Unshakeable

Chapter 1

The Legislature

Garrett Radke sat motionless in the gallery of the Alberta Legislature, straining to catch every word of the debate following the motion of third reading for Bill 16. He particularly

monitored those Members whom he had classified as undecided, trying to predict on which side their vote would fall. As another Member of the Legislative Assembly rose, Garrett focused his attention on the heavy-set man wearing a somewhat rumpled grey suit. Dean Morley. Garrett knew well enough this man’s stance on the bill.

“Mr. Speaker, we have dragged our feet on this issue long enough. For years Canada has failed to keep up with international standards for education by allowing some of our children to fall through the cracks. In the past few months, all the other provinces have seen the value of moving forward with similar legislation, and it’s time we do the same. Mr. Speaker, parents are just not equipped to be able to give children the quality of education they deserve. In this day and age, we cannot afford to allow our children’s future to be jeopardized by not adequately preparing them to interact within the global community. And we certainly cannot grant parents the right to teach intolerance or to shield children from learning values in keeping with our diverse and progressive society.”

As Morley continued, a growing sensation of dread seemed

to encircle Garrett’s heart in its vice-like grip, drawing his attention to the palpitations hammering inside his chest. His temples started to throb. Garrett took a deep breath then exhaled slowly, willing the tension in his chest to ease. His hands gripped the arms of his chair as he focused on the drama playing out in the Chamber below. It remained all Garrett could do to bite his tongue to keep from addressing the Speaker of the House himself, wanting desperately to add his voice to the mix.

Not that they hadn’t heard his convictions on the matter. During the past month, his family had spent much time lobbying at the Legislature, along with nearly 4,000 other persistent voices. They had written letters, visited their MLAs, and spoken to as many as would give them a few minutes of their time. Many MLAs had resorted to ducking out back doors or escaping through the underground Pedway to avoid getting caught among the mass of families on the wide, granite steps of the Alberta Legislature Building. The lobbyists had often been barred from entering the building because of the size of the crowd. But today the seats in the gallery were full, and concerned parents packed the rotunda downstairs, awaiting the outcome of today’s vote. How many of those who had been denied entrance due to capacity restrictions still waited on the stone steps outside, Garrett could only guess.

The battle raged on as Garrett watched, thankful to be one of those who had gained entrance to the gallery, yet feeling helpless to do anything more to sway the vote than the families waiting downstairs could do—pray! When the Speaker recognized a Member from Calgary to address the Assembly, Garrett offered up a silent prayer on his behalf.

Wyatt Goodman had proved to be one of the homeschoolers’ most ardent allies over the last month. Though his own children had graduated from a Christian school, one of the key issues that had drawn Mr. Goodman into politics had been the government’s heavy-handedness in forcing all private schools into full alignment with government programming and subjecting them to public school board control three years ago, in essence amalgamating the systems. Over the years, many Christian schools had willingly forfeited their freedom to use biblically-based curriculum and had gradually sacrificed their autonomy in exchange for government accreditation and funding, making the eventual elimination of independent, Christian schools much easier. During his short time in office, Wyatt had become a defender of biblical family values within the Legislature, often leading to his being ostracized by the media. If anyone could sway the minds of those undecided on the issue, Garrett prayed Wyatt would.

“Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart I stand here today. I never thought I’d live to see so many of the rights and freedoms that Canadians have held dear stripped away. Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms is no longer worth the paper it was written on. Mr. Speaker, I’ve sat here and listened to Bill 16 being defended on the grounds of teaching tolerance and respect, while showing blatant intolerance for the family values of those being accused of intolerance. If the Members of this Assembly truly believe in diversity, then why are they so afraid to allow parents the right to teach their children any values that differ from their own? To force citizens to accept one set of values determined by any governing body that holds the power to wield the sword does not reflect tolerance or diversity. I wish to submit to you, Mr. Speaker, that what such an oppressive act does reflect is nothing more than tyranny.” Ignoring jeers from his opponents, Wyatt continued.

“Today I’ve heard the ability of these parents to educate their children repeatedly questioned and belittled.” With a wave of his arm, Mr. Goodman directed the Members’ attention to the families watching from the gallery above. “Mr. Speaker, who in this Assembly when entering this building during the last month, hasn’t passed by these parents and their children gathered daily on the steps of the Legislature? Have the Honourable Members taken the time to listen to them and find out their concerns?”

