Home School Legal Defense Association

The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is a United States-based "nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms." [ [http://www.hslda.org/about/default.asp "About HSLDA"] ]

HSLDA is organized as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, located in Purcellville, Virginia, which is also the home of Patrick Henry College, founded by Michael Farris in 2000.

The organization is known (and often criticized, from both inside and outside the larger homeschool movement) for its ties to the Christian Right and its staunch advocacy for conservative political and religious causes. [Cordes, Helen. [http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature/2000/10/02/homeschooling_battle/ "Battling for the heart and soul of homeschoolers."] "Salon.com". October 2, 2000.] [Grove, Steve. [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2004/08/15/readingwriting_right_wing_politics/ "Reading, writing, & right-wing politics."] "Boston Globe". August 15, 2004.]

History

HSLDA was founded by Michael Farris in 1983 for the purpose of defending homeschooling families. At that time, homeschooling was not specifically legal in most of the states of the U.S. under compulsory education laws. Those who practiced homeschooling were often harassed or prosecuted. Through a combination of legal action and legislative lobbying, HSLDA played a large partFacts|date=April 2007 in the legalization of homeschooling throughout the U.S.

The high point of HSLDA's existence was its central role in the 1994 defeat of language in bill H.R. 6. This bill would have required all teachers in the U.S., potentially including home educators, to have teacher certification.Facts|date=April 2007 HSLDA used their grassroots lobbying system in each of the 50 states which coordinated members to contact their legislators about pending legislation. Their members overloaded the phone switchboards at Capitol Hill,Home School Legal Defense Organization: [http://www.homeschoolingislegal.info/alerts.asp "What Purpose is Served by HSLDA's 'Alerts?'" Retrieved August 13, 2007.] ] and through the efforts of their members and other organizations,Facts|date=April 2007 the bill was amended to remove the problematic language.

HSLDA's speech and debate league broke off to form the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association in 2001. That same year, Patrick Henry College was founded by Michael Farris, who became the college's president until 2006. Today, HSLDA's 80,000+ members receive free legal assistance if they are contacted by public school officials, or need legal help in relation to their rights to homeschool.

Other HSLDA Programs

Generation Joshua

In 2003, HSLDA, feeling a need to educate youth in civics and politics, founded Generation Joshua. Generation Joshua (often abbreviated as "Gen J" by its members,) is an American Conservative Christian youth organization that aims to encourage the involvement of 11-19 year-olds in politics. Its members, which number 6,000 as of 2006, participate in civics education, over 60 clubs, student action teams, voter registration drives, and "Benjamin Rush" Awards, which offer members a chance to earn a trip to Washington, D.C., among other things.

Publications

*The HSLDA publishes a bimonthly magazine which is mailed to all of its members.

*The HSLDA also publishes statements on its website regarding issues that do not directly relate to homeschooling, notably the organization's support of a Federal Marriage Amendment. [ [http://www.hslda.org/docs/faqs/default.asp#q009 "Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About HSLDA"] ]

Home School Foundation

The Home School Foundation provides "Assistance to needy home schooling families".

NCFCA

The National Christian Forensics and Communications Association, or NCFCA, is a speech and debate league for homeschooled students in the United States, established in 2001 after outgrowing HSLDA, which had been running the league since it was originally established in 1995. NCFCA is now organized under its own board of directors with regional and state leadership coordinating tournaments and other activities.

Patrick Henry College

Patrick Henry College, or PHC, is a private, non-denominational Protestant college, founded by HSLDA, that focuses on teaching classical liberal arts and government, located in Purcellville, Virginia. It is the first college in America founded specifically for Christian home-schooled students. The school was incorporated in 1998 by Michael Farris. It officially opened September 20, 2000 with 92 students, and has since grown to approximately 325 students.

Criticisms

Critics of the HSLDA say that its grassroots lobbying system consists of highly charged "e-lerts" that dictate position and action to recipients, often resulting in a barrage against legislators, which puts homeschoolers in a bad light. They also accuse the system of providing incomplete information and targeting legislation which is actually helpful to homeschoolers. [ [http://www.homestead.com/barbooch/WhitePaper2.html "A White Paper by Raymond S. Moore, Homeschool Founder." Retrieved August 13, 2007.] ]

ee also

* Generation Joshua
* Patrick Henry College
* National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (NCFCA)

Notes

External links

* [http://www.hslda.org/ HSLDA's Official Web Site]
* [http://www.phc.edu/ Patrick Henry College Home Page]
* [http://www.generationjoshua.org/ Generation Joshua's National Website]
* [http://www.ncfca.org/ Official NCFCA Website]
* [http://www.homeschoolingislegal.info/ Criticism of HSLDA]