Public Schools Offer - Death By Bullying: Another Teenage Suicide

According to Judy Molland

As someone who has been teaching teenagers for over twenty years, I know that someone, if not several people, at that high school had to know what was going on, but chose not to see. It's easy to do, since teachers are all so overworked and pressured these days. But that's no excuse. Teenagers can be a tough bunch, but it's also pretty easy to read them.

Bullying is a serious social problem. According to the National School Safety Center, one in seven children becomes a victim of bullying at school. Wake up, schools! Getting good test scores is nice; saving lives is crucial.

And they wonder why so many parents choose not to entrust their children to these uncaring public schools.

No Fighting, No Biting!: The 331st edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling

What better way to spend a rainy afternoon then reading the No Fighting, No Biting!: The 331st edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling.

Alasandra's Place: Alasandra's Reading list ~ May

Alasandra's Place: Alasandra's Reading list ~ May

Book Review ~ Love in a Time of Homeschooling ~ The rest of the book

Her experience with homeschooling seems very different then mine. Maybe it was because they knew it was only for one year. Also because she still had two children in public school her family didn't enjoy the same amount of flexibility that most homeschool families enjoy. At first it seemed as if what they were really doing was "school at home" although toward the end they did seem to grasp the freedom homeschooling allows and the creativity that can spring from it. I actually found the rest of the book slow going and didn't enjoy it as much as the first few chapters.

One of her comments that did resonant with me.

Parenthood always involves an awareness of judgment; when children misbehave or don't do their schoolwork, all eyes fall upon the parents especially the mother. And if that mother is a homeschooler, she is doubly accountable for her children's success or failure.

One of the hardest things about homeschooling is the constant criticism from non-homeschoolers who know nothing about homeschooling, your family or what is involved in homeschooling but take great delight in telling you, you are destroying your child. Then get all "put upon" if you dare to mention some of the problems in the public schools their children attend, assuming they even have kids.

I also agree that children need to spend more times outdoors and that nature is calming. I tried to incorporate as much outside time as possible into our homeschooling. For further reading on this subject Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. She also brings up how public schools have lowered their standards to allow more time for test preparation.

She acknowledges the diversity of homeschool families, and admits that some children even ASK to be homeschooled. One of the things she seems to have enjoyed the most was how homeschooling allowed her to fill in the gaps of her own education. A shortcoming she found with short term homeschooling was that it didn't give them enough time to decide what they truly valued in education.

A comment by Julia that hit home

"Homeschooling is better, because you get to feel that you are remotely in control of your own education. And the the scenery changes: in school, I'm stuck in the same building for seven hours every day."

Letter to the Editor Defending Homeschooling

Way to go Missy.

Wherever education occurs, parental involvement is key

Your editorial on “unschooling” was unfairly critical of homeschooling. You helped propagate a negative stereotype of homeschooling that should have died years ago. Let the facts speak for themselves: homeschooled students routinely score higher on standardized tests than public-schooled students. A higher percentage also go on to college.

My first child, who was homeschooled, attends the University of Southern Mississippi. He scored 26 on the ACT, received the Luckyday Scholarship, and was accepted into Honors College. He has a GPA of 3.95.

We tried “unschooling” one year when we were experiencing some burnout from traditional curriculum. We returned to the traditional curriculum from 8th through 12th grade.

The failures of the public school systems have more to do with a lack of family involvement in children’s education and the inability of teachers to give individual help to those who fall through the cracks than anything else. This cannot be solved by throwing money at the problem.

Homeschoolers, by nature, solve those problems by taking complete responsibility for their children’s education. They do this at a great sacrifice most of the time, giving up additional income and taking on greater expense. They should be encouraged, not criticized.

MISSY CHAMPINE

The Sun Herald is a very slow learner

 From HSLDA

Where’s the Evidence Concerning Unschooling?

