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THE     CHAP    E-NEWSLETTER
 JULY 13, 2001

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Welcome to this issue of the CHAP E-Newsletter. Thank you for your kind 
response to this publication. If you have friends and acquaintances who like 
to subscribe, they can do so at our web page CHAPboard.org You can also read 
the previous issues there.

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CONTENTS OF THIS CHAP E-NEWSLETTER:

+  WHAT IS CHAP?

+  WHAT IS THE CHAP POSITION ON CHANGING THE HOMESCHOOL LAW IN PA


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WHAT IS CHAP?
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CHAP is an acronym for Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania, a 
nonprofit corporation founded to encourage and support families interested in 
home education. CHAP assists parents in understanding and fulfilling the 
law's requirements and is affiliated with two national organizations: Home 
School Legal Defense Association and The National Center for Home Education. 
CHAP provides leadership and direction on issues facing Christian 
homeschoolers on a national and statewide basis.

CHAP is, in reality, a board currently composed of five homeschooling couples 
(with a cumulative homeschool experience of over 65 years) that share a 
burden to be of help to all homeschoolers, especially Christian 
homeschoolers. The size of the convention (you have made it the largest in 
the world with about eight thousand attendees), the help of many volunteers, 
and the extent of our newsletter (4000 subscriptions) may incline folks to 
think that we speak for the majority of homeschoolers in this state. This is 
not the case. Further, we do not really know of any group or individual that 
does fit that description. Our own personal convictions as a board are 
expressed in our writings, and while we might like to think our beliefs are 
representative of the homeschool community at large, we do not assume that to 
be the case. Nevertheless, because of our wide exposure and possible wide 
influence, we take our responsibilities seriously, and hold them as a trust 
from the Lord. Consequently, we venture into the issue of changing the law 
carefully, prayerfully, and with a great sense of concern that not only must 
our methods be right, but our motives must be right as well.

Changing the law is a large responsibility. We are fully aware of the fact 
that whatever change might be made, it will affect all homeschooling families 
in Pennsylvania, not just CHAP and its associated families. Because of this 
we are taking great pains to look beyond what would please us. We are trying 
to expand our thinking and to consider a law that would suit the many and 
varied citizens of Pennsylvania. 

The CHAP board recently had our annual retreat. At that retreat we 
reappraised our position on the possibility of a new law. I was struck by two 
facts. The first was that the year of prayer, study, input from homeschoolers 
and discussion has led us to a better understanding of what is needed in 
Pennsylvania law. The second fact is that although our position has become 
more precise it really hasnžt change over the last year.


I (Bruce Eagleson) would like to take a moment and confess an error I made. 

Several months ago when many were saying we had to compromise and be 
practical, I was taken in and agreed with them. This was incorrect. Our 
original statement said that if we could not get a law that recognized and 
supported the parents rights and responsibilities we should not make a major 
change to the law. We felt then, as now, that the potential gains are not 
worth the risks and efforts unless we get a law which supports the parents 
rights and responsibilities to educate their children. I have repented of any 
lesser position. 



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CHAPžS UPDATED POSITION ON A NEW LAW
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We believe a homeschooling law based clearly and openly on principle rather 
than precedent, represents the moral high ground, and gives us a solid place 
to stand against the winds of unacceptable change. Since parental authority 
for one's children is established by Scripture and is supported by the United 
States Constitution, Supreme Court, Pennsylvania Constitution and 
Pennsylvania Court rulings, we would only support a new law that is based on 
these principles. The following propositions for a new law are based on the 
God given right and responsibility of parents to educate their children.

1) The ideal change would be the elimination of the compulsory attendance 
regulations. This would guarantee the complete freedom of every parent to 
educate their children as they see fit.

2) We recognize that abolishing compulsory attendance would be a far-reaching 
change. If unattainable, there are some lesser changes that would accomplish 
the goal of recognizing parental rights for homeschoolers. We would support a 
new homeschool law where parents would give notice of their intent to 
homeschool at the commencement of the homeschool program. We believe every 
homeschooling parent should establish a reliable and valid accountability 
process for their homeschooling experience. They should not be subject to the 
public school system for that accountability.

3) If neither of the above principle-based changes can be enacted we would 
support some minor changes in the current law that would improve the current 
law.  They could include:

+ Expanding the definition of qualified evaluators to include parents with ten
 or more years of homeschooling experience.

+ Eliminating the need to turn in portfolios to the school districts.

+ Allowing either standardized testing or evaluations for students at the 
parents' discretion.


+ Eliminating the requirement to submit objectives to the school districts.


As noted in the introduction, this position while more specific is remarkably 
similar to what we called for a year ago. The chief problem with the current 

law is that it does not truly recognize the rights of parents. If we change 
the law we need this to be clear in both thought and deed. It seems that to 
take less is in some way selling out the Biblical position.

Let's rally for the best. We donžt need to accept less.

Thank you for your time. We hope that this mailing is helpful to you. If you 
would like to reply expressing your viewpoint, please do not use the reply 
button to reply to this message. This is a broadcast only address and your 
message will not be read. Please respond to: chap@chapboard.org. 

Staff   
   Editor: Bruce K Eagleson
   Publisher: Doug Rothgaber

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