Home Educator's Family Times - News, Views Today on the Net

Ride Herd

2008-03-31T13:13:00.002-04:00

How well are you (or any of us for that matter) following local school district policies
or regularly checking into the curriculum and scholarship of your local schools? This is
a good eye-opening commentary by Linda Schrock Taylor. J. Boswell

She writes:

I am stunned at how few citizens correctly evaluate government schools in America; at how many people misjudge their own local school districts. Parents are too often guilty of ignoring or recreating reality as they avoid the necessity of taking action. Too often parents are busy supporting their children in every kind of school activity…except those involving Reading, Writing, and ’Rithmetic. If children bring home A’s and B’s, all must been fine at school, right? Not always. Grade inflation has taken the meaning out of grades and scores. One only needs to teach freshman English classes at a college or university to remove any lingering doubts. However, the general population has neither the opportunities to see the whole picture, nor do they demand that policy makers and administrators keep them accurately informed. Remember, it is local school boards that are condoning and voting for policies that administrators request that they pass.

To read entire commentary, please click on the title above.

A Big Win for Judicial Supremacy, a Big Loss for Government Language Lawyers, and another Example of Real Change

2008-03-31T13:02:00.001-04:00

Newt Gingrich

Parents "do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children."

So wrote a California judge in a case that has ominous potential for the estimated one million-plus American families who have opted out of the public education monopoly and choose to educate their children at home.

Although the ruling is being appealed to the California Supreme Court, as it now stands, the 166,000 California children who are home schooled are truant, and their parents are criminals. Welcome, as the Wall Street Journal editorialized, to a "strange new chapter" in the "annals of judicial imperialism."

Dobson Calls Anti-Homeschooling Ruling "Assault" on Family

2008-03-07T10:43:00.002-05:00

March 6, 2008

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Focus on the Family Chairman James C. Dobson, Ph., D., today denounced as “an all-out assault on the family” a California appellate court ruling that could criminalize home schooling in the Golden State.

The decision, from the 2nd Appellate Court in Los Angeles, stemmed from a single case involving charges of abuse brought against a home schooling couple. Home school advocates agree that the couple in question, based on the facts of the case, should have lost their ability to educate their children at home – but add that the court overreached in applying the restrictions to all home schooling families.

To read article, please click on the title above.

Home Schooling Found Unlawful by California Court of Appeal

2008-03-07T10:24:00.001-05:00

City: Los Angeles, CA
In a stunning decision affecting thousands of families in California, the California Court of Appeal has issued an opinion finding no legal right to home school. "Parents who fail to [comply with school enrollment laws] may be subject to a criminal complaint against them, found guilty of an infraction, and subject to imposition of fines or an order to complete a parent education and counseling program," wrote Justice H. Walter Croskey whose opinion was joined by the other two members of the appellate panel. The opinion was issued February 28, 2008, in a case titled In re Rachel L., which reversed a Superior Court Judge, Stephen Marpet, who found that "parents have a constitutional right to school their children in their own home."

The parents of Rachel L. enrolled her in Sunland Christian School, a private home schooling program. In his opinion, Croskey, 75, described what he called the "ruse of enrolling [children] in a private school and then letting them stay home and be taught by a non-credentialed parent." Despite this statement by the Court, it should be noted that Sunland Christian School has been in full compliance with the requirements of the law for more than twenty years. "We've never been given an opportunity to represent our case in the Court of Appeal," said Terry Neven, the president of the school. "Consequently, we are excited that PJI will represent us before the California Supreme Court so that the rights of home schooling families are preserved," he stated further.

In a section titled "Consequences of Parental Denial of a Legal Education," the Court said that "parents are subject to being ordered to enroll their children in an appropriate school or education program and provide proof of enrollment to the court, and willful failure to comply with such an order may be punished by a fine for civil contempt."

"The scope of this decision by the appellate court is breathtaking. It not only attacks traditional home schooling, but also calls into question home schooling through charter schools and teaching children at home via independent study through public and private schools," stated Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute "If not reversed, the parents of the more than 166,000 students currently receiving an education at home will be subject to criminal sanctions," he continued.

If you are able to support our efforts on behalf of home schoolers and private schools, please Click here to contribute now or visit http://www.pji.org/getinvolved/.

Home-School Pitch Pits Personal Choice Vs. Government Role

2008-02-26T10:20:00.001-05:00

Posted on: Sunday, 24 February 2008, 06:00 CST

By Jeffrey Robb, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

Feb. 24--When school is in session for the Conrad kids, the living room of their northwest Omaha home is often their classroom.

Lessons last as long as needed to complete the day's tasks.

Mother Natalie Conrad is the teacher to her three school-age children.

Natalie and Chris Conrad's family is part of the 6,000-student home-school network across Nebraska. And the family is a small part of a debate in the Nebraska Legislature pitting personal choices and religious freedoms against state government's educational responsibilities.

State Sen. DiAnna Schimek of Lincoln has proposed a bill to recast Nebraska's generally loose regulations over home-school students.

Her bill would require home-school students to take state-mandated tests or have their schoolwork assessed by an outside evaluator. If students' progress falls short academically, they would be sent to public or private schools.

Read the entire article by clicking on the title.

Students reflect on impact of homeschooling

2008-02-25T13:34:00.000-05:00

Students reflect on impact of homeschooling
By Bryan Marshall
Register News Writer

Editor’s note: This is the second part of a three-part series chronicling the experiences of Madison County homeschool students. Tuesday’s stories will focus on how home schooling affects public schools and getting into college.

    Aaron Jones can’t say for sure if he would have enjoyed going to private school.  But, he is certain that he never wished he had attended a public school. 

To continue reading this article, please click on the title.

Parents taking education into their own hands

2008-02-25T13:33:00.000-05:00

Homeschooling: Education not confined to school walls
Parents taking education into their own hands
By Bryan Marshall
Register News Writer

Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part series chronicling the experiences of Madison County homeschooled students.

    Religion.   Individualized instruction.   Family atmosphere.   Protection from dangers in school.   A love of learning.  
These are just a few of the many reasons more and more parents are deciding to put their children’s education into their own hands through homeschooling.  For Brian Bertucci of Berea, the experience of teaching middle school English for a year in a private Catholic school in Florida led to his decision to home school his 6-year-old son Mark.

Continue reading this story - click on the title.

Expanding the horizon for home-school students

2007-12-07T12:20:00.000-05:00

Advocates cite wider range of shared outside activities as helping fuel growth of practice once relegated to fringe
By Lisa Kocian
Boston Globe Staff / December 6, 2007
Eight-year-old Ben Shapiro's days are a blur of gymnastics, piano playing, and art history lessons. He can also be found doing fractions, reading a biography of Marco Polo, and, soon, delving into physics. But he's not at school. And he's not alone.

He is part of a fast-evolving home-school movement that is traveling away from the stereotype of child and parent at the kitchen table. Shapiro does spend most of his day with his mother, but not alone. Instead, she shuttles him from one group activity to another.

Read the entire article by clicking on the title.

Facing the Transition to College

2007-12-05T11:10:00.000-05:00

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Number of homeschooled children rising in the U.S.

By Brian Morelli
Iowa City Press-Citizen

Small school or big school. Commute versus campus living. In state or out of state.

David Skiff is facing the same sorts of choices as any high school senior looking at colleges, but the 18-year-old Iowa City homeschooler has different circumstances than many others.

"It was a little bit intimidating at first," Skiff said of considering the transition to college. "But I feel pretty confident that I will be able to function."

To finish reading this article, please click on the title.

Mom accused of neglect for teaching own kids

2007-10-16T12:41:00.000-04:00

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Moberly, Mo., Middle School

A Missouri public school is taking a mother to court for withdrawing her son and daughter from the school and teaching them at home, after an apparent threat to the daughter's life at the school.

The case involves Moberly, Mo., mother Anita Nicoli, who withdrew her daughter and a son from Moberly Middle School recently after what she has described as a two-year campaign of intimidation by other students.

The breaking point came when another student, who allegedly had harassed and assaulted her daughter, drew a picture of herself holding a gun and pointing it directly at Nicoli's daughter. The picture was passed around among students, she said.

But now she is facing a court hearing in Missouri's 14th Judicial District, prompted by a complaint by the school after she withdrew two of her children.

Click on title to read the entire story...

Home schooling improves academic performance...

2007-10-08T09:14:00.000-04:00

Many parents lack the confidence to teach their
children if they have not finished high school or
even lack a college degree. Research continues to
show that the parents' level of education has little
bearing. The following information released by
the Fraser Institute of Canada, discusses the fact
that even poorly educated parents produce well-
educated children through homeschooling. Read on...
- Jane Boswell, Editor, Home Educator's Family Times

Home schooling improves academic performance and reduces impact of socio-economic factors
Release Date: October 04, 2007
-
TORONTO, ON—Home schooling appears to improve the academic performance of children from families with low levels of education, according to a report on home schooling released today by independent research organization The Fraser Institute.

“The evidence is particularly interesting for students who traditionally fall through the cracks in the public system,” said Claudia Hepburn, co-author of Home Schooling: From the Extreme to the Mainstream, 2nd edition and Director of Education Policy with The Fraser Institute.

“Poorly educated parents who choose to teach their children at home produce better academic results for their children than public schools do. One study we reviewed found that students taught at home by mothers who never finished high school scored a full 55 percentage points higher than public school students from families with comparable education levels.”

The peer-reviewed report, co-written with Patrick Basham and John Merrifield, builds on a 2001 study with new research and data. It examines the educational phenomenon of home schooling in Canada and the United States, its regulation, history, growth, and the characteristics of practitioners, before reviewing the findings on the academic and social effects of home schooling.

Hepburn said evidence clearly demonstrates that home education may help reduce the negative effects of some background factors that many educators believe affects a child’s ability to learn, such as low family income, low parental educational attainment, parents not having formal training as teachers, race or ethnicity of the student, gender of the student, not having a computer in the home, and infrequent usage of public libraries.

“The research shows that the level of education of a child’s parents, gender of the child, and income of family has less to do with a child’s academic achievement than it does in public schools.”

The study also reports that students educated at home outperform their peers on most academic tests and are involved in a broad mix of social activities outside the home.

Research shows that almost 25 per cent of home schooled students in the United States perform one or more grades above their age-level peers in public and private schools. Grades 1 to 4 home school students perform one grade level higher than their public- and private-school peers. By Grade 8, the average home schooled student performs four grade levels above the national average.

Hepburn said a growing body of new research also calls into question the belief that home schooled children are not adequately socialized.

“The average Canadian home schooled student is regularly involved in eight social activities outside the home. Canadian home schooled children watch less television than other children, and they show significantly fewer problems than public school children when observed in free play,” she said.

The report concludes that home schooling is not only a viable educational choice for parents, but can also be provided at a much lower cost than public schooling. The report notes that in the U.S., home schooling families spend less than $4,000 per year on home schooling while public schooling in the U.S. costs about $9,600 per child.

“Canadian and American policymakers should recognize the ability of parents to meet the educational needs of their children at home, without government involvement,” Hepburn said.

“While home schooling may be impractical for many families, it has proven to be a successful and relatively inexpensive educational alternative. It merits the respect of policy makers, the attention of researchers, and the consideration of parents.”

- 30 -

The Fraser Institute is an independent research and educational organization based in Canada. Its mission is to measure, study, and communicate the impact of competitive markets and government intervention on the welfare of individuals. To protect the Institute’s independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research.

This gives a whole new meaning to "school shootings"

2007-08-09T16:40:00.000-04:00

Nevada legislators are debating the merits
of paying teachers bonuses for police training
and will allow them to carry guns.

This takes the parallel of schools and prisons
to the next level. Schools are already the closest
institution we have to prisons in this country,
where children are herded into rooms and drilled
through each day by authority figures and bells
until released.

Now teachers might be able to play the role
of police and guards. What next?

Read the story here:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2007/aug/08/566681889.html

Home is where school is

2007-08-08T14:17:00.000-04:00

By Margaux Ortiz
Phillipines Daily Inquirer
Last updated 03:29am (Mla time) 08/05/2007
MANILA, Philippines—For 10-year-old Therese Michelle Paman, classes mean answering her workbooks at the lanai in their house and listening to the only teacher she has ever known: Her mother, Lizette.

Since Lizette began homeschooling Therese five years ago, every day has become a wondrous journey of learning and bonding for mother and daughter.

“I really love to teach. When my other kids were small (she also has three teenage boys), I would read to them at home,” Lizette told the Inquirer.

Read the article by clicking on the title.

Spelling bee has a W-I-N-N-E-R (Homeschooler)

2007-06-01T05:38:00.001-04:00

WASHINGTON — Evan M. O'Dorney, a 13-year-old eighth-grader from Danville, Calif., won the 80th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night, capping a day of furrowed brows, shocked expressions and tears poised to spill from the faces of youngsters not yet old enough to drive.

Evan, making his third consecutive appearance at the national bee, said he knew the final word — "serrefine," which means "a small forceps for clamping a blood vessel" — as soon as he heard it.

Although he confessed that he preferred the certainty of mathematics and the creativity of music to the memorization required to become a spelling champion, Evan, who is taught by his mother, Jennifer O'Dorney, through San Ramon's Venture School home study program, allowed that he now likes spelling "maybe a little bit."

Read the entire story by clicking on the link.

Note: It is interesting that few of the main stream television stations mentioned that the winner was "taught by his mother".

Home-schooling proves its merit with scholarships

2007-05-15T10:38:00.000-04:00

by Katherine Kersten, Star Tribune

Star Tribune

Last week we learned the names of the 53 outstanding Minnesota high school seniors who won 2007 $2,500 National Merit Scholarships, arguably the top academic honor in the nation. More than 20,000 Minnesota students took the test that begins the intense competition, and the 53 winners emerged at the end.

National Merit Scholars are often the product of our state's most elite private and public high schools. But as I stopped by the school of one winner, John Molitor of White Bear Lake, I saw no gleaming laboratories or cutting-edge computer labs. John's teacher opened the door. She's also the school's principal, lunch lady and head janitor. She's Joyce Molitor, John's mother.

During the past 10 years, an increasing number of home-schoolers like John have won National Merit awards, according to Eileen Artemakis of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Read this article by clicking on the title.

A different kind of summer

2007-05-15T10:35:00.000-04:00

A different kind of summer

By Jennifer Bell

Seacoast Online (NH)
May 12, 2007 6:00 AM

As summer approaches, I find myself sorting through day camp brochures, recreation programs, stressing about our finances and juggling the dates with family vacations and visiting friends. In the end, I decide to sign my kids up for only two weeks of camps, save some money and design our summer activities based on the kids' interests. Surely, July and August will boast a considerable amount of down time, but I envision my children having the opportunity to explore an academic subject in more depth, or to pursue an interest that is not offered in public school. As a supplement or alternative to traditional camps, parents can form Special Interest Clubs, a type of mini homeschooling experience in which parents and children design the curriculum, one that meets the needs of learners beyond their traditional education.

Read entire article by clicking on the title.

More women take on dual role as caregiver for children, parents

2007-05-15T10:33:00.000-04:00

By Michael King
Post-Crescent staff writer

TOWN OF KAUKAUNA — In fall 2003, when her mother was hospitalized for two weeks with an infection, Shari Nagan faced a decision.

Doctors advised that it was time to move her mom into a nursing home.

Nagan’s answer: “No way.”

Instead, she and her husband, Dan, moved out of their bedroom into a smaller bedroom and took in her |parents, Martin and Evelyn VanSchyndel, now ages 91 and 89, respectively.

Shari Nagan had been watching over the retired farming couple since building a home in 1984 next door on McCabe Road. The decision to bring them under her roof was easy.

“My parents took care of me and I figure I can do the same thing back,” said Nagan, 50, who also homeschools her daughter and tends a four-acre hobby farm. “It’s busy from morning until night, very busy. But, I enjoy it.”

