Progressive Homeschoolers of Florida

Enjoy a Symphony of Science

2009-11-08T19:57:00.000-05:00

Visit www.symphonyofscience.com for more information and more joyful science!

"I Am What I Learn" Video Contest

2009-09-08T10:16:00.001-04:00

To further encourage student engagement, the U.S. Department of Education is launching the "I Am What I Learn" video contest. On September 8, we will invite students to respond to the president's challenge by creating videos, up to two minutes in length, describing the steps they will take to improve their education and the role education will play in fulfilling their dreams.

We invite all students age 13 and older to create and upload their videos to YouTube by October 8. Submissions can be in the form of video blogs, public service announcements (PSAs), music videos, or documentaries. Students are encouraged to have fun and be creative with this project! The general public will then vote on their favorites to determine the top 20 finalists. These 20 videos will be reviewed by a panel of judges including U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The panel will choose three winners, each of whom will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

Starting this Friday, you can visit www.ed.gov/iamwhatilearn to find out more.

Read the full text of his speech at http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

Watch webcast: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/aug20forumlive/

President Barack Obama's Public School's Address: ..."Set your own goals for your education – and to do everything you can to meet them."

2009-09-08T09:43:00.000-04:00

Text of President Barack Obama's planned public schools address:

Arlington, Virginia
September 8, 2009

Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’m glad you all could join us today.

I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.

I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.

Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."

So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year.

Now I’ve given a lot of speeches about education. And I’ve talked a lot about responsibility.

I’ve talked about your teachers’ responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.

I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.

I’ve talked a lot about your government’s responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren’t working where students aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.

But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.

And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.

Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.

Maybe you could be a good writer – maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper – but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.

And no matter what you want to do with your life – I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You’re going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You’ve got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.

And this isn’t just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.

You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.

We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.

Now I know it’s not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.

I get it. I know what that’s like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn’t always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn’t fit in.

So I wasn’t always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I’m not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.

But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn’t have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.

Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don’t have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there’s not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don’t feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren’t right.

But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life – what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home – that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That’s no excuse for not trying.

Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.

That’s what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.

Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn’t speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.

I’m thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who’s fought brain cancer since he was three. He’s endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer – hundreds of extra hours – to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he’s headed to college this fall.

And then there’s Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health center; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she’s on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.

Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren’t any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.

That’s why today, I’m calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education – and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you’ll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you’ll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you’ll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you’ll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don’t feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.

Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.

I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things.

But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won’t love every subject you study. You won’t click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won’t necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.

That’s OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most failures. JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

These people succeeded because they understand that you can’t let your failures define you – you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn’t mean you’re a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn’t mean you’re stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.

No one’s born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You’re not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don’t hit every note the first time you sing a song. You’ve got to practice. It’s the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it’s good enough to hand in.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust – a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor – and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.

And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you – don’t ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.

The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.

It’s the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.

So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?

Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I’m working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you’ve got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don’t let us down – don’t let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

______________________

From: http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

Foundational Lies

2009-07-21T09:00:00.004-04:00

The Community Issues Council, a group of one, promoting "Christian Citizenship Action in Tampa Bay," recently teamed with a local businessman who ponied up $50,000 to publicly lobby for an American government the dynamic duo believe was intended "only for people who are moral and religious" and to combat the "separation lie." (Christian Group's Billboards Denounce Separation of Church,State)

Among the many holes in this tattered and torn bid for a "return to our Christian roots," is the implication that "religious" people are always "Christian" people. Another is the admittedly blatant misquoting of historical figures like George Washington, to whom one billboard attributes the statement, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

Terry Kemple, the CICs president and sole employee, admits Washington never said that, but asserts, "...if you look at Washington's quotes, including his farewell address, about the place of religion in the political sphere, there's no question he could have said those exact words."

Sorry, Mr. Kemple, there's great question that he would have said those exact words.

What Washington actually said (George Washington's Farewell Address) was:

"Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. "

Lying about what someone - especially a president -- said seems an odd way to frame the value of the "Christian nation" argument, not to mention adirect violation of a principle Christian commandment against bearing false witness.

For the record, George Washington also said:

"...If I could now conceive that the general government might ever be so administered as to render the liberty of conscience insecure, I beg you will be persuaded, that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution. ...For you, doubtless, remember that I have often expressed my sentiment, that every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience. (emphasis mine)

-- George Washington, letter to the United Baptist Chamber of Virginia, May 1789, in Anson Phelps Stokes, Church and State in the United States, Vol 1. p. 495, quoted from Albert J Menendez and Edd Doerr, The Great Quotations on Religious Freedom

Actually, a true understanding and appreciation of the character of our founders, the vision with which they led, and the facts of both Christian and American history, should evoke outrage in any reading these simplistic and ignorant attempts to derail 230 years of social and scientific progress.

