Oversight?

I had a conversation with a brand new homeschooling mom last night. Although she’s been researching homeschooling for three years, her child wasn’t old enough to “officially” be in school. Through her research though, there were two points that came out in this conversation. One, she still tightly holds to the public school model. I guess that just goes to show that researching isn’t doing, and for some, old habits die hard. She still is filled with fear that she isn’t going to meet expectations and that her daughter won’t perform up to standards. I tried to reassure her that she’s already been teaching her daughter all along and that kindergarten is hard to flunk. Read lots and lots aloud to her, let her explore outside, go on field trips, visit the nursing home, sing songs, play with paint, playdoh and manipulatives, color and cook together. It’s as hard or as simple as you choose to make it.

Secondly, she was adamant that HSLDA can’t be trusted because they have no oversight. If they answer to no one, then they can do whatever they want with impunity. I think there are two things wrong with that. First, she kept trying to compare HSLDA to a church who generally has oversight so that if a Pastor is doing something wrong, then he’s called to account for it. Well, we know that isn’t true, just look at the various denominations out there who embrace the semi-Pelagian heresies, or have women pastors, or homosexuals in positions of leadership. They do this with the blessing of their “overseers” and aren’t called to account for it. But, HSLDA is NOT a church and we cannot expect a business to be run like a church, even if Christians are involved in the business. I tried to make a different comparison for her and told her that supermarkets don’t have overseers either, but they run their business according to customer needs. Customers vote, i.e. provide oversight, with their pocketbook by either spending their money at that supermarket or not. And it’s the same for HSLDA. People approve or not by being members or not. I also likened HSLDA, which is essentially a type of prepaid legal service, to insurance. You pay for insurance, whether you’re sick or not. The money you pay is used to help those who are, as well as provide for the company expenses and a profit for the investors. You don’t have to buy the insurance, but you MAY.

That’s capitalism/free enterprise and there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, I thought it was quite an American concept. Secondly, while I don’t think HSLDA is the only means to an end, I believe they have helped thousands of families homeschool in freedom and HSLDA’s main focus (notice I didn’t say ONLY focus because I know they do other kinds of advocacy too) is helping people preserve homeschool freedoms and parental rights.

I’ve been involved with the political processes here in Colorado for ten years now, and have seen first hand the blessing that HSLDA has been to preserving homeschool freedoms and parental rights. Their involvement has been cooperative and helpful and never over-reaching or without the consent and blessing of the legislative liaisons for homeschooling here.

HSLDA has also provided support and encouragement to me as I have worked to help homeschool groups who struggle with various issues in my capacity as a homeschool support group leader and as a state-level liaison for support group leaders.

I don't believe that HSLDA is perfect, but I think there's enough good going on there that I'll support it by being a member. In fact, we just re-upped for two more years.