Studies suggest that Nagan’s scenario may be playing out in as many as 10 million U.S. households. She is among an increasing number of mostly women in a so-called sandwich generation, looking after their children as well as their elderly parents.

Read article by clicking on the title.

Homeschool graduation 'a family celebration'

2007-05-15T10:32:00.000-04:00

Sun Herald
By ROBIN FITZGERALD
rfitzgerald@sunherald.com

GULFPORT --
A graduating class of college-bound homeschoolers took graceful strides in high heels and white caps and gowns adorned with sashes and tassels in their color of choice.
The four female students, associated with the Coast Christian Home Educators Association, received their diplomas Saturday at Northwood Christian Center in Gulfport.

"Homeschooling stripped away many of the distractions that come with traditional education and helped me see the important things of life," said Hannah Burnell, who delivered the graduation address.

About 300 relatives and friends looked on with smiles and occasional giggles as the graduates starred in slide shows depicting their lives.

Read article by clicking on the title.

Idaho couple is pedaling across America to spend time with twins

2007-05-15T10:30:00.000-04:00

Idaho couple is pedaling across America to spend time with twins
Clan has spent almost a year on the road

By LOREN GENSON
Gazette Staff Writer

John Vogel and his 8-year-old twins Davy and Daryl haven't seen their hometown of Boise, Idaho, since June of 2006, but they've seen more of the United States than many Americans hope to see in their entire lifetime.

The family has traveled throughout the country, on a trip covering the Northwestern U.S. and through Mexico. Through their journey they have found their way to Chillicothe where they will stay through Sunday.

So, why Chillicothe?

"I knew someone in Ripley so we went there, and this is on the way to Columbus," John said.
Their cross-country road trip has a loose structure, the family takes things as they come to allow for time in each locality.

Read article by clicking on the title.

A mother's joy

2007-05-15T10:28:00.000-04:00

By Michael Knox
mknox@independenttribune.com
Sunday, May 13, 2007

Lynn Stipe and her son, Conner, 11, swing on a hammock on their porch in Concord. Conner, who is autistic, is homeschooled by Lynn.
Greg Kahn (gkahn@independenttribune.com)

CONCORD - It’s a cool breezy day outside the Stipe home as Lynn Stipe and her 11-year-old son, Conner, swing in the hammock, spending a lazy day together.

Outside on the deck near the swimming pool, Conner sometimes races his dog, Silky, who streaks back and forth along her fenced-in pen. Lynn Stipe, 35, laughs at her son’s antics.

The two laugh together and they laugh often.

Conner is autistic and Lynn homeschools her son, teaching him the basics of learning. The two have just returned from a two-month stay in Maryland, where doctors tested Conner’s symptoms.

Read article by clicking on the title above.

Police State Germany

2007-03-22T10:04:00.000-04:00

5 'well-educated' kids put in state custody
Ruling that sent homeschooler to psych ward expanded to 2nd family

Posted: March 22, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Five "well-educated" children have been ordered into state custody by a court that applied to a second family a ruling taking a 15-year-old homeschooler from her family and sending her to a psychiatric ward.

The action fulfills a dire forecast from a human rights group that the government's success in the first case would encourage officials to act against other families in Germany.

The newest ruling comes from a court in Saxony and affects five members of the Brause family, according to officials with the International Human Rights Group.

Its president, Joel Thornton, earlier had told WND that, "There is an increased fear among homeschoolers about whether their children are next," after Melissa Busekros, 15, was removed from her home and ordered first to a psychiatric ward, then a foster home, because of her "school phobia."

Continue by clicking on title

An Interview with Paul Zoch - Doomed to Fail

2007-03-22T09:36:00.000-04:00

This might interest many teachers, parents and, in particular, homeschoolers.
Paul Zoch is the author of the book Doomed to Fail: The Built in Defects of
American Education. Another voice to add to the list (which seems to
go unnoticed) trying to reach the American public with the message.

The interview is published on EdNews.org and was conducted by Michael F. Shaughnessy, Senior Columnist. 3/21/2007

http://www.ednews.org/articles/9235/1/An-Interview-with-Paul-Zoch-Doomed-to-Fail/Page1.html

Day in the life of a homeschooling family

2007-03-14T15:07:00.002-04:00

Lisa Crews
Special for The Republic
Mar. 14, 2007 10:36 AM
Family: Faith is 10, Mercy 8 and Hope 1. Tim, the dad, works at home.

7:30 a.m.::Wake up and start morning routine. Kids -- make beds, get dressed, make/eat breakfast, unload dishwasher, clean up breakfast dishes, brush teeth; Mom -- showers, brushes teeth, changes baby, eats breakfast, loads dishwasher, makes bottles, feeds baby.

8 a.m.: Kids --collect and sort all laundry.
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8:15 a.m.: Mom --starts load of laundry

8:30 a.m.: Mom -- makes doctor appointment for baby and cleans kitchen counters and clears out refrigerator. Kids -- practice piano and keyboard then complete theory book assignments.

8:50 a.m.: Mom -- reads emails and news.

9:15 a.m.: Mom -- reviews with the girls long division from last week and answer questions; assigns word problems and more exercises; plays with the baby and reads her a book; focuses on new signs; changes out a load of laundry.

10 a.m: . Mom - calls her mother to work out childcare for the baby's doctor's appointment.

10:10 a.m.: Mom -- rotates out baby toys from those in storage.

10:12 a.m.: Mom -- chases girls back to math.

Continue article by clicking on the title.

Judge warns of child-abusing homeschoolers

2007-03-14T14:43:00.000-04:00

Court is "shocked" by lack of government authority over students
Posted: March 10, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

A Superior Court judge in New Jersey says homeschooling is just about the same as deliberate child abuse.

In fact, he says, he just might name a school district in his state as a defendant in a current court dispute, citing the district's "shocking" failure to monitor and test all students – including homeschoolers.

"In today's threatening world, where we seek to protect children from abuse, not just physical, but also educational abuse, how can we not monitor the educational welfare of all our children? A child in New Jersey, who recently was found unfed and locked in a putrid bedroom was allegedly 'homeschooled' and because no one, such as a teacher or nurse, was able to observe any abuse in a school setting, it went undiscovered," wrote Judge Thomas Zampino in a case that came before him.

That's even though New Jersey state law does forbid child abuse, and its regulations regarding homeschooling say parents or guardians are allowed "to educate the child at home." Further, the state law notes they are not required to submit any type of communication of intent to a local school board, nor are parents required to have their plans approved by a board.

Continue reading by clicking on title of article.

In a class of their own

2007-03-05T10:24:00.000-05:00

Weld 52 explodes with stacks of Yaffa blocks, well-fingered books, bulk containers of Easy Mac, cardboard boxes, and the tell-tale anxiety of freshman move-in day. Amidst the madness, Stephen T. Norberg ’06 rummages through his belongings and discovers a framed piece of thick paper decorated with a whimsical owl and a smartly dressed pig. It’s his kindergarten diploma. Carefully navigating the chaos, his left arm almost destroying a perfectly folded pile of undershirts, he crosses the room and secures the diploma onto the blank wall above his wooden desk. Pausing for several moments as his exhausted roommates look on in wonderment, he finally utters, “Wow! It’s great to be in first grade.”
...
They describe Norberg as amazingly caring, funny, and passionate—but he isn’t crazy. And the grade-school comment is not without merit. That day Norberg did, in fact, feel somewhat like a first grader. Having been homeschooled from second grade until college, that kindergarten diploma was the last one he had ever received.

To read entire article about homeschoolers at Harvard U, click on the title.

Mothering Through Mid-Life (Embracing Life's Curves)

2007-02-27T07:32:00.000-05:00

by Michelle Howe

I had just gotten out of bed and, admittedly, wasn't quite fully awake when my husband informed me that our eighteen-year-old daughter's car had been vandalized during the night. I stood there in the chilly kitchen taking in the specific details of the minor crime. The worst damage was the insulting graffiti written on her windows. A myriad of conflicting thoughts and emotions ran like a freight train through my brain—some of which, I am ashamed to confess, were of the reprisal sort.

As a mother of three young-adult daughters and a teenage son, I take my parenting role to heart. The better portion of the last twenty plus years has been spent investing in the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of my offspring. So standing in my kitchen on that blustery winter morning, I was, in part, upset with the situation and, in part, frustrated with my own reaction. The temptation to disengage was overwhelming.

In talking with other mid-life moms whose own sons and daughters are at that "jumping off" stage, I have found a common thread. It's called premature disengagement.

Read entire article by clicking on the title.

Families in Disarray by Shirley M.R. Minster

2007-02-27T07:27:00.000-05:00

HEFT Editor's Comment: Read Shirley Minster's Guest Editorial/Commentary on the pitfalls faced by today's modern family. Even homeschooling families are not immune in these busy and often confusing times.

Arrogance seems to be rampant. Thinking of oneself more highly than one ought is causing consternation towards our governmental agents who have forgotten what it means to serve. Companies are pushing their agendas, forgetting the maxim that the customer is always right. In fact, they have turned it into an old chestnut. And families have joined the throng in showing arrogance toward one another. This has got to stop or we will destroy all that we hold dear.

Read entire commentary by clicking on the title above.

Local (Owosso Michigan) couple chooses to educate their seven children at home

2007-02-27T07:23:00.000-05:00

Local couple chooses to educate their seven children at home

By GARY GOULD Argus-Press Staff Writer (Owosso, Michigan)

Saturday, February 17, 2007 8:41 AM EST

Argus-Press Photo/Anthony Cepak Grace Stuart, 7, plays with her brother Richard, 1, as their mother Marianne does a reading assignment with Guy, 8.
It's 8 a.m. at the Stuart household in Owosso and six of the seven children in the family are lining up in the living room to greet their father.

Almost like troops getting in formation to morning reveille, the Stuart children greet their father, Guy Stuart III, with a warm good morning. He responds with a series of questions about the status of their chores, if they've brushed their teeth or if they're ready for the day ahead.

One of the children giggles and is given three pushups to do by her father, causing a sister to also smirk, bringing about a round of pushups for her as well.

And while their father tries to come off as being strict, the kids realize it's all in fun as they start another morning of school. But they won't be climbing into the family van, catching a bus or walking to school anywhere - they'll be staying home where their mother, Marianne, will be instructing them.

For four years now the Stuart's have homeschooled their children, a decision the couple made after the closure of Owosso's St. Joseph Catholic School, where three of their children attended school before it was closed in 2002.

HEFT Editor's Comments: Michigan is the state where we lived, homeschooled and worked hard with hundreds of other families and organizations to ensure the rights of families to homeschool their own children. Michigan still remains one of the least-fettered states in which to homeschool thanks to Dr. Pat Montgomery, Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore and others.

Authorities Ask German Homeschooling Family to Give Up Custody of 5 Children

2007-02-27T07:01:00.000-05:00

Daughter Melissa in 3rd foster home, having new psychiatric testing after stating first report inaccurate and she was misquoted
By Gudrun Schultz

Germany, February 26, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The parents of a 15-year-old school girl taken from her home by authorities in a battle over home schooling have been asked to give up custody of their other five children, as part of a resolution to the situation offered by German officials.

The latest development in the ongoing battle between the Busekros family and the German authorities was reported by the Home Schooling Legal Defense Fund, a U.S.-based organization that has been tracking an accelerating crackdown against home schooling families in Germany.

HEFT Editor's comment:
This is reminiscent of the early days of homeschooling in the U.S.A. When our family began homeschooling, children
were being taken from families regularly - usually it was short-lived - but still frightening. It caused a wave of protest
from the community and enabled homeschoolers to join together to form the organizations they now have in the U.S.

Read entire article by clicking on the title.

Homeschooling Presents Pros and Cons

2007-01-11T16:34:00.000-05:00

by Alicia Coffman

After many years of prayer and study, Stephanie Freeman made a decision she never expected to make. She decided to home school her children.

"I wanted my children to have the best education that could be offered academically, socially, spiritually and culturally," she said. That was at home.

Freeman has been home schooling her children for the past 10 years. She is also a BYU professor and has been teaching speech classes for 17 years.

Her first thought was to investigate private schools, but they were expensive and although they had some advantages over public schools, they didn't offer everything she wanted or expected in a school.

Read article by clicking on the title.

Homeschoolers Compete in Geography Bee

2007-01-11T16:31:00.000-05:00

BY BOB ELLIS
DAKOTA VOICE
Nine homeschool students competed Wednesday for the trophy in the 2006-2007 South Dakota Christian Home Educator’s Geography Bee. The event was held at South Canyon Baptist Church in Rapid City on January 10. The event was sponsored by SDCHE and used material from the National Geographic Bee, publishers of National Geographic Magazine. The purpose is to encourage the study of geography.

Click on the title to read more.

Parents worry about 'nature-deficit disorder' in kids

2007-01-11T16:26:00.000-05:00

By LISA STIFFLER
P-I REPORTER

After squishing through mud, crawling under tree boughs and skirting a glassy pond, the small troop of kids and teachers stopped at a clearing in the woods.

Squatting in the wet leaves, instructor Sol Doran placed a sprig of fir on the ground in front of her and another a foot away.

"If this is malalo," said Doran, pointing to the first sprig and referring to the African-style hut where the journey started, "and this is the pond," she said pointing to another, "where are we?"

The students from Duvall's Wilderness Awareness School, who ranged in age from about 7 to 12, considered the question. They moved a third sprig back and forth into different spots on the impromptu map. Consensus was reached.

Editor's Note: This is one area - nature studies - wilderness walks - outdoor education - whatever you want to call it
where homeschooling families have the opportunity to excel. There is no doubt that children confined to living inside
four walls every day for 6 - 7 hours per day, are missing out on the excitement of what truly is natural study. Read the articl for ideas and inspiration by clicking on the title.

Home's Where Class Is

2007-01-09T16:34:00.000-05:00

Home's where class is
Colleges seeing quality in those homeschooled
Charlotte Hsu, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 01/07/2007 12:00:00 AM PST

At Placidia Andalón's home in Rialto, school starts each morning with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer.
She has taught her 11-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter about evolution and creation.

In lessons on building good character, Andalón, 34, tells her children to seek guidance from the Bible.

Like Andalón, a growing number of parents across the nation are educating their kids at home for reasons including faith, a driving force behind the rise of the modern homeschool movement.

And in society at large, homeschoolers have become more accepted, with businesses and institutions of higher learning taking an interest in homeschooled children and their parents.

Read entire article - Click on the title

Who Represents Homeschoolers in Washington, D.C.

2007-01-08T13:05:00.000-05:00

Sunday, January 7, 2007

Who Represents Homeschoolers in Washington, DC?
Ideally, no one should, since education issues are really issues that should be left up to each state.. (sigh) .. but since our Federal Government is unconstitutionally meddling in affairs of education, and now in the affairs of homeschoolers...
I ran across a nifty letter that you can draft to your newly elected Congressional delegation. I want to thank those who have come up with the initiative to communicate with our Representatives to let them know that we are a diverse bunch, and that no one group speaks for us. I made a few changes to their letter and came up with my own version:

Read the entire article including a sample letter by clicking on the title above.

Youths learn ABCs at homeschool

2007-01-04T14:15:00.000-05:00

Youths learn ABCs at homeschool
Cooperative gives alternative education for families

January 2, 2007
BY VILA SCHWINDT | Journal Staff Writer
Garrett Pogue is only 4, but he joins his older brothers and sisters in the dining room at 9 a.m. when they start school with their mother, Rosella Pogue, as teacher. Gabriel is only 9 months, but he's usually close by, too, because he wants to do what his family is doing.

Homeschool regulation: The Revenge of the Failures

2007-01-04T14:13:00.000-05:00

WorldNet Daily Commentary
Posted: January 4, 2007

By Bruce N. Shortt, Ph.D.

