Teen crashes car into school, drives down hall - Weird News - SunHerald.com
News Conference by the President, 2/9/10
5 hours ago
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Lemonade Stand Award
Now for my 10 picks.
- Homeschooling on the Hudson
- HERP&ES
- Ramblings, Rants & Remedies - Natalie introduced me to blogging and I hope to see her blogging more soon.
- Corn & Oil
- Home Spun Juggling
- Roscommon Acres
- O'Donnell Web
- Electric Barbarella
- Kitten's Homeschool
- Tales of Homeschool
Fed Up
I am rather fed up with those who lump all homeschoolers together, as if we were clones of each other.
No one would make the absurd statement that all public school students are socially awkward even though some are. But all to often we hear "homeschoolers are socially awkward" , because some idiot somewhere has meet ONE socially awkward homeschooled child. They probably know tons of well adjusted homeschooled children but because they don't fit their stereotype of a "homeschooled child" they never realized those children are homeschooled.
And then there are those who decide we are all Christian Fundamentalist who don't teach our children real Science based on some Christian Fundamentalist Homeschool Website they stumble across, where the highlight of the "Science Fair" is converting some old lady to Christ. There are many secular and inclusive homeschool groups whose members do teach Real Science but they don't fit the stereotype of the typical homeschooler so they don't garner much attention in the media or the blog world.
Then there are the liberal do-gooders who feel compelled to tell everyone else how to raise their children (often they don't have children of their own but they are self proclaimed experts on what is best for your child). They scream that homeschooling needs to be regulated so homeschoolers will have to teach their children "real science". All the while ignoring what public school students are taught.
Revisionaries How a group of Texas conservatives is rewriting your kids’ textbooks by Mariah Blake
The jovial creationist ( Don McLeroy) sits on the Texas State Board of Education, where he is one of the leaders of an activist bloc that holds enormous sway over the body’s decisions. As the state goes through the once-in-a-decade process of rewriting the standards for its textbooks, the faction is using its clout to infuse them with ultraconservative ideals. Among other things, they aim to rehabilitate Joseph McCarthy, bring global-warming denial into science class, and downplay the contributions of the civil rights movement.
And why should we care what textbooks Texans chooses to educate the children trapped in their public schools.
(Because) the Lone Star State has outsized influence over the reading material used in classrooms nationwide, since publishers craft their standard textbooks based on the specs of the biggest buyers. As one senior industry executive told me, “Publishers will do whatever it takes to get on the Texas list.”
Living in the Bible Belt I am thankful that the state had no control over what I taught and I was free to teach my children the THEORY OF EVOLOUTION. The liberal do-gooders better be careful what they demand. They may just get the regulations they are agitating for only to see Creationism rammed down children's throats by State Boards of Education.
Other liberal do-gooders worry about homeschoolers being unvaccinated even though all states allow medical exemptions of public school students and many states allow exemptions on religious or philosophical grounds. BTW, it was my choice to have my children vaccinated, but I think all parents should be allowed to make an informed decision regarding vaccinations.
Frankly I am fed up with the stereotypes and the put downs. Instead of expanding so much energy attacking and harassing homeschoolers go fix the public schools. Then if you still have a problem with homeschooling I'll listen. But until you fix the public schools keep your nose out of homeschooling.
*In the interest of full disclosure both my boys were homeschooled. My eldest has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and the youngest is in his first year of college.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Public School Student Locked In Closet For A Year By Her Parents
A Public School Student was locked in a closet for a year by her parents except to attend public school and go to the bathroom. Apparently none of her public school teachers, who are supposedly taught to look for signs of abuse, noticed that she was malnourished. CPS didn't get involved until one of her three brothers alerted school officials.
