I sit here contemplating, which story will captivate the public most. Which tragedy will bring an end to the years of neglect and abuse I, and many other children in this nation have faced? No child in the United States of America should go through what we, the "Invisible Children" have gone through. Though I wish to brush aside my own trauma, I cannot stand idly by anymore. I think of the Bledsoe boy, who was beaten before he could even walk by his father Melvin. You see Melvin lived in the state of Idaho where, despite pleading guilty to prior abuse, he was allowed to homeschool his son. Melvin would go on to starve, imprison, and torture his young heir. Only discovered by authorities after his son was taken to the hospital for a series of near-fatal injuries. I think of the sheer incompetence of Oregon law: In 2011 Shannon and Dale Hickman served 6 years in prison for the manslaughter of their infant son. After their release, the Hickmans were still permitted to homeschool their other child. Whom the abuse would be so great both Shannon and Dale were convicted of Felony abuse. I often pondered as a child going through abuse myself: "How could this be allowed? Why is there no one to save me?". What about Trinity Love, who was pulled from public school and brutally abused and then murdered less than a year later by her mother? This taking place in one of the most Democratic (therefore stricter on homeschooling) states in America, California. How can this be permitted to happen? Since 2000, 423 cases of extreme homeschool abuse or neglect have made the news. Out of those 423 cases, 191 of them resulted in a fatality. Because there is no oversight, the only statistics on homeschool abuse come from news articles and general media. Thousands of us have suffered and are currently suffering from similar abuse. If Ratified by the U.S. Congress, the UNCRC would put an end to this form of abuse and many others. In several countries, that have ratified the UNCRC, homeschooling is considered illegal (Bar special circumstances I.e. disability). At the bare minimum, a much more intrusive oversight committee must be created. This is an absolute necessity if we are to continue allowing our children to be educated solely by their parents. 

The UNCRC's ratification would give every child a right to: A fair education, health and access to health services, life and development, parental care, and protection against abuse and neglect. The UNCRC would allow children to be treated as human beings, something America sadly lacks. As it currently stands you are not legally obligated to allow your child: Freedom of religion, expression, association, and peaceful assembly. These freedoms are the very basics of humanity. Without them, we have no identity. The CRC also calls for protection against children who may face exploitation: economic, sexual, and other forms of exploitation such as; torture. Keep in mind that these are all basic human rights. Rights we as adults do have. These are rights that the UN, and all 195 supporting countries, are currently enacting and enforcing internationally. No child should have to fear being who they truly are. You can find additional information on the UNCRC by following this link: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R40484/25#:~:text=It%20defines%20a%20child%20as,and%20freedom%20from%20exploitation%2C%20torture%2C

There are thousands of children suffering today, and there will continue to be thousands more unless we take a stand. The public education system must be overhauled. The UNCRC's ratification would raise the education floor significantly, not only affecting homeschoolers but also public and private school attendees. The United States would effectively be forced to give every child a good and fair education or face legal ramifications. This means removing gerrymandered school districts, increasing school funding, providing students with transportation, housing, food, etc. In general, basic rights for children opens the door for many who may feel lost or were otherwise left out of society. Whether due to economic, racial, familial, or other discriminatory reasons. This really is a no-brainer, and should have been signed into law in 1990. Unfortunately in America, there are those who believe children are property. I myself was raised by Evangelic Extremists who sought to force me into their religion. I was born an Agnostic and there was nothing they could do to change that about me. But boy did they try. I first denied believing at the age of nine, and was promptly beaten for it. I was hit so many times my mother demanded my father stop. For nearly the rest of my childhood, I was forced into an isolation akin to torture. All I had was my room, non-secular books, and a few Legos. I wasn't allowed to have friends who weren't extremely into Christianity. So thus, I never had a true friend. Anytime I spoke to someone non-religious my father would find an excuse to never see them again. Physical and verbal abuse was constant throughout. I spent almost the entirety of my childhood only interacting with those inside my parent's religious circle. I vividly remember begging my parents to let me be normal, to let me go to regular school. I begged so hard tears fell from my eyes. It drove me to near madness. Much like many of the children who experienced isolation torture, I now suffer from PTSD (https://www.tdcaa.com/wp-content/uploads/Knox-Torture-as-a-Form-of-Child-Abuse-article.pdf) Luckily for me, my parents could not teach me math after grade school. This led to me receiving a laptop with which I quickly learned to mask my trail. With this new tool, I educated myself, using the internet instead of trusting the creationist views of my parent's teachings. I socialized myself using the web, often escaping through video games my computer could barely run. Back then the only people in my life who truly knew me were internet strangers I'd never met. When I outgrew my father's height (an impressive 5"6) he stopped physically "Disciplining" me and instead would threaten me. Backing me down and throwing things in fits of rage. The first time I can remember was when he made me cut off all my friends. Every single one. All because a 15-year-old boy named Tay messaged me asking to play CS, little did he know my father was on my computer at the time. I don't have to explain how insane that sounds to read back now. I just wish I didn't listen, I still miss them sometimes... There's so much more but this isn't just about me. This is about making things right, so no child has to go through what I and many others did. This is unacceptable, the way I was raised. We are the United States of America, we're supposed to be the most free country in the world. And yet, somehow, children here have no rights. Children born into extremist families deserve a fair education a fair life. The rest of the world agrees: children are humans, and children deserve rights. I as a citizen of this nation and a survivor of child abuse and neglect, will not rest until America ratifies the UNCRC or creates a Bill of rights for Children.  I am looking for those who will join me in championing this cause. I may not have the resources yet, but I have the words and the voice. Join me and together we will change this nation for the good of our children. Together we must demand our President and Congress address this injustice. I was once an invisible child, but now I demand to be seen. 

Whether you're a survivor, or merely interested in helping our cause do not hesitate to reach out here: therevolutionaryhat@gmail.com 

I also recommend current and former homeschooled students facing abuse to check out this forum: https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeschoolRecovery/

If you suspect you are currently being abused please call the CPS hotline: 800-422-4453