Another Must Read

The latest Eoin Colfer book Artemis Fowl - The Opal Deception.

http://www.artemisfowl.com/

Great Backyard Bird Count

Every year we try to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count. This is our journal for the 2006 Birdcount

Friday, Feb17th

Overcast all day with a light mist. It was in the 70's earlier in the day, but a cool front moved thru and now it's in the 60's. Walked down to the pond. Saw 4 Cackling Geese 3 males and 1 female http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Cackling_Goose_dtl.html

Put some feed in the birdfeeder, we should see some birds at the feeder tomorrow. They were out there earlier in the week before the feeder ran out of food.

Feb 18th-19th

The weather wasn't really great for birdwatching, Saturday, Feb 18th it misted rain most of the day.
Sunday, Feb. 19th I saw a few birds. Sparrows, Cardinals, and Mourning Doves.

Evolution Wins Again

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/nation/13896398.htm

New research is unraveling the very riddles that proponents of ID said couldn't be solved, while ID advocates lack any way of using hard evidence to test their theories.

How Annoying

A recent article http://nbc15.madison.com/news/headlines/2298846.html headlined WI School District Offers Virtual High School Online claims it makes homeschooling easier. I can either blame it on shoddy reporting, or wonder if public schools are so envious of homeschoolers they are now trying to co-op our name, which ever one it is I am annoyed. Attending a virtual public school doesn't make you a homeschooler. You are still a public school student, you just happen to be taking your classes at home. So to all you virtual schoolers or e-schoolers STOP using our name. You aren't homeschooling, and you are doing us a disservice by confusing the general public, who wonders why their tax money is going to homeschoolers.

Give Me Back My Book

Have you ever sat down with a good book, really started getting into it and had to get up to answer the phone, cook supper, or one of the million other things Mom's have to do, only to discover your teenage son has made off with your book??????

It happens all the time around my house. I really have to find a way to put a stop to it. But in Sean's defense Elizabeth Peter's latest book in the Amelia Peabody series is well worth fighting over.

http://www.ameliapeabody.com/

For those unfamiliar with the series, here is a cast of characters (by no means complete)

Amelia Peabody Emerson - her journals are the basis for the books. As she is a very proper Victorian lady you don't have to worry about the kiddies reading something they shouldn't.

Radcliff Emerson - prefers to be called Emerson, aka as the Father of Curses. The pre-eminent archaeologist of his time according to his wife. Stays pretty busy rescuing "Peabody" as he affectionately calls Amelia, but does get some archaeological work done.

Ramses - their son, aka The Brother of Demons, he is a handful as a kid, makes a terrific spy during WWI, seems to have inherited Amelia's talent for getting into trouble and his Uncle's (and I don't mean Walter whom he is named after) talent for getting out of it.

Sethos- aka The Master Criminal.................seems to plague the Emersons every season. Has a crush on Amelia much to Emerson's cringe.

Since space is limited other characters include

Peabody's family

Walter Emerson's family (Walter is Radcliff's brother)

and last, but by no means least the family of their Egyptian reis Abdullah

If you enjoy a good mystery, have any interest in Egypt or archaeology do give this series a try. Besides being entertaining they are educational. What more could you ask for.

What's the Problem with VPS????

Susan Ohanian ask "Should the Public Pay for William Bennett's Version of a Home School?"

http://www.susanohanian.org/atrocity_fetch.php?id=1931

My answer would be NO. Although I do respect the rights of those who have chosen to avail themselves of VPS. And if it works for your family then by all means use it.

My problem is with VPS being equated with Independent Homeschoolers. It's not that I think my family is superior to a family that uses a school at home approach, but their insistence on calling themselves homeschoolers while taking advantage of public funds leads to confusion among the general public, many of whom have never embraced the concept of homeschooling in the first place. They start demanding to know why homeschoolers are receiving public funds at the expense of traditional schools. They want to know why testing is required of some homeschoolers and not all. And with these questions comes legislation that HURTS independent homeschoolers.

So if you want to take advantage of VPS, by all means do so. But do homeschoolers a favor and call yourselves something else, that reflects your schooling choice; Virtual Schoolers or E-schoolers might be a good selection. You'll be more then welcome to participate in our homeschooling groups and we can be more supportive of your choice knowing that the general public will not confuse Virtual Public Schoolers with Homeschoolers.

For futher reading http://home.kc.rr.com/milhmschlhq/general_public_schooling_at_home.htm