Rogelio Bernal Andreo gave me permision to post his beautiful picture of Orion:
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Technorati tags: Astronomy, Astronomy Picture of the day, Orion
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Technorati tags: Astronomy, Astronomy Picture of the day, Orion
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
NHELD Bulletin on a Federal Truancy Bill
Attorney Deborah G. Stevenson, Executive Director of NHELD, has published a bulletin on a Federal Truancy Bill. The bulletin starts with:
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Did you know that proposed legislation introduces a national definition of truancy that will affect those enrolled in public schools, and potentially those enrolled in private or home schools?
The bill is Senate bill 1708, entitled, “School Attendance Success Act of 2009”. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.1708:
It was proposed by Senator Amy Kloubucher of Minnesota and currently has one co-sponsor, Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina. The stated purpose of the bill is “to establish a grant program to prevent truancy, and for other purposes.”
The bill authorizes federal tax dollars to be awarded to state educational agencies as grants purportedly to implement programs to prevent truancy. Some of the tax dollars would be funneled through the local educational agency to community action organizations. The bill says that the local educational agency is to use the tax dollars “to partner with a community-based organization to create programmatic initiatives aimed at keeping students in school.” There are no specifics in the bill defining what those “programmatic initiatives” would be. Also, there are not specifics about the amount of tax dollars will be appropriated for those “programmatic initiatives”.
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There doesn't appear to be a big push in Congress for this right now. If you have a spare moment you might drop your congressman and senators a note explaining why this is a bad idea.
It might be a good homeschooling project, combining both a writing exercise, along with a short lesson on political involvement.
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Technorati tags: children, education, government schools, children, public school, public education
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Did you know that proposed legislation introduces a national definition of truancy that will affect those enrolled in public schools, and potentially those enrolled in private or home schools?
The bill is Senate bill 1708, entitled, “School Attendance Success Act of 2009”. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.1708:
It was proposed by Senator Amy Kloubucher of Minnesota and currently has one co-sponsor, Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina. The stated purpose of the bill is “to establish a grant program to prevent truancy, and for other purposes.”
The bill authorizes federal tax dollars to be awarded to state educational agencies as grants purportedly to implement programs to prevent truancy. Some of the tax dollars would be funneled through the local educational agency to community action organizations. The bill says that the local educational agency is to use the tax dollars “to partner with a community-based organization to create programmatic initiatives aimed at keeping students in school.” There are no specifics in the bill defining what those “programmatic initiatives” would be. Also, there are not specifics about the amount of tax dollars will be appropriated for those “programmatic initiatives”.
----------
There doesn't appear to be a big push in Congress for this right now. If you have a spare moment you might drop your congressman and senators a note explaining why this is a bad idea.
It might be a good homeschooling project, combining both a writing exercise, along with a short lesson on political involvement.
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Technorati tags: children, education, government schools, children, public school, public education
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Maybe I'll finally get my pet tiger
When I was eight, I got it in my head that I was getting a pet baby tiger that Christmas. I got a wonderful set of toys, but there was no baby tiger. It was a sad moment.
My family explained that tigers were not tame, they had not been domesticated. It would not be safe to have a tiger, even a young tiger, around.
My little zebra: The secrets of domestication reveals that scientists have made progress in learning how to domestic wild animals:
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IN 2003, while geneticist Svante Pääbo was visiting Novosibirsk, Russia's third-largest city, he decided to look in on a famous experiment run by the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, which is based in the city. Fifty years ago, the then head of the IC&G, geneticist Dmitry Belyaev, had begun breeding silver foxes to see how easily they could be tamed. What Pääbo didn't know, though, is that Belyaev had also set up another experiment in the 1970s involving rats. This time, one line of rats was selected for tameness and another selected for aggression.
When Pääbo saw them, he was stunned. After just 30 years of selection, the IC&G researchers had fashioned two populations that could hardly be more different. "I could take the tame ones out of the cage with my bare hands. They would creep under my shirt and seemed to actually seek and enjoy contact," recalls Pääbo. "The aggressive animals were so aggressive I got the feeling that 10 or 20 of them would probably kill me if they got out of the cages."
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Previously scientists thought it would take thousands of years to tame a mammal like the zebra or water buffalo. A group of Russian researchers tried an experiment with silver foxes. They kept breeding the most friendly foxes. Within four generations some of the foxes would wag their tails. In just 20 years they were able to breed a domestic fox. There has also been progress in domesticing the American mink and river otters from Japan.
