We've Come a Long Way, Baby

Older homeschoolers and those interested in religious freedom and parental rights may remember the case in Nebraska where a private church school was shut down because the minister would not use certified teachers or release the names and addresses of those in the school (which would have been like releasing to the state the church membership rolls). The state locked the church building, opening it only for (state) designated hours of worship, jailed seven fathers, and would have removed children from the homes except the mothers fled the state with their children.
The only quarrel the state had was that the teachers were not certified. At the hearing for the fathers, then State Senator Robert Kerrey (later a U.S. Senator for Nebraska) said, "If we allow these people to raise their children any way they want to, they will not fit into the society we are building."
see here for quote.

About those seven fathers and their families, Nebraska Senator Pete Hoagland appeared on television April 15, 1982, and said this:

"What we are most interested in, of course, are the children themselves. I don't think any of us in the Legislature have any quarrel with the right of the Reverend or members of his flock to practice their religion. But we don't think they should be entitled to impose decisions or religious philosophies on their children which could seriously undermine those children's ability to deal in this complicated world when they grow up."

Source: the HM's notes (thanks, honey!! and this website as well as this one)

That was then.

This is now. From March 30 through April 5, Nebraska observes Nebraska Home Educator's Week. Dana is looking for ideas on activities.

Here are some of mine:

Jammy DAY!! Every day.=)

On the fourth of July and President's Day we read aloud from the Declaration of Independence, and we read about George Washington. Why not read about the famous Nebraska Seven, who risked their liberty for our homeschooling freedoms?

Coloring pages of the famous and successful home educated?

Read about the founding fathers who were largely home educated.

Read about Nobel Prize winners and what they thought of their institutionalized schooling.

Write a letter to the editor about homeschooling.

Design a pro-homeschooling bookmark, poster, or t-shirt.

Have a picnic with other homeschooling families. (It's okay to let the kids out of the garage, attic, or cellar once a year).

Tell stories to your children about why you homeschool. Talk about the biggest challenges, blessings, and funniest moments.

Write a poem about homeschooling. Try a pantoum.=)

Have a homeschool party/talent show/Ceilidh- people can exhibit collections, art work, science projets, play music, sing, recite, whatever they want to do to share their interests with other home educators.

Have a homeschool open house. Just make sure you clear away the fish-heads in the attic before outsiders come. They just wouldn't understand.

Or just spend the week doing the usual things.=)