Statement from Glen Moody
Independent Candidate for the
Tennessee House District 2
(October 2002)

Yesterday, Lloyd Daugherty, president of the Tennessee Conservative Union came up from Knoxville to give me his personal endorsement for the 2nd House seat. I have also been endorsed by the Tennessee Taxpayer Revolt. I have sought the endorsement of Tennessee Right to Life and the National Rifle Assn; unfortunately neither of them sent surveys to the Independent candidates. Both of those groups did not endorse either of my opponents, but failed to list my name.

For 28 years I have operated a Christian bookstore and for the past dozen or so of those years I have provided products for the homeschool market. My children attended Tri-Cities Christian Schools through 8th and 10th grades respectively. At that time we moved them to public schools because of a financial obligation. They have both attended private Christian colleges where a large percent of the students were homeschooled.

I have been an activist on family issues since the early 1980's. Since 1995 I have promoted legislative issues that have designed to protect the rights of homeschoolers. I have lobbied state and federal legislators to pass laws that restrict infringement on homeschoolers and that protect their rights.

As an elected public school board member since 1999 I have taken much criticism from local and state school board members because I vocally protect and defend the rights of homeschoolers. For many years I have encouraged parents to homeschool their children and I have assisted in providing the materials and guidance for them to do that.

I oppose compulsory education laws at any level, but I try to follow the laws as much as possible without conscientious objection. I believe in and promote the ideas of "smaller government." Although I do not believe that government should be involved in education at all, I am not attempting to destroy public education------I believe it is doing that well enough by itself.

My promotion of homeschooling is more on a one on one basic, like most folks do. When a parent complains to me about public schooling, I ALWAYS explain to the parent that "public schooling" is not the best option for their child. I further explain that "homeschooling" is the best way to educate our children, if at all possible and practical; that if homeschooling is not "possible" then the parents should consider "private schooling." If neither homeschooling or private schooling are possible from the parents perspective, then public schooling is the only option left.

Keep in mind that I am making this recommendation as a public school board member, as a parent, and as a person who has a B.A. and M.A. in (Christian) education.

In conclusion, I have fought School to Work legislation and implementation on the federal, state, and local level. I have fought it at my own school board meetings and at chamber of commerce meetings. I have made speeches on STW at civic clubs, churches and at our local Board of Mayor and Alderman meetings.

I have a well known track record of supporting home schooling and private schooling and I have received a great deal of criticism from the "status quo' for doing so.

Because coordinating homeschoolers is like "herding cats," many homeschoolers may not have known or heard about the work that I have done to defend their rights and promote their activities. I don't take out ads to tell folks what I have done for them. If they want to know about it, the evidence is clear enough.

Thanks

Glen Moody
glenmoody@chartertn.net
Kingsport, TN
2nd House District Candidate--Independent