Just fascinating.
Maybe in a couple decades someone will domestic tigers. And I'll finally get my pet tiger! Of course, I don't think Janine would be very happy about it.
(Hat tip: Digg)
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Technorati tags: domestication
My family explained that tigers were not tame, they had not been domesticated. It would not be safe to have a tiger, even a young tiger, around.
My little zebra: The secrets of domestication reveals that scientists have made progress in learning how to domestic wild animals:
----------
IN 2003, while geneticist Svante Pääbo was visiting Novosibirsk, Russia's third-largest city, he decided to look in on a famous experiment run by the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, which is based in the city. Fifty years ago, the then head of the IC&G, geneticist Dmitry Belyaev, had begun breeding silver foxes to see how easily they could be tamed. What Pääbo didn't know, though, is that Belyaev had also set up another experiment in the 1970s involving rats. This time, one line of rats was selected for tameness and another selected for aggression.
When Pääbo saw them, he was stunned. After just 30 years of selection, the IC&G researchers had fashioned two populations that could hardly be more different. "I could take the tame ones out of the cage with my bare hands. They would creep under my shirt and seemed to actually seek and enjoy contact," recalls Pääbo. "The aggressive animals were so aggressive I got the feeling that 10 or 20 of them would probably kill me if they got out of the cages."
----------
Previously scientists thought it would take thousands of years to tame a mammal like the zebra or water buffalo. A group of Russian researchers tried an experiment with silver foxes. They kept breeding the most friendly foxes. Within four generations some of the foxes would wag their tails. In just 20 years they were able to breed a domestic fox. There has also been progress in domesticing the American mink and river otters from Japan.
Just fascinating.
Maybe in a couple decades someone will domestic tigers. And I'll finally get my pet tiger! Of course, I don't think Janine would be very happy about it.
(Hat tip: Digg)
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Technorati tags: domestication
Where does growth come from?
From my Franklin Planner:
"The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice."
George Eliot
When we have a spark of wisdom or finally understand a complex topic, it is easy to think we should trick, force, or manipulate others to also make this break through.
The reality is the stick only works as longer as we are bigger, stronger, and are paying attention. If we glance away, or no longer have the power to force change, most other individuals will stop doing what we tried to make them do.
The best way is to teach what we have learned, and then let others choose. Some may not choose, or at least not now, but we have a much better chance at effecting change.
I've had the following quote in a signature file for years:
"Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you'll understand what little chance you have in trying to change others."
-- Jacob M. Braude
I know that it is very hard to get myself to change.
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Technorati tags: growth, change, Jacob Braude, George Eliot
"The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice."
George Eliot
When we have a spark of wisdom or finally understand a complex topic, it is easy to think we should trick, force, or manipulate others to also make this break through.
The reality is the stick only works as longer as we are bigger, stronger, and are paying attention. If we glance away, or no longer have the power to force change, most other individuals will stop doing what we tried to make them do.
The best way is to teach what we have learned, and then let others choose. Some may not choose, or at least not now, but we have a much better chance at effecting change.
I've had the following quote in a signature file for years:
"Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you'll understand what little chance you have in trying to change others."
-- Jacob M. Braude
I know that it is very hard to get myself to change.
----------
Technorati tags: growth, change, Jacob Braude, George Eliot
A speech about Patrick Henry
I gave a variation on the following at Toastmasters last week:
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Many people recognize the some of the names of the Founding Fathers. Names like George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. But there were a whole host of others involved in the creation of the United States. It is easy to forget some of the other men who also contributed.
Patrick Henry is one of my heroes. He is best known, and maybe only known, for his line "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" He was speaking to the House of Burgess, the Virginia legislative body in 1775. Great Britain was trying to bring the colonies under control. The colonists saw themselves as equals and would not accept the yoke of servitude.
Patrick Henry could easily be any Toastmaster’s hero. He was widely known, and acknowledge, as a great public speaker. Unfortunately few of his speeches were recorded. For example when he would start to speak in the House of Burgess, the recorder would become so memorized that he would forget to write.
Before telling a story of one instance when Patrick Henry was key to the American Revolution, I will first set the stage by providing some background. [Put up the map.]
The Virginia colony at the time was one of the largest of the 13 colonies in terms of land, population, and wealth. It was the oldest colony, with Jamestown having been founded in 1607. The population at the time was about six hundred thousand people, with around half of them being free and half slave. Most of the people were with fifty miles of water. The primary source of income was agriculture, mostly tobacco.