In 1783, as he was stepping down from office, Washington sent the equivalent of a "memo" to the states (The foundation of "our empire was not laid in the gloomy age of ignorance and superstition") . In it, he said:

There are four things, which I humbly conceive, are essential to the well being, I may even venture to say, to the existence of the United States as an Independent Power:

1st. An indissoluble Union of the States under one Federal Head.

2dly. A Sacred regard to Public Justice.

3dly. The adoption of a proper Peace Establishment, and

4thly. The prevalence of that pacific and friendly Disposition, among the People of the United States, which will induce them to forget their local prejudices and policies, to make those mutual concessions which are requisite to the general prosperity, and in some instances, to sacrifice their individual advantages to the interest of the Community.

These are the Pillars on which the glorious Fabrick of our Independency and National Character must be supported; Liberty is the Basis, and whoever would dare to sap the foundation, or overturn the Structure, under whatever specious pretexts he may attempt it, will merit the bitterest execration, and the severest punishment which can be inflicted by his injured Country.

"Liberty is the Basis," Mr. Kemple. The lies that should be combatted are the ones you're propogating across Hillsborough and Pinellas, lies that Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, Wiccans, the churched and the unchurched, believers and unbelievers alike prove wrong everyday, as they work and live together to build one nation from many faiths and philosophies.

The $50,000 would have been better spent sheltering the homeless, or feeding the hungry, or buying medical care for those without it.

Local FL Governments Sue Over SB 360

2009-07-14T10:00:00.004-04:00

Gov. Crist appears richly rewarded for selling us out with SB 260, the so-called Community Renewal Act, reports St. Petersburg Times columnist Howard Troxler in "Crist Signs Bad Growth Bill, Is Punished with $4.3 million in Campaign Contributions" That's more than ten times what his Republican opponent, Marc Rubio, has raised for his Senate run.

"Like young Anakin Skywalker, " Troxler muses, "Crist has learned that the Dark Side has its rewards. He should start dressing in black and breathing heavily."

The Force may be with us though. Eight local governments, including Weston and Deerfield Beach, filed suit in Leon County Circuit Court in Tallahassee to block the law (Cities sue to block lawmakers' growth management repeal), saying it's an unfunded mandate on local governments.

The suit hinges on two major points:

(1) The law is in violation of a state Constitutional law requiring "single subject" laws, since it includes language about affordable housing and the regulation of security cameras.

(2) It forces forces Florida cities and counties to spend money they don't have, and that the Legislature won't given them, to comply with the new law, creating an unConstitutional "unfundated mandate."

Wonder if Crist has to give his nearly half billion back if the lawsuit is successful?

Huffington Post Stuff and Homeschool Nonsense

2009-07-13T14:33:00.003-04:00

So what's up with the snide little aside in this article from the Huffington Post reporting on Texas Governor Rick Perry's pick of Gail Lowe, an "outspoken creationist" to head up the Texas Board of Education?

"It was actually the less controversial choice. Cynthia Dunbar, reportedly under consideration for the post, believed government should be guided by a "biblical litmus test" and thought public education was a "subtly deceptive tool of perversion." (She home-schooled her own children.) She has also endorsed conspiracy theories suggesting President Obama is not a natural-born citizen." (emphasis mine)

Yeah, choosing a pseudoscience expert to head up a state school board isn't the most confidence inducing move in Texas' already beleaguered education system, but what has the whispered undertones of "she homeschooled her own children" got to do with anything?

I take issue with the choice to homeschool being equated with ignorance, conspiracy theories, and creation science .

Good grief!

Give 'em your .02 here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/12/gail-lowe-perry-picks-cre_n_230167.html

Unregulated Growth is HERE

2009-06-15T09:20:00.004-04:00

I'm slow to update, but most people already know Gov. Crist signed SB 360, opening Florida to unregulated growth and all its commensurate problems. I would hope he signed off on his Senate hopes, too, unless the price for selling his soul, and our childrens' future, to Big Development is pays off politically, which it may - although we can, and should, work vigorously for more promising leadership.

Check out Howard Troxler's column in the St. (Crist Signs Growth Bill, Sells Florida Down River) to see who voted for and against the bill, and the Sunshine State's future.

Unregulated Growth looms in SB 360

2009-05-26T18:09:00.006-04:00

Columnist Howard Troxler, of the St. Petersburg Times, writes in an open letter to Governor Crist:

______________

Dear Governor,

So, how's it going? I bet this time of year, everybody wants to tell you which bills passed by the Legislature you should approve or veto.

Forgive me for adding to all the noise. Still, you really should veto Senate Bill 360, the so-called "growth management" bill.

I know a lot of people want you to sign it and I know their reasons.

The stated goals are good. Help get Florida moving again. "Fill in" our urban areas with new construction.

But, hiding behind those goals, this bill goes way too far. It guts the Growth Management Act of 1985. It basically repeals that law.

Is that your legacy?

___________________________

Do any of us want that to be our legacy?