In their never-ending effort to "help" homeschoolers, public school bureaucrats periodically try to increase homeschooling regulations. This makes K-12 education perhaps a unique endeavor: it's a field in which the failures regularly, and astonishingly, insist that they should be able to regulate the successful.
Read entire commentary by clicking on the title.

Visit Judy Aron's New Blog - Consent of the Governed

2007-01-04T14:01:00.000-05:00

Judy works with Deborah Stevenson of National Home Education Legal Defense (NHELD) where she is responsible for providing parents across the nation with a wide variety of important information on legislative issues as well as various topics concerning parental rights, education, and the dangers of universal mental health screening.

Her new blog, Consent of the Governed, will enlighten and enliven! It contains timely, important messages relevant to today's American family. Visit her blog today. Just click on the title above.

Homeschooling Motives

2006-12-19T09:44:00.000-05:00

As veteran homeschooling parents know, some difficult times will come. One day you’ll wake up to piles of laundry that your children are using to play hide and seek in. Ice and snow have locked you inside for days and your teenager seems to be in a comatose state until the phone rings. Life Happens! You will wonder why on earth you had the idea that you could homeschool your kids, run a household, and maintain your sanity.

Now is the time to pull out your list of “Why We Homeschool Reasons”. What? You didn’t make a list? This is a tool that is imperative for all homeschool parents. So determined was I that people would not stare at us when
we played outside or went to the corner store, that I wrote a letter explaining that we were homeschooling and outlined all our reasons for doing so. Then I made copies and circulated them among neighbors, friends and family. I filed a copy away, so that I could pull it out when my courage needed bolstering.

To help get you started, some common homeschooling convictions (which you might have forgotten) are:
• You, the parents are the first and the natural teachers of your children. You’ve taught your children from birth. You love and care about them more than anyone else and have the greatest interest in their success in this life and for eternity. Additionally, the state or government does not “own” you or your child. Alarmingly, this truth has been argued and challenged lately by those who believe that children are a commodity of the state. So, it’s important that you hold tightly to your parental rights.
• You want the best character training for your children. Your family has an important system of beliefs and values to instill and a heritage to pass on to your children. Through the golden opportunities provided by time, role modeling (values are caught not taught), work involvement and encouraging service to others, values are learned and character is built.
• You want your child to have a positive socialization experience while avoiding peer dependence.
Children in a traditional, institutional setting who spend more time with their peers than caring adults become socialized by the culture of their peers. (Most of us have a struggle with peer pressure which is revealed, for instance, in the way we feel when we are confronted by our friends about homeschooling -- and by the way we want someone to tell us how to homeschool -- what materials to buy, how many hours to spend, etc., and why we tend to cast side-glances at how others are accomplishing home education.) This might be unconscious, but it is real, and it is at the root of many of our own self-esteem issues. We want something better for our children. And, today, the school-setting is rife with competition, and worse, bullying. There is now a very real safety threat to consider that did not exist 20 years ago.
• Remember those academic bonuses: You have the opportunity to create a custom-made program for each child. Good homeschools are families that encourage a relaxed environment, the learning style of the child, real-life experiences, hands-on experiences, field trips, much open discussion and a life of balance. Good homeschools become relationship and student centered as opposed to book, teacher, and peer-centered.
Now, this can be hard to see on those difficult days, so make sure you are writing in a journal at some point, noting the good days when that ‘light goes on’, or when you all had a good, long laugh with a humorous book or game.
• That brings us to this important point - You are homeschooling because you want the time to renew your family relationships. Homeschooling is ushering in a restoration and healing of the family in this country. The whole family is key to a healthy society. Homeschooling provides vital opportunities of growing together and learning life-skills as a family.
These are just a few to get those creative juices flowing and give you the encouragement you need.
Take a minute to reflect and to seriously consider the reasons why you have chosen to homeschool your children. What are the prime motivators - are they positive or negative? It makes a difference in your attitude.
Write down your convictions. It will reinforce and strengthen your resolve and it will help you
clarify your discussions when someone asks,”Shouldn’t your children be in school today?”

The Gingerbread House

2006-12-19T09:40:00.000-05:00

Family Daze
The Gingerbread House
By Debbie Farmer

I have to confess that every year in December a strange feeling comes over me. Oh, it's not like I start adopting stray cats or wearing men's shoes or anything like that. It's more like a sudden desire to do all of the domestic things that I wouldn't think of doing the rest of the year—like making bread from scratch or crafting nifty items out of coat hangers and pairs of old pantyhose.

Now, this may not be a shocking transformation for some people, but anyone who knows me knows that I’m the type of person who glues loose buttons on sweaters and who will toss a frozen pot pie in the microwave, press start, and feel that that can be called “baking.”

But not in December. Frankly I have no idea why this happens. Maybe I'm subconsciously trying to make up for lost time. Or perhaps it's my way of building lasting family memories for my children. Or maybe it's all of the rum in the eggnog. Whatever the reason, it has happened again this year.

I know because the other day my children and I tried to make a gingerbread house. Well, mostly, it was me trying to get the kids to help me make a gingerbread house, but you get the idea.

Now, if you are sitting there thinking that a person who can barely make a sandwich has absolutely no business constructing an entire gingerbread house without supervision, you are right. But, let's face it, only certain types of parents are strong enough to resist a Gingerbread House Kit with the words “fun” and “easy” in big, red letters on the top—and I'm not one of them. Besides, it came with everything we'd need: frosting mix, gum drops and prefab gingerbread walls. All in all, it would take fifteen minutes to piece together. Twenty, tops.

My children listened (mostly to the TV in the living room) as I read the directions out loud.

“To make frosting, add one cup of cold water to confectioners’ sugar and stir until thickened.”

Then I measured the water into the special cup included with the kit and poured it into the bowl.

But, as my son stirred it, I began to suspect there was some kind of problem.

“Mom,” he said. “Can I stop now?”

I looked into the bowl and the frosting was still thin. So I reread the directions, and it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, “one cup” meant the first line on the special plastic cup and not the second. Naturally, since I couldn't take the extra water out, the easiest thing to do would be to put more confectioners' sugar in. But my kitchen being what it is, the closest thing I could find was a handful of flour and eleven packets of Sweet and Low.

I sprinkled them in when no one was looking then I continued reading the directions: Let frosting stand for 60 minutes. Sixty? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be the one who has to tell one bored preteen and one even more bored teen that this is going to take an hour longer than I thought. Besides, if I let them escape now, with the promise to return in sixty minutes’ time, I knew my son would return—I mean, hey, frosting is involved—but I wasn’t so sure about my 14-year-old daughter.

Now, at this point you would think I'd have accepted reality, given the kids the go-ahead to go and wandered away to watch Christmas specials on television. But noooooo. Instead, I slathered frosting on the edges of the walls, stuck them together, and dried the house with my blow dryer.

Then my son and daughter used the frosting to stick gumdrops and eight tiny, plastic reindeer on the roof. Granted, my daughter helped with some protesting, but she relented, and I managed to take several pictures between grimaces, so it looks like my daughter wasn’t wishing she was at a mall with her friends. Years from now, in my senility, all I’ll know when I look at the pictures is that we once bonded over gingerbread. And when she let her guard down, truth be told, my daughter did look like she was enjoying herself.

But if my past experience with Christmas crafts has taught me anything it's that moments like this just don't last. So, frankly, I wasn't too surprised when all of the reindeer slid off the roof and were buried beneath a pile of loose gumdrops.

“Cool, an avalanche,” my son said.

Call me weird, but as I stood there blow-drying the remaining gumdrops to the eaves, I secretly couldn’t wait until January, when I could go back to my simple, undomesticated ways.

Sometimes it's better that way.

* * *

Debbie Farmer is a humorist and a mother of two kids, holding down the fort in California. She is also the author of Don’t Put Lipstick on the Cat and can be reached at www.familydaze.com, or by writing familydaze@oasisnewsfeatures.com.

Opting Out or Doing Better? Real Reasons to Homeschool (Alice Bachini-Smith)

2006-12-19T09:26:00.000-05:00

Opting Out or Doing Better? Real Reasons to Homeschool (Alice Bachini-Smith)
So, you don't want to homeschool. Social isolation, no peers to learn with, no specialist teachers and no serious discipline when it comes to studying are not your idea of the best education for your kids. Add to that the weirdos you've met who take this route, and the fact you would be losing half your income, and the idea is not just out of the question, it's insanity.
Read the entire commentary by clicking on the title.

Are More Parents Choosing Homeschooling Over Private School?

2006-12-19T09:24:00.000-05:00

THE CHOICE OF PUBLIC, PRIVATE, OR HOME SCHOOLING
By Eric J. Isenberg
Occasional Paper No. 132
National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education

Are more families choosing home schooling over private schools?
Over the last decade and a half, the number of home schooled students has grown dramatically. An estimated 1.1 million students are now home schooled each year. Previous research suggests the family values and local school quality influence student enrollment decisions. However, it is less clear why some families may choose home schooling over other private schooling options. A new paper by Eric J. Isenberg uses data from the National Household Education Survey and secondary data sources to examine preferences for home schooling. The author finds that families are more likely to engage in home schooling if the mother has abundant time but scarce income, and if the state public school finance system is centralized, making Tiebout sorting less efficient and private schooling more costly. Preferences for home schooling are especially strong among well-educated parents with younger children. Home schooling of older children is more sensitive to child-specific behavioral needs.

New Occasional Papers from the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education can be viewed at http://www.ncspe.org/list-papers.php

Director Dr. Henry Levin
212-678-3857
Levin@exchange.tc.columbia.edu

General Information
212-678-3259
ncspe@columbia.edu

Home, for some, is where the school is

2006-11-13T09:29:00.000-05:00

By PATRICIA STEELE, DAILY SUN

BUSHNELL — Children taught at home miss out on so many experiences that children who attend public school get to experience every day.

Their parents are thrilled about it.

“I don’t live in a vacuum,” Amy Weed said. “Most members of my family do not homeschool their children, so I hear the stories of the kindergartners who come home wanting explanations for things I’m not quite ready to discuss, especially with a 6-year-old.

“And teasing and harassment and the stress of state testing. My children do not need these things.”

The more Weed heard, the more she became determined to homeschool her children, Emily, 14, and Isaiah, 6. Emily has been homeschooled since kindergarten, while Isaiah just began kindergarten.

Go to original article by clicking on the title.

Private Decision

2006-11-03T14:21:00.000-05:00

For a variety of reasons, enrollment in non-public schooling alternatives is on the rise

By Paris Achen
Mail Tribune
After homeschooling their nine children for five years, Eagle Point residents Brad and Jacinta Marsh sent their three eldest children to Guadalupe Education Center to give them a Catholic education in a school environment where the class size is no more than 12.

Read full article by clicking on the title.

Homeschool parents: Kids not sheltered

2006-10-23T14:57:00.000-04:00

Sunday, October 22, 206
By MICHELLE PITTMAN
The Express-Times
One of the most common concerns critics express about home-schooled students is they will have a hard time later in life getting along with others.

Not interacting with peers when they are young robs home-schooled students of basic social skills, critics claim.It is a concern, because it's tied up with what how sheltered do you want your child to be," said Saul Grossman, a professor at Temple University's Department of Education Leadership and Policy Studies. "A lot of home-schooled kids are pretty sheltered, and you have to ask if that's best for the child."

But many home-schooling parents insist it's simply not true.

"Many people assume the only way a child can learn to play with others is to be in a classroom of 20 other kids the same calendar age, sitting at desks six hours a day," said Jill Drake, one of the founders of The Kids Homeschool Network. "How does spending your entire day with age-grouped peers prepare you to socialize in the diverse real world? Other than 13 years in public school, when do you spend the majority of your day with people within two years of your age?

Read entire article by clicking on the title.

CRASH COURSE

2006-10-09T10:12:00.000-04:00

CRASH COURSE
IN CLASSROOM COLLECTIVISM

By: Frederick Meekin

from EtherZone October 09, 2006

Each year as the school year gets underway, I write a column about the mandatory communalism that takes place in numerous schools across the country where unsuspecting students and parents are forced to surrender their supplies to educational authorities, deemed by the state to be of superior enlightenment than those actually acquiring the school supplies, for redistribution as these demagogic pedagogues see fit. While satisfying to write as there are few topics as visceral as one’s school experiences and the attachment one has to one’s possessions, somehow these most debated of my epistles somehow felt incomplete as they primarily dealt with a symptom rather than the underlying disease. For the socialistic communitarians that have infiltrated the public school system and taken it over for the most part do not primarily want your paper and pencils; the thing the really lust over are the hearts and minds of your children.

Usually, those concerned about the state of the public school system are told that if they don’t like how things are run, they are perfectly free to withdraw their children and pursue private or home-based alternatives to their liking. Overall, better advice could not be given; however, in the years and decades ahead such wisdom will prove to be charmingly naive and old fashioned.

For if things continue along their current path, there will probably be a day when it will be against the law to educate one’s offspring in anything but a state-run school. Already devotees of secularism and radicalism are laying down the perceptual framework necessary to bring about the paradigm shift as to whom has the ultimate authority over the minds of the young.

To read entire article, please click on title.

2006-10-09T10:07:00.000-04:00

Colleges and Universities go on Homeschool Recruiting Spree
by Josh Montez

With an estimated 2-million homeschoolers in the U.S., news reports say homeschooled kids are in demand because of their considerable academic skills.

Gloria Mohler went to a Baptist college in Iowa and pursued artwork on the side. She says her college didn’t turn her away because she graduated from home school.

“I was warmly welcomed; there were many other homeschoolers that went to this school that I attended and it was quite evident that, sometimes, the homeschoolers did study more and they felt more personal responsibility.”

That’s exactly what colleges look for. Barmak Nassirian with the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers says it has taken homeschoolers and colleges about 10 years to get to know each other a little better.

Read article by clicking on title.

Homeschooling Makes the Grade

2006-10-09T10:05:00.000-04:00

BY SHARLONDA L. WATERHOUSE Post-Tribune

The number of Hoosier families relying on homeschooling has risen by 400 percent in the last five years.

Locally, much of that growth is coming from children who previously attended the region's lowest-performing schools.

In the 2005-06 school year, at least 23,455 Indiana families obtained private school numbers from the state -- a voluntary step -- to pull students from schools to try another approach.

No ISTEP tests. Often no desks.

Sometimes no textbooks.

While local districts have seen dramatic increases in the number of children homeschooled, the total is still small: Just 2 percent of students statewide are homeschooled.

Locally, families are using parent-designed education to further educational beliefs, pursue religious training or avoid the pitfalls of public and charter schools.

Ethnic families embrace it

Local trends track national ones, showing a stronger embrace of the homeschool option among ethnic groups, particularly black families.

Read article by clicking on the title.

School Violence Putting a Focus on Homeschooling

2006-10-06T13:23:00.000-04:00

While parents do it for various reasons, some may start looking at recent violence in schools as a viable reason to homeschool thier children.
October 4th, 2006 @ 7:59am
KSL Newsradio's Chelsea Hedquist reporting

It's been a horrible couple of weeks for public schools, with fatal shootings in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Wisconsin. We've also heard stories of teachers sexually abusing their students. It's all got parents questioning the safety of public schools, and taking a closer look at homeschooling.

Six-year-old Jack Blackburn sits at his kitchen playing with his blocks. This is just another part of his school day. He and his brother, Marcus, are homeschooled by their mother, Nikki Blackburn.

"We've been toying with physics lately," said Blackburn. "We've built mouse trap cars, we have been talking about simple machines and how they work."

This learning environment is far removed from the violence we've seen this past week in schools. But Blackburn says her choice to homeschool was about being committed to her children's education, not about safety.

To read this article, please click on the title.

