Descent into Alzheimer's Disease

“After careful review, I hearby grant approval of your request to provide home instruction for Christopher... blah blah blah.” I sit there feeling irritated as I read my ‘letter of approval’ for the very last time. Being single, I have always tried my best not to be noticed by the school districts for fear someone would come and snatch away my kids or tell me I could no longer homeschool. Therefore, I have never said anything to the Roanoke school administration about their letter. Every state has different homeschooling laws. In Virginia, if you’re a registered homeschooler (there is also a religious exemption folks school under) you must file an ‘Intent to Homeschool’ form each year. You must INFORM the school district in your area that you are teaching your children at home. Someone in Roanoke took it upon themselves to write up a new form to have homeschoolers fill out. Instead of saying ‘Intent to Homeschool’ at the top, it says ‘Request for Authorization to Homeschool’. One may think I am getting all bent out of shape over mere semantics, but I have to disagree. My sons are mine, they aren’t the property of the state of Virginia or the federal government. Why should I have to ask permission to school my own sons? Why doesn’t the government have to have our consent to take charge over our children?

You may have a picture in your mind of some nutball with an arsenal and a basement full of provisions for the coming catastrophe. Indeed there are people like that who do keep their kids home from school. While a large portion of homeschoolers are Christians (like me), there is a growing number of people who homeschool for other reasons. In fact, I saw on the news the other day that there are 14,000 homeschoolers in Virginia. When you add in all the unregistered children, the true number would be significantly higher. I admit I am somewhat of a rebel and have no qualms about refusing to follow the crowd.

Anyway, I restrain myself for now, and place the ‘letter of approval’ in my desk. Mentally I am dictating a letter to the school administrators, asking if they are aware the form they send out is not in accordance with state law. Noting that I had simply let them know I was homeschooling and how much I resent the wording in their response.

Having said all that, I should clarify that I have never been given any trouble over the issue. Many are not so fortunate. Some families have been drawn into expensive court battles over the right to homeschool and still others have actually had their children placed in foster care for various periods of time. The government has frightening power over us that one might not think about until affected personally. I’m grateful that God protected and blessed our little homeschool. I never dreamed the Lord would lead me down the paths I’ve trod, but He has and He sustains me.

Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.