In Smart Growth News, 1000 Friends of Florida says, "

'While this bill contains important and well-intentioned growth management concepts, we believe it falls far short of the goal of encouraging more and better new growth in already developed areas,'' the 1000 Friends president continued, pointing out that more sprawl means more traffic congestion, ''which already contributes almost 40 percent'' of greenhouse gas emissions statewide.

Specifically, according to the Friends:

The bill’s definition of “dense urban land area” promotes unchecked and inappropriate urban development in vast tracts of fringe and rural lands
It automatically qualifies 245 cities and the entire territory of eight of our largest counties for transportation concurrency exemptions and Development of Regional Impact (DRI) exemptions.
It runs counter to Gov. Crist’s goals to address climate change.
Instead of being an economic stimulus strategy as proponents argue, it would allow massive new development to the already over-allocated and over-approved development already in existence in our state.

You can read the full text of SB 360 here (PDF)

And give voice to your concerns at the 1000 Friends of Florida website or at Audubon of Florida, among others.

Parental Rights Amendment back as HJ Resolution 42

2009-04-03T14:49:00.008-04:00

Right on the heels of news that Sen. Arlen Specter, of PA, is introducing his flat tax bill for a second time (Specter Swings to the Right to Save Senate Seat), while also being lobbied to get behind a parental rights amendment to the Constitution, comes a Home School Legal Defense (HSLDA) note "introducing HJ Resolution 42: the aforementioned Parental Rights Amendment, and urging homechoolers to support it.

Of course supporting or not supporting this amendment is a personal decision, but it’s advised that those who *don't* support it speak out to their congressfolk as well. Many argue that the

amendment is superfluous, since parental rights are already protected by the Constitution, and potentially rights limiting because it opens the door to more narrowly defining "parents" and "families".Additionally, the threat of international law at this level superseding federal law is an empty, and fear mongering one.

You can learn more about the Parental Rights Amendment and related issues at http://www.learningis4everyone.org/content/view/24/42/1/2/

Follow actions and commentary at Open Congress: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-hj42/show

See also: NHELDs Warning to Parents :http://www.nheld.com/BTN67.htm

Earth Hour 2009 - Saturday, March 28, 8:30pm

2009-03-28T11:54:00.002-04:00

Go Green by going dark -- or at least dim!
__________________________________________

From Earth Hour US: http://www.earthhourus.org

* Earth Hour is World Wildlife Fund's global initiative where individuals, businesses and governments turn off their lights for one hour to show their support for action on climate change.
* Earth Hour is a symbolic event designed to engage people from all walks of life in the climate change discussion to send a strong message to our political leaders that we want them to take meaningful action on climate change.
* The largest climate event in history where millions of people around the world will unite by turning off their lights for one hour, Earth Hour, to demand action on the climate crisis.

-->When is Earth Hour?

* Earth Hour 2009 takes place on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm–local time.
* Just like New Years Eve, Earth Hour will travel from time zone to time zone starting at 8:30pm in New Zealand.

What do we hope to accomplish through Earth Hour 2009?

* Through Earth Hour, WWF hopes to create political momentum for enacting national climate legislation and a global climate treaty.
* Through Earth Hour, WWF will continue to educate and raise awareness about the climate crisis and offer ideas and solutions that people can merge into their daily lives.
* Through Earth Hour, WWF aims to unify people's voices from around the world who are demanding action form our elected officials to solve the climate crisis.

-->What does a pledge to turn out your lights involve and commit me to?

Participating in Earth Hour is easy. All you have to do is sign up at www.EarthHourUS.org, tell your friends / co-workers about it and then turn off all of your non-essential lighting on March 28th at 8:30pm. Through signing up you are not committing to anything specific. Rather you are agreeing that strong action needs to be taken to find a solution to the climate crisis.

-->Who can participate in Earth Hour?

Anyone. Earth Hour is an inclusive event and everyone is invited to participate. WWF will provide tools online to enable any town, community, school, individual or organization to be part of the event.

-->Why is Earth Hour at 8:30pm this year instead of 8pm?

As the campaign has grown from one city in one country to a truly global campaign, the time has been moved to allow the maximum number of cities around the world to be suitably dark for the lights out campaign to have a greater visual impact. Earth Hour is held around the spring equinox, which ensures nearly equal sunset times in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

-->Do I have to turn off all of my electricity for Earth Hour?

Not at all. Through Earth Hour we are asking people to turn off all non-essential lighting. Emergency lighting, televisions and computers can stay on for the hour. The main point of Earth Hour is to unite people, companies and governments around the world through the symbolic flip of a switch. Earth Hour in itself will not lower our carbon footprint, rather it sends a signal to those in a place of power that we as individuals and communities demand action.

The decision on which lights to turn off can be made individually, but usually consists of overhead lights in rooms (whether it is your house or a business), outdoor lighting that does not impact safety, computers, decorative lights, neon signs for advertising, televisions, desk lamps, etc.

Visit www.EarthHourUS.org for more information.

