Not Another Homeschool Blog

In order for a person to have power, he would need some powerless folks to lord over.  Let's look at the relationship between the Medieval Lord and Surf. The serfs worked the land in addition to doing extra work for the for the lords in exchange for food and protection. The land, the wealth, and the army belonged to the Lord. Meanwhile, the Noble Lord death with prayers, politics, and sometimes fighting.  There was often evening entertainment.  Without the work of the serf, the lord would not be able to maintain is more cushy, though often more stressful life. Bring that to modern day for comparison, and we have the working poor and the filthy rich. Take Walmart for instance. Walmart workers are tied to low skill, low paying jobs, in order to scrape by to keep the family off the streets.  They barely make enough money to accomplish that.  Many Walmart workers are also on government assistance. Meanwhile, Walmart owners, are kabillionaires, making infathomable ...

New research confirms that black students excel when they are taught by black teachers . Interestingly enough, three years ago, a different study contended that the race of children doesn't matter . The way I see it, each of these statements is true... and also false. I have observed through personal relationships, and/or just plain observation that a child will be who you set in their mind they will be.  If you tell a child he is stupid, he will act stupid. If you say a child is bad at math, she will continue to be bad at math. Children are very open to suggestion. This is just part of the problem. I also know, just from dealing with my own kids and observing others, that children will meet the bar you set, and no more. So if you place the bar low, the child will meet it and then coast from that point.  If you keep raising the bar, children will work to meet the bar. Eventually, if you keep raising the bar, they will learn to keep excelling on their own... if you keep l...

The Complete Works of Shakespeare ...  Abridged!  I made 2 and altered the rest.  A guy is playing the women's parts! Gertrude (made with no pattern) Lavina (also made with no pattern) Ophelia Juliet Cleopatra  I am still working on the nurse costume... and kilts for Macbeth!  So if you are wondering why I haven't produced any art work in a while... here's why.

This was the exact thought I had when I decided to homeschool my kids...and the sentiment is growing, especially among African Americans. Black families have become one of the fastest-growing demographics in homeschooling, with black students making up an estimated 10 percent of the homeschooling population. (For comparison’s sake, they make up 16 percent of all public-school students nationwide, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.) And while white homeschooling families traditionally cite religious or moral disagreements with public schools in their decision to pull them out of traditional classroom settings, studies indicate black families are more likely to cite the culture of low expectations for African American students or dissatisfaction with how their children—especially boys—are treated in schools.   read more

Not why most people homeschool, but this rings true to me.

I went right from making costumes for the Dorothy /Alice show to making costumes for a Shakespearian show.  I am very happy about that. Next to murals, (or set painting, which I have to get in better shape to do) this is my favorite form of art, I think. Right now I am exploring period proper clothing, modern relaxed clothing that is an homage to the Elizabethan era, i.e. the time of Shakespeare.  I am also exploring outfits that take a humorous twist on clothing of the time period.  The mashup will be interesting. Interestingly enough, I would have never become interested and involved in costuming, were it not for homeschooling.  Following my daughter's interests led me to making costumes for her drama club which I absolutely love. This led to her becoming more interested in costuming as well, and seeing it as a possible side job to her acting aspirations.  She has implored me to keep it up, as she sees it as something we can do together when she is done w...

I've been really busy since depositing the kids back at college. I have been doing volunteer work for a community theatre, and my job right now is to make costumes for a show that is quickly approaching, so I haven't had the opportunity to write or do art-work.  Or have I? Some of the costumes I have created have turned out to be some interesting works of art.   Here are some of the things I have made. Wonderland flower.  a few fake flower bouquets attached to a sin visor.  Wonderland flower dress.  Green pillowcase dress with tulle tutu Tin man hat.  A plastic funnel, grey and shiny silver duck tape and some christmas garland Tin man suit. Silver sweatsuit I found, with wire sewing into the hems to make it rounded.