Saturday, June 14, 2008
D.C. Homeschoolers upcoming regulation proposals discussed on the Kojo Nnamdi Show
Visit the Informed Parent for information concerning D.C. Homeschoolers upcoming regulation proposals discussed on the Kojo Nnamdi Show. You can listen to the interview here.
Friday, June 13, 2008
We wanted them to be traumatized
"You feel betrayed by your teachers and administrators, these people you trust," said 15-year-old Carolyn Magos. "But then I felt selfish for feeling that way, because, I mean, if it saves one life, it's worth it."
Officials at the 3,100-student school officials defended the program.
"They were traumatized, but we wanted them to be traumatized," said guidance counselor Lori Tauber, who helped organize the shocking exercise and got dozens of students to participate. "That's how they get the message."
The plan was to tell the truth to the students at an assembly later in the day. But word that it was all a hoax began to spread before the gathering. Tauber said some counselors and administrators revealed the truth to calm some students who had become upset.
Officials at the 3,100-student school officials defended the program.
"They were traumatized, but we wanted them to be traumatized," said guidance counselor Lori Tauber, who helped organize the shocking exercise and got dozens of students to participate. "That's how they get the message."
The plan was to tell the truth to the students at an assembly later in the day. But word that it was all a hoax began to spread before the gathering. Tauber said some counselors and administrators revealed the truth to calm some students who had become upset.
Should we pay students?
In New York, about 5,500 students can earn money for getting good test scores. The program is open to fourth-graders, who can earn up to $250 a year, and seventh-graders, who can end the year with $500 in the bank.
"We'll soon give out over $1 million to fourth- and seventh-graders this year," said Roland Fryer, a Harvard University economist leading the experiment. He said he is happy with the results so far.
"We'll soon give out over $1 million to fourth- and seventh-graders this year," said Roland Fryer, a Harvard University economist leading the experiment. He said he is happy with the results so far.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Who does high tution hurt?
The last dimension worth study is who, if anyone, anyone takes a hit from increasing Pell grants. The answer, it seems clear, is students with family earnings too great to qualify for the grants, so their university years must be paid for solely with earned cash or student loans.
As usual those of us who are responsible stewards are hurt by government programs.
As usual those of us who are responsible stewards are hurt by government programs.
McCain Supports Homeschooling & Vouchers
From JohnMcCain.com, McCain states that Public education should be defined as one in which our public support for a child's education follows that child into the school the parent chooses. The school is charged with the responsibility of educating the child, and must have the resources and management authority to deliver on that responsibility. They must also report to the parents and the public on their progress. The deplorable status of preparation for our children, particularly in comparison with the rest of the industrialized world, does not allow us the luxury of eliminating options in our educational repertoire. John McCain will fight for the ability of all students to have access to all schools of demonstrated excellence, including their own homes.
With regards to standards, McCain believes that we can longer accept low standards for some students and high standards for others. John McCain believes our schools can and should compete to be the most innovative, flexible and student-centered - not safe havens for the uninspired and unaccountable. He believes we should let them compete for the most effective, character-building teachers, hire them, and reward them. If a school will not change, the students should be able to change schools. John McCain believes parents should be empowered with school choice to send their children to the school that can best educate them just as many members of Congress do with their own children. He finds it beyond hypocritical that many of those who would refuse to allow public school parents to choose their child's school would never agree to force their own children into a school that did not work or was unsafe. They can make another choice. John McCain believes that is a fundamental and essential right we should honor for all parents.
John McCain will place parents and children at the center of the education process, empowering parents by greatly expanding the ability of parents to choose among schools for their children. He believes all federal financial support must be predicated on providing parents the ability to move their children, and the dollars associated with them, from failing schools. Plainly stated McCain supports vouchers.
On the other hand Barack Obama wants universal preschool.
