CHOIS Connection is published quarterly by Christian Homeschoolers Of Idaho State.
This article appeared in a previous issue.
CHOIS Connection
Res' Piece
by Res Peters
"Powering Up"
Fall 2008
Idaho. Land of "Famous Potatoes," Sawtooth Mountains, and the lowest voter turnout in the nation. With only 16% of the Idaho voting-age population casting ballots, the 2008 Primary Election turnout sunk to last place in our state's recorded history.
The bad news is that fewer and fewer Idahoans are interested in protecting our freedom in arguably the most conservative state in the nation. The good news? Those who do vote are extraordinarily empowered to affect outcomes.
By contrast, New Hampshire topped the nation with a 53% primary voter turnout. It's voting-age population of a million people is similar to that of Idaho. And with roughly half of that population voting, each voter represented two eligible voters in the state, the one who voted and one who never cast a ballot.
But in Idaho, the voter spoke for himself, plus five other eligible voters who stayed home. When an Idaho ballot was marked, it was three times as powerful as the ballot cast in New Hampshire.
For homeschooling voters whose very existence depends on a supportive legislature, this is very good news.
Have two decades of home educators' diligent efforts to leverage their votes made a difference? Decidedly. In 1990, the first two home educators were elected to the Idaho House of Representatives, followed by the passage of our current favorable home education law in 1992.
Today, numerous home educators serve in the Idaho legislature. And in the recent primary, 13 candidates were either homeschooled themselves or taught their own children at home. Additionally, our current Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, a Congressman, and an Ada County Commissioner have all home educated their children. And our home education law still places Idaho among the six unregulated states in the nation.
That, however, may soon change depending upon the final outcome of the now-infamous California case. To bolster our law prior to that decision, it is incumbent upon every home educating family to become strategically involved in electing pro-homeschooling candidates in November. And that effort begins now, months before the ballots are cast. This will involve expanding our influence, working together, and training.
If a single Idaho vote has the power of six, influencing someone to vote for your same candidates doubles up that vote's effectiveness to twelve. Becoming educated on candidate positions empowers your influence. This is easily accomplished by reading the candidates' statements in their own words concerning home education at http://iche-idaho.org/candidatestatements.html and www.idahovoterguide.org. Inviting friends to your home for a dessert to meet candidates and hear their positions first-hand is even more effective. Candidates welcome this opportunity.
For mass influence, a voter typically needs to see a name seven times to retain it. Each bumper sticker or sign is estimated to be worth 15 votes. In our primary's closest race, a mere 21 votes separated the two republican candidates. Two signs posted by volunteers may have made the difference. Or perhaps it was the winning candidate's statement, "I strongly support the right of parents to determine how best to educate their children. They have the legal obligation. They pay for it. They should have control over it." But for the winner in the primary to be victorious over his incumbent democrat opponent in November, it will take many more volunteers from within and from outside his district.
This is where homeschoolers must be strategic. A legislative majority requires 36 votes in the House and 18 in the Senate. Those votes may be from any of the 35 districts in the state. What matters is reaching those totals. If a particularly strong homeschool advocate is running in a district, it is essential that families from neighboring districts partner with those within that district to assist the effort to win that seat.
When helping multiple candidates in a district, literature drops at doors maximize time by serving them all simultaneously. And with only one in six voters showing up at the ballot box, reminder calls on the day before the election can be the tipping point for all who support home education.
To fully equip your entire family to strategically participate, Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) offers a tremendous resource, Generation Joshua (GenJ). Keying off the ancient history of Joshua leading a small army to conquer the giants in Canaan, a five-step approach has been designed to fight the modern-day giants who would strike down our right to home educate.
The first step is civics education. GenJ has developed ten self-paced, online courses for students of all ages ranging from Constitutional Law, the Founding Fathers, and America's Founding Documents, to Successful Campaigning and a group Constitutional Convention. A fitting curriculum in this election year.
And the GenJ Book Club offers online discussions with staff on the book of the month and current political issues.
Next, the application of this knowledge comes through local GenJ Clubs. In addition to examining current events and issues in light of the Constitution, students are mobilized into grassroots networks to participate in local elections.
A third step is training effective leaders today, in order to change governmental policy tomorrow. GenJ's Voter Registration Initiative equips students to become Voter Registration Coordinators that conduct non-partisan Voter Registration Drives in churches and in the community. Among people of faith, for example, 24 million Christians were not even registered to vote prior to 2004. And among those registered, less than half typically cast a ballot. Detailed packets including instructions, information for pastors and community leaders, and promotional advertizing materials are provided to launch voter drives.
Student Action Teams are another component of GenJ's effectiveness. GenJ members from across the nation are chosen to work on behalf of carefully selected, pro-family candidates where the efforts of a team can make a decisive difference in a congressional race. The week prior to the election, these students gather for training and door-to-door canvassing in that congressional district under the direction of GenJ staff. Food, lodging, and transportation costs are often provided.
The final GenJ opportunity is the Benjamin Rush Awards Program, which provides a tangible goal for students to realize. Participation in the GenJ program earns points for various activities including online courses, voter registration, letters to public officials, and campaign volunteering. Accrued points qualify students for scholarships and prizes including iPods and gift certificates to web stores such as Barnes and Noble and Best Buy. The top prize is a scholarship to Patrick Henry College and trip to Washington, D.C.
As a bonus, GenJ holds a Teen Camp in the summer were students learn the rudiments of campaigning in a simulated Presidential election. National speakers such as David Barton and Bill Jack also address the students and unique recreational activities from GenJ Olympics to the GenJ Virtual Congress abound.
The cost for these amazing opportunities? Individual two-year memberships are only $25 per student for HSLDA members and $35 for non-members. Ten-year family memberships for HSLDA members are only $100 and $200 for non-members at http://www.generationjoshua.org.
With the inevitable Ninth Circuit California decision looming on the horizon, our right since 1992 to home educate may no longer be secure. In November, we will select the 105 legislators who may determine if that right will be strengthened. The count down to the November 6th election begins now.
How will you power up your family to make a difference this fall? It has been said that decisions are made by those who show up. Will you?
Res Peters is the State Director of Testing for the Idaho Coalition of Home Educators. She resides with her husband, Barry, in Eagle, Idaho where they have home educated their two post-collegiate daughters through high school.
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