Read more in The Sun Herald
But They Are So Normal
The post on anti~homeschooling views at Why Homeschool got me thinking about a conversation I had a few years ago with some Soccer Moms. My boys have been involved in recreational soccer for a number of years and my husband is usually the coach or assitant coach. So I know the parents and kids pretty well. These are all nice intelligent women who care passionately about their kids. So we are all sitting around on the bleachers watching our kids practice soccer when one of the mom's announces that "She doesn't know why anyone would homeschool. All homeschooled kids are social misfits that can't hack "real" school". I calmly announce that I homeschool (you could have heard a pin drop - I definitely heard her jaw hit the ground). Then she replied in shock "But they are so normal and added they were the exception to the rule" at which point I just had to point out that three of the other boys on the team were also homeschooled. She couldn't believe it, and the three other boys were so normal that she couldn't manage to pick them out either.
After further discussion I learned that she didn't realize she knew kids that were homeschooled. All she knew about homeschooling she had gleaned from magazine articles. And that she was feeling guilty because her son was doing poorly in school and wanted to be homeschooled. At this point a public school teacher added her two cents which was that homeschoolers were usually more well rounded students. And while some public school teachers may be anti~homeschooling, it's important for us to remember that not all of them are. I have exchanged lesson plans and classroom ideas with many public school teachers I am acquainted with and when I have run into problems they have always been willing to help me. In fact it was one of Jonathan's public school teachers that first put the idea of homeschooling in my head.
So maybe homeschoolers should start talking about homeschooling more when we are in public. I had known these ladies for a number of years, but the only one who knew I homeschooled (we had exchanged lesson plan ideas) was the public school teacher. After all if people don't realize they know nice sane homeschool families can we blame them for believing the misinformation they read in the media? After my friend got over her initial embarrassment at having put her foot in her mouth we had a nice productive conversation about homeschooling. A conversation that wouldn't have happened if I had gotten defensive.
Anti-Science Fundamentalist Fruitcakes give homeschoolers a bad rap
I do wish Greg Laden would stop characterizing all homeschoolers as anti-science fruitcakes.
And I do wish the Anti-Science Fundamentalist Fruit Cakes would stop acting like they speak for all homeschoolers. I am sure there are some secular or inclusive homeschool groups in Minnesota who actually do REAL SCIENCE, not this Christian Viewpoint as Science tripe.
Honestly I am not sure who I am more upset with. Greg is smart enough to realize all homeschoolers aren't anti-science. The Anti-Science Fundamentalist Fruit Cakes are just deluded. The purpose of Science Fairs isn't to convince people to attend church.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Lawsuit: Ohio teacher tied boy's hair in ponytails - News Updates - SunHerald.com
And they wonder why so many parents choose to homeschool?
Lawsuit: Ohio teacher tied boy's hair in ponytails - News Updates - SunHerald.com
For a teacher to intentionally humiliate a student in unconscionable.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
All Homeschoolers Are Not Christians & All Christians Are Not Homeschoolers
My post Mislabeling of Public School at Home Causes Confusion sparked heartburn among a few readers, and lead to an email dialogue with one reader. Here are some of the comments she made.
I've been actively involved in education for over 30 years. I support limited gov't involvement in education no matter where it takes place.
Most of the abuse of homeschool has come from unchurched families (not all, most) and someone needs to help these children without a voice.
Your position on this makes me think--your children are more important than the little one I am speaking of--in fact they are so important you are willing to sacrifice these little ones so you can do what you want with your children.
The government has no reason to be involved in homeschooling. Those who do not feed at the public trough (public schools) should be free of government involvement. Apparently this woman assumes that only Christians are fit to homeschool. I also find it troubling that she believes that without government intervention parents would abuse their children, and uses this to justify her belief that the government should be involved in homeschooling. Considering the government can't even protect public school students from abuse by public school teachers, bullying by other students and school shootings, she has a lot of nerve insisting that ALL homeschoolers should allow government intervention in homeschools to "protect the children". It's not my duty to protect "all the children of the world", it is my duty and responsibility to protect my own children and to see that they get the best education possible. No parent should be expected to do things for the greater good at their children's expense.
all of us that parent as Christians homeschool. I would consider any parent that is the primary teacher for their children is homeschooling. That would include private school, public schools--any parent that is doing what God has called them to do.
