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.

Why do public school Mothers have to trash homeschooling in order to feel good about themselves?

Why do public school Mothers have to trash homeschooling in order to feel good about themselves? Kathleen Byrne Confessions of an autism mother: Why I’ll never homeschool.

I know. I know. Never say never. I feel so strongly about this topic that I honestly think that I’ll always hold our local school system responsible for the education of my children, including my daughter on the spectrum. Notice I didn’t write local “public” school system. I’m open to private, parochial, or some in-between “non-public” school, another category that we have here in New York.

So she is just against homeschooling although many of her reasons for not homeschooling would apply to private and parochial schools too. Apparently Ms. Byrne is one of those people that believe that only parents who are able to afford the tution at private or parochial schools should be allowed to choose an alternative to the public school system.

We Americans pay taxes, a lot of taxes, to provide every child an education. From a purely financial point of view, paying taxes for public education and then keeping your child home and bearing the financial burden of educating them simply doesn’t make sense. New York City Schools alone has a $21 billion dollar annual budget. Why write a school tuition check and then keep your child home?

This argument would apply to sending your child to private or parochial schools as well as homeschooling; so why she just applies it to homeschoolers is beyond me. The answer is simple I pay taxes for a lot of things I don't use, everyone does. Single people who don't have kids and older couples whose children are grown still pay taxes to support the school system. By paying these taxes I am insuring that all children have the opportunity to get an education. But I owe my children the best education I can provide for them. For my children it happened to be homeschooling

I’m as anxious as the next mother about dropping my children off at school and placing their education into the hands of others, some capable, some not so capable. It seems inevitable that our children will experience some bad teaching, just as they will have to cope with bad bosses, bad public servants and other incompetents in positions of power. Shielding them from bad authority figures will make the transition into adulthood harder than it has to be.

In the real world incompetent people get FIRED and you are free to seek employment elsewhere if you don't like your boss/job. Personally I would find my child being exposed to "bad teaching" (honestly I am not sure what Ms. Byrne means by that) for any length of time unacceptable.

Finally, I am dismayed that, when faced with fighting the system and making it better or fleeing the system to make the same mistakes on someone else’s children, homeschooling parents choose the latter. Schools are our children’s first civics lessons, citizens coming together and pooling resources for the common good. Homeschooled kids learn that it’s better to take care of your own than to fight for a common cause.

Well I am dismayed that any Mother would sacrifice her children to a cause. Schools (and I notice she didn't say public schools) should not be our children's first civic lesson. Their first civic lessons should be going with Mom or Dad to vote as toddlers as they mature there are many worthy community events they can take part in. Sadly I am left wondering why Ms. Byrne felt the need to trash homeschooling in order to justify her decision to send her child to public school. Maybe she really believes she is sacrificing her child to the common good of public education. In which case I feel sorry for both Mother and child.

Carnival of Homeschooling #155: Smoky Mountain Edition

We have enjoyed several mountain vacations, so I really enjoyed the theme of this weeks CoH, Carnival of Homeschooling #155: Smoky Mountain Edition.

Showcasing Homeschoolers

Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers: Homeschool Showcase (Formerly Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers) #13

Anniversary Gifts Edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling

SuperAngel's parents are celebrating their 20th anniversary, which inspired this weeks CoH theme, find out what traditional & modern presents are associated with anniversaries 1 through 20. Does anyone know what presents are associated with your 22 anniversary which is the one my husband and I will be celebrating in June.

The Butterfly Award

Kris, At Home Science, bestowed this lovely award on me. Here are the rules

1. Link to the person who gave you the award.

2. Post the graphic.

3. Pass the award on up to ten other bloggers whose blogs you consider cool.

Here are my ten choices

1. Natalie, Rambling, Rants & Remedies
2. Ragamuffin Studies
3. Principled Discovery
4. Esme Emannuel
5. Just my cup of coffee
6. History is Elementary
7. Why Homeschool
8. MISSISSIPPI GARDEN
9. Made in Mississippi
10. Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi

Alasandra's Homeschool Blog Awards

So far Get In Hang On is in the lead for the adult blog, The Homeschool Classroom is ahead for group blog and Quilted Story, which has been renamed Just my cup of coffee is ahead for teen blog. There are 23 days left to vote, so be sure to stop by and vote for your favourite blog.

