Homeschool Blog Awards ~ Pick a Graphic

Graphic A

Graphic B

These were the graphics that were submitted for the HBA contest. And yes, I am late holding the run off. I was really hoping for more submissions. But I like both of these, so now all that's left is for you to decide which one will be used for 2008. To choose vote in the poll in the sidebar.

The eavesdropper

After reading The Moms who Homeschool Squadron Meeting , I stumbled across Cherish's Homeschool Hype. What a terrific response.

Finally, I came across a post by an outsider who overheard a meeting of homeschool moms. The gist of it was that these moms were in the stereotype group #5 (Homeschooling parents are the well-educated, financially elite of the community.) and their nagging would be better aimed at public schools to benefit all kids. You see, if you homeschool, you are automatically taking away resources from the public schools and making life much worse for the rest of the kids because school scores go down, there aren't enough parents to be involved in PTA, and the school loses funding because your child isn't enrolled.

I have a big problem with those people who think I should sacrifice my children for the good of those children stuck in public school. I also find it ironic that those same people who whine that I should be making a difference in the public schools don't have any problem with public school parents who choose to contribute nothing to their children's education or schools.

And I have to wonder what a post based on some comments I have overheard public school parents make would look like. Here are a few I have overheard recently.

• "I don't know what I am going to do with my children during the summer, babysitters are so expensive" - Implying that the public schools are nothing more then a free babysitting service.
• "Sally got sent home for wearing thong underwear to school" - Uh how did the teacher know what kind of underwear Sally had on?
• "Amber is crushed she didn't make cheerleader "
• "Joe missed the school bus again, I don't know why the driver can't wait for him, she won't even blow the horn and give him five minutes to get outside" ~ Jeez, I thought the kids were suppose to be waiting at the but stop.
  

Luckily I don't judge all public school families by the stray remarks I have overheard some public school parents make.

Just Enough, and Nothing More ask Are YOU a Stereotypical Homeschooler? Guest Post by MaryAnna Cashmore. I came to the conclusion long ago that there is no typical homeschooler anymore then there is a typical public school family. Homeschoolers are a divers group and we don't fit into any one slot, anymore then public school parents and students do.

Public School gives proof of educaiton on their diplomas

A Cleveland-area principal says he's embarrassed his students got proof of their "educaiton" on their high school diplomas.

Homeschoolers win big at FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship

On April 17-18, 2008, a team of seven homeschooled high schoolers swept the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) World Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, taking home a Winning Alliance Team trophy and the Amaze Award (awarded by the judges to a team whose uniqueness sets it apart from all other award categories). Team Overdrive, from Bridgewater, New Jersey, won four regional tournaments (an FTC record) during the season and racked up the two highest scores ever in the championships.

Well I wish Team Fusion 364 had won, but since they didn't I am glad to know that a homeschool team won.

A Libertarian Solution to Evolution Education Controversy: No More Public Schools

Check out A Libertarian Solution to Evolution Education Controversy: No More Public Schools over at Wired Science

Kids thrive despite others' assumptions

Kids thrive despite others' assumptions

Home-schooled kids aren't all social misfits who peer through thick glasses, sport pocket protectors and talk through their noses like Steve Urkel. Nor are their parents all isolationist extremists, they said.

Members of the Milford And Surrounding Towns (MAST) home-schooling support group, which draws people from as far away as Newtown, have home-schooled their kids for a myriad of reasons that range from special needs to religion.

Many acknowledged that home schooling isn't for everyone, but they said it's working for them and they wish they weren't labeled.

Read more here

13 year old unwelcome in church

Carol Race thinks it's important for her 13-year-old son to be in church on Sundays for Catholic Mass.

Leaders of the Church of St. Joseph once felt the same way, but not anymore. They say Race's autistic son Adam is disruptive and his erratic behavior threatens the safety of other parishioners.

The northern Minnesota church has obtained a restraining order to keep Adam away, an action that has been deeply hurtful to the Race family and has brought them support from parents of other autistic children

From Principled Discovery

Homeschooling without credentials leads to educational anarchy