As we celebrate Black History month, I was struck with a podcast from The American Story, a project of The Claremont Institute. It is an excellent and very interesting podcast that is a great resource for those interested in American history and would be a good listen for homeschool families at only six or seven minutes long. I highly recommend it.
The particular episode that made me think of Black History Month was episode 132 which tells the story of President Abraham Lincoln and his decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation which would free slaves in the Confederate States on New Year’s Day in 1863.
It was a historic day and one celebrated by Abolitionists across the country as well as leaders like Frederick Douglass who spoke to a huge crowd in Boston. To many, it seemed like the culmination of a decades-long struggle, but it was not without opposition. The Democratic governor of New York denounced it as did others. It was controversial even in Republican circles.
Politically, Lincoln’s reelection was uncertain, as was the outcome of the war and even whether The U.S. Supreme Court would uphold the proclamation. It was a bold, and many thought, dangerous move.
Of course, today on this side of history, we know the outcome and we also know the continued efforts over decades to bring America to a fuller expression of The Declaration of Independence proclamation that “…all men are created equal.”
As I reflected on these great actions and God’s hand in our country’s history, I could not help but contemplate two other great efforts. Currently pending before the US Supreme Court is a case that is the result of a decades-long battle. This one to secure the life of the unborn.
Should the court in this case reject its earlier ruling allowing abortion on demand, it will not be the end of the battle for life but will only shift the next battles to individual states just as the Emancipation Proclamation began the long effort to end discrimination against black people in this country.
Another thought that came to me on reflection of this history was that the number of homeschoolers in this country has grown fastest in the last few years among Black families. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Black homeschool students quadrupled in 2020 alone.
More and more Black families are choosing the freedom of teaching their own children at home. That is not only good for families and children but also good for our country.
Do you want to stay informed about parental rights? THSC believes that parents should be empowered to raise and educate the next generation of leaders. As a THSC member, we support your family to do just that! Join THSC today and sign up for our newsletters to stay up-to-date.
Tim Lambert, THSC President
Tim Lambert, has been the president of the Texas Home School Coalition since 1990 and involved in homeschool leadership since 1984. He and his wife Lyndsay taught their four now-grown children at home for 16 years, graduating the last two in 2000. As the head of the organization for the leading home school state in the country, he is recognized as an authority on home education issues.
Tim has testified before numerous Texas legislative committees on issues related to homeschooling and often deals with state government agencies, including the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. He has also addressed such conferences as the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers on the topic. He holds a B.A. in political science from Texas Tech University and is active in the political arena, serving eight years as Republican National Committeeman for Texas. Tim is committed to serving the homeschooling community and to protecting parents’ right to choose the method of education of their children.
As we celebrate Black History month, I was struck with a podcast from The American Story, a project of The Claremont Institute. It is an excellent and very interesting podcast that is a great resource for those interested in American history and would be a good listen for homeschool families at only six or seven minutes long. I highly recommend it.
The particular episode that made me think of Black History Month was episode 132 which tells the story of President Abraham Lincoln and his decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation which would free slaves in the Confederate States on New Year’s Day in 1863.
It was a historic day and one celebrated by Abolitionists across the country as well as leaders like Frederick Douglass who spoke to a huge crowd in Boston. To many, it seemed like the culmination of a decades-long struggle, but it was not without opposition. The Democratic governor of New York denounced it as did others. It was controversial even in Republican circles.
Politically, Lincoln’s reelection was uncertain, as was the outcome of the war and even whether The U.S. Supreme Court would uphold the proclamation. It was a bold, and many thought, dangerous move.
Of course, today on this side of history, we know the outcome and we also know the continued efforts over decades to bring America to a fuller expression of The Declaration of Independence proclamation that “…all men are created equal.”
As I reflected on these great actions and God’s hand in our country’s history, I could not help but contemplate two other great efforts. Currently pending before the US Supreme Court is a case that is the result of a decades-long battle. This one to secure the life of the unborn.
Should the court in this case reject its earlier ruling allowing abortion on demand, it will not be the end of the battle for life but will only shift the next battles to individual states just as the Emancipation Proclamation began the long effort to end discrimination against black people in this country.
Another thought that came to me on reflection of this history was that the number of homeschoolers in this country has grown fastest in the last few years among Black families. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Black homeschool students quadrupled in 2020 alone.
More and more Black families are choosing the freedom of teaching their own children at home. That is not only good for families and children but also good for our country.
Do you want to stay informed about parental rights? THSC believes that parents should be empowered to raise and educate the next generation of leaders. As a THSC member, we support your family to do just that! Join THSC today and sign up for our newsletters to stay up-to-date.
Tim Lambert, THSC President
Tim Lambert, has been the president of the Texas Home School Coalition since 1990 and involved in homeschool leadership since 1984. He and his wife Lyndsay taught their four now-grown children at home for 16 years, graduating the last two in 2000. As the head of the organization for the leading home school state in the country, he is recognized as an authority on home education issues.
Tim has testified before numerous Texas legislative committees on issues related to homeschooling and often deals with state government agencies, including the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. He has also addressed such conferences as the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers on the topic. He holds a B.A. in political science from Texas Tech University and is active in the political arena, serving eight years as Republican National Committeeman for Texas. Tim is committed to serving the homeschooling community and to protecting parents’ right to choose the method of education of their children.
