Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Police: Ex- PUBLIC SCHOOL teacher went to meet child for sex
A former teacher, indicted on child sex-crime charges, tried to run over police Thursday night to avoid arrest while she was on her way to meet a girl for sex, authorities said. Police: Ex-Public School teacher went to meet child for sex - Crime & Courts - SunHerald.com
Friday, June 11, 2010
Former Public School teacher gets 15 years in prison
Former music teacher Joseph Eugene Council will spend 15 years in prison for sex and computer crimes against two female students from different Coast schools.
A state prosecutor said Council was the choir teacher of one student, a 14-year-old at (Public School) Pass Christian Middle School. Council was school band director of the other student, a 16-year-old, while he taught at (Private Catholic Schools) St. Stanislaus and Our Lady Academy in Bay St. Louis.
Former teacher gets 15 years in prison - Pass Christian - SunHerald.com
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Homeschooled twins: The Carnival of Homeschooling
In the midst of remodeling Shez recaps the school year in Homeschooled twins: The Carnival of Homeschooling
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
The Sparkling Martins: Nightline Truth
Read about what really went on in the Nightline interview with the Martin Family The Sparkling Martins: Nightline Truth
Friday, June 04, 2010
Public Schools Offer - Death By Bullying: Another Teenage Suicide
According to Judy Molland
And they wonder why so many parents choose not to entrust their children to these uncaring public schools.
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.
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
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.
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.
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
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."
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Letter to the Editor Defending Homeschooling
Way to go Missy.
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
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
Monday, May 31, 2010
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.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
New Blog Discovery
I discovered Boarding in Bedlam written by a homeschool Dad. I particularly enjoyed these three post.
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
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Uneducated in Texas Public Schools
Texas board adopts new social studies curriculum - Nation Wire - SunHerald.com"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.
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.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
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
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