THSC recently learned of the loss of a brave Texas home school graduate who was serving his country as a Marine. He was homeschooled for the last two years of high school and played baseball with HWSA (Homeschool World Series Association). Our gratitude and prayers are with this family for their sacrifice.

His family has released a Press Release/Family Statement. Click on the graphic to see it.

In these days before the election, it is important to remember that home schooling will only stay legal as long as we have representatives who support it. It is important for home schoolers, and those who are like-minded, to register to vote and to participate in the choosing of elected officials. TODAY, October 10th, is the deadline to register. It is also important to work in the campaigns of candidates who support our freedoms. (THSCPAC has endorsed many such candidates.)

When a Texas judge clarified that parents could educate their children at home in the Leeper v. Arlington ISD decision, he also named several required courses of study—and one of these was good citizenship. THSC has developed a hands-on program to help Texas home schoolers meet that requirement while they work to protect their freedoms. A certificate will be awarded to each student who participates with at least forty hours (40) of volunteer work in any combination from the following areas: Voter Registration, Political Party Process, Campaign Process, and Legislative Process.

This fall, there will be many opportunities for students to work toward earning those certificates, particularly in two of the areas of participation: Voter Registration and Campaign Process, as Election Day is coming soon, this year on November 7th.

THSC invites students to participate in its Good Citizenship Program by registering like-minded voters and working for home-school friendly candidates. They can receive recognition for their efforts while fulfilling this portion of their curriculum. So, involve your child in voter registration and campaign participation this fall!

THSC is joining the Family Rights Foundation in offering a Continuing Legal Education seminar on Defending the Family Against CPS.

Responding to the urgent need for advocacy and the legal defense of families against false Child Protective Services (CPS) allegations, Texas Home School Coalition has launched an effort to build a network of attorneys who are willing to help. THSC is therefore offering FREE registration to lawyers in exchange for an agreement to handle one pro bono CPS case that is referred by THSC or the Family Rights Foundation. This seminar is approved for continuing legal education credit by the State Bar of Texas.

THSC President Tim Lambert; Family Rights Foundation President Chris Branson; and Paul Stuckle, attorney at law, will be the speakers at this important event. The seminar will be held Friday, November 10, 2006, at the Houston Hotel Marriott, 5150 Westheimer in Houston.

Don’t miss the opportunity to send your leaders to the Retreat! Read about the benefits of using this great way to express your gratitude for their hard work on your behalf.

Send your leaders for a relaxing, inspirational weekend at the beautiful T Bar M Resort and Conference Center outside of New Braunfels on October 27-29, 2006, for the annual THSC Leadership Retreat.

Send leaders for a time of community, fellowship, and rejuvenation! THSC will encourage each leader’s spirit—and renew the vision for groups as well—by providing quality leadership training.

THSC Association is excited about the growing list of benefits that we are able to offer our members because of the generosity of home-school-friendly companies and THSC supporters. One of these great benefits is a $15 discount on Discover Texas, a CD-Rom-based curriculum designed to teach Texas history, geography, and government, adaptable for students between 4th and 9th grades. Click on the graphic for details about the curriculum.

See how easy it is to join online! You can also choose our new payment plan to help fit this valuable membership into your budget!

THSC has been following the accounts of persecution of home schoolers in Germany. In an article posted September 26, 2006, at WorldNetDaily, Bob Uruh tells of a call to contact the German embassy in an effort to affect change for our fellow home educators.

Excerpts follow:

“Campaign to overturn law that jailed homeschool mom
World leader in parental teaching urges petitions to German embassy

“A national homeschool organization with developing influence around the world has called for Americans to contact the German embassy to lobby for the right of parents to teach their own children.

“The campaign from the Home School Legal Defense Association follows word that since homeschooling never has been legalized in Germany since Hitler banned it, a mother was arrested and detained on such charges.”

Get the all new, updated 20th Anniversary edition of the Handbook for Texas Home Schoolers! For many years, Texas home schoolers have benefited from this informative publication written specifically for Texas home educators. It features articles about the history of home schooling in Texas, as well as how to deal with school districts and Child Protective Services. It contains contact information for support groups across the state and curriculum suppliers, along with many other helpful articles.

This helpful tool is edited annually, with new and updated articles appearing in this version. The 2006- 2007 Handbook for Texas Home Schoolers includes new letters and memos of interest to home school parents. See a listing of important information in the current Table of Contents.

The price, $18, is the same as the past several years, even though there is more information added each year! THSC Association members get a 10% discount on this important publication as well as all other resources sold by THSC. See information about membership and all its benefits.

Special bulk rates: $12 each/5-9 copies: $10 each/10+ copies.

THSC Association faxed the letter, which you can read at the link below, in response to a Northwest ISD official’s insistence that a member family must make an appearance at the school. The parents had sent withdrawal and assurance letters via certified mail, which were deemed by the school to be insufficient.