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| Varina Davis' Rose Garden |
You can read more about Beauvoir here.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Carnival of Homeschooling ~ The Fire Signs
The Fire Signs are:
Fire signs are known to be intuitive, and to rely on gut-level instincts. Going on faith in their inner guidance gets them far, but they have a tendency to skip crucial steps, or to be unaware of the emotional impact of their actions.
Aries
March 21 - April 19
In Hellenistic astrology, the sign of the ram is associated with the golden winged ram that rescued Phrixos and his sister Helle from the altar where they were to be offered as a sacrifice to Zeus. The golden ram carried them to the land of Colchis but on the way Helle fell into the sea and drowned. When Phrixos arrived at Colchis he sacrificed the ram to Zeus and presented the golden fleece to his father-in-law, the King of Colchis. The fleece was then hung upon a sacred oak and guarded by a dragon until rescued by Jason and the Argonauts. The myth recounts that Zeus was so moved by the ram's fate that he gave it the greatest honour of being moved to the heavens.
Unschooly Kids ask Does School Harm Families?
Formerly homeschooled in Illinois, Aaron Swartz took his life while being over-zealously prosecuted and persecuted. This post covers his achievements during his 26 year old life,along with the promise from homeschooling.Read Lost Promise at Corn and Oil.
Kelli Miller presents Child Development Activity #6: Crayon Revelation, Multiplication Help for Your Child! and Valentine Crafts and Free Printable for Kids posted at 3 Boys and a Dog Deals. Kelli certainly had a lot to say this week.
Jennifer Saksa presents Create Custom Typing Exercises posted at Do More With Software.
Relational bullying, aggression and being nice from Another Step to Take.
Leo
July 23 - August 22
In Greek and Roman mythology, Leo is associated with Nemean the lion which was terrorizing the people of Nemes in ancient Greece. The first of Hercule'12 labours was to slay the Nemean lion, Hercules strangled the lion in his den and skinned it, using the hide as his armour for the remaining 11 tasks. Hera, his step-mother, was so angry at his success that she raised the soul of the Lion high into the sky where today, it can be seen as the constellation of Leo.
Relaxation, the Best Kept Homeschool Secret Ever according to Andrea Hermitt @ Notes From A Homeschooled Mom.
Lisa Williams presents Engaging Versus Entertaining the Kids posted at Become A Nanny
A Winter Battle Re-enactment from A Child's Garden
Homeschool Dad is looking forward to a New Year at CWF.
Read Highly Selective College Admissions posted at Homeschool Success.
Sagittarius
November 22 - December 21
In mythology Sagittarius is often associated with the mythological figure of Bellerophon, from the Greek myth of Pegasus. Sagittarius is also associated with the Greco-Roman god Zeus/Jupiter and sometimes the goddess Tyche/Fortuna and the god Thor.
Liz E presents Teaching Time Managment posted at Homeschooling in Buffalo.
Celebrate the 100th Day of School @ Time4Learning Community Blog.
This concludes the Carnival of Homeschooling . Living Life and Learning will be hosting the CoH next week. It'll be their first time hosting so please send them some submissions and wish them well. Go here for the instructions on sending in a submission. As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time
Fire signs are known to be intuitive, and to rely on gut-level instincts. Going on faith in their inner guidance gets them far, but they have a tendency to skip crucial steps, or to be unaware of the emotional impact of their actions.
Aries
March 21 - April 19
In Hellenistic astrology, the sign of the ram is associated with the golden winged ram that rescued Phrixos and his sister Helle from the altar where they were to be offered as a sacrifice to Zeus. The golden ram carried them to the land of Colchis but on the way Helle fell into the sea and drowned. When Phrixos arrived at Colchis he sacrificed the ram to Zeus and presented the golden fleece to his father-in-law, the King of Colchis. The fleece was then hung upon a sacred oak and guarded by a dragon until rescued by Jason and the Argonauts. The myth recounts that Zeus was so moved by the ram's fate that he gave it the greatest honour of being moved to the heavens.
Unschooly Kids ask Does School Harm Families?
Formerly homeschooled in Illinois, Aaron Swartz took his life while being over-zealously prosecuted and persecuted. This post covers his achievements during his 26 year old life,along with the promise from homeschooling.Read Lost Promise at Corn and Oil.
Bullying to Homeschooling Our Two Kids On One Income presented at Canadian Budget Binder.
Kelli Miller presents Child Development Activity #6: Crayon Revelation, Multiplication Help for Your Child! and Valentine Crafts and Free Printable for Kids posted at 3 Boys and a Dog Deals. Kelli certainly had a lot to say this week.
Jennifer Saksa presents Create Custom Typing Exercises posted at Do More With Software.
Relational bullying, aggression and being nice from Another Step to Take.
Leo
July 23 - August 22
In Greek and Roman mythology, Leo is associated with Nemean the lion which was terrorizing the people of Nemes in ancient Greece. The first of Hercule'12 labours was to slay the Nemean lion, Hercules strangled the lion in his den and skinned it, using the hide as his armour for the remaining 11 tasks. Hera, his step-mother, was so angry at his success that she raised the soul of the Lion high into the sky where today, it can be seen as the constellation of Leo.
Relaxation, the Best Kept Homeschool Secret Ever according to Andrea Hermitt @ Notes From A Homeschooled Mom.