BarackObama.com The plan will be promoted by Early Learning Challenge Grants to help all states move toward voluntary, universal pre-school. Early Head Start would quadruple under an Obama administration, and he promises affordable and high-quality child care to ease the burden on working families.
HT: History Is Elementary
With regards to standards, McCain believes that we can longer accept low standards for some students and high standards for others. John McCain believes our schools can and should compete to be the most innovative, flexible and student-centered - not safe havens for the uninspired and unaccountable. He believes we should let them compete for the most effective, character-building teachers, hire them, and reward them. If a school will not change, the students should be able to change schools. John McCain believes parents should be empowered with school choice to send their children to the school that can best educate them just as many members of Congress do with their own children. He finds it beyond hypocritical that many of those who would refuse to allow public school parents to choose their child's school would never agree to force their own children into a school that did not work or was unsafe. They can make another choice. John McCain believes that is a fundamental and essential right we should honor for all parents.
John McCain will place parents and children at the center of the education process, empowering parents by greatly expanding the ability of parents to choose among schools for their children. He believes all federal financial support must be predicated on providing parents the ability to move their children, and the dollars associated with them, from failing schools. Plainly stated McCain supports vouchers.
On the other hand Barack Obama wants universal preschool.
BarackObama.com The plan will be promoted by Early Learning Challenge Grants to help all states move toward voluntary, universal pre-school. Early Head Start would quadruple under an Obama administration, and he promises affordable and high-quality child care to ease the burden on working families.
HT: History Is Elementary
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008
Beware Texas
Head over to Guys Lit Wire and read How Texas affects everyone else's textbooks.
It has always amazed me that those who are anti-homeschooling out of the mistaken belief that all homeschoolers teach creationism never acknowledge that many of our public schools fail in teaching evolution.
Starting this summer, the state education board will determine the curriculum for the next decade and decide whether the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution should be taught. The benign-sounding phrase, some argue, is a reasonable effort at balance. But critics say it is a new strategy taking shape across the nation to undermine the teaching of evolution, a way for students to hear religious objections under the heading of scientific discourse.
If Texas dumps evolution it'll be hard to find a decent science textbook.
It has always amazed me that those who are anti-homeschooling out of the mistaken belief that all homeschoolers teach creationism never acknowledge that many of our public schools fail in teaching evolution.
Starting this summer, the state education board will determine the curriculum for the next decade and decide whether the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution should be taught. The benign-sounding phrase, some argue, is a reasonable effort at balance. But critics say it is a new strategy taking shape across the nation to undermine the teaching of evolution, a way for students to hear religious objections under the heading of scientific discourse.
If Texas dumps evolution it'll be hard to find a decent science textbook.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
At least he is honest about why he and others hate homeschoolers
SONNY SCOTT:Home-schoolers threaten our cultural comfort
Why do we hate (or at least distrust) these people so much?
Methinks American middle-class people are uncomfortable around the home schooled for the same reason the alcoholic is uneasy around the teetotaler.
Their very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto Caesar the things that Caesar’s be, but they draw the line at their children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return.
Just as the jealous Chaldeans schemed to bring the wrath of the king upon the Hebrew eunuchs, we are happy to sic the state’s bureaucrats on these “trouble makers.” Their implicit rejection of America’s most venerated idol, Materialism, (a.k.a. “Individualism”) spurs us to heat the furnace and feed the lions.
HT: HERP & ES
Why do we hate (or at least distrust) these people so much?
Methinks American middle-class people are uncomfortable around the home schooled for the same reason the alcoholic is uneasy around the teetotaler.
Their very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto Caesar the things that Caesar’s be, but they draw the line at their children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return.
Just as the jealous Chaldeans schemed to bring the wrath of the king upon the Hebrew eunuchs, we are happy to sic the state’s bureaucrats on these “trouble makers.” Their implicit rejection of America’s most venerated idol, Materialism, (a.k.a. “Individualism”) spurs us to heat the furnace and feed the lions.
