very easy to dismiss as unimportant what you do
not understand. >>
Sorry I did that, then.
Perhaps instead of "Chicken Little," our analogy should turn to "The Boy Who
Cried Wolf." After so many false and created alarms, I have learned to
ignore HSLDA's screams for help.
I'm glad others were aware and involved then.
MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than the above, though, is the discussion you're
intending to affect didn't take place on this list, but on
[email protected]
<<First let me state that I have never posted here
before, though I am a list member.>>
It's okay that you're not reading your digests. <g>
If you want to join that group and post your objection there, I will
reiterate my apology. If you want me to take your post to this group and
share it with the other group, I'm willing to do that too.
It might be worth knowing that the person who brought the matter to the other
group's notice WAS supportive of HSLDA and seemed to be giving them full
credit for the action.
(Apologies to others who are just on this group and not unschooling-dotcom
for the side-story.)
Sandra
gruvystarchild
--- In AlwaysLearning@y..., Melinda <melinda2u@y...> wrote:
Some of us choose to put our energy into other places in this world,
mine right now is focused on my four children and I don't choose to
be political.
That does not equal naivety.
That doesn't mean I'm not very grateful for people like you, that are
NOT HSLDA proponets, that are willing to fight unfair legislation.
I personally will not take up any battles in FL for a couple of
reasons.
One being that the legislators are very tight with a former
homeschool Mom, Brenda Dickinson, who is a very fundamentalist
Christian and does not propose changes I agree with.
She has strength with the legislative body here and to tangle with
all that would take an incredible amount of time and energy which I
don't have for that right now.
She proposed legislation to block kids from being homeschooled that
had a record of delinquency and truancy.
I was the ONLY person in the homeschool support group here that spoke
out against it....the only one that could see it wasn't right.
And that's legislation being proposed by HOMESCHOOLERS!!!???
Sorry, I'm not tangling with these deeply entrenched, semi-powerful
people at this time in my life.
That doesn't mean I don't care.
Please don't assume that just because some of us question a post that
is singing the praises of HSLDA, that we don't care a bit about
political goings on.
That would be naive.
Ren
> Dear Group,Research and draw your own
>
> First let me state that I have never posted here
> before, though I am a list member.
>
> My group partner is a regular. Kelly Lovejoy and I
> are co-founders of SOS, School's Out Support, the SC
> Unschoolers group hosting a conference in October.
>
>
> I would like to point out that legislation, and its'
> ramifications, is COMPLICATED.
>
> Not to acknowledge that is naive.
>
> It is very easy to dismiss as unimportant what you do
> not understand.
> when it does come up, paying attention is a good idea.
> conclusions"the "fight anti-hs legislation" bandwagon you assume naivety.
> I feel a bit defensive, that just because I'm not jumping on
Some of us choose to put our energy into other places in this world,
mine right now is focused on my four children and I don't choose to
be political.
That does not equal naivety.
That doesn't mean I'm not very grateful for people like you, that are
NOT HSLDA proponets, that are willing to fight unfair legislation.
I personally will not take up any battles in FL for a couple of
reasons.
One being that the legislators are very tight with a former
homeschool Mom, Brenda Dickinson, who is a very fundamentalist
Christian and does not propose changes I agree with.
She has strength with the legislative body here and to tangle with
all that would take an incredible amount of time and energy which I
don't have for that right now.
She proposed legislation to block kids from being homeschooled that
had a record of delinquency and truancy.
I was the ONLY person in the homeschool support group here that spoke
out against it....the only one that could see it wasn't right.
And that's legislation being proposed by HOMESCHOOLERS!!!???
Sorry, I'm not tangling with these deeply entrenched, semi-powerful
people at this time in my life.
That doesn't mean I don't care.
Please don't assume that just because some of us question a post that
is singing the praises of HSLDA, that we don't care a bit about
political goings on.
That would be naive.
Ren
>
>
>
>
> =====
> : D Melinda
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Shopping - Mother's Day is May 12th!
> http://shopping.yahoo.com