Alaska Homeschoolers succumb to government money

According to a WorldNetDaily piece, homeschoolers in Alaska are succumbing to the handouts of Big Government. Let the receiver beware:

Despite their total independence, thousands of home-educating families had joined a government program that offered them free money.

The whole idea seemed to contradict what Alaskan home education was all about: independence, religious teaching, academic freedom and rugged individualism. But money talks, even in Alaska.

The program is called Interior Distance Education of Alaska, or IDEA, a program of the Galena City School District. The program, launched in 1997, was the brainchild of Carl Knudsen, superintendent of schools in Galena, a small isolated town in the middle of the state with fewer than 700 residents, halfway between Fairbanks and Nome, and no roads connecting it to the outside world. With the nearby Air Force Base closing down, the town fathers wondered what could be done to keep the town economically alive.

It was then that Knudsen's brain lit up with a revolutionary idea. Why not use online technology to tap into a market that no one else in public education was serving: the homeschool student? And thus IDEA was born. The plan was to entice homeschoolers with a package of goodies, including computers, access to instructional resources, assistance from certified teachers, guidance from a network of field representatives who are also homeschooling parents, plus a cash allotment for non-religious educational materials.

Since all of these homeschoolers would now be considered public schoolers, Galena would be entitled to state funding of 80 percent of the basic rate paid for students in their own district. Thus, from a local base of only 120 students, by 2004, they were able to grow into a school district with 3,712 students online and an income of $16 million.

The cash allotments are the big draw for homeschooling families: $1,600 per student for kindergarten through third grade, $1,800 for grades 4-8, and $2,000 for grades 9-12. While parents are free to use and teach any curricula they want, they're not permitted to use the allotment for any religious program or activity. They do not get cash; they simply get reimbursement for buying the approved materials. Thus, a family with five children in the elementary grades must spend $8,000 on materials. To help the families spend that money, IDEA now sponsors curriculum fairs with vendors eager to separate these homeschoolers from their new-found riches.

Do you want your home school to be considered a "public school?"

The temptation for these families to take this money must be nearly unbearable. But they have to realize it's not free money from a benevolent rich uncle. There's always a major price to be paid when you're on the receiving end of Big Government.

We started homeschooling more than 20 years ago; back when it wasn't quite so trendy. In fact, we had to be careful what we did during school hours and where we took our kids for fear of being turned in to the local truant officers. In many states it was illegal to homeschool.

Many school districts insisted that parents needed to notify school officials and use a "government approved" curriculum. More than a few parents were intimidated into allowing school officials into their homes so they could determine whether or not the parents were fit to educate their own children.

Government has always wanted to be involved in regulating home schools. Subsidizing homeschools is the easiest way to get that obtrusive camel head inside the homes of vulnerable homeschoolers who are almost always in need of financial aid.

Government money always comes with strings and homeschoolers who cherish their independence would be wise to "just say no" to the addictive government hand-outs.

Early in our homeschooling experience we learned about the incredible story of Hillsdale College
which steadfastly refused government subsidies in order to maintain independence from intrusive government regulations and requirements. To those of you who may be new to homeschooling or unfamiliar with Hillsdale's story, please go to the Hillsdale site and learn more about this unique institution.

The Hillsdale story is a must read for home schoolers who may be considering taking government money. If you homeschool, and are thinking about accepting government money, please consider all the ramifications and conditions.

Like the neighborly crack dealer who gives out free samples to get you hooked, once you get on the program, it can be difficult to break free of the habit.

It's better to just not get started.

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