ICHE convention this weekend

This weekend is the convention for the Illinois Christian Home Educators in Naperville.

In honor of this upcoming event they are having a giveaway on their blog:
http://www.iche.org/blog/3906/06-03-2013/james-and-stacy-mcdonald-and-book-give-away

You can win one of Stacy McDonald’s books (both of which I have read and thoroughly enjoyed!) by leaving a comment there. The contest is only open for a couple days, so be sure to enter there for your chance to win and peruse the rest of their site for the details about the convention as well.

Call to action from ParentalRights.org

Illinois: Urgent – Please Call Today

The Illinois Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday, April 6, will hold a hearing on SR 92, a resolution calling on Illinois state agencies to “ensure that their policies and programs comply with the Convention on the Rights of the Child” (CRC). The resolution also calls on the President to send the CRC to the U.S. Senate for approval, and calls on the Senate to consent to its ratification.

Calls are needed today to encourage your lawmakers to oppose this resolution.

First, please call the members of the Senate Executive Committee listed below and urge them to oppose SR 92. In your own words, tell them one or more of the following:

  • The CRC’s “best interest of the child” principle would put all parents on the same legal footing as parents already convicted of abuse or neglect.
  • The best way to protect children is not to invite the government into our families, but to build strong families without government intrusion.
  • You elected them – and not the United Nations – to write laws for Illinois.
  • This or any treaty in the area of family law would federalize as a treaty obligation this authority that currently resides with the state of Illinois. We want to keep family law at the state level!

Then, pass this message on to others who share your concerns and will call.

Please, before you close this email, call these members of the Illinois Senate’s Executive Committee:

Sen. Don Harmon, Chairman
(217) 782-8176
Sen. Ira Silverstein, Vice Chair
(217) 782-5500
Sen. James Clayborne, Jr.
(217) 782-5399
Sen. Maggie Crotty
(217) 782-9595
Sen. John Cullerton
(217) 782-2728
Sen. Kimberly Lightford, bill sponsor
(217) 782-8505
Sen. Antonion Munoz
(217) 782-9415
Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg
(217) 782-2119
Sen. Donne Trotter
(217) 782-3201
Sen. Dale Righter
(217) 782-6674
Sen. Bill Brady
(217) 782-6216
Sen. John Jones
(217) 782-0471
Sen. David Luechtefeld
(217) 782-8137
Sen. Matt Murphy
(217) 782-4471
Sen. Christine Radogno
(217) 782-9407

Thank you for taking the time to oppose this resolution in your state!

Sincerely,

Michael Ramey
Director of Communications & Research

Exciting week

As many of you know this has been a busy week politically for homeschoolers in Illinois. I have been posting much more on Facebook this week on the fan page, so if you are on Facebook and not already a fan, please jump on over to our page and become one. There is some discussion that takes place and at times I will post little tidbits there that don’t deserve a whole post here.

To sum things up . . . Senator Maloney tried to propose legislation that would require homeschoolers in the state of Illinois to register. Initially the bill mentioned all non-public school students, but then he decided, “Why beat around the bush?” He really just wanted to target homeschoolers, so he said he wanted to change the wording to make that clear. We are his target.

Obviously, this all stinks of attacking our precious freedom to love our children the best way possible, and homeschoolers would not take that sitting down, well, at least not without a telephone or computer handy. Calls, emails, letters, and visits poured into congressman across our state. I doubt any of them knew just how many homeschoolers and homeschool-sympathetic voters were in their districts before this bill crossed their desks.

Tuesday a crowd some 4000 strong descended on Springfield. Braving the cold, packing the rooms, making their presence respectfully known, and singing the songs that remind us of the great country we live in. The hearing showed the frivolity of such a bill, but also showed homeschoolers that we must remain ever vigilant. It was clear from some of the testimony that there are those in this state that are seeking more than just registration of homeschoolers.

More calls, more emails, more blogs, but hardly any news coverage . . . The good news came through mid-day today that the bill was tabled.

Is that the end of the story? Not really.

Here’s what he has to say today on a pod cast that a reader posted on our facebook page.

Be sure to keep an eye on this issue. And, if you reside in his district maybe you will consider to running for office. 😉