Ohio Senate Bill (SB) 248

I want to bring to your attention Ohio Senate Bill 248 -  commonly known as 'Teddy's law'.  If this were to become law there would be significant changes to homeschooling - including the option of social services to recommend that your child NOT be excused from school.

Senate Bill (SB) 248 was introduced on December 3, 2013, and would require children’s services to review all homeschool notices (the paper you turn in each year) to determine whether homeschooling is “in the best interest of the child.” Under this proposed legislation, children’s services would be required to meet with parents who choose to homeschool and conduct separate in-person interviews with each of their children. Children’s services would then make a recommendation for or against the excuse from compulsory school attendance.

Children’s services would automatically be required to recommend against homeschooling if they determine it is not in the child’s “best interest” or if the family has any record of a child welfare investigation, regardless of the result of that investigation. If there is a recommendation against homeschooling, the superintendent would be ordered to delay excusing the children from public education for the purposes of homeschooling until the family participates in a CPS parenting “intervention.”  (Basically, you would have an open case with Child Protective Services)

The ramifications of this law would not only negatively effect those currently homeschooling (about 20,000 children in Ohio) and intimidate families considering home schooling, it would also take the limited number of social service workers away from serious cases of abuse and focus their attention on home schooling families simply because they choose to home school. 
The writers of this law assume that homeschooling is abusive and that parents can not be trusted with the safety of their own children, rather government workers should be trusted with the safety and education of all children.  

Here is the Grandfather of the victim explaining this in his own words with Ohio Senator Cafaro 




The most tragic part of this story is the young man who lost his life.  Teddy's abuse was reported by friends, neighbors, public school educators and even other family members.  The very people this bill places in charge of the safety of home educated children, are those who ignored the pleas of multiple mandatory reporters and ultimately contributed to Teddy's death by doing nothing.

Please do not assume that some one else will respond to this proposed legislation.  As parents WE are called to protect and advocate for our children, not CHEO, or the HSLDA, or even our home school group leaders.
I respectfully ask that you take a moment to contact - via phone call - your state representative. 

When you contact these offices be firm and polite. Although this law is misguided, it was drafted in response to a terrible tragedy, and we should keep Teddy’s family in our thoughts and prayers.

If you live in Licking, Perry or Coshocton County your representative is:
Tim Schaffer - also a member of the Education committee - not eligible for another term
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-5838

If you live in Fairfield or Muskingum County your representative is:
Troy Balderson -also a member of the education committee - he is up for re-election in 2016
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8076

You can contact the bill’s sponsors using the following contact information:

Senator Cafaro (Primary Sponsor)
1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-7182
Email: http://www.ohiosenate.gov/senate/cafaro/contact

Senator Brown (Cosponsor)
1 Capitol Square, Ground Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-5204
Email: http://www.ohiosenate.gov/senate/brown/contact

Senator Turner (Cosponsor)
1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-4583
Email: http://www.ohiosenate.gov/senate/turner/contact

Senator Schiavoni (Cosponsor)
1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8285
Email: http://www.ohiosenate.gov/senate/schiavoni/contact

 Here is a link to the full HSLDA story http://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=bill%2Fsenate-bill-248-require-childrens-services-review-homeschooling

"Can I be a cat?"

I am re-blogging this from January 2008.  It seems like just yesterday, but it was nearly 5 years ago!  Feeling sentimental - and if you ever hear us tell one of our children to 'be a cat' now you'll know what that means =)

A few nights ago Drason was dropping me off in front of South gate, it was really windy, so he dropped me at the door. Another driver proceeded to screech around him, honk and make a certain gesture. Macguines' asks his dad why he didn't respond. Drason tells Macguines "Be at peace." Everyone is quite for a few seconds while thinking this over, then Mason asks:

"Can I be a cat?"

Almost as funny as a reptile story I heard once :-)

But it got me to thinking....

How does one manage to be at peace?
Well, I guess there are three ways.

One is to be at peace with the lost.

Luke 6 :27-36 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. "

I know there are times I fail at this. Have you ever tried to return something to the store after Christmas, and wanted to chew out a sales clerk for not refunding the money? Ever gestured back at someone?

The second way is to be at peace with other Christians:

1 Thessalonians 5: 4-15
"But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Have you ever heard the saying "If you want peace, prepare for war" It sounds like Paul had. First he says, you belong to the light, Jesus, so act like it. And then, put on the armor of God and live in peace, encouraging one another. Another verse that comes to mind. "1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Be careful that you aren't the one everyone else is struggling to live in peace with.

The third is to be at peace with God:
Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I don't know about you, but being at peace seems like a lot of work. How on earth does one accomplish this?

For the Christian, peace starts with a right relationship with God.

So "Be at peace" starts with me.

Now, how does one be a cat?