I want to thank everyone for making these awards so easy and enjoyable. No cheating, no controversy, nothing like those other awards. Thanks guys & gals keep up the good behavior.

Joy Behar's Snipey Homeschool Rant

Susan Hyde comes to homeschoolers defense.

Homeschooling Goes Mainstream

Read Judy Aron's Consent Of The Governed: Homeschooling Goes Mainstream

Are You Christian Enough to Homeschool?

Here at Considering Homeschooling we have always promoted homeschool evangelism to Christians... and Christians only.

I wonder who would be in charge of deciding IF you were Christian enough to homeschool. All parents have the right to pass on their beliefs to their children, not just Christian parents.

Charles Lowers then goes on to use the example of

a mother helps her young daughter play "Pin the Molotov on the Cop Car" at the Anarchist Book Fair, San Francisco, California, March 18, 2006.

as someone who shouldn't be allowed to homeschool. I wonder if he would have been as outraged if they had been throwing the molotov at an abortion clinic?

Bomb found in Texas abortion clinic parking lot

Christian Terrorists Leave IED Outside Abortion Clinic

Responsibility claimed for abortion clinic bomb -A shadowy group calling itself the Army of God has taken responsibility for the recent bombing of an abortion clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, that killed one person.

Christian Terrorist Cells in the USA

Let's Say Thanks

If you would like to send a card to a service man or woman oversees visit this website to find out how.

Bending the Twigs: Are Homeschoolers Motivated by Racism/Ethnophobia?

Bending the Twigs: Are Homeschoolers Motivated by Racism/Ethnophobia?

The public school my children briefly attended was mainly white. My eldest son had one minority student in his class, my youngest son didn't have any minorities in his class . Racism played no part in our decision to homeschool, stupid school board polices including mandatory public school uniforms on the other hand played a major part in our decision. Maybe one day I'll read how some academic wrote a thesis on how "Stupid School Board Polices Drive Parents to Homeschool".

Carnival of Homeschooling

Check out this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling.

Public School Teacher Punches 8 Year Old Student

An elementary school teacher was arrested for punching an 8-year-old student in the face this month, Fort Lauderdale police said Tuesday.

HT: HERP&ES

The Politically Correct Police Steal Thanksgiving

Bending the Twigs: One More Reason to Homeschool: You Can Recreate the 1st Thanksgiving in Peace

Carnival of Homeschooling

The Common Room is hosting this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling. I tried to link to the post but I kept getting a google error message, so the link goes to the blog, instead of directly to the post. The CoH is the third post on the page and is well worth a visit. I also had trouble commenting, so just in case my comment was lost in the blog void.

Happy Thanksgiving and thank you very much for including my post.

Why I will not boycott ABC

According to AC Homeschoolers Call for ABC Boycott After Joy Behar Calls "A Lot" of Homeschoolers "Demented"

Homeschoolers across the United States are talking about another comment made by mainstream media that portrayed them in a bad light. This time the buzz is caused by a remark made by Joy Behar, a popular personality on ABC's The View, when on Thursday's show she remarked that "a lot" of homeschoolers are "demented". This has many homeschoolers on the defense and even going as far as to call for a boycott of ABC programming.

I will not be joining the boycott. While I did find Joy Behar's comment that "homeschoolers are demented" distasteful, I also noted that Elisabeth Hasselbeck defended homeschoolers. Something the outraged homeschoolers who plan to boycott ABC seemed to have overlooked.

There is also the matter of free speech. While I find it sad that Joy Behar believes a lot" of homeschoolers are "demented", she is entitled to her opinion and entitled to express it. And while Ms. Behar's comment may have hurt homeschoolers feelings, it didn't do any real harm to homeschoolers. Let's save our outrage and boycotts for things that really matter.

This was a great response by one homeschool Mom to Joy Behar's comment Joy Behar, I Have a Question For You: When Will the Left Finally Get it On Home Education?

Schools to act as weight police

Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, said he wants confidential weight and measurement determinations, with parents notified if students are overweight or underweight. Parents with children in those categories could be visited by child welfare officials if they don’t act on the findings, he said. Seriously?

Continue reading

While obesity is a concern in the United States, the government has no business policing anyones weight.

