H1N1 Influenza Vaccine for Homeschoolers
As the H1N1 vaccine* is arriving at pubic schools for distribution to students, some homeschool parents are asking if their children can also receive the free vaccine from a public school. Many private and homeschooled students have reported being unable to receive the vaccine, while a limited number of other parents have had no problem.
HEAV contacted the Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and the Virginia Department of Education to quickly resolve this matter. Michelle Vucci, director of policy for the Virginia Department of Education, was sympathetic to homeschool parents, and suggested they contact their local health department to determine distribution policies at the local level. She also recommended parents contact their local school. HEAV has had no official response from the state health department, but some local health officials urged parents to check with their primary-care physicians.
Parents who choose to have their children vaccinated* will be required to supply personal information that will be compiled in a statewide database that may be linked to a national database.
Virginia has received only about five percent of the state’s requested order for H1N1 vaccine, and at the present time, availability is sporadic in schools and health departments.
For information about the H1N1 shot or inactivated vaccine, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/Pubs/vis/downloads/vis-inact-h1n1.pdf.
For state and national information, visit www.vdh.state.va.us/index.htm or www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
*Important Note: Vaccinations are a controversial issue. Because homeschoolers fall within the target at-risk group for H1N1 influenza, HEAV is requesting information regarding equal access to the vaccine for homeschoolers. HEAV does not recommend or endorse any vaccine. Vaccination decisions are the responsibility of the parent.
Yvonne Bunn @ October 27, 2009 | General | Comments (0)
Calls Needed to Reunite Homeschool Family
- From the HSLDA e-lert service , October 7
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:
We recently told you about the plight of the Johanssons, a Swedish family whose only child, 7-year-old Dominic Johansson, was seized by Swedish police from a plane just as the family was about to leave the country for a new life in India.
After investigating the facts surrounding the case, HSLDA President J. Michael Smith wrote to Swedish officials to protest this action.
Read his letter >>
Read the response from Mr. Berglind, minister of public affairs for the Swedish Embassy in Washington >>
Citing confidentiality concerns for not commenting on the Johansson case, Mr. Stigland noted that a county administrative board in Sweden is reviewing how it was handled by local officials.
In a telephone conversation with HSLDA, Mr. Johansson confirmed that he has been in contact with the county administrative board.
“They told me that they are looking into the case to determine if anything was done improperly,” he said.
And at a meeting with the social workers on Tuesday, October 6, Mr. Johansson was told that he and his wife would only be allowed to visit their son at the social workers office once every two weeks for a maximum of two hours.
What does Sweden hope to gain from such an aggressive action? The situation is tragic. It is deeply troubling that a Western democracy would go to such lengths to prevent a homeschool family from simply trying to leave the country.
Dominic has been traumatized, and his mother has been hospitalized several times because of the depression this incident has caused. Yet the social workers persist in keeping custody of Dominic. When Mr. Johansson asks why, they reply “Because it’s better for him.” According to Mr. Johansson, both he and Dominic have been subjected to psychological and other testing with results showing no valid reason for continued separation of the family.
In light of this aggressive behavior and because the Swedish parliament is poised to impose draconian regulations on homeschoolers, HSLDA is asking its members to contact the Swedish Ambassador to the United States.
Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafström can be reached:
By email: ambassaden.washington@foreign.ministry.se
By phone: 202-467 2600
By fax: 202-467 2699
Visit Swedish embassy website >>
First, we ask you to request that the Swedish government return Dominic to his family. The social welfare agency has taken custody of Dominic, and they have the power to return him to his parents. Request that they do so immediately.
Second, inform the ambassador that homeschooling allows children to thrive academically and socially. Valid research has demonstrated that homeschooling is a mainstream educational approach that works. Tell him that the world doesn’t need any more countries like Germany that repress freedom in education, and that a person should be permitted to opt out of public education because of philosophical or religious convictions.
In his letter to Mr. Smith, Mr. Stigland noted that since Sweden is a state party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, that the starting point for children is Sweden is the “ best interests of the child and the child’s right to be heard .” Mr. Stigland noted that social services have an obligation to “intervene and remove a child from the family if the child’s health and development are endangered.” Mr. Stigland noted that a child should be returned home as soon as possible if it was “in the best interests of the child.”
