Home Educator's Family Times - News, Views Today on the Net

Ride Herd

2008-03-31T13:13:00.002-04:00

How well are you (or any of us for that matter) following local school district policies
or regularly checking into the curriculum and scholarship of your local schools? This is
a good eye-opening commentary by Linda Schrock Taylor. J. Boswell

She writes:

I am stunned at how few citizens correctly evaluate government schools in America; at how many people misjudge their own local school districts. Parents are too often guilty of ignoring or recreating reality as they avoid the necessity of taking action. Too often parents are busy supporting their children in every kind of school activity…except those involving Reading, Writing, and ’Rithmetic. If children bring home A’s and B’s, all must been fine at school, right? Not always. Grade inflation has taken the meaning out of grades and scores. One only needs to teach freshman English classes at a college or university to remove any lingering doubts. However, the general population has neither the opportunities to see the whole picture, nor do they demand that policy makers and administrators keep them accurately informed. Remember, it is local school boards that are condoning and voting for policies that administrators request that they pass.

To read entire commentary, please click on the title above.

A Big Win for Judicial Supremacy, a Big Loss for Government Language Lawyers, and another Example of Real Change

2008-03-31T13:02:00.001-04:00

Newt Gingrich

Parents "do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children."

So wrote a California judge in a case that has ominous potential for the estimated one million-plus American families who have opted out of the public education monopoly and choose to educate their children at home.

Although the ruling is being appealed to the California Supreme Court, as it now stands, the 166,000 California children who are home schooled are truant, and their parents are criminals. Welcome, as the Wall Street Journal editorialized, to a "strange new chapter" in the "annals of judicial imperialism."

Dobson Calls Anti-Homeschooling Ruling "Assault" on Family

2008-03-07T10:43:00.002-05:00

March 6, 2008

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Focus on the Family Chairman James C. Dobson, Ph., D., today denounced as “an all-out assault on the family” a California appellate court ruling that could criminalize home schooling in the Golden State.

The decision, from the 2nd Appellate Court in Los Angeles, stemmed from a single case involving charges of abuse brought against a home schooling couple. Home school advocates agree that the couple in question, based on the facts of the case, should have lost their ability to educate their children at home – but add that the court overreached in applying the restrictions to all home schooling families.

To read article, please click on the title above.

Home Schooling Found Unlawful by California Court of Appeal

2008-03-07T10:24:00.001-05:00

City: Los Angeles, CA
In a stunning decision affecting thousands of families in California, the California Court of Appeal has issued an opinion finding no legal right to home school. "Parents who fail to [comply with school enrollment laws] may be subject to a criminal complaint against them, found guilty of an infraction, and subject to imposition of fines or an order to complete a parent education and counseling program," wrote Justice H. Walter Croskey whose opinion was joined by the other two members of the appellate panel. The opinion was issued February 28, 2008, in a case titled In re Rachel L., which reversed a Superior Court Judge, Stephen Marpet, who found that "parents have a constitutional right to school their children in their own home."

The parents of Rachel L. enrolled her in Sunland Christian School, a private home schooling program. In his opinion, Croskey, 75, described what he called the "ruse of enrolling [children] in a private school and then letting them stay home and be taught by a non-credentialed parent." Despite this statement by the Court, it should be noted that Sunland Christian School has been in full compliance with the requirements of the law for more than twenty years. "We've never been given an opportunity to represent our case in the Court of Appeal," said Terry Neven, the president of the school. "Consequently, we are excited that PJI will represent us before the California Supreme Court so that the rights of home schooling families are preserved," he stated further.

In a section titled "Consequences of Parental Denial of a Legal Education," the Court said that "parents are subject to being ordered to enroll their children in an appropriate school or education program and provide proof of enrollment to the court, and willful failure to comply with such an order may be punished by a fine for civil contempt."

"The scope of this decision by the appellate court is breathtaking. It not only attacks traditional home schooling, but also calls into question home schooling through charter schools and teaching children at home via independent study through public and private schools," stated Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute "If not reversed, the parents of the more than 166,000 students currently receiving an education at home will be subject to criminal sanctions," he continued.

