Reflections on Homeschooling Part II ~The Annoyance Factor

Amy Platon's ranting about a Home School Epidemic? on her blog Scribble Ink Cafe and in the Orlando Sentinel My Word: Amy Platon: Home-schoolers, don't quit system is a prime example of those annoying people homeschoolers will have to deal with. ( See Dana Hanley's charming rebuttal Should homeschoolers stick with the system? at Principled Discovery). She's typical of those who know nothing about homeschooling but feel their ill formed opinion about homeschooling is worthy of broadcasting, thus perpetrating those infuriating homeschool stereotypes (more of my post on homeschool stereotypes can be found here).

As an involved parent, I have elected the public school route. I could never home school my child because I personally don’t think it’s fair to him. He would have to put up with me all day, and as much as we love each other, that would be too much of a good thing. Also, I don’t think I’m qualified. I pay professionals to do lots of things in my life, and when we are talking about my child’s education, I feel I’m better as a support. Then there is the social factor. I know my boy would never forgive me if I told him he couldn’t go to school. He’s made too many great friends there.

There in nothing unfair about choosing to homeschool your child. I would never question another parents decision to send their child to public school and find it highly offensive that Ms. Platon chooses to question my decision to homeschool. I am not sure what planet Ms. Platon lives on but the majority of homeschool parents do not stay home alone all day "putting up with their kids". We join homeschool co-ops, homeschool groups, go on field trips and sign our children up for recreational sports leagues, Boy/Girl Scouts and a whole host of other activities.

Some people choose to engage professionals for a host of things that other individuals choose to tackle on their own. I have been blessed with a husband who can do a multitude of task; plumbing, wiring, fixing computers, laying tile, painting, building greenhouses and working on our vehicles that others choose to pay professionals to do. Just because you choose to engage a professional doesn't mean that another family should have too.

Then Ms. Platon brings up the socialization issue (more post on socialization here). Did her son not have friends until he started school? Homeschooled children play with the children in their neighborhood, with other homeschooled children at park days and other homeschool get togethers, and the children who participate in the various other activities they participate in. As they grow older they keep in touch with their friends via cell phones and the Internet. Socialization is so not a issue.

The part of this growing home-school trend that worries me, is that we will end up with adults who have learned that if the system is not good enough, then leave it. If the work’s not good enough, do it yourself. If you fear it, quit.

Does she really expect parents to keep their children in an inferior system if there is something better available just because it's what the majority of parents choose to do? Would she really put up with a shoddy job by a professional IF she could do it better? And does she really think parents should put their children in harms way?

Ms. Platon's attitude is indicative of the morass that has lead to the economic woes Americans are currently embroiled in. Our grandparents generation and to some extent our parents generation had a "can do" attitude that is sadly lacking in most of today's generation. Once most people performed most of their own home and automotive maintenance, a man/woman who was handy around the house was admired. Today being able to "hire someone" to do the work is viewed as a mark of success and the handy man is held in disdain by the Ms. Platon's of the world.

Home-schooled children are kept all to themselves, and others like them, unable to influence the kids who really need it. If you are a good parent, then be a good parent and send your child out into the world so he can make a difference. I will speak for my son, we (the future society) need you to be check in with the rest of us. We need to grow together. We need to learn from each other.

Oh please, homeschoolers are a very diverse group (more post on homeschool diversity here), and homeschooled children are NOT kept all to themselves. Why is it that non-homeschoolers believe homeschoolers live in some sort of bubble? Homeschoolers are involved in their communities and are involved in volunteer work, believe me homeschoolers do make a difference and we don't need the sanctimonious public school Mom Amy Platon to tell us the importance of being engaged involved citizens.

So that said, I’ll tell you how I settle my personal fears, with the public school what-ifs. I volunteer in my child’s class. I help the teacher where she needs it, and I get to know the other kids in the class. I encourage play dates with his classmates, so I can get to know other parents. I go to all the birthday parties we are invited to.

Her naivety is amusing I wonder what she is going to do when her child is older and she is no longer welcome in the classroom.

I help my child with areas where he needs improvement at home. I help him excel in key areas at home and over the summer.

Jeez I wonder if she realizes how contradictory that statement is, she does not think she is qualified to homeschool but works with her child in key areas after school and over the summer.

And finally, I've turned off the news! I Avoid it at all costs!

Well there is an intelligent attitude ignore the news, yep I am sure that if she ignores all the bad things that happen in her child's public school and the rest of the world they will just go away.

If this post reaches even one parent confused about this issue, I hope I have inspired you to stay involved in your community by participating in the public school system.

You don't have to participate in the public school system to be involved in your community. Unfortunately if some confused parent did read her post all they came away with was erroneous homeschool stereotypes and misinformation.

Written by a former homeschool parent whose children are now in college.

The Carnival of Homeschooling ............

can be found at The Common Room this week.

Reflections on Homeschooling Part 1 ~ Getting Started

We never intended to be a homeschooling family. When our eldest reached school age we happily sent him off to Kindergarten. When my youngest started school I became a substitute teacher at their schools. Then some snobby woman with connections to the school board decided that her taste in clothing should be inflicted on all the students who were unfortunate enough to attend the same school as her child and the mandatory public school uniform policy was born. A policy we opposed, click here and here to see why.

After we lost the court case ( Brody v. The Jackson County School Board) we examined our options. The only private schools in our area are religious and mostly Catholic. We didn't feel comfortable sending our children to a school that had religious beliefs different then our own. So we researched homeschooling on the Internet. The most difficult part of getting started was finding secular textbooks. After we finally found textbooks we were happy with we started looking for Homeschooling Support Groups. At that time the only groups in our area were Christian Groups who required a statement of faith to join. Now thankfully there is an INCLUSIVE group called PEAK that we belong to.

So with our secular textbooks and our inclusive group we were ready to get started on our homeschooling journey.............

Part II

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Homeschool Dad is hosting this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling.

Homeschool Injustice, Homeschool Discrimination or Just Angry Women Getting A Divorce?

I am probably going to make a lot of enemies with this post, but I am very trouble by the way some bloggers are attempting to manipulate homeschoolers. We have the blogs Homeschool Injustice and Homeschool Discrimination, which given their names one would think dealt with homeschooling issues. But they don't they are both blogs about women who are in the midst of messy divorces. Both women are angry that the courts have ordered their children into public or private schools. Both feel that their parental rights are being violated and both feel the Father shouldn't have any rights, and in both instances the Father has requested that his children be sent to public or private school. I think it's a moot point that in the past the Father was OK with homeschooling, people including Father's are allowed to change their minds about what is in the best interest of their children.

Neither case is a homeschooling issue and as we are not privy to the personal details that may lead a judge to rule in favor of the Father's request to send the children to public school we should stay out of it.

Judges are ruling in favour of homeschooling in divorce cases, we do not need to march, protest, or rally the troops in those instances when judges decide public school is in the children's best interest.