Lisa Williams presents Engaging Versus Entertaining the Kids posted at Become A Nanny
A Winter Battle Re-enactment from A Child's Garden
Homeschool Dad is looking forward to a New Year at CWF.
Read Highly Selective College Admissions posted at Homeschool Success.
Sagittarius
November 22 - December 21
In mythology Sagittarius is often associated with the mythological figure of Bellerophon, from the Greek myth of Pegasus. Sagittarius is also associated with the Greco-Roman god Zeus/Jupiter and sometimes the goddess Tyche/Fortuna and the god Thor.
Liz E presents Teaching Time Managment posted at Homeschooling in Buffalo.
Celebrate the 100th Day of School @ Time4Learning Community Blog.
Exploring Eastern Cultures with Sonlight @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
Spelling Workshops @ The Momma Knows
Teaching a Child to Walk, to Use the Bathroom, and to Read @ Simply Convivial
Home School vs Public School challenges you to Learn a New Language.
Trivium Pursuit answers the question Do I have to read books in chronological order?
Find a Nanny offers 40 Blogs Featuring Homeschooling Tips
Tea Time with Annie Kate presents Using Tests to Promote Mastery Learning:Some Real-Life Examples
This concludes the Carnival of Homeschooling . Living Life and Learning will be hosting the CoH next week. It'll be their first time hosting so please send them some submissions and wish them well. Go here for the instructions on sending in a submission. As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
Carnival of Homeschool: The Seventh Anniversary - The Hope edition
Why Homeschool is hosting this weeks CoH.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
For the Children & Staff
 |
| Graphic by Gracie |
Young Life Cut Short
by Unknown Author
Do not judge a song by its duration
Nor by the number of its notes
Judge it by the richness of its contents
Sometimes those unfinished are among the most poignant…
Do not judge a song by its duration
Nor by the number of its notes
Judge it by the way it touches and lifts the soul
Sometimes those unfinished are among the most beautiful…
And when something has enriched your life
And when it’s melody lingers on in your heart.
Is it unfinished?
Or is it endless?
Nor by the number of its notes
Judge it by the richness of its contents
Sometimes those unfinished are among the most poignant…
Do not judge a song by its duration
Nor by the number of its notes
Judge it by the way it touches and lifts the soul
Sometimes those unfinished are among the most beautiful…
And when something has enriched your life
And when it’s melody lingers on in your heart.
Is it unfinished?
Or is it endless?
My thoughts are with those who lost loved ones during this senseless massacre.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Carnival of Homeschooling
All blessings be upon you.
And all those you hold dear
As the Yule log burns
And friends gather near
And all those you hold dear
As the Yule log burns
And friends gather near
You can read this weeks CoH here.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Carnival of Homeschooling: No two are alike
This weeks CoH celebrates the diversity found in homeschooling.
O! Mighty goddess, in silvery ice,
watching over us as we sleep,
a layer of shining white,
covering the earth each night,
frost on the world and in the soul,
we thank you for visiting us.
Because of you, we seek warmth
in the comfort of our homes and hearths.
watching over us as we sleep,
a layer of shining white,
covering the earth each night,
frost on the world and in the soul,
we thank you for visiting us.
Because of you, we seek warmth
in the comfort of our homes and hearths.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Carnival of Homeschooling Comics Edition
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Carnival of Homeschooling – Fall Transition
Also LiveStrong Day is coming up. Click here to see how you can participate.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Saturday, September 01, 2012
Anti Science Idiots Do Not Speak For All Homeschoolers
I shuddered when I read On The Box with Ray Comfort Homeschoolers Miss Out on Sexual Promiscuity and Much More, it is anti science idiots like this that give homeschooling a bad name.
He says
Not all us use those dreadful textbooks there are many secular textbooks available to homeschoolers, textbooks that teach REAL SCIENCE not this .....................................garbage. And I don't see how anyone can be considered knowledgeable when their "so called knowledge" is based on fiction not science. But if parents want to teach their children superstitious nonsense that is fine with me just don't pretend to speak for all homeschoolers.
He goes on to paint a totally biased portrait of public schools. While I am not a fan of the public school system and choose to homeschool my own children there are many good public schools out there that in no way resemble the public schools of Ray Comfort's fevered imagination.
He then says
The THEORY OF EVOLUTION has been proven countless times, just like the THEORY OF GRAVITY.
He says
I have met many kids who have been educated by their parents (using what one atheist on my blog called "idiot" home-school textbooks, and I have found that they are consistently respectful, well-adjusted to life, sociable with their peers, and extremely knowledgeable.
Not all us use those dreadful textbooks there are many secular textbooks available to homeschoolers, textbooks that teach REAL SCIENCE not this .....................................garbage. And I don't see how anyone can be considered knowledgeable when their "so called knowledge" is based on fiction not science. But if parents want to teach their children superstitious nonsense that is fine with me just don't pretend to speak for all homeschoolers.
He goes on to paint a totally biased portrait of public schools. While I am not a fan of the public school system and choose to homeschool my own children there are many good public schools out there that in no way resemble the public schools of Ray Comfort's fevered imagination.
He then says
Had home schoolers attended public school they would have also been brainwashed by an unproven theory about human origins,
The THEORY OF EVOLUTION has been proven countless times, just like the THEORY OF GRAVITY.