If you are able to support our efforts on behalf of home schoolers and private schools, please Click here to contribute now or visit http://www.pji.org/getinvolved/.

Home-School Pitch Pits Personal Choice Vs. Government Role

2008-02-26T10:20:00.001-05:00

Posted on: Sunday, 24 February 2008, 06:00 CST

By Jeffrey Robb, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

Feb. 24--When school is in session for the Conrad kids, the living room of their northwest Omaha home is often their classroom.

Lessons last as long as needed to complete the day's tasks.

Mother Natalie Conrad is the teacher to her three school-age children.

Natalie and Chris Conrad's family is part of the 6,000-student home-school network across Nebraska. And the family is a small part of a debate in the Nebraska Legislature pitting personal choices and religious freedoms against state government's educational responsibilities.

State Sen. DiAnna Schimek of Lincoln has proposed a bill to recast Nebraska's generally loose regulations over home-school students.

Her bill would require home-school students to take state-mandated tests or have their schoolwork assessed by an outside evaluator. If students' progress falls short academically, they would be sent to public or private schools.

Read the entire article by clicking on the title.

Students reflect on impact of homeschooling

2008-02-25T13:34:00.000-05:00

Students reflect on impact of homeschooling
By Bryan Marshall
Register News Writer

Editor’s note: This is the second part of a three-part series chronicling the experiences of Madison County homeschool students. Tuesday’s stories will focus on how home schooling affects public schools and getting into college.

    Aaron Jones can’t say for sure if he would have enjoyed going to private school.  But, he is certain that he never wished he had attended a public school. 

To continue reading this article, please click on the title.

Parents taking education into their own hands

2008-02-25T13:33:00.000-05:00

Homeschooling: Education not confined to school walls
Parents taking education into their own hands
By Bryan Marshall
Register News Writer

Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part series chronicling the experiences of Madison County homeschooled students.

    Religion.   Individualized instruction.   Family atmosphere.   Protection from dangers in school.   A love of learning.  
These are just a few of the many reasons more and more parents are deciding to put their children’s education into their own hands through homeschooling.  For Brian Bertucci of Berea, the experience of teaching middle school English for a year in a private Catholic school in Florida led to his decision to home school his 6-year-old son Mark.

Continue reading this story - click on the title.

Expanding the horizon for home-school students

2007-12-07T12:20:00.000-05:00

Advocates cite wider range of shared outside activities as helping fuel growth of practice once relegated to fringe
By Lisa Kocian
Boston Globe Staff / December 6, 2007
Eight-year-old Ben Shapiro's days are a blur of gymnastics, piano playing, and art history lessons. He can also be found doing fractions, reading a biography of Marco Polo, and, soon, delving into physics. But he's not at school. And he's not alone.

He is part of a fast-evolving home-school movement that is traveling away from the stereotype of child and parent at the kitchen table. Shapiro does spend most of his day with his mother, but not alone. Instead, she shuttles him from one group activity to another.

Read the entire article by clicking on the title.

Facing the Transition to College

2007-12-05T11:10:00.000-05:00

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Number of homeschooled children rising in the U.S.

By Brian Morelli
Iowa City Press-Citizen

Small school or big school. Commute versus campus living. In state or out of state.

David Skiff is facing the same sorts of choices as any high school senior looking at colleges, but the 18-year-old Iowa City homeschooler has different circumstances than many others.

"It was a little bit intimidating at first," Skiff said of considering the transition to college. "But I feel pretty confident that I will be able to function."

To finish reading this article, please click on the title.

Mom accused of neglect for teaching own kids

2007-10-16T12:41:00.000-04:00

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Moberly, Mo., Middle School

A Missouri public school is taking a mother to court for withdrawing her son and daughter from the school and teaching them at home, after an apparent threat to the daughter's life at the school.

The case involves Moberly, Mo., mother Anita Nicoli, who withdrew her daughter and a son from Moberly Middle School recently after what she has described as a two-year campaign of intimidation by other students.