A new chapter in education: unschooling

2006-10-04T08:59:00.000-04:00

Note: They are just now learning about unschooling??? Hmmmm.
To read entire article from MSNBC please click on the title.

Controversial home-taught approach lets kids take the lead in learning

By Victoria Clayton

MSNBC contributor

Updated: 12:22 a.m. ET Oct 2, 2006

It’s a Monday afternoon in Mar Vista, Calif., and while other 9-year-olds might be fidgeting at their desks, Isobel Dowdee has played all morning and is now joining her mother and two sisters on a big blanket in their front yard.

Mom, Heather Cushman-Dowdee, keeps the younger girls, Fiona, 5, and Gwyneth, 2, busy drawing pictures. For Isobel, she’s made a large grid with numbers down the side and across the top so her daughter can fill in the multiplication answers. Not that Cushman-Dowdee cares if Isobel does the chart. It’s just that the girl actually wants to do it. Occasionally they play math games or sing counting songs.

For the past three weeks this has been the ritual — Math Mondays they’ve taken to calling it. Yet Cushman-Dowdee bristles at the idea that this is any kind of mathematics class. That’s absolutely against what she and her husband, Kevin Dowdee, believe in.

“The kids love it so far, but I am open to them changing their mind. We adapt and alter what we are doing all of the time,” says Cushman-Dowdee, an artist and cartoonist.

The Dowdees’ ultra-relaxed learning is called “unschooling.” It’s a fast-growing subset of homeschooling that turns traditional education on its ear.

A new chapter in education: unschooling

2006-10-04T08:55:00.000-04:00

Note: They are just now learning about unschooling??? Hmmmm.
To read entire article from MSNBC please click on the title.

Controversial home-taught approach lets kids take the lead in learning

By Victoria Clayton

MSNBC contributor

Updated: 12:22 a.m. ET Oct 2, 2006

“The kids love it so far, but I am open to them changing their mind. We adapt and alter what we are doing all of the time,” says Cushman-Dowdee, an artist and cartoonist.

The Dowdees’ ultra-relaxed learning is called “unschooling.” It’s a fast-growing subset of homeschooling that turns traditional education on its ear.

Hitting the Books at Home

2006-09-29T09:32:00.000-04:00

Families still drawn to educating children at home

BY SHELDON TRAVER
Appeal Tribune
September 27

SILVERTON – While rarely completely isolated, traditional home schooled children are often considered different or strange among students in mainstream classrooms

However, changes are afoot as more parents break ties with traditional brick and mortar schools and turn to home schooling as a workable alternative. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, these changes are happening at a quicker rate than previously experienced. One study conducted by the governmental agency showed there were roughly 850,000 home schooled kids in 1999 and 1.1 million by 2003.

Read article by clicking on title.

UC Riverside Taps Into Rich Vein of Homeschool Students

2006-09-29T09:30:00.000-04:00

An “Information Day” is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 on campus to answer questions about a homeschool admissions program based on the review of a student portfolio.
(September 13, 2006)

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) -- Robert Wilkinson of Chino Hills was homeschooled all his life, and will be among the freshmen who start at UC Riverside this month.

Robert, 17, submitted a portfolio of his work that earned him a spot on campus and a scholarship offer. He was one of 16 people who applied through a year-old admissions program that uses a faculty committee to review the work of homeschooled and other nontraditionally educated students. His homeschooled sister, Stephanie, earned a place on campus the year before in the traditional way, with a combination of high test scores and grades.

Click on title to read entire article.

Blacks take education into their own hands

2006-09-26T10:09:00.000-04:00

Leslie Fulbright, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, September 25, 2006

Suisun City parents Benjamin and Tanya Marshall are part of a new homeschooling movement led by African American families fed up with the public school system.

Nine years ago, the couple put their oldest son, Trevaughn, in kindergarten after discussing teaching him at home. When he had a substitute teacher several times in his first six weeks, they pulled him out.

"We felt like it wasn't the right environment, especially for an African American boy," said Tanya Marshall, 36. "The teachers were young and nervous. Black males were not being challenged and ending up in special ed."

Trevaughn, now 14, has been taught at home ever since. The couple also homeschools their two younger sons, 11 and 9, and their daughter, 12.

"We wanted to be the main and driving influence in our children's lives," said Benjamin Marshall, 37. "We didn't want them socialized with marijuana smokers and pregnant teens."

Go to the article by clicking on the Title above.

For some, it's back to...home: Teens give homeschooling high marks

2006-08-18T10:47:00.000-04:00

By Denise Etheridge

Northeast Georgia Homeschoolers and their parents award homeschooling high marks. Homeschooled teens from White, Hall and Habersham counties say they are getting a quality education by staying home, and they believe themselves to be as socially active as their public school counterparts. Homeschooling parents say they like the flexibility homeschooling affords family schedules and that they can tailor their child's education to his or her individual needs.

Read entire article by clicking on the title above.

Parents blind to kids' drug use

2006-08-18T10:44:00.000-04:00

BY CURTIS L. TAYLOR
Newsday Staff Writer

August 18, 2006

A national survey released yesterday documents an open secret in many communities: Just because mom and dad are home doesn't mean kids aren't partying with drugs and alcohol.

Nearly one-third of the 1,297 young people, aged 12 to 17, interviewed in the random survey reported use of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, Ecstasy and prescription drugs at house parties where host parents turned a blind eye.

Building the future, one child at a time

2006-08-18T10:40:00.000-04:00

Hometown

Article published Aug 17, 2006
Building the future, one child at a time

"While children only make up a small portion of our population — they are 100 percent of our future."

As you read this, somewhere in your neighborhood, state and nation a child is receiving the message that they are "slow," "incapable," that they are "no good" or will "never amount to anything."

From time to time, we hear on the radio, see on TV or read the horror stories of physical and sexual abuse perpetrated on our most vulnerable citizens. These stories make us sick and we quake with anger over how cruel adults can be. While less visible, the constant negative messages that some parents, teachers and other adults drill into our children's heads take their toll too.

How many Bill Gates, Henry Fords, Booker T. Washingtons, Harriet Tubmans, Albert Einsteins and Fredrick Douglaseshas our society lost because a child's spirit has been crushed by an adult entrusted to raise them up?

Not all successful people had ideal childhoods. Many of the people mentioned above overcame great odds to see their dreams become reality. The world is full of successful people who were once considered "slow," "different," or "odd" and were told they would never amount to anything.

Those who escaped the negativity were fortunate to discover someone who believed in them — even if that only person was them! All people have the inherent capacity to effect change in their lives and we owe it to all of our children to provide them with the tools to help them succeed.

Quality education is a great equalizer in this world. Our collective future is sitting in our classrooms today. The viability of our society, the strength of our economy, the quality of our lives, the vibrancy of our democracy and our place in the world all depend on how we educate our youth.

When children are taught to hate, they hate, as we see in far too many situations across our nation and the world today. We need to give children the best start in life possible, filling them with love and knowledge along the way.

Yet, believe it or not, and as tragic as it is, far too many of our children enter kindergarten or first grade not knowing their numbers, alphabet or colors. They do not know how to read because, not only have they not been read to, they have not been cuddled and loved.

Human tragedy is compounded when a child begins life with the emotional scars of negativity ingrained so deeply that they seldom recover.

For Michigan to be healthy, we need all of our children to be physically, emotionally and intellectually healthy.

We need to create a shared vision and common agenda across this region and across our great state where every child has a sense of worth, where we all accept responsibility for ourselves, our families, our communities and society at large. We must nurture our children, families and communities in ways that build a quality of life for today and tomorrow.

Here are some suggestions for building up our children and simultaneously building strong communities and likewise, a strong state and nation:

serve as a mentor or tutor at a local school

coach a local sports team

seek the positive in all children and build on those traits

hug and read to your children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren

take a moment to simply tell a child how very special they are

open your place of business to allow a young adult to job shadow

donate books and other educational materials to those less fortunate

Further, take a moment to reflect on your life. Recall that special time when an adult, parent, pastor, grandparent, teacher, or coach made you feel like you were on the top of the world. Often it was a simple gesture: a kind word, a pat on the back, attending your piano recital, cheerleading event or football game — or just knowing that this person believed in you and was there for you. Yet, as simple as the gesture was, we can still recall with great intensity the joy we felt knowing that a special adult was there. When an adult touches your life in a positive way, it is a memory of a lifetime!

Take a few minutes to call or visit that special person who made such a difference in your life and thank them for helping make you the successful adult you are today. Perhaps more important than saying "thank you"— emulate them. Promise yourself that you will take extra steps today and everyday to build up, and not tear down, your and others' children.

The children of the world will become our collective future. Think how your small acts of kindness can help shape the world. Remember, the world would be a much cleaner place if we all sweep our own doorstep — think how clean it would be if we helped to sweep our neighbors'!

Tom Watkins is a business and education consultant. He served as State Superintendent of Schools 2001-2005 and President and CEO of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, FL, 1996-2001. Read his internationally recognized report: The New Education (R)evolution at www.nacol.org. He can be reached at tdwatkins@aol.com

A Study in Critical Thinking (Looking at Compulsory Education and the Push for an Earlier Start)

2006-07-25T16:49:00.000-04:00

A Study in Critical Thinking (Looking at Compulsory Education and the Push for an Earlier Start)

by Wayne Walker

Wayne Walker is the publisher and editor of the Online Newsletter, HEADSUP (HOMESCHOOL EDUCATORS ON ACTIVE DUTY, SENDING UPWARD PRAISES). He writes the following article as a father and citizen concerned about the push for mandated pre-school programs in his state of Missouri and which seems to be prevalent across the U.S. It was written in response to an article that appeared in his local newspaper on the subject.

When compulsory school attendance laws were originally passed beginning in the mid to late 1800's and into the early 1900's, many states did not start compulsory attendance until age seven because it was commonly accepted that a lot of children were not developmentally able to handle the stress of school at ages five and six. However, as more and more socialist-thinking people, who viewed their role as changing society to fit their ideas, came to be in control of the educational establishment, an effort was made to get children away from their parents' control and into government-approved indoctrination centers at earlier and earlier ages. First, many states lowered the compulsory attendance age to six. Next came the push for mandatory kindergarten. Now, there is a move to demand mandatory pre-kindergarten classes for allchildren.

In the May 17, 2006, issue of the South County Journal, a free, local weekly newspaper in our area, there was a letter by Catherine Martarella headlines "PK-3: Maximizing children's potential." It appeared to be one of those generically prepared letters on an issue that are mass mailed to all media outlets to see how many will publish them. Catherine Martarella is the program director for Citizens for Missouri's Children, an organization founded in 1983 as a state-wide advocate for child protection, early care and education, health and mental health care and youth development. It is always good to know a little bit about the background and views of an organization to help one understand why they say and do certain things.

A check of the website of Citizens for Missouri's Children shows that their mission is "To advocate the rights and well-being of all Missouri's children, especially those with the greatest need." Their vision states, "We believe that all children in the state should benefit from public policies that guarantee they are protected and secure in nurturing environments, allowing them to thrive and grow to their greatest potential." This is so noble-sounding! Of course, everyone supports the well-being of all children. Yes, we agree that public policies should promote and support caring families in which children are protected and secure in nurturing environments, allowing them to thrive and grow to their greatest potential. However, notice what is missing in the quotes. There is no mention of "family" or "parents" anywhere! I have an idea this organization's view, when translated into simple language, is that government is better at protecting, securing, and nurturing children than their own families are.

Let us now look at the article itself. It begins, "As Missouri considers increasing its investment in prekindergarten, we must consider this public investment in early learning. Maximizing these public dollars requires aligning standards, curriculum and assessment from pre-kindergarten through kindergarten, and into the early elementary grades. That's the PK-3 approach. PK-3 begins with voluntary full-school-day pre-kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-old children. Compulsory schooling begins in kindergarten with a curriculum that builds on pre-kindergarten experiences. Children learn social skills and self-discipline as well as reading and math."

When people who think that the government does a better job at anything that promotes increased government spending on their pet projects, why is it that they always call it a "public investment"? The answer is that they want someone else to pay for their plans. Obviously, someone is going to have to do all this "aligning standards, curriculum and assessment" and then monitor it. And who better to do that than the same leftists and government bureaucrats who are promoting it in the first place? What a wonderful way to guarantee their job security! And to control the minds of impressionable children in the process! See what I mean about getting children away from their parents at increasingly early ages? Voluntary full-school-day prekindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-old children? Why should anyone in his right mind think that three and four year old kids should be cooped up in a school room for six or eight hours every day, five days a week for half a year? Also, what starts out as "voluntary" (though usually under great pressure) eventually becomes "mandatory." Kindergarten used to be thought of as "voluntary" but now it is "mandatory" under this thinking. Finally, why cannot children learn social skills and self-discipline from parents and family? Or are parents nowadays just too stupid to teach their children these things?

However, there are supposed to be all kinds of benefits for this "public investment." According to the article, "Research supports the PK-3 approach. A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association tracked 1,500 disadvantaged minority children in Chicago for 16 years....Called the Child-Parent Centers, these programs were part of the Chicago Public School system. The study found that CPC participants were almost 30 percent more likely to complete high school than a comparison group of equally disadvantaged children." Someone has said that figures do not lie, but liars sure do figure.

What struck me about this research is that it only deals with disadvantaged children. Most of us would probably agree that in situations where children are growing up in a home where both mom and dad are away working all day or otherwise absent and there is hardly any parental supervision or nurturing it might be better for those children to be in an early learning center. However, to take these exceptional situations, apply the conclusions drawn from them across the board to all families, even those where the parents are present and nurturing, and then seek for laws to require every three and four year old to start PK-3 programs in public (or state-approved private) schools is the height of absurdity! These people really must think that all parents are just too stupid to raise their children, so the government, through PK-3 programs, will have to do it for them.

In another attempt at proving the benefits of PK-3 programs, the article says, "According to the recently released Child Well-Being Index (CWI) report, the rise in 9-year-old's math and reading performance as measured by the National Assessment of Education Progress ('the nation's report card') corresponds with the dramatic expansion of pre-kindergarten since the mid '90s." Notice carefully what is NOT said. It is not said, because there is evidently no evidence whatever to prove it, that the rise in 9-year-old's math and reading performance WAS CAUSED BY the dramatic expansion of pre-kindergarten. Ms. Martarella would undoubtedly have given her eyeteeth if she could have said that. But she did not because she could not, although she obviously seeks to imply it. All she could say was that the rise "corresponds with" the expansion. The truth is that there could be any number of other factors which may have contributed to the rise.

The stated reason (again, I believe that the real, unstated goal is to get children away from their parents and under state control as early as possible) for this mandatory early learning push is to give children a "Head Start" (the name of another similarly-aimed government anti-poverty program of questionable value) so that "children reach fourth grade equipped with the skills needed to learn at a higher level." Forty years ago, when I was in elementary school, what we accomplished in first, second, and third grades seemed to do quite nicely, thank you! But do such early learning programs really increase readiness? The research examined by Dr. Raymond and the late Dorothy Moore show otherwise. Dr. Moore was an official in the Reagan Education Department and shows in Better Late Than Early and School Can Wait, which led to their other books promoting homeschooling, Home Grown Kids and Home Spun Schools, that children who grew up with stimulating environments in nurturing homes until they were eight or nine did just as well in school when placed with other children their age without the danger of academic burnout.