Patrick Henry came from an average middle class family. He married at 18 and first worked as a store keeper. He decided it would be more profitable to be a lawyer, studied for the bar and then was accepted as a lawyer. He lived out in the western part of Virginia and would travel a circuit arguing cases before the country judges. This gave him great exposure to much of the Virginian frontier. He knew men in most villages, and many of them called Patrick Henry friend.
Now I’ll tell you about one of the times that Patrick Henry helped the American Revolution. The year 1776 is a famous year in history. It marks the time when the Founding Fathers said that the colonies had had enough and they declared our independence. But 1777 was a dire year. The British were formidable opponents. They had at their disposal ten times the people. They had built the largest navy in the world. They had the wealth of many other colonies to draw on. They had professional soldiers. Several times during 1777 and 1778 people thought that the British were winning.
George Washington was appointed the general in charge of fighting the British. Virginia had promised to supply troops, ammunition and supplies. Many of the men signed up for six months or a year, which some thought would be all it would take to win the war. After their term of services was up the soldiers starting quitting, returning home to their farms. George Washington wrote to Patrick Henry, who was governor at the time, the first governor of Virginia, begging for more troops.
The colonists were also struggling with just how much power they wanted to give their governor. They were rejecting the dictatorial government of Great Britain, and did not want to replace it with a different dictator. The result was Patrick Henry had little authority. He had to work with the legislators.
With around three hundred thousand people, Virginia had around fifty thousand men who could be considered as soldiers. Many of them were already serving in the war. Most people at the time lived on farms, often close to subsistence farming. If the father left for a year the family would suffer, some might die from hunger.
Another problem for Virginia was it was really fighting in three wars. It wanted to support George Washington, but it also needed to protect itself from the frequent British naval invasions. A big problem with most towns so close to water was much of Virginia was exposed. With little warning British ships could show up, land troops, ravage a town and be gone before a local regiment could arrive to challenge the British.
The third major war was in the west. Great Britain offered to help Indians by giving them guns and supplies. Many Indians has long grievances with the colonies and saw this as a chance to have their revenge.
So when George Washington asked for more troops, even sending a thousand men was a great hardship for Virginia.
Governor Patrick Henry responded. He spent months working. He helped to line up clothes for the current soldiers. He begged and pleaded with the Virginia assembly to allocate funds for food and other supplies. Patrick Henry even sent his own sons off to war.
And he asked men to sign up for the army. Being Patrick Henry people listened. He was well loved and trusted, especially in the west. And being Patrick Henry he was very persuasive. He would speak, telling people about the challenges of their new nation, and the dangers facing them, and their duty.
There may have been no other public figure in Virginia who could have rallied the public like Patrick Henry. George Washington could fight the war, but he was not known for his public speaking. Thomas Jefferson could write well, but he acknowledged Patrick Henry as his clear superior in addressing the public. In fact after losing a case to Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson gave up the law and never practiced again.
There is a line that goes something like "For the want of a nail a shoe was lost, for the want of a shoe a horse was lost, for the want of the horse a message was lost, for the want of a message an army was lost, for the want of an army, a nation was lost."
There are key moments in history when a few individuals make great things happen. Patrick Henry is one of those individuals. At a pivotal time in key Patrick Henry, a true patriot made a difference.
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If you are interested in Patrick Henry, I strongly recommend the biography A Son of Thunder.
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Technorati tags: Patrick Henry, Patrick, Henry
----------
Many people recognize the some of the names of the Founding Fathers. Names like George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. But there were a whole host of others involved in the creation of the United States. It is easy to forget some of the other men who also contributed.
Patrick Henry is one of my heroes. He is best known, and maybe only known, for his line "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" He was speaking to the House of Burgess, the Virginia legislative body in 1775. Great Britain was trying to bring the colonies under control. The colonists saw themselves as equals and would not accept the yoke of servitude.
Patrick Henry could easily be any Toastmaster’s hero. He was widely known, and acknowledge, as a great public speaker. Unfortunately few of his speeches were recorded. For example when he would start to speak in the House of Burgess, the recorder would become so memorized that he would forget to write.
Before telling a story of one instance when Patrick Henry was key to the American Revolution, I will first set the stage by providing some background. [Put up the map.]