Mr. Goodman bent down to reach under his desk. He lifted a sizeable box and proceeded to dump its contents. Envelopes scattered in disarray across the desk’s surface and spilled onto the floor. A rumble of objection erupted as he emptied a second box in like manner.

“Order,” the Speaker of the House called as he eyed the mess on the floor. “Honourable Member from Calgary, if you could continue without the disruption to the Assembly please.”

“Yes, Mr. Speaker.” Wyatt cleared his throat. “I want to know how many in this Assembly, like I, have received thousands of letters from fathers, mothers, and children writing to request we respect their rights as families? I know for a fact they all have, but have they read them? Yet, despite witnessing these families’ dedication and perseverance first hand, Members of this Assembly have the audacity to question whether these parents are committed to giving their children a quality education!

“Mr. Speaker, the family unit is the core foundation of any society, and without strong families, our society will crumble. That is why it is crucial that we build up our families rather than tear them down. We need to uphold parental rights to determine what is in the best interest of their own children. Any legislative body with the arrogance to trample the rights and freedoms of families in order to dictate the affairs of the home, has far overstepped its mandate. The fact that there are those seated in this room who are prepared to do just that, I find incomprehensible.”

Again, a rumble of dissent from numerous MLAs disrupted the proceedings.

Garrett felt a tinge of hope as Mr. Goodman finished his

passionate speech. When the man sat down, Garrett glanced around the Assembly trying to gauge the effect of his words on those seated in the Chamber. Many sat with stone-faced indifference; several glared angrily at Goodman from across the room. Others shifted in their chairs as though their padded seats had suddenly grown intolerably uncomfortable. Garrett thought about William Wilberforce, the famous Member of Parliament who had faced great animosity throughout his tireless battle to abolish the slave trade within the British Empire, and he wondered about the toll Wyatt’s term in office had taken on him thus far. With a twinge of regret, Garrett realized how little he had thought over the years to pray for the godly men doing battle on his behalf during their terms in government.

“Are there any other speakers to the third reading of Bill 16?” The Speaker of the House paused, but this time the MLAs remained still. “The Honourable Minister of Education to close the debate.”

Jay Holbrook, the sponsor of the bill, stood. “Mr. Speaker, I thank the Honourable Members for their lively discussion and recognize that there are strong opinions on both sides of this issue. While acknowledging their concerns, I believe it is time for Alberta to take this step to ensure that the education of all our children will meet global standards. I move we call the question, Mr. Speaker.”

A small, cool hand brushed down his forearm and gripped the back of his hand. Glancing to his right, Garrett saw the strain in his wife’s pale features and the apprehension in her eyes. He released his hold on the chair to grasp her fingers, giving them a gentle squeeze. Annalise studied his face as though trying to decipher his thoughts on how the vote would go. Garrett merely shrugged. It would be too close to predict the outcome.

At the sound of the Speaker addressing the Assembly, Garrett turned to peer over the rail once more. He studied the aged gentleman standing in front of his magnificent chair at the front of the room. A Canadian flag stood to his right and the Alberta flag on his left. The voices, which had been vying for attention moments before, had hushed as the eighty-seven Members stirred in their large, padded chairs that flanked either side of the room. With every muscle taut and a silent prayer on his lips, Garrett watched as the Members voted in response to the directives of the Speaker. When the voice vote proved too close for the outcome to be determined, a division was called, forcing the Members to vote a second time and be counted.

“Forty-eight for and thirty-nine against,” the clerk reported after the vote had been recorded.

“Accordingly, so ordered and so carried,” the Speaker announced with devastating finality.

A muffled groan escaped the crowd in the gallery as though releasing their collective breath all in the same moment—the only tangible sound emanating from a group that had sat in respectful silence throughout the long afternoon. Wyatt Goodman lowered his head with a look of defeat, and a few sympathetic MLAs glanced up toward the dejected observers. Leaning back in his chair, Garrett sat in stunned silence. How could they do it? How could these forty-eight elected officials, with one broad stroke of their pen, wipe out parental rights as though our children belonged to the state? All that remained was for the Lieutenant Governor to give his Royal Assent and the Compulsory Government School Act would be law in Alberta.

