After graduating from Patrick Henry College, the Coopers’ firstborn, David, is married, and his wife had their first child this month. David works as a senior consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington, D.C.

The Coopers’ second son, Jonathan, graduated summa cum laud with a degree in biology from Dallas Baptist University. He is currently finishing his third year in graduate school at University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. He is working towards a PhD in cancer research.

Their daughter Hannah is currently finishing up her sophomore year at Dallas Baptist University where she is seeking an English degree. She plays harp and piano and owns her own harp business, “Simply Harp” (www.simplyharptx.com).

Congratulations to all these fine home school graduates!

The post Home School Graduates appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

When he asked me how I was, I said, “You tell me. Are you going to let our UIL bill out of committee?”

He then told me that HB 1374 (the House version of the bill) was dead, and I said yes, but SB 929 (the Senate version) was still available for a vote in his committee. When he told me that we did not have the votes, I said that was not my understanding, to which he responded that some did not want to vote on the bill. I told him he should tell them to “man up” and vote. He said he would not do that as chairman, which is a kind way of saying, “I’m not going to allow a vote on your bill.”

On Friday Representative James Frank, who has been working on this bill as if it were his own, asked the speaker of the House to speak to Aycock about the bill. Aycock then told Frank that he would allow a vote if I would give him a written document, on THSC letterhead with my signature, giving him credit for passing the bill out of his committee and assuring that THSC would not “retaliate” against any legislator who voted against the bill or “walked the vote in committee.” (“Walking the vote” is the practice of leaving during the vote to avoid registering a vote for or against a bill.) This was a tacit acknowledgment that we did indeed have enough votes to get the bill out of committee.

Although I was in San Antonio at a home school conference on Friday, we drafted the statement Aycock had given us and presented it to him. And although he was not happy, he moved to suspend the House rules to allow the Public Education Committee to meet that evening at 7 p.m. At the meeting, although a quorum was present, two of our supporters had already left town because the House was not in session on Saturday. No vote was taken because we were one vote short of the six votes needed. As some have noted, if Chairman Aycock had really wanted the bill to pass, he could have asked someone on the committee to vote “yes” just to get the bill to the floor. Obviously, he did not do so.

Saturday was the last day for a Senate bill to pass the Texas House. While time is slipping away, we still have a bill or two in the Senate that we could amend with our SB 929 language. Stay tuned. It ain’t over ‘til it’s over!

The post Oh So Close! appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

Some have questioned why THSC got involved in this issue, and others have even said it was not a home school issue at all. Our response is that the foundation of our home school freedom is the fundamental, constitutional right of parents to direct the care, control, and upbringing of their children. Any weakening or violation of that right strikes at the very heart of our home school freedom, and that is the reason we publicly opposed this bill. It would directly undermine the right of parents to make decisions for their children in certain situations where doctors and/or hospitals sought to overrule the parents.

It’s a short step from not allowing parents to make medical decisions for their children to not allowing them to make educational decisions.

Fortunately, the vast majority of the home school community clearly understood the risk and responded in a huge way. The House sponsor of SB 303 even told THSC representatives that doctors were better qualified than parents to make decisions for children in end-of-life situations because parents are “too emotionally involved.” We would never tolerate a policy that gave “educational professionals” instead of parents the right to make educational decisions, nor should we in the area of medical decisions. Home schoolers were seen as a key element of the coalition that killed this bill. Thank you for responding!

The post SB 303 Dead, Dead, Dead appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

Being a non-profit organization, THSC receives its financial weaponry directly from the citizens whom it defends. Parents are blessed to be able to home school in Texas, but the battle to protect this legacy of freedom is one of the most mentally and financially draining battles that any organization or individual can undertake.

In 1985 Shelby Sharpe filed a lawsuit against the TEA and every school district in Texas in response to the widespread persecution of home schoolers that was breaking out across the state. THSC led the charge all the way to the Texas Supreme Court, where home schoolers won their case in a unanimous decision. That ruling has since been encrypted into Texas law as a living defense of the rights we have as parents to educate our children.

In 1995 THSC fought to allow parents the right to teach their children to drive. Patrick Barrett, president of the North American Professional Drivers Education Association, concluded, “Without THSC, parent taught drivers education as we know if basically wouldn’t exist.”

This is the last day of our Spring Fundraiser. As we home school with you, it is our privilege to share this legacy of freedom—but we need your help to protect it for the next generation.

Your support will make an immediate difference. Please give $50, $100, $500, $1,500, or even $3,500 here today.

Join or renew your membership today (May 17) and receive an audio download of the best talks by our president, Tim Lambert, and his wife Lyndsay. Just use the Membership Promo Code: “Spring2013″ on the online membership application form. Make a donation of $100 or more and you will also receive these audio presentations.
 
 

   Donate Today!         Join THSC Today!   