The Virginia colony at the time was one of the largest of the 13 colonies in terms of land, population, and wealth. It was the oldest colony, with Jamestown having been founded in 1607. The population at the time was about six hundred thousand people, with around half of them being free and half slave. Most of the people were with fifty miles of water. The primary source of income was agriculture, mostly tobacco.
Patrick Henry came from an average middle class family. He married at 18 and first worked as a store keeper. He decided it would be more profitable to be a lawyer, studied for the bar and then was accepted as a lawyer. He lived out in the western part of Virginia and would travel a circuit arguing cases before the country judges. This gave him great exposure to much of the Virginian frontier. He knew men in most villages, and many of them called Patrick Henry friend.
Now I’ll tell you about one of the times that Patrick Henry helped the American Revolution. The year 1776 is a famous year in history. It marks the time when the Founding Fathers said that the colonies had had enough and they declared our independence. But 1777 was a dire year. The British were formidable opponents. They had at their disposal ten times the people. They had built the largest navy in the world. They had the wealth of many other colonies to draw on. They had professional soldiers. Several times during 1777 and 1778 people thought that the British were winning.
George Washington was appointed the general in charge of fighting the British. Virginia had promised to supply troops, ammunition and supplies. Many of the men signed up for six months or a year, which some thought would be all it would take to win the war. After their term of services was up the soldiers starting quitting, returning home to their farms. George Washington wrote to Patrick Henry, who was governor at the time, the first governor of Virginia, begging for more troops.
The colonists were also struggling with just how much power they wanted to give their governor. They were rejecting the dictatorial government of Great Britain, and did not want to replace it with a different dictator. The result was Patrick Henry had little authority. He had to work with the legislators.
With around three hundred thousand people, Virginia had around fifty thousand men who could be considered as soldiers. Many of them were already serving in the war. Most people at the time lived on farms, often close to subsistence farming. If the father left for a year the family would suffer, some might die from hunger.
Another problem for Virginia was it was really fighting in three wars. It wanted to support George Washington, but it also needed to protect itself from the frequent British naval invasions. A big problem with most towns so close to water was much of Virginia was exposed. With little warning British ships could show up, land troops, ravage a town and be gone before a local regiment could arrive to challenge the British.
The third major war was in the west. Great Britain offered to help Indians by giving them guns and supplies. Many Indians has long grievances with the colonies and saw this as a chance to have their revenge.
So when George Washington asked for more troops, even sending a thousand men was a great hardship for Virginia.
Governor Patrick Henry responded. He spent months working. He helped to line up clothes for the current soldiers. He begged and pleaded with the Virginia assembly to allocate funds for food and other supplies. Patrick Henry even sent his own sons off to war.
And he asked men to sign up for the army. Being Patrick Henry people listened. He was well loved and trusted, especially in the west. And being Patrick Henry he was very persuasive. He would speak, telling people about the challenges of their new nation, and the dangers facing them, and their duty.
There may have been no other public figure in Virginia who could have rallied the public like Patrick Henry. George Washington could fight the war, but he was not known for his public speaking. Thomas Jefferson could write well, but he acknowledged Patrick Henry as his clear superior in addressing the public. In fact after losing a case to Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson gave up the law and never practiced again.
There is a line that goes something like "For the want of a nail a shoe was lost, for the want of a shoe a horse was lost, for the want of the horse a message was lost, for the want of a message an army was lost, for the want of an army, a nation was lost."
There are key moments in history when a few individuals make great things happen. Patrick Henry is one of those individuals. At a pivotal time in key Patrick Henry, a true patriot made a difference.
----------
If you are interested in Patrick Henry, I strongly recommend the biography A Son of Thunder.
----------
Technorati tags: Patrick Henry, Patrick, Henry
The Carnival of Homeschooling is up
This week's Carnival of Homeschooling is up at Walking Therein.
Jacque shares some of the ways she homeschools her children.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Jacque shares some of the ways she homeschools her children.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Monday, October 05, 2009
The big difference between talking and listening
When you talk, you repeate what you already know, when you listen, you often learn something.
Jared Sparks (1789 - 1866)
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Technorati tags: talking, listening
Jared Sparks (1789 - 1866)
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Technorati tags: talking, listening
How the game Monopoly helped the allies win WWII
This is fascinating. Get Out of Jail Free: Monopoly's Hidden Maps reports:
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It's a story that will forever change the way you think of the phrase, "Get Out of Jail Free."
During World War II, as the number of British airmen held hostage behind enemy lines escalated, the country's secret service enlisted an unlikely partner in the ongoing war effort: The board game Monopoly.
