What is going on in our schools?

Happy Elf Mom pointed out an incident of special needs children being punished by putting cotton balls in their mouths.   That's just crazy.

In South Atlanta, a child was beaten with a shoe... on her BARE bottom.  That's criminal.



Let's get it together schools!.


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Reasons I am glad we homeschool: Crazy parents in the carpool lane




Karolyn Browden is still shaken by the encounter earlier this week at Arabia Mountain High School when she said a parent pulled a gun on her as she waited to drop her child off.
http://www.ajc.com/news/parent-recalls-facing-gun-1192612.html
 An encounter like this would make me never bring my kid to that school again!


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Homeschooling in progress

 One of my daughters strange learning rituals.
(Using large flat screen TV for computer, and surrounded by a  neat circle of notes)
oh, and she's singing. 

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Getting over the first impression of homeschooling


 So before I even get started, I am going to say go read this blog post, then come back.  In the aforementioned post at Hip Homeschool Moms, the writer recounts her very first introduction to homeschooling.  She said something innocently, and was greeted with cutting sarcasm.  I think this happens a lot.  Are we all just so jaded that we can't tell an innocent question from a stupid remark.

 When I think back to some of my earliest introductions to homeschooling, I shudder. 

First there was the family that accosted us as a pool party, all happy, and shiny, and educated, and tried to convince me to homeschool Rambo style. 

Then there was the time I tried to inquire into a homeschool group when I lived in New Orleans.  After describing myself to someone who agreed to meet with me, she almost abruptly hung up the phone.  We were having such a great conversation until I described myself as African American with braids...then it got weird. (This was over a decade ago and in an interesting part of the country).  It was a few years before I looked into homeschooling again.

I am still amazed that I shrugged off the first homeschool co-op meeting I went to where everyone gave a testimony that God told them to homeschool and then practically broke out into a brawl over math curriculum options.  I only went to one homeschool group meeting after that... in 10 years.

So I just want to echo what was said at the aforementioned blog.  That is, if you really care to help new people who may desire to homeschool, be nice.  Don't assume they are an idiot, or wrong for homeschooling.  Be encouraging and kind.... mKay?


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I never thought I fit in with other homeschoolers

Ever since we began homeschooling, I have felt like a strange egg in a sea of strange ducks.  I know I am not a typical parent because I don't have patience for a lot of the mom stuff, especially school stuff.  So as I homeschooler, you would think I'd fit right in... right?  Nope.  No.

I hear all of these enthusiastic homeschoolers talking curriculum and such and my eyes glaze over, and I am pretty sure my lazy eye crosses because people start looking at me funny. Everybody wants to share tips.  Every body wants to make judgement on someone who they think may not be homeschooling just right.  Everybody wants to agree. But here's how I see it.  If I wanted to follow instructions, I would have left my kids in school.

I have been visiting over at Rants From Mommyland for the past couple of days and finally, I found some girls I feel at home with... probably because they curse.  They're real. I especially enjoyed the few posts they have about homeschooling.  Some are guest posts, and another is about when a neighbor decided to homeschool.  By the way ladies, I would love an update on that.


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Dear blog Spammers, You are getting on my last nerve

 Let me start by saying that I hate deleting blog comments.  Lots of comments make my blog look all lovoed and stuff.  But that fuzzy feeling of seeing 4, 5, or 6 comments isn't going to keep my from hitting that tiny garbage can icon if I must.

When you read my blog post, if you actually read it, at the bottom you will see the words that say "spam free comment"... so what makes it OK to leave your spam?  I don't like it.

Let's look at today's spammers for example:

Rosetta Stone:  Really?????  You can't afford to buy an ad?  I'll gladly sell you an ad.  Why should I find three blatent links to your site in my comment box when I wake up this morning.  Don't you see my side bar where people actually respect my blog enough to purchase a stinking ad?  And... I'm cheap.  Plus, I like your product.  If you'd ask, I'd go through my blogs, find everywhere I mentioned your company, an put a stinking link... for next to nothing.  Please don't abuse me.

((Now I am realizing that it may be a counterfeit site using my blog to glean traffic from Rosetta Stone.  If that is the case, I am glad I deleted it.... and I'll do it again.  But if the real Rosetta Stone wants an ad... hit me up. ))

Order paper:  If you think for a minute that I am going to leave links to a site that takes money from lazy and or stupid students to do their work for them, then you are even dumber than the students.  Period.  Don't even ask me to put such an ad on my site.  It wont happen.

Joomla templates:  Your half hearted comment was a nice attempt.  It is clear you never even read the blog post. You website is nice too, but if you want to use my site to funnel traffic to your company, then you need to pay... m-Kay.

My readers deserve more than your spam.

Take care.

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So Here's where we are at in the whole homeschool college search

College #1 application is almost complete.  He loves this college so much that we went to an open house day and they told us to apply  last September, so his application has been in process for a year now.  All he needs to do is submit his art portfolio to increase his scholarship chances. This college has rolling admissions, so an acceptance letter will not mean he HAS to go to THIS school if he is accepted.  Our feedback so far is that his homeschool portfolio is awesome.

College #2 application is ready to go out... just waiting for the early application deadline to pass so he is not considered early enrollment as they are not his first choice, just a comparison point. While is best friend is at the school, he says that will not sway him... it will probably come down to dollars and cents.

There are a couple of other colleges that are pretty much ruled out, but he may apply to one or two of them for grins and giggles... especially the one that already sent a scholarship letter... followed by a letter inviting him to apply, no charge.  It's a nice offer, but they offer NO art.... and very little graphic design.  It is more of a bible college than anything else.  That's great, but you'd think they would have a program for people who wanted to work in Christian media.. Christian TV, Christian websites for kids.... that sort of thing.  We are going to ask about the options for filling electives at other colleges before ruling them out completely. The recruiter is kind of cracking me up.  His last letter was all like.... "Yeah, we know we don't offer what you're interested in, but we're Christian and you'll get to use your camera."  That's not very convincing. 

As a homeschooling mom, of course I have some worries and insecurities.  Have I educated him enough to be ready for college?  Our experience with online public schools tells me that is ready to work on someone else's timetable.  That is good.  Plus he also took and passed a language arts CLEP exam worth 6 credits.  So that's good.  However, his ACT score was median.  Period.  He didn't rock the test.  He didn't blow it out of the water.  He did well enough to meet the median ACT score for his first choice college.  His scores are very considered pretty good for the second choice and most of the other colleges too.  Still, as a homeschooler, you kind of want to SHOW THEM... the doubters, you know.

A final statement and point of pride...  That boy writes a mean essay.  I had him ready a book about college entry essays, then write his own.  It was so good I wanted to cry.  sniff... very proud. 

Hoping to get results soon.  I don't want to be dealing with this all year.




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12 grade year of homeschooling, Finishing Strong

We are almost done with my college prep series. There will still be a video on completing the transcript.    Stay tuned... meanwhile, ...