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News & Comment May 29, 2004
In this Issue:
Forest Schooling
Fear and Loathing In Charlotte, North Carolina
A Rally to Save New Jersey Homeschooling
Parent-Partnered Program Partly Blamed for Shortfall in Ohio
Homeschooling in the News
Virginia Governor Veto
Tests and Standards - The Tail That Wags the Dog
Fear and Loathing In Lane County, Oregon
Saving Tax $$ In Michigan
Arizona Admissions Policy Will Change
Update on Baby Whips
Opposing the Homeschooled "Personality"
Homeschoolers - Talented and Gifted
Pennsylvania Law Suits
Tennessee Equalizes Access
Why We Homeschool
Homeschooling Activists in Maryland
A Parent-Partnered Story in Disguise
Baptists Promote Homeschooling
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Forest Schooling
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headline: Forest Family Had an Elaborate Camp Among Trees
KATU News, Portland, Oregon, May 20
http://www.katu.com
Ann: Please read this rather long quote from the most heartwarming story I've read in a long while.
"...Frank, a devout Christian, said he taught his daughter using the old encyclopedias... Even though the child and father lived for such a long time disconnected from society, the girl had been home schooled and was in good physical shape -- even no cavities.... To make donations for the girl, who for the last four years have lived in the forest and was educated by her father, to 'Ruthie's Education Fund' at any Bank Of America Branch. Police say the father was ecstatic when KATU offered to set up a college fund for his daughter. The father has done a wonderful job of educating the girl, says police. She reportedly performs at a 12th grade level."
The piece closes with praise for the officers handling the situation. "'The amazing part of this was the fact that Sergeant Barkley really evaluated what was best for these people,' North Precinct Cmdr. Scott Anderson said. 'Sometimes police would be a little quicker to hand things off to state workers. But instead...he saw this through to the end.'"
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Fear and Loathing In Charlotte, North Carolina
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Headline: Homeschool Horror - Divinely Ordained Education, Taught By Martyrs
Creative Loafing, Charlotte, North Carolina, By Quinn Cotton, May 05
http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com
Ann: Venom-spewing Quinn Cotton indulges her fear of homeschooling in this very nasty article. She quickly exhausts herself comparing homeschoolers to religious terrorists, witches, and Stepford wives. She pads the rest of her column with imaginary facts, fibs that surely rise from her own Stepfordian inability to cope with new ideas.
Her opinions pose as "facts" like these -
"Beyond a certain age, children and mothers are just not meant to be isolated together. It's unnatural."
"Kids need their teachers to be adults, separate from their mothers."
"All young animals must be immersed in a mass of their peers so they can figure out what it means to function as a member of the larger group."
"...for every homeschooler who aces a spelling bee, there's some poor child being "instructed" by a parent who's barely literate herself."
"No woman was ever meant to be trapped in a house all day with children old enough to spell 'homicide.'"
Ann: Thank YOU, Ms. Cotton. You remind me of one more reason to homeschool - to learn to separate fact from fiction.
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A Rally to Save New Jersey Homeschooling
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headline: N.J. Home-Schoolers Protest at Capital
The Washington Times, DC, May 25
http://washingtontimes.com
Newark, NJ (UPI) -- "More than 400 families demonstrated on the New Jersey statehouse steps in protest of a bill that would set first-ever standards for home schooling..... Carolee Adams, a home-schooling mother from Montvale, N.J., told the Newark Star-Ledger Tuesday the proposed legislation was 'intellectually dishonest' and would lead to the harassment of home-schoolers."
The rally was sponsored by ENOCH, Unschoolers Network, Catholic Homeschoolers of New Jersey, Tricounty Home Educators, New Jersey Homeschool Association, Eagle Forum, HSLDA.
For more information, visit
New Jersey Homeschool Association
http://www.geocities.com/jerseyhome
From Tim Haas of New Jersey Homeschool Association: "The bill known last session as A4033 has been reintroduced as A1918....We do not seek compromise, and we will accept nothing less than the total defeat of this legislative travesty. Whatever your family's methods and beliefs, please prepare to join the fight with, and for, all New Jersey homeschoolers."