The breaking point came when another student, who allegedly had harassed and assaulted her daughter, drew a picture of herself holding a gun and pointing it directly at Nicoli's daughter. The picture was passed around among students, she said.

But now she is facing a court hearing in Missouri's 14th Judicial District, prompted by a complaint by the school after she withdrew two of her children.

Click on title to read the entire story...

Home schooling improves academic performance...

2007-10-08T09:14:00.000-04:00

Many parents lack the confidence to teach their
children if they have not finished high school or
even lack a college degree. Research continues to
show that the parents' level of education has little
bearing. The following information released by
the Fraser Institute of Canada, discusses the fact
that even poorly educated parents produce well-
educated children through homeschooling. Read on...
- Jane Boswell, Editor, Home Educator's Family Times

Home schooling improves academic performance and reduces impact of socio-economic factors
Release Date: October 04, 2007
-
TORONTO, ON—Home schooling appears to improve the academic performance of children from families with low levels of education, according to a report on home schooling released today by independent research organization The Fraser Institute.

“The evidence is particularly interesting for students who traditionally fall through the cracks in the public system,” said Claudia Hepburn, co-author of Home Schooling: From the Extreme to the Mainstream, 2nd edition and Director of Education Policy with The Fraser Institute.

“Poorly educated parents who choose to teach their children at home produce better academic results for their children than public schools do. One study we reviewed found that students taught at home by mothers who never finished high school scored a full 55 percentage points higher than public school students from families with comparable education levels.”

The peer-reviewed report, co-written with Patrick Basham and John Merrifield, builds on a 2001 study with new research and data. It examines the educational phenomenon of home schooling in Canada and the United States, its regulation, history, growth, and the characteristics of practitioners, before reviewing the findings on the academic and social effects of home schooling.

Hepburn said evidence clearly demonstrates that home education may help reduce the negative effects of some background factors that many educators believe affects a child’s ability to learn, such as low family income, low parental educational attainment, parents not having formal training as teachers, race or ethnicity of the student, gender of the student, not having a computer in the home, and infrequent usage of public libraries.

“The research shows that the level of education of a child’s parents, gender of the child, and income of family has less to do with a child’s academic achievement than it does in public schools.”

The study also reports that students educated at home outperform their peers on most academic tests and are involved in a broad mix of social activities outside the home.

Research shows that almost 25 per cent of home schooled students in the United States perform one or more grades above their age-level peers in public and private schools. Grades 1 to 4 home school students perform one grade level higher than their public- and private-school peers. By Grade 8, the average home schooled student performs four grade levels above the national average.

Hepburn said a growing body of new research also calls into question the belief that home schooled children are not adequately socialized.

“The average Canadian home schooled student is regularly involved in eight social activities outside the home. Canadian home schooled children watch less television than other children, and they show significantly fewer problems than public school children when observed in free play,” she said.

The report concludes that home schooling is not only a viable educational choice for parents, but can also be provided at a much lower cost than public schooling. The report notes that in the U.S., home schooling families spend less than $4,000 per year on home schooling while public schooling in the U.S. costs about $9,600 per child.

“Canadian and American policymakers should recognize the ability of parents to meet the educational needs of their children at home, without government involvement,” Hepburn said.

“While home schooling may be impractical for many families, it has proven to be a successful and relatively inexpensive educational alternative. It merits the respect of policy makers, the attention of researchers, and the consideration of parents.”

- 30 -

The Fraser Institute is an independent research and educational organization based in Canada. Its mission is to measure, study, and communicate the impact of competitive markets and government intervention on the welfare of individuals. To protect the Institute’s independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research.

This gives a whole new meaning to "school shootings"

2007-08-09T16:40:00.000-04:00

Nevada legislators are debating the merits
of paying teachers bonuses for police training
and will allow them to carry guns.

This takes the parallel of schools and prisons
to the next level. Schools are already the closest
institution we have to prisons in this country,
where children are herded into rooms and drilled
through each day by authority figures and bells
until released.