From Court Monitor
Staub V Staub
This decision thereby recognized that home schooling is equivalent in merit to public schooling. While the Court left the ultimate power in the hands of family court to decide the educational fate of children after divorce, this ruling sets an important precedent by placing home schooling on footing equal to public schooling.
Staub v. Staub, 2008 PA Super 251 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2008). http://www.superior.court.state.pa.us/opinions/A13018_08.PDF.

The key to the judges ruling in Staub v. Staub seems to be the Mother's attitude toward the Father and his ability to participate in the homeschooling if he choose.

If homeschooling is on an equal footing with public schooling then homeschoolers aren't being discriminated against and there is no injustice involved. As they should the courts will look at the cases on an individual basis and make the decision they feel is best for the children. The children may not be thrilled with the decision (especially if the parent who loses bleats on and on about how awful the decision is), the parent who loses won't be happy but there is no injustice or discrimination involved.

It's official

85% of the voters want Alasandra's Homeschool Blog Awards to continue. I'll need a nifty badge/button for 2009. So feel free to put on your thinking caps and submit one. Badges/Buttons can be submitted anytime before August 1st. During August the badges/buttons will be voted on and one will be chosen. In September I'll ask for nominees.

Fundamentalist bloggers spreading misinformation again

Courtroom injustices are all the rage on fundamentalist homeschooling blogs and Wing (er I mean World) Net Daily. Of course they never bother to get their facts straight.

This is what really happened courtesy of Right Juris.Com

Now back to the story. There are clear warnings posted at the Courthouse to turn off your cell phones and not to use them in the Courtroom. She is being held for warning her husband about the actions that the opposing party were taking to collect the debt. I am sure this sounds pretty innocent, but think about what would happen if this type of behavior were allowed to go unpunished. Parties would simply have text messages sent out from the Courtroom instructing third parties to hide or dispose of assets if a hearing did not look favorable. It’s the content of the text that really got her into trouble with the Judge. I know I’m going to sound like the crotchety old man here, but people these days have no sense of manners when it comes to text messaging. Text messages in church, class, driving, and other equally inappropriate places is a huge problem. This type of behavior needs to be dealt with.

Mrs. Henwood was released from jail today after talking to the judge and having him explain why he put her in jail.

Not this Woman gets 30 days in jail for texting in court

Perhaps the fundamentalist bloggers should get more savvy and rely on something other the Wing Nut Daily for their information.

Homeschooling in nothing like creationism

I always enjoy the thoughtful post at Principled Discovery, Homeschooling as a protest movement is such a post.

This lead me to read Objections to evolution arise from incorrect interpretation of the facts Posted by Lawrence Kapture. I agree with a lot of his post, but I am infuriated by his assumption that all homeschoolers are anti-evolution idiots. Many homeschoolers BELIVE IN EVOLUTION and teach the theory of evolution to our children.

Homeschooling is essentially a protest movement. Regardless of motivation, homeschoolers believe public schools are unable to prepare their children to live in the world.

There is nothing inherently wrong with protesting. Many important reforms (Civil Rights to name one) have been enacted due to people protesting behavior they believed to be wrong. I proudly admit that my family left the Jackson County Public Schools in PROTEST of the mandatory public school uniform policy and it's socialist overtones. But we choose homeschooling because of the many opportunities and benefits it offered to my family.

Unfortunately, what homeschooling can do is isolate children from the market of ideas, especially when it comes to biological science. There is a large amount of fringe literature published by religious groups that support the claims of creationists while providing no real information about the vast field of evolutionary biology.

Homeschooling does not isolate children from "ideas" anymore then the public schools do. In fact many homeschooling parents understand the difference in a scientific theory like evolution and Aunt Betty's theory of who shot JR. We embrace the field of evolutionary biology and make sure our children are well educated in science.

Homeschooling allows families to isolate their children from good information by providing them only with information that is comfortable with their own biases.

Homeschoolers have a wealth of information at their fingertips. Homeschooled children are just as capable of navigating the Internet as public school students are. Frankly I am amazed at the ignorant people who assume homeschoolers are isolated from the world.

Like homeschooling is a protest against public schools, creationism is a protest against anything that opposes a literal interpretation of the Bible. When it comes to the origins of life, creationism is not a scientifically educated movement.

Homeschooling is nothing like creationism. Creationism is a religious belief. It has nothing to do with science and does not belong in a science classroom. Homeschooling is an educational choice, just like sending your child to public school or private school is an educational choice.

A good reason for homeschoolers to protest

Actually this is a good reason for all Americans to be up in arms not just homeschoolers, that is IF it was TRUE.

Carnival of Homeschooling: Spring Fever 2009

Check out Carnival of Homeschooling: Spring Fever 2009

Visit Corn & Oil

to read the Carnival of Homeschooling: No Child Left Inside

Public School Teacher Accused of Having Sex With Two Students

More charges were levied Wednesday against a former North Gulfport 7th & 8th Grade School teacher accused of having sex with two students.

Read the rest in The Sun Herald.

Carnival of Homeschooling - Peter Rabbit Edition

I loved the Peter Rabbit stories growing up, so it was with great pleasure I sat down to read the Carnival of Homeschooling - Peter Rabbit Edition

Stuck in the past

One means to help preserve the ancient "boundary stones" of Biblical meanings is to use Noah Webster's original 1828 dictionary rather than the new on-line dictionaries that are moving further and further away from Biblical meanings.

Having a common language that is readily understood by all helps prevent confusion. Using an outdated dictionary is sure to put the user at a disadvantage as he/she will not understand how the word is being used TODAY (which happens to be the period in which we live) and the user will also be unaware of new words that have come into vogue like "d'oh!". Look for language scores on the ACT/SAT to go down for homeschoolers who take Wayne's advice.

Give Act

There has been a lot of angst over the Give Act in homeschool circles, In its current form, the legislation does not include a mandate requiring service. I don't have a problem with it as long as the service is voluntary.

Derek Shore-KFOX News Reporter Questions Homeschoolers Being Left Alone

If these kids had been enrolled in public school and out for spring break I doubt that would have been mention in the article Fire Has Some Wondering Why Kids Were Alone.

I agree with Principled Discovery, it depends on the situation, read her post Is our culture too overprotective of children?

Carnival of Homeschooling

A Pondering Heart is hosting this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling and she encourages you to get your gardens going. I have been doing a lot of gardening these last few weeks. The English Dogwood in the Whiskers Memorial Butterfly Garden is a mass of blooms.

Mississippi Gulf Coast: Gulf Restoration Network (GRN)

Help stop the Richton Salt Dome Project, find out how at Mississippi Gulf Coast: Gulf Restoration Network (GRN)

Spring Fever

Janice Campbell at Taking Time for Things That Matter is hosting this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling. She has some gorgeous pictures of flowers for you to view along with some great post. I thought I would show you this yellow Swamp Iris that is growing in the Whiskers Memorial Butterfly Garden at my house.

To defend Venessa Mills right to homeschool in light of this evidence is akin to defending abuse

A good synopsis of the Mill's case, Opinion: Did NC Judge Ned Mangum go too far in home-schooling case? at Digital Journal.

From the comments on another post
Crimson Wife said...

