Homeschool Info Session in Vernon
Homeschooling Open Seminar Tour (H.O.S.T.) by the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (Canada) (Speaker: Paul Faris)
DATE: Thursday, November 20, 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Best Western Vernon Lodge (Okanagan Room)
Contact: Lina at 558-5537
What's it all about?
GOALS
- To support and strengthen local homeschooling networks
- To provide strong vision of the benefits of home education
- To establish the credibility (and superiority) of homeschooling as an educational option
- To help new homeschoolers start strong and stay strong on their journey of home education
- To promote the benefits of membership with HSLDA
TARGET MARKET
- Those who are open to homeschooling but have not yet started
- Those who have started homeschooling and are open to learning more
- Those who have become discouraged with homeschooling
- Skeptical family and friends of homeschoolers
Admission is Free. Coffee and Tea will be available.
5 comments:
I learned some disturbing (to me) things about HSDLA from a colleague. Thought I'd share here so people can be fully informed before supporting an organization such as this one ... before the colleague shared, I had no idea! I'll paste the info she shared below:
1. The HSLDA does not represent enrolled families. As per their website: If you stop home schooling and enroll your children in a public or private school [DL programs like SelfDesign are considered schools and thus our learners are not officially considered homeschoolers], your membership automatically terminates.
2. The HSLDA does not support the UN Declaration for the Rights of the Child; instead, they favour the rights of the parent as per the Christian organization, Focus on the Family. As per their website: HSLDA also works hard to limit the impact of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. - from the HSLDA website
3. The HSLDA actively opposes the change in Canadian law to make spanking illegal. Bill S-209, which needs House approval to be made into law, proposes to eliminate Section 43 of Canada's Criminal Code, which allows parents, teachers and caregivers to use reasonable force to discipline a child and correct their behaviour.
4. They only support registered homeschooling families (not enrolled in a DL program) and then only if the family agrees "to use an organized curriculum and a clearly recognizable program of education to instruct our children." (from HSLDA website)
5. They have a clear right-Christian agenda and that's fine, but they definitely should not give the impression that they then represent all homeschoolers. To preserve and advance the fundamental, God-given, constitutional right of parents and others legally responsible for their children to direct their education. In so doing, we rely on two fundamental freedoms-parental rights and religious freedom. We advocate for these freedoms in the courtrooms, before government officials, and in the public arena. - from the HSLDA website
I cannot say anything good about the HSLDA. They are not needed in BC as we have an excellent law in our School Act (sections 12, 13) supporting registered homeschooling and have had since 1988. Here is the HSLDA summary: http://hsldacanada.org/provlaws.asp?prov=bc
I'm highly suspicious about why they are trying to get a foothold in the province. Their lawyer is not a member of the BC Bar Association and thus cannot support a family facing a legal issue regarding homechooling in our province. In fact, since the BCHLA are now clearly supporting the HSLDA, a group of us who have registered our children (vs. enrolled) are starting a new group to represent ourselves to the Ministry of Education in the event that the HSLDA tries to speak for all homeschoolers in the province.
For more information and links about the HSLDA, please check this link: http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/articles/102299.htm
There is a long and rocky history here.
Thanks Ange. Your info confirms some suspicions I had based on the original ad; I did get the idea that "school at home" was their main agenda - which sure doesn't represent my family. Is the BCHLA really supporting the HSLDA? I thought the BCHLA was about supporting ALL homeschoolers, no matter the particulars of approach, belief or philosphy.
I don't think the BCHLA has anything to do with HSLDA ... did you hear they were connected?
It says so in the above comment from your colleague. 2nd last paragraph starting "I am highly suspicious". Maybe you could ask your colleague for some clarification about that, and perhaps also the name of this new group they are forming to represent registered h/s'ers. ??? I'm curious.
Oops, guess I need to read my own forward more carefully ... I'll ask her about this.
Post a Comment