Comments for News & Commentary http://homeedmag.com/newscomm Exploring homeschooling issues, ideas, and more Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:51:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on IDEA in Idaho is not homeschooling by Len http://homeedmag.com/newscomm/public-school-at-home/idea-in-idaho-is-not-homeschooling/#comment-4196 Len Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:51:51 +0000 http://www.homeedmag.com/newscomm/?p=1449#comment-4196 I used to have the opinion that homeschool was homeschool and "school at home" was still public school. I have never considered on-line charter schools homeschooling, but IDEA is VERY different. First I have been homeschooling for three years(no state help, until this yr and only one). We recently found out about IDEA and I decided to enroll my kindergartner while still homeschooling my oldest. We do EXACTLY what I did before with the exceptions of paying less out of pocket and the required testing. We still have the same schedule, and a lot of our curriculum has stayed the same, I pick the curriculum I would like my daughter to use from the list of IDEA approved curriculum. I do ALL the teaching, her teacher does very little, mostly the paperwork, her assessments, and support. I would consider IDEA closer to "homeschool" than on-line. Whether we will continue with the IDEA next year or not is still up in the air. I think IDEA is an excellent choose for those parents that want to "homeschool" but are scared (and yes it is a little scary taking that leap), it can give them a taste without the full commitment. I used to have the opinion that homeschool was homeschool and “school at home” was still public school. I have never considered on-line charter schools homeschooling, but IDEA is VERY different. First I have been homeschooling for three years(no state help, until this yr and only one). We recently found out about IDEA and I decided to enroll my kindergartner while still homeschooling my oldest. We do EXACTLY what I did before with the exceptions of paying less out of pocket and the required testing. We still have the same schedule, and a lot of our curriculum has stayed the same, I pick the curriculum I would like my daughter to use from the list of IDEA approved curriculum. I do ALL the teaching, her teacher does very little, mostly the paperwork, her assessments, and support. I would consider IDEA closer to “homeschool” than on-line. Whether we will continue with the IDEA next year or not is still up in the air. I think IDEA is an excellent choose for those parents that want to “homeschool” but are scared (and yes it is a little scary taking that leap), it can give them a taste without the full commitment.

]]> Comment on Thailand: A Homeschooling Dad’s Perspective by Hermann Krause http://homeedmag.com/newscomm/articles-about-homeschooling/thailand-a-homeschooling-dads-perspective/#comment-4078 Hermann Krause Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:15:35 +0000 http://www.homeedmag.com/newscomm/?p=1840#comment-4078 Dear Susan Ryan, living in Thailand since 20 years and taking care of a 11 years old foster-daughter, I find myself once again in a situation, where I have to consider homeschooling ernestly for the girl. Since 2 years we live in Chiang Rai. Would it be possible, to contact Khun Wisit directly or could you forward my adress to him? Thanks for your efforts in advance. Best wishes Hermann Dear Susan Ryan,

living in Thailand since 20 years and taking care of a 11 years old foster-daughter, I find myself once again in a situation, where I have to consider homeschooling ernestly for the girl.
Since 2 years we live in Chiang Rai. Would it be possible, to contact Khun Wisit directly or could you forward my adress to him?
Thanks for your efforts in advance.

Best wishes

Hermann

]]> Comment on Gilroy, California again by Karen Roddy http://homeedmag.com/newscomm/regulations/gilroy-california-again/#comment-4070 Karen Roddy Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:08:07 +0000 http://www.homeedmag.com/newscomm/?p=476#comment-4070 There is a meeting in San Luis Obispo on January 24 that homeschooling families might be interested in attending. I’ve attached a flyer, and below are the specifics. This organization is looking for more homeschooling families to participate. Parent Information Night What: Foreign language exchange for children 9 to 16 years old Where: Old Mission School, 761 Broad St., San Luis Obispo When: Tuesday, January 24 @ 6:30 p.m. (children welcome!) --- 3-6 month Foreign Language Exchanges for children 9 to 16 - 30+ years experience - 2,000+ successful exchanges - students return bilingual - non-profit French organization - reasonable costs - American students live in France, Germany or Spain - 2 students/2 families, friendship for life --- En Famille International - www.enfamille.com - For more information contact karenroddy@enfamille.com There are several of these language exchanges going on in the SLO area and I can put people in touch with the families. One of the families was on the news (ksby) in SLO on Monday talking about En Famille. Here is the link: http://www.ksby.com/videos/exchange-program-allows-local-kids-under-13-to-travel/ This Parent Information Night will have a student panel of children who have participated in En Famille exchanges. En Famille is secular. There is a meeting in San Luis Obispo on January 24 that homeschooling families might be interested in attending.
I’ve attached a flyer, and below are the specifics. This organization is looking for more homeschooling families to participate.

