MiCHN Moment-We <3 You!- Feb '24

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Politics, politics, politics. It seems like that has been all we have been talking about at MiCHN lately. Probably that is true, and rightly so, for we have not been under government scrutiny and threat of regulation since our legal separation from government harassment in 1993. With the change in the party controlling our legislature, Governor, Attorney General, and Supreme Court, our freedom to home-educate is indeed in jeopardy, at least the freedom as we have known it. But I digress….

On a positive note, the INCH conference will soon be upon us. This event was initially designed to encourage, reinvigorate, and inspire those homeschooling and those interested in homeschooling to press on in the hard work of discipling the next generation. INCH began as a conference when homeschooling was illegal in Michigan. If that occurs again, we will continue to encourage you and to keep pressing into Jesus as you press on in your pursuit of what is best for your children through home education.
Our speaker lineup particularly encourages me, especially having Brant Hansen attend. All of us will enjoy his teaching and humility, but I believe the men will be particularly encouraged. I have read two of his books and plan to study one of them with some homeschool dads in our community this summer.
We all need encouragement. We all need to remind ourselves of Whom we are serving and why we are home discipling. The INCH conference serves that purpose. Yes, we will continue to discuss the political situation in which we find ourselves in Michigan, but primarily, we will concern ourselves with thanking God for His gift of our children and His leading us into home discipleship even as we encourage one another in this most noble endeavor.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Mike Winter
President, MiCHN

Early Bird Prices are HERE!!

Register HERE

 

The new year has arrived. We pray this past holiday season was full of refreshment, relaxation, and seeking the Lord about His plans for you this next year. As our team reassembles in the office, it is becoming clear to us just how busy of a season we have lying ahead of us. The legislature returned to Lansing on Wednesday, January 10th. At this time, there is currently no bill in committee that would affect your homeschool requirements. We fully expect that to change rather quickly, as the legislature picks up speed.

 

As many of you are aware, on December 5, 2023, Representative Matt Koleszar posted on X, formerly Twitter, the following statement:

 

Representative Koleszar quickly found himself in a whirlwind of backlash as word began to circulate of his call for more homeschool regulations. On December 6, 2023, Representative Koleszar was quoted in THIS article by the Washington Post. “State Rep. Matt Koleszar, the Democratic chairman of the Michigan House Education Committee, said in an interview Wednesday that when its session begins next month the legislature is “likely to see a bill” that would “at a bare minimum” require the registration of home-schooled children in Michigan, and perhaps establish additional oversight measures.”

 

Later that same evening, Representative Koleszar went on CBS TV Detroit where he had a civil discussion on the topic. During that interview, the news anchor asked, “I imagine a lot of parents would say, ‘Surely, they will want to know more than just knowing where the children are.’ I mean, receiving a letter that says “This child is homeschooled”….surely there would have to be some kind of home visits, some interaction, right?” It is to this question Representative Koleszar simply answered, “It’s fair to say that, but I think right now the main thing we need to do….is find out where they are.” 

 

Your MiCHN team is working as diligently as they can in order to make sure you are aware of everything transpiring in Lansing. We have held multiple round-table discussions across the state in order to facilitate dialog with all of you. As we wait to see what the legislature will do in the coming months, we are watching as many bills as possible, talking with every state lawmaker we can, and gathering together with other freedom-minded groups and forming a coalition to fight every battle required to keep the freedoms we hold so dear here in Michigan. While many lawmakers in Michigan seem to be bent on driving the populace away from this great state with their bureaucratic regulations, it surely seems illogical to strip away one of the last bastions of hope our state has to offer Americans-freedom in your home education journey. 

 

Be sure to write and call your legislators asking them to please protect homeschool freedoms and please do not vote for any bill that would require home educators to register with the state.

These are quite uncertain times. Right now, MICHN would advise you to make sure your account is up to date and accurate with Homeschool Legal Defense Association. Be sure to visit their website, and if you have not done so already, BECOME A MEMBER today.

