Speech
Home School Convention
Remarks of Governor Judy Martz
State Capitol
3/24/2003
Thank you so much for inviting me here. And, congratulations for coming together today to learn from one another, to gain insight from home school leaders, and to build a strong base from which your children can learn and grow.
As we gather today, we have been at war for six days. Our dedicated men and women in uniform have put their lives on the line for the protection of our safety and freedom, both here at home and abroad.
Many of our dedicated soldiers are sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, fathers, mothers or neighbors of those of you here in this rotunda today.
I’d like to us to pause for a moment of silence in support of our men and women overseas and those here at home supporting them – as well as their families. It is because of them that we have the opportunity today to stand here in the hallowed halls of this capitol.
Thank you. And my sincere thanks to those of you who have family members in the service for the sacrifices you make each and every day.
As each and every one of you in this room knows, we must show our full and complete support for our military personnel.
We are blessed with outstanding service men and women.
Again, I thank each you who have family members in our armed forces.
I thank you for the sacrifices you are making to ensure the protection of Montana, and of America.
As you are all aware, this may be a prolonged action, requiring the extended dedication and commitment of our men and women in uniform, and the extended support of all of us.
That very fact makes all events in this capitol much more somber – but by the same token – it also makes events like this all the more important.
And thanks to each of you for being here as we celebrate home school days in the state’s capitol.
[gardener story – relate to the role that each of us has to educate our children – to nurture and help them grow]
I adhere to what President Reagan said, “Parents have a natural and inalienable right to educate their children, publicly and privately as they see fit, and that right should be recognized and encouraged.”
President Bush also respected this by making sure you could work without intrusion from the No Child Left Behind Act.
And as you know, because of your hard work, SB 276 the effort to bring that testing to your group was tabled.
You, as Montana Home Educators, work cooperatively to continue to enhance home schooling in the state. What that tells me is that you are not a political group, but a true coalition, concerned with one thing: children.
I am continually impressed with the results of your efforts. You work with the groups and individuals needed to directly ensure success of your mission.
And your continued presence during the legislative sessions has ensured that your choice is preserved.
This commitment and hard work is what it took to develop and promoted passage of the home school law in 1991. ///
I recognize that you have a shared belief that parents have to take the ultimate responsibility for the education and development of their children.
Montana has a strong home schooling tradition. Your hard work has earned the respect of many people. You continue today to hold firm to your mission for the betterment of your child’s education.
And your hard work has also paid off in education of your children.
Especially in rural communities like most in Montana, the influence of home and community efforts in a child’s education serves to greatly enhance their overall education, and it is this combined effort that keeps Montana students at the top of the ranks in many educational categories.
You also look after the other items that come with a well-rounded education. Much of this comes from the hard work of your local support groups.
There are over fifty (50) support groups across Montana. Some areas have monthly newsletters that list upcoming activities and news.
Often, I have the opportunity to meet with home schooled and public school students from throughout the state.
I hope that while each one of you are here, you take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about how government operates in our state. You have an opportunity to gain insight – ‘on the job training’, so to speak – and this learning experience will greatly improve your ability to make your voices heard throughout state government.
I can think of no better opportunity for children and adults alike to share in the legislative process. Find your legislators. Spend time with them. Share with them your ideas and hopes – your issues and concerns. That is what they and all of us are here for. You elected us to serve on your behalf, and we serve at your pleasure.
In addition to experiences like your visit to the legislative session, sports, the arts, and community service through groups like 4-H are not lost in the home school decision.
That means you are ensuring a great variety of benefits for your children. A safe environment, a supportive atmosphere, and rigorous academic instruction, make for a well-rounded child that is prepared for today’s fast-paced world.
You – and your children – are very lucky.
There are now over thirty six hundred home school students that are receiving this special way of life.
Education is a top priority for this administration, and we greatly appreciate your work to ensure a top quality education for our students.
I hope that you will join with us as we work to address educational issues and economic development together.
By the same token, a variety of educational alternatives means that parents have a reason to stay here and raise their families in Big Sky Country. Working together, we can and will improve our economy, our education, while maintaining our rural way of life.
Thank you for the invitation to join you here for this special celebration. May God bless each and every one of you as you train your child in the way he should go, so that when they become older, they will not depart from it.
Thank you. Good day, and God bless.
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