But Oklahoma lawmakers aren't the only ones wanting to control peoples weight. Around the first of 2008 Mississippi lawmakers came up with this ridiculous proposal.

Nutrition experts are burning up calories in expressing their outrage over proposed legislation in Mississippi that would prohibit restaurants from serving obese customers.

They say the proposed bill, still in committee, is "ridiculous," "insane" and a wrong-headed approach to solving the national obesity epidemic.

State Rep. John Read, a Republican who is one of the bill's three authors, says he wasn't trying to offend anybody and never even expected the plan to become law.

How Homeschooling Is Done

A positive report on homeschooling.

"As far as a stigma against homeschooling, that really today is not an issue. Usually, people are really positive," Carol Klopfenstein, who has homeschooled four kids since 1986, says

A rational post about the fate of homeschooling under an Obama administration

Rational Jenn: Obama And HSLDA

What's Cooking?

Stop by Tami's Thoughts and Views for this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling.

Korean Americans are going against the grain by choosing to educate their children at home.

Korean Americans are going against the grain by choosing to educate their children at home.

Toast Floats: 10 Ways to Piss Off Homeschool Parents

Toast Floats: 10 Ways to Piss Off Homeschool Parents

Fruitcake anyone?

From henceforth I will simply refer to him (Obama) as the Usurper, until such time as he produces a valid birth certificate.

Since President Elect Obama has already produced a valid birth certificate the continued railing of the fruitcakes claiming that he isn't a citizen is ludicrous.

But this post highlights what a fruitcake this guy really is What Obama Can Do to Win Me Over , in short he advocates legalizing drugs and arming all citizens. Drugs and guns what a destructive mix this fruitcake wants, and he thinks Obama would be bad for the country. I am just thankful Mr. Fruitcake isn't in charge.

Homeschool Blog Awards

There are 48 days left to vote in Alasandra's Homeschool Blog Awards, so do vote for your favourite blog before it's to late. The poll is in the sidebar at the top of this page.

Who Decides What America Reads?...

Who Decides What America Reads?...Thankfully not Carmen Rockett. Mrs. Rockett is upset that libraries are not packed full of books supporting Creationism and Christianity.

Carmen Rockett states

77 percent of Americans consider themselves Christians. That means that 77 percent of the taxpayers in this country hold these Christian values. Library collections simply do not reflect the flavor of the American public, nor do they indicate that our tax dollars are being spent in a way with which we agree.

This simply isn't true. While I consider myself a Christian I believe in EVOLUTION and enjoy reading popular literature. I have no wish to read biographies of Christians like Fanny J. Crosby. The library is jammed packed with books I do want to read. Therefore my tax money is being spent in a way that I agree with. Carmen Rockett is foolish to assume that everyone who identifies themselves as Christian is only interested in the same literature she is.

Rockett goes on to ask "Should homeschooling parents today care?"

Frankly this isn't a homeschooling issue. Carmen Rockett apparently likes to make assumptions Mrs. Rockett assumes that all Christians share her taste in literature and that all homeschoolers are Christians. Nothing could be further from the truth. Homeschoolers are a diverse group with many different beliefs represented within the homeschooling community.

Libraries have limited resources not only to buy books but to shelve them. Therefore it is their duty to buy the books that the largest majority of patrons wish to read. Very few people would wish to read the books Mrs. Rockett wants to force on libraries. Thankfully she isn't in charge of deciding what I get to read.

Here are some tips for using your local library.

• As Mrs. Rockett points out you can ask your librarian to order a particular book.
• If a book you wish to read isn't available at your local library ask if they can do an Interlibary Loan.

At least Mrs. Rockett isn't advocating censoring the books that I wish to read, but by pushing them off the selves in favor of the books she prefers she would be narrowing my choices and the choices of many other taxpaying Americans.

Homeschooled twins: Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers # 12

To find out what all the Cool Homeschoolers have been up to check out; Homeschooled twins: Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers # 12

The biggest threat to our homeschooling freedoms

This man and others like him.

First we were treated to Why Vote Early?

I didn't even realize you could vote early, but apparently in many states you can.

I guess Mr. Fundy Christian has never heard of absentee ballots. My eldest had to vote early as he was off at college in another state on election day.