Of grave concern to HSLDA is Mr. Stigland’s citation of the legislative history of the Education Act which says: “The legislative history of the current Education Act states that home schooling in isolated cases, mainly in the lower grades, might be an acceptable substitute for education if a particular external circumstance exists. Examples of such are: if the child lives in a sparsely populated area or needs special care. Legal practice shows that the situation also arises when parents for other reasons, such as philosophical or religious, want to educate their children at home. In connection with the new Education Act, these rules are now being reviewed.”
The act is indeed being reviewed and the proposal is even more draconian. The proposed language would remove philosophical or religious convictions as valid reasons to home school. The new law would allow homeschooling only in “extraordinary circumstances” (read: never). If the proposed Swedish law passes it would become as bad as in Germany where homeschooling is effectively banned.
Mike Farris recently said in his address to the World Congress of Families, “Any nation that severely restricts the ability of parents to choose alternative forms of education, including home education, in the name of creating national unity, cannot call itself a free nation. Freedom necessarily requires the individual to have the liberty to think differently and believe differently than programs instituted by the current rulers of any nation. Educational freedom is the cornerstone for all freedom of thought and conscience.”
HSLDA encourages its members to communicate their concerns to the Swedish Ambassador. We hope that his influence may help correct an injustice and also pave the way for better laws for homeschoolers in Sweden
HSLDA thanks its members and friends for their ongoing support. It’s when all homeschoolers join together that we are most effective advocating for homeschool freedom in America and abroad.
Read the HSLDA article: “Sweden—the Next Germany for Homeschoolers?”
Blog @ October 21, 2009 | International Homeschooling | Comments (0)
Chris Klicka’s Memorial Service, Radio Tribute, Interviews and Video
Memorial Service
Here is the information for Chris’s memorial service.
All are invited to attend.
Memorial Service for Christopher J. Klicka, 1961-2009
Senior Counsel, HSLDA
Christian Fellowship Church
21673 Beaumeade Circle
Ashburn, VA 20147
Saturday, October 31, 2009
10 a.m.
For directions, visit: www.cfellowshipc.org
For more information, contact Judy Taylor (540-303-2102)
Radio Tribute and Interviews
(Thanks to Bernie Beall.)
Here’s a moving radio tribute put out by Moody Bible Institute.
http://moodyradiopaulbutler.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/chris-klicka-tribute/
And here are two less-than-eight-minute interviews Moody did with Chris last year.
http://moodyradiopaulbutler.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/home-school-history/
http://moodyradiopaulbutler.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/home-school-history-legal-battles/
Congressman Comments on Klicka’s Life
WASHINGTON—U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (pronounced TEE-hart), R-Kan., issued the following statement following the announcement that Home School Legal Defense Association Senior Counsel and Director of State and International Relations Christopher Klicka passed away following his 15-year battle with multiple sclerosis.
“Chris Klicka was a passionate man of faith and trailblazing advocate for homeschoolers and homeschooling issues,” said Tiahrt. “Through his dedication and great work at the Home School Legal Defense Association, Chris helped protect families and their freedom to choose homeschooling as an education method. Generations for years to come will benefit from the many doors opened by Chris.
“Vicki and I send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the Klicka family during this time.”
YouTube Video
If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at this powerful video of Chris as he shares portions of his story. We hope you’ll be as blessed as we were!
annemiller @ October 20, 2009 | General | Comments (0)
Encouraging the Klickas
Thank you to all who have written sweet notes expressing your gratitude for Chris’ life and your sympathy and prayers for his family! Below is information taken from their blog on how to send these notes directly to the Klicka family.
E-MAIL
The e-mail the Klickas have listed on their blog is klickaclan@erols.com.
