Why is it important to come together and stand up for independent home-education rights? Currently in Washington State our education laws are defined by whom is the responsible and accountable party concerning the childs education. If that responsibility and accountability lye with a teacher of the public school then they are public school student, if it is with a private school then they are private school student, and if it is with the parents then they are home-educators. The lines have been getting very fuzzy as to who are home-educators and who is not one. In reality, you can call yourself whatever you like; no one can stop you. I have witnessed some call themselves homeschoolers because they help their children after school with homework. In reality, ones personal feelings and opinions are irrelevant to the law. What is relevant is when a group of those feelings and opinions come together and make a stance. We live in a world that laws dictate our lives. How things are defined does matter; it matters what it looks like to the law, and how the law interprets it. For example, if charter schools co-op our name and part of our image and have larger political power, then independent home-educators are going to loose out, If home-educators have the political power then we are going to be the group that prevails.

Charters or other types of alt ed programs have the political influence right now to be damaging to independent home-educators, the reason is that the lines have become so blurred. Politicians are having a hard time drawing the lines between who is and who is not a home-educator. They are having a hard time because so many people in charters or other alt ed options call themselves homeschoolers. When enrolled in these programs you are using taxpayer funds with little accountability back to the taxpayers. Teachers the ones responsible and accountable, but the families and the school still insist they are home-educators. This is a very dangerous situation for those of us not using government services or funding. The government is demanding accountability for the money they are spending on these programs. Independent home-educators are becoming lumped in with the families using public programs. Before you know it, we are counted as one and the same. That is why it is important to stand up for Independent home-education rights.

Government listens to the prevailing influence. The most influential way to present your view is with a lobbyist backing your group. Government defines who we are and the largest organized group wins. Lobbyists help the government in the defining process trying to ensure a favorable outcome for the group they are working for. Home-educators need to band together and get organized so the voices can be heard and have influence. As home-education becomes more popular, and other public school options try to claim it as their own, we are going to see a lot more challenges in government. Now is the time to take a stand and do something about it. We need to be proactive, not reactive. We need to be prepared for the future; that is the only way independent home-educators will prevail.

Help WNLA protect home-education for the future by becoming a member, and/or volunteering your time.  When we stand together we are strong, and powerful.

Sign the We Stand For Homeschooling  Resolution.  Take a stand to ensure the future of home-education.  WNLA and executive director Bec Thomas are among the orginal signer of the resolution.  Let our number send a strong message that we are going to protect home-education!