For these parents to continue to educate from a biblical perspective at home, would mean they must break the law. But to keep the law, they’d be forced to violate their convictions and surrender their children to be discipled in a godless system. Over the years, Garrett had grieved for the families around the globe who’d lost their freedom to homeschool due to the escalating battle for the minds of children. A battle fuelled by a growing socialist mindset and the international influence of organizations like UNESCO, an agency of the United Nations. As a result, countless Christian children had fallen prey to a powerful, global agenda—one that was incompatible with biblical truth.

Garrett could see the exhaustion on the faces of his friends seated throughout the gallery. They had fought hard and lost. Turning to Annalise, he noticed the tears trailing down her cheeks as he looked in her sorrowful eyes. “You okay?” he whispered the words. Annalise shook her head, a single pitiful sob escaping through her tightly clenched lips. He released her hand to encircle her shoulders and pull her toward him. Her head found refuge against his chest as her emotions gave way and she trembled quietly within his embrace. Of course she’s not okay. None of us are okay with what happened here today, Garrett thought, a burst of anger welling up inside. But those in the gallery had been restricted to silence through the long ordeal, and he remained powerless to say more for the moment.

Garrett felt numb from the surge of emotions battling inside him, and the motion for adjournment coming from the floor barely registered on his overwrought senses. No longer drawn to the proceedings below, his focus now turned to comforting his wife. Once the Sergeant-at-Arms escorted the Speaker out of the Chamber, the MLAs rose noisily and began collecting their things—probably eager to get to their supper. Or were they just eager to escape the accusing eyes in the gallery? Bill 16 had been the last item on the Order Papers for the day. The government had probably been hoping some onlookers in the crowded gallery would get tired and go home, leaving them free to discuss the fate of the homeschool families with fewer spectators. But if that had been their goal, they had failed.

“You ready to get out of here?” Garrett lowered his head to peer into his wife’s face.

Annalise nodded and lifted her head from his shoulder. “We need to call the kids. They’ll see the results online and be upset.” She dabbed at her eyes with a soaked tissue before clutching her purse.

Garrett gently grasped her arm and helped her to her feet. The quiet tension in the gallery had given way to a hum of voices as clusters of homeschoolers made their way to the door. Though specific threads of conversation were lost in the general noise of the room, tones of anger and frustration were evident.

Garrett paused to look again over the gallery rail as he waited for those on his right to clear the aisle. He watched as Wyatt Goodman stooped to collect the letters off the floor he’d dumped from his box earlier. Most of the MLAs had already managed to exit the Chamber, but two of Wyatt’s colleagues had remained to help him—men Garrett recognized from among those who had voted to defeat the bill. Despite the loss experienced today, these men deserved his appreciation—something he’d been unable to express during the session.

With a wave of his arm, Garrett caught Wyatt’s attention as he lifted a box full of envelopes once again to his desk. The MLA looked at Garrett, an expression of regret clouding his face. Garrett had talked with this godly man on several occasions and knew he had done his best to rally support for their cause.

“Thank you,” Garrett called down from the rail, with a nod toward the man.

Others along the rail turned at his words and noticed Wyatt standing below. A couple men started to clap. A moment later, conversations in the gallery halted and slowly those still in the tiered balcony shifted to face the man who had passionately fought for their rights. The sound of their clapping filled the room, and Wyatt stood visibly fighting for control of his emotions. The angry tension from a moment before lifted as the group paused to be thankful. Yes, forty-eight MLAs had voted against them, but thirty-nine had supported their right to homeschool. They must not forget those who had stood on their behalf.

A more subdued crowd filed out of the gallery and made their way down two flights of stairs. As the Radkes reached the rotunda, Garrett noticed a group of parents from the Morlington area huddled beside the large, circular fountain in the middle of the room. Regimental Colours hung from the railings above, spaced between marble pillars circling the rotunda to either side of the Grand Staircase leading up to the Legislative Assembly Chamber.

“It looks like a lot of the families have already left,” Garrett mentioned.

“Can’t say I blame them. Standing on marble slabs all afternoon would not be very comfortable.” Annalise glanced around her. “Besides, there wouldn’t have been room for everyone to get through here.”

“Do you want to stop and see the Jacobsons and Lomonds?” Garrett pointed toward the group by the fountain.

“Just for a minute, I’m tired.”

