Disclaimer: This entry is for my home schooling friends and is no way intended to downplay other forms of education or to insult others who do not home school. I just wanted my hs friends to know about the awesome rally today!
Ally Beth and I took this picture today with her camera. She wanted me to make sure to give her camera credit!The kids and I had the most amazing afternoon! We had the privilege of attending the Texas Home School Coalition's (THSC) Parental Rights Rally on the south steps of the capitol building in Austin today. We got to stand with one of our pastors and his family. Also, we got to stand with the president of the home school co-op we belong to and her son (who also attend our church) and listen to some GREAT speeches!
We heard numerous pro-home schooling legislators speak to us about their support of the Parental Rights Restoration Act (which will be heard in the Texas Legislature on Thursday). The most amazing speech we heard came from our governor, Rick Perry. It is amazing that he took time out of his day to come and encourage us. He is an AVID supporter of home schooling. Today at the rally, he said,"All children in Texas have a right to a public education.
However, public education does NOT have a right to all children in Texas."
However, public education does NOT have a right to all children in Texas."
AMEN!!! Thank you, Governor Perry!Current law in Texas allows grandparents to intervene on behalf of their grandchildren if they suspect that they are being neglected or abused. This is a great law when children are legitimately in danger, but many grandparents have used this law to gain custody of their grandchildren simply because they don't like that they are being home schooled. Many families have been torn apart by this law. There is one home schooling military family who experienced devastation. First, the father was killed on duty in Iraq. Then, a week after his funeral, his parents filed for custody of his children because the mother was planning on continuing to home school them. Those poor children lost their father and were yanked from their mother. This is obviously not the way this grandparent's law is meant to be utilized.
Due to stories like this and many others, THSC is supporting an amendment of the grandparent's law, enabling parents to choose what is best for their children in regards to education and morality. This amendment allows for grandparents to still intervene if there is physical abuse or neglect. So, this still allows protection of children while also assuring parents of their freedoms in choice of education.
We heard many awesome legislators in favor of this parental rights legislation. Some of the quotes I heard today (wish I had written down the name of the legislators who said these):
"Parents are a child's first and best educator."
"God designed the parents to oversee the upbringing of their children, not the government."
"Home schoolers in Texas have many friends in this legislature."
"We will do whatever we can to assure that you as parents have the most freedoms possible to home school in Texas."
"The best lobbyists we know are home schoolers."
We were so inspired today! It also helped that we were on the steps of the most beautiful capitol building in all of the USA. (Again, all pictures from Ally Beth's camera)
God bless Texas!