Sometimes defending freedom means defending people with whom one 100% disagrees. I support the right of Christian Dominionists to homeschool just as I support the right of neo-Nazis or the KKK to hold a non-violent march down city streets. We cannot pick & choose whom to grant freedoms to based on popularity.

I agree, but the Mills case isn't so cut and dried. Family members and close friends have expressed concerns about the Mother's homeschooling the children.

Her father and mother described, under oath that she had become controlling and domineering, instilling fear in her children.

A lifelong friend of the woman stated in a sworn affidavit that their friendship withered away since the woman joined the Sound Doctrine Church. She states that the woman has distanced herself from her parents and her sisters, that the woman has an extreme control over her children, that they are more withdrawn than is to be considered normal and that the behaviour of the children when she saw them in June 2008 was alarming. Other people make similar statements.

This is mental abuse and in light of this testimony and other testimony the judge was 100% right to order the children be sent to public school.

It's also interesting to see the DEMANDS Venessa Mills made, keep in mind the children are 10, 11 and 12 years old.

Although the husband has a good job, no criminal record, and no history of substance abuse or domestic violence, the woman has asked for several court orders:

• -Limiting the husband from having any overnights visits with his children.
• -Limiting the husband from seeing his children to a total of 9 hours a week.
• -Removing all decision making authority away from the husband related to education and religion.
• -To not allow the husband any regular visitation on Sundays.
• -Limiting the husband's phone calls to the children to only those that are scheduled beforehand.
• -To order that the husband to not allow the children to have contact with any ex-Sound Doctrine members or anyone hostile to the organization.

Based on all this, Judge Ned Mangum finds that the woman is alienating her children from their maternal grandparents, their aunt, and most importantly their father. He also finds that the affidavits of the woman's parents, sister, and lifelong friends are credible as they have known her for many years.

To defend Venessa Mills right to homeschool in light of this evidence is akin to defending abuse. Homeschoolers MUST NOT support Venessa Mills.

HT: HERP&ES post HS Justice

Not all homeschoolers are wingnuts with large families

Home school advocate
Sen. Gilbert Baker would never require a child to attend a public school. But he does propose to require public school districts to allow home schoolers to play sports and participate in extracurricular activities in the public school districts in which they live. He also doesn't want to let public school districts join organizations that might set rules against participation by private school or home schooled students.

Unfortunately most of the comments are hateful and prejudiced against homeschoolers. I am so tired of "the prejudiced fools" who assume all homeschoolers are wingnuts with large families.

Not Homeschooling

This isn't homeschooling.

A truely liberated mind would champion homeschooling

My response to Writings of a Liberated Mind's post Homeschooling is NOT the answer

She says

the children being homeschooled are limited to their parent's ability to relay information and the previous schooling of the parents. In a school setting, children are provided with perspectives and knowledge from a very wide pool of minds.

This is not true. Homeschoolers have a wide array of resources at their disposal. Not only can the parents relay information to their children but they can take advantage of distance learning courses, co-ops where parents share their knowledge of particular subjects, also many homeschoolers are enrolled in classes just for homeschoolers offered through local museums and often older homeschoolers are enrolled in college classes for dual credit. Homeschoolers are unlimited in their ability to seek knowledge in a wide variety of places. Also many homeschoolers are able to travel and experience different cultures with their families due to the flexibility homeschooling offers.

She says

Socially, homeschool does not expose children to peer pressure. Peer pressure can be a good thing and it can be a negative thing. Regardless, children need to learn how to handle peer pressure situations and how to interact with their peers (especially the ones that are different from themselves).

Not so, homeschoolers interact with the people in their community. We join civic associations, recreational sports leagues, community theater groups , Scouts, 4-H and many other groups. Many older homeschoolers often hold part time jobs in the community or work as volunteers. Not only do our children have many chances to interact with their peers they have the chance to learn from their elders.

She says

bias of the parents (whether for or against religion) will color the type and method of education. Even atheist children need to learn how to talk with and interact with religious people.

Public schools are full of bias, books contain the biases of their authors, bias is a part of life and not a reason to deny parents the right to homeschool their children. Also the face of homeschooling is changing, many of us belong to inclusive homeschool groups and associate with families vastly different then our own.

She says

Finally, I find the motive of parents who show a desire to homeschool their children to be selfish. They want to have 100% control of what is let into their child's brain.

This is a very cruel way to stereotype loving parents. The majority of parents choose to homeschool because they believe it is in the best interest of their children. Most families make sacrifices in order to homeschool. I don't know any parent who wants to have 100% control of what is let into their child's brain. This is akin to someone saying that parents who show a desire to send their children to public school are selfish because they want to educate their children at taxpayer expense and have no desire to stay home with them. We all know this is false and would be offended if someone said it. We should be equally offended when someone puts down homeschool parents and labels them as selfish.

Homeschooling is a valid educational choice and a truly liberated mind would embrace homeschooling and the freedom it offers.

Carnival of Homeschooling: Spring 2009 edition

Homeschool Buzz is hosting this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling, the pictures of spring alone are worth the visit.

Why Homeschoolers should not support Venessa Mills

The News Observer states School case raises ire. But why is it raising ire amongst Venessa Mills and her supporters? HSLDA is usually among the first to scream our homeschooling freedoms are being encroached on, but they don't seem in the least concerned about the judges ruling.

The Virginia-based Home School Legal Defense Association has a policy against accepting home-school cases that are part of divorce or custody battles. Spokesman Ian Slatter said judges have ordered homeschooled students into public schools before, but the group does not track such cases.

"Unfortunately, divorces are fairly common," Slatter said. "These sorts of questions are put before judges on a regular basis."

Maybe because it isn't a HOMESHOOL ISSUE and will in no way impact other homeschoolers.

Then we have Homeschool Injustice bleating that it's not in the children's best interest to spend an equal amount of time with their father in her post Why 50/50 Is Not In The Best Interests of Children . The post completely ignores the realities of modern day life, where often both parents work and both the Mother and Father only spend evenings and weekends with their children. She also seems oblivious to the fact that as a single mother Venessa Mills will need to work outside the home to support herself. And if we want to talk about whats in the best interest of the children

Recent research reveals a negative impact of divorce on children's welfare as a consequence of the reduction in monetary and time contributions by the non-custodian parent. When the custody arrangement is sole custody, the variables that link the absent parent to the child are visitations and child support transfers.

Apparently contrary to what Ms. Williams believes joint custody has been proven to be in the best interest of the children.

Under the circumstances, only a heartless, ignorant, or prejudiced individual would fail to understand Venessa Mills' demands, or fail to see that they were solely motivated by her desire to protect her children.

Venessa Mills didn't put her children first when she choose to divorce her husband and destroy their family so why should we automatically assume that she is putting them first now. And if she truly believes that shared custody isn't in the children's best interest she could always let Thomas Mills have full custody.

(The judge's intent from the beginning was to force these parents back together and out of his courtroom, acting like a liberal-biased marriage counselor instead of being a judge.)