May 27, 2010

Note: The following letter was sent in response to the Biloxi, Miss., Sun-Herald’s editorial of May 21, “We Support Homeschooling but not Unschooling.” HSLDA had replied to an earlier editorial on the same issue with the letter, “Critique of Unschooling Misses Point.”
 

Dear Editor:

Over the past weekend the Sun-Herald published a follow-up editorial which voiced support for homeschoolers but continued to express disdain for unschoolers.

Our question is: What evidence does the Sun-Herald provide to back up its claims? The answer is none. Instead—the editorial board simply offered an assertion about unschooling. 

At HSLDA, in our response to the first Sun-Herald editorial, we did provide evidence that both unschoolers and homeschoolers are succeeding.

Over and over again, the facts show the success of parent-directed education. Parents, who spend time tutoring their children one-on-one do have an advantage over an institutional school. Children can proceed at their own pace and do not have to worry about the distractions and time wasted in a traditional school environment, whether the source is classroom discipline problems, travel to and from school, or changing classrooms. Consequently, the majority of home educators find that their instructional time with their children is relatively short because so much can be accomplished in a short span of time.

While unschooling parents do not work from a pre-packaged curriculum, they are deeply involved in guiding their children in the areas where they show interest. 

Again, before the Sun-Herald decides to shoot from the hip, they should have some facts before they condemn a style of education that has been very successful despite being unconventional.

Peanuts are EVIL ....: Secular Thursday - Just because I homeschool..

Great new blog find Peanuts are EVIL ....: Secular Thursday - Just because I homeschool..

Another Moron Writes About Homeschooling

Is it to much to ask that these morons that feel compelled to write about homeschooling actually do some research first.

According to the moron "One of the greatest challenges of home schooling is the social factor." What total BS. I know this is apparently hard for public school advocates to believe but there is LIFE outside the walls of a public school building. There is a whole world full of people for you and your children to socialize with A world where you aren't restricted to socializing with someone just because they happen to live in your school district and be the same approximate age as you.

The moron adds that homeschoolers need " the ability to keep the children as busy as they would be if they were in a regular school." More BS, the goal isn't to keep your children busy. Busy work is something most public schools excel at. The goal should be to educate your child. I want my children to be learning something, not just doing something to be "busy".

The moron also believes "Most parents attempt home schooling as a temporary step, but find that, once  the children are home schooled, they do so well that it “doesn’t make sense” to send them back." What utter nonsense. I know very few people who attempt home schooling as a temporary step. Yes, there are some parents who view homeschooling as a temporary solution but they are in the minority. And finding out that homeschooling works so well for your family that you wish to continue with it hardly seems like a problem.

He then goes into a long rant about medicating your children and blah, blah, blah. Apparently the guy works with some very troubled people. I just hope they aren't depending on him for advice.
 

New Blog Discovery

I discovered Boarding in Bedlam written by a homeschool Dad.  I particularly enjoyed these three post.

1.  The Carnival of Anti-homeschooling
2. The Carnival of Anti-Homeschooling Part II: One Dad’s Cheeky Response to a Warning about Homeschooling
3. Educating Our Children: A Question for All Parents

The Thinking Mother: Teaching Our Kids About Politics and Government

With all the anti-homeschoolers ranting about how homeschooling should be regulated because of that stupid GMA show on "Unschooling" it is very important that homeschoolers pay attention to politics especially at the local level. All American citizens need to know how the government works, Christinemm has some tips for teaching your kids about politics and government in her post The Thinking Mother: Teaching Our Kids About Politics and Government

Homeschoolers Respond to The Sun Herald Editorial

May 22 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - Letters - SunHerald.com

Uneducated in Texas Public Schools

"Parents should be very wary of politicians designing curriculum," Duncan said in a statement.

But Republican board member David Bradley said the curriculum revision process has always been political but the ruling faction had changed since the last time social studies standards were adopted.

Texas board adopts new social studies curriculum - Nation Wire - SunHerald.com

The Sun Herald Still Doesn't Get It

Because so long as the education of minors is a matter of public policy, its regulation is a proper function of state government, whether in a classroom or at a kitchen table.

