March 3, 2005
Salt Lake Tribune vs. Utah Homeschoolers
Homeschoolers across Utah rejoiced when the legislature unanimously passed Senate Bill 59. Up until this year, Utah was the only state west of the Mississippi to require "approval" for home education. The only two other states in the Union that still rely on this outdated form of government control of home education are Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Senate Bill 59, the Homeschool Freedom Bill, was long overdue in this state.
Despite unanimous votes in the House and Senate, the Salt Lake Tribune has urged Governor Huntsmen to veto this veto-proof bill. In an editorial on March 3, 2005, Utah's newspaper of record called it "shameful" to change this law, calling it "an abdication of the state's responsibility to Utah children."
The Salt Lake Tribune says, "Utah's children are its future, deserving of our best, and that includes children who attend school at home." Perhaps Massachusetts and Rhode Island think of children as the property of the state, but Utah citizens are more likely to believe that children are a gift of God, entrusted to parents, and not the mere creature of the state. While more "progressive" states may insist that "it takes a village to raise a child," Utah has a fine tradition of family freedom and parental responsibility. The Utah legislature recognizes and respects the role that parents play in childrearing. The Salt Lake Tribune lacks that degree of respect.
Utah homeschoolers have won a great victory in the passage of Senate Bill 59, but that freedom must be constantly defended. The price of liberty, as our founding fathers knew so well, is eternal vigilance. As long as the Salt Lake Tribune considers our children to be state property, homeschoolers must continue to work hard and work together. HSLDA is privileged to be able to work side-by-side with Utah homeschoolers to preserve the blessings of liberty.
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Senate Bill 59
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