I seen to recall the Bible saying

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. -King James Bible Matthew 19:6

So I would have thought that a judge who tried to prevent a divorce would receive kudos from professed Christians instead of their ire for trying to do what was best for the children and keep the parents together if at all possible.

Ms. Williams' post Constitutional Injustice is even more ludicrous.

he prejudicially chooses to restrict the mother's financial support to a level intended to limit her ability to practice her religion

I am not even sure what Ms. Williams means by that. How much money does Venessa Mills need to practice her religion? Who is suppose to finance her religious beliefs?

I have no doubt that Mr. Mills infidelity hurt Venessa Mills a great deal and I feel sorry that she had to deal with that pain. But she had choices. She could have forgiven her husband and worked to save the marriage. Instead she chose to divorce him while naively believing that nothing in her life or her children's lives would change other then her marital status.

Why homeschoolers should not support Venessa Mills?

1. No one should be forced to homeschool. The children's father has indicated that he wants the kids to be in public school and that he believes it will be in the best interest of the children.
2. Venessa Mills' parents have concerns about the situation. Homeschoolers have insisted that we don't need further regulations as abuse can be spotted and reported by people other than teachers including friends, family, doctors and neighbors. Enough people have raised concerns about this ONE SITUATION that the judge is right to listen and take steps to prevent abuse.
3. The chief complaint about Mr. Mills is that he committed adultery. While this certainly makes him a BAD HUSBAND it doesn't automatically disqualify him as a FATHER.
4. Homeschoolers have worked hard to garner political clout, it shouldn't be squandered on a messy divorce case. Which is why HSLDA isn't involved.
5. Championing Venessa Mills in light of all the allegations and concerns raised by family members smacks of fanaticism not a well reasoned logical decision.

Lets save the rallying for something that matters

Williams is rallying homeschoolers from across the nation to fight back to defend their rights as Americans to educate their children.

Great a small minority of homeschoolers are determined to defend homeschoolers from the bogeyman and are making all homeschoolers look like idiots.

Venessa Mills is fighting a legal battle for the heart and soul of homeschooling in North Carolina.

Wow, I thought she was just divorcing her husband and trying to take him to the cleaners in the process. I mean most normal people realize that in order to be a housewife and stay at home Mom you need to be married. If you choose to divorce your husband then you are going to need to get a job and support yourself and that probably means your kids will have to go to public school. I certainly would not choose cult member, Venessa Mills as the poster child for homeschooling.

Robyn Williams, friend and homeschool mother of four was present at the proceeding. "I have never seen such injustice and such a direct attack against homeschooling," said Williams.

Attack on homeschooling, surely she is kidding. The judge never attacked homeschoolers. Homeschoolers in North Carolina are still free to homeschool their children. This case has nothing to do with homeschoolers in general. This is a divorce case pure and simple. If Venessa Mills had not sued her husband for divorce the judge would not be deciding what the best educational choice for the Mills children would be, the parents would be working it out between themselves. The Father wanted the kids in public school, due to various facts the judge decided that the Father's desire to have his children educated in the public schools should be granted.

If homeschoolers want to be taken seriously we need to carefully consider what we are rallying for. As Principled Discovery asked What if the NC judge’s ruling against homeschooling is the best possible?

And second is something of real concern to me. In abuse case after abuse case, our defense of homeschooling is that abuse is a social issue, not an educational one. That increased regulation will only put an unnecessary burden on homeschooling families while doing nothing to help children in abusive situations. That we live in our communities and that abuse can be spotted and reported by people other than teachers including friends, family, doctors and neighbors. Then a case comes to court in which the father has concerns about his children’s homeschooling. It goes a little beyond simply believing children are better off in public school, although that is really all the reason a parent needs to opt to place a child in public school. He backs this concern up with testimony from other people in the community about what his wife’s church is like. And we are going to not only jump on the judge for a bias against homeschooling but for a bias against religion as well? I’m not sure that it is wise to so reflexively defend homeschooling that we are willing to disregard the testimonies of people close to the situation who may be raising valid concerns not with homeschooling in general but with a particular situation. Maybe the decision is the best possible in the situation. Most of us don’t really know.

It seems to me that the checks and balances that homeschoolers have insisted are in place to protect children worked in this instance. To blindly insist that Venessa Mills must be allowed to homeschool in light of her husbands opposition and the concerns of her own family is WRONG and will harm legitimate homeschoolers and their right to homeschool.

This is homeschool advocacy at its worst

Patrice Lewis in her post Playing God with homeschoolers totally ignores the facts.

She maintains the children in the Mills case are being forced into public school against the parent's wishes. When in actual fact the FATHER, asked that his children be placed in public school.

Ms. Lewis is also ignoring the fact that Mrs. Mills' own parents think she belongs to a cult and is being brainwashed. They testified on their son in laws behalf.

And somehow it gets lost in the MEAN JUDGE will not make my soon to be ex-husband give me enough money to continue to be a Stay at Home Mom and homeschool my kids whining that Venessa Mills was the one that instigated the divorce that led to all this upheaval in her children's lives.

Do homeschoolers have anything to worry about from the judges decision? NO, this ruling will not effect you, HSLDA even agrees, this is NOT A HOMESHOOLING ISSUE.

Certified Public School Teachers Having Sex With Students

In the past 14 months, three Coast teachers have been arrested and charged with having sexual relationships with minors.

Read more in The Sun Herald.

Mississippi Gulf Coast: Our environment is still at risk from salt dome project

Mississippi Gulf Coast: Our environment is still at risk from salt dome project

Cult not homeschooling at root of decision

According to the News & Observer Judge: 'Cult' factored in ruling.

Contrary to what the Fundamentalist Christians are proclaiming this is not a threat to homeschooling or some horrible injustice against homeschoolers.

The judge even noted that he recognizes the benefits of home schooling. His concern is that after Venessa Mills joined the Sound Doctrine Church of Enumclaw in 2005 she became alienated from her husband and her parents. (Her own parents testified against her) and that she was attempting to alienate the children from their father and their maternal grandparents. I also think it's important to note that he didn't DEMAND they immediately be placed in public school. They will start public school in the fall.

"Based on all of the evidence, the court finds that Ms. Mills engaged in behavior that alienates the minor children from their maternal grandparents, their aunt, and most importantly their father," Mangum wrote.

I don't even think you could call this a religious issue as he was fair to both parents.

Among other provisions, the written order said the parents will have joint custody of the children -- who are 12, 11 and 10 -- and that both parents can "practice their own religion and expose children to same."

Sadly these parents didn't share the same religious views and apparently their religious views were so incompatible it led to divorce. Naturally both parents want to share their beliefs and world views with their children. The judge made it possible for both to do so, there is no injustice in that.

And while hsinjustice vilifies Thomas Mills it was Venessa Mills who filed for divorce.

Even HSLDA says this isn't a homeschooling issue.

Despite the outcry, Ian Slatter, a spokesman for the Home School Legal Defense Association, a Virginia-based group that backs home-school parents, say these kinds of custody cases are more common than people realize

"It's a tragedy of divorce, but we don't see any broad implications,"
Slatter said.

