You’ve Heard About the Harvard Homeschool Summit.  Here’s what you can do about it.

by Johanna Ireland

About the Summit

Harvard has a summit scheduled for June 18-19, 2020, titled “Homeschooling Summit: Problems, Politics, and Prospects for Reform.”  According to the press release, “This event is private and by invitation-only.”  The location has not been released.  The co-organizer of the summit is the author of an article, recently summarized in Harvard Magazine, which attacked the rights of all families, especially homeschool families, to raise their own children.  Homeschool Idaho and HSLDA have been aware of and following the summit since it was first announced.  Parentalrights.org is also following the summit, working to protect the rights of all parents.  We don’t know if the summit will be held as scheduled because of distancing efforts.  Even if it is not held, the organizers and speakers are known to be proponents of increased regulation over homeschooling.

What You Can Do

 

1. Be Aware

If you’ve gotten this far, you’ve already done this!  Be aware that there are individuals and groups that don’t recognize parental rights.  They actively seek to remove rights and protections that parents have historically had to direct the upbringing and education of their own children.  During a time when all of the school children in America are being educated at home, some Ivy-League elites have chosen to question the right of all parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children.

2. Be Informed

Find sources of accurate information.  Homeschool Idaho has been active in getting parents important, up-to-date information for over 25 years.  Stay connected and informed so that in the event that action is required to support our homeschool freedom you will be ready to respond.!  Know your legislators, and register to vote. Sign up for our weekly enewsletter to receive important news and action alerts.
These organizations are also vital sources of accurate information:
HSLDA provides national updates on the continuing battle to protect homeschool freedom. 
NHERI conducts research and provides data on homeschool trends.
Homeschooling Backgrounder publishes research-based data about homeschooling.

3. Be Awesome!

Homeschool graduates are succeeding in every skill, trade, and field around the country!  Homeschool families find creative learning opportunities everywhere they go!  When you share your success stories, you help debunk unfounded homeschool stereotypes, and encourage other families in their homeschool adventure.  If you’d like to share your story with us, send your story to info@homeschoolidaho.org with the subject line “My Idaho Homeschool Story”.

4. Join Ranks

The road to homeschool freedom in Idaho has been paved through the decades-long labor of Homeschool Idaho.  We remain committed to providing sound and informed leadership through our team of attorneys and lobbyists. We have developed relationships with legislators since 1992 and stand well-poised to continue to direct the legislative action required to protect our homeschool freedom. We operate only by the support of homeschool families like you.  See how to support us, and stay tuned for a new way to be involved with Homeschool Idaho!
HSLDA, founded and staffed by attorneys who homeschool their families, is the national organization you want to have your back!  They provide legal assistance to members, and work tirelessly to improve and protect homeschool freedoms around the country.  Homeschool Idaho will provide you a discount code for your HSLDA membership on request.  Email info@homeschoolidaho.org.

5. Don’t Panic

This is currently a media campaign, not a legislative campaign.  Comment politely in public forums. Statesmanship is crucial in all comments, whether made to legislators, journalists, or on social media.  Avoid the temptation to troll those with whom we might disagree. Make informative posts about the benefits of homeschooling.  Follow local news sources and comment on their social media.   Letters or emails to your legislators are important only when there is threat of legislation, but that is not the case so far.  We believe saving our efforts for a strategic moment  will lead to the best success.  We will issue additional alerts as the need arises.