It was the perfect accomplice.
Included in the items the German army allowed humanitarian groups to distribute in care packages to imprisoned soldiers, the game was too innocent to raise suspicion. But it was the ideal size for a top-secret escape kit that could help spring British POWs from German war camps.
The British secret service conspired with the U.K. manufacturer to stuff a compass, small metal tools, such as files, and, most importantly, a map, into cut-out compartments in the Monopoly board itself.
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Technorati tags: Monopoly
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It's a story that will forever change the way you think of the phrase, "Get Out of Jail Free."
During World War II, as the number of British airmen held hostage behind enemy lines escalated, the country's secret service enlisted an unlikely partner in the ongoing war effort: The board game Monopoly.
It was the perfect accomplice.
Included in the items the German army allowed humanitarian groups to distribute in care packages to imprisoned soldiers, the game was too innocent to raise suspicion. But it was the ideal size for a top-secret escape kit that could help spring British POWs from German war camps.
The British secret service conspired with the U.K. manufacturer to stuff a compass, small metal tools, such as files, and, most importantly, a map, into cut-out compartments in the Monopoly board itself.
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Technorati tags: Monopoly
Thought about hard v. impossible
From Dan Galvin's Thought For The Day mailing list:
"Just because it's hard doesn't mean it's impossible."
-Dude Perfect
Group that has many trick shots on YouTube.
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Technorati tags: hard, impossible
"Just because it's hard doesn't mean it's impossible."
-Dude Perfect
Group that has many trick shots on YouTube.
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Technorati tags: hard, impossible
John Stossel on Health care
My mother sent me a link to John Stossel's report on the "Health Care" proposal.
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Technorati tags: healthcare, reform
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Technorati tags: healthcare, reform
Freedom and wealth
The Heritage Foundation reports that countries with greater freedom have greater economic prosperity. This is a good summary.
I was a bit surprised there was such a strong correlation.
(Hat tip: Williams.com)
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Technorati tags: Freedom, wealth
I was a bit surprised there was such a strong correlation.
(Hat tip: Williams.com)
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Technorati tags: Freedom, wealth
Reminder - send in a post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling
Act now, you have ten and a half hours to send in your entry for the next Carnival of Homeschooling.
The Carnival of Homeschooling at be hosted at Walking Therein.
As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Here are the instructions for sending in a submission.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
The Carnival of Homeschooling at be hosted at Walking Therein.
As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Here are the instructions for sending in a submission.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Saturday, October 03, 2009
It's that time of year again
It's that time of year when independent homeschoolers in California need to file a private school affidavit. I use the word "independent" to mean homeschoolers who are not registered with a private school satellite program or a study-at-home program through a public school. ( I imagine most homeschoolers would consider themselves the independent type regardless of how they fulfill the legal requirements, I just don't have another word for it.)
The California Department of Education has a special affidavit form for schools with five or fewer students.
There are quite of few web sites that offer step by step guidelines, such as Homeschool Association of California, Home School Legal Defense Association, and the California Homeschool Network, just to name a few.
It is too late tonight and I can't bring myself to do it yet, but I've got until October 15th.
Happy filing!
Update: I went and checked to see what I posted in previous years. I am so predictable. I used the title "It's the time of year again" in both 2008 and 2007.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
The California Department of Education has a special affidavit form for schools with five or fewer students.
There are quite of few web sites that offer step by step guidelines, such as Homeschool Association of California, Home School Legal Defense Association, and the California Homeschool Network, just to name a few.
It is too late tonight and I can't bring myself to do it yet, but I've got until October 15th.
Happy filing!
Update: I went and checked to see what I posted in previous years. I am so predictable. I used the title "It's the time of year again" in both 2008 and 2007.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Carnival of Homeschooling is up
This week's Carnival of Homeschooling is up at Heart of the Matter Online.
This is a large carnival. There are almost fifty entries!
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
This is a large carnival. There are almost fifty entries!
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Monday, September 28, 2009
A morbid reason to homeschool
Over the years Janine and I have written about dozens of reasons to homeschool. As we wrote in our Introduction to Homeschooling:
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A recent survey, by the Department of Education, found that about 85% of homeschooling parents were concerned about the environment of public schools. This ranged worries about safety from bullies, to gangs, to drugs, and so on. A second major reason, for 72% of the parents, was a desire to provide religious or moral instruction. The third major reason, 68%, was dissatisfaction with academic instruction at public schools.