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Parent-Partnered Program Partly Blamed for Shortfall in Ohio
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headline: Charter School Growth, Private School Decline Cited In Shortfall
9News, Ohio, By Paige Adams, May 11
http://www.wcpo.com
"With the end of the budget year approaching, the Senate planned to make quick work of a $108 million shortfall threatening state funding for schools.... A shift of some home-schooled students into online charter schools may also play a role, educators say....One online school, the Ohio Distance Electronic Learning Academy, now enrolls about 500 formerly home-schooled students out of the 2,200 students it serves statewide. Two years ago, only about 110 students were formerly home schooled."
Okay, so some homeschoolers have enrolled in public programs. That makes them public schoolers, right? After parents were enticed to enroll their homeschooled students in the publicly funded ODELA, that very enrollment has caused a portion of the "$108 million shortfall threatening state funding for schools." Something smells rotten in Ohio.
Here's another annoying quote. "'The unserved home school population is certainly impacting that number,' said Mark Thimmig, president of White Hat Ventures, a for-profit company that runs ODELA. He said parents of home schoolers are becoming more comfortable enrolling children in online charter schools.'
The "unserved" home school population? When homeschoolers decide to homeschool, they "decline services." Does "declining services" mean they are "unserved?" I don't think so. Listen, Mr. White Hat. Just because someone homeschools does not mean they are "unserved." It means they "declined services, said no thank you, not for me" and nothing more.
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Homeschooling in the News
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headline: Maria Lundgren Schools, Nurtures Her Sons
And she's got a snake, too
KV News, Kittitas County, Washington, By Pat Muir, May 08
http://www.kvnews.com
"...Wearing the python, named Monty of course, is only The ways [Maria lundgren] is an unusual parent. Her sons Daniel and 13-year-old Ben nominated her as the county's best mom in the Daily Record Mother's Day contest. Daniel's essay was selected, in part, because his mom sounded unique. He wasn't lying, either. Maria homeschools the precocious, red-haired boys and lets them do things other parents might not."
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headline: New Home-school Traditions
Houston Chronicle, Texas, By Jo Ann Zuniga, May 23
http://www.chron.com
"Co-op classes, social activities are replacing isolation
"At a recent graduation ceremony, the students wore royal-blue caps and robes with gold tassels dangling near their faces. Personalized music and a video accompanied every graduate as they walked on stage to receive a diploma. It looked like a scene from dozens of high school graduation ceremonies around Houston in recent weeks. But the 21 students at the ceremony held at Clearpoint Church were all schooled at home...."
Mostly a nice story about families who get together for activities, but can I gripe about media assumptions about isolation? If we are going to fuss about isolation, let's not overlook the hidden isolation of students who are lost in the crowd of a huge school. Another reason some homeschool, of course.
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headline: Home School Has Positive Effect on Pahrump Family
Pahrump Valley Times, Nevada, By Gina B. Good, May 21
http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com
"Three years ago, Kathy and Maciej Szczerbiak made 'the desperate decision' to educate their two daughters, ages 8 and 7, at home.... 'At that time making the decision to home school our children felt pretty desperate,' remembered Kathy. 'But ultimately, we decided we didn't want our kids raised by other people.... I remind myself what the long-term value is. And while every day may not be perfect, some days are.'"
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Virginia Governor Veto
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VHEA Legislative Report
Celeste Land, Virginia Home Education Association, May 21
Government Affairs Committee
http://www.vhea.org
Celeste writes: "Governor Warner has asked VHEA to forward this message to our members. The
Governor's message below explains his rationale for his decisions."
The message says, in part:
"Through the Federal No Child Left Behind Act, we have raised the standards for our public school teachers. This bill would effectively lower the criteria to home school, and thus retreat from the needed assurance of an adequate education for every child. I am committed to high standards for our teachers as well as our home educators. Accordingly, I have vetoed this bill."
But Governor, homeschoolers are exempt for NCLB. The idea of homeschooling should be a true alternative to public education, not a clone in the home. While wondering where the Governor got the idea that homeschoolers should have an NCLB standard, I came across the next article.
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Tests and Standards - The Tail That Wags the Dog
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headline: Squaring Higher Standards With Home-schooling -
Union asks for Regents Exam Requirements
New York Teacher, the official publication of NY United State Teachers, May 19
http://www.nysut.org
"'While the statewide union believes that students should attend public schools, 'NYSUT recognizes that parents have the option to choose home-schooling," [Antonia Cortese, first vice president of New York State United Teachers] said. 'But that shouldn't mean abandoning Regents standards.'"