Really!!!! I respectfully disagree, if you are a Christian and send your child to a public school you do not homeschool. Also all homeschoolers are not Christians. There are many Atheist, Deist, Wicca, etc that homeschool. Christians do not have a monopoly on homeschooling. Non-Christians even have their own homeschool support groups, since the majority of the Christian Groups discriminate against Non-Christians or Christians who do not measure up to their standards.
Homeschool Support Groups for Non-Christians & Free Thinking Christian's
Free Thinking Home Educators (you can be a Christian and a Free Thinker)
Jewish Homeschoolers
Islam/Muslim Homeschoolers
Resources for Pagan Homeschoolers
Of course there are parents who belong to other religions/philosophies then those listed here who homeschool, my apologies for leaving your specific religion/philosophy out - but this post is already long.
As to why I don't accept the legal definitions-- (of homeschooling) I don't consider them Biblical. I also would not accept the legal definition of gay marriage if it was allowed in my state--because I believe that also is against scripture. I only accept legal defintions when they do not contradict the Bible.
Well at least this explains why she has so much trouble comprehending that Dan isn't a homeschooler. She refuses to accept legal definitions & Dan's a Christian parent therefore according to her reasoning he is a homeschooler, even though he sends his son to a PUBLIC School. Here is one of the legal definitions which makes it pretty clear that homeschoolers are nonpublic school students (all the legal definitions I found specified non-public school student).
Home school - A non-public school in which one or more children of not more than two families or households receive academic instruction from parents or legal guardians, or a member of either household. http://www.nche.com/law.html
You simply can't send your child to public school and claim to be a homeschooler because you are a Christian. That is the most illogical thing I have ever heard. And excuse me, but I have never read a definition of homeschooling in the Bible, so how prey tell can the legal definition of homeschooling contradict the Bible? Also since she is so dogmatic about only using scriptual definitions, I wonder if she realizes that the words of the New Testament were changed in the process of copying them (Whose Version of Luke?)
As to my question
What would you call a parent whose child does not attend a PUBLIC SCHOOL, is educated at the parents expense, and the parent is the one solely responsible for deciding what curriculum and textbooks to use?
Anyone that falls into this category can call themselves whatever they wish. They can call themselves homeschoolers
Since the legal definition of homeschool was created to describe non-public school students, whose parents bear the burden of their education, it makes sense that they call themselves homeschoolers. It does not make sense that parents that send their children to public or private school would mislabel themselves homeschoolers. As for people calling themselves whatever they wish, it would make communication impossible if everyone decided on their own meaning for words. What's next if you don't like the way something is spelt you decide on your own spelling? The fact that no one would know what the heck the word is suppose to be would be beside the point apparently. Just as it is necessary for us to spell words in a standard way so people know what word is being used, it's necessary for us to use standard definitions so the meaning of the word is clear. Homeschooling is an educational choice, not a religious calling!
This Stinks
Senate Bill 2221: Prohibiting Homeschool Students from Receiving Particular College Grants
Sponsors:
Senator Bill Stone
Summary:
This bill would require that homeschool students receiving a Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant or a Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant be graduates of an “accredited” home instruction program. Home instruction programs in Mississippi are not accredited, nor is there any procedure for them to become accredited. This bill would effectively prohibit homeschoolers from receiving these grants for college expenses.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
For Further Reading
In Response to the Supposedly Scholarly Critique of Homeschooling... @ Homeschooling on the Hudson
"Teach Your Children Well"....Or Else! @ PrawfsBlawg
On Educating Children: A Parentalist Manifesto by Steve Gilles
Taking Pierce Seriously: The Family, Religious Education, and Harm to Children by Richard W. Garnett
Notre Dame Law School
The Ministry of Truth Is Located in Texas @ PolitiCalypso
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
