Besieging The Hill

The Congressional Action Program and How You Can Make a Difference

 

E

very two years, a new batch of legislators ascends Capitol Hill. A few are God-fearing statesmen of wisdom and integrity. Others are bent on steering our nation as far away from our Christian heritage as they can. Still others arrive as misguided do-gooders, soon falling prey to the ogres of power, greed, wealth, and prestige.

Since Adam and Eve, these ogres have lured and subsequently devoured innumerable men. The Bible is replete with examples that poignantly illustrate our own susceptibility to corruption. These stories also remind us of our responsibility to be godly, caring citi­zens and ogre-slayers.

 

Political Hobbit

The National Center for Home Education (NCHE), representing homeschoolers across America, launched the Congressional Action Program (CAP) in 1993. Hardly ogre-like, CAP valiantly battles ogres. It is akin to a Tolkien hobbit - diminutive, peculiar, old-fash­ioned, entering the bastions of evil to evoke justice and defeat ogres.

NCHE constantly monitors the actions and inac­tions of Congress. It watches for pro-ogre federal legis­lation that could affect either: A) the religious liberty of home-schooling families, or B) the rights of parents to raise their children according to the Bible. When the need arises, the National Center activates CAP, a two-­pronged defense of our home-school freedoms.

 

Head for the Hill

The first prong of CAP is a battalion of trained Capitol Coordinators. These are "average" home­schoolers, preferably families, who live within com­muting distance of D.C. On selected lobbying days, the volunteers dress up and head for the Hill. After a non-brief briefing, the lobbyists form small groups and "hit" several Congressional offices.

At most offices, these well-equipped Capitol Coordinators speak with the aides specializing in edu­cation. The group leader makes his appeal profession­ally and respectfully. Then the interrogation begins. "From the look on their faces, you can tell it's unusual for teenagers to want to come and talk to them," remarks 16-year-old CAP veteran Maria Hoffman. The questions range from, "What books do you use?" to the inevitable query, "What about socialization? " Occasionally, Capitol Coordinators are given the opportunity to personally petition a Congressman.

 

The Grassroots Warriors

The second prong of CAP involves you and thousands of other home schoolers. NCHE has labored toward having a District Coordinator in each of the 435 Congressional Districts. These volunteers organize and are responsible for telephone trees within their respec­tive districts. An arsenal of home-schooling con­stituents stands by, ready for an alert to action. CAP can generate hundreds of calls from home-schooling families in a congressman's own district before and after a lobbying visit.

This approach is incomparable to the normal methods of political persuasion. The usual special­ interest group hires professional, career lobbyists who hobnob with our nation's leaders. The National Center for Home Education is not your usual special ­interest group. When its anomalous Congressional Action Program is unleashed, the results can be almost, well, Biblical.

While showing a spiritual parallel, Jesus validated the righteous pursuing of a "redress of grievances" in Luke 18:1-8. In this parable, a widow seeks legal pro­tection from an indifferent judge. He refuses to grant her wish. The widow gets persistent -very persistent! The exasperated judge succumbs to her tenacity, giv­ing her legal protection.

CAP is figuratively not one persistent widow, but many. When H.R.6 reared its frightening head in June of 1994, a million pleas for justice besieged and virtu­ally shut down Capitol Hill. This tsunami of public outcry is still being marvelled at on Capitol Hill! Because of our persistent widowhood, if you will, "home-educators" are now a force to be reckoned with.

 

It's Not Fun And Games

You may not think that a Nobody like yourself can make a difference. But Nobody can afford to be dor­mant. Together, all the Nobodies make Everybody. Our nation is in grave trouble, and you can make a difference. Our freedom to be home schooled {and possibly home school our own children) depends on us. And legislators do care about what their con­stituents think.

"It is never to early too start," insists Doug Phillips, Director of Government Relations at NCHE. "If there is going to be an America 30 years from now, it's going to be because this generation of home schoolers is out there doing something to try to bring our country back to its godly roots. "

 

What You Can Do

There are many important ways you can defend home­school liberties. Educate yourself and others. Participate in family lobbying projects in your own state. Meet with your Congressmen when they come back to their home offices. Write letters to all your legislators as a home school assignment; a little ink can go along way in swaying opinions!

There are other, more indirect, ways to get involved. By volunteering for a political campaign, home schoolers gain influence and credibility. Be cre­ative within your own home! If you send photographs of your home-school group's activities to NCHE, they will be passed on during the next lobbying day. Then your Congressman will have a score of cute, home­-educated kids smiling down from his office wall every single time he votes. Get involved! Righteously seek a redress of your grievances. With God's armor (Eph. 6:10-17), a persistent widow can slay ogres!

 

For more information, contact the National Center for Home Education, P.O. Box 25, Paeonian Springs, VA 22129. (703) 338-7600