Howstuffworks: “How Invisibility Cloaks Work”
An “invisibility cloak” seems perfectly believable in the magical world of Harry Potter; but in the real world, such a garment is impossible, right? Not so fast. With optical-camouflage technology developed at the University of Tokyo, the invisibility cloak is a reality. Find out how it works and what other applications the technology may have.
Howstuffworks is one of my favorite browsing sites.
Do you have small children looking for something fun to do during the lazy days of summer? If so, you might want to visit author Diane Flynn Keith’s discussion list, Unpreschool for some great ideas such as:
• Gardening with little ones
• Visiting a U-Pick berry farm
• Creating octopus-shaped hot dogs
• Several fun summer water games
• Sidewalk Art with home-made chalk
Check out these terrific ideas and suggestions for learning with little ones at home!
HEM’s News & Commentary changes editorship today: outgoing editor Ann Lahrson Fisher hands the reins over to incoming editor Valerie Bonham Moon! Click on over for some great reading from two of my favorite writers!
from HEM SUPPORT NEWS – October 2004
Lynn and Sarah Leslie are long time homeschool advocates and publishers who recently released: “Homeschooling Under Fire: The Iowa Homeschooling Crisis of 1989-90 – A history of the plot to depict homeschoolers as truants and child abusers,” by Lynn and Sarah Leslie, August 30, 2004.
An excerpt:
“In our present era the only hope is that grassroots homeschoolers will rise up, possibly even in opposition to their own leadership, and draw a firm line for no more compromise. We know already, simply based on the ed reform plans, what the end goal is. NO child will be left behind. This means that every child is to become part of the ’system.’ This means that the reformers are intent on monitoring, databanking and assessing (testing) each child into conformity with State Standards. When the crisis comes, when the pressure mounts to a national drumbeat (possibly even a ‘manufactured “crisis’) for more ‘accountability’ for homeschoolers, what dangerous compromises will be forged by homeschool leaders? The ‘battle’ may take place first within the ranks of homeschoolers themselves, dividing those who homeschool out of ‘preference’ from those who homeschool out of ‘conviction’ once again.
Victoria Carrington, M.D. writes: “I am becoming more aware of the push of education officials to remove children from their parents at even earlier ages to try to fix what is wrong with American education.
“Their scheme to get children into their system earlier will not work. As they try to distance parents from their young children, the same forces are claiming that our educational systems would be improved with greater parental involvement. And the trend of homeschooling is catching on across the country as even Ivy League schools recognize that children educated with intense involvement from parents is good for children’s learning.
“So if we look at what works in education, it seems to involve greater parental involvement, not increased involvement of educational institutions.”
This issue has been showing up more and more as I read my lists and blogs, and I think it’s one that should be of interest to all homeschooling parents. If you’re wondering why, click on the link above and do some reading.
I’ll be revisiting this topic often in the days and weeks ahead.