The outcry by some homeschoolers is uncalled for.

Hal Young, a member of the board of Johnston County Home Educators, a support group for home-school parents, said it is upsetting that a judge can so radically alter a family's lifestyle.

Let's get one thing straight the judge didn't alter this family's lifestyle Venessa Mills did when she filed for divorce.

HT: HERP&ES

Homeschooling Concerns Baseless

VJACK's post Atheist Homeschooling listed some of his concerns about homeschooling in general and atheist (really anyone who isn't part of the Fundamentalist Christian Homeschooling community) homeschoolers in particular. This is my response.

First I don't believe imparting your moral values is a "wrong reason" to homeschool. This is my response to VJACK's post Homeschooling is About Indoctrination. Public schools also indoctrinate children often with views that are different then, even hostile to their parents world view. Unfortunately no matter who is doing the teaching be it a public school teacher or a parent their biases will be part of the lesson. Parents have every right to impart their "moral values" to their children. And while I am pro-choice anti-choice parents have every right to teach their children their beliefs. I am very disturbed by VJACK's desire to indoctrinate children through the public school system with his beliefs in opposition to their parents beliefs.

I suppose the thing I would most worry about if I were an atheist parent considering homeschooling would be the issue of academic equivalency.

I have no doubt that my children received a superior education compared to what they would have received in the public schools. My eldest son started college at 16, he is in his fourth year of a computer science degree. He is also paying his own tuition with a scholarship and the money he earns at his part time job. He will graduate debt free. My youngest son is in his senior year of high school and is taking a course at the local community college for dual credit, he has an A in the class. Parents who choose to homeschool invest time and money in their children's education we are highly motivated to see that our children are well prepared for college and life. VJACK basis his concern on this

As someone who teaches college, I have found that the homeschooled children who end up there are often seriously unprepared to succeed.

I wonder how many of the public school students who end up in his classroom are also unprepared to succeed? I also wonder how many well prepared homeschooled students are in his classroom that he never realizes were homeschooled because they don't fit into his stereotypes of homeschooling?

According to Associated Content

A common homeschool myth is the one that assumes children who attend a homeschool will not be prepared for college. However, many college recruiters disagree with this myth, and in fact, some even prefer homeschooled students. Why? Many students who homeschool have advanced studying skills, such as the knowledge of various resources, as well as the ability to work well independently. Homeschoolers can also possess exceptional teamwork and social skills, which are very essential to many college courses. In addition to the above qualities, many homeschooled children begin taking college level courses before they are finished with their K-12 education, due to the flexibility of their schedules and the opportunity to advance at one's own pace.

The second concern involves the social development of the homeschooled child. In many respects, the social aspects of the school experience as as important as the academic ones. Christians who homeschool are probably going to have an easier time finding others homeschooling through their church than atheist parents can find through some alternative. How does the atheist parent attend to social development and prevent his or her child from being woefully unprepared to form positive peer relations?

The simple answer to this is you form your own homeschool groups or find inclusive and secular ones. There are also recreational sports teams/drama clubs/chess clubs etc. your children can join.

While I do not see this as a major barrier, I also wonder if it could be argued that an atheist parent who homeschools might be doing his or her children a disservice by depriving them of the opportunity to learn how to navigate the challenges of living as an atheist among a largely religious populace.

Funnily enough the opposite argument (it could be argued that a CHRISTIAN parent who homeschools might be doing his or her children a disservice by depriving them of the opportunity to learn how to navigate the challenges of living as an CHRISTIAN among a largely secular/materalistic populace) is often made in reference to religious homeschoolers who feel the public schools are a cesspool of secular humanism. Homeschoolers do not live in splendid isolation. We meet all sorts of people from various backgrounds merely by going about our daily lives. It's also ironic that VJACK assumes that his children will share his atheist beliefs, but then I suppose he intends to brainwash or indoctrinate them with his beliefs.

And before I start getting a lot of hostile comments for that bit of snark let me elaborate. All parents have the desire to pass their beliefs or values on to their offspring. We all believe our beliefs are the "right/correct" ones. But for some reason when Christians share their beliefs with their own children atheist often decry it as brainwashing/indoctrination. Ironically they are guilty of the same thing with their children but they don't consider it brainwashing or indoctrination because they are certain their beliefs are the only sane rational way to live. In a truly tolerant and diverse society both the Christians and the Atheist would respect each others beliefs and respect their right to pass their beliefs on to their own children.

Alasandra, The Cats & A Dog: Cats needing rescue in the Chicago Area

Alasandra, The Cats & A Dog: Cats needing rescue in the Chicago Area

Check Out The Blarney Edition of The Carnival of Homeschooling

The Blarney Edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling is hosted at The Homeschool Cafe.

Divorce at root of homeschool decision

I am baffled why Venessa Mills didn't think a judge would get involved over the couples dispute over the decision to send their children to public school or continue homeschooling when she is in the middle of a divorce.

This really doesn't seem to be much of a homeschooling issue although many homeschoolers are already up in arms about the judge ordering the kids back to public school.

Sadly the parents do not agree on what the best educational choice is for the children. The Father wants them to go to public school where they will learn about evolution. The Mother wants to homeschool them and teach them creationism. Someone had to decide which parent would win; and in cases of divorce it's usually a judge. If the couple were not divorcing then it would be up to the parents to reach a compromise, unfortunately when marriages dissolve judges wind up making many decisions regarding the children that are caught in the middle.

The Torment's of the Modest,Secluded Farm Life

Poor Doris Anne Beaulieu had strict parents who sent her to a PRIVATE SCHOOL, so now that she is all grown up she is writing books attacking homeschooling and parents who choose to homeschool their children.

If I had the time I would write a book chronicling the shitty experiences I had in the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM and how I am emotionally damaged because of them. But I would never assume that my experiences were shared by every public school student in America or demonize parents who send their children to public schools.

I am sorry that Ms. Beaulieu didn't have the childhood she thinks would have most benefited her but to assume that her life experiences are the norm for homeschoolers is ludicrous especially as she wasn't even homeschooled and she seems to know very little about homeschooling.

Her biased and prejudiced opinions deserve to be ignored as the rantings of a embittered woman who wants to "punish" homeschoolers because she didn't have the childhood she wanted.

Go orange for the animals

This April, the ASPCA will kick-off Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month on April 7 when iconic buildings and landmarks across the country will support the ASPCA’s life-saving work as they light up in its signature color and “Go Orange for Animals.”

But before you contribute to your local SPCA be sure to check them out some SPCA's having been using their power to steal pets from their owners. Even though the animals are well cared for and loved. Read more about it at Jan's Funny Farm.

School Supplies

Life Nurturing Education is hosting this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling.

Alasandra's Place: Disappointed

Alasandra's Place: Disappointed

CoH Alert

The Nerd House edition of The Carnival of Homeschooling.

Homeschooling does not equal Fundamentalist Christian

First I despise sites that won't let you comment unless you register like Word Press or I would have just commented on this idiotic post on Jewel's SPAM blog.