Evolution: Education and Outreach journal celebrates Darwin throughout 2009

2009-02-10T15:52:00.002-05:00

The latest issue of Evolution: Education and Outreach — the new journal aspiring to promote accurate understanding and comprehensive teaching of evolutionary theory for a wide audience — is now available on-line, free:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/120878/

From the press release:

"Throughout 2009, the journal will celebrate the life and work of Charles Darwin.

Featured accordingly in the latest issue are articles on Darwin: "Why Darwin," "Artificial Selection and Domestication: Modern Lessons from Darwin's Enduring Analogy," "Charles Darwin and Human Evolution," "Experimenting with Transmutation: Darwin, the Beagle, and Evolution,"
"Darwin's 'Extreme' Imperfection," and "The 'Popular Press' Responds to Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species and His Other Works." Studies of teaching and learning are presented as well: "Assessment of Biology Majors' Versus Nonmajors' Views on Evolution, Creationism, and
Intelligent Design," "Educational Malpractice: The Impact of Including Creationism in High School Biology Courses," "Teaching Evolution in Primary Schools: An Example in French Classroom," and the late Michael E. N. Majerus's "Industrial Melanism in the Peppered Moth, Biston betularia: An Excellent Teaching Example of Darwinian Evolution in Action." There are also reviews of Michael Shermer's Why Darwin Matters and Rob DeSalle and Ian Tattersall's Human Origins."

And much more.

Clarity on HSLDA Warning about David Ogden

2009-02-06T13:44:00.004-05:00

The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has sent out a warning missive, advising "members and friends" to oppose the nomination of David Ogden as US deputy attorney general.

HSLDA points out that Ogden's position is the "second highest" in the Justice Department, suggesting much but clarifying little. To best understand what, if any threat, Ogden might pose, it's important to understand the issues at hand with respect to the office in question. According to the US Department of Justice:

“The Deputy Attorney General advises and assists the Attorney General in formulating and implementing Departmental policies and programs and in providing overall supervision and direction to all organizational units of the Department. The Deputy Attorney General is authorized to exercise all the power and authority of the Attorney General, except where such power or authority is prohibited by law from delegation or has been delegated to another official. In the absence of the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General acts as the Attorney General.”

He is not of, and by himself, a threat because of his beliefs and past practices. Yet HSLDA "urges all of its members to immediately telephone both U.S. senators from your state to oppose the nomination of David Ogden" largely based on "his belief that the rules found in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are already binding on the United States under the doctrines of international law."

Ogden's beliefs regarding international law and its applications domestically may certainly an issue, but to hinge rejection of his nomination on how that might, remotely, affect homeschooling in the US is short sighted and misguided.

HSLDA sites Ogden's ruling In the Supreme Court case of Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005), where Ogden argued that the rules banning the juvenile death penalty contained in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child were customary norms of international law “binding on all states.” They refer readers to an HSLDA Michael Farris article from 2007

Actually, a more critical examination of the Roper case can be found at the Heritage Foundation . HSLDA quoting HSLDA does not a case make.

HSLDA goes on to say, "This means that Ogden believes that the legal rules contained in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are already binding on the United States, even though this treaty has never been sent to the U.S. Senate for ratification.

"Homeschoolers have long understood the dangers of this international treaty, which contains the core principle that the government may decide what it believes is best for each child without any proof of wrongdoing by the child’s parents. Ogden promoted the use of this UN treaty in the Supreme Court to reach the conclusion that America’s courts have the power to overrule state law, using international law as their guidepost for constitutional interpretation. Unfortunately, he was successful in doing so in the Roper case."

And homeschoolers have long been led astray by HSLDA on this issue. Please visit LIFEs National Homeschool Issues Quick Links page for more comprehensive reading on this issue.

HSLDA further contends, "If this weren’t enough, Ogden has a history of representing Playboy and other purveyors of pornography in high-profile legal cases. He also challenged the legality of using filters on library computers to protect children from seeing pornography. It would be hard to imagine how Ogdenwould faithfully enforce the nation's pornography laws if he is placed in this position at the Justice Department."

Plenty of conjecture here. We challenge the implications of legislating morality.

And then, HSLDA has the audacity to conclude, "The United States Senate needs to understand right now that the American public will not countenance the idea of the nation being led by people who believe that international law trumps American law."

HSLDA perhaps should understand right now that it no more speaks for "the American public" than it does for all homeschoolers.

If you do decide to oppose Ogden's nomination, please do so on the basis of common sense, and informed reason, not based on hyper-reaction to HSLDA scare tactics.