No serious biologist today doubts the theory of evolution to explain the marvelous complexity and diversity of life. In fact the relatedness of all species through the mechanism of evolution is such a profound foundation for the understanding of all biology that it is difficult to imagine how one would study life without it. (page 99)
The examples reported here from the study of genomes, plus others that could fill hundreds of books of this length, provide the kind of molecular support for the theory of evolution that has convinced virtually all working biologist that Darwin's framework of variation and natural selection is unquestionably correct..... As Theodosius Dobzhansky a leading biologist of the twentieth century (and a devout Eastern Orthodox Christian), has said, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." (page 141) - The Language of God by Francis S. Collins
Why It's Important to Teach Facts NOT Feelings
More post on Homeschooling and the Theory of Evolution can be found here.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson
I highly recommend this book for teens (Grades 9-12). In a world where machines have turned on their human masters humanity must put aside their differences and band together in order to survive.
For those of you worried about profanity, it is on ONE page and makes sense in the context used. In a later chapter the term FUBAR is used but again makes sense in the context used and if your kids don't know what it is an acronym for then it's not a problem is it? And in the more genteel WWII era the F stood for Fouled.
Wilson wrote an outstanding book and the plot as well as the broader issues it explores makes it well worth reading.
For those of you worried about profanity, it is on ONE page and makes sense in the context used. In a later chapter the term FUBAR is used but again makes sense in the context used and if your kids don't know what it is an acronym for then it's not a problem is it? And in the more genteel WWII era the F stood for Fouled.
Wilson wrote an outstanding book and the plot as well as the broader issues it explores makes it well worth reading.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Theodore Boone : the abduction by John Grisham
Theo's best friend April is missing and the authorities fear she has been abducted by a distant cousin who escaped from prison and is back in town. But Theo knows that April was staying alone because her Mom abandoned her and her Dad was out of town playing with his band and puts the pieces together in order to bring April home.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
Book Review ~ Teen
Death Run by Jack Higgins - Twins Rich and Jade Chance become embroiled in their Father's work when their math teacher turns out to be "The Banker" John Chance rescued from "The Tigers" clutches. Fast paced thriller.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
The Battle of New Orleans
Andrew Jackson lead to victory one of the most diverse and motley assortments of American troops ever put together.
Spirit of New Orleans
Road to New Orleans
Afro-Creoles in the Battle of New Orleans
- The regular army's 7th and 44th infantry regiments
- Militia units from Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana
- Two Battalions drawn from the free black population of New Orleans
- Chocotaw Indians
- Pirates under the command of Jean Lafitte
Spirit of New Orleans
Road to New Orleans
Afro-Creoles in the Battle of New Orleans
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Book Review ~ Peter, Paul and Mary Magdalene by Bart D. Ehrman
Peter, Paul and Mary Magdalene The Followers of Jesus In History and Legend
Ehrman explains how the stories made up about Peter, Paul and Mary Magdalene give us insight into what the people of that period were thinking.
Ehrman explains how anything supposedly written by Peter is highly suspect as Peter was an illiterate fisherman. Explores the stories concerning Simon Peter's "contest" with Simon Magus. Tells how Peter supposedly refused to heal his own daughter who was paralyzed to keep her a virgin. And explores the myth of Peter's martyrdom, he was supposedly crucified upside down because he preached sexual abstinence even for married people.
Paul was well educated and spoke Greek. Doubtful he spoke Hebrew/Aramaic. The letters Paul wrote are at odds with what was written about him in Acts. The views in Acts that women were to stay home and have babies are not Paul's. Supposedly beheaded by Nero, and his blood was replaced with "milk". Paul was a figure of controversy even in his own time.
Mary Magdalene the most interesting from my point of view. Little is know about her and she is only mentioned in the four Gospels of the New Testament 13 times, although she is often confused with other Mary's (Mary of Bethany for example) and unnamed women in the Bible. In The Golden Legend she is a reformed sex offender who can work miracles. In The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown she is Jesus' secret wife and the mother of his child. In Jesus Christ Superstar she was sexually attracted to Jesus and possibly intimate with him. The Last Temptation of Christ had Jesus imagining an alternate life with Mary Magdalene as his wife while he was being crucified. While in the Bible she is only on the fringes of the group of Jesus and his disciples along with other women. In fact all we know about her from the Bible is that demons were cast out of her and that she was the first to see the empty tomb, and that she was the one who proclaimed that "Jesus Was Risen", making her the first apostle. More then likely she was illiterate. There are no surviving text written by Mary or claiming to be written by Mary. The Gospel of Mary is a book about her written years after her death.
Ehrman explains things in an easy to understand way and has written an interesting book about Peter, Paul & Mary Magdalene.
Ehrman explains how the stories made up about Peter, Paul and Mary Magdalene give us insight into what the people of that period were thinking.
Ehrman explains how anything supposedly written by Peter is highly suspect as Peter was an illiterate fisherman. Explores the stories concerning Simon Peter's "contest" with Simon Magus. Tells how Peter supposedly refused to heal his own daughter who was paralyzed to keep her a virgin. And explores the myth of Peter's martyrdom, he was supposedly crucified upside down because he preached sexual abstinence even for married people.
Paul was well educated and spoke Greek. Doubtful he spoke Hebrew/Aramaic. The letters Paul wrote are at odds with what was written about him in Acts. The views in Acts that women were to stay home and have babies are not Paul's. Supposedly beheaded by Nero, and his blood was replaced with "milk". Paul was a figure of controversy even in his own time.
