Deru

The issue of home schooling is one that is near and dear to me.  No, I was not home schooled, though two of my siblings were.  The reason it is so dear to me is because of the epic battle my parents had to undertake in order to help future home school participants keep the right to home school their children. 

Let us consider the issue of Power and Control. 

 Power:  for purposes of this article, power is defined as:  the ability, strength, and capacity to do something; physical force or strength; control and influence over other people and their actions; the political control of a country, exercised by its government, leader(s) or official agencies; a politically, financially, or socially powerful person.

Control:  for purposes of this article, control is defined as:  to exercise power or authority over something such as people, a business, or a nation; to limit or restrict somebody or something or the methods used to accomplish this.

We are fortunate to live in a country where the highest Law of the land makes it abundantly clear that the power and control belong to the People.  The Founding Fathers made sure that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America were worded in such a manner as to make it very well understood exactly what role the government should play in our lives and what role the People play. 

Currently, there are hundreds of issues being dealt with in the United States where the People and the government are struggling with this concept.  The government wants more power so they can accomplish certain things.  It is not the purpose of this article to discuss things like global domination, one world government, Socialism, and control of the population either through the use of force or through social manipulation.  Those issues may come up from time to time, but only to demonstrate results of certain paths of action or inaction. 

For now, I want to visit the issue of home based education.  Specifically, the refusal of the Oregon Department of Education to grant a waiver to Oregon Connections Academy (ORCA) for the purpose of maintaining a 100% online public school membership versus requiring no more than 50% attending online and no less than 50% attending a brick and mortar school. 

This shouldn't even be an issue as ORCA was a chartered and active public school BEFORE the new law requiring 50/50 membership went into effect.  Therefore, ORCA is "grandfathered" in and not required to comply with the new law and is only required to comply with the law as it existed at the time their charter was granted. 

Further, in her letter to the State Board of Education, Representative Kim Thatcher (District 25) writes:  "During the 2005 legislative session when SB1071 (which established the 50% provision) was being debated, the Oregon Department of Education official in charge of virtual schooling assured the legislature that SB1071 would not affect ORCA.  We voted for the bill only because of this assurance, with the good faith understanding that ORCA would never be required to comply with this provision."

If we explore the motives behind the new law, we understand why ODE is so adamant about maintaining their position that ORCA come into compliance with the new law.  The primary reason that the state passed the 50/50 law is that they did not want a state-wide virtual education program available to the People.  This very concept threatens their desire to determine what and how children of Oregon learn.  It threatens their position that THEY should have the power and control.  In order to maintain the status quo of pumping out mindless worker drones to serve the would-be elite, they have to control what children learn and how much children learn.  Does anyone else but me wonder why the level of American education has gone from being number one in the world to being equal to that of many developing third world nations?  Does anyone but me wonder why moral depravity is accepted and allowed in public schools?

Let's take a look:

I became a member of the Yahoo! group that the parents and guardians of ORCA students created and began doing a bit of research.  These wonderful people had all been asked to write letters of support to the Board of Education asking them to support the waiver.    

I have seen one letter posted to the message board by a Veteran where he mentions that "Gang violence, drug use and sexual promiscuity dominate the public school culture."  Another writer declares that sending her children to "grossly under-funded and overcrowded local schools" was just not an option she would consider.  She further declares that the public school system is "very broken." 

One writer decries the fact that the "district's schools are not adequate enough to provide a safe, healthy, productive environment for kids to learn and excel."  One mother is upset because teachers are "are overwhelmed with 30 or more students," and schools are firing the best teachers (who also happen to be the highest paid teachers) so they can meet their shrinking budget requirements. 

In two letters I noted that the authors made mention that ORCA offers opportunities to social and economic classes that would normally be banned.  This is a very important distinction that I believe is necessary for all to remember.  Our society and culture is in very real danger of becoming elitist allowing the best opportunities only to those of the upper classes.   

These parents and guardians have all seen the unfortunate truth about Oregon's public school system; it has become a poorly run day care.  The school system cannot guarantee the safety and educational achievement of our children.  Beyond that, it is designed to accomplish two goals: create a servant class and keep the prisons populated. 

Let's not deceive ourselves: this issue is all about power.  It isn't about the education system or the right to educate our children in the manner we choose, those are secondary issues.  It isn't really about getting the waiver (which ORCA doesn't really need).  It is about the need of a few individuals to exercise authority that they really don't have.  If they are successful in this issue, they will have stolen power from the People of the State of Oregon.  As all of us know, once the government has stolen power, it is never returned to the rightful owners; the People.   