For more information on David Ogden, please read:

Christian right challenges Obama's Justice picks

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iVg2jiaBA1jwVfCdsisXI0FbZD0AD965IPMG0

Who Runs Gov at

http://www.whorunsgov.com/index.php?title=Profiles/David_Ogden&highlight=David+Ogden

And for perspective on the impact of past attorney generals and the office, learn about the history and rulings of previous attorney general, Michael Mukasey: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Mukasey

‘Discrimination Through the Eyes of Our Youth’ Florida High School Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest

2008-12-17T10:38:00.002-05:00

Visit:

http://fchr.state.fl.us/outreach/40th_anniversary_psa_contest

for full details and entry form

Next year as part of our 40th anniversary celebration, the Florida Commission on Human RelationsFlorida. We are asking students to create and record a video PSA regarding human and civil rights and what that means to them. Topics that can be covered include color, race, age, sex, disability, national origin, religion, and familial or marital status. All of the contest information is available at http://fchr.state.fl.us/outreach/40th_anniversary_psa_contest.
will be hosting a PSA contest for high school students (grades 9-12) in

‘Discrimination Through the Eyes of Our Youth’

Florida High School Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest

Official Contest Rules

1. All entries must be original works created by students. Adults and media professionals may only provide encouragement, advice and guidance.

2. PSAs must cover one of the following areas: color, race, age, sex, disability, national origin, religion, familial status, marital status, hate crimes, human trafficking, bullying and sexual orientation. Students can incorporate personal experiences to show how these issues affect young people.

3. PSAs shall not be political in any way, and shall not include endorsements for a candidate, political party or issues. PSAs cannot lobby for or against, endorse or propose federal, state and/or local legislation or constitutional amendments.

4. The sponsoring teacher must submit the Entry Form, which will contain the proposed summary of the PSA and required signatures, to the Florida Commission on Human Relations on or before January 31, 2009. Commission staff will send approval messages within 3 weeks of receiving the entry form. To expedite the process, entry forms can be scanned and emailed to contest@fchr.state.fl.us. All original copies must be received by the Commission via postal mail.

5. Any copyrighted materials, materials containing a trademark or service mark or non-student work must include a release that gives the Florida Commission on Human Relations permission to use the information contained in the PSA without charge or liability of any nature or type.

6. Music, artwork, lyrics and other materials used in the PSA must be original or include authorization for its use form the holder of any trademark, service mark or copyright.

7. Students may work in groups of no more than five individuals, excluding actors, artists, or musicians.

8. All individuals participating in the contest (including actors, artists, and musicians) must sign and complete a release form that must be submitted with the final PSA.

9. Students may submit up to three PSA entries.

10. PSAs must be 25 seconds in duration from first visual/sound to finish and must include a copy of the script.

11. Entries should be submitted in DVD in .avi, .mov, or .DV format (.DV format is preferred). Each DVD must have a label that includes student names, school name, district, grade, and date(s) of production. Each DVD must include only one entry. If there is any problem with this required format, please let the Commission know.

12. Completed entries must be approved and submitted by school officials. All entries and required forms must be received by the Florida Commission on Human Relations by May 1, 2009.

13. Awards will be given to district winners in the 9th/10th and 11th/12th grade categories (a total of eight winners). A list of winners will be posted to the Florida Commission on Human Relations’ website.

14. Entries will not be returned and may be used by the Florida Commission on Human Relations for public education and promotion.

15. The Commission will include the FCHR logo and website information on the winning PSAs after the winners have been announced.

"My Political Notebook" on OpenCongress

2008-11-19T15:06:00.002-05:00

Congress is back in session. Lots of stuff is happening, giving you lots of opportunities to weigh in on everything from auto company bail outs to taxes. Now Open Congress offers "My Political Notebook:

It's a new way to save and share your favorite political content, from OpenCongress and
around the web.

"My Political Notebook" allows you to create a personal page of everything you're following in politics: news articles, blog posts, web videos, important files, and more. You can add content with one click using a handy bookmarklet for your web browser, or directly from pages on OpenCongress.

For example, one of the biggest issues in the news is whether Congress will include a bailout of the Big Three Automakers in a new economic stimulus package. "My Political Notebook" gives you a way to collect the best info about this developing story in one place, add your own notes & tags, and share it all with your friends.

To read more about "My Political Notebook", visit our blog announcement today ::

http://www.opencongress.org/articles/view/753

To jump right in and see it in action, check out the notebook of our lead blogger, Donny Shaw ::

http://www.opencongress.org/users/donnyshaw/profile/political_notebook

Finally, our friends Jay & Ryanne of RyanIsHungry.com recently made a great video tutorial on how to use OpenCongress to track all the bills and issues you care about ::

http://www.opencongress.org/about/screencast

Record Voter Turn Out in Florida

2008-11-05T10:58:00.005-05:00

According to the Florida Department of State Division of Elections, over 70% of Florida voters cast votes in this election -- that's 8,045,660 people!

It was a close call for president, with Obama winning just over 50% of the vote.