Now teachers might be able to play the role
of police and guards. What next?

Read the story here:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2007/aug/08/566681889.html

Home is where school is

2007-08-08T14:17:00.000-04:00

By Margaux Ortiz
Phillipines Daily Inquirer
Last updated 03:29am (Mla time) 08/05/2007
MANILA, Philippines—For 10-year-old Therese Michelle Paman, classes mean answering her workbooks at the lanai in their house and listening to the only teacher she has ever known: Her mother, Lizette.

Since Lizette began homeschooling Therese five years ago, every day has become a wondrous journey of learning and bonding for mother and daughter.

“I really love to teach. When my other kids were small (she also has three teenage boys), I would read to them at home,” Lizette told the Inquirer.

Read the article by clicking on the title.

Spelling bee has a W-I-N-N-E-R (Homeschooler)

2007-06-01T05:38:00.001-04:00

WASHINGTON — Evan M. O'Dorney, a 13-year-old eighth-grader from Danville, Calif., won the 80th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night, capping a day of furrowed brows, shocked expressions and tears poised to spill from the faces of youngsters not yet old enough to drive.

Evan, making his third consecutive appearance at the national bee, said he knew the final word — "serrefine," which means "a small forceps for clamping a blood vessel" — as soon as he heard it.

Although he confessed that he preferred the certainty of mathematics and the creativity of music to the memorization required to become a spelling champion, Evan, who is taught by his mother, Jennifer O'Dorney, through San Ramon's Venture School home study program, allowed that he now likes spelling "maybe a little bit."

Read the entire story by clicking on the link.

Note: It is interesting that few of the main stream television stations mentioned that the winner was "taught by his mother".

Home-schooling proves its merit with scholarships

2007-05-15T10:38:00.000-04:00

by Katherine Kersten, Star Tribune

Star Tribune

Last week we learned the names of the 53 outstanding Minnesota high school seniors who won 2007 $2,500 National Merit Scholarships, arguably the top academic honor in the nation. More than 20,000 Minnesota students took the test that begins the intense competition, and the 53 winners emerged at the end.

National Merit Scholars are often the product of our state's most elite private and public high schools. But as I stopped by the school of one winner, John Molitor of White Bear Lake, I saw no gleaming laboratories or cutting-edge computer labs. John's teacher opened the door. She's also the school's principal, lunch lady and head janitor. She's Joyce Molitor, John's mother.

During the past 10 years, an increasing number of home-schoolers like John have won National Merit awards, according to Eileen Artemakis of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Read this article by clicking on the title.

A different kind of summer

2007-05-15T10:35:00.000-04:00

A different kind of summer

By Jennifer Bell

Seacoast Online (NH)
May 12, 2007 6:00 AM

As summer approaches, I find myself sorting through day camp brochures, recreation programs, stressing about our finances and juggling the dates with family vacations and visiting friends. In the end, I decide to sign my kids up for only two weeks of camps, save some money and design our summer activities based on the kids' interests. Surely, July and August will boast a considerable amount of down time, but I envision my children having the opportunity to explore an academic subject in more depth, or to pursue an interest that is not offered in public school. As a supplement or alternative to traditional camps, parents can form Special Interest Clubs, a type of mini homeschooling experience in which parents and children design the curriculum, one that meets the needs of learners beyond their traditional education.

Read entire article by clicking on the title.

More women take on dual role as caregiver for children, parents

2007-05-15T10:33:00.000-04:00

By Michael King
Post-Crescent staff writer

TOWN OF KAUKAUNA — In fall 2003, when her mother was hospitalized for two weeks with an infection, Shari Nagan faced a decision.

Doctors advised that it was time to move her mom into a nursing home.

Nagan’s answer: “No way.”

Instead, she and her husband, Dan, moved out of their bedroom into a smaller bedroom and took in her |parents, Martin and Evelyn VanSchyndel, now ages 91 and 89, respectively.

