Government sponsored health plan and homeschooling:  On Thursday, October 15, 2009, someone on the Homeschool-Illinois e-mail group provided the following information. It is from the Concerned Christians Newsletter by Robert Vanden Bosch, who is a "Christian" lobbyist here in IL and he has been giving updates on what different parts of the fine print says in the "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009."   This thing is a very long bill and he is taking it item by item.  Here are a few that could be of concern to homeschoolers by the way they are written. These are quotes from his newsletter.  "The bill provides for optional 'nurse home visitation services' without specifying who has power to exercise the option. Among the various purposes listed are 'increasing birth intervals between pregnancies' (this reminds us of China's policies to reduce childbirth by married couples), reducing 'child abuse, neglect, and injury' and promoting school readiness" (will homeschooling be scorned?).   This was from page 768 of the bill. "The Senate bill's official summary also authorizes 'home visits' to improve immunization coverage."  (Will Americans tolerate a knock on the door from a government agent demanding that we and our children receive all government-ordered vaccines?)  The above was taken from Phyllis Schlafly Report Vol 43, No 2 September 2009. The newsletter says you can click on this link and read the info for yourself. http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2009/july09/09-07-31.html .  Many of you may be familiar with Phyllis as she has many homeschool articles on her site and has spoken at home schooling conventions in the past.  Bosch's website is www.concernedchristianamericans.com .

     More Good Reading:  The July/Aug., 2009, issue of Practical Homeschooling ( www.home-school.com ), which next year will go to a publication schedule of five issues a year, has an interview with Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis about his new book Already Gone: Why Your Kids Will Quit Church and What You Can Do to Stop It, an editorial by Mary Pride “Patriarchy, Meet Matriarchy,” Sam Blumenfeld’s always interesting column “Tomorrow’s Leaders” on “Banking on Panic,” and other helpful information.