How the Homeschooling Movement Can Be the Catalyst for Freedom in America

How the Homeschooling Movement Can Be the Catalyst for Freedom in America

After 23 years of service in Congress, over a 36-year period, Ron Paul gave his farewell address to Congress. In his address, Paul delivered a sobering message to the nation:

It is self-evident that our freedoms have been severely limited and the apparent prosperity we still have, is nothing more than leftover wealth from a previous time.  This fictitious wealth based on debt and benefits from a false trust in our currency and credit, will play havoc with our society when the bills come due.  This means that the full consequence of our lost liberties is yet to be felt.

But that illusion is now ending.  Reversing a downward spiral depends on accepting a new approach.

But, what could be a “new approach?” After all the post-election despair, do constitutional Americans still have the power and the control to move the country toward freedom? Congressman Paul’s response:

Expect the rapidlyexpanding homeschooling movement to play a significant role in therevolutionary reforms needed to build a free society with Constitutionalprotections. We cannot expect a Federal government controlled school system toprovide the intellectual ammunition to combat the dangerous growth ofgovernment that threatens our liberties.

Since 1999, the number of children who are being homeschooled in the United States has increased by 75%. Though only 4% of all children in the country are educated at home, the number of primary school children whose parents choose homeschooling is growing seven times faster than the number of students enrolling in K-12 every year.

The key phrase in the paragraph above, “parents choose,” is the crux of Ron Paul’s message. For, as those who know that the Constitution is being frittered away a bit more each day are aware, it may not be long before “parents” won’t be able to “choose.” Quite frankly, the choice to homeschool could be the key to saving the country.

As Rush Limbaugh, who cited Ron Paul’s speech on his radio show this week, said:

Morality, it’s old-fashioned, it’s none of your business.  I mean, when Romney goes around and talks about limiting regulations on entrepreneurs, it’s the essence of the liberty agenda, it’s the essence of an economic free agenda.  But culturally, freedom in pop culture means no obstacles on the road to what we call depravity and decadence.  They call it enlightenment, emancipation.  I’m sorry.  To fix this is going to be a cultural undertaking, in addition to or instead of political. 

To follow Rush’s exhortation, “Change the culture, change the country,” means to exert the parental right to choose the education for children that is in keeping with our constitutional freedoms. The fact that the number of children who are homeschooled has increased dramatically over the past 15 years suggests that our public education system not only does not meet the academic needs of our children, but that many parents are dissatisfied with the cultural lessons learned in an educational environment in which government power and control has a direct line to children via teacher unions.

Homeschooling has changed quite a bit over the years since the “pioneer days.” Museums, aquariums, historical sites, and libraries all have embraced homeschoolers by offering special programs and activities for children and teens of all ages. Homeschool support groups offer time for joint learning and socialization. Online learning has opened up an amazing array of educational possibilities for children and adolescents. Though parents choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons, many ensure that children have a sound understanding of the Constitution.

Which brings me to Ron Paul’s next point:

The internet will provide the alternative to the government/media complex that controls the news and most political propaganda. This is why it’s essential that the internet remains free of government regulation.

A free internet is the key to “revolution” through homeschooling. With so many learning experiences available, it is essential that parents be able to choose what is best for each child, and for students, as they grow older, to be able to decide for themselves what is right and wrong.

Though homeschooling is legal in every state, it is not for every family. However, if more parents can get beyond the notion that the only place children learn is in a public school classroom, they are more than halfway to freedom and changing the culture of America.

For those who currently homeschool their children, consider reaching out to your local communities. An invitation to interested parents to find out about homeschooling could be a way to bring about Ron Paul’s “revolutionary reforms” and Rush Limbaugh’s cultural changes to the good of the country.

A final sentence from Ron Paul’s farewell:

Political action, to be truly beneficial, must be directed toward changing the hearts and minds of the people, recognizing that it’s the virtue and morality of the people that allow liberty to flourish.

Parental choice in education is a perfect intersection of the libertarian and conservative minds.

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