With respect to the state constitutional amendments on the ballot, results are as follows:

Defeated:
Amendment 1, calling for the removal of a law banning ownership of property by alien residents - 52% voted it down
Amendment 8, asking for approval to seek authorization from voters to increase sales tax to support community colleges - rejected by 56% of voters

Passed:
Amendment 2, the "gay marriage ban" amendment - passed by a 62% vote
Amendment 3, exempting homes from increased property value assessment due to changes made for safety and sustainability - approved by 60% of voters
Amendment 4, creating a new "conservation" land use classification to exempt property owners from taxes - by 68% of voters
Amendment 6, giving waterfront businesses a tax break for maritime use - approved by 70% of voters

Full election coverage at St. Petersburg Times

Barack Obama gives his victory speech in Chicago

2008-11-05T10:40:00.001-05:00

Homeschooling and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

2008-11-04T16:44:00.004-05:00

With respect to the currently (re)circulating UN Convention on the Rights of the Child contention that, if the Democratic Senator -- who is rumored to be unsupportive of homeschooling in the first place -- is elected, the first thing he will do is sign it and we’ll loose our right to homeschool, please consider the following:

Barack Obama does support home education:

http://progressivehomeschoolersofflorida.blogspot.com/2008/10/homeschooling-and-\
2008-election.html

and

BOTH Barack Obama and John McCain support the UNCRC:

http://debate.waldenu.edu/video/question-12/

Facts to consider about the effects of UNCRC on homeschooling:

Homeschooling has been illegal in Germany since before they signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and not as a result of the treaty: http://www.homeedmag.com/blogs/newscomm/?p=590

Reflections on the UNCRC from a homeschooler in Canada, a country which signed the treaty years ago:

http://freethinkinghomeschool.blogspot.com/2008/02/un-convention-on-rights-of-child-threat.html

and from Australia…

Myths and facts concerning the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Australia

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AJHR/1999/28.html

Obama and Homeschooling

2008-11-03T10:33:00.007-05:00

Angela M., a South Florida homeschooler, forwarded this along with permission to share it here:

__________________

In response to the “Candidates Views on Homeschooling” email that has been circulating, I just wanted to add what was missing from the analysis. If you actually go to Vote USA [which works to connect voters with candidates], there was plenty on the site that McCain had no response to, and neither of the candidates answered every question, it was not just those two that Obama did not answer.

Under parental involvement, Obama specifically says, “But there is no program and no policy that can substitute for a parent who is involved in their child's education from day one.” and, “Responsibility for our children's education has to start at home. We have to set high standards for them, and spend time with them, and love them. We have to hold ourselves accountable."

He also says in his general education statement that his "comprehensive plan to provide a world-class education for all Americans will... Empower parents to raise healthy and successful children by taking a greater role in their child's education at home and at school.”

Many of McCain’s responses were taken from his McCain for President website dated back to 1999.

I also wanted to share what I believe to be vital information for anyone out there that is trying to discredit Obama for being against homeschooling. The following information was received directly from Obama’s Campaign Office. All you have to do is ask.

------ Forwarded Message
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:04:06 -0500
Subject: Obama Campaign on Homeschooling

Hi Angela,

It was very nice to meet you today, and I really appreciate you coming in for more information. Here is what I have regarding homeschooling so far.

Issue of Homeschooling

Barack Obama and Joe Biden are firmly dedicated to reforming our education system so that children of all ages, socio-economic status, etc. have the opportunity to receive a world class education all the way from pre-school through college, not only making education affordable and accessible to all but also by rewarding expert, accomplished teachers for taking on challenging assignments and helping children succeed, raising education and performance standards, and eliminating/reforming programs that are not working.

A significant element of Barack Obama’s education plan is to Empower parents to raise healthy and successful children by taking a greater role in their child’s education at home and at school. As Obama stated during his convention speech this year, “We must also admit that programs alone can't replace parents, that government can't turn off the television and make a child do her homework, that fathers must take more responsibility to provide love and guidance to their children.”

While Barack Obama has never specifically discussed the issue of homeschooling in his speeches, debates ,etc. (because the majority of Americans send their kids to public or private schools) I can assure you that he is 100% supportive of parents who choose to school their kids at home and encourages all parents to take a proactive role in their children’s education.

Thanks for your support!

Best,
Claire Lehman

Field Organizer - Central Boca

Barack Obama - Florida Campaign for Change

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/flhome

clehman@floridaforchange.com

------ End of Forwarded Message

I also wanted to add two quotes from Obama’s book, “The Audacity of Hope” - the first of which talks specifically about homeschooling...

In his chapter on Family, he outlines many policy ideas to help parents meet the family-work balance and provide flexibility to parents’ schedules so that they can spend more time with their children.

“Of course,” he says on page 344, “none of these policies need discourage families from deciding to keep a parent at home, regardless of the financial sacrifices. For some families, that may mean doing without certain material comforts. For others, it may mean homeschooling or a move to a community where the cost of living is lower. For some families, it may be the father who stays at home – although for most families it will still be the mother who serves as the primary caregiver. Whatever the case may be, such decisions should be honored.”

He goes on to say “our modern culture sometimes fails to fully appreciate the extraordinary emotional and financial contributions – the sacrifices and just plain hard work – of the stay-at-home mom.”

In his chapter on Opportunity, he says on page 159 that we should be guided by “Lincoln’s simple maxim: that we will do collectively, through our government, only those things that we cannot do as well or at all individually and privately. In other words, we should be guided by what works.”