Then the gem Preparing for Post-Election Violence . This was the most racist and insulting tripe imaginable, we have been electing a President every four years without violence (even after the 2000 Chad fiasco) but Mr. Fundy Christian assumes that since an African-American is a candidate if he loses there will be violence.

This election year is somewhat different than previous ones. We're looking at large segments of the population who haven't traditionally been politically active, and we're looking at a specifically charged environment. I think possibly now more than ever, we are at risk of post-election riots.

Next up We Get What We Deserve

An ungodly nation elects an ungodly leader.

This is where Mr. Fundy Christian's agenda starts to show. He isn't truly happy with a Republic in which people are free to chose what religion to follow, nope he wants a theocracy where his beliefs would be imposed on others by their 'godly leader'.

Day One - Behind Enemy Lines , honestly Obama hasn't even taken office yet and Mr. Christian Fundy is already spewing nonsense.

We are travelers in an unholy land now. In this America, it's just a medical procedure to rid yourself of unwanted children. In this America, children you do decide to let live will be the property of the state via national service. The tenets of most major religions will become "hate speech" and illegal in the eyes of the law. We will be systematically disarmed, disallowed, regulated, and controlled. Our children, now the property of the state, will be forced into belief systems only sanctioned by the state.

Apparently Mr. Fundy Christian couldn't handle logical debate so he posted The Idiots Cometh

I'm turning on comment moderation for awhile. Some nimwit Obama supporter has linked to one of my many diatribes and the idiots are descending en masse. They don't have an argument. They don't have a viable discussion point. They just like to attack. So I'll stop them at the gate.

And perhaps the most idiotic of all his post Thinking With Emotion .

Ruled by emotion, they decided to "make history" as opposed to voting for a candidate who shared their principles. Many believed they were "setting things right" by electing a black man. They don't seem to understand that history is not made, it simply happens. Those who set out to make history invariably end up doing something bad and ... well ... making history.

Obama wasn't elected because he is bi-racial. Obama wasn't elected because his Father was from Kenya. Obama was elected because after visiting the candidates websites, listening to the debates and reading the campaign literature Americans decided that Obama was the best person to fill the post of President. Yes, a few people may have voted for him because he was African-American but then again a few probably didn't vote for him for the same reason.

Election Results ~ Joy and Jubilation

I had really hoped that after the election we would all put aside our differences and work together, no matter who was elected. Alas that is not to be.

HT: O'Donnell Web with the post Batshait crazy homeschooler reactions to the election

First we have Consent Of The Governed: Amerika Goes Socialist. In all honesty our form of government worked the way it was designed to. We the people went to the polls and elected the person we wished to be President. The greatest number of us choose Obama, it's time to move on, pull together and support our President Elect. Statements like this are uncalled for.

By the way: Barack Obama is not my president as long as he does not produce a birth certificate proving he was born here, and if he doesn't produce all of the other documents such as baptismal certificate, school records, selective service registration etc. etc. that he has withheld from the American people.

President Elect Obama has a valid Hawaiian Birth Certificate

State officials say there's no doubt Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. Health Department Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino said Friday she and the registrar of vital statistics, Alvin Onaka, have personally verified that the health department holds Obama's original birth certificate.

As for the rest one does not need a baptismal certificate to be President of the United States, his school records are none of our business but if you feel compelled to know more about his school records click here. And President Elect Obama did indeed register for the selective service.

After contacting the Selective Service System for an answer several times since late June, Pajamas Media obtained official confirmation from the Selective Service System via email that Barack Obama did indeed register for the Selective Service as required by law, and is eligible to run for the presidency.

Mr. Owens,

Barack Hussein Obama registered at a post office in Hawaii. The effective registration date was September 4, 1980.

His registration number is 61-1125539-1.

Daniel Amon
Public Affairs Specialist

By the way did anyone demand to see McCain's birth certificate, baptismal certificate, school records, selective service registration etc. ? No, I didn't think so.

Next we have Election Results: Sadness and Apprehension, whose sadness and apprehension could be elevated by visiting Obama's website and reading what his actual plans are instead of buying McCain's television ad's as gospel.

He’s going to socialize health care. He’ll shift the cost of health care from the individual to the government. Yes, less personal responsibility! Your choices for health care and insurance will be diminished as the government slowly centralizes the industry in the name of “making things better for everyone.”

