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HEM SUPPORT GROUP NEWS- July 2004
In the July 2004 issue:
~July's Highlight - Homeschool Activist- Susan Ryan
~An answer to June's question from Italy
~July's question
~Issues to Watch - Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
~Web Updates
~HEM Resources
JULY'S HIGHLIGHTED SUPPORT GROUP
Instead of highlighting an entire support group this month, I am highlighting an individual because homeschool support groups are what they are because of the individuals they are comprised of. It is my pleasure to introduce you to an individual homeschool activist from Illinois, Susan Ryan and the informative and helpful document she recently compiled called "PREVENTION AND WHAT TO DO IF FAMILY SERVICES IS AT YOUR DOOR". The document is not intended to be legal advise, but a collection of suggestions from a few long-time homeschoolers who have had Family Services workers knocking on their door or have seen how the department operates from the inside.
Susan tells me it became a compilation of people's thoughts and experiences in this situation and everything that she did to put it together was guided with a lot of common sense from others. It can be viewed at: AHA-Political Action under files: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AHA-PoliticalAction
Susan is an activist for local, statewide and national homeschool issues. The social services compilation is a fine example of her good work. I asked her to introduce herself and she wrote: "My name is Susan Ryan. We homeschool our two youngest and have one in the local public high school. We have six children all together and very much prefer the homeschooling lifestyle after years of searching for the best way to educate our kids. I'm passionate about that lifestyle. We live on our family farm in central Illinois, so we're always finding things to discover. I grew up on this farm (5th generation) and enjoyed every tunnel and trap we created in the hay barn, every critter we turned the corner and ran into (except skunks) and the livestock and crops that we worked with for our living. It was a fantastic experience of learning and growing that we still maintain."
Thanks to all those who worked on the report and thanks to you Susan, your individual homeschool activism in Illinois and this new compilation inspired this month's Issues to Watch section. Thank you!
JUNE'S QUESTION: What is the most effective way your support group shares the importance of knowing our rights as homeschoolers?
JUNE'S ANSWER:
Here in Italy I get a lot of questions from newbies about our homeschooling rights. I tell people just to do it. Everyone expects expats to be odd.
There is something in the Italian constitution about parent's right to educate their child, and the Pope has definitely stated that parents are responsible to educate their children. But, basically, no Italian has ever heard of homeschooling so they aren't against it.
That said, I wouldn't stick my kids in and out of public school here, the teachers are supposed to make sure those who have signed up attend.
Lynne
MSN group: Homeschooling Families in Italy
JULY'S QUESTION
What issues do you see that need to be addressed within your local homeschool community and how are you handling them?
ISSUES TO WATCH
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
Susan's great compilation reminded me of how talking to one another about home-education and home-education issues has always been a vital way to protect our home-education freedoms. I recall the discussion happening more often fourteen years ago and slowly tapering off over the years as home-education has become more widely accepted.
During one of those discussions I remember a veteran home-educator advised all new families to read and study the rules and regulations that govern Ohio Home-Education. In turn, that's what many of us have suggested to new homeschoolers as they have joined our ranks through the years. By doing so, we each have become aware of the rules and regulations that govern home-education in our state and then when superintendents or other officials have attempted to ask more of homeschoolers than was required by law, we have been able to counter those requests by politely referring them to the statutes. Had each individual not taken the time to study the statutes, many would have likely been intimidated into thinking these official's unnecessary requests were indeed legitimate.
Whether you are a member of a national organization that claims to protect home-education freedoms, the member of a home-education network, a member of a homeschool support group, or nThese mentioned, it is each individual's responsibility to know their rights and not depend on anyone else to protect their freedoms. It is up to each individual to study the issues and information others might present, investigate and verify that information and then make one's own informed choice on any issue.
As homeschooling has grown more popular, corporate and public entities continue to invent hybrid programs that combine school at home with public school and proudly claim to be recapturing1 us "back" into the system. Home-educators are being observed and studied more intensively each year by these same entities, educators, legislators and the media. Because we are being scrutinized so closely, discussions within our communities about protecting homeschooling and our fundamental freedoms need to take place now more than ever.
Do we sometimes become so busy living life; enjoying liberty and pursuing happiness that we forget to actively protect our fundamental freedoms? Some have said they don't know how or where to begin these discussions about protecting homeschool freedoms. A good starting place might be with the recent books reviewed by Elizabeth McCullough in Home Education Magazine's July/August 2004 Issue. She wrote a wonderful review of The Homeschool Reader; Collected Articles from Home Education Magazine 1984-1994 Mark and Helen Hegener, Eds. and Taking Charge Through Homeschooling: Personal and Political Empowerment M. Larry and Susan D. Kaseman.
In our local network, we have begun a legislative discussion group and this month we will discuss: Taking Charge Through Homeschooling: Personal and Political Empowerment. We will move on to The Homeschool Reader and other informative works and also intend to invite veteran homeschoolers to tell us about the early days.
Homeschooling is not a small public school at home, but it is as diverse and undefined as each family and child that it serves. Homeschooling has brought a richness to all our lives and we owe to ourselves remain active in our own way, watch the issues and protect it's liberating principles for future generations to come.
WEB UPDATES
New To Homeschooling Discussion Group
Are you looking for advice on homeschooling from those who have Been There and Done That? This is the place and some of them even have T-shirts.
Whether you're looking for ways to find out about how to teach subjects you know nothing about, where to find materials that are compatible with your outlook, or if you just need to know that 'real people' have successfully homeschooled, you can find help here.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/New_to_Homeschooling/
HEM RESOURCES
Here are just a few:
Home Education Magazine Articles and Columns
http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/214.html
HEM's News and Commentary
http://www.homeedmag.com/HSRSC/hsrsc_gn.html
HEM's Online Newsletter
http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcm_hemnewsltr.html
HEM's Resources
http://www.homeedmag.com/HSRSC/hsrsc_gn.html
Homeschooling Information & Resource Guide & HEM's Pocket Field Guide
http://www.homeedmag.com/ORD/mtrlst.html
The HEM-Support Groups List
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HEM-SupportGroups
Be sure to bookmark Home Education Magazine's Support Group Listings web page, which can be accessed at:
http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcm_groups.html
If you ever need your listing updated or your group would like to be added, email me at Support Groups Email and our web master will add the information in a timely manner.
Enjoy these lazy, hazy crazy days of summer!
Mary Nix
HEM's Support Group Liaison
Groups@homeedmag.com
http://www.homeedmag.com/wlcm_groups.html
This service is available free. Read the newsletter at: http://www.homeedmag.com/groups/2004/current.html
To subscribe to HEM visit: http://www.homeedmag.com/catalog/index.html
1 Carolina Journal Online
New Charter for Homeschooling?
Attractions and drawbacks appear in home-based charter schools
By Dr. Karen Palasek
January 08, 2004
"The appeal of home-based charter schools represents a threat to the independence of home schooling, Young said. "The most insidious of these offerings, in my opinion, are those specifically meant to be Trojan horse programs, aimed at 'recapturing' - a term used by their promoters - students 'lost' to homeschooling."" http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=1290
HEM Support Group News is a monthly report for Home Education Support Groups.
Each monthly newsletter will highlight a different support group, look at Issues that may impact homeschooling, list web updates, resources and more.Your comments and feedback are always welcome.
This service is available free. The latest newsletter can be viewed at:
http://www.homeedmag.com/groups/2004/current.html
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