There are also many, many more reasons. Some homeschool so their child can be in the movies. Some homeschool because it is hard to get rid of bad public school teachers. Others homeschool because of the father's work schedule. I know some parents homeschool to avoid assignments like researching internet porn. The reasons go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on.
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Today I thought of a new reason to homeschool. It is a bit morbid. The reason came to me while I was having lunch with a good friend.
My friend's grandmother, living in another state, had recently died. She appears to have passed away peacefully at 101. She was mentally sharp and physically active up until the end. (That is my goal, to reach 100 mentally sharp and physically active.)
My friend said it was a good experience to get together with his sister and their cousins. They helped clean out some of the house and talked about memories. My friend had taken his children for the funeral, but then took them back home so they won't miss much school. He is going back this Thursday to help clean out the rest of the house over the weekend. His children will stay in school.
During lunch I thought about what a missed opportunity for his children. My friend will be on the road for most of Thursday. They could have dad all to themselves. They could chat about what is on their minds. He could share some of his best memories about their great grandmother. It could be a real bonding trip.
Then at his grandmother's house his children could have gotten to know their aunts and uncles better. Working together is a real bonding experience. And again treasured memories would be shared.
As it is they will be stuck in school learning merely academic topics. They'll miss out on some real meaningful lessons, life lessons about how a woman lived a great life and the influence she had on generations.
This is not a major reason for homeschooling, but I am glad that when my family members die, hopefully many years in the future, my children will be able to be more involved in the mourning process, and learn to a deeper level lessons from the death of a loved one.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
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A recent survey, by the Department of Education, found that about 85% of homeschooling parents were concerned about the environment of public schools. This ranged worries about safety from bullies, to gangs, to drugs, and so on. A second major reason, for 72% of the parents, was a desire to provide religious or moral instruction. The third major reason, 68%, was dissatisfaction with academic instruction at public schools.
There are also many, many more reasons. Some homeschool so their child can be in the movies. Some homeschool because it is hard to get rid of bad public school teachers. Others homeschool because of the father's work schedule. I know some parents homeschool to avoid assignments like researching internet porn. The reasons go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on.
----------
Today I thought of a new reason to homeschool. It is a bit morbid. The reason came to me while I was having lunch with a good friend.
My friend's grandmother, living in another state, had recently died. She appears to have passed away peacefully at 101. She was mentally sharp and physically active up until the end. (That is my goal, to reach 100 mentally sharp and physically active.)
My friend said it was a good experience to get together with his sister and their cousins. They helped clean out some of the house and talked about memories. My friend had taken his children for the funeral, but then took them back home so they won't miss much school. He is going back this Thursday to help clean out the rest of the house over the weekend. His children will stay in school.
During lunch I thought about what a missed opportunity for his children. My friend will be on the road for most of Thursday. They could have dad all to themselves. They could chat about what is on their minds. He could share some of his best memories about their great grandmother. It could be a real bonding trip.
Then at his grandmother's house his children could have gotten to know their aunts and uncles better. Working together is a real bonding experience. And again treasured memories would be shared.
As it is they will be stuck in school learning merely academic topics. They'll miss out on some real meaningful lessons, life lessons about how a woman lived a great life and the influence she had on generations.
This is not a major reason for homeschooling, but I am glad that when my family members die, hopefully many years in the future, my children will be able to be more involved in the mourning process, and learn to a deeper level lessons from the death of a loved one.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
The Obama Song
I saw this news clip today. It pretty creepy.
I have no problem with respect for the office of president, but I'm guessing that these children will be taught nothing about the amazing things George Washington did for our country. And the school wouldn't dream of teaching that level of adoration for one of the founding fathers.
Here's a news report.
This comes on the heals of yet another suggested and soon to be mandated educational reform.
Obama Seeks to Lengthen School Year
Call me cynical, but I think it has more to do with more money, power and indoctrinating the next generation into the new world order than academic performance.
Of course, with all those children in school for longer hours and more days, homeschoolers will have that much more the advantage.
Think of the possibilities: less competition for teen jobs, shorter lines at amusement parks and museums, and quieter at the library in the afternoon.
The down side is that we will get stuck yet again, picking up the tab toincarcerate educated everyone else's kids.
Note: Spunky has some great behind the scenes info and updates about the Obama song here.