• According to the Obama website ~ Health care.
  Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s plan strengthens employer–based coverage, makes insurance companies accountable and ensures patient choice of doctor and care without government interference. Under the plan, if you like your current health insurance, nothing changes, except your costs will go down by as much as $2,500 per year. If you don’t have health insurance, you will have a choice of new, affordable health insurance options.

He’s going to raise taxes on everyone from Joe the Plumber to the wealthier segment of the population, including the many small businesses that create jobs and drive the economy. I vehemently disagree with Obama’s words: “When you spread the wealth around it’s good for everyone.” No, scratch that. I DO agree with that statement, but I DON’T think it’s the government’s job to spread the wealth. It’s the citizens’ prerogative. There is nothing in the Constitution stating the government has the right to steal my assets and give them to someone else. If the wealthier are taxed more, they invest less, they donate less, they hire less workers and they feed the economy less by spending less money. And businesses who are taxed more may be driven out of business or out of the country.

• According to the Obama website ~ Taxes
  Barack Obama’s tax plan delivers broad-based tax relief to middle class families and cuts taxes for small businesses and companies that create jobs in America, while restoring fairness to our tax code and returning to fiscal responsibility. Click here to see the impact of his tax plan. Middle Class America will actually get to keep more of their paychecks. In my book that is a good thing.

He’s going to give the government more power over education by throwing more money at the problem. And we all know how effective that is. While it’s unclear how Obama will move on education (he supports “experimenting” with vouchers to see if the system could work), it’s clear that the NEA is a huge Obama supporter. This certainly does not bode well for those of us wanting more privatization of schooling. And as far as I can tell, he does not support homeschooling at all.

Click here to see to see President Elect Obama's education policy. Nothing in it leads me to believe he doesn't support homeschooling. I blogged more about it here.

I was very impressed with Senator McCain's concession speech, I saw the man I admired and that seemed so sadly missing from the campaign. All Americans should take his words to heart.

I urge all Americans ... I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.

Aesop's Fables ~ Carnival of Homeschooling

Links to lesson plans for Aesop's Fables can be found in this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling along with some wonderful homeschooling post.

Alasandra's Place: McCain supporter is a real witch

See how one McCain supporter used children on Halloween at my post Alasandra's Place: McCain supporter is a real witch

Alasandra's Place: Oh Please

Alasandra's Place: Oh Please: "Contrary to Janna O'Donnell's post Obama and the Danger to our Freedoms, Christians can still 'speak about your beliefs to other believers and share those beliefs in discussion (public or private)' , what they can't do is force their beliefs on other people, harass people who belief differently then they do and spew hatred. You wouldn't think that would be a problem for them."

Don't forget to vote

You can vote for your favourite adult, group and teen homeschool blog in the side bar. There are 58 days left for you to vote in Alasandra's Homeschool Blog Awards. So far 170 people have voted. Little Blue School is in the lead for Adult Homeschool Blog, The Homeschool Classroom is in the lead for Group Homeschool Blog and Quilted Story is in the lead for Teen Homeschool Blog.

And while you are voting don't forget to vote for President November 4, 2009.

Why Obama will not curtail homeschooling

Little Blue School: Question and Answer Time: What is a School of Education?: "Unless you are trying to educate them to be teachers, and unless you expect to be able to give them certificates that will qualify them to teach in schools, you shouldn't worry. If you are running a 'school of education,' that is a place where education classes are taught and teachers are trained, you will have to be accredited, or else you will not be able to graduate certified teachers. If you are teaching children to read and write, do math, remember the Pharaohs in order, and stuff like that, then this doesn't apply to you. :)"

Why I am not impressed with Chuck Baldwin

Dana over at Principled Discovery explains why she isn't impressed with Chuck Baldwin in her post Why I am not impressed with Chuck Baldwin. She shares many of the concerns I do about Baldwin but articulated it so much better then I would have been able too.

This Carnival of Homeschooling is a real treat

Why Homeschool: Carnival of Homeschooling: 148 - The Halloween Edition

Richard Guenther speaks out against HSLDA

HSLDA destroys homeschool leader and homeschool movement in Germany, Mike Farris leads charge according to Richard Guenther.