When homeschool children are taught by their parents about Darwin, they don’t usually get lectures about how his theory of natural selection is the foundation of modern biology. No, they are taught something much different.

NOT ALL HOMESCHOOLERS ARE FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIANS AND MANY OF US BELIVE THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION IS CORRECT. I am sick of people like Jewel and Daniel Florien , who wrote the original post Teaching Homeschool Kids About Darwin, trying to lump all homeschoolers together.

Doug Phillips is the President of Vision Forum Ministries, a popular fundamentalist Christian organization that advocates patriarchy, creationism, and homeschooling. He has eight children and encourages couples to have as many as God gives them — he thinks birth control is a sin (see “quiverfull“).

Homeschoolers are a diverse group and we don't all believe the same things. In fact some of us not only believe in birth control we use it.

Why Carole Moore Choose Not to Homeschool

Why Carole Moore Choose Not to Homeschool

I remember one teenager in particular. After years of alternately being homeschooled and attending a very strict, small, church-based school, she moved to a public school — where she spiraled out of control. She drank. She took drugs. And she had sex. Her parents were appalled; that was not how they'd raised their daughter.

Some would blame the influence of the public school system. They'd say she made friends with bad kids. And they'd be right. But that wasn't the only reason she got into so much trouble. In my opinion, her problem went much deeper: she didn't know how to handle the sudden combination of freedom and exposure to a side of life she'd never personally confronted. Her parents had talked about these things. She'd heard about them in church. But talk alone isn't a substitute for reality, and the forbidden often looms sweet and tantalizing by virtue of its mystery.

Why I choose to homeschool.

I don't think you have to expose your child to "bad influences" in order for them to be law abiding teens and responsible adults. Part of good parenting is teaching your child to make good choices and allowing them to make choices appropriate for their age and reap the consequences of those choices.

Also the majority of homeschoolers are not nearly as sheltered as the author of this piece makes out. Many of us register our children to play on recreational sports leagues where they interact with public school students many of whom are from broken homes, do drugs, cuss and wear inappropriate clothing as well as behave in a sexually provocative manner. And hey not all homeschoolers are innocent little angels. Some parents choose to homeschool after their children have gotten in trouble, sometimes very serious trouble, in the public schools

Homeschooled children also hang out with the kids in their neighborhoods and very few of us have perfect neighbors.

I have always been baffled by those individuals who insist "homeschoolers don't live in the real world"; exactly what world do we live in? We live in the same communities as everyone else. We are involved in our neighborhoods and our children have the same temptations as other children do. And with the internet more then ever before we and our children can explore the wider world outside our neighborhoods.

Help yourself and the world prosper with the Carnival of Homeschooling Stimulus Edition

Consent Of The Governed: Carnival Of Homeschooling - Stimulus Edition!

Teacher alledgly injuries physically disaabled student

An order filed in U.S. District Court sets a date of Feb. 10, 2010, for a jury trial in the case filed by Jerry and Melinda Brock on behalf of their daughter, former Alcorn Central Middle School student Anna Brock.

The family has sued the district claiming their daughter was injured when she was allegedly grabbed by a teacher at the school in 2007.

Links

Go by History is Elementary for some great educational links, with reviews.

Carnival of Homeschooling

Check out the Hardwired edition.

Bay-Waveland teacher fired over questionable activities with a student

The teacher and school involved were not identified by the Superintendent of Education, but the Sun Herald has learned the case involves a teacher at Bay High School and allegations of questionable activities with a student.

Substitute teacher has pornographic images of student

Purvis police have arrested a Lamar County substitute teacher on child pornography charges. Police say evidence of child pornography, including images of at least one student whom Fries had taught, was found.

I feel sorry for both the children involved in this incident

Police are investigating a report of rape at Picayune Junior High School; a 15-year-old has been charged as an adult.

One can only wonder where the TEACHERS were when the girl was supposedly being raped.

Where is the Science

HT: O'Donnell Web

We need to train our students and ourselves to ask the right questions.

Evolutionists ask this question:How can I prove that evolution is true (and God does not exist). This may not be stated in this way, but is inferred by their writings. Darwin and others have said that if evolution is true, there is no need for God.

What utter nonsense. Many Christian Scientist believe in EVOLUTION.

I challenge the Creationist to read the complete works of Charles Darwin online for free and see for themselves what Darwin actually did say.

If you need a good laugh read Russ McGlenn Creation Science Topics. Sadly anything remotely resembling science is lacking from the list of topics.

Gulfport Teacher Accused of Sex Crimes Against a Former Student

North Gulfport 7th and 8th Grade teacher Catryna L. Martin has been arrested on charges accusing her of sex crimes against a former student she'd apparently been tutoring at her home, Gulfport Police Chief Alan Weatherford said.

Dewey's Treehouse: Carnival of Homeschooling #162: Identity Crisis Edition

Dewey's Treehouse: Carnival of Homeschooling #162: Identity Crisis Edition

What a load of BS

The editorial in the Fayetteville Observer.

Perhaps it’s time to encourage, if not compel, high school graduates and dropouts to give two years of service. It doesn’t have to be to the military, though that should be an option. It could also be an integral part of a national public works program, part of a solution to our recession woes. The program should be attractive, with the promise of reward at the end (such as an enhanced G.I. Bill).

Compulsory service is nothing but another name for SLAVERY. In a country whose Declaration of Independence states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." stealing two years of someones life and forcing them to serve the state is WRONG.

Why should high school graduates, have to give up two year years of their life? Why not compel the editor who wrote this BS to give up two years of his life? or senior citizens or any other age group? A high school graduates life is just as valuable as any other age group and they should be at liberty to pursue happiness, in whatever way they choose.

HT: Daryl's rebuttal of the editorial, Epic fail.

Abusive Public School Teacher Behind Mom's Decision to Homeschool

Read how one Mother choose to homeschool after her son was being verbally abused by a PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, and the principal refused to do anything about it, Home Schooling: Who should home school their children.

12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count

From Feb. 13 to 16, volunteers throughout the U.S. and Canada are invited to “Count for Fun, Count for the Future!” Millions of novice and accomplished bird watchers can make their fascination with nature add up for science and for the future during the 12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count.

Anyone can count birds from wherever they are and enter their tallies online at birdcount.org. These reports create an exciting real-time picture of where the birds are across the continent and contribute valuable information for science and conservation, said Mozart Dedeaux, education coordinator for the Pascagoula River Audubon Center.

Read more in The Sun Herald

NAACP against charter schools in Mississippi

The NAACP is the reason the public schools in Mississippi are dismal failures. Whenever Mississippians try to make real changes that would improve the public school system for all children and give parents the chance to be more involved in their child's education the NAACP yells " segregation" and we revert to the status quo that keeps all the public school children in ignorance.

Johnson said charter schools are a form of segregation that uses taxpayers’ dollars.

“It’s taking resources that are currently lacking in public education and redirecting them to a small percentage of students,”

Wanna do some Role Playing?

Drop by this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling.

