SPOTLIGHT: Always Late to the Party

Written by Benjamin Smith

The 2019 Illinois Christian Home Educators Family Conference (ICHE) in Bourbonnais was the setting for Monte Larrick’s recent interview with ICHE executive director, Kirk Smith. At the start, Smith details the reasons for a new venue and new focus – the importance of the family unit – for the conference.

The conversation moves on to the problem of government overstepping their jurisdiction in public, private, and home education and the imperative for families and the Church to proactively engage in the culture wars. Larrick and Smith also discuss the process of beginning to homeschool and various approaches to home education, church support for home education, the legal ramifications of opting to homeschool, and an Illinois effort to lower the age for compulsory education.

In the second half of this Spotlight, Smith and Larrick talk about HB 3560 which would have required Illinois homeschool families to register with the state and be subject to investigation by DCFS. The response of home educators to this proposal highlights what can happen when like-minded individuals mobilize to defend their parental rights and oppose radically intrusive legislation.

Smith cautions that although Illinois families currently have a great deal of freedom in regard to homeschooling, Illinoisans, especially Christians, must be vigilant regarding potential efforts of government to usurp the role of parents in all areas of a child’s development.

Listen to the podcast and share it with your friends!

For more information on homeschooling, please visit the ICHE website.

IFI Fall Banquet with Franklin Graham!
We are excited to announce that at this year’s IFI banquet, our keynote speaker will be none other than Rev. Franklin Graham, President & CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Christian evangelist & missionary. This year’s event will be at the Tinley Park Convention Center on Nov. 1st.

Learn more HERE.