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News & Commentary January 13, 2004
In This Issue:
New Jersey's Ill-conceived and Deeply Offensive Bill
Pushed Out in Chicago
Fairness for Tennessee Homeschoolers
Cybers, Charters, Alt. Ed.
For Homeschoolers, By Homeschoolers, About Homeschoolers
Worst Reporting of the Week Award: "Next, your home gets checked out"
Final Words
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New Jersey's Ill-conceived and Deeply Offensive Bill
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headline: Jackson Starvation Case Spurs Bill to Monitor Home Schooling
Star-Ledger, Trenton, New Jersey, By Susan K. Livio, January 08
http://www.nj.com/statehouse
" Children educated at home would be required to undergo standardized testing and annual medical examinations under a bill lawmakers will introduce today.
Legislators say the need for oversight over home schooling became clear in the fall after the Camden County Prosecutor's Office arrested Vanessa and Raymond Jackson and charged them with denying medical care and food from their four adopted sons, whom they educated at home. [..]" State law requires public school children to undergo a physical examination every year, and to take proficiency tests in grades 4, 8 and 11."
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headline: Legislative Alert!
New Jersey Homeschool Association, January 09
http://www.geocities.com
"A broad-based group of state homeschooling representatives met on Saturday, January 10th, to discuss the threat of A4033 and coordinate responses. It was unanimously agreed that no compromise is possible -- we will accept nothing less than the total defeat of this ill-conceived and deeply offensive bill."
Ann: There is no word as of Monday evening regarding how this went. We're pulling for you, NJ.
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Pushed Out in Chicago
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headline: Schools Pressured to Dump Bad Students, Critics Say
Chicago Sun-Times, By Kate N. Grossman kgrossman@suntimes.com January 9
http://www.suntimes.com
"In the 2001-02 school year, 17,400 students -- 17.6 percent -- dropped out of Chicago schools, according to an analysis of state data by the Greater West Town Community Development Project. That's up from 13.5 percent in 1992. The Chicago public schools publicize a lower percentage -- 13 percent in 2003, down from 16.6 percent in 1995. Those percentages don't include 27 alternative schools. The numbers are too high and the pressure on schools to push out truant, low-performing students is only growing, several experts, including Illinois Education Supt. Robert Schiller, testified at a state Senate Education Committee meeting in Chicago Thursday. The main culprit is the federal No Child Left Behind law..."
Ann: Finally - someone outside the homeschool community is looking at the push out problem. I first heard of students being pushed out in the late 90's - I suspect it is a far bigger problem than we suspected.
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Fairness for Tennessee Homeschoolers
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headline: Nipping, Tucking Await Legislators
Nashville City Paper, Tennessee, By Skip Cauthorn, scauthorn@nashvillecitypaper.com
January 12
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com
"Several lottery issues also will be addressed including tightening closed meeting requirements for the board and equalizing requirements for home-schooled students. Under current lottery legislation home schoolers must attain a 23 American College Test (ACT). Republicans maintain this should be equal to traditional students who must attain a 19."
Ann: Legislators anticipate a quick session, making me guess that the lottery/homeschool connection will be an easy fix. Good.
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Cybers, Charters, Alt. Ed.
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headline: The Best of Both Schools - Social Opportunities Seen as Benefit
King County Journal, by Nora Doyle nora.doyle@kingcountyjournal.com January 06
http://www.kingcountyjournal.com
In the final installment of an extensive series, public alternative education programs for home-based students are explored.
"Janice Hedin of Enumclaw is chairwoman of the advocacy committee for Washington Homeschool Organization, the largest home-school organization in the state.
`The word `home schooling' historically and operationally belongs to people who educate their kids independently of schools. We want to keep that name,' she said. ... `At home, I don't have to answer to the taxpayers. I have the freedom to make my own plans and be accountable to myself and the law,' Hedin said. In creating school programs for home-schoolers, Hedin says the state is trying to redefine home schooling to make it more palatable to the public. If home-schoolers are swept into public schools, choice and innovation will be eliminated, she said."
Ann: Let's hear it for choice and innovation! Thanks, Janice.