Mary Magdalene the most interesting from my point of view. Little is know about her and she is only mentioned in the four Gospels of the New Testament 13 times, although she is often confused with other Mary's (Mary of Bethany for example) and unnamed women in the Bible. In The Golden Legend she is a reformed sex offender who can work miracles. In The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown she is Jesus' secret wife and the mother of his child. In Jesus Christ Superstar she was sexually attracted to Jesus and possibly intimate with him. The Last Temptation of Christ had Jesus imagining an alternate life with Mary Magdalene as his wife while he was being crucified. While in the Bible she is only on the fringes of the group of Jesus and his disciples along with other women. In fact all we know about her from the Bible is that demons were cast out of her and that she was the first to see the empty tomb, and that she was the one who proclaimed that "Jesus Was Risen", making her the first apostle. More then likely she was illiterate. There are no surviving text written by Mary or claiming to be written by Mary. The Gospel of Mary is a book about her written years after her death.
Ehrman explains things in an easy to understand way and has written an interesting book about Peter, Paul & Mary Magdalene.
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
Dave Out Loud ~CoH
The Carnival of Homeschooling is being hosted at Dave Out Loud this week. Be sure to drop by and check out my submission.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Did you know?
Francis Scott Key author of The Star Spangled Banner owned slaves.
Lyrics
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Lyrics
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
"Remember the Raisin"
One of the nice things about homeschooling is you can thoroughly cover history, not just those parts of history that are currently in vogue
Out of the Battle of
the River Raisin, came one of the great American rallying cries of the War of
1812, “Remember the Raisin!”
The Informed Parent ~CoH
Check out this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling hosted by The Informed Parent.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Saturday, April 07, 2012
Friday, April 06, 2012
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot by Bart D. Ehrman
Ehrman sets out to show how stories were changed by the storytellers that told them, by their own views and that during the oral culture this was a common practice. He illustrates by giving various examples of stories about Judas (some in the Bible some not). One of the most interesting ones was the Golden Legend. Judas is born to a Jewish couple Cyborea and Ruben. Before his birth Cyborea had a bad dream the Judas would "bring ruin on our whole people" so they decided to leave him to die by casting him adrift in a basket at sea. The basket washes up on the island of Scariot and the queen of the land finds the child and raises him as her own. After adopting Judas she becomes pregnant with her own child and the boys grow up together. Jealous of his younger brother Judas eventually kills him and fleas to Jerusalem. There he becomes the head steward of Pontius Pilate. In Pilate's service he kills Ruben and is given all Ruben's possessions including his wife as a reward. Cyborea overcome with guilt about leaving her son to die reveals what she and Ruben did to Judas. Realizing he has killed his father and married his Mother he turns to Christ for forgiveness and becomes one of the disciples. But his "evil" nature leads him to steal from the communal purse and when money is wasted on oil to anoint Jesus out of anger he betrays Jesus for thirty pence. He then feels remorse and goes forth to hang himself and burst forth from the middle.
Ehrman tells how Irenaeus wrote about the Gospel of Judas Iscariot and that the text discovered seems to be the same one Irenaeus wrote about. Ehrman also theorizes that Gnosticism developed from failed Jewish Apocalypse beliefs.
Who is Jesus? According to Paul all that matters is that he died for our sins and was resurrected. But to others Judas among them the important thing was what Jesus TAUGHT. In The Lost Gospel of Judas the author who is telling about Judas maintains that Judas was the only one of the disciples to understand Jesus' teachings.
Who is Judas Iscariot, we know very little about him even his last name Iscariot doesn't provide any clues. All we know for sure was that he was one of Jesus' 12 disciples and he was an Apocalypse Jew who believed the world as he knew it would end shortly. Ehrman surmises that the disciples expected to be in charge after the apocalypse with Jesus as their leader.
Why did Judas betray Jesus? was it to keep him "safe" until after the passover? or was it because he realized that Jesus' Apocalypse teachings were false and he was feed up with waiting for the end to come? or was it because he understood Jesus' true mission and as the only one who "really understood" was doing Jesus' will when he betrayed him?
In conclusion Ehrman reminds us that the Gospel of Judas was not written by Judas or anyone who knew him, it is merely a gnostic gospel about Judas presenting the authors beliefs.
Ehrman tells how Irenaeus wrote about the Gospel of Judas Iscariot and that the text discovered seems to be the same one Irenaeus wrote about. Ehrman also theorizes that Gnosticism developed from failed Jewish Apocalypse beliefs.
Who is Jesus? According to Paul all that matters is that he died for our sins and was resurrected. But to others Judas among them the important thing was what Jesus TAUGHT. In The Lost Gospel of Judas the author who is telling about Judas maintains that Judas was the only one of the disciples to understand Jesus' teachings.
Who is Judas Iscariot, we know very little about him even his last name Iscariot doesn't provide any clues. All we know for sure was that he was one of Jesus' 12 disciples and he was an Apocalypse Jew who believed the world as he knew it would end shortly. Ehrman surmises that the disciples expected to be in charge after the apocalypse with Jesus as their leader.