Shari Nagan had been watching over the retired farming couple since building a home in 1984 next door on McCabe Road. The decision to bring them under her roof was easy.

“My parents took care of me and I figure I can do the same thing back,” said Nagan, 50, who also homeschools her daughter and tends a four-acre hobby farm. “It’s busy from morning until night, very busy. But, I enjoy it.”

Studies suggest that Nagan’s scenario may be playing out in as many as 10 million U.S. households. She is among an increasing number of mostly women in a so-called sandwich generation, looking after their children as well as their elderly parents.

Read article by clicking on the title.

Homeschool graduation 'a family celebration'

2007-05-15T10:32:00.000-04:00

Sun Herald
By ROBIN FITZGERALD
rfitzgerald@sunherald.com

GULFPORT --
A graduating class of college-bound homeschoolers took graceful strides in high heels and white caps and gowns adorned with sashes and tassels in their color of choice.
The four female students, associated with the Coast Christian Home Educators Association, received their diplomas Saturday at Northwood Christian Center in Gulfport.

"Homeschooling stripped away many of the distractions that come with traditional education and helped me see the important things of life," said Hannah Burnell, who delivered the graduation address.

About 300 relatives and friends looked on with smiles and occasional giggles as the graduates starred in slide shows depicting their lives.

Read article by clicking on the title.

Idaho couple is pedaling across America to spend time with twins

2007-05-15T10:30:00.000-04:00

Idaho couple is pedaling across America to spend time with twins
Clan has spent almost a year on the road

By LOREN GENSON
Gazette Staff Writer

John Vogel and his 8-year-old twins Davy and Daryl haven't seen their hometown of Boise, Idaho, since June of 2006, but they've seen more of the United States than many Americans hope to see in their entire lifetime.

The family has traveled throughout the country, on a trip covering the Northwestern U.S. and through Mexico. Through their journey they have found their way to Chillicothe where they will stay through Sunday.

So, why Chillicothe?

"I knew someone in Ripley so we went there, and this is on the way to Columbus," John said.
Their cross-country road trip has a loose structure, the family takes things as they come to allow for time in each locality.

Read article by clicking on the title.

A mother's joy

2007-05-15T10:28:00.000-04:00

By Michael Knox
mknox@independenttribune.com
Sunday, May 13, 2007

Lynn Stipe and her son, Conner, 11, swing on a hammock on their porch in Concord. Conner, who is autistic, is homeschooled by Lynn.
Greg Kahn (gkahn@independenttribune.com)

CONCORD - It’s a cool breezy day outside the Stipe home as Lynn Stipe and her 11-year-old son, Conner, swing in the hammock, spending a lazy day together.

Outside on the deck near the swimming pool, Conner sometimes races his dog, Silky, who streaks back and forth along her fenced-in pen. Lynn Stipe, 35, laughs at her son’s antics.

The two laugh together and they laugh often.

Conner is autistic and Lynn homeschools her son, teaching him the basics of learning. The two have just returned from a two-month stay in Maryland, where doctors tested Conner’s symptoms.

Read article by clicking on the title above.

Police State Germany

2007-03-22T10:04:00.000-04:00

5 'well-educated' kids put in state custody
Ruling that sent homeschooler to psych ward expanded to 2nd family

Posted: March 22, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Five "well-educated" children have been ordered into state custody by a court that applied to a second family a ruling taking a 15-year-old homeschooler from her family and sending her to a psychiatric ward.

The action fulfills a dire forecast from a human rights group that the government's success in the first case would encourage officials to act against other families in Germany.

The newest ruling comes from a court in Saxony and affects five members of the Brause family, according to officials with the International Human Rights Group.

Its president, Joel Thornton, earlier had told WND that, "There is an increased fear among homeschoolers about whether their children are next," after Melissa Busekros, 15, was removed from her home and ordered first to a psychiatric ward, then a foster home, because of her "school phobia."