HT: HERP & ES
Clinton Recognizes Homeschooled Teen
Sparky, who is home-schooled, got involved with the campaign in January after seeing Bill Clinton campaign for his wife in Cleveland. She and her mom, Debbie Irvine, arrived two hours before the doors opened and it earned them third-row seats in front of the podium. "It felt like he was talking to me, like I was the only person in the room," Sparky said.
Afterward, she took a flier and volunteered. She answered phones and typed. And then one day the person who mapped door-to-door routes for canvassers was busy.
Sparky stepped up and soon the teen was working 12-hour days plotting courses for hundreds of volunteers to knock on thousands of doors in northern Ohio.
Afterward, she took a flier and volunteered. She answered phones and typed. And then one day the person who mapped door-to-door routes for canvassers was busy.
Sparky stepped up and soon the teen was working 12-hour days plotting courses for hundreds of volunteers to knock on thousands of doors in northern Ohio.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Homeschool Blog Awards ~ Pick a Graphic
Graphic A
Graphic BThese 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.
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.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
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.
Well I wish Team Fusion 364 had won, but since they didn't I am glad to know that a homeschool team won.
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
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
Monday, June 02, 2008
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
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
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Should Home-Schooling Be Illegal?
Parade magazine has a poll asking if teaching credentials should be a requirement for homeschooling. At the moment 93% say NO. Click here to vote.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Educational anarchy
Teachers Union Attacks Homeschoolers - PJI Responds
The California Teachers Association claims in its brief that allowing parents to homeschool their children without requiring a teaching credential will result in "educational anarchy."
What exactly is "educational anarchy"?
Dictionary.com doesn't have an entry for educational anarchy. But this is the definition for educational;
ed·u·ca·tion·al
Audio Help Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ej-oo-key-shuh-nl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1.
pertaining to education.
2.
tending or intended to educate, instruct, or inform: an educational show on television.
and this entry for anarchy
anarchy 1 [ˈӕnəki] noun
the absence or failure of government
So educational anarchy would be the absence of government in instructing students. Sounds pretty good to me. I suppose the California Teachers Association thought that using the word anarchy which has negative connotations for a lot of people would lead most people to assume that educational anarchy was something bad.
On the other side of the ledger, a brief filed by Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown recognizes "that home schooling has a long and positive history in California and across the nation."
Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, commented on the recent developments as follows: "Contrary to the outrageous position of the California Teachers Association, homeschooling is not educational anarchy - it is educational opportunity. We are pleased that the Governor and many other influential voices are weighing in on this important debate, and we look forward to presenting the Court with the best possible defense of both homeschoolers and independent-study private schools."
The California Teachers Association claims in its brief that allowing parents to homeschool their children without requiring a teaching credential will result in "educational anarchy."
What exactly is "educational anarchy"?
Dictionary.com doesn't have an entry for educational anarchy. But this is the definition for educational;
ed·u·ca·tion·al
Audio Help Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ej-oo-key-shuh-nl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1.
pertaining to education.
2.
tending or intended to educate, instruct, or inform: an educational show on television.
and this entry for anarchy
anarchy 1 [ˈӕnəki] noun
the absence or failure of government
So educational anarchy would be the absence of government in instructing students. Sounds pretty good to me. I suppose the California Teachers Association thought that using the word anarchy which has negative connotations for a lot of people would lead most people to assume that educational anarchy was something bad.
On the other side of the ledger, a brief filed by Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown recognizes "that home schooling has a long and positive history in California and across the nation."
Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, commented on the recent developments as follows: "Contrary to the outrageous position of the California Teachers Association, homeschooling is not educational anarchy - it is educational opportunity. We are pleased that the Governor and many other influential voices are weighing in on this important debate, and we look forward to presenting the Court with the best possible defense of both homeschoolers and independent-study private schools."
Teacher, student get into brawl at Ga. school
Police say the 52-year-old Jones kicked the student, which prompted the fight.
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