Accusations of Neglect and Abuse of Power: The Shaman Case

Ragamuffin Studies: Accusations of Neglect and Abuse of Power: The Shaman Case

Homeschooled twins: Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers #4

Homeschooled twins: Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers #4

Stricter regulations for daycare needed

Police in Florida say a 4-year-old has died after a fire at a Tallahassee day care.

Judge dismisses home-schooling credentials case

A controversial legal ruling that outlawed most forms of home schooling in California will face greater scrutiny because the underlying family court case was dismissed earlier this week.

Read more here.

Kids may be short on history, but they get the fundamentals

On the 2006 National Assessment of Educational Progress Civics Test," the report notes, "the majority of eighth graders could not explain the purpose of the Declaration of Independence. Only 5 percent of seniors could accurately describe the way presidential power can be checked by Congress and the Supreme Court."

If they don't understand the checks and balances the Founding Fathers devised to keep the President, Congress and the Supreme Court in check America may be headed for serious trouble in the years ahead. The author of "Kids may be short on history, but they get the fundamentals" goes on to say.

I have not worried about the fundamental commitment of the American people since 1974. In that year, they were confronted with the stunning evidence that their president had conducted a criminal conspiracy out of the Oval Office. In response, the American people reminded Richard Nixon, the man they had just recently overwhelmingly re-elected to a second term, that in this country, no one, not even the president, is above the law. And they required him to yield his office.

That was 34 years ago. I wonder if today's generation inured by countless scandals would turn a blind eye to a popular President's wrong doing. After all we don't seem to be holding an unpopular President accountable for his actions.

"Kids may be short on history, but they get the fundamentals" , I am not so sure they do.

Freshwater taught creationism in Ohio public school

Freshwater, 52, was fired last month after an outside consulting firm released a report concluding that he taught creationism and was insubordinate in failing to remove a Bible and other religious materials from his classroom.

He also faces a federal lawsuit filed by the family of a student who says Freshwater burned a cross on the child's arm with an electrostatic device and that the burn mark remained for three or four weeks.

Since then, Freshwater's supporters have rallied on the town's public square urging school board members to resign. A much-viewed sign planted along a roadside about a mile from town reads: "If the Bible goes, the school board should follow."

Carnival of Homeschooling

Amanda is taking us to the ice cream parlor for her Carnival of Homeschooling , hosted at the Daily Planet. I think I'll take a double helping of the Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk.

Are you a cool homeschooler?

Check out the 3rd edition of the Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers.

Public Schools: the school of last resort

What should policy-makers, educators and the public make of a new poll suggesting 83 percent of Oklahomans wanting the best education for their children would choose a learning environment other than a public school? At a minimum, we'd hope the findings would cause them to step back and ponder why so many parents think that way. Ideally, the education establishment will embrace the challenge of make public schools the place to be, instead of the school as the second, third or perhaps even last resort.

Read the rest here.