Why did Judas betray Jesus? was it to keep him "safe" until after the passover? or was it because he realized that Jesus' Apocalypse teachings were false and he was feed up with waiting for the end to come? or was it because he understood Jesus' true mission and as the only one who "really understood" was doing Jesus' will when he betrayed him?
In conclusion Ehrman reminds us that the Gospel of Judas was not written by Judas or anyone who knew him, it is merely a gnostic gospel about Judas presenting the authors beliefs.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Book Recommendation
Hellhole by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson - you can read my book review here.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Readers debate whether Michigan's homeschool law is too lax (with poll)
Click here to participate in the poll.
As of now
No. The few cases where the law is abused don't justify putting restrictions on homeschooling 45.24% (38 votes)
As of now
No. The few cases where the law is abused don't justify putting restrictions on homeschooling 45.24% (38 votes)
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Mark Hoofnagle needs to be banned
Mark Hoofnagle may have an MD and PhD in physiology from the University of Virginia, but when it comes to homeschooling he needs to go back to school. His hatchet job Homeschooling needs either tighter regulation or to be banned earns him the idiot award for March.
Very few homeschoolers belong to the "Quiverfull" movement. I dare say most of us find the "Quiverfull" philosophy abhorrent, and the laws already on the books concerning educational neglect would already be applicable to these "Quiverfull" families. Unfortunately underfunded Departments of Children and Family Services are not doing their jobs, but that is no reason to ban an educational choice that has benefited many children and their families.
Very few homeschoolers belong to the "Quiverfull" movement. I dare say most of us find the "Quiverfull" philosophy abhorrent, and the laws already on the books concerning educational neglect would already be applicable to these "Quiverfull" families. Unfortunately underfunded Departments of Children and Family Services are not doing their jobs, but that is no reason to ban an educational choice that has benefited many children and their families.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Santorum so wrong.....................
Gosh I didn't think I would find anything to disagree with in this piece, Rick Santorum Calls Bill Maher Illogical Over Attacks on Homeschooling Children, as I too thought Maher was out of line. But Santorum proved once again what an idiot he truly is.
Santorum, you aren't honestly comparing Maher's diatribe against your homeschooling with Rush's slander of Ms. Fluke! Really............ you are so not ready for prime time if you don't get that calling a woman a slut and a prostitute because she has the guts to go before Congress and ask for Reproductive Justice for Women isn't the same thing as throwing barbs at a Presentational Candidate's educational choice for his family. Especially when the candidate has made the issue part of his platform.
Not true Mr. Santorum MANY Liberals are homeschoolers.
There wasn't an interview that went by the last week where I wasn't
asked a question about Rush Limbaugh, and yet repeatedly, these folks on
the left – whether it's Maher or Letterman or you name it – they're out
there trashing everybody who stands up for Christian conservative
values, anybody who dares to actually teach their children faith in
their home."
Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time," had levied his
attacks on Santorum and his wife Karen for homeschooling their six
school-age children.
Santorum, you aren't honestly comparing Maher's diatribe against your homeschooling with Rush's slander of Ms. Fluke! Really............ you are so not ready for prime time if you don't get that calling a woman a slut and a prostitute because she has the guts to go before Congress and ask for Reproductive Justice for Women isn't the same thing as throwing barbs at a Presentational Candidate's educational choice for his family. Especially when the candidate has made the issue part of his platform.
The debate over homeschooling versus public schools often inflames liberals,
Not true Mr. Santorum MANY Liberals are homeschoolers.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Bill Maher needs to open his mind
I don't know why the Santorum's homeschool, neither does Maher, but of course that didn't stop him from speculating. The educational choice one makes for ones children should be a personal family matter. Santorum has of course opened the door by discussing the educational choice his family choose but are the Santorum's really homeschoolers? Last I heard they were using a VIRTUAL PRIVATE SCHOOL after getting in trouble for taking advantage of the VIRTUAL PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM where one of the homes they own is located. They didn't meet the residency requirements to qualify for the "FREE" tuition. The Santorum's hardly qualify as the "face of homeschooling".
Most troubling is that Maher doesn't seem to know the first thing about homeschooling or homeschoolers but that didn't stop him from sharing his uninformed opinion. Maher read some books about homeschooling, visit some homeschool blogs and then get back to us if you want to talk about homeschooling until then ..........................A mind is a terrible thing to waste Mr. Maher, try not to waste yours.
Hat Tip: Bill Maher: Santorum homeschools his kids because he wants them locked up in his “Christian madrassa”
Historical Fiction Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell
Alfred the Great is dying (for real this time) and sides are being chosen who supports Alfred's son Edward and who supports his nephew AEthelwold, who is backed by the Danes. Uhtred chooses to serve Edward, but can he steer Edward along the right path and preserve the Saxon Kingdom or will the priest convince Edward that Uhtred the Pagan can not be trusted and doom Edward to defeat. In the end when all seems lost it is the cleverness and bravery of Edward's sister AEthelflaed who saves the day.
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Carnival of Homeschooling ~ If I Had a Million Dollars
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Fredrik deBoer gets it wrong
deBoer seems to have an overly inflated sense of himself; parents aren't suppose to homeschool because it offends his sensibilities.