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MiCHN Moment-Dads This One is For You- May '24
Get Started HERE! History of Homeschooling in Michigan Donate A Most Urgent but Quite Brief Message to Homeschool Dads (from Someone Who Doesn’t Do It Anymore) Here’s the reason I’m not a dad of homeschoolers anymore: They’re adults now. We’re done. We fought the good fight, ran the race—all that. Really, in our case, it’s true that my wife did almost all of it. But I made some sacrifices, too. Education was an all-in family thing until they went to college. At the time, when we first started, I thought, on balance, it was the right move. But given that’s it all said and done, in light of all the struggles and doubts and self-questioning through those long homeschooling years, I’ve now reached this conclusion: It was TOTALLY the right move. It was all worth it. All of it. We have no regrets, whatsoever. I’m not kidding. Normally, I’m Mr. Nuance, Mr. See-Both- Sides, and Mr. Measured. But seriously: I honestly am so very, very, very glad we went the route we did. So thankful to God. So thankful for my wife. The years go by, and you don’t get them back, man. I have regrets in life, and made some judgment errors. But the homeschool ride? Wow, was that was the right call for us. Keep going. -Brant Hansen (Featured INCH Speaker)    Support Homeschool Freedom & Enjoy Benefits! Have you joined MiCHN as a Supporting Member yet? Sign up today and help us continue our work of protecting and expanding homeschool freedoms in Michigan and providing important resources for families.  PLUS, you'll get fantastic benefits and perks for your family, including up to 25% off the upcoming Homeschool Conference!  Pssst... You Can Register For the Conference HERE   Still Taking Nominations  for The Marcia Holmes Memorial Award  September 2022, MiCHN lost a very dear member of our leadership team-- our conference coordinator for many years, a close friend and sister in the Lord, Marcia Holmes. While we miss her dearly, her life was an inspiration to so many of us, and it is our hope and prayer that her contributions and legacy will live on in the heart of our conference and the state homeschool community as a whole. In remembrance of Marcia, we would like to honor one outstanding Michigan homeschool leader at the INCH Conference annually, with the Marcia Holmes Memorial Award.  We are asking for your help to choose a worthy recipient of this award. Our MiCHN leadership team is currently accepting nominations from across the state. To choose the recipient of this year's Marcia Holmes Memorial Award, we are looking for a leader who best represents a faithful and persevering servant going through hard times, yet still dedicated to serving the homeschool community-- just like Marcia did!   When reading these verses from Hebrews 12 and Galatians 6, what homeschool leader do you know who has endured hardship and struggles, yet continued to serve and be a blessing to others in your homeschool community? Who comes to your mind that best exemplifies the following:   "... let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of our faith..."  (Heb. 12:1b-2a)   "Let us not become weary in doing good,  for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal. 6:9) Please submit the name of your nominee and share their story, by emailing our office at: Email: [email protected] Subject Line: The Marcia Holmes Memorial Award **Nominations are due by Monday, May 6th, 2024 at NOON. ** The honoree will be recognized and presented with a special plaque during a Keynote Address at the INCH Conference.  Did you see our newest update on S.B. 285 (the Mandatory Kindergarten bill)? S.B. 285 has passed the Michigan Senate (on April 16, 2024) , but it will need to pass the Michigan House before it can be sent to the Governor to become law. Here is who voted for it:  Yeas—21: Anthony, Cherry, Klinefelt, Polehanki, Bayer, Geiss. McCann, Santana, Brinks, Hertel, McDonald, Rivet, Shink, Camilleri, Irwin McMorrow, Singh, Cavanagh, Johnson, Moss, Wojno, Chang  Nays—15: Albert, Hauck, Lindsey, Theis, Bellino, Hoitenga, Nesbitt, Victory, Daley, Huizenga, Outman, Webber, Damoose, Lauwers, Runestad  Excused—2: Bumstead, McBroom  ****View the bill here. We have received many questions asking for clarity on what the bill means for homeschoolers. See the Answers to the Questions HERE!   These are quite uncertain times. Right now, MICHN would advise you to make sure your account is up to date and accurate with Homeschool Legal Defense Association. Be sure to visit their website, and if you have not done so already, BECOME A MEMBER today. What's happening at MICHN