This past year, there was a movement in California for universal preschool. Diane Flynn Keith in an article "Universal Preschool: What?s Behind the Claims That It Will Stop Crime, Secure Your Child?s Future, Save Social Security and Provide A Free Government Nanny!" (The Link; Volume 8, Issue 2; pp. 13, 22, 37, 49, 51) states, "In fact, there are a number of revered child development experts who strongly oppose the institutionalization of mainstream young children in academic programs and warn of the potential damage intellectually, psychologically, emotionally, socially and physically to them if separated from their parents and homes." She cites Mary Eberstadt?s Home Alone America: The Hidden Toll of Day Care, Behavioral Drugs and Other Parent Substitutes and David Elkind's Miseducation: Preschoolers At Risk. She also quotes renowned educational psychologist and authority on brain development in children, Jane Healy, Ph.D., who in Your Child?s Growing Mind: Brain Development and Learning From Birth to Adolescence, says to parents, "Give your child the gift of patience for the broad-based mental experiences that will underlie joyous learning throughout life?Childhood is a process, not a product, and so is learning. In a society that often respects products more than the processes of creation and thought, it is easy to fall into the trap of anxiety over measuring achievement in isolated skills. Have faith in childhood and yourself. Children?s brains generally seek what they need, and nature has given you the instincts to help them get it."

Keith concludes, "For 80% of the preschool population, learning at home with loving parents -- who may also occasionally and thoughtfully use private and co-op preschool programs in their community that emphasize imaginative play and facilitate a child?s natural curiosity -- is a better model for the healthy intellectual, physical, social and emotional development of young children than any government preschool program could ever be. More than ever, parents need to be informed in order to maintain their right to determine the educational path of their own children without government mandates or interference....We should all care enough to examine the research and claims made in support of government funded and/or mandated universal preschool before we allow it to take hold."

Sharna Olfman, Ph. D., who is a clinical psychologist, an associate professor of Psychology in the Department of Humanities and Human Sciences at Point Park College in Pittsburgh, PA, and editor of the book All Work and No Play: How Educational Reforms are Harming our Preschoolers, issues similar warning in an article "The Push for Early Childhood Literacy: A Risk Factor in Child Psychopathology" (Home Educator's Family Times; March/April, 2006; pp. 8, 25). She concludes, "It is a striking paradox that as adults feel increasingly entitled to place their individual needs first, we are creating educational environments that do not respect children's individuality or their special status as children. We introduce concepts long before children are ready to master them, deny their need for play, subject them to uniform curricula and assessment, and label and drug the children who do not fit in. Our preoccupation with understanding the genetic and neurological bases of illness, while ignoring the power of the environment, also speaks to our increasingly mechanized conceptualization of human nature."

So, beware of attempts to mandate universal preschool. Home educating families will be affected if such programs are adopted. In states like Missouri where records have to be kept by homeschooling parents for students falling under the compulsory attendance ages, record keeping will become even more onerous as records will have to be kept for three, four, five, and six year olds as well as those who are actually of "school age." There is one more item in Catherine Martarella's article that I would like to point out. "To help qualified teachers make a career of early education, we must pay them what we pay all other elementary school teachers." Translation: Watch your pocketbook and look for a HUGE TAX INCREASE if these programs are adopted.

At This School, Students Decide What To Learn

2006-07-25T16:47:00.000-04:00

At This School, Students Decide What To Learn Posted 2006-07-24
By Brad Jenkins

It sounds like the kind of school a child dreams about: Kids make the rules, and they decide what they want to learn and when.

It’s how Sarah Diener Beachy grew up, and it’s how she wants to teach other students.

Beachy, a 27-year-old who lives just outside Harrisonburg, is the founder of Shenandoah Valley Community School, which enters the scene as public-school alternatives continue to gain attention.

Beachy’s private school, which opens next month with three students, may be the most unorthodox of the local options.

The school, according to its written philosophy statement, is a "noncoercive educational community in which students are free to pursue their interests and direct their own learning."

Each morning, Beachy will meet with students and find out what they want to learn. Beachy, a former public school teacher, will teach or she’ll call on volunteers from the community to teach more specialized lessons.

"We believe everyone has an intrinsic desire to learn," said Beachy, who took a year off her studies at Eastern Mennonite University to visit other learner-centered schools.

Read Article: Click on Title Above.

Benefits of Homeschooling

2006-07-25T16:45:00.000-04:00

Homeschool Benefits

As a home-school student I would like to answer some of Alison Farmer’s queries ("Public Schooling Is Best," July 21) about home education.

First, home-schoolers are not isolated. They cooperate in order to provide their children with many "academic possibilities." I have had the privilege of sitting under university accredited parents in multiple classes, including "adequate" science labs and "collaborative" Shakespeare discussions. No home-school parent would claim to be proficient in all subjects, but by each sharing talents and knowledge it becomes achievable.

Second, home schoolers do "lose out on the socialization of a public school environment," but it is not us who lose. My friends tell me stories of how frustrating it is to face the influences that surround them everyday, especially the pressure to become sexually active.

But, I am not "sheltered." I have been taught the consequences of choices, and how to respond in difficult situations. I am confident in my response. As far as being "class president" or "quarterback", few people have that opportunity in a large school. Most home-school families have chances for leadership and responsibility through sibilings.

In a "real world" situation, there are annoying things that other people do. In a home-school setting, you’re living with those people and learning how to deal with them appropriately, which is a "trial of growing up." Home schooling is not "tearing apart the basis of American education," but was the foundation of early American education, and largely influenced the one room school house until the 20th Century.

As a home-schooled junior, I am thankful for my home education, and feel fully prepared to face the future. But before you begin to ban homeschooling, I invite you to dinner so you can see how "sheltered, isolated, and unsocialized" my family is. Chances are, you might be surprised.

Lydia Smith
Harrisonburg

How public schools are sabotaging America

2006-05-18T09:46:00.000-04:00

Note: This commentary encourages parents to look at other means to educate their chilcren - rather than "subjecting
children to educational malpractice" in the public schools. Sam Blumenfeld has been a long time friend to homeschooling
parents and children. J. Boswell

by Samuel Blumenfeld
Commentary

©2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Top CEOs in the computer field have been bemoaning the fact that American schools are not turning out students who are proficient enough in math and science and able to do the work needed in the computer industry. Nor are our students able to compete with their counterparts in other countries, namely India and China.

Craig Barrett, chairman of Intel, said in an interview in USA Today (Nov. 8, 2001) that our education system "is dumbing down the U.S. citizenry and educating the rest of the globe" in our graduate schools. Our educators haven't "fully recognized that the standard of living is going to be dependent on the quality of the workforce." That strong warning, issued over four years ago hasn't made much of a dent in the thinking of America's public educators.

Read the entire article - click on the title.

Taught at home, off to college is new trend

2006-05-17T14:19:00.000-04:00

Admissions are up as students shed academic stigma
Monday, May 15, 2006
Jennifer Smith Richards
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
There are nine children in the Taylor family, all of them homeschooled.

And all of them, dad William Taylor says, are college-bound. Elyshia is at Franciscan University of Steubenville now. Ashley was just accepted to Case Western Reserve and Denison universities on full scholarships.

"Colleges started competing for her to come," said Taylor, who lives in Groveport.

Ohio colleges — especially private ones — report that more home-schooled students are applying and being admitted than ever before. Some schools have relaxed their years-old, stringent requirements for home-schoolers to gain admission, now favoring a national admissions test and proof of a rigorous curriculum.

"We’ve seen a tremendous increase," said Nicole Evans, associate director of admissions at Ohio Dominican University.

And the colleges are glad to admit more home-schoolers, she said.

Read the entire article at The Columbus Dispatch - click on title.

From homeschool to college

2006-05-04T14:11:00.000-04:00

From homeschool to college (Worcester Magazine Online, 5/4/06)

By Joan H. Bress, LICSW, CEP

The number of homeschooled college applicants has risen dramatically in the past decade. There are currently 2 million children who study at home rather than at school, and the number is expected to reach 3 million by 2010. While an estimated 50% of these children attend college, many college admissions offices are still not certain about the best way to evaluate the academic experiences of these students.

In conversations I have had with numerous college admissions officers, I have not encountered any whose college has a policy of refusing admission to students who have been homeschooled. Although concerns and cynicism exist at some colleges, most colleges express interest in receiving applications from homeschooled students. Colleges that have accepted homeschooled students appreciate the maturity and self-direction these students demonstrate. They believe that because homeschooled students have been involved in shaping their own education, they tend to be motivated learners and are comfortable assuming positions of leadership, both in class and in social situations.

(Read entire article - click on the title above.)

NTERVIEW: JUDY ARON - DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AT NHELD (National Home Education Legal Defense)http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

2006-05-01T14:05:00.000-04:00

Thursday, April 27, 2006

This interview was conducted by Mr. Henry Cate of Why Homeschool blog or whyhomeschool.blogspot.com:
http://whyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2006/04/interview-judy-aron-director-of.html

Below is an interview with Judy Aron done via email. Judy makes some great points. One of the ones which resonanted with me is how children who are being homeschooled need to realize their education is a partnership and take initiative. Her thoughts about how all homeschoolers need to be informed and involved with poltics reminded me of some of the reviews I've read about An Army of Davids (which I have, and hope to read soon) by Glenn Reynolds.

Bio:

Judy Aron is a long time Homeschooling Activist. She has been heavily involved in protecting the rights of parents: particularly homeschoolers. Currently Judy works as the Research Director for the National Home Education Legal Defense (http://www.nheld.com/). Judy was also Vice President of CT Homeschool Network, and currently is their legislative liaison. (http://www.cthomeschoolnetwork.org/). She is wife to Michael Aron, and mom to 3 wonderful kids. David is a graduate of Boston University, Jeff currently attends Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Rachel is pursuing her high school studies at home.

Personal:

Judy, tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up? What hobbies do you have? Where is the most exciting place you've traveled to?

I was born in Far Rockaway, New York, and attended public school there up until my parents had to deal with bussing and other problems with the school system. Yes, I recall being bussed quite far away from my home to a horrible school. So, when I was a ìtweenagerî we moved to ìupstateî New York, to a little town called Accord. I attended public school there and then graduated from Rondout Valley High School and went on to attend SUNY New Paltz, where I earned a BA in Economics in 1978 with a dual minor in Business Administration and Computer Science. I graduated Magna Cum Laude. Shortly after graduation I married my husband Michael Aron and we moved to Connecticut. I worked for the Travelers Insurance Company as a manager in Data Processing, and after having my second child I hung up the corporate suit and stayed home to be a parent full time. It was a wise decision, and one that I will never regret, despite the hardship of giving up half of our income at the time. During my time at home and raising a family, I did all kinds of things including obtaining a real estate license, running a travel agency out of my home for a time, and doing lots of community work.

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE BY CLICKING ON THE TITLE OR ON THE LINK IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH.
Editor's Note: Judy Aaron and Deborah Stevenson of NHELD will be presenting workshops at the 2006 New
England Homeschool & Family Learning Conference held in Boxborough, MA, July 14, 15, 2006.

Harris Poll: One-third of U.S. Adults Know Someone Who Homeschools Their Child

2006-04-18T10:18:00.000-04:00

One-third of U.S. Adults Know Someone Who Homeschools Their Child

  Two-thirds of adults cite dissatisfaction with academic instruction as a
main reason why they think parents in general or they themselves homeschool
                              their children

   ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The passage of the No Child
Left Behind Act has focused attention not only on public education in the
United States, but on alternatives to public education as well. One such
alternative is homeschooling, a growing trend in recent years(1). One-third
(34%) of U.S. adults know someone who currently homeschools their child.
Among those households with children who are old enough to have attended
school, eight percent report that their child has been homeschooled at some
point in their education.
   These are the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 2,435 U.S. adults
surveyed online by Harris Interactive(R) between March 8 and 14, 2006.
   Reasons for homeschooling

Please click on the title to be directed to the original article and to read it in its entirety.

Homeschoolers A Small But Growing Minority- Harvard "Homeschool Anonymous" takes flight

2006-04-18T10:13:00.000-04:00

by Rachel Pollack
The Harvard Crimson online edition

Crystal E. Winston ’06-’07 never had a prom. She never rode a school bus, went to gym class, or received a report card. Like a growing number of students around the country, Winston, went to school by staying at home—from kindergarten through senior year.

Winston, a history of art and architecture concentrator in Mather House, says her mother taught her at home because the St. Louis school district where she grew up was “way terrible.”

“There weren’t many options for us,” Winston says. “My mom wanted us to have a certain set of values growing up, and she wanted to make sure that we got those if we were homeschooled.”

The Department of Education reported in 2003 that 2.2 percent of the American school-age population was homeschooled. And experts at the Graduate School of Education say that a majority of those families choose to homeschool their children for religious reasons.

But even as the homeschooling trend takes root nationwide, a disproportionately tiny number of these students ever win entry to Harvard.

‘A GROWTH INDUSTRY’

In 1989, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons ’67 said that around five to 10 homeschooled students applied to Harvard yearly.

Following the rise in the number of homeschoolers nationwide, between 100 and 200 homeschooled students applied to Harvard this year, says Director of Admissions Marlyn McGrath Lewis ’70-’73. Lewis adds that many other applicants were homeschooled for part of their education.

“It’s a growth industry. We’ve probably had an increase in numbers over the past 10 years,” she says.

Lewis says she cannot give exact figures because the admissions office does not place homeschooled students’ applications into separate categories.

Despite this increase in the number of applicants, Lewis says Harvard usually only accepts between three and eight homeschooled students each year, a number significantly lower than this year’s overall acceptance rate of 9.3 percent.

Read article - click on title to read entire article at it's source web site.

A baker's dozen: The Diel family believes in working, plaing and praying together

2006-04-14T09:37:00.000-04:00

Great story about life, love and learning in a large family... (HEFT ed)

by Amy Siewart (GMToday) Greater Milwaukee 4/13/06

Size does not appear to be an issue for the tight-knit family, whose household is efficiently run, family members are healthy and most importantly happy. It would make any small family stand up and applaud.

To grasp how many years Diane Diel was pregnant or with a baby in her arms, she was 20 when she had James and 45 when she had Joseph ó a quarter of a century. "When I had my first one it was a great experience and I thought one is just fine," Diane laughs. "It really has been a journey. I didnít know they would all come from me!" she exclaims. Early in their marriage, Jim and Diane thought they would possibly adopt children instead of conceiving their own.

That whole idea was set aside after several pregnancies occurred.

The entire Diel family including son James (left) holding his baby with his wife sitting behind him, gathered for this family photo during the 2005 holiday season.

"This is an area of our lives where we are going to trust God," Diane says. "Weíve been blessed. Theyíve all been healthy."

The couple began reading the Bible after experiencing some difficult times early in their marriage. "We started taking God at his word and in the Bible we read that children are a blessing," Diane explains.

New Article from (Pacific) Time Magazine - School's Out Forever

2006-04-11T08:54:00.000-04:00

http://www.time.com/time/pacific/magazine/article/0,13673,503060417-1181679,00.html
Sunday, Apr. 09, 2006
It was several months before anastasia was born that her parents decided she wouldn't be going to school. Her mother, Katharina Russell-Head, had driven the idea, doubtful that schooling was the best way for children to learn. Without instruction, she reasoned, infants accomplish the astonishing feats of learning to walk and talk. "I wondered what would happen if you applied that same philosophy - just letting them be - to children after the age of five," she says. "Would they continue to do their job as children?" There's a twist in Russell-Head's case. A schoolteacher in Melbourne for 10 years before Anastasia came along, she might have been expected to regard teaching as a job best done by professionals. But that's not her view at all. While teacher training is worthwhile, she says, its main benefit is to prepare trainees for tutoring large groups. "Anyone can teach one-on-one," she says. "And my method wasn't really teaching, anyway. It was just being there." Academically, Anastasia seemed to thrive at home, an impression confirmed when - curious about school and keen to develop her musical talent - she started at the somewhat alternative Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School in Year 10. "She immediately excelled in everything," her mother says. "But after two weeks she came home and said, 'Mum, do you mind if I stop being top in everything? It's embarrassing.'" Anastasia is now 27 and concert manager at the Victorian College of the Arts. With her parents and sisters, she was a pioneer in a field that has grown markedly in Australia and New Zealand since the 1970s, when homeschooling reappeared after an absence of more than a century. Because a portion of homeschooling families choose not to tell authorities what they're doing, no one knows exactly how many children are involved in it. In Australia, estimates range from between 0.2% and 2% of the school-age population. Analysis of available numbers suggests the true figure is around 0.5% - or about 10,000 to 20,000 kids. Click on Title Above to read article.