The first mistake deBoer makes is in assuming that all Public Schools are like the public school he attended.
deBoer also makes the assumption that diversity isn't found inside the homeschooling community. Nothing could be further from the truth there are White, African-American, Hispanic and Native American Homeschoolers (click here to see more info). There are rich, middle-class, poor, single parent and two income households that homeschool. There are straight and gay families that homeschool. Secular, Atheist, Protestant, Catholics and many other religions including Pagans are all represented in the homeschooling community. Pamela J. Stubbart's article The Moral Status of Homeschooling and Public Schooling Motivations was actually reasonable.
And before we debate the pro's and cons of homeschooling less be clear on what homeschooling is. Homeschooling is;
1. Not a public school choice.
2. Homeschooling is not a government program. It is an education option as separate as non-government funded, private education.
3. Options such as charter schools and public virtual schools are choices which are not independent of public schooling.
4. Homeschooled students are not under federal NCLB requirements, nor are they required to keep state learning standards.
For further reading
Racism and Homeschooling
Why Homeschooling Is a Boon to a Liberal Society
deBoer says: I grew up in a racially and socioeconomically diverse hometown with a similarly diverse public high school, and I couldn’t be prouder or happier to have gone to school there.Well good for you deBoer I am really happy that you enjoyed your Public School experience that doesn't make it right for everyone. (Sigh) Just because I know you will ask this is the racially and socioeconomically diverse makeup of the school district I live in.
Female 307 47%
Male 346 53%
Asian 63 10%
Black 94 14%
Hispanic 16 2%
Native American 4 1%
White 476 73%
Multi Racial 0 0%
Poverty Percentage 356 56%
deBoer also makes the assumption that diversity isn't found inside the homeschooling community. Nothing could be further from the truth there are White, African-American, Hispanic and Native American Homeschoolers (click here to see more info). There are rich, middle-class, poor, single parent and two income households that homeschool. There are straight and gay families that homeschool. Secular, Atheist, Protestant, Catholics and many other religions including Pagans are all represented in the homeschooling community. Pamela J. Stubbart's article The Moral Status of Homeschooling and Public Schooling Motivations was actually reasonable.
why examine the motivations of homeschooling parents any more rigorously than those of parents who choose the prima facie more progressive, egalitarian, and diversity-minded option of public schooling? I grew up attending the public schools in Cobb County, an affluent suburb of Atlanta, Georgia
My parents and those many of my peers chose this district and its schools at least in part to avoid the exposure of their children to socioeconomic diversity, not to pursue it! And due to the religious makeup of the area (i.e., Bible Belt), students attending Cobb County schools were not typically exposed there to any religious diversity, or secular challenge of religion (indeed, this is the district that placed stickers in biology textbooks claiming that "Evolution is a theory, not a fact"). It's easy to assume that those who share our educational philosophies are motivated by sound considerations, and that those who oppose them are motivated by illegitimate ones. But let's not fail to take seriously the multiple motivations upon which parties to all sides of the issue may be acting.
And before we debate the pro's and cons of homeschooling less be clear on what homeschooling is. Homeschooling is;
1. Not a public school choice.
2. Homeschooling is not a government program. It is an education option as separate as non-government funded, private education.
3. Options such as charter schools and public virtual schools are choices which are not independent of public schooling.
4. Homeschooled students are not under federal NCLB requirements, nor are they required to keep state learning standards.
For further reading
Racism and Homeschooling
Why Homeschooling Is a Boon to a Liberal Society
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Santorum flap isn't about Homeschooling
Santorum's children were enrolled in a public charter school. They were public school students who received their education at home.
U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum should reimburse $100,000 to the Penn Hills School District for taxpayer money used since 2001 to cover online charter school tuition for his children, four school board members said Thursday. The senator will not respond until the board makes a formal request, said Santorum's deputy chief of staff, Robert TraynhamThe flap is because his children were enrolled in a public school program that they didn't qualify for based on their residency.
"He's admitted he's not a resident. I'm going to put up a motion for him to pay back the entire amount," said Penn Hills School Board member Erin Vecchio, chairwoman of the local Democratic Committee. Penn Hills Superintendent Patricia Gennari said she phoned the senator Wednesday afternoon to arrange for the district to query him about his residency. Santorum issued a statement late that night saying he had decided to pull his children from the online school and home-school them instead after being told by district officials that "only children who live in a community on a full-time basis" are eligible for the tuition money.Homeschoolers are self funded, they do not receive tax/tuition money and the State does not assist them with textbooks, materials or supplies.
The issue here is clear Senator Santorum was doing what many public school parents do, illegally sending his children to a public school in a district they do not reside in.
The waters are a little murky here because Santorum actually does own a
home in the school district, they just don't live in it most of the
year. Santorum could have honestly been unaware of the full time residency requirement for the "free" tuiton to the public charter school.
But it underscores the need to be clear on the educational alternatives available to parents and the regulations regarding each one.
Homeschooling laws vary from state to state. But for the most part Homeschoolers do not receive any tax money or support from the State.
Private Schools - parents pay tuition out of their own pockets for their children to attend.
Charter Schools -
But it underscores the need to be clear on the educational alternatives available to parents and the regulations regarding each one.
Homeschooling laws vary from state to state. But for the most part Homeschoolers do not receive any tax money or support from the State.
Private Schools - parents pay tuition out of their own pockets for their children to attend.