The post A Legacy for Our Children appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

The good news is the Family Law Foundation’s (FLF) bills to expand the number of families that could be sued under the Grandparent Access Statute also died. SB 1148, carried by Senator West, was effectively killed by overwhelming opposition from parents and families across Texas. Senator West sought a compromise proposed by FLF which was rejected by us because it would not only expand the number of families exposed to such lawsuits but would also require no “expert testimony” to prevail against the parents. HB 391, the House version of the FLF’s bill, died in the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence. Had THSC not been there to sound the alarm on these bills, they may well have passed, to the detriment of the fundamental constitutional right of parents.

While it is disappointing that we did not pass the TPRRA, we made significant progress this session. We had a Senate bill that we did not have last session and we had a hearing on the measures in both the House and Senate. We also had more witnesses testify than we did two years ago, and their testimonies had a dramatic impact. More and more legislators are becoming aware of the problem, and our support is growing. We will continue to work on this issue, re-file the bills next session, and educate legislative candidates on the issue during the next campaign season. Thank you for supporting our efforts with your prayers and finances.

The post Good News and Bad News on Parental Rights appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

The bill also enables doctors to decide when to remove life-sustaining treatment for sick children who are suffering through so much pain. Only families should make these critical end-of-life decisions.

Under Section 7, Section 166.046(e), artificially administered food and water can be withdrawn if the ethics committee decides that the treatment would: (3) “result in substantial irremediable physical pain or discomfort not outweighed by the benefit of the provision of the treatment.”

I. Status of the bill:

At the hearing on May 13, there was overwhelming opposition to SB 303 from the pro-life community. Although six times as many people came in opposition to the bill, the committee members are still poised to vote the bill through the committee on Wednesday, May 15.

UPDATE: Chairman Lois Kolkhorst is standing bravely against this abridgment of parental rights. If the chairman can continue to withstand political pressure until Saturday, May 18, then the bill will be dead. YOUR CALLS are making a difference!

Our best hope is to stop SB 303 now. The bill passed the Senate 24 – 6. If it passes the House committee, the bill is only one step away from becoming Texas law.

II. Intent of the bill:

SB 303 intends to protect patients by eliminating ambiguity about “secret DNR” orders, among other things. Current law is silent as to whether doctors can issue in-hospital DNR orders. Therefore, certain doctors have taken the liberty to issue “secret DNR” orders without informing the parents of the patients of this decision. We do not condone this behavior and would like to see it eliminated.

This bill attempts to eliminate such “secret DNR” orders. The bill takes a step forward by requiring that doctors inform most patients when a DNR order has been placed in their file. (Section 166.012 (c), page 2 lines 14-18)

However, SB 303 affords inadequate protection for the most vulnerable patients. Doctors are not required to inform patients whose deaths are considered “imminent” that a DNR order has been placed. (Section 166.012 (g), page 3 lines 15-21)

III. Problems with the bill:

The bill takes a shuffling step forward by trampling parental rights. We believe that a true solution will not usurp the authority of the family in the process.

1. Doctors are empowered to issue a DNR order against the desires of the patient and the patient’s family. (Section 166.012 (c), page 2 lines 14-18)
2. Only doctors can remove the DNR. Families can only appeal the death sentence to an “ethics committee” of doctors. Families, not doctors, should have the ultimate authority to remove DNR orders. (Section 166.012 (e), page 2 lines 25-27 – line 2 of page 3)
3. Doctors are completely immune from lawsuits resulting from DNR orders. (p.4 lines 5-11)
4. Doctors do not have to inform the patients whose death is “imminent” despite resuscitation of a DNR order being placed in their file. (Section 166.012 (g), page 3 lines 15-24)

We spoke with the house author, Representative Susan King, who told us that when a doctor and parents disagreed about the care of a sick child, the doctor’s opinion should prevail. In the words of Representative King, doctors practice “medicine based on their best judgment for the patient. So that’s the whole crux of this. If the physician believes that this in the best judgment of the patient and the family says ‘no, you’ll do what we say’” doctors should be able to contravene the opinion of families.

SB 303 is more concerned with upholding the medical judgment of doctors than with preserving the lives of sick children.

IV. Call Now: Oppose Doctor Death Sentences:

Your call will make the difference between the life and death of sick children. Doctors should not have the legal authority to place death orders in the files of sick children.

SB 303 would bring Terri Schiavo’s story to Texas. According to Terri Schiavo’s brother, SB 303 empowers doctors to arbitrarily decide if the patient’s continued “quality of life” justifies the continued use of life-sustaining treatment.