When pressed for a valid reason for disallowing an innovative and progressive school like ORCA, I will be willing to bet that the answer we will receive will have something to do with protecting the children.  Has anyone else noticed that when a government agency or official wants to pass a new law granting themselves more power, they always use children and criminals as a fear tactic?  It usually sounds something like this, "If you don't pass this law (or give us more money) for the Department of Fish and Wildlife (or insert your favorite person or agency) then 3000 criminals will have to be released from prison!  How can we protect your children then?"

The people who have written the letters of support all have one thing in common.  They are not relying on the government to do anything.  Rather, they are taking responsibility themselves to do things like protect and educate their children.  After all, it is NOT the government's job or function to do so.  It is our job as members of our communities and mothers and fathers, grandparents, aunts and uncles.  I am reminded of a statement by Benjamin Franklin, "Those who would give up a little liberty for a little security will lose both and deserve neither."

Do not get the wrong idea.  Police protection is quite obviously necessary in this day and age.  But, that is not the kind of protection I am discussing.  I am talking about protecting children from negative influences.  Whether that is gangs, sexual predators, pornography, drugs or whatever, it is MY job to protect my children from these. 

Similarly, it is MY job to ensure that my children receive the BEST education available.  Usually this means private school or academies.  But now, with virtual public charter schools like Connections Academy or K-12 available to everyone, the home schooling option is wide open to anyone. 

What does this mean?  It means that now everyone has the opportunity to develop their children into free thinking individuals.  It means that everyone has the opportunity to educate their children in a safe environment free from the negative influences of the dysfunctional education system.  It means that everyone has the opportunity, regardless of race, creed or social or economic standing, to receive a quality education. 

But most importantly, it means the furtherance of Freedom. 

I have heard many politicians and so-called decision makers discuss how they intend to protect and preserve our education system so that everyone will have the opportunity to succeed.  Yet, every time a program such as ORCA's shows signs of achieving exactly that lofty goal, the Education Department works very hard to squash it.  The question we all need to be asking ourselves at this point is "Why?"

As I mentioned earlier, the U.S. is currently engaged in many debates over what power the government should have and what power the People should have.  Unfortunately, the government is winning.  Let us make sure, however, that they do NOT win the battle over the minds of our children. It is preferable to offer children the opportunity to become Thomas Jeffersons or Martin Luther Kings rather than Karl Marxes. 

But if programs such as ORCA aren't allowed to succeed, then the government can continue to push children through the school system and create a class of barely literate worker drones.  To the members of the ruling class, this is preferable as it will ensure they maintain power.  They maintain control. 

Re-read the definitions of power and control above.  Do you notice that power uses the word control in its definition and the word control uses power in its definition?  This is no accident.  The two are as closely related as electricity and magnetism.  Both complement each other nicely and both become exponentially more powerful when working together.  Think about it. 

Through history, public policy has often been an interpreter of our law.  In our own country several things that stand out are slavery, women?s suffrage, prohibition and segregation.  These public policies all had to be revoked in order to maintain our country's integrity.  In present day, unfortunately, our government is trying to set public policy concerning education. We are offered Hobson's Choice; the appearance of a choice that doesn't really exist.   As Thomas Jefferson stated, "All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal right, which equal law must protect and to violate would be oppression."  This sentiment precisely demonstrates the position of the ODE; oppression. 

One further issue I would like to present to all.  Representative Kim Thatcher states in her letter to the Board of Education (signed by 20 state legislators) that she already KNEW from past experience that the ODE had a track record of deceit.  Yet she and other legislators entered into an agreement with the ODE anyway.  They voted on the bill and passed it KNOWING they were going to be deceived!  I would be very interested in knowing the outcome of Oregon's next statewide elections. 

Is Ms. Thatcher deceiving her constituents?  Is she publishing one thing in her letter to the ODE just so that she can tell her constituents "Well, I tried."  Is she really in bed with the ODE but covering her backside in case this issue comes up during the next election?

Or is she just another dupe?  Is she really inept to the point that she will continue to allow herself to be deceived?  Is this really the kind of politician the people of Oregon want in their legislature?  This kind of politician is just what the bureaucrats want as her ineptness will probably result in the ODE stealing the power from People of Oregon. 

Oregon already has a reputation as a state leading the charge to repeal Freedoms and adopt a more Socialist governance.  While I have no evidence to suggest that Ms. Thatcher is part of that movement, she is definately, at the very least, a tool being used by those heading up that movement. 

It becomes necessary at some point for a Free People to stand up and demand a reckoning from their government.  This issue is too important to remain silent.  Nothing less than the future of our children, our Freedom and our country is at stake here.   These are three things that are worth preserving. 

Those who expect to reap the blessings of Liberty must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.  ? Thomas Paine.

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