“Not the outcome we’ve prayed for.” Garrett stepped close to the fountain behind Rand and Lanna Jacobson, so as not to block the flow of traffic.

Rand turned to shake Garrett’s hand. “Nope, and the law takes effect in the fall. That leaves us four months. I don’t see a way around this one.”

Garrett shook his head. “We can pray and work hard to counter the indoctrination at home, but I can’t believe God wants our kids in those schools.”

“He doesn’t,” Rand stated matter-of-factly, “but since when has our government been following God’s principles? I heard Goodman had quite the speech though. I’ll have to listen to it online.”

“Be sure to do that,” Garrett told him.

“Are your kids all at home?” Lanna leaned close to Annalise to be heard above the crowd.

“Yes, we only reserved two seats in the gallery to allow more parents in. Plus, we knew it would be a long day.”

“We didn’t get in the gallery, so Janessa and Tanner came with us. They headed outside for some fresh air. Braydon and Sierra are looking after our younger ones at home. It’s been such a crazy month with all the driving back and forth. I’m glad it’s over and we can get back to a normal routine.” Lanna sighed and gave Annalise’s shoulder a squeeze.

“Come fall, that’s about to change.” Annalise swiped at her eyes to ward off the tears.

Garrett knew his wife had had enough for today. “We need to grab something to eat and head home. Most of the kids will be waiting up for us, so I don’t want to be too late. Our local group should get together soon to discuss the outcome.”

“Sure thing.” Rand nodded. “We need to find our two and head home as well.”

When they reached the car, Annalise called to let the kids know they were on their way. She did her best to reassure fourteen-year-old Delaney and promised to discuss things fully when they got there. Garrett pulled into a drive-through to save time, then handed the food to his wife. He refrained from eating his meal, except for a few sampled french fries at a stoplight, so he could keep two hands on the wheel as he maneuvered through the heavy traffic. Once clear of the city, he was able to enjoy his food.

“You’ve been twiddling that same french fry for five minutes now. If you’re not going to eat, you might as well tell me what you’re thinking.” Garrett took another bite of his hamburger and waited.
“I don’t get it. We prayed so hard. I thought for sure after

Wyatt Goodman spoke today that God would use his words to change people’s minds.” Annalise set down the fry and shoved her barely touched meal aside.

Garrett thought for a moment before responding. “Maybe God is using Wyatt’s words to change our minds.”

“What? We already agree with what Wyatt said!”

“I know, but maybe God is using Wyatt to encourage the homeschool families we’re doing the right thing and not to give up.” Garrett licked a drip of ketchup from his finger. “I don’t know; I can’t get his words out of my head. He’s right. The government doesn’t have the authority to overthrow the parental rights God has given us.”

“Well they just did, and unless you’re planning on breaking the law, we have no choice.” Annalise closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the headrest, reaching to massage her temples as she did so.

“Maybe God is calling us to break the law…”

Annalise’s eyes flew back open, and she bolted upright. “You can’t be serious!”

Garrett studied his wife from the corner of his eye, deciding whether to continue now or wait until he’d had a chance to sleep on the idea that had been rolling around in his mind since they’d left the Legislature. “It’s just a thought, and I need to do some serious praying about it, but when man’s law contradicts God’s law, whom are we supposed to follow? I believe God would never want me to willingly turn my children over to be trained in that pagan system. Breaking the law may be our only choice—our only way to fight it at this stage.”

“But Garrett, what would they do? We’ve heard plenty of stories of families in other countries who have been put in jail or had their children taken away. Would they do that here?”

“Maybe. It might take a court battle to overturn this law.”

“And what if we lose…” Annalise sank back against her seat and turned to stare out the front window.

“Honey, right now I don’t know exactly what God is asking us to do; I just know we should be willing to listen. Many people throughout history have battled to uphold God’s truth and guarantee our freedoms. Some lost their battles and others won, but they were faithful to stand. I need to do the same.” Garrett’s voice broke, and he took a moment to gain control. “I’m not considering this lightly, Annalise, and if God is calling us to challenge this law, we need to be prepared for the risks. I will do all in my power to protect you and the kids.”

Tears rolled down Annalise’s cheeks once again as she reached to place her hand on Garrett’s knee. Releasing the wheel with his right hand, he moved to grasp her fingers. Just maybe this battle wasn’t over. Could it be that the true battle was about to begin?