Chair: Lois Kolkhorst
lois.kolkhorst@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0600

Bobby Guerra
bobby.guerra@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0578

Nicole Collier
Nicole.Collier@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0716

Sarah Davis
sarah.davis@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0389

Rep. Susan King, author of SB 303
susan.king@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0718

Rep. Garnet Coleman
garnet.coleman@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0524

Rep. J.D. Sheffield
j.d.sheffield@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0628

The post Euthanizing Children appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

I have been home schooling now for approximately fourteen years. So, depending on in what life season I find myself or even what home schooling struggles I may be experiencing, my reasons for attending the Convention vary.

At times I have attended simply to hear conference speakers who helped me with new ideas in organizing school schedules, house management, and more. Because we have six very unique kiddos, there were times when I searched through the Convention schedule, seeking out speakers dealing directly with teaching tools, methods, and ideas to help me teach to the learning style and special needs of each child. In the incredibly overwhelming, busy years, I sought out conference speakers and topics that would soften my burnout and re-motivate me to persevere in the important task to which God called me: home schooling.

Not only have my reasons for attending varied each year, but my companions at Convention have varied as well. Some years I go it alone for a time of recharging and rest. There have been several years in which my enthusiasm for the upcoming Convention vacation piqued the interest of a home schooling friend who had never attended, and we turned it into a girls’ weekend of shopping, learning, and laughter. My husband and I have used it as a “date” weekend to spend time together in uninterrupted conversation and to plan for the next school year. Finally, at other times our family of eight attended, registering our family through the entire spectrum of adult conference, Teen Program, and Children’s Program. (As a side note, the Teen and Children’s Programs are wonderful, but you must Early Bird Register, because they fill up fast. We missed the Teen Program one year because we waited too late to register.)

I admit that the Exhibit Hall full of vendors can be overwhelming with so many choices and opportunities meshed together in one location, but consider approaching it prayerfully, asking God to bring to your attention the items pertinent and needful to your family. My husband brings great clarity for me in this area. As we peruse books and curricula, he seems to have a better eye for what will work for our family. Even a friend or family member, whomever you are with, can provide a “second opinion.” What is incredibly helpful about the Exhibit Hall is that it provides a good overview of everything that is available to home schoolers, such as a plethora of curricula; Houston-area choral, band, karate, and sports groups; colleges and universities all over the country; field trip opportunities; and more. Another plus is that many vendors will give Convention discounts and/or free shipping on items ordered.

The THSC Convention has also become a “Convention vacation.” THSC has masterfully created Add-On events for families, so there are opportunities for discounts at varying local venues, such as Moody Gardens. We bought Add-On tickets to the Bob Smiley Comedy Show last year and the Tim Hawkins Comedy Show the year before. These shows were much-needed times of setting aside our serious schedules and concerns of life and laughing as a family—laughing so hard we cried! As much as I enjoyed the comedy shows, the look on my children’s faces and their laughter will be forever ingrained as a treasured memory in my mind.

When my children attend the Convention, we ride the free trolley from The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel to The Woodlands Mall food court for lunch at least one day of Convention. The trolley ride provides giggles and laughter from some little boys who think it is incredibly cool, and it also gives riders a glimpse of The Woodlands area, passing by local shopping and restaurants and the Cynthia Woods Pavilion.

Another fun Convention lunch tradition our family has is what we call the “THSC Picnic Lunch.” Families who choose to bring their own lunch to Convention congregate picnic style in the walkway between the parking garage and hotel. Our boys enjoy watching the cars and activity on the street below, and there is a feeling of family and community as many home schooling families all enjoy lunch together.

If a trolley ride or a picnic lunch in a walkway does not sound attractive, or a walk through traffic is not appealing, there are waterway taxis that run along the waterway surrounding the hotel. These boat taxis will pick you up and “ship” you back and forth between the hotel and The Woodlands Mall for a small fee.

Some additional activity options for Pre-Convention fun include the Riva Row Boathouse, which offers kayak rentals for paddling the waterway, and spray-and-play parks in the local city parks, which provide free fun in the sun and playground time.

THSC Southwest Convention & Family Conference is so many different things to so many people. It is affirming and informative for those considering home schooling. It is knowledge building for those in the thick of their home schooling years. It is encouraging for those who feel beat down by the daily grind, who lose their focus or merely their energy to do what needs to be done, and it can change those feelings of inadequacy by giving you tools of capability. It is family fun and is full of memory making that will last through generations.

Wherever you are in your home schooling adventure, I encourage you to come to The Woodlands, catch a glimpse of the diversity of all of the other families who have also chosen to home school, and be encouraged that you are not alone in this journey. Come and enjoy. I’ll be there.

Pertinent and Helpful Links

THSC Southwest Convention & Family Conference

The Woodlands Waterway Marriott

The Woodlands Trolley

Spray & Play Parks:
Timarron
Sawmill

Kayaking on Waterway

The Woodlands Mall

Boat taxis

Woodlands Waterway (literal waterway)

Cynthia Woods Pavilion

The post Healing Tradition appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

Unsurprisingly, this organization has sponsored legislation to expand this lawsuit abuse. If passed, their legislation would allow any parent, no matter how fit or loving, to lose his or her children to vindictive grandparents simply because of the choice to home school.

