Beware of the HSLDA! They are a partisan Republican organization.

[gully]

More here:

HSLDA's acts on behalf of its broad agenda includes what many homeschoolers do not consider homeschooling issues, and which HSLDA members might not care to fortify with their membership fee if they knew what their money was supporting. While the HSLDA web site does list their agenda, the enrollment forms do not. Many homeschoolers believe that the organization has a responsibility to state its mission clearly, and yet it is only discovered when one looks very carefully.

Indeed, the "What is HSLDA?" segment of the Support Group Seminar Workbook states, "HSLDA is a nonprofit organization established in 1983 expressly for the purpose of defending the right of parents who choose to home school their children." But, as revealed on this page, that is not all HSLDA does.

By identifying homeschoolers as being of a certain political bent, HSLDA is misrepresenting the truth, and causing those legislators, who are not of the same bent, to immediately identify homeschoolers as the opposition.

http://www.homeschoolingislegal.info/

http://www.homeschoolingislegal.info/causes.asp

Just got an email today urging homeschoolers to "vote Republican/family values" or else from the group today. ABSURD!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. Thanks for the heads-up!

Maybe they need to understand that not everybody who homeschools is a fundy wack-o.

[LeftyMom]

2. it's also important to note that

1. Unless you're a Christian, nuclear family, kids gathered 'round the kitchen table kind of homeschooler, the HSLDA won't offer you any legal help.

2. If you are, they might help, but don't promise to do so even for members.

3. They often pursue legislation opposed by state homeschooling organizations.

4. There are close ties between the HSLDA and the religious right.

5. Much of their advocacy involves issues that have nothing to do with homeschooling but much to do with a social conservative agenda.

6. They present themselves to lawmakers as representative of homeschoolers generally, rather than the fraction dues-paying fraction of the fundamentalist Christian fraction of homeschoolers that actually form their constituency.

[DollyM]

3. I think it is like many things in life . . .

You look at the big picture and extract the good from the bad. I am a member of HSLDA and get alot out of their monthly magazine as well as updates on hs issues in various states. They do defend you if you are ever "bothered" by the public school or child welfare for your home schooling practices. To me, that alone is worth the $8.00 a month for the membership fee. I don't agree with everything on DU either but I extract the good from the bad and utilize what I can.