Homeschooling works, and has been proven to work.

Obama wants to help families spend more time with their children, and if homeschooling is their choice, and it works, then I have no doubt that he will support the growing movement of well-educated homeschooled youth around the nation. Sometimes you just have to look further to get the right facts, and know that you won’t always get a fair representation of the candidates’ views from organizations that obviously have an opinion.

Thank you.

Angela M

Homeschooling and the 2008 Election

2008-10-31T16:52:00.005-04:00

I want to address some contentions that I think are erroneous and misleading that are currently making the rounds of homeschool communities; and that’s namely that whoever wins the presidential election will determine whether we get to continue homeschooling.

To put it mildly, I think that’s stuff and nonsense. Our nation is confronted with an economic crisis the likes of which we haven’t seen in nearly 80 years, health care issues, foreign policy issues, wars on at least two fronts, and climate change issues. I can pretty much guarantee you that the first thing any incoming president does will NOT have anything to do with homeschooling or the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

There’s a lot more at stake in this election than homeschooling, which isn’t an issue on anyone’s platform. I think we should all be more concerned with national issues of economy, health care and foreign policy than the states issues of homeschooling right now.

Whoever you vote for, whatever you vote for, please make your vote an intelligent and informed one, based on facts and not fear mongering conjecture. Homeschooling is alive and well and thriving in America, influencing educational choices nationwide, inspiring innovation in pubic and private education that will not be reversed, and neither John McCain nor Barack Obama will significantly affect it one way or another.

And if at any point, there is any threat coming from the national level with respect to how you homeschool, I can guarantee you it won’t come from the White House, but from wolves in sheeps' clothing like HSLDA and other special interests with private agendas masquerading as homeschool saviors.

Protect your right to homeschool by supporting everyone’s rights to live, worship and learn in ways best for their families. Vote with common sense and intelligence, not fear.

Terri Willingham
Progressive Homeschoolers of Florida
http://ProgressiveHomeschoolersofFlorida.blogspot.com

I Can't Let the Election Unravel...Not This Time

2008-10-29T08:09:00.002-04:00

What to do if you're challenged at the polls - From GoodVote.org:

When you go to vote, do you know what to do if someone tells you you're not on the list or there's a problem with your voter registration?

1. Don't just walk away. This is the most important thing.

2. Only as a last resort should you accept a provisional ballot.

3. Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-697-8683) or go to 866OURVOTE.org if you have questions or need help. A trained team of advisors is available to resolve problems.

Over 10,000 lawyers are dispatched to the polling places on Election Day to help assure that the 2008 election reflects the will of the American people.

"I can't watch this election unravel over corruption, not this time."

PS: You can also call CNN's voter hotline at 1-800-462-6608.

HSLDA Intrudes on Florida Matters, and Personal Freedom

2008-10-20T16:21:00.006-04:00

Heads up Florida homeschoolers -- HSLDA is trying to "help" us again. According to a recent Home School Legal Defense Association email alert:

"..parental rights are based on "Western civilization concepts of the family." When those concepts are no longer the legal definition of the family in this nation, then the foundation upon which parental rights are based is completely removed. Therefore, HSLDA will continue to fight against same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage attacks the traditions of the family in Western civilization. This is an attack on parental rights. This is a battle the homeschooling movement cannot afford to lose."

One has to wonder if parental rights in the Eastern Hemisphere are also based on "Western civilization concepts of the family." What the heck does that even mean? Well, HSLDA says it stems from the 2000 Supreme Court case, Troxel v. Granville , in which the Supreme Court worded a portion of its ruling, "Our jurisprudence historically has reflected Western civilization concepts of the family as a unit with broad parental authority over minor children. Our cases have consistently followed that course."

The case had nothing whatsoever to do with same sex marriage, but involved a visitation rights dispute. The bottom line in the case was actually the court's recognition of the "fundamental right of parents to direct their children’s upbringing."

Nowhere in this case is there any apparent reference to the gender of parents, or its affects on those rights one way or another. Further, HSLDA seems to think same sex marriage somehow "attacks" the "traditions of the family in Western civilization" and parental rights, and declares "This is a battle the homeschooling movement cannot afford to lose."

The battle we really can't afford to loose is the one against rights limiting fear mongers like HSLDA:

who would use a constitution to take away rights instead of preserving them;
who feel it's acceptable to legislate personal matters of the heart and mind;
who would rule by fear, misinformation and intimidation to forward their own narrow agenda;
who use homeschoolers and homeschooling for their own personal gains.

Same sex marriage is not a homeschooling issue. It will not affect homeschooling one way or another. We cannot preserve our own rights to lead the lives we desire -- to marry or live with whom we wish, to direct the education of our children, to live the lifestyles we choose -- by taking away the rights of others to do the same.

Vote NO on 2 and tell HSLDA to keep its own house in order and stay out of yours.

