September 29, 2005

Senator Inhofe on HoNDA

I received this from a reader.


From: Jim_Inhofe@inhofe.senate.gov

September 29, 2005

Dear (private):

Thank you for contacting me about S.1691, the Homeschool Non-Discrimination Act (HoNDA). As your voice in Washington, I appreciate being made aware of your ideas and opinions.

My views on education in America come from a somewhat unique perspective in that my wife, Kay, was a teacher at Edison High School for many years, and now both of my daughters are teachers. I can assure you that I am one of the strongest supporters of education and homeschooling. Like you, I feel that the family has the primary responsibility for and interest in the child.

There are currently more than two million students that are homeschooled in the United States. While these students have proven to excel in both academics and extracurricular activities, existing legislation has tended to overlook this growing population.

The Homeschool Non-Discrimination Act (A.K.A.,HoNDA and S. 1691), which I have co-sponsored, serves to remedy this oversight and encourage the government at all levels to recognize the homeschooling movement as a viable force in education. S. 1691 acknowledges the right of parents to direct the education of their children under the Constitution, which also prohibits federal control of homeschooling. I believe that the role of the federal government should be limited in order to create an environment in which all Americans have the opportunity to better themselves and achieve success. HoNDA encourages these opportunities through greater eligibility for financial aid for higher education and policy to ensure the treatment of homeschool graduates as Tier I recruits into the U.S. Military.

The National Center for Home Education supports HoNDA because it would end discrimination by allowing home educators to take advantage of Education Savings Accounts and granting protection under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act for all homeschool students' records. Additionally, HoNDA would permit homeschool students to work during traditional school hours to maintain flexibility and protect students from forced Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act evaluations.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Your input helps me to serve Oklahomans better. Please do not hesitate to contact in the future with any comments or concerns.

He doesn't get it. The Federal Government overlooking home education is A VERY GOOD THING. I've got a long list of stuff I wish they'd overlook.

I haven't heard back from my representative yet. She is a co-sponsor in the House.

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Comments

So, Sen. Inhofe (aka Mr. Conservative) has strong ties to the g-schools and flaunts the fact. No wonder he doesn't get it. Disappointing.

Posted by: izzy at September 30, 2005 10:23 AM

We're trying to organize some phone calls to Senators Inhofe's office. The day picked is Monday. You can find information at the HILL (http://homeschoolingillinois.blogspot.com)at Homeschooling Freedom (http://homeschoolingfreedom.blogspot.com) and at HR 3753/ S 1691-Homeschool NonDiscrimination Act 2005 (http://hr3753.blogspot.com/). It looked to me like the National Center for Home Education is an arm of HSLDA. I wonder if the Senator realizes the relationship and that they represent a select group of homeschoolers.

Posted by: Kara at September 30, 2005 04:39 PM

The National Center for Home Education (NCHE) was created by Home School Legal Defense Assocation's (HSLDA) Board of Directors in 1990 as a ministry to state leaders. (source: "Meet NCHE’s Associate Director”, Home School Court Report, Vol. 7, No. 2, p 16).

Posted by: Mary at September 30, 2005 06:11 PM

I think every Republican Senator and Congressman is well aware of the relationship between HSLDA and NCHE, because we try to make the relationship perfectly clear to them every time we communicate with them.

Posted by: Scott W. Somerville at October 3, 2005 09:35 AM

Yes, Scott, they probably do know the relationship between H$LDA and NCHE. They just don't give a hoot--what with all that scratching each others' backs thing going on. Something about biting the hand that feeds you....

Perhaps you went too far this time, however. I'm hearing even former H$LDA loyalists squirming in their seats over this stunt.

Posted by: Leslie at October 3, 2005 02:54 PM

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