Huh?

Looks like George got "left behind".

If you have 40 minutes to spare

Here is the John Stossel special called Stupid in America...

It's very interesting

Sticks and Stones

A recent NEA article ridicules homeschooling and calls us wannabees and well meaning amateurs.

Here is an excerpt:

Home Schools Run By Well-Meaning Amateurs
Schools With Good Teachers Are Best-Suited to Shape Young Minds
By Dave Arnold

There's nothing like having the right person with the right experience, skills and tools to accomplish a specific task. Certain jobs are best left to the pros, such as, formal education.


There are few homeowners who can tackle every aspect of home repair. A few of us might know carpentry, plumbing and, let’s say, cementing. Others may know about electrical work, tiling and roofing. But hardly anyone can do it all.

Same goes for cars. Not many people have the skills and knowledge to perform all repairs on the family car. Even if they do, they probably don’t own the proper tools. Heck, some people have their hands full just knowing how to drive.

you can read the rest here is you feel so inclined.

All I really want to say in response to this ridiculous diatribe is sticks and stone may break my bones... but words.. they'll never hurt me.

Seriously, any homeschooler worth their weight in salt knows when they are capable of teaching a subject themselves and when to look for outside resources.

If you want a cute analogy like the writer supplied... we all know when to brush our teeth, and when to take go to the dentist for a root canal. We're not idiots. Few homeschooling families attempts all subjects at home.

You know and I know that teaching really isn't as hard as it looks. Now teaching 30 kids... I would equate to walking through hell in gasoline underwear, but teaching 1,2, or 10 kids that you know intimately, well, that's much easier.

Oh, and socialization... fuggedaboutit! It's a crock.

What people like Mr. Arnold needs to realize is that comparing teachers to homeschooling moms, or school to homeschooling is like comparing apples to carrots.

Both are nutritional. One just makes it allot easier to get a child to swallow.

Teachers Not Allowed to Pray

what do you think? Should teachers be free to participate in prayer if it is their desire?

Good News for Current and Prospective College Students

Hopefully.

This is on the College Cost Reduction Act

If your child is choosing a service carreer, this is something you need to remember.

"Incidents of Teacher-Student Sex Increasing"

What is wrong with these teachers who can't draw a line between a student under their care and an adult who they can have sex with?

Reports like this make me glad I homeschool.

Educational website Kids.gov redesigned

Foreign Language Being Squeezed out of GA Schools

"Several speakers at a public hearing before the state Board of Education
said the exclusion of foreign languages or fine arts as core requirements in
the proposal will have dire, unintended consequences.

"We anticipate a reduction of access to language education in Georgia," said
Carol Semonsky, an associate professor of foreign language education at
Georgia State University.

Speakers told the board that new math and science requirements would freeze
out other subjects like foreign languages and arts.

The proposed changes in all would require public high school students to
pass four years of math and science, up from three years, and earn at least
23 credits instead of 22." (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

I sure am glad we homeschool.

Fifth Grade Students Accidentally shown porn

What bothers me the most about this story is that there is allot of ambiguity about who is responsible for the egregious action. They are making it sound like some innocent mistake.

I am not saying the teacher purposely showed porn to the kids, but I am saying that "someone's" actions resulted in the kids seeing the porn. It seems the school is being very slow to say what is very plain.

This is yet another reason to homeschool.

I don't have words for this

I wish kids would have enough confidence to tell as soon as these things happen.

You finish school when you've learned

"At the core of the Chugach model is this rule: To move to the next level, you must master the one that precedes it. There is no sitting in the back row and skating by. Every child must learn every subject at every level, passing with proficiency equivalent to at least 80 percent -- essentially, a B minus. And when they're done, they're done, whether that means they finish when they're sixteen or twenty-one. "

Looks like this school has picked up on the best aspect of homeschooling! remainder of article here:

Public Arab School in New York City?

So let me see if I understand this.

Americans can't pray in school.
Americans can't use the word God in the Pledge of Allegiance.
No Christianity can be displayed in school.

But our tax dollars are supporting this?

Here is some background information:

Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

How Do American Schools Measure Up? They Don't

In this news report, they say that education is better than it was 20 years ago... I take issue with that. They also admit, however that Amercian Schools don't measure up to countries like Japan, Russia, etc.

Another reason to homeschool.

What are our responsiblities as teachers?

Whether you are a parent teacher, or paid teacher you have certain responsibilities to your students.

You need to teach the values of a civilized society.
You teach in a way that students will learn what they need to survive and even excell.
You need to model all of these things so as not to confuse children.

Just as you cannot have a teacher with bad grammar teach students grammar, you cannot have someone with questionable morals form the values of students.

But more and more, the people teaching most of America's students are giving mouth service only. The problem is, children learn faster from what you do than they do from what you say.

Look at the actions of this public school teacher.

What do you think this taught the students? I think it taught them that it is OK to to get a "hookup" i.e. possess stolen property.

I say it is theft. What do you think?

It is a sad day...

When kids start needing bullet proof backpacks.

So naturally their backs are covered and they cannot take a direct hit in the back. thier sides however are unprotected. To protect thier fronts, they have to take the pack off and use it as a shield which can take some training. They can still get hit in the legs and head.

When I was in school, the biggest danger was getting beat up by someone who had a "beef" with one for one reason or another. I remember two or three incedents where I had to talk my way out of a fight either through explanation, apology, or reasoning.

You can't reason with a gun... and probably not a gun holder either.

see stories below:

Student suspended for wearing shirt and tie?

HEY! I can upload videos without first posting on YouTube... Awesome! I hate the screen shots though... I look like I've been drinking!



So basically what I am saying is dress codes make no real difference to me one way or another. Kids will dress in a way that reflects what they value. But when a kid is suspended for showing that he values giving a good impression. That's just criminal.

Schools had more suspensions than students

Seems to me like no tolerance laws are not working.

When I was back in school, they used to give early morning detention for being late. I was late once after my sisters nurse was late for work (I had a sister on home care and could not leave until the nurse got there). No one wanted to listen long enough to hear that I had a real reason for being late. It took days and alot of defiance on my part to get my point across.

I suspect they listen even less these days.

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I thought they had cameras on the school bus!

Off the topic of homeschool but a reason why I am glad I do.

This is a story that all parents should be aware of if anyone transports their kids for any reason. It is a shame that this went on for three years What is even more of a shame is that there was a block in familial communication that prevented the girl from letting her parents know what was going on for a whole three years!

Oh, and speaking of keeping children safe here is a website that will help monitor internet use.

Maybe they've learned their lesson

Two school boys went on a butt slapping spree in school. They spent a couple of nights in jail and are faced with fines and more. It looks like they have learned their lesson. I doubt they'll be slapping any other girls on their behinds.

But... can you imagine someone doing that to your daughter? How would you feel? Would you let your girls drop the charges for an apology and small fine? It reminds me of the boys who used to flip up the back of my catholic school uniform skirt in school. I wish such harrassment had been taken as seriously.

Another Reason to be glad we homeschool

Random Principal decides to randomly yank AP classes mid year and replace with useless electives. (find full story on Joanne Jacobs blog)