HSLDA: The Ugly

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

01 Mar 2007 07:16 AM

This is the conclusion on my series on the HSLDA. My previous articles are entitled The Good, and the Bad. In this installment The Ugly, I will delve a bit further into some of the more disturbing aspects of the HSLDA.

Not an Insurance Policy: The Home School Legal Defense Association represents itself as a type of prepaid insurance. You pay $100.00 a month and they come to you rescue should you neighbor claim you are neglecting your children by homeschooling. That is not the entire story. In fact, many families complain that they have paid the membership fee for years only to be turned away when they needed help. In one instance, when the ex spouse wanted the children returned to school, she was told they would "pray for her". They will not become involved in custody issues, which is one of the biggest problems facing homeschoolers today.

Representing Your Interests: The HSLDA lobbies specifically for the rights of Christian Homeschoolers. While they claim to be inclusive, many non-Christian homeschoolers have found their interests ignored. For Christians, this may not be bothersome, but the fact that they claim to represent all homeschooling when fighting for homeschool legislation, and in the media is bothersome since many homeschoolers do not agree with their stances.

Other activities: The HSLDA works for legislation that many homeschoolers, Christian and non-Christian may not agree with. They include becoming involved in the Gun Free School Zone Act to be sure the legislation did not prevent homeschoolers from owning guns. Pushing for the Federal Homeschool Law with which many homeschoolers are not comfortable.

I am going to end this by saying I do not want to dissuade anyone from joining the HSLDA, Refer back to the good in fact, I am currently a member. I just want to say that before joining any groups, especially with a paid membership, you need to know what you are joining and where your money is going.

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Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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Andrea Hermitt (5512) 16 Mar 2007 07:15 AM

a shy writer sent me the following message that I feel needs stating (this is an excerpt):

"I wanted to write to you about your HSLDA "the ugly" post because you listed something as being part of "the ugly" when really it should belong in a category of it's own "the unfortunate but understandable." ... If HSLDA members (husband and wife) go through a divorce, as attorneys, HSLDA would obligated ethically to represent both parents interests. This would be literally impossible in a divorce situation, therefore it would be completely unethical for HSLDA to represent either party (this same principal applies in other situations as well, i.e. husband and wife file for bankruptcy protection, then months later go through a divorce. If the bankruptcy protection needs altered, both husband and wife would have to find new attorneys). It seems at conflict to consider it "ugly" that HSDLA would want to abide by the code of ethics. Second, custody battles are expensive. "

I want to thank the writer for this comment, but just add that I have read many comments from people who felt abandoned by HSLDA when they needed them most.