Homeschooling Growing In Popularity

2006-04-03T11:33:00.000-04:00

04/02/06

Homeschooling growing in popularity

NORTH PORT -- When his seventh-grade daughter was being bullied by classmates, John McKay took her out of public schools.

" I (felt) that the guidance counselors favored the bullies more than the ones being bullied," McKay said. Instead, the North Porter opted for homeschooling.

Leslie Valeska said she first started homeschooling when she found her son, now 14, was not being challenged enough in public schools.

"He was bored and the classes were not intense enough for him," she said. "Now I've been homeschooling him for four years, along with my three other children."

One of the surprises she found was how much her children support each other. "They all get excited when one of them gets a difficult concept or does something spectacular."

Families may choose homeschooling for many reasons.

Homeschooled Students Continue to Win

2006-03-29T13:33:00.000-05:00

Wooly bugger: Lalor fly ties to first place
http://knox.villagesoup.com/sports/story.cfm?storyID=69727

Homeschool student wins top honors at math and science contest
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060326/NEWS01/603260311/1002

6th grader wins regional spelling bee
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/264469_spellingbee27.html

Home is where the learning is

2006-03-29T13:32:00.000-05:00

Home is where the learning is
By Anne Matthews
TIMES CORRESPONDENT
Tricia Field's weekday mornings begin like many other mothers with young children in Pleasanton. After breakfast, she helps her preschooler and first grader get ready for school with her toddler in tow. Four days a week, she drops her 4-year-old daughter Carly off at morning preschool then heads back home.

It's at home where the real work begins as 6-year-old Tori begins her school day. With her mother's guidance and the blessing of the Pleasanton Unified School District, Tori is learning all that a first grader in a traditional school would learn, plus a little more.

Homegrown scholars

2006-03-29T13:29:00.000-05:00

DailyPrincetonian.com
By Sophia Ahern Dwosh
Princetonian Senior Writer

Photo by Michael Zhang
(Expand Photo)
Homegrown scholars: Brian Brown '07. who was homeschooled as a child, shows a photograph of his family. Brown is one of about eight students at the University who were "Home Educated." Between one million to two million students nationwide are currently educated at home.
Before arriving at the University, Steve Apple '08 had not gone to school for a single day in his entire life.

A friend took Apple to his second grade classroom as part of a show-and-tell demonstration. "He stood me up there and said, 'Hey, this is my friend Steve. He's homeschooled. Talk to them, Steve!'" Apple recalled in an interview.

More than a decade later, though his peers no longer look at him as an outsider, Apple is still part of a small minority of students whose educational background has involved home-based schooling.

Homeschooling, sweet homeschooling

2006-03-13T12:11:00.000-05:00

by Nathanel Blake (townhall.com)
Last week a New York Times article profiled the ordeal of academic applications: essays, interviews, application consultants, tuition of $10,000 a year or more, and the stress of separating families.

The article was about private preschools in New York City. The following is representative of the tribulations chronicled among well-heeled parents. "When Ms. Malloy, a federal prosecutor, applied for her twins, a boy and a girl, she asked her husband to write the application essay. "I was so nervous," she said, "and I'm someone who took the LSAT, who's written for the federal judiciary and in law review."

The family applied to four schools. "There's not a week that goes by that I don't regret that I didn't apply to three or four more," Ms. Malloy said. And so the hamster-wheel rat-race is now beginning at the ripe old age of two.

For me, reading this story increased my determination that if probability wins out and I marry and have children (I'm archaic enough to believe that to be the proper order), they will be homeschooled.

Read entire article by clicking on the title.

A Peculiar People - Crunchy Cons

2006-03-08T10:28:00.000-05:00

by Chuck Colson
Townhall.com
March 7, 2006

If you encountered someone who made his own granola, bought his veggies at a food co-op, wore Birkenstock sandals, and wanted to save the environment, if you’re like me, you’d probably think, well, there goes a lefty, or a liberal, or maybe an aging hippie. But the author of a new book says someone like that is just as likely to be a conservative Republican. In his book, Crunchy Cons, journalist Rod Dreher writes about a group of people he calls “crunchy conservatives,” a group that includes, among others, “hip homeschooling mamas,” “Birkenstocked Burkeans,” “gun-loving organic” farmers, and “right-wing nature lovers.”

What Dreher, a Dallas Morning News columnist, means by “crunchy conservative” is someone who rejects the “consumerist and individualistic mainstream of American life.” This rejection distinguishes their worldview from that of mainstream liberalism or conservatism, which, in Dreher’s estimation, are both “essentially materialist ideologies.”

The result of this materialism is “a society dedicated to the multiplication of wants and the intensification of desire, not the improvement of character.” What sets Dreher’s “crunchy cons” apart is the extent to which they have recognized the corrosive effects of a culture that is both materialistic and pornographic, and they are prepared to do something about it.

Debater has winning way with words

2006-03-07T10:45:00.000-05:00

(Homeschool grad wins debate competition.)

Debater has winning way with words
By ASHLEY LOPES Features Writer
03/06/2006

BERKLEY - The friendly and outgoing Rebekah Barton was a force to be reckoned with when she stepped on stage, arguing her way to the top and bringing home the Regional Title for Bristol Community College in the brainy world of debate.

A newcomer to debate competitions, the 17-year-old sophomore at Bristol Community College, with a 3.9 grade point average, swept the Northeast Regional Debate Competition.

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She took home six trophies in addition to the several medals that adorned her neck.

"I felt confident with how I did, but I definitely wasn't expecting to win," Barton said. "It was absolutely shocking."

Winning awards in several areas including the debate section and an oral interpretation events, the accomplishment which Barton is most proud of is the regional title, which now sits in a trophy case at her college.

"I was putting in crazy hours of preparation, and this just makes me feel like all my work has paid off," Barton said.

"While all my friends went out, I would stay home on a Saturday night because I had a debate the next day. That's when I realized, 'wow I really am a dork.'"

Fourteen schools participated in this all-day event, and Barton and her partner beat out well-respected colleges such as Bridgewater State, Suffolk and Cornell.

Her mother, Michele Barton, was disappointed about missing the awards ceremony, but was elated to see Barton walk in the door with a box full of her accomplishments.

"I wish I could have seen it," the proud mother said. "She came home with a huge box full of trophies. We are so proud of her because she worked so hard for it."

Barton was awarded second place, won third place for dramatic interpretation, first place for critical analysis and first place for the Pentathelon - a combination of points from all areas of competition.

Barton first became involved with the Forensics and Debate Team through an introduction to speech course she took where she met the team's coach, went to one of their meetings and thought it was interesting.

"Basically, you get a resolution and then you have 15 minutes to put together a case with your partner," Barton said. "It is definitely a challenge. Stressful but fun."

Home-schooled since she was in the fifth grade, Barton entered college at the ripe age of 16.

Homeschooling grows quickly in the United States

2006-03-03T11:51:00.000-05:00

Thursday, March 2, 2006; Posted: 9:51 a.m. EST (14:51 GMT)

COLUMBIA, Maryland (Reuters) -- Elizabeth and Teddy Dean are learning about the Italian scientist Galileo, so they troop into the kitchen, where their mother Lisa starts by reviewing some facts about the Renaissance.

Elizabeth, 11, and Teddy, 8, have never gone to school.

Their teachers are primarily their parents, which puts them into what is believed to be the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. education system -- the homeschool movement.

Read this article at CNN by clicking on the title.

Through the Eyes of Genius

2006-03-02T15:05:00.000-05:00

BY MIKE ANGELL

INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY

Posted 2/28/2006

A demanding boss is a bane to most workers. But for Willard Boyle, that demanding boss was a springboard.

Boyle's boss was Jack Morton, vice president of electronics technology for AT&T's storied research unit, Bell Labs. Boyle headed its work in semiconductors and transistors.

Morton called Boyle one day in October 1969 asking what he was working on. Unsatisfied with Boyle's answer, Morton said another Bell Labs' unit was doing interesting things. Why couldn't Boyle come up with something interesting?

His boss' prodding got to Boyle. Determined not to be left behind in the innovation arena, Boyle and his colleague, George Smith, got to work.

Their drive led them to come up with one of the most important inventions of the century: the charge-coupled device, or CCD. The CCD is the heart behind digital cameras and video recorders, space-based telescopes and satellites, and medical imaging devices.

Boyle says a combination of many factors helped propel him in his many achievements: the ability to think freely, a nurturing of his intellectual curiosity, a collaborative working environment where ideas were shared, and even hurdles sometimes presented by colleagues.

"Having the freedom to pursue ideas was very important to me," Boyle said in a recent IBD interview.

Early Lessons

Boyle spent his childhood in a remote logging town in Quebec where, during the winters, the only way to get around was by dog sled. The cold, bleak winters of that town helped forge Boyle's determination. He had to wake up in the middle of pitch-black, wintry nights to go feed the sled dogs in their kennel. The utter blackness terrified Boyle, but someone had to feed the dogs, so he had to soldier on.

His mother home-schooled Boyle until high school. Even though his lessons were only an hour a day, Boyle's mother made them count. She provided him with most any book he wanted. After reading, his mother held discussion sessions to talk about what he learned and what new things he wanted to explore in subsequent books.

Boyle found inspiration in his reading. He credits scientist and author Lancelot Hogben with first stimulating his interest in science. Hogben's books on math and science were written clearly and applied the fields' abstract ideas to everyday phenomenon.
Read article - click on the title.

The Quiet Ambush by Suzannah Rowntree

2006-03-01T16:42:00.001-05:00

Homeschooling is Threatened Down-Under

The Quiet Ambush

by Suzannah Rowntree

In Victoria, Australia, the State Parliament is considering an Education and Training Reform Bill for a new Education Act which will completely rework the existing Act.

Among other changes, homeschoolers will now be more strictly regulated. Up till now, homeschoolers in Victoria have only been required to provide regular and efficient instruction for their children and to be able to prove it if challenged, under Division 8A of the Community Services Act of 1970 School Attendance. No other state in Australia shows such lenience to homeschoolers, and in this environment homeschooling has flourished.

Unfortunately, this is about to change. Under the new Education Reform Bill, a current draft of which can be found here, Victorian homeschoolers will be required to apply for a homeschooling licence and comply with any (as-yet undisclosed) regulations the government thinks fit. Anyone disobeying these unspecified regulations will have their licence revoked. Anyone refusing to apply for a licence to homeschool will be charged with starting an unregistered school and will be fined $1048.10 in Australian dollars. Alternately, they can be fined $104.81 per day per child for truancy. Possibly both fines will apply.

Read Article by clicking on title.

When homeschoolers grow up

2006-03-01T10:45:00.000-05:00

Dr. Samuel Blumenfeld

Posted: February 4, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Parents interested in homeschooling often want to know what will happen to their children when they grow up and have to work for a living. Will employers recognize their homespun high-school diplomas signed by Mom and Dad and the local homeschool association? Will corporate America welcome them as competent "human resources"? Will the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force accept them? All legitimate questions which deserve to be answered.

Well, the answers were recently given by Dr. Brian Ray, director of the National Home Education Research Institute of Salem, Ore. – the authoritative source the media turn to when they want homeschool data. Dr. Ray, himself a homeschooling dad, studied 5,247 home-educated graduates and found that 49 percent were in college and the remaining 51 percent were earning their way in a wide variety of occupations. Over 10 percent were pursuing such prestigious professional careers as doctors, ministers, accountants, nurses, school and college teachers, and the like.
Read entire article by clicking on the title.

The lessons of school choice

2006-03-01T10:42:00.000-05:00

WND Exclusive Commentary The lessons of school choice
Rebecca Hagelin

Posted: February 21, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Choosing how your children are educated should be as routine in America as the ability to choose your neighborhood, your church and your place of employment.

It stuns me that in 2006, the vast majority of students in failing schools are still trapped there. My husband and I have enjoyed the marvelous blessing of choosing freely between private schools, public schools and home schooling for our children. Yet, the reality for most parents is no real choice at all.

The No Child Left Behind Act, enacted in 2002 by a large majority of Congress, was aimed at correcting the "soft bigotry of low expectations," in President Bush's memorable phrase. Academic achievement would be boosted by demanding accountability – and educators would be held accountable by testing students regularly and measuring their progress. The parents of students in failing schools were supposed to have at least some choice to move to schools that perform.

Creative Class: Homeschooling and Affluent Kids

2006-02-28T08:52:00.000-05:00

February 27, 2006
Lori Mortimer

Once considered the domain of only deeply religious families who didn't want to send their kids to secular schools, homeschooling has been gaining popularity among not-particularly-religious families. In "Meet My Teachers: Mom and Dad," Business Week covers the growth of homeschooling specifically within the "creative class."

According to Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class and The Flight of the Creative Class, the creative class consists of educated, affluent people who, um, "create for a living":

[They]...seek not only fulfilling jobs, but also tolerant and vibrant communities and cities. This new class of workers does not define itself by national boundaries, but is highly mobile, willing to relocate for the best social, cultural, and economic opportunities. The creative class, 38 million strong in the U.S., produces a disproportionate share of wealth, accounting for nearly half of all wages and salaries earned - as much as the manufacturing and service sectors combined.
Sounds like a pretty good life:

Meet My Teachers: Mom and Dad

2006-02-14T14:24:00.000-05:00

BusinessWeek Online
2/20/2006

A growing number of affluent parents think they can do better than any school

Slater Aldrich doesn't attend any of the top-shelf public or private schools near his family's Madison (Conn.) home, not even his mother's alma mater, the $18,000-a-year Country School. Instead, the 11-year-old spends his days playing the role of town zoning officer, researching the pros and cons of granting approval to a new Wal-Mart (WMT ). Other endeavors include pretending he's a Sand Hill Road venture capitalist, creating Excel-studded business plans for a backyard sheep company, and growing his own organic food. "It's kind of like living on a white-collar farm," says his dad, Clark Aldrich. Aldrich vowed he'd never put his kid through the eye-glazing lectures he endured in school, even at prestigious institutions like Lawrence Academy and Brown University.

Like a growing number of creative-class parents, the Aldriches homeschool Slater, splitting the duties. (Aldrich père, who co-founded interactive learning company SimuLearn, handles math and science; his wife, Lisa, a stay-at-home mom, does the reading and writing. Slater's friends come over after school and on the weekends for pickup games.)

Read the article by clicking on the title.

Homechooling Provides its Own Therapy for Special Needs Kids

2006-02-14T14:15:00.000-05:00

By Tonya Poole, 2-11-06

One afternoon three years ago in Albuquerque, we learned from the back of a brown paper grocery bag that my then nine-year-old daughter Sarah has autism. We unloaded groceries as we read, putting fewer and fewer cans and breads and teas away as we made it further down the list: vocal ‘stimming’ or chanting; extreme resistance to and/or distress at change in routine; ‘flapping’ arms and/or hands; becoming easily and markedly distressed for no visible reason; unusually focused fascination on specific subjects or objects; frequent repetitive behaviors; coordination and motor difficulties; noticeable lack of natural fears and presence of unnatural fears; delay in and difficulty following set of instructions …

Read the entire article outlining one family's struggle to get the help they needed and their ultimate (and brave) decision to homeschool... by clicking on the title

Former science chief: MMR fears coming true (Autism and other problems related to vaccine)

2006-02-09T15:33:00.000-05:00

Daily Mail (UK)
By Sue Corrigan, Mail on Sunday 5th Feb 2006

Former Government medical officer responsible for deciding whether medicines are safe has accused the Government of "utterly inexplicable complacency" over the MMR triple vaccine for children.