Charter Schools -
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money (and like other schools, may also receive private donations) but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter.Charter schools are opened and attended by choice. While charter schools provide an alternative to other public schools, they are part of the public education system and are not allowed to charge tuition.Cyber Schools are online schools and can either be public or private.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Carnival of Homeschooling: Homeschooling Pensieve
I just love Harry Potter (the books not the movies) so this CoH was right up my alley Carnival of Homeschooling: Homeschooling Pensieve
Knowledge Quest 2012
Is offering a free download
In an effort to rid the world of geographaphobia, we are pleased
to offer our very popular ebook titled GLOBALMANIA: Master World Geography in 7 Months or
Less - retail value $14.95 - free of charge. We hope that you take us up on
our challenge and enjoy your learning moments together.
Book Review
Forged by Bart Ehrman.
I am enjoying the book immensely. As always Ehrman delivers an easy to understand book that allows laymen to understand the scholarship he puts into studying the Bible and why he has come to the conclusions he has.
The Blog of Dr. James F. McGrath, Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University, Indianapolis has an excellent in depth book review, that you can read here.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in theology.
I am enjoying the book immensely. As always Ehrman delivers an easy to understand book that allows laymen to understand the scholarship he puts into studying the Bible and why he has come to the conclusions he has.
The Blog of Dr. James F. McGrath, Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University, Indianapolis has an excellent in depth book review, that you can read here.
Against those who argue that the Bible must be inerrant and truthful
since God does not lie, Ehrman approaches the matter more logically: “If
God created an error-free book, then the book should be without errors.
If what we have is not an error-free book, then it is not a book that
God has delivered to us without errors” (p.117).
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in theology.
Confused Sara Mead
In her post Why Are We So Fascinated with Homeschooling? Sara Mead seems a tad bit confused. Ms. Mead charter schools and homeschooling are NOT the same thing.
She states
*It's not entirely clear that it's a great idea for Santorum to talk much about home-schooling his kids, given that this story doesn't reflect all that well on the family.
The flap is over Santorum sending his children to a PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, it has nothing to do with homeschooling.
It's easy to see from the rest of her post that Mead knows very little about homeschooling, but has decided it must be bad since she doesn't understand it and it's not regulated so she can collect data in order to converse about it with other intellectuals. I wonder if she has the same problem with home-cooked meals?
Homeschool advocacy groups have fought to oppose any regulation or data collection on homeschooling and homeschool families--but the resulting limited data actually makes it impossible to have intelligent conversations that aren't driven too much by anecdote.
Ms. Mead just because you can't collect data and analyze something doesn't make it bad.
She states
*It's not entirely clear that it's a great idea for Santorum to talk much about home-schooling his kids, given that this story doesn't reflect all that well on the family.
The flap is over Santorum sending his children to a PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, it has nothing to do with homeschooling.
It's easy to see from the rest of her post that Mead knows very little about homeschooling, but has decided it must be bad since she doesn't understand it and it's not regulated so she can collect data in order to converse about it with other intellectuals. I wonder if she has the same problem with home-cooked meals?
Homeschool advocacy groups have fought to oppose any regulation or data collection on homeschooling and homeschool families--but the resulting limited data actually makes it impossible to have intelligent conversations that aren't driven too much by anecdote.
Ms. Mead just because you can't collect data and analyze something doesn't make it bad.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Liberals please homeschool your kids
This utter nonsense Liberals, Don’t Homeschool Your Kids makes me want to slap some sense into the author. Kiddos to the author for at least realizing that homeschoolers are a diverse bunch, it really gets annoying when you have to explain over and over again that your NOT a FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIAN just because you choose to homeschool your kids.
But then Dana Goldstein ask
The answer in my opinion is a resounding YES! By giving my children the best education possible I have given them the opportunity to be productive members of society and to make a difference in their world. But according to Goldstein and her ilk we should leave our children in failing public schools for the sake of society. This attitude of course makes no sense. It would be like saying since everyone can't attend medical school no one should. Never mind that those who do attend medical school and go into the medical profession serve society by using their knowledge to heal the sick.
Not all liberal homeschoolers are hostile toward public schools I do think my local public school with it's emphasis on mandatory school uniforms wasn't the best place for MY CHILDREN to receive an education. But numerous other families in my school district are perfectly happy sending their children to this school and I have no problems with my tax money being used to support it as long as I have the RIGHT to educate my children in the way that best suits my family. In our case it was homeschooling. Goldstein also missed that memo that SINGLE PARENTS can and do homeschool. Yes, it is more difficult for them but they can and do do it.
Goldstein states
Apparently she also missed the memo where two income families can and do homeschool. I know one homeschool family where the Mom works during the day and Dad works the night shift, so someone is always home with the kids. The family eats breakfast together Mom heads off to work and Dad teaches 3 subjects , fixes lunch and then heads off to bed while the kids do their assignments and enjoy some free time. Mom comes home from work prepares supper and while Dad heads off to work Mom teaches her 3 subjects before the family heads to bed. While this isn't the ideal homeschooling situation it works for them.
According to Goldstein
While the privileged children's test scores may not have been impacted I question if they were being allowed to LEARN all they could are if they were being held back in order to appease Goldstein's and others sense of fairness. I know my children were not being academically challenged in their public school.
Goldstein says
BS, leaving your child in a school that is failing them isn't the answer. Obviously Goldstein has never dealt with school boards by the time you are able to make any meaningful changes your children would have graduated. By all means homeschool your children if that is what is best for them. You can still work to make the public schools better while homeschooling your own children.