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Related Tags: Longer school days, indoctrination, public school, Obama
I have no problem with respect for the office of president, but I'm guessing that these children will be taught nothing about the amazing things George Washington did for our country. And the school wouldn't dream of teaching that level of adoration for one of the founding fathers.
Here's a news report.
This comes on the heals of yet another suggested and soon to be mandated educational reform.
Obama Seeks to Lengthen School Year
Obama says American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other students around the globe.
Call me cynical, but I think it has more to do with more money, power and indoctrinating the next generation into the new world order than academic performance.
Of course, with all those children in school for longer hours and more days, homeschoolers will have that much more the advantage.
Think of the possibilities: less competition for teen jobs, shorter lines at amusement parks and museums, and quieter at the library in the afternoon.
The down side is that we will get stuck yet again, picking up the tab to
Note: Spunky has some great behind the scenes info and updates about the Obama song here.
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Related Tags: Longer school days, indoctrination, public school, Obama
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Reminder - send in a post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling
This is the weekly reminder to send in your entry for the next Carnival of Homeschooling.
The Carnival of Homeschooling at be hosted at Heart of the Matter Online
As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Here are the instructions for sending in a submission.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
The Carnival of Homeschooling at be hosted at Heart of the Matter Online
As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Here are the instructions for sending in a submission.
----------
Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Friday, September 25, 2009
Are learning styles valid?
Author and Professor Dr. Daniel T. Willingham says Student "Learning Styles" Theory Is Bunk:
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The Big Idea behind learning styles is that kids vary in how they learn: Some learn best by looking (visual learners), some by listening (auditory learners), and some by manipulating things (kinesthetic learners).
According to the theory, if we know what sort of a learner a child is, we can optimize his or her learning by presenting material the way that they like.
The prediction is straightforward: Kids learn better when they are taught in a way that matches their learning style than when they are taught in a way that doesn’t.
That’s a straightforward prediction.
The data are straightforward too: It doesn’t work.
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I don't really have an opinion. I know some people swear by it. Janine and I don't try to taylor the education process to each child.
I thought Dr. Willingham's video was also interesting:
(Hat tip: Joanne Jacobs)
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Technorati tags: learning styles, parenting, children, education
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The Big Idea behind learning styles is that kids vary in how they learn: Some learn best by looking (visual learners), some by listening (auditory learners), and some by manipulating things (kinesthetic learners).
According to the theory, if we know what sort of a learner a child is, we can optimize his or her learning by presenting material the way that they like.
The prediction is straightforward: Kids learn better when they are taught in a way that matches their learning style than when they are taught in a way that doesn’t.
That’s a straightforward prediction.
The data are straightforward too: It doesn’t work.
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I don't really have an opinion. I know some people swear by it. Janine and I don't try to taylor the education process to each child.
I thought Dr. Willingham's video was also interesting:
(Hat tip: Joanne Jacobs)
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Technorati tags: learning styles, parenting, children, education
A thought on bravery from J.K. Rowling
A caution on rushing to conclusions
A decade ago many poor parents were accused of killing their young babies by shaking them to death. This was called the "Shaken Baby Syndrome." There is now evidence that many parents found guilty may in fact be innocent.
A Shake to the System reports:
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In January 2008, a Wisconsin appeals court granted a new trial to Audrey Edmunds, a 45-year-old woman who had been sentenced in 1995 to 18 years in prison for murdering Natalie Beard, an infant in her care. The ruling was significant, because medical experts said Beard died as a result of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), a diagnosis that grew increasingly common in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Wisconsin appellate court was the first in the country to recognize increasing doubts about the reliability of SBS diagnoses.
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My heart goes out to the parents who were hit with a double whammy of first losing their child, and then being unfairly condemned by society.
This is a great reminder that we need to be cautious about getting caught up in hysteria and rushing to verdicts.
(Hat tip: Hacker News)
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Technorati tags: Shaken, Baby, Syndrome
A Shake to the System reports:
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In January 2008, a Wisconsin appeals court granted a new trial to Audrey Edmunds, a 45-year-old woman who had been sentenced in 1995 to 18 years in prison for murdering Natalie Beard, an infant in her care. The ruling was significant, because medical experts said Beard died as a result of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), a diagnosis that grew increasingly common in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Wisconsin appellate court was the first in the country to recognize increasing doubts about the reliability of SBS diagnoses.
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My heart goes out to the parents who were hit with a double whammy of first losing their child, and then being unfairly condemned by society.
This is a great reminder that we need to be cautious about getting caught up in hysteria and rushing to verdicts.