Continue by clicking on title

An Interview with Paul Zoch - Doomed to Fail

2007-03-22T09:36:00.000-04:00

This might interest many teachers, parents and, in particular, homeschoolers.
Paul Zoch is the author of the book Doomed to Fail: The Built in Defects of
American Education. Another voice to add to the list (which seems to
go unnoticed) trying to reach the American public with the message.

The interview is published on EdNews.org and was conducted by Michael F. Shaughnessy, Senior Columnist. 3/21/2007

http://www.ednews.org/articles/9235/1/An-Interview-with-Paul-Zoch-Doomed-to-Fail/Page1.html

Day in the life of a homeschooling family

2007-03-14T15:07:00.002-04:00

Lisa Crews
Special for The Republic
Mar. 14, 2007 10:36 AM
Family: Faith is 10, Mercy 8 and Hope 1. Tim, the dad, works at home.

7:30 a.m.::Wake up and start morning routine. Kids -- make beds, get dressed, make/eat breakfast, unload dishwasher, clean up breakfast dishes, brush teeth; Mom -- showers, brushes teeth, changes baby, eats breakfast, loads dishwasher, makes bottles, feeds baby.

8 a.m.: Kids --collect and sort all laundry.
advertisement

8:15 a.m.: Mom --starts load of laundry

8:30 a.m.: Mom -- makes doctor appointment for baby and cleans kitchen counters and clears out refrigerator. Kids -- practice piano and keyboard then complete theory book assignments.

8:50 a.m.: Mom -- reads emails and news.

9:15 a.m.: Mom -- reviews with the girls long division from last week and answer questions; assigns word problems and more exercises; plays with the baby and reads her a book; focuses on new signs; changes out a load of laundry.

10 a.m: . Mom - calls her mother to work out childcare for the baby's doctor's appointment.

10:10 a.m.: Mom -- rotates out baby toys from those in storage.

10:12 a.m.: Mom -- chases girls back to math.

Continue article by clicking on the title.

Judge warns of child-abusing homeschoolers

2007-03-14T14:43:00.000-04:00

Court is "shocked" by lack of government authority over students
Posted: March 10, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

A Superior Court judge in New Jersey says homeschooling is just about the same as deliberate child abuse.

In fact, he says, he just might name a school district in his state as a defendant in a current court dispute, citing the district's "shocking" failure to monitor and test all students – including homeschoolers.

"In today's threatening world, where we seek to protect children from abuse, not just physical, but also educational abuse, how can we not monitor the educational welfare of all our children? A child in New Jersey, who recently was found unfed and locked in a putrid bedroom was allegedly 'homeschooled' and because no one, such as a teacher or nurse, was able to observe any abuse in a school setting, it went undiscovered," wrote Judge Thomas Zampino in a case that came before him.

That's even though New Jersey state law does forbid child abuse, and its regulations regarding homeschooling say parents or guardians are allowed "to educate the child at home." Further, the state law notes they are not required to submit any type of communication of intent to a local school board, nor are parents required to have their plans approved by a board.

Continue reading by clicking on title of article.

In a class of their own

2007-03-05T10:24:00.000-05:00

Weld 52 explodes with stacks of Yaffa blocks, well-fingered books, bulk containers of Easy Mac, cardboard boxes, and the tell-tale anxiety of freshman move-in day. Amidst the madness, Stephen T. Norberg ’06 rummages through his belongings and discovers a framed piece of thick paper decorated with a whimsical owl and a smartly dressed pig. It’s his kindergarten diploma. Carefully navigating the chaos, his left arm almost destroying a perfectly folded pile of undershirts, he crosses the room and secures the diploma onto the blank wall above his wooden desk. Pausing for several moments as his exhausted roommates look on in wonderment, he finally utters, “Wow! It’s great to be in first grade.”
...
They describe Norberg as amazingly caring, funny, and passionate—but he isn’t crazy. And the grade-school comment is not without merit. That day Norberg did, in fact, feel somewhat like a first grader. Having been homeschooled from second grade until college, that kindergarten diploma was the last one he had ever received.

To read entire article about homeschoolers at Harvard U, click on the title.