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By Dr. Joseph Mercola, Children’s Health Defense’s News & Views
Homeschooling and homeschoolers have been under attack across America in a number of ways over recent years.
Despite those barrages, the industry is growing hugely.
But there have been special exams demanded, invasive interviews, physical exams, odd requirements for homeschool teachers and much more at times. In one case state officials rejected a college diploma submitted by a homeschool teacher because it was written in Latin.
Now one Maine town is going to an extreme – an attempt to bar those connected with homeschooling from serving on a local public board, the school board.
According to the Institute for Justice, "Town officials in Dexter, Maine are considering a proposal that bars homeschool co-op leaders and private-school employees from serving on the local school board."
While supporters for the barrier claim it would prevent conflicts of interest, the IJ reported it actually is "retaliatory."
The IJ noted that last summer, Dexter voters recalled school board member Alisha Ames, leader of the town's only homeschool co-op, Power Source Ministries.
"The recall came after a campaign by the Facebook group 'Stop the Power Trip,' which accused her of putting the co-op ahead of public schools," the IJ noted. "Even if the recall of Ames was warranted, the proposed ordinance goes much further. Instead of addressing one individual, it would bar homeschool co-op leaders and private-school employees from serving on the school board, shutting out many other residents from their right to serve their community."
The backlash already has begun. State Rep. Heidi Sampson, of the Maine Education Initiative, warned town officials in a letter they are refusing to abide by First Amendment precedents, and that "exposes the town to significant liability."
The plan should be dropped and officials should recognize "the right of all Dexter citizens to serve their local public schools," the letter said.
"The ordinance is overly broad, sweeping in not just paid employees but also volunteers, former leaders, and even homeschooling parents who work together," the IJ said. "It defines a co-op as any 'organized group of parents or guardians who collaborate to provide educational instruction or services to children who are being educated at home.'"
Sampson said the apparent assumption by scheme planners that those individuals cannot have the best interests of public schools at heart is "baseless and narrow-minded."
"The government cannot strip someone of the right to run for office just because it disagrees with how they exercise … fundamental freedoms," the IJ said.
Dr. Joseph Mercola is the founder of Mercola.com. An osteopathic physician, fellow of the American College of Nutrition, best-selling author and recipient of multiple awards in the field of natural health, his primary vision is to change the modern health paradigm by providing people with a valuable resource to help them take control of their health.
This article was originally published by The Defender — Children’s Health Defense’s News & Views Website under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Please consider subscribing to The Defender or donating to Children’s Health Defense.