Carnival of Homeschooling: The Mystery Hat

The Carnival of Homeschooling takes a silly turn this week with The Mystery Hat edition.

The Battlefield

Check out Dana's insightful post Christian homeschoolers have “left the battlefield?” in response to You Had Better Get Your Shovel The Master Will Be Coming Back Soon.

I have never understood those parents who think we should sacrifice our children at the alter of public education supposedly for the benefit of the masses of children who are part of the system. It's my responsibility to see my children get the best education I can provide for them, for us that was/is homeschooling. But as Dana points out homeschoolers still pay taxes to support the public schools, they still vote on "public school issues" and the public schools are still of concern to us.

Why Do I Homeschool?

Because of people like Carolyn Hileman, "You Had Better Get Your Shovel The Master Will Be Coming Back Soon". My family left the public school system so we wouldn't have to deal with people like her.

Great Letter to the Editor

Evolutionary theory does not address ‘life’s origins’ Regarding Mississippi House Bill 25, on placing a message that “evolution is a theory” in school textbooks: We have been through this before (Georgia), and such a measure will eventually be struck down. Please, let us put a stop to this now, and not waste additional taxpayer dollars on a fruitless, and entirely religious-based cause. Indeed, there is a theory that attempts to explain the facts regarding species evolution. However, evolutionary theory in no way attempts to explain origins of life, as is mentioned in HB 25. That mention is a clear mistake, or misrepresentation. In other words, it is wrong. Evolutionary theory does not address “life’s origins.” Evolutionary theory informs us as to how species change over time, and how new species emerge through that change. The ultimate origin of life is not a part of evolutionary theory. Did you know … gravity is also a theory, yet we don’t see groups “warning” people about that one (however, for an example of how silly this kind of thinking can be, see “Intelligent Falling”). Also, education makes use of a theory (Instructional Theory). Probability is also a theory. Etcetera. So, to be fair, students must also be “cautioned” about all of these theories that are associated with teaching and with what is being taught. To single out evolution is a clear attempt to insert religious thinking and biases into classrooms, and such an attempt will and should fail. Religion is a private matter, and is not in any way a part of scientific learning. Please, let us not waste any more of my and your tax dollars on this issue. Please, let us not make Mississippi look more foolish than it already does. Clay LaHatte Vicksburg

From Beverly’s Homeschooling Blog

This post was inadvertently left out of the Carnival. Having two sons I know all about brothers competing. Drop by Beverly's Homeschooling Blog to read To compete or not to compete.

Anti~Science HB 25 or Stupid in Mississippi

I do wish the nut jobs would figure out that a scientific theory isn't just some idea Joe Blow came up with. You know gravity is a theory but I don't see the nut jobs challenging it (pity).

Nut Job: Evoulution is JUST A THEORY!

Scientist: Gravity is just a theory too, why don't you jump off this 10 foot building to see if it is based on a careful and rational examination of the facts.

Nut Job: (jumps off building and goes splat)

Anyway back to HB25

The State Board of Education shall require every textbook that includes the teaching of evolution in its contents to include the following language on the inside front cover of the textbook: "The word 'theory' has many meanings, including: systematically organized knowledge; abstract reasoning; a speculative idea or plan; or a systematic statement of principles. Scientific theories are based on both observations of the natural world and assumptions about the natural world. They are always subject to change in view of new and confirmed observations. This textbook discusses evolution, a controversial theory some scientists present as a scientific explanation for the origin of living things. No one was present when life first appeared on earth. Therefore, any statement about life's origins should be considered a theory. Evolution refers to the unproven belief that random, undirected forces produced living things. There are many topics with unanswered questions about the origin of life which are not mentioned in your textbook, including: the sudden appearance of the major groups of animals in the fossil record (known as the Cambrian Explosion); the lack of new major groups of other living things appearing in the fossil record; the lack of transitional forms of major groups of plants and animals in the fossil record; and the complete and complex set of instructions for building a living body possessed by all living things. Study hard and keep an open mind."

Carnival of Homeschooling ~ The Teal Edition

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and TEAL is the color that represents Cervical and Ovarian Cancer. You can get your Think TEAL shirt here and help support research and raise awareness for Cervical and Ovarian Cancer. As with homeschooling EDUCATION is the key, you can educate yourself about Cervical Cancer here. I challenge you to go TEAL for January (If you want to turn your blog TEAL the Html code is #008080).

or you can display a TEAL ribbon to show your support for cervical and ovarian cancer research.

Henry muses about how learning can take place outside of the classroom in the post Stealth education found at Why Homeschool.

Four Squares explains how she manipulated her home environment to foster a love of learning in her children, in the post Accessibility

NerdMom presents Making Money, Keeping Money: Bargain Books for Teachers and Homeschoolers! posted at Making Money, Keeping Money.

Kim over at Countdown to College announces a college prep/graduation prep workshop in Denver and offers a contest, the Pre-Launch Challenge for workshop discounts and a free college prep personal consultation.

In other news, Mother-Lode hits paydirt on New Year's eve with a more grown-up celebration of old and new with her mostly grown-up children in a night-time geo-caching treasure hunt.

In an online vote, TEAL was voted the most popular shade of blue just ahead of cornflower blue. Today homeschooling is a popular educational choice for many parents.

Homeschooling isn't for everyone. Tammy at the totally revamped Just Enough, and Nothing More takes an honest look at their mistakes and what they did right.

And we have all probably bought a popular curriculum and then for some reason not used it. Sandy presents her solution in Use It Up posted at Falling Like Rain.

Unit studies are a popular with some homeschoolers. Missouri Homeschool Daily Log explains the basics of unit studies in the post What is a unit study?

Laura presents tips for Practical Homeschooling posted at Practical Homeschooling.

Cristina's comics are popular with our family check out her latest Home Spun comic strip #307 posted at Home Spun Juggling.

TEAL gets its name from the fact that it surrounds the eyes of the Common Teal (Anas crecca ), a member of the duck family.

Other ducks with TEAL in their name:
The Ringed Teal, Callonetta leucophrys
The Green-winged Teal, Anas carolinensis
The Black Teal, Aythya novaeseelandiae
The Brown Teal, Anas aucklandica
The Silver Teal, Anas versicolor
The Cape Teal, Anas capensis
The Marbled Teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris
The Campbell Island Teal Anas nesiotis

A small duck of shallow ponds, the Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors ) breeds across much of the central and northern United States and Canada. Rather dull in plumage overall, it reveals its powder-blue wing patch in flight.

Some people still consider homeschoolers odd-ducks.

We often enjoy trying new and different things, including recipes. HowToMe presents How To Bake Rusks posted at HowToMe.

Dana presents Homeschooling family values posted at Principled Discovery.

Dana presents Into the Snow posted at Simple Pleasures.

Christinemoers presents Brainiacs - Pom-Pom's posted at Welcome to my Brain.

Many homeschoolers enjoy reading, for those of you searching for a book to read, TEAL is also the name of a character in the novels of Leslie Charteris. The character's name is Claud Eustace Teal (Mr. Teal).