Dr Peter Fletcher, who was Chief Scientific Officer at the Department of Health, said if it is proven that the jab causes autism, "the refusal by governments to evaluate the risks properly will make this one of the greatest scandals in medical history".

He added that after agreeing to be an expert witness on drug-safety trials for parents' lawyers, he had received and studied thousands of documents relating to the case which he believed the public had a right to see.

He said he has seen a "steady accumulation of evidence" from scientists worldwide that the measles, mumps and rubella jab is causing brain damage in certain children.

But he added: "There are very powerful people in positions of great authority in Britain and elsewhere who have staked their reputations and careers on the safety of MMR and they are willing to do almost anything to protect themselves."

Read entire article by clicking on the title.

Learning at home

2006-02-07T16:26:00.000-05:00

Mail Tribune
Southern Oregon's News Source
February 7, 2006

More families in Southern Oregon and around
the U.S. are turning to homeschooling
By Paris Achen
Mail Tribune

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Oregon Road
Conditions & Cams

February 7, 2006

Will Taft goes over his daughter Lilyís math studies in the living room of their Medford home Monday. The number of homeschooled children is increasing nationwide, according to a new report.
Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell
Learning at home

More families in Southern Oregon and around the U.S. are turning to homeschooling

By PARIS ACHEN
Mail Tribune

Instead of waiting on a bus and going to school, fifth-grader Lily Taft heads to her desk in her family’s living room.

She picks up a seventh-grade math book, reads a lesson and without any instructions from an adult, begins calculating math problems.

"I usually start at 9:30 a.m.," Lily said. "I do schoolwork in no particular order."

Her parents, Will Taft and Barbera Herzog-Taft of Medford, said they chose to homeschool Lily out of a desire to give her a better education than what they thought a public school could offer.

Homeschooling's growth offers lesson in market development

2006-02-02T09:48:00.002-05:00

PittsburghLive.com
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Homeschooling's growth offers lesson in market development

By The Associated Press
Thursday, February 2, 2006

NEW YORK -- Jill Nardini planned to homeschool her family even before she had children.
Nardini, 44, a self-described older mom who had fertility problems, said she wanted to spend as much time as possible with her children. Her desire to teach her 9-year-old son Joey and 7-year-old daughter Jessie about their Christian faith also influenced in the decision.

Homeschooling's growth offers lesson in market development

2006-02-02T09:48:00.001-05:00

Homeschooling's growth offers lesson in market development

2006-02-02T09:48:00.000-05:00

Oprah's essay contest excludes homeschoolers

2006-02-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

WorldNetDaily February 2, 2006

"Contest open to all legal residents of the U.S. who are currently enrolled full-time (and in good standing) in a public or state-accredited private or parochial school, grades 9-12," states the fine print on a page explaining the contest on Winfrey's website.

Despite the restriction, a letter from Winfrey announcing the contest, which will judge essays on the book "Night," says it is open "to high school students across America."

Michael Smith, president of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, or HSLDA, wrote an open letter to Winfrey protesting the policy.

"We contacted your show to see if homeschoolers could be included and were rebuffed," wrote Smith. "While we do not believe that your show willfully excluded homeschoolers, the fact that homeschoolers were excluded in the first place is troubling."

More at home with home schooling

2006-01-31T14:28:00.000-05:00

More are at home with home schooling

The number of Minnesota students educated mainly that way has doubled over the past decade, and it's mostly an exurban and rural phenomenon.
David Peterson, Star Tribune - Minneapolis-St. Paul
Last update: January 31, 2006 – 1:09 AM

The pressure-cooker lives that Kent and Roxanne Katterjohn once led -- she as an intensive-care nurse in Chicago, he as a cameraman for NBC News -- are a distant memory today at their log home in the ravine-wrinkled countryside south of Cannon Falls, Minn.

The Katterjohns now say they lead a far quieter lifestyle, even though that includes home- schooling their 11 kids, who curl up in bed with algebra books or ride horses to friends' houses. It's "just idyllic. My mom calls us 'Little House on the Prairie,' " said Roxanne Katterjohn, 46.

One Mother's Homeschool Talking Points

2006-01-30T14:53:00.000-05:00

One Mother’s Homeschool Talking Points (To read entire article please click on the title.)

by Krishyon Young

People often pepper me with Homeschool questions. In short order, rationalizations roll smoothly from their lips as to why they “can not possibly” homeschool their children. It is expected that I will soothe their conscience with a sweet, “Well, perhaps it’s not for everyone”. One day I did not oblige. Instead of a polite nod, I volleyed. With every concern given, I countered; for every excuse she lobbed, I sent back a positive twist. She finally gave up, or gave in you might say, as she is now in her eighth year of homeschooling.

Whether you consider yourself a homeschool crusader or not, you simply cannot avoid the attention you will get once you announce to a crowd, “Actually, we Homeschool”. While homeschooling mothers don’t get paid per diem for every convert, we often feel inclined to be the short-term face of our incredible movement. After all, someone inspired us once upon a time. In that spirit of giving, I offer you my own “talking points”. Help yourself, take what works for you and toss the rest.

I would homeschool my children, except …

1. I don’t have the patience.

2. I can’t afford it.

3. My kids won’t listen to me.

4. What about socialization?

5. Sports and the Prom, will they miss out?

6. I’m not trained to be a teacher.

7. Where would I find support?

8. What would I do for a curriculum?

9. Little Johnny has special needs.

10. I don’t want to homeschool.

* * * * *

1. Patience: It’s amazing! Once your family gets into a Natural Family Rhythm, you’ll be surprised how little patience is needed. In the institutional school setting, students are expected to sit, stand, move and talk when directed, mostly at arbitrary (to children) times. You’re in the middle of a poem? Too bad, put it away, its time for recess. In the middle of a ball game? Sorry, time to sit down for a math lesson. Time for lunch, whether you are hungry or not. Time for a potty break whether you think you need one or not, now’s your chance. Put your hand down, you already had your chance. Heaven forbid you get thirsty, that is not allowed until after reading group is over. Any sort of natural brain, body or emotional rhythm is set aside for the class schedule. When the child is suddenly dropped off in front of her house in the afternoon, she is tired, worn out, and fatigued by the craziness of her day. That’s when YOU get her back. No wonder you think you lack patience. Once a family moves into a Natural Family Rhythm, harmony happens. Families eat when they are hungry, play when they have energy, sit when they can concentrate and stay with projects until they are motivated to do something else. It’s comforting to see a child relax and feel “at home”. Of course, things aren’t always perfect. That’s all right, too. A little conflict resolution is part of the day’s lessons. When a family is well-fed, well-rested and well-loved, there are far fewer calls for patience. When a family leads a whole life, verses a fragmented life, it leads to contentment all around the table.

2. How much do you think it costs? Your estimate is probably based on what you think the public or private schools spend. This is no way to estimate the cost to educate a child in your home. I have had great, academically successful years when I spent nearly nothing (under $100 for four children combined). I have had equal academic success when I spent five and ten times more than that. You can buy a full curriculum and set your children up with a “school” that will supervise your child’s work and progress. This option will be expensive, time consuming and restrictive (and stressful). Or you can do what the majority of homeschool families do. Decide what you are interested in learning and look for ways to incorporate it into your family’s life. This costs very little. The Public Library is a great place to start. The Iinternet has thousands of unit studies and enough info to keep you up all night for the rest of your life, free for the taking. You will find most people are incredibly generous. Homeschoolers are learners at the core. When you are interested in something, you love to share your knowledge with others. I love this about people. Ask your family, friends and Church to see if anyone has a similar interest or hobby. Look for the older gentleman who served in WW II and knows everything about airplanes. How about the amazing retired woman who has traveled the world? You will make friends of all ages and there is nothing like learning something from someone who is passionate about their subject.

3. Your kids won’t listen to you? Give them a chance. If your children attend Public School eight hours everyday, they are weary of being ordered about, usually with little context as to why they are being told to do this or that. That is probably why they question your directives at home. It’s as simple as that. Bring them home. Give them some time to reconnect with the family unit. Give them space to figure out their learning style. Give them back their life and welcome them back into your life. Then you will find yourselves hearing one another. When you look at each other over the table at lunch one day, you will see that wonderful son you used to have such an easy time talking and laughing with when he was a fun four year-old and “your little guy”. You are both still the same people. Re-introduce yourselves to each other and fall back in love with your great “big” kid.

4. Socialization? When this word is used with me, I believe people are saying two things: #1 – Kids Need Friends. In the neighborhoods in which we have lived, children have attended a variety of educational institutions. Represented were Jewish, Catholic, Methodist and Baptist Schools. Montessorri, Magnet and Charter Schools also carted children off for the major part of the day. Our children homeschool, a perfectly reasonably alternative educational option. When explained this way to friends, family and neighbors the information is easy to organize and catagorize in their heads. The Public School in our area still attracts the largest percentage of the families but certainly it is not the only option. When I am asked the “socialization” question I describe to people what I see out my front door. Once children are home from “school”, they find one another. No matter where they have been all morning, they are playing together in the afternoon and on the weekends. Many homeschool children belong to town baseball or soccer leagues where they meet even more children. Children attend dance or gymnastic classes where they meet friends with similar interests. My own children belong to a Children’s Theatre where they perform with eighty plus other young people from age 7-15. I am my son’s Cub Scout Den Mother so each week I have many little eight and nine year-old boys running around my yard. One teenage daughter is a Life Guard where she meets a great variety of people. Another daughter meets people who share her interest in Opera and Classical music through music recitals. Most great friendships are based on similar interests. A few great friends who all love horses, or basketball, or reading are much more likely to sustain a close and meaningful, friendship over time. Mothers often orchestrate playgroups or play dates a few times a month both for themselves and their children. Just because your children aren’t preschoolers any longer doesn’t mean you can’t arrange meetings. I met a wonderful mother recently, we knew our children would hit it off and planned a family picnic in the park. It was as if our children had known each other all their lives. They absorbed each other’s cultural beauty as easily as the sunlight. That they did not speak the same verbal language made little difference. Squeals of delight translate well. Enjoying the people you are with is a much more enriching social experience for children than being segregated by age. In the homeschool atmosphere you have the luxury of thinking Stage, not Age. If your child loves to hang out with her Grandmother and her friends while quilting, why not? If your son thinks it’s cool to be in a band, open up your garage and plug your ears. If our family were any more social I don’t know when we would sleep.

Parental Social Anxiety #2 – Are they going to be weird? If by “weird” you mean like their Parents, then yes. Studies show children do model the major behaviors of their parents. If you are fine with “who” you are, be it shy, cool, friendly, abrupt, or far beyond description, then all will be well. After all, YOU found someone to love and presumably to love you. Children who truly are very different or unique are often tormented in the public school environment where being different is more obvious and not at all accepted as diverse and beautiful. These children either strip themselves of their identity to fit into that narrow mold (what a shame) or suffer painful scars that can last a lifetime. I think often of one young man in my youth who could not suffer the hurt and did not live through his high school years. This is an epidemic not properly dealt with in the Public School system and it is growing steadily. A kind, loving, accepting mother and father who build you up and help you see your strengths is just the place for the truly unique. When this BEAUTIFUL child grows up and goes to college or into the World with his self-worth intact, he will find a greater pool of people with the same interests, someone just as special as himself who will love him for who he is and they will have a happy “weird?” life together. That is proper socialization.

No Place Like Homeschool

2006-01-27T16:42:00.000-05:00

U.S. Marines in Japan

No place like homeschool
Lance Cpl. W. Zach Griffith
CAMP KINSER (Jan 26, 2006) -- Thanks to the help of a grant-based support program, several military families on Okinawa have chosen to homeschool their children.

In 2000, the International Distance Education of Alaska program became available to families here who prefer to home school, making it easier and more advantageous for parents who wish to educate their children independently, according to Debbie Rowland, the Okinawa field representative for IDEA.

IDEA works in partnership with Department of Defense Dependents' Schools to provide a home-schooling alternative for families, through which they receive money for school supplies, resources and field trips, Rowland said.

HONDA Re-Introduced - Examining Section 4(a)

2006-01-23T15:01:00.000-05:00

Bulletin #47 HONDA Re-Introduced - Examining Section 4(a) 01/23/06

This is the second of a series of bulletins NHELD is preparing detailing, section by section, the exact language of HR3753/S1691, the “Home School Non-Discrimination Act of 2005”, or “HoNDA”, as proposed in the House and Senate. The bulletins will provide the exact language from the bill, along with the exact text of the existing federal law that the bill proposes to amend. The bulletins will also include NHELD’s comments on those provisions. The first bulletin was Bulletin #44 - HONDA Re-Introduced - Examining Sections 1, 2 and 3 issued 10/17/2005.

NHELD is opposed to passage of any and all parts of this legislation. NHELD believes the entire bill should be killed and all previous federal laws already adopted having anything to do with the rights of parents to instruct their children at home should be repealed.

NHELD believes that there can be no compromises on any federal legislation regarding the rights of parents to instruct their children at home.

NHELD believes all federal legislation regarding the rights of parents to instruct their children at home, no matter how beneficial the legislation appears, is wholly unconstitutional, in violation of the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and must be defeated and/or repealed immediately.
====================================================

Do you know what Section 4(a) of the HONDA bill does? Let’s go through it and decipher the substitution language requested.
Section 4 of HR3753/S1691 provides:
“SEC. 4. CLARIFICATION OF PROVISIONS ON INSTITUTIONAL AND STUDENT ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.
(a) Clarification of Institutional Eligibility- Section 101(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)(1)) is amended by inserting `meeting the requirements of section 484(d)(3) or' after `only persons'.

(b) Clarification of Student Eligibility- Section 484(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(d)) is amended by striking the heading and inserting `Satisfaction of Secondary Education Standards'.”

First and foremost, the Higher Education Act of 1985 has multiple parts.
Section 4(a) of HR3753/S1691, or HoNDA, amends Section 101(a)(1) of the Act.
Section 101(a)(1) is codified in the federal statutes as 20 U.S.C. 1001(a)(1) where
20 U.S.C. 1001 is the section, (a) is a subsection of that section, and (1) is a subsection of subsection (a). 20 U.S.C. Section 1001 includes three subsections – (a), (b), and (c).
For a clearer understanding of the law, all of 20 U.S.C. Section 1001 as it reads today is reprinted below. The underlined section is the section that is to be amended, after which we have inserted the proposed amendment:

TITLE 20—EDUCATION

CHAPTER 28--HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE

SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Part A--Definitions

Sec. 1001. General definition of institution of higher education

(a) Institution of higher education

For purposes of this chapter, other than subchapter IV, the term
``institution of higher education'' means an educational institution in
any State that—

(1) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate
of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the
recognized equivalent of such a certificate;

( would be replaced with:

(1) admits as regular students only persons `meeting the requirements of section 484(d)(3) or' having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate; )

(2) is legally authorized within such State to provide a program
of education beyond secondary education;
(3) provides an educational program for which the institution
awards a bachelor's degree or provides not less than a 2-year
program that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree;
(4) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and
(5) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency
or association, or if not so accredited, is an institution that has
been granted preaccreditation status by such an agency or
association that has been recognized by the Secretary for the
granting of preaccreditation status, and the Secretary has
determined that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution
will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency or
association within a reasonable time.

(b) Additional institutions included

For purposes of this chapter, other than subchapter IV, the term
``institution of higher education'' also includes--
(1) any school that provides not less than a 1-year program of
training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized
occupation and that meets the provision of paragraphs (1), (2), (4),
and (5) of subsection (a) of this section; and
(2) a public or nonprofit private educational institution in any
State that, in lieu of the requirement in subsection (a)(1) of this
section, admits as regular students persons who are beyond the age
of compulsory school attendance in the State in which the
institution is located.

