Declaration of War- Nebraska

When the President sent troops overseas to fight the Taliban after 9/11, people made a fuss over the fact that we had not officially declared war. However, despite that fact, we were, indeed, already engaged in war with Muslim extremists. It wasn’t something we wanted, it wasn’t something we asked for, but it was something we were thrown into without a doubt of the intentions posed by our enemies; kill the infidels and destroy the moral foundations our country was founded on.

Only a few weeks ago, war was declared in Nebraska. Only this time, M16’s and grenades were replaced for the Sword of the Word and the armor of God. On January 23^rd, Nebraska State Senator DiAnna Schimek introduced LB 1141 that would, in essence, make homeschooling in our State nearly impossible. Below is a list of what the bill would require from homeschoolers (the entire list can be found here):

• Have to submit to discretionary approval by the Commissioner of Education.
• Gives the Department of Education (“NDE”) approval authority over whether homeschoolers may file under Rule 12 or 13 and over their curriculum;
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• Have to submit to intrusive and ill-conceived annual assessments.
• Requires an annual in person evaluation, at the parents’ expense, but by a person of the Commissioner’s choosing and at a time and place determined by the NDE. Parents may be allowed to observe as long as they are “under the supervision of the Commissioner or designated staff person.”
• To avoid the NDE’s required annual in person evaluation, a homeschooling parent would have to submit extensive documentation to a certified and approved teacher, including a complete written record of all the educational activities a child has been involved in and a portfolio of the student’s work, and the results of any assessments conducted. And even then, the teacher’s positive report would merely create a “presumption” that adequate progress was being made.
• Requires that assessments be conducted against standards created and approved by the NDE and based on age/grade levels of their peers in public schools;
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• Have to submit detailed attendance records every year.
• Requires homeschoolers to submit attendance records annually to the Nebraska Department of Education (“NDE”);
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• Have to test before you start.
• Requires first time homeschooled students to take an NDE-approved test for “baseline educational data” (presumably this test is to be used by the NDE to determine whether or not “progress has been achieved”);
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• Give the Commissioner authority to hold your kids hostage in public schools at his discretion.
• Require homeschooled children to attend an accredited public or private school if they do not make adequate progress as defined by the NDE and would prevent the child from being homeschooled until the NDE approves.

Before I go on to make my readers presume that Nebraska is in a unique situation, I would hasten to remind that Senators and Governors across the United States are working for the destruction of the structure in Christian families, just as our own beloved Senator Shimeck is here in our own Red State.

Just can’t take “no” for an answer

HSLDA has called this bill one of the worst homeschooling bills ever proposed. Angered and passionate Nebraskans would have to agree. In the 1980’s a similar bill was introduced and passed, which resulted in fathers being thrown into jail and mothers being forced to flee the State with their children, including a couple from our Church. Since then Nebraska had relaxed its laws on homeschoolers, after a long and hard fight, only to have another bill introduced by, ironically, the wife of the head of Government Relations for the Nebraska State Education Association. Don’t even attempt to claim that this bill wasn’t introduced for personal gain!

Consider…

• The State is asking not only that homeschoolers pay outrageous taxes for a failing school system they do not even attend, but that we now ad the costs of annual exams that we don’t even want to take

• The State is assuming that the public school system is the only answer to supposed learning disabilities and problems (why should we hand ours over when they can’t even handle their own?). What happens when children at schools shoot each other, abuse each other, struggle on their tests and show lack of cleanliness and happiness? Then I think it’s time they hand over the kids to the parents.

• The State is assuming the right to protect your child and provide safety and education. One might have to ask, then, did God give my children to me, or to the government? As my Dad says; over my dead body will you walk into my home and assume that God-given right.

As a homeschool senior about to graduate from high school myself, I cannot stress how glad I am that my parents chose to be my teachers, instead of dumping me off at school and asking a total stranger (and in some cases, a rapist or ex-convict) to educate me for the next 12 years. Believe it or not, I am healthy, happy, and not a complete idiot because of it. Homeschooling works, and so well it’s scaring the Board of Education. The growth and success of God’s army is scaring Satan, and he is now visibly taking steps to defeat us through our own government.

So please, brothers and sisters;

• Be aware that wars are being fought all across the States. If LB 1141 goes through in Nebraska, it could very well go through in your State. One thing leads to another and we MUST pull out of political apathy and be constantly aware of what goes on in our legislature.

• Be in prayer for Wednesday, February 6^th. Nebraska will be holding it’s second annual Legislative day for homeschoolers at the capitol. Last year 300 people attended to meet with Senators and go to hearings, and this year, after the introduction of the bill, the expected number blew up to 1,000 homeschoolers and counting. This is going to be an awesome time of witnessing and fighting not only 1141 but the impetus to introduce other such restrictive bills. Be in prayer that the weather would cooperate, and that the senators would be greatly impacted by the turnout, and have their eyes open to the constitutional right they are breaking.

I have great trust in the God who created our nation, and I am totally pumped about attending Legislative Day at the capitol tomorrow. I know God is going to do amazing things through this bill as we work to fight it and have victory in His name.

Soli Deo Gloria…

Links:

(More reasons) why this is a stupid bill

The bill in it's un-translated entirety

NCHEA on 1141

NCHEA Legislative Day Info

HEN on 1141