Legal / Legislative Updates

NEBRASKA

Yes, It Happens Here

A social worker in Nebraska had this to say to Home School Legal Defense Association member and single mom Jessica Kent (name changed to protect privacy): “I know how you feel about homeschooling, but I think it’s in your children’s best interests if you get a job and put them in school. If you don’t, the county attorney is going to come and take your children away.”*

These words would strike fear into the heart of any parent. And, unfortunately, in Nebraska, children have been removed from homeschooling parents. Single moms are especially vulnerable to this kind of intimidation because they don’t have as much community support and often struggle financially. They recognize that homeschooling is right for their children, but others who look in from the outside don’t understand their commitment to ensure that their children are properly trained and educated.

Jessica lived in a rural area and had very little support from friends or family. She did have just enough financial resources to meet her family’s basic needs. When the social worker threatened Jessica, she realized that she had no choice but to move to find a community of support to encourage her and help her continue to homeschool. She knew that she couldn’t wait until the county attorney showed up to take her children, and while she could have stayed to fight, her experience with this small rural area led her to believe that she could not expect an objective hearing.

Jessica packed her five children into the car and left everything. Within a few days and with some assistance from HSLDA and the Home School Foundation, she found a homeschooling family in a neighboring state willing to take her in temporarily. Today, Jessica is settling into her new community and is in the process of selling her previous home and business.

Many of us might think that such a story could only happen in a country where homeschooling is illegal, like Germany. But, as Jessica found out, even in the United States, some public officials think they know better than a parent and are willing to take drastic action. Such an occurrence could become more commonplace if the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is ratified by the Senate. A federal constitutional amendment is needed to protect parental rights. To learn how you can help, please visit www.parentalrights.org.

— by Michael P. Donnelly