(c) List of accrediting agencies

For purposes of this section and section 1002 of this title, the
Secretary shall publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting
agencies or associations that the Secretary determines, pursuant to
subpart 2 of part G of subchapter IV of this chapter, to be reliable
authority as to the quality of the education or training offered.

The problem is, Section 4(a) of the bill does not specify what “meeting the requirements of section 484(d)(3)” means. It does not specify whether “section 484(d)(3) is referring to a section in the Higher Education Act of 1965 or a section of another federal law.

Aides in the office of the sponsors of the bills are not even certain as to what law “section 484(d)(3)” refers to, but “assume” it refers to a section of the Higher Education Act.

That section, “section 484(d)” of the Higher Education Act as it currently reads is reprinted below. The underlined section is the section to which the amended Section 4(a) of the bill refers:

“(d) STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES – In order for a student who does not have a high school certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such certificate, to be eligible for any assistance under subparts 1, 3, and 4 of Part A, and Parts B, C, D, and E of this title, the student shall meet one of the following standards:

(1) The student shall take an independently administered examination and shall achieve a score, specified by the Secretary, and demonstrating that such student can benefit from the education or training being offered. Such examination shall be approved by the Secretary on the basis of compliance with such standards for development, administration, and scoring as the Secretary may prescribe in regulations.

(2) The student shall be determined as having the ability to benefit from the education or training in accordance with such process as the State shall prescribe. Any such process described or approved by a State for the purposes of this section shall be effective 6 months after the date of Submission to the Secretary unless the Secretary disapproves such process. The Secretary shall take into account the effectiveness of such process in enabling students without high school diplomas or the equivalent thereof to benefit from the instruction offered by institutions utilizing such process, and shall also take into account the cultural diversity, economic circumstances, and educational preparation of the population served by the institutions.

(3) The student has completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under State law.”

The entire section 484 (20 USC 1091) should be read in context at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+20USC1091

After reading that entire section, one can glean the following information:
“In order to receive any grant, loan, or work assistance” from the federal government “a student must” be enrolled in an “eligible institution”; if already enrolled, must maintain satisfactory progress (a C average); must not owe a refund or be in default on other government loans; must sign a form saying the money will be used for educational purposes; must provide your social security number and verification of citizenship or legal status; etc., and:

“In order for a student who does not have a high school certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such certificate, to be eligible for any assistance under subparts 1, 3, and 4 of Part A, and Parts B, C, D, and E of this title, the student shall meet one of three standards.

The question is, in order to be eligible for what kind of assistance under “subparts 1, 3, and 4 of Part A” and all of “Parts B, C, D, and E”?

What are those Parts? They appear to be parts of the Higher Education Act, Title 20, Chapter 28, entitled, “Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance.”

You can find the text of those parts at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title20/chapter28_subchapteriv_.html

Part A is “Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education”
Subpart 1 is “Federal Pell Grants”
Subpart 3 is “Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants”
Subpart 4 is “Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program”

Part B is “Federal Family Education Loan Program”

Part C is “William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program”

Part D is “Federal Perkins Loans”

Part E is “Needs Analysis”

In other words, in order to be able to receive any of the grants, loans, or assistance cited in those parts and subparts of the law, the student shall:
(1) take an independently administered examination and achieve a score to show that the student can benefit from the training offered;
(2) be determined as having the ability to benefit from the training in accordance with any procedure the State prescribes; or
(3) complete “a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under State law”.

This is what the law currently reads. NHELD has often reported during the last few years that Congress has adopted several laws already, at the behest of HSLDA, that affect the rights of “homeschoolers”, all of which are unconstitutional and all of which should be repealed.

It appears that HLSDA is asking Congress to make the amendment listed in Section 4, subsection (a) of this bill, in order to make the other parts of the federal law conform appropriately. Section 4, subsection (a) of HoNDA, purports to “clarify” the “eligibility” of “institutions” of higher education by saying that those institutions are “eligible institutions” (to receive federal funding) if they admit students “meeting the requirements of section 484(d)(3)”. That is, they are eligible institutions only if they admit students who take an independently administered exam, are determined to have the ability to benefit from the training according to whatever procedures the state prescribes, or they complete “a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under State law.”

This legislation puts the undefined phrase”home school” in federal statute unnecessarily, and we point you to our very first bulletin to further explain why: http://nheld.com/articles.htm#bln1

Attorney Deborah Stevenson - Executive Director of National Home Education Legal Defense. – www.nheld.com or email : info@nheld.com
Judy Aron - Director of Research, NHELD – imjfaron@sbcglobal.net

16-year-old discovers education inside, out

2006-01-19T16:23:00.000-05:00

16-year-old discovers education inside, out

Summer Wyllie's commitment to studying science extends beyond the classroom.

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE, Times Staff Writer
Published January 19, 2006

LECANTO - Summer Wyllie has two cows, 20 chickens and two turkeys. She has made two CDs of her piano music; one CD contains her own compositions.

Summer is a first-place science fair winner and was part of an Envirothon team that won first place twice for Citrus County. She is a state VFW essay contest winner and was a Duke University-sponsored Talent Identification Program (TIP) grand winner.

Summer recently decided it would be fun to keep bees. She has been at that for about a month and figures she has been stung about 12 times.

She is also done with all her required high school course work and is taking dual enrollment classes at Central Florida Community College.

Homeschooling: Sheltering my kids

2006-01-19T16:19:00.000-05:00

Rachael Barlow

I was accused of this before I even started homeschooling. It's odd because one would think that sheltering your children is what every parent is supposed to do. After all the definition is:
1. To constitute or provide a shelter for: Protect.

2. To place under shelter or protection.

Neither of these says “to cloister without friends,” or “to lock in a closet.” Yet on last month's episode of “Nanny 911,” the homeschooling mom was talked about as “sheltering her kids so much, she home schools them.” -- like sheltering is a bad thing!

And some of the more directly honest people I have met will ask me things like, “do you let your kids hang out with regular kids?” (Which is a really funny question -- my kids are very regular!)

In some ways, I do protect my children, as my parents did for me. I offer them only good food most of the day; the television is only available a couple times a week on channels like HGTV or the Food Network; and most videos are library non-fiction videos.

Katherine decides when she will do different subjects. She learned really quickly not to “save” all the tough stuff for the afternoons. She decided what style of cursive to learn and when she wanted to learn it. She helped decide which math approach to use. In spite of reminders, she did not focus while doing her math workbook for several weeks. Then she had to figure out how many pages a day she needed to complete in order to finish the workbook in time. I try not to shelter her from the ramifications of her own decisions, if that can be safely done.

Are Parents the Best Teachers?

2006-01-17T12:40:00.000-05:00

Are Parents the Best Teachers?

By Kathy Carlton Willis
For The Sunday Challenger
feedback@challengernky.com

Homeschooling Viable Option For Some in NKY

There are many reasons parents today choose to homeschool: special needs, desire to teach religious beliefs, accelerated learning, less expensive than private schools, as well as issues parents have with public schools in their district. Parents in Northern Kentucky find that the state is homeschool-friendly.

You will find as many varieties of homeschools as there are homeschooled students in NKY. Some have detailed lesson plans and use a set curriculum. Others choose to unschool - meaning they encourage the child's own curiosity to encourage learning experiences, rather than a lesson plan. Leslie Gosser of Independence said she and her husband allow their 6-year-old "to learn what he wants and as in-depth as he wants to learn...He is interested in many different subjects, so the majority of his day is spent writing stories, reading, doing math and learning foreign languages." Many parents set up small libraries for their children or frequent the local libraries. Some belong to co-ops or other homeschool groups so the children can participate in group events.

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Homeschooling is not without difficulties, according to the parents involved. Several mentioned they felt overwhelmed that they would not do as well as the "professionals," yet they felt confident it was their God-given responsibility to make sure their children were educated with both scholastic and faith-based lessons.

Family Learns Together

Tammy Overton homeschools her six children, who range in age from 5 to 17. They originally decided to homeschool because private school was too expensive. She uses materials from Bob Jones University Press as well as the American School, in Chicago. She said the positive results of homeschooling include better family structure and togetherness, the children helping each other, an improved daily routine and less competitiveness.

"There are less influences from unchurched children who have different values than we teach our children (such as purity and not drinking)," Overton said.

Patty Haubner, of Covington, homeschools her 11 children.

"We wanted to be the main influence on our children's lives," she said. "We choose what works best for our children and also what supports our worldview. What works for one may not work for another because they have different learning styles. That is what is so great about homeschooling. You can pick the books that will work the best for each child and the child doesn't have to try to conform to a curriculum that he is struggling with just so that he can stay up with the class."

Haubner mentions a variety of extracurricular activities that help her children socialize, as well as further their education, including field trips, science fairs, spelling bees and speech competitions. She is also involved in a 20-family co-op. They have three classes available each week.

"We want our children to share our faith and our values," Haubner said. "Not just go to church, but to really believe what we believe and to know why we believe it. We want to be that example of how to live out our faith. We want to disciple our children and not just teach them."

Life After School

When asked if homeschooling is a hindrance for students who want to go on to college, the parents interviewed indicated that their children have tested higher in college placement tests (such as SAT and ACT) than public or private school students. In the past, homeschooled seniors often had to get their GED to help with college acceptance, but now that is considered inferior to a homeschool diploma.

"My oldest son graduated last year and was accepted everywhere he applied, with no difficulty," Haubner said. "Ten years ago, it was much more difficult for homeschoolers to get accepted into college. Now they are being recruited!"

Angela Hogan of Verona mentions several reasons why she has chosen to homeschool her three children. Private school tuition was getting expensive, and she seemed to spend all of her time driving to school, then back home and doing homework, with no time left for family. Now the children do school work during the day, and have their evenings free to spend together.

Though Hogan says there are good days and bad days with homeschooling, the results have been worth it. It has required a great deal of commitment and discipline, and the homeschool teacher must be very focus-driven.

"You can't slack off, or procrastinate, and say 'we will do this tomorrow," she said.

Hogan loves the way "interaction with the kids turns into discussions." She said especially with her teen boys - at a time when they could become distant or defiant -homeschooling has drawn them closer together.

"There is no 'what did you do at school today?' questions at the dinner table followed by replies of 'nothing much.'" she said. "Now they really talk."

Well-Schooled

Homeschooling isn't for everyone. Anyone considering this option for their children should consider the following pros and cons before making their decision. Currently only 22 states in the United States require standardized testing of homeschoolers. Kentucky is not one of these states.

Pros

* Customized education

* More family time

* Family values taught

* Pressures of peers, competition, boredom, and bullies avoided

* Improved communication between parents and children

* No busywork

* Well-rested children

* Life skills learned by example

Cons

* Demands on time and finances

* One parent often gives up career and income

* Being with children 24/7

* Limited extracurricular activities and sports

* Socialization concerns

* Living outside of the norm

* No quality control

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Copyright © 2005, Challenger Communications, LLC, Covington, KY, USA
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Just Say No

2006-01-17T12:32:00.000-05:00

By: Dan Carlson January 16, 2006

Over the course of this past week, the pages of this newspaper have contained several stories dealing with drug abuse and the growing prevalence of methamphetamines as the drug of choice. Like many of you, I find the growth of this problem in our area of great concern and, as a parent I'm especially concerned about how I can encourage them to make right decisions in life.

We live in a world that is vastly different from the one I grew up in. Back when my parents considered my peers and I to be "at risk" in terms of drug abuse we were taught about the dangers of uppers, downers, shooting up heroin and dropping acid. I'll confess that I did drop acid once, but that was in science class and it only resulted in an embarrassing skin irritation and minor damage to floor tile. By the time I reached college I was educated further about drugs by professors, several of whom would invite favored students over to their pads after hours for a joint or two. I never smoked dope, but sometimes acted like I was stoned just to confuse people.

During the 1980s our nation's First Lady promoted the "Just Say No" program to prevent drug abuse. As a personal experiment to test the effectiveness of the campaign I decided to "just say no" to highly addictive pastries. In order for it to be a fair test I had to have such pastries present in my bachelor pad at all times so I'd have the opportunity to say no when tempted. I gained 40 pounds in two years. I can therefore attest to the fact that simply telling someone to say "no" to things that are bad for them is not very effective.

So what is a parent to do? How do we keep our kids from meth and other drugs? I'll have to say that I have it a lot easier than I suspect many of you do. I've got battlements, a 100-yard kill zone around the house and a home that is only accessible by four-wheel-drive. For now, anyone wanting to see my daughter has to drive a 4x4 and cover a football field of open ground without me seeing him before he can even ring the doorbell. That's when the dog will get him. If he gets by me and the dog, her brother is the fallback defense. If he gets by me, the dog, and the brother and manages to make it to her bedroom door in the tower he'll meet the worst of fates ... a protective mom.

Seriously, we are protective of our children. We homeschool, monitor all TV and Internet activity personally, regulate who they speak to and when on the telephone, and determine whose home they can visit. Is it strict? Absolutely. Do they resent it? Not one bit. We took a stab at parenting with authority and our children respect us for it. We have also, by the grace of God, been able to parent with authority and still be loved and considered best friends by our children. Honestly though, I think one reason for our success so far is because we started parenting that way and our kids have never known us to be any other way.

Click on the title above for the full story from The Black Hills Pioneer Newspaper

College illiteracy stuns educators

2006-01-12T13:47:00.000-05:00

by Dr. Samuel L. Blumenfeld
Posted: January 12, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Stunned, shocked and appalled are American educators as they study the recent report from the National Center of Education Statistics, which reveals that only 31 percent of college graduates can read a complex book and extrapolate from it. "It's really astounding," said Michael Gorman, president of the American Library Association. "That's not saying much for the remainder," he added, meaning that 69 percent of our college graduates cannot read at or above a "proficient" level.

11-year-old page-turner reads 600 books

2006-01-02T09:41:00.000-05:00

By APRIL RUSHING
The Leaf-Chronicle

Gabrielle Henderson loves reading so much that in 2004, she decided to try to read 200 books by the end of that year.

When the 11-year-old homeschool student reached that goal well before the end of the year, her dad, Johnny, realized she could do more.

"I counted how many (books) she had already read," Mr. Henderson said, "and figured if she read about nine books every 15 days, she could read about 600 books in a year."

Unschooling

2005-12-21T10:12:00.000-05:00

Education that unleashes the creative spirit.

By Jeremiah Vandermeer
Published: December 16, 2005
From The Tyee (Online)

The Navigator

Bashu Naimi-Roy is a smart kid.

"In college, the students are like customers," he says matter-of-factly, "but in high school, they're more like…"

He pauses for just long enough for his mother, Anita Roy, to finish his sentence.

"Prisoners," she says and laughs. "I just had to throw that in. It's true though."

At age 12, Bashu was the youngest student ever to enroll at Malaspina University-College. He's 13 now and still studying there.

Homeschooling requires dedication from parents

2005-12-19T08:47:00.000-05:00

Families choose to accept responsibility of educating their children
By BOB HANEY
Staff Writer

(Staff Photo by Bob Haney) Emma Hoard, 4, and her brother, Ethan, 2, are being homeschooled by their mother, Rebecca Hoard. Emma is able to read sentences and plays the piano and violin. Ethan spends part of his day working with the usual prekindergarten activities such as puzzles and coloring.

This is the third article in a four part series on the topic of homeschooling. In this article, seven mothers with varying experience in homeschooling explain why they chose this educational option for their children.

April Struckhoff knew from birth she couldnít turn her daughter over to someone else to raise ó to teach their values, their beliefs, and to teach them on their timetable.

After reading ìThe Successful Family Homeschool Handbook,î by Dorothy and Raymond Moore, Struckhoff felt she could do homeschooling; however, her husband was not in favor of it. He felt that public school was fine, but, he now supports the endeavor.