As mentioned in an earlier post, Never See Them Again?, THSC is involved in a court battle to bring rogue CPS caseworkers to justice. These caseworkers essentially kidnapped a Houston grandmother’s grandchildren and kept them for 11 months in order to protect their own job security.

THSC is fighting to vindicate this Houston grandmother and, more importantly, to hold these rogue bureaucrats accountable for violating the law and to show others that there is a price to pay for such abuse.

That’s where you come in. Being a non-profit organization, THSC receives its financial support to engage in this battle directly from the citizens whom it defends. If defending liberty were free, we would have no reason to ask for your help. Unfortunately, it’s one of the most mentally and financially draining battles that any organization or individual can undertake.

With only 15 days left in the Texas legislative session, we need your help. THSC needs $50,000 in order to support our work to defeat these bills that would destroy the very fabric of our homes and to continue our legal battles in the courtroom to protect families.

Your support will make an immediate difference. Please give $50, $100, $500, $1,500, or even $3,500 today.

Join or renew your membership before May 17th and receive an audio download of the best talks by our president, Tim Lambert, and his wife Lyndsay. Just use the Membership Promo Code: “Spring2013″ on the online membership application form. Make a donation of $100 or more and you will also receive these audio presentations.
 
 

   Donate Today!         Join THSC Today!   

The post She was only six years old appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

We spoke to Susan King, the House author of SB 303, who said that hospitals have better judgment than parents as to whether their child should continue to receive life-support treatment. This bill takes away the parents’ authority to make important healthcare decisions for their child and gives that authority to a doctor.

SB 303 grants doctors complete immunity from lawsuits from DNRs. Legal liability for DNR orders would hold the doctor responsible for their actions. Removing liability removes accountability.

Doesn’t the bill require notification before a DNR order is placed?
Doctors must give notification of a DNR order unless the patient’s death is considered “imminent,” but notification is not consent. Even if the doctor notifies the parent of the DNR, the parent can do NOTHING.

Can the hospital still remove artificially administered food and water?
Yes. SB 303 allows doctors to remove the artificially administered nutrition and hydration from a sick patient if the treatments: [Section 166.046(e)]

1. Hasten the patient’s death,
2. “Exacerbate other major medical problems not outweighed by the benefit of the provision of the treatment,”
3. “Result in substantial irremediable physical pain or discomfort not outweighed by the benefit of the provision of the treatment,” or
4. Are “Be medically ineffective in prolonging the patient’s life.”

Only the child’s family should have the authority to decide whether to withdraw the life-sustaining nutrition.

Are there beneficial aspects to the bill?
As with many controversial bills, SB 303 contains both positive and negative elements. For instance, the bill requires that a doctor give notice of a DNR order. Additionally, the bill extends the time that a patient has to transfer hospitals before life-sustaining treatment is withdrawn. Currently, a family has 10 days to transfer their child to another hospital. SB 303 extends the time clock to 21 days. However, the Texas Right to Life has helped 80 families through the transfer process and very few can complete the transfer process within 21 days.

Contact your Representative in opposition to this hospital euthanasia bill. Doctors should not have the power to issue death sentences in the form of Do Not Resuscitate orders against the will of the patient and the patient’s family.

For a comprehensive comparison of the bill with the current law, see: http://goo.gl/irwgF

TAKE ACTION:

The bill passed the Senate and will receive a hearing in the house committee on Monday, May 13, 2013. Please contact the following committee members in opposition to the bill:

Chair: Lois Kolkhorst
(512) 463-0600

Vice Chair: Elliot Naishtat
(512) 463-0668

Garnet Coleman
(512) 463-0524

Nicole Collier
(512) 463-0716

Philip Cortez
(512) 463-0269

Sarah Davis
(512) 463-0389

Bobby Guerra
(512) 463-0578

Susan King
(512) 463-0718

Jodie Laubenberg
(512) 463-0186

J.D. Sheffield
(512) 463-0628

Bill Zedler
(512) 463-0374

The post SB 303: Doctors of Death appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

Four Angels were named to the All-American Team: seniors Josh Bilello, Kenan Davis, and Dillon Smith and junior Andrew Brechner.

Pictured:
Kneeling L-R: Josh Bilello, Nolan Withrow, Nathan Hall, Jaime Lovell, Caleb Holleman, Jake Preston, Kenan Davis
Standing L-R: Head Coach David Lovell, Jamie Andriot, Dillon Smith, Nathan Shorman, Caleb Pollard, Matthew Fusselman, Jordan Weeks, Andrew Brechner, Asst. Coach Ken Goode

The post Congratulations to Home School World Series Winners! appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.