DONATIONS
The Klickas have been overwhelmed by the many expressions of love and care they have received. Thank you again for your prayers and support. Some of you have asked how to help the Klickas, financially and otherwise: There are two direct ways to give to the Klicka family, as well as a third, tax-deductible way to give to the Klickas’ church and its benevolence program:
1. As usual, direct gifts and donations for the family may be sent to their home address:
6779 Riley Road
Warrenton, VA 20187
2. Corey Cheney generously established an account for the Klicka family through which you may electronically donate funds:
Please read the instructions below before donating.
Click here to send a donation to the Klickas.
1. After clicking the above link a new page will open that has a “To” & “From” e-mail field & a box for you to enter in the amount you would like to donate. (In the “To” field put this e-mail address: tracy.klicka@gmail.com.)
2. Click the “Personal” button right under the “Amount” box, then select the “Gift” option, then click “Continue.”
3. On the next page you will be asked if you already have a PayPal account. If you do, sign in. If you do not have an account, click “Sign-up.”
4. After you sign-in to your PayPal account, you will see the checkout page. Just make sure everything is correct and add your personal note to the Klicka family!
5. Click “Send Money” and the donation will be sent!
3. Finally, tax deductible gifts to their church’s benevolence fund may be sent to:
Grace Community Church
Benevolence Fund
19420 Golf Vista Plaza, Suite 220
Lansdowne, VA 20176
Blog @ October 14, 2009 | General | Comments (0)
NH court orders home-schooled child into government-run school ADF-allied attorney files motion to reconsider and hold off decision in case involving 10-year-old girl
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=5050
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
LACONIA, N.H. An Alliance Defense Fund allied attorney filed motions with a New Hampshire court Monday asking it to reconsider and stay its decision to order a 10-year-old home-schooled girl into a government-run school in Meredith.
Although the marital master making recommendations to the court agreed the child is “well liked, social and interactive with her peers, academically promising, and intellectually at or superior to grade level” and that “it is clear that the home schooling…has more than kept up with the academic requirements of the…public school system,” he nonetheless proposed that the Christian girl be ordered into a government-run school after considering “the impact of [her religious] beliefs on her interaction with others.” The court approved the order.
“Parents have a fundamental right to make educational choices for their children. In this case specifically, the court is illegitimately altering a method of education that the court itself admits is working,” said ADF-allied attorney John Anthony Simmons of Hampton. “The court is essentially saying that the evidence shows that, socially and academically, this girl is doing great, but her religious beliefs are a bit too sincerely held and must be sifted, tested by, and mixed among other worldviews. This is a step too far for any court to take.”
The parents of the child divorced in 1999. The mother has home-schooled their daughter since first grade with curriculum that meets all state review standards. In addition to home schooling, the girl attends supplemental public school classes and has also been involved in a variety of extra-curricular sports activities.
In the process of renegotiating the terms of a parenting plan for the girl, the guardian ad litem involved in the case concluded, according to the court order, that the girl “appeared to reflect her mother’s rigidity on questions of faith” and that the girl’s interests “would be best served by exposure to a public school setting” and “different points of view at a time when she must begin to critically evaluate multiple systems of belief…in order to select, as a young adult, which of those systems will best suit her own needs.”
Marital Master Michael Garner reasoned that the girl’s “vigorous defense of her religious beliefs to [her] counselor suggests strongly that she has not had the opportunity to seriously consider any other point of view” and then recommended that the girl be ordered to enroll in a government school instead of being home-schooled. Judge Lucinda V. Sadler approved the recommendation and issued the order on July 14.
“The New Hampshire Supreme Court itself has specifically declared, ‘Home education is an enduring American tradition and right…,’” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Mike Johnson. ”There is clearly and without question no legitimate legal basis for the court’s decision, and we trust it will reconsider its conclusions.”
Simmons filed his motions and supporting brief in the case In the Matter of Kurowski and Kurowski (Voydatch) with the Family Division of the Judicial Court for Belknap County in Laconia.
annemiller @ October 5, 2009 | General | Comments (0)
Court orders Christian child into government education 10-year-old’s ‘vigorous’ defense of her faith condemned by judge
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=108084
By Bob Unruh
(c) 2009 WorldNetDaily
A 10-year-old homeschool girl described as “well liked, social and interactive with her peers, academically promising and intellectually at or superior to grade level” has been told by a New Hampshire court official to attend a government school because she was too “vigorous” in defense of her Christian faith.
