| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
< BACK TO ARCHIVE |
| Date: From: Subject: | 8/24/2006 3:28:15 PM Home School Legal Defense Association New Mexico--Distance Education Academy Bad Deal for Homeschoolers |
|
====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== August 24, 2006 New Mexico--Distance Education Academy Bad Deal for Homeschoolers Dear HSLDA members and friends: New Mexico homeschoolers were surprised to receive an announcement from "IDEA of New Mexico," (www.idea-nm.org). IDEA-NM offers a "fresh approach of mutual trust among parents and schools in New Mexico" along with a computer, Internet access, free testing, online curriculum, and up a $1,000 to be used on "non-doctrinal" educational materials. HSLDA recommends against enrolling your children in this program for the following reasons: 1. If you enroll in this program, you will no longer be considered a private homeschooler, and you will not be eligible for membership in the Home School Legal Defense Association. Our goal at HSLDA is to protect the right of parents to privately homeschool free from government controls and restrictions. Online charter schools are tax-funded, government programs with legitimate government controls and limitations. 2. IDEA-NM is a public school. If you enroll your children in IDEA-NM to receive your free curriculum and computer, your children will no longer be considered private homeschool students, but rather public school students. This means you waive certain parental rights and agree to homeschool according to the public school's rules. In other states with similar "virtual" charter school programs, HSLDA has observed that more and more regulations are gradually placed on the enrolled homeschooling family each year. If the family does not comply with the regulations, the "virtual" school will demand return of the computer, curriculum, etc. Some families who have dis-enrolled have even been turned into the local child welfare agency. Homeschoolers who become dependent on the "free" government equipment and funds find that their freedom is gradually exchanged for these "freebies." 3. HSLDA is opposed to IDEA-NM (and similar "virtual charter schools" appearing around the country) because when parents who enroll in such programs they waive the rights that many people in the state, in this case including CAPE-NM and Home School Legal Defense Association, have fought hard to preserve. The government does not offer "free goodies" without obligation. A look at the IDEA-NM website proves this point. Participants trade in homeschool freedom for state and national curriculum standards, certified teachers, standardized testing, etc. 4. Despite the rhetoric, IDEA-NM is a secular program under the "exclusive control of the state." The New Mexico Constitution says, "The schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions provided for by this constitution shall forever remain under the exclusive control of the state...." N.M. Const. art. XII, sec. 3. IDEA-NM lists hundreds of vendors on their website, but we only recognize six that carry any religious materials. IDEA-NM enrollment is not the free, private homeschooling that has been so successful for many years. It is simply an attempt by the government to create small public schools in our homes. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON CHARTER SCHOOLS For more information on similar programs, please read the articles on charter schools that have appeared in HSLDA's Home School Court Report and on our website, including "Charter Schools: The Price is Too High" by Christopher J. Klicka at http://www.hslda.org/courtreport/V18N1/V18N101.asp . We encourage all HSLDA members to preserve the blessings of liberty, not trade it in for limited secular benefits under the exclusive control of the State. Sincerely, Scott W. Somerville HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> How long are you in for? Some families are facing what seems like a lifelong commitment to homeschooling, with children at both ends of the spectrum -- some graduating and some just reaching school age. If you're going to be "in" for a while, consider a lifetime membership with HSLDA. It's a good deal for families with more than 10 years of homeschooling ahead. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1936 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. Box 3000 Purcellville, Virginia 20134 Phone: (540) 338-5600 Fax: (540) 338-2733 Email: info@hslda.org Web: http://www.hslda.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- How To Subscribe: - Subscribe to the HSLDA E-lert Service at our website: https://secure.hslda.org/hslda/elert/account.asp?Process=Subscribe - Or send an email with name and complete mailing address to: subscribe@hslda.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscription Information: - You subscribed to the HSLDA E-lert Service as: ##ToAddress## - To unsubscribe from the HSLDA E-lert Service send an email from the email address you want to unsubscribe to: unsubscribe@hslda.org - To change your email address or make other changes to your subscription, visit the HSLDA E-lert Service account web page at: https://secure.hslda.org/hslda/elert/account.asp ---------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTMASTERS: This message is being sent to the most recent address we have for our subscribers. If this is an invalid email address or you have other problems, please reply to webmaster@hslda.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: This is considered a private and confidential message from HSLDA to its bonafide HSLDA E-lert Service subscribers. HSLDA cannot attest to the authenticity of copies posted, forwarded, or sent by any party other than HSLDA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Please do not reply or otherwise use this email address; hslda@hslda.org is for broadcast purposes only and is not intended to receive incoming messages. We cannot reply to any email sent to this address. If you have comments or questions, please send email to info@hslda.org or call HSLDA at 540-338-5600. HSLDA members can also email staff directly through the Members website at http://members.hslda.org/contact.asp. Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
