SPRINGFIELD, IL – More than 2,000 homeschool students and family members descended on Springfield on Thursday morning for the annual Homeschool Lobby Day aimed at educating legislators about the importance of homeschool freedom for children and families. The annual event is usually highlighted by homeschool students delivering homemade cherry pies to the 177 members of the General Assembly as a token of appreciation and mutual respect.
This year’s event, however, took on a greater meaning as homeschool families are standing together to oppose a legislative attempt to severely regulate homeschooling.
HB 2827, filed and sponsored by Illinois Democrat legislators, would impose strict new rules and regulations on homeschool families. Multiple legislators spoke out against the bill at a Capitol rally ahead, warning that homeschool family freedom and values are under assault. Among the legislators addressing the large crowd gathered outside of the Capitol was State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton).
“Your freedom to choose to homeschool your children is under attack by Democrats who do not share your values and who wish to indoctrinate your children,” Severin said. “I am here to stand with homeschool families and to express my strong opposition to HB 2827. Your children and your families must fight back against these regulations that seek to punish homeschool families. I won’t stand for it!”
When HB 2827 was filed in early February, Severin hosted a petition to oppose the measure on his official website. Since then, the petition has gathered more than 3,700 signatures from throughout the state.
“I was amazed at the level of organization and activism shown by the homeschool families and those who support them after I launched my petition opposing HB 2827,” Severin said. “The Facebook post I put up has been viewed more than 84,000 times and the petition continues to gather signatures. I know that this is sending a strong message to the legislators who support these new regulations that they are messing with the wrong group of families. I will continue my work to support homeschool families and oppose new homeschool regulations. All these families want is the freedom to educate their children according to their values. The government should not be standing in their way.”