The decision from Marital Master Michael Garner reasoned that the girl’s “vigorous defense of her religious beliefs to [her] counselor suggests strongly that she has not had the opportunity to seriously consider any other point of view.”
The recommendation was approved by Judge Lucinda V. Sadler, but it is being challenged by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund, who said it was “a step too far” for any court.
The ADF confirmed today it has filed motions with the court seeking reconsideration of the order and a stay of the decision sending the 10-year-old student in government-run schools in Meredith, N.H.
The dispute arose as part of a modification of a parenting plan for the girl. The parents divorced in 1999 when she was a newborn, and the mother has homeschooled her daughter since first grade with texts that meet all state standards.
In addition to homeschooling, the girl attends supplemental public school classes and has also been involved in a variety of extra-curricular sports activities, the ADF reported.
But during the process of negotiating the terms of the plan, a guardian ad litem appointed to participate concluded the girl “appeared to reflect her mother’s rigidity on questions of faith” and that the girl’s interests “would be best served by exposure to a public school setting” and “different points of view at a time when she must begin to critically evaluate multiple systems of belief … in order to select, as a young adult, which of those systems will best suit her own needs.”
According to court documents, the guardian ad litem earlier had told the mother, “If I want her in public school, she’ll be in public school.”
The marital master hearing the case proposed the Christian girl be ordered into public school after considering “the impact of [her religious] beliefs on her interaction with others.”
“Parents have a fundamental right to make educational choices for their children. In this case specifically, the court is illegitimately altering a method of education that the court itself admits is working,” said ADF-allied attorney John Anthony Simmons of Hampton.
“The court is essentially saying that the evidence shows that, socially and academically, this girl is doing great, but her religious beliefs are a bit too sincerely held and must be sifted, tested by, and mixed among other worldviews. This is a step too far for any court to take.”
“The New Hampshire Supreme Court itself has specifically declared, ‘Home education is an enduring American tradition and right,’” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Mike Johnson. “There is clearly and without question no legitimate legal basis for the court’s decision, and we trust it will reconsider its conclusions.”
The case, handled in the Family Division of the Judicial Court for Belknap County in Laconia, involves Martin Kurowski and Brenda Kurowski (Voydatch), and their daughter.
The ADF also argued that the issue already was raised in 2006 and rejected by the court.
“Most urgent … is the issue of Amanda’s schooling as the school year has begun and Amanda is being impacted by the court’s decision daily,” the court filing requesting a stay said. “Serious state statutory and federal constitutional concerns are implicated by the court’s ruling and which need to be remedied without delay.
“It is not the proper role of the court to insist that Amanda be ‘exposed to different points of view’ if the primary residential parent has determined that it is in Amanda’s best interest not to be exposed to secular influences that would undermine Amanda’s faith, schooling, social development, etc. The court is not permitted to demonstrate hostility toward religion, and particularly the faith of Amanda and Mother, by removing Amanda from the home and thrusting her into an environment that the custodial parent deems detrimental to Amanda.”
“The order assumes that because Amanda has sincerely held Christian beliefs, there must be a problem that needs solving. It is a parent’s constitutionally protected right to train up their children in the religious beliefs that they hold. It is not up to the court to suggest that a 10-year-old should be ‘exposed’ to other religious views contrary to the faith traditions of her parents. Could it not be that this sharp 10-year-old ‘vigorously’ believes what she does because she knows it to be true? The court’s narrative suggests that 10-year-olds are too young to form opinions and that they are not yet allowed to have sincerely held Christian beliefs,” the ADF said.
“Absent any other clear and convincing evidence justifying the court’s decision, it would appear that the court has indeed taken sides with regard to the issue of religion and has preferred one religious view over another (or the absence of religion). This is impermissible,” the documents said.
The guardian ad litem had an anti-Christian bias, the documents said, telling the mother at one point she wouldn’t even look at homeschool curriculum.
“I don’t want to hear it. It’s all Christian based,” she said.
annemiller @ October 5, 2009 | General | Comments (0)