PHF

Students "elect" Obama President in Scholastic Poll

2008-10-17T17:23:00.001-04:00

Political handicappers take note: If you need a fresh, new demographic to help predict the outcome of the Nov. 4 presidential election, ask non-voters younger than 18.It turns out students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade have been on the right side of history in 15 of the past 17 presidential elections.This year, they're going with Obama.

In a large straw poll taken every four years, the readers of Scholastic magazines spent weeks filling in presidential ballots, snipping them out and turning them in.

Today the results are official:

• 57% chose Democratic Sen. Barack Obama.

• 39% chose Republican Sen. John McCain.

The student voters — about 250,000 this year — have an 88% prediction rate. Only twice since 1940 have their results been at odds with the nation's: in 1948, when Harry Truman defeated Thomas Dewey, and in 1960, when John F. Kennedy beat Richard Nixon. (To students' credit, their balloting closed before the televised Nixon-Kennedy debates that historians consider a game-changer.)

Complete story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-10-14-obama-scholastic-poll_N.htm

Wiki Candidate '08

2008-10-09T14:08:00.001-04:00

An entertaining, illuminating and somewhat educational idea...

WikiCandidate
http://www.wikicandidate08.com/

First and foremost, WikiCandidate is intended to be a fun site and a vibrant online community. It is also a research project run by graduate students in the Department of Communication of Cornell University. The following is intended to give you an introduction to the site.

...Creating WikiCandidate is a great way to voice your opinion and discuss issues relevant to U.S. politics and the current presidential election. You may be a political activist, a writer, an artist, a student; you may be young or old, a US citizen or an international, of any gender, religion, or political affiliation. If you think that the US presidential election is going to impact your life, WikiCandidate is an outlet for your ideas.

WikiCandidate is also a growing community. The site is a place to socialize with peers, to strengthen the ties of an online or offline group, and to meet and interact with exciting people who share your interests in politics, technology, or both. Feel free to invite friends and spread the word. You can form coalitions of like-minded people to work out positions and provide further support for your views and opinions. If you're a blogger or a YouTuber, you're welcome to create content on other sites and link it to WikiCandidate08.com, or add your blog to WikiCandidate's blogroll. If you're an artist and would like to create materials or merch related to the WikiCandidate campaign, there is a space for you to link it to this site.

WikiCandidate is intended to be an innovative way for you to get involved in the political discussion and meet new people.

Part of the fictional candidates biography:
DeWiki III was home-schooled for the majority of his early life by the family governess Anna Karnegie (also his father’s mistress) who taught the young Julian and his siblings reading, writing, mathematics, languages (Spanish, French, Japanese, and an Eskimo dialect), music (piano, viola and accordion), art and cookery.

Introduction to PeaceJam's Global Call to Action

2008-10-06T09:23:00.002-04:00

PeaceJam , Penguin Young Readers Group , and the Pearson Foundation have announced a new initiative, the PeaceJam Global Call to Action Challenge. The challenge offers young activists everywhere the chance to work directly with a Nobel Laureate in their own school. The Global Call to Action Challenge is an extension of the newly-published Penguin Young Readers book, "PeaceJam: A Billion Simple Acts of Peace." Through PeaceJam's Global Call to Action, Nobel Laureates such as the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Rigoberta Menchu Tum are asking young people around the world to commit themselves to creating a billion community-serving projects in the next decade.

About Peace Jam:
Ten leading Nobel Peace Laureates (The Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Oscar Arias, Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Prime Minister José-Ramos Horta, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Máiread Corrigan Maguire, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, and Betty Williams) launched the PeaceJam Foundations Global Call to Action with the youth of the world on September 15th, 2006 as a part of PeaceJam's 10th Anniversary Celebration. This is a decade-long, worldwide campaign, and we invite all of the people of the world to join this global effort.

World Habitat Day

2008-10-06T09:11:00.003-04:00

From Habitat for Humanity:

As part of our mission to make housing a matter of conscience and action, Habitat for Humanity will raise its voice to support World Habitat Day on Monday, October 6, 2008.

This year, Habitat for Humanity is demonstrating support of World Habitat Day by shining the spotlight on the lack of secure tenure for the world’s poor.

World Habitat Day, an annual event created by the United Nations, falls on the first Monday in October and unites people of goodwill and organizations around the cause of housing to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

For the more than 1.6 billion people suffering from some sort of shelter deprivation in the world, that future is bleak. Without access to adequate shelter, clean water or sanitation, upwards of 10 million people die each year from preventable diseases. Many of them are infants. In some parts of the world, entire families face forced eviction from property or land they own.

Urbanization continues at a rapid rate, with half of humanity now living in towns and cities. Today, one-third of the current urban population—a staggering 1 billion people—live in slums. By 2030, estimates are that two-thirds of the world’s population will be urban dwellers, exponentially increasing the number of people living in slums if action is not taken to provide decent and affordable housing.

Learn more at

http://www.habitat.org/gov/take_action/world_habitat_day.aspx