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headline: Union Sues Over Virtual School
Journal-Sentinel, Wisconsin, By Anne Davis adavis@journalsentinel.com January 07
http://www.jsonline.com
Port Washington - "The state's largest teachers union has launched a new legal challenge in its fight to stop the spread of statewide virtual charter schools that use public tax dollars to support the home-based instruction of non-resident students....Te lawsuit, which was filed this week against the district, its School Board, K12 and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster, challenges the way the school operates and the way it is funded."
Ann: Let's keep an eye on this story. Although this is a charter school issue that does not concern the legalities of private homeschooling, there could easily be splash - unintended consequences - on homeschooling. And speaking of splash...
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Cyber and Home School Charter Schools: How States are Defining New Forms of Public Schooling
National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education, Released Sunday, January 08, 2004
Author: Luis A. Huerta and Maria-Fernanda Gonzalez lah2013@columbia.edu
http://www.ncspe.org
The 61 page document is at http://www.ncspe.org
From the abstract: "Cyber and homeschooling charter schools have suddenly become a prominent part of the charter school movement. Such schools differ from conventional schools by delivering much of their curriculum and instruction through the use of the internet and minimizing the use of personnel and physical facilities. This paper examines how these alternative charter school models are emerging within the larger public school and charter school communities with particular attention to recent developments in California and Pennsylvania."
Ann: The paper was funded through The National Conference of State Legislatures and National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education in Teachers College - Columbia U. In my quick scan of the first ten pages or so, one item caught my eye:
"Cyber and home school charters are predominantly serving students who were previously home schooled in a traditional private home school setting with minimal public funding and limited regulatory oversight. The large influx of students new to the public school roles has resulted in an unexpected need for additional funding to meet the demands of the large enrollment growth. This funding issue is exacerbated when districts are hard pressed to send per-pupil payments to host districts across enrollment boundaries, and are limited in their ability to monitor whether the funds are used responsibly by cyber or home shool charters."
Ann: These writers seem to be suggesting that traditional homeschoolers are enrolling in public charter schools in huge numbers.
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For Homeschoolers, By Homeschoolers,
About Homeschoolers
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Ann: Once again, my weekly homeschooling reading introduces me to young people and parents that knock my socks off.
headline: Grown Without Schooling
A videotape produced by Peter Kowalke
http://www.grownwithoutschooling.com
"Accompany 10 grown homeschoolers from around the country, ranging in age from 19 to 31, as they explore and candidly discuss the lasting influence home education has had on their lives. Produced and edited for the homeschooling community by a lifelong homeschooler, this 107 minute documentary is a frank and often illuminating portrait of the triumphs and struggles homeschoolers face as children, teens and adults."
Ann: The videotape is available for purchase or group rental. You can watch a trailer at the website. I can't wait to see this video.
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headline: Their Mission Ended A-OK
The Arizona Republic, By Nora Fascenelli nora.fascenelli@arizonarepublic.com January 09
http://www.azcentral.com
"They all perform in public, they have all been home- schooled, and together, they all won the Honeywell Fiesta Bowl Aerospace Challenge. When the judges announced last week that the Westside Home Educators Homeschool Support Group won, it was music to the students' ears.... Pearl Mahar, Ellen Rutter, Andrew Russell and John Russell ....As grand prize-winners, team members and their coach will visit Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a behind-the-scenes tour of NASA's launch facility."
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headline: Whanau The Key to Better Maori Future
The New Zealand Herald, By Tariana Turia, January 10
http://www.nzherald.co.nz
In her opinion piece concerning race-based national policies in New Zealand, Turia suggests that the Maori people are at their best when they take care of themselves within the community. She uses a homeschooling example.
"In one case, six families - including grandparents, parents, uncles and aunties - combined to home-school their children. They felt the local school was not protecting the children's identity as tangata whenua. The adults saw home-schooling as an investment, not of money or material things, but of time and care and love in their children's future. The children were doing outstandingly well, and there were huge benefits for whanau relationships. In the end, there will be an economic return because bright, secure children will be able to take up rewarding opportunities as adults."