Not content to leave it there Golstein later posted Further Thoughts on Homeschooling, Liberalism, and Special-Needs Kids.
OK, I thought twice and homschooling was the best choice for my family and at the end of the day doing what is BEST for my children is the most important thing. Apparently Goldstein doesn't even have kids if she does she doesn't mention them in her bio. Easy for someone who doesn't have kids to spout off about what is best. Kinda like the single guy without kids who always gives parenting advice.
In "Progressive Homeschooling" is an Oxymoron Goldstein states.
Actually educating children isn't ridiculously expensive. Public schools spend a ridiculous amount of money and claim it is necessary but homeschoolers have achieved outstanding results at a fraction of the cost.
At the end of the day we owe society the best educated children we can provide. If that means homeschooling so be it.
But then Dana Goldstein ask
Could such a go-it-alone ideology ever be truly progressive—by which I
mean, does homeschooling serve the interests not just of those who are
doing it, but of society as a whole?
The answer in my opinion is a resounding YES! By giving my children the best education possible I have given them the opportunity to be productive members of society and to make a difference in their world. But according to Goldstein and her ilk we should leave our children in failing public schools for the sake of society. This attitude of course makes no sense. It would be like saying since everyone can't attend medical school no one should. Never mind that those who do attend medical school and go into the medical profession serve society by using their knowledge to heal the sick.
This overheated hostility toward public schools runs throughout the new
literature on liberal homeschooling, and reveals what is so
fundamentally illiberal about the trend: It is rooted in distrust of the
public sphere, in class privilege, and in the dated presumption that
children hail from two-parent families, in which at least one parent can
afford (and wants) to take significant time away from paid work in
order to manage a process—education—that most parents entrust to the
community at-large.
Not all liberal homeschoolers are hostile toward public schools I do think my local public school with it's emphasis on mandatory school uniforms wasn't the best place for MY CHILDREN to receive an education. But numerous other families in my school district are perfectly happy sending their children to this school and I have no problems with my tax money being used to support it as long as I have the RIGHT to educate my children in the way that best suits my family. In our case it was homeschooling. Goldstein also missed that memo that SINGLE PARENTS can and do homeschool. Yes, it is more difficult for them but they can and do do it.
Goldstein states
What makes us so sure? Reality. More than 70 percent of mothers with children under the age of 18 are in the workforce. One-third of all children and one-half of low-income children are being raised by a single parent. Fewer than one-half of young children, and only about one-third of low-income kids, are read to daily by an adult. Surely, this isn’t the picture of a nation ready to “self-educate” its kids.
Apparently she also missed the memo where two income families can and do homeschool. I know one homeschool family where the Mom works during the day and Dad works the night shift, so someone is always home with the kids. The family eats breakfast together Mom heads off to work and Dad teaches 3 subjects , fixes lunch and then heads off to bed while the kids do their assignments and enjoy some free time. Mom comes home from work prepares supper and while Dad heads off to work Mom teaches her 3 subjects before the family heads to bed. While this isn't the ideal homeschooling situation it works for them.
According to Goldstein
Low-income kids earn higher test scores when they attend school
alongside middle-class kids, while the test scores of privileged
children are impervious to the influence of less-privileged peers. So
when college-educated parents pull their kids out of public schools,
whether for private school or homeschooling, they make it harder for
less-advantaged children to thrive.
While the privileged children's test scores may not have been impacted I question if they were being allowed to LEARN all they could are if they were being held back in order to appease Goldstein's and others sense of fairness. I know my children were not being academically challenged in their public school.
Goldstein says
Lefty homeschoolers might be preaching sound social values to their
children, but they aren’t practicing them. If progressives want to
improve schools, we shouldn’t empty them out. We ought to flood them
with our kids, and then debate vociferously what they ought to be doing.
BS, leaving your child in a school that is failing them isn't the answer. Obviously Goldstein has never dealt with school boards by the time you are able to make any meaningful changes your children would have graduated. By all means homeschool your children if that is what is best for them. You can still work to make the public schools better while homeschooling your own children.
Not content to leave it there Golstein later posted Further Thoughts on Homeschooling, Liberalism, and Special-Needs Kids.
To clarify my own position, I do not think homeschooling should
be illegal, and I acknowledge it may be the best option for a relatively
small population of disabled and special-needs kids. My own belief is
that when it comes to the typical child, however, homeschooling does not
comport with crucial social justice values related to investing in the
common good, and so I’d urge parents concerned with social
justice—both broadly and in terms of their own children’s development—to
think twice about making this choice.
OK, I thought twice and homschooling was the best choice for my family and at the end of the day doing what is BEST for my children is the most important thing. Apparently Goldstein doesn't even have kids if she does she doesn't mention them in her bio. Easy for someone who doesn't have kids to spout off about what is best. Kinda like the single guy without kids who always gives parenting advice.
In "Progressive Homeschooling" is an Oxymoron Goldstein states.
Educating children--especially poor children--is ridiculously expensive.
We need government involved to help foot the bill, and to bring best
practices to scale.
Actually educating children isn't ridiculously expensive. Public schools spend a ridiculous amount of money and claim it is necessary but homeschoolers have achieved outstanding results at a fraction of the cost.
At the end of the day we owe society the best educated children we can provide. If that means homeschooling so be it.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
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