by Pamela Butler
Cisco Cotto on WLS interviewed Illinois State Senator Ed Maloney this morning regarding his move to regulate homeschooling in Illinois. A few things stood out to me in this interview which I think may be helpful to keep in mind as we interact with him and the Education Committee:
1. He has not been aware of any problems with homeschooling. He expects to discover anecdotal evidence of kids falling through the educational cracks through this process. Clearly this legislation is not motivated by a failure of the homeschool community to do its job well.
2. He points out that Illinois is one state of only a very few states that do not require some sort of registration with the state. I find it very telling that, instead of being proud of this freedom and seeking to protect it, he covets the power that other states have and works to seize it for the state of Illinois. This power grab seems to be the root cause of this proposed legislation.
3. He compared homeschool registration to getting a drivers license, but he offered that there was no way we could ensure that everyone on the road has a drivers license. Exactly. Requiring homeschoolers to register will not guarantee that the rare people who hide their children’s truancy under the guise of homeschooling will be brought to light, nor will it secure an education for those unhappy children.
4. He imagines that the homeschool community would welcome this “quality control” (my words, not his) so that our reputation would not be tarnished by those who are not doing a good job of homeschooling. I think some real statistics, and not some hoped-for anecdotal evidence to the contrary, would demonstrate that we have nothing to fear from these real or imagined families. Perhaps we might suggest, as has been articulated elsewhere, that it would be more useful for the State to direct its attention toward the egregiously failing public school systems.
5. Ed Maloney believes that the State is responsible for its citizens. He repeated this a couple of times, particularly when Cisco pressed him on whether it’s the parents’, not the State’s, responsibility to educate their children. This, no doubt, is a core belief for him, and his position is not likely to be altered on this point. Perhaps, though, some legal and founding documents of the State of Illinois might be cited to restrain him from implementing his philosophy on the citizens of Illinois.
Let’s not neglect to support this committee and our fellow homeschoolers in prayer. May God continue to use us all to accomplish His will and work in the world.
Attend the Homeschool Freedom Summit: Response to SB 136 on Tuesday, February 15 in Springfield, Illinois.
When the State imposes itself upon the private pursuits of people, particularly those involving the concerns of their children, it subjects itself to the just and righteous remedies the people may elect to employ to preserve their liberties.
Senator Maloney obviously exhibits a serious mental defect and should be considered dangerous. If his megalomaniacal bill should pass then I urge you take appropriate measures.
Maloney, like so many others who receive votes by unwitting or ignorant people pining to be told how to live, suffers from a delusion whereby he suddenly has the right and power to put pen to paper and compel people to do his bidding. What is tacitly implied behind this legislation, as with all legislation, is the threat of force or removal of the children from the parents if the State does not feel they have sufficiently prostrated themselves before the its power. Make no mistake, the State will send armed DCFS officers to your home to confiscate your children so they may be properly indoctrinated, should you fail to do so. This is not possible without you first registering your children, something parents are all too eager to do.
Maloney, in his bill, cites some constitutional authority based on the State’s power to regulate and provide “education”. However, the Illinois Constitution does not apply to the people, it applies to the State. The State cannot take that document and turn it into a weapon to puff its chest and assail private individuals. You did not write the Constitution, you did not sign the Constitution, and you are not bound by the Constitution. Whoever ratified that document back in 1970 had no authority to preemptively legislate for your private affairs. This shows the systemic ignorance and arrogance of politicians where they invoke the Constitution, as if they were rubbing a magic lamp, thereby producing a genie to provide them supernatural powers.
However, so many parents are already mired in the administrative muck that is the State’s regulations that they are engaging a battle while hobbled. They have their marriage license, their children’s social security numbers, tax credits, vaccinations…. they are the epitome of a State conscript. If the State wanted to, it could just move against you, but the move would be audacious and publicly questioned. Therefore, the ruse of “please register “our” children, or else” is legislated to coerce you. If you really believe your children are “your” children, think again. I know dozens of stories where the State has absconded with the offspring of people for not meeting the standards of the State, thereby invoking its parens patrias, and exercising discretion over your progeny. You exist for no other reason than to produce tax-bearing fruit for the State. Period. If you should fail to properly arm the little wretches with the requisite misinformation and suppressed critical thinking the State will do it for you.
Maloney and his ilk can squawk about the Constitution all they like. It is nothing but a piece of paper. I’ve seen it in the archives in Springfield. It is not sacred nor divine. It is the ramblings of some who seek a device with which to justify control over other people. I urge you to refuse to comply with this Bill, should it become law. Stand your ground and make the State act upon it. Prepare yourselves. If you lack the principles or temerity, you may as well cloak your babies in the State flag and deliver them to the capital, then hang your head in shame. Do not teach them of freedom or liberty while you are wearing chains. There is no worse lesson than that taught through sanctimony.
You can contact Mr. Maloney by email.