Parent Information Night
What: Foreign language exchange for children 9 to 16 years old
Where: Old Mission School, 761 Broad St., San Luis Obispo
When: Tuesday, January 24 @ 6:30 p.m. (children welcome!)
—
3-6 month Foreign Language Exchanges for children 9 to 16
- 30+ years experience
- 2,000+ successful exchanges
- students return bilingual
- non-profit French organization
- reasonable costs
- American students live in France, Germany or Spain
- 2 students/2 families, friendship for life
—
En Famille International – http://www.enfamille.com –
For more information contact karenroddy@enfamille.com

There are several of these language exchanges going on in the SLO area and I can put people in touch with the families.
One of the families was on the news (ksby) in SLO on Monday talking about En Famille. Here is the link:
http://www.ksby.com/videos/exchange-program-allows-local-kids-under-13-to-travel/

This Parent Information Night will have a student panel of children who have participated in En Famille exchanges.
En Famille is secular.

]]> Comment on Connections Academy claims their program is “the opposite of homeschooling” by JC http://homeedmag.com/newscomm/public-school-at-home/connections-academy-claims-their-program-is-the-opposite-of-homeschooling/#comment-3618 JC Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:36:46 +0000 http://www.homeedmag.com/newscomm/?p=1065#comment-3618 As a parent of an elementary student enrolled in CA, I can tell you a more accurate statement would be Connections Academy is more of a "Homeschool Lite." Parents are involved in about 90% of the education and the curriculum requires parent intervention almost daily to discern what extra assignments are required- portfolios and study island mostly. Another similarity to home schooling is parents are required to pay for most project materials (required portfolios) and parents are responsible for 100% of transportation and all participation costs in so-called "school activities" such as field trips or events setup by "community coordinators." A big difference with homeschooling is that homeschoolers are never required to pay for other students' activities. At CA, first year students' tuition fees are used to pay for the activities of other students who have been enrolled at least 2 yrs at CA. For example, if you want to attend a field trip, you will arrange and pay for your own transportation and any entrance or activity fees, yet a 2nd or 3rd year student will have their fees paid for by CA using a pool of money from all students' tuitions. In my opinion CA is much closer to home schooling than to a public brick and mortar school- with the occasional "gotcha." The biggest difference? CA provides a laptop and printer, a few materials, but they do provide all textbooks and curriculum- something homeschoolers have to pay for themselves. As a parent of an elementary student enrolled in CA, I can tell you a more accurate statement would be Connections Academy is more of a “Homeschool Lite.”

Parents are involved in about 90% of the education and the curriculum requires parent intervention almost daily to discern what extra assignments are required- portfolios and study island mostly.

Another similarity to home schooling is parents are required to pay for most project materials (required portfolios) and parents are responsible for 100% of transportation and all participation costs in so-called “school activities” such as field trips or events setup by “community coordinators.”

A big difference with homeschooling is that homeschoolers are never required to pay for other students’ activities. At CA, first year students’ tuition fees are used to pay for the activities of other students who have been enrolled at least 2 yrs at CA.

For example, if you want to attend a field trip, you will arrange and pay for your own transportation and any entrance or activity fees, yet a 2nd or 3rd year student will have their fees paid for by CA using a pool of money from all students’ tuitions.

In my opinion CA is much closer to home schooling than to a public brick and mortar school- with the occasional “gotcha.”

The biggest difference? CA provides a laptop and printer, a few materials, but they do provide all textbooks and curriculum- something homeschoolers have to pay for themselves.

]]> Comment on California: do homeschoolers deserve a tax rebate? by mikey boy http://homeedmag.com/newscomm/state-news/california-do-homeschoolers-deserve-a-tax-rebate/#comment-3359 mikey boy Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:05:19 +0000 http://www.homeedmag.com/newscomm/?p=273#comment-3359 Nothing is better for kids than their parents and their home. To argue that the state can raise and educate better than parents is the ultimate decline of our free country. How about we give $10,000 per year for each child that can pass an academic assessment test for grade-level. That's half of what my state pays/wastes to educate a child. It would cut state education costs dramatically. And would make better homes and smarter kids! Nothing is better for kids than their parents and their home. To argue that the state can raise and educate better than parents is the ultimate decline of our free country.

How about we give $10,000 per year for each child that can pass an academic assessment test for grade-level. That’s half of what my state pays/wastes to educate a child. It would cut state education costs dramatically. And would make better homes and smarter kids!

]]> Comment on Unschooling report from Michigan by Joan McDaniel http://homeedmag.com/newscomm/articles-about-homeschooling/unschooling-report-from-michigan/#comment-3260 Joan McDaniel Sat, 03 Dec 2011 02:29:52 +0000 http://www.homeedmag.com/newscomm/?p=676#comment-3260 i am very interested in unschooling my children. I have some concerns as to if its legal and how to legally get started. And maybe some ideas on where to get started and how my children recieve a diploma... Thanks so much for your time. i am very interested in unschooling my children. I have some concerns as to if its legal and how to legally get started. And maybe some ideas on where to get started and how my children recieve a diploma… Thanks so much for your time.

