Homeschool Heroes --- Introduction

In preparation for our last homeschool support meeting --- Homeschool Heroes and How to be One – I began reading Home School Heroes: the Struggle & Triumph of Home Schooling in America by Christopher Klicka. For those of you who are not acquainted with this gentleman, here is a brief introduction, quoted from the “About the Author” section of the aforementioned book:

Christopher H. Klicka is senior counsel of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA).

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Chris is responsible for directing HSLDA’s legal department, networking statewide homeschool organizations across the nation, and promoting home education on the international front. During his five-year stint as executive director of the National Center for Home Education, Chris drafted federal legislation, lobbied on Capital Hill, and provided expert testimony before the United States Congress.

Since 1985, Chris has successfully represented thousands of homeschooling families in legal conflicts with public school officials, social workers, prosecutors, and police officers.

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Chris and his wife, Tracy, homeschool their seven children (including a set of twins) in Warrenton, Virginia.

Being a busy homeschool dad and attorney, you would think Mr. Klicka had enough on his plate without writing yet another book on homeschooling (he has already penned at least five volumes on the subject). So, why did he do it? In his own words:

The major reason is that I believe homeschooling is the most effective way to plant the Word of God into the consciousness of our children. In other words, homeschooling is a tremendous way to reach our children’s souls.

Amen to that! Yet, the freedom to teach God’s Word to our children as an integral part of their educational experience did not come easily. In 1985, when Chris Klicka began working at HSLDA, homeschooling was legal in only five states. Sad, but true. Throughout the 1980’s, however, a small number of families followed God’s call to stand against the institutionalized education system and, one by one, all fifty states recognized the legality of homeschooling, some more quickly than others. Today, we benefit greatly from the work of these faithful servants and it is a heritage that we dare not squander, as Mr. Klicka reminds us so well at the end of the introduction:

My prayer is that this book will help homeschoolers be vigilant and never let their guard down. The same forces today that tried to regulate homeschooling to death still remain, waiting for their chance to take away parents’ rights and “turn back the clock.”

My prayer: Heavenly Father, our protector and provider, keep us faithful in this mission and ministry of homeschooling our children. Give us the strength to persevere in our homeschooling tasks and the wisdom to keep your Word at the center of our efforts. I ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.