SUN HERALD | Editorial We support HOMEschooling, but not UNschooling - Editorial - SunHerald.com

Homeschoolers, like private schools do not receive state funds and therefore should NOT be regulated by the state. I wonder who The Sun Herald thinks will pay for the unnecessary testing they wish to impose.

Taking The Sun Herald to Task

I wonder if The Sun Herald will have the guts to print HSLDA's letter Critique of “Unschooling” Misses Point.

Milton Hershey School for disadvantaged children has paid $3 million to compensate five former students

A Pennsylvania newspaper says the Milton Hershey School for disadvantaged children has paid $3 million to compensate five former students who claimed they were sexually abused.

Paper: Pa. school pays alleged abuse victims $3M - Nation Wire - SunHerald.com

Carnival of Homeschooling

Check out this weeks CoH.

Unschooling : How Good Morning America Got It All Wrong

Read more here.

Public School is a lazy parent’s idea of education

Public School  is a lazy parent’s idea of education could have just as justifiably  been the title of the prejudicial and biased editorial The Sun Herald Board wrote May 12th (‘Unschooling’ is a lazy parent’s idea of education). Homeschoolers are a diverse group and use many different methods to homeschool . Unschooling is ONE of the methods that some homeschoolers use.

The various homeschool methods:

• Charlotte Mason Method - The Charlotte Mason method doesn't require much formal "seat work" for children under about 6 or 7. Instead it mostly requires reading aloud for short periods of time, music, nature, and much play outdoors.
• Classic Education Method - The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (first published 1999 by W.W. Norton and now in its third edition) offers a step-by-step, grade-by-grade, subject-by-subject guide to the classical pattern of education called the trivium.
• Eclectic Homeschooling Method - An Eclectic Homeschooler is one who looks at the different approaches and methods of homeschooling and takes from each forming his own unique philosophy, this is the one I used.
• Montessori Homeschooling Method - According to Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952), learning is a natural, self-directed process which follows certain fundamental laws of nature.
• Unschooling - or Natural Learning Method - Unschooling or Natural Learning is a philosophy of child-led learning. IT DOES NOT MEAN NO SCHOOL.
• Waldorf Education Method of Homeschooling - Waldorf education is based on the spiritual-scientific research of the Austrian scientist and thinker Rudolf Steiner. Waldorf education balances artistic, academic and practical work educating the whole child, hand and heart as well as mind.
• Traditional Homeschool Method aka School at Home 
• Unit Studies - Unit studies or thematic units take a topic and "lives" with it for a period of time, integrating science, social studies, language arts, math and fine arts as they apply.

Homeschooling, no matter which method you choose to use is hard work. It requires the parent to put forth time preparing the lessons, working with their child and then grading or evaluating the work. Homeschool parents even in states with 'no regulations' must maintain transcripts or portfolios once their children reach the high school years in order for them to get into college.

Having successfully homeschooled my two sons I can say that homeschooling is well worth the effort. My eldest son started college at 16 and received a full ACT scholarship. He has completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and is currently working on his Masters while working part time. My youngest son has just completed his Freshman year at the Community College and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, he too works part time.

It is a pity that before doing a hatchet job on homeschoolers the Editors of The Sun Herald didn't engage in a little old fashion research instead of basing their 'opinion' on a TV Show.  

Public School Teacher apologizes for recorded beating of student

A teacher who was recorded on cell phone video beating a student apologized Friday, saying she was "without excuse" for the attack on the 13-year-old.

Science teacher Sheri Lynn Davis, who was fired by the charter school this week over the attack, said she regrets what happened and would act much differently if given the opportunity.

Public School Teacher apologizes for recorded beating of student - Nation Wire - SunHerald.com

Why do...........................

public school parents insist they homeschool?

☆ home schooling
noun, adjective

1. the fact or process of teaching one's children in the home instead of sending them to a public or private school.