by Al Benson Jr.
The state of Utah has a new homeschool voucher law which is supposed to help homeschool families with educational expenses. At least that’s what we’ve been told. The ink was hardly dry on the legislation before some were concerned that it could be used by some homeschool groups to possibly promote neo-nazi and white supremacy propaganda. It seems such happened someplace in Ohio and some Utah parents were concerned that could happen in Utah. And I expect this concern was genuine on the part of some parents.
I suppose this concern will eventually lead to some do-gooder proposing that Utah enact some legislation that will act as guidelines forced on those who take any state money–and forced on all homeschoolers if they feel they can get away with that!
No one is in favor of Nazi propaganda being taught in homeschools anymore than they are in favor of Communist propaganda being taught in public schools. Both forms of propaganda are anathema to children.
Homeschooling as been a viable option in Utah for decades, but the new voucher program could just result in new regulations being enacted for homeschoolers–not right away, but after they get used to taking the state money! Utah would not be the first state that happened in. It is an old ploy for those who want control over what homeschools teach.
And from supposedly curtailing Nazi propaganda, how much of a jump is it to mandating that the “correct” version of history has to be taught? If homeschoolers are making it now without state “help” they probably really don’t need it. And if some do need a little help, could not their churches provide some? State money has often been the kiss of death for independent homeschoolers. With state money always come strings–you may do this but you can’t do that! Most homeschoolers are fleeing government-regulated “education” which is why they homeschool.
Years ago, when we lived in Illinois, my wife and I worked for a homeschool program there. This issue of taking state money was a constant fight decades ago. It is not new. It was a battle trying to keep government meddling out of homeschooling. It’s a never-ending battle. Government at all levels, federal, state, and local, wants so badly to control and be aware of all that we do–and we cannot let them get away with that. We have a Bill of Rights that says certain things are none of the government’s business–and how we educate our children is one of those things!
My advice to homeschoolers is to pass up government money. Doing that makes it more difficult for them to mandate what you can and can’t teach. The education you provide for your children should be between you and God. And try though it might, the state has not yet attained godhood!
revisedhistory 