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headline: Lego Builds Champs
Students play their way to state tourney
The Neward Advocate, Ohio, By L.B. Whyde advocate@nncogannett.com January 11
http://www.newarkadvocate.com
"Their robots are small enough to hold in one hand and are made with Lego 'bricks.' It is all part of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Lego League competition. In fact, two local teams have done so well they will be compete for the state title on Jan. 16-17 at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Chandler Wittel, 14, of Newark, tweaks the robot he built with the other five members of his Lego League club, Wittel Green Men."
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headline: Parents' Hands-on Influence Pivotal in Home Schooling
Clarion Ledger, Mississippi, By Cathy Hayden chayden@clarionledger.com January 11
http://www.clarionledger.com
"CLINTON ~ Wood Dabbs has done something not too many 11-year-old boys can say they've done. Along with his parents, younger sister and brother, Wood reconstructed the skeleton of a dog found dead in woods near his house....Wood is among thousands of Mississippi students who stay at home for school rather than jam the roads for the morning commute or fight for a seat on the bus."
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headline: Junior Cotillions Put Best Feet Forward at Balls
The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Louisiana, January 11
http://www.nola.com
"The National League of Junior Cotillions, Northshore Covington Chapter, held its Winter Balls Dec. 5 and 6 in the Castine Center at Pelican Park.... Brandi Thomas, a home-schooled student, and Josh Soong of Northlake Christian School were crowned king and queen for the 2003-04 session of the Covington chapter of the National League of Junior Cotillions."
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headline: More Families Teaching at Home
Home-schooling provides flexibility, a one-on-one education and a wider curriculum, parents say.
Herald Tribune, South Florida, By Christina Denardo christina.denardo@herladtribune.com January 12
http://www.heraldtribune.com
This upbeat story includes this provocative section. "Educators agree that nothing beats a one-on-one student-teacher ratio, but many question whether home- schooling provides students with a broad enough view. 'Really, there's no way a conventional school setting, public or private, can ever match (home-schooling),' Charlotte County School Board member Lee Swift said. 'But I think you lose a lot by children not being exposed to (our teachers).'"
Ann: You can't match homeschooling but you lose a lot if you homeschool? Huh?
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headline: Teaching Kids at Home
Herald-Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland, by Marlo Barnhart marlob@herald-mail.com January 12
http://www.herald-mail.com
"'I swore then I would never waste my children's time like that,' Martin said from the dining room/classroom of her Hagerstown home. 'Regurgitating facts isn't my idea of learning.' Years of schooling her four children at home have given Martin a lot of insight into home schooling, which she shares by coordinating an organization that supports other parents throughout the Tri-State area and beyond. The Appalachian Regional Cooperative began in the Boonsboro area about 20 years ago, Martin said. Now it operates in the nearby areas of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and serves about 150 home- schooling families."
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Worst Reporting of the Week Award:
"Next, your home gets checked out"
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headline: Legal Edge: Like Your School?
KETV 7, Omaha, Nebraska, By Attorney Mike Bryant, 2004
http://www.theomahachannel.com
"...the state likes to act as a third parent. That means making sure the education you give at home is at least as good as the typical school system education.
The rules for school in your home. The first call is to your local school board. Most states require the board's okay for home schooling. Next, your home gets checked out. There is usually a hearing to evaluate the teaching environment and the teaching methods you plan to use...."
Ann: Where is my pooper scooper? There is so much wrong with this piece - in fact, except for that bit about the state acting like a third parent, there is almost nothing right about it. Bryant implies that he knows what is true about homeschooling "in most states." He most assuredly does not.
https://www.azbar.org
At this Arizona site we learn that Bryant - I assume it is the same Bryant - is a CA licensed attorney who writes in Arizona. Apparently his Legal Edge stories are aired around the country. If you heard this story in your part of the world, you may want to complain to your local station, or write to the Omaha station's web-based comment page.
http://www.theomahachannel.com
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Final Words
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E-mail addresses of reporters are now included with their stories when available. Please send feedback to reporters who make you think, who tell a great story, or who have wrong information. A pat on the back or a respectful correction is usually appreciated. As always, keep me in mind as you find and make the news. Thanks to all who contributed to this and past issues.
Ann Lahrson Fisher
News and Commentary Email
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