(Hat tip: Hacker News)
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Technorati tags: Shaken, Baby, Syndrome
Interesting thought on talent
From Dan Galvin's Thought For The Day mailing list:
Another example of what might help define talent takes us back to Polyclitus, the famous sculptor in ancient Greece. Polyclitus, it is said, once sculpted two statues at the same time: one in his living room, in public view, and one in his bedroom, which he worked on privately and kept wrapped in a tarpaulin. When visitors came by, they would comment on the public work, saying, "The eyes aren't quite right" or "That thigh is too long," and Polyclitus would incorporate their suggestions. All the while, however, he kept the other statue a secret. Both works were completed at about the same time and were mounted in the city square in Athens. The statue that had been designed by committee was openly mocked and ridiculed. The statue he'd done by himself was immediately proclaimed a transcendental work of art. People asked Polyclitus, "How can one statue be so good and the other so bad?" And Polyclitus answered, "Because I did this one and you did that one."
-Kinky Friedman
Texas Monthly
November, 2003
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Technorati tags: talent, Polyclitus
Another example of what might help define talent takes us back to Polyclitus, the famous sculptor in ancient Greece. Polyclitus, it is said, once sculpted two statues at the same time: one in his living room, in public view, and one in his bedroom, which he worked on privately and kept wrapped in a tarpaulin. When visitors came by, they would comment on the public work, saying, "The eyes aren't quite right" or "That thigh is too long," and Polyclitus would incorporate their suggestions. All the while, however, he kept the other statue a secret. Both works were completed at about the same time and were mounted in the city square in Athens. The statue that had been designed by committee was openly mocked and ridiculed. The statue he'd done by himself was immediately proclaimed a transcendental work of art. People asked Polyclitus, "How can one statue be so good and the other so bad?" And Polyclitus answered, "Because I did this one and you did that one."
-Kinky Friedman
Texas Monthly
November, 2003
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Technorati tags: talent, Polyclitus
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Interesting point about the Tea Party protesters in DC
From the Chicago Boyz is an interesting point in An Important Qualifier:
Via Instapundit comes a major (albeit British) media report that the Tea Party protest in Washington turnout could be as high as two million.
And Shannon Love goes out to say:
Two million people with jobs…
Getting hundreds of thousands of kids, the professionally unemployed and government workers to show up isn’t that hard (especially if someone buys the bus tickets). Getting two million middle-class, middle-aged people with jobs, careers, children and businesses is way, way more impressive.
We can safely assume that for every individual who made it to the protest that there are dozens of people whose grown-up obligations prevented them from attending.
This should scare many politicians. More and more people are getting upset about the gargantuan beast that the Federal government has become. An Army of Davids is getting ready to slay the best.
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Technorati tags: politics
Via Instapundit comes a major (albeit British) media report that the Tea Party protest in Washington turnout could be as high as two million.
And Shannon Love goes out to say:
Two million people with jobs…
Getting hundreds of thousands of kids, the professionally unemployed and government workers to show up isn’t that hard (especially if someone buys the bus tickets). Getting two million middle-class, middle-aged people with jobs, careers, children and businesses is way, way more impressive.
We can safely assume that for every individual who made it to the protest that there are dozens of people whose grown-up obligations prevented them from attending.
This should scare many politicians. More and more people are getting upset about the gargantuan beast that the Federal government has become. An Army of Davids is getting ready to slay the best.
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Technorati tags: politics
An essay contest - answer "What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?"
One of my brothers pointed me to an Essay Contest. The contest allows homeschoolers to participate!
The essay should be in response to: "What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?"
I've asked my oldest daughter to send in an essay.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
The essay should be in response to: "What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?"
I've asked my oldest daughter to send in an essay.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Carnival of Homeschooling is up - Learning About the Autumnal Equinox
This week's Carnival of Homeschooling is up at Apollos Academy. The Tutor teaches about the Autumnal Equinox.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Monday, September 21, 2009
Belated reminder - send in a post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling
You only have six hours to get in your entry to this week's Carnival of homeschooling.
The Tutor will be hosting tomorrow's Carnival of Homeschooling at Apollos Academy.
As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Here are the instructions for sending in a submission.
----------
Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
The Tutor will be hosting tomorrow's Carnival of Homeschooling at Apollos Academy.
As always, entries to the Carnival of Homeschooling are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Here are the instructions for sending in a submission.
----------
Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
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