]]> Comment on California: do homeschoolers deserve a tax rebate? by Linda G. http://homeedmag.com/newscomm/state-news/california-do-homeschoolers-deserve-a-tax-rebate/#comment-2875 Linda G. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 04:19:31 +0000 http://www.homeedmag.com/newscomm/?p=273#comment-2875 It is not fair that someone who never had children has to pay school taxes. In fact, someone with ten kids can use them as deductions, and therefore pay less than someone who has no kids. How is this fair?! We should be taxed at a higher level based on the number of kids we have, and those without children should be given a break -- not have to pay more than someone with ten kids. Those kids are being educated and getting something for their taxes -- I am not. Then there are the teacher's salaries. . . we won't get into that. However, as an RN, I will have to take care of sick people until I am an old lady, while the teachers with their lovely pensions can retire early. And all the while, I'll be donating a couple hundred dollars monthly of my hard earned money, for the education of those I have nothing to do with, and for the pensions of the teachers who educated them. It is not fair that someone who never had children has to pay school taxes. In fact, someone with ten kids can use them as deductions, and therefore pay less than someone who has no kids. How is this fair?! We should be taxed at a higher level based on the number of kids we have, and those without children should be given a break — not have to pay more than someone with ten kids. Those kids are being educated and getting something for their taxes — I am not. Then there are the teacher’s salaries. . . we won’t get into that. However, as an RN, I will have to take care of sick people until I am an old lady, while the teachers with their lovely pensions can retire early. And all the while, I’ll be donating a couple hundred dollars monthly of my hard earned money, for the education of those I have nothing to do with, and for the pensions of the teachers who educated them.

]]> Comment on Alabama Senate committee blocks “Tim Tebow” bill by Tom http://homeedmag.com/newscomm/sports/timtebowbill/#comment-2661 Tom Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:02:55 +0000 http://www.homeedmag.com/newscomm/?p=3222#comment-2661 Chuck and Tiger are afraid talented home school kids will play and their kids will sit on the bench. My child is home schooled and plays for a private school by taking one class there. He starts on both offense and defense. Sometimes parents aren't happy because their kids sit the bench, but the best players are the ones who should start. I would let him play at the local public high school, but they do not let you play unless you attend full time. I worked at a school and found that alot of teachers, after a few years, don't care about the students and are only there for a paycheck. I also believe I am the one who should be teaching my child values and not a liberal teacher teaching from a liberal book that does not reflect my values. Ultimately, I pay taxes which support the schools and I only want to use a small portion of what they offer. I should be afforded this since I pay for it. If the schools are concerned about what my child is learning they can give him a test once a month to determine if he is learning what a traditional student is and base his eligibility off that. Chuck and Tiger are afraid talented home school kids will play and their kids will sit on the bench. My child is home schooled and plays for a private school by taking one class there. He starts on both offense and defense. Sometimes parents aren’t happy because their kids sit the bench, but the best players are the ones who should start.

I would let him play at the local public high school, but they do not let you play unless you attend full time. I worked at a school and found that alot of teachers, after a few years, don’t care about the students and are only there for a paycheck. I also believe I am the one who should be teaching my child values and not a liberal teacher teaching from a liberal book that does not reflect my values.

Ultimately, I pay taxes which support the schools and I only want to use a small portion of what they offer. I should be afforded this since I pay for it. If the schools are concerned about what my child is learning they can give him a test once a month to determine if he is learning what a traditional student is and base his eligibility off that.

]]> Comment on Documenting homeschooling by Mark D. Bergman http://homeedmag.com/newscomm/articles-about-homeschooling/documenting-homeschooling/#comment-2509 Mark D. Bergman Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:15:18 +0000 http://www.homeedmag.com/newscomm/?p=499#comment-2509 Everybody can get their panties in a bunch, but Tom and Mary Bergman started the first registered and fully accredited home school in America. All other homeschools were not registered and or accredited. If anyone would like to dispute this fact you can look up the US Supreme Court case of wrongful death of John Singer brought by John’s wife. There in the footnotes you find that the US Supreme Court agrees that Tom and Mary Bergman started the first accredited homeschool in America. I found that everything in your story is correct and I would know as I am one of the childern of Tom and Mary Bergman. Everybody can get their panties in a bunch, but Tom and Mary Bergman started the first registered and fully accredited home school in America. All other homeschools were not registered and or accredited. If anyone would like to dispute this fact you can look up the US Supreme Court case of wrongful death of John Singer brought by John’s wife. There in the footnotes you find that the US Supreme Court agrees that Tom and Mary Bergman started the first accredited homeschool in America. I found that everything in your story is correct and I would know as I am one of the childern of Tom and Mary Bergman.

]]> Comment on Texas Push-outs by Catharine Kusak http://homeedmag.com/newscomm/news-commentary/tx-push-outs/#comment-2440 Catharine Kusak Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:18:23 +0000 http://www.homeedmag.com/newscomm/?p=4755#comment-2440 Anyone above who referred to themselves as an American, think about what you say, as I will refer to myself as a U.S. citizen. Anyone above who referred to themselves as an American, think about what you say, as I will refer to myself as a U.S. citizen.

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