Everyone in my family loves to read, but I know some of my friends struggle with getting their kids to read, especially if they have sons. Guys Lit Wire will help guys find the reading material they want. Check out their review of Ender in Exile, by Orson Scott Card.

The Wright Brothers: Pioneers of American Aviation by Quentin Reynolds is reviewed at MGTutoring.Com in the post A Wright Brothers Anecdote.

Summer presents The 4 year Old Is Reading posted at Wired For Noise.

Kathy presents Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes: Homeschool Review posted at HomeSchoolBuzz.com.

Susan Gaissert presents The Wizard of Mumbai posted at The Expanding Life.

Often homeschoolers are history buffs. Here is an interesting historical tidbit, the Thurston Teal amphibious aircraft, also known as the Schweizer Teal was designed by David Thurston in the United States and first flown in 1968.[1] A total of 38 Teals were manufactured.[2]<>

We love History here and I am always pleased to learn new and interesting tidbits. Thanks to History is Elementary I now know about The Great State of Franklin.

ChristineMM presents Mini Lesson in Neuroscience for My Kids posted at The Thinking Mother.

Amy Smith presents Celebrating Chinese New Year posted at Kids Love Learning.

Sally Johnson presents Free Online Science Classes posted at Diamonds in the Rough.

The Whited Sepulchre presents The Whited Sepulchre: Where Will Malia And Sasha Obama Go To School? posted at The Whited Sepulchre.

Shauna presents Inauguration Resources posted at Treasure Seekers.

The Life Without School Community Blog offers Some Practical Advice on College Entrance, by Bettina

Miscellaneous post
Simon Cowell presents A Basic Introduction to Adverbs posted at Learn English Online.

Thomas J. West presents Technique Targeting: Becoming Your Own Music Teacher posted at Thomas J. West Music.

Nancy Miller presents OEDb's Online College Rankings 2009 posted at OEDb: Online Education Database.

Cary Anderson presents Campground Safety posted at Campground Safety.

Becca presents The Best Activity for Pre-schoolers Ever! posted at Inspiration for Mothers . Com.

Spanish Learner presents Using Connecting Words In Spanish posted at Learn Spanish Blog.

English Speaker presents Learn English - English Speaking Tutorial » Blog Archives » Introducing Your Children to English Speaking Schools posted at English Tutorial.

Smart Camper presents Racing An Airstream posted at Go Camping - Life's An Adventure.

Concerning Kids presents Some Thoughts On Affordable Child Health Insurance posted at Concerning Kids.

Coffee Addict presents Top 10 Coffee Alternatives: Avoid the Negative Effects of Caffeine My Caffeine Addiction posted at Caffeine Addiction.

College Degrees presents Can EB Visas, Foreign Degree Evaluations Fix the Housing Crisis? posted at TheDegreePeople Blog.

Concerning Kids presents Help For Single Parents Raising Children posted at Concerning Kids.

Karen presents We Must Do Something posted at The Stone Age Techie.

Alvaro Fernandez presents Top 10 Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health Books posted at SharpBrains.

One Language presents Learn English Articles » Blog Archive » Simple English Sentence Construction posted at Free English Lessons.

PicktheBrain presents Advancing From Paralegal to Attorney posted at Paralegal Training.

John Tedder presents » Can Kindergarten Scar You For Life? - Tedder’s Random Notes posted at Tedder's Random Notes.

Denise presents MathCounts ? Ready or Not, Here It Comes posted at Let's Play Math!.

Concerning Kids presents The Top Child Vitamins Available Today - A Helpful List posted at Concerning Kids.

Thank you for reading The TEAL Edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling. Next weeks Carnival will be hosted by About Homeschooling to submit a post click here. And an extra thank you to everyone who submitted their post early. I got to go visit Hubby for a romantic weekend in San Diego and it made getting the Carnival up so much easier to be able to do most of the work Thursday, before I left. My apologies for any mistakes. ~Alasandra

Homeschool Showcase

Drop by Homeschool Showcase (Formerly The Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers) #15 for some great post while I put the finishing touches on this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling.

The 2008 Weblog Awards

Pharyngula (PZ Myers) is a finalist in The 2008 Weblog Awards ~ Best Science Blog. You can vote for him here.

Why Homeschool celebrates 3 years of CoH

Please join me in reading Why Homeschool: Carnival of Homeschool: Week 158 - The 3rd Anniversary.

I'll be hosting the Carnival of Homeschooling this coming week and I would really appreciate it if you could get your submissions in early.

Click here for information on submitting a post.

Homeschool Blog Awards ~ The Winners

Best Adult Homeschool Blog
Get In, Hang On 52 votes (19%)

Best Group Blog

The Homeschool Classroom 33 votes (32%)

Best Teen Blog

Quilted Story, which has been renamed Just my cup of coffee 33 votes (56%)

Three years

January 6th will be the 3rd anniversary for the Carnival of Homeschooling, please consider submitting a post. The Cates will be hosting the CoH.

Carnival of Homeschooling #157

Drop by Practical Homeschooling to read the 157th Carnival of Homeschooling: A Carnival of Reflections.

Daily News puts homeschooling in the headline

Tragically another child died of abuse at the hands of his Mother. Unfortunately the Daily News used his death to vilify homeschooling. Should homeschooling be in the headline? Mother charged with beating obese son to death: I homeschooled to spare boy fat taunts. Would the headline have read Mother charged with beating obese son to death: I sent him to public school so he could get used to fat taunts if he had attended public school? I don't think so.

They make a big deal out of the fact she filled out the necessary paperwork to homeschool. They are less concerned with the fact that

Sekulski was in Manhattan Family Court yesterday, where a judge dismissed a 2005 warrant on a visitation case involving Jaquan. Details of the case were not available Monday.

So apparently the courts were involved with this family but failed to protect the child

"She said her son was too fat for school - she could do a better job with him at home. He didn't have anyone around to help him," a police source said. Neighbors said they never saw Jaquan.

No one around to help, what about the neighbors. She lived in an apartment surly they heard the beatings. And shouldn't the fact they never saw him have raised red flags. Seems there were plenty of people around to help, but no one did.

And of course there are the ignorant comments

cliffdonovan Dec 30, 2008 1:02:02 AM Report Offensive Post she probably home schooled him so she could get some monies coming in from somewhere for people who homeschool their children. like
funding or whatever. becasue your child isn't being taught at the public schools, they shouldn't get money for him, so where else does the money go? you can tell this nutjob never homeschooled her son a day in his life. she was too busy abusing him. and who for a minute thinks she filled out those papers by herself? there are organizations to help people fill them out.

Homeschoolers do not get money for homeschooling their children, and as far as I know there are no organizations to help you fill out the paperwork.

This boy did not die because he was homeschooled. He died because CPS dropped the ball, he died because the neighbors didn't get involved, shame on the Daily News for implying that homeschooling was to blame.

Homeschool Showcase (Formerly The Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers) #14

Catch up on the latest homeschool post at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers: Homeschool Showcase (Formerly The Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers) #14

CoH ~ Paris

Enjoy the City of Lights with the Carnival of Homeschooling.