What clever - and sneaky - politics! Holding private or homeschooled students to public school standards effectively negates the private nature of private and home schooling. You can almost hear the Union mind whirring, "If parents won't deliver their children to school for public education, we'll force them to bring public education into their homes."
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Fear and Loathing In Lane County, Oregon
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headline: Proposed Tighter Regulations on Oregon Home Educators
Oregon Senate Education Committee, Salem, Oregon, May 19
Moves to tighten regulations are being planned based on the suggestions of a Lane County Truancy Officer. You can hear the complete audio recording of the truant officer's testimony before the Committee at http://www.leg.state.or.us
The truant officer's testimony starts 1 hour and 14 minutes into the hearing."
Oregon's homeschooling organizations offered testimony on behalf of homeschoolers at the May 19 hearing. After the hearing, Oregon Home Education Network's Legislative Liaison Jeanne Biggerstaff wrote: "450 parents and children traveled to Salem on Wednesday to show their support for homeschooling freedom!! We filled two overflow rooms and many families had to gather around the televisions in the lobby areas outside the Governor's office."
The testimony can be heard at
http://www.leg.state.or.us
The homeschooling part starts 1 hour and 57 minutes into the hearing.
Jeanne continues: "...a truant officer and some ESD personnel...have suggested annual reporting and some have suggested annual testing. These changes, if implemented, would take us back to the laws we had prior to 1999.... We plan to initiate dialogue with representatives from the education community ... with the hope of working toward a solution that meets their specific needs and leaves our homeschooling freedoms intact."
We're pulling for you, Team Oregon!
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Saving Tax $$ In Michigan
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Home Schooling: An "Encouraging and Robust" Movement
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Midland, Michigan, By Tait Trussell
http://www.mackinac.org
"As many as 100,000 Michigan children don't trudge off to their local school each school day. They stay at home.... Without government money and with few regulations home-schooled children are usually outperforming their peers. Home schooling is an imaginative balance of freedom and responsibility. Home schooling parents also, by the way, save Michigan taxpayers an estimated $600 million per year because they impose no costs on the government-run school system."
I like the irony of Trussell quoting a buzz phrase from William Bennett in the headline (front man for K12, Inc., known for urging homeschoolers to use his program funded by the public system) to promote private homeschooling that "imposes no costs on the government-run school system." Probably not quite what Bennett had in mind.
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Arizona Admissions Policy Will Change
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headline: ABOR Says Admission Policies Will Change
Proposal would help home-schooled students gain admission
The State Press, Arizona, By Annemarie Moody annemarie.moody@asu.edu, May 03
http://www.statepress.com
"...the Arizona Board of Regents decided Friday...voted on several changes to its policies regarding admission guarantees for seniors. One proposal discussed would insert the word 'fair' into a policy on the admission of home-schooled students. Currently, only high school students in the top 25 percent of their graduating class are guaranteed admission to Arizona universities. Because there is no ranking for home-schooled students, they have no similar admission guarantee."
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Update on Baby Whips
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Ann: Last issue I shared the story of the advocacy group working against the use of a whip on babies and young children. They are working to stop Hunt-Wilde bicycle handles from being used in the manufacture of the whips. Hunt-Wilde have agreed to stop selling handles to the manufacturer. Now, a petition to Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma asks hims to.
headline: Stop "The Rod"
http://www.parentinginjesusfootsteps.org
"We, the undersigned, urge the governor of Oklahoma, Brad Henry (D), to stop the manufacture and sale of "The Rod" by Slide's Manufacturing Company of Eufaula, Oklahoma. The sole purpose of "The Rod" is to whip babies and children. Sales of "The Rod" encourage child abuse, and no company should be making a profit from hurting children."
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headline: Another Petition Against Corporal Punishment
The United Methodist Church
http://www.umc.org
Proposed Petition on Corporal Punishment by Parents and Caretakers
http://www.umc.org
The petition concludes: "Whereas, children must eventually develop their own conscience and self-discipline, which are fostered by a home environment of love, respect, and trust,
Therefore, be it resolved that the United Methodist Church encourages its members to adopt discipline methods that do not include corporal punishment of their children.
And be it further resolved that the United Methodist Church encourages congregations to offer opportunities for dialogue and education on effective discipline of children."
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Opposing the Homeschooled "Personality"
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headline: Home Schooling: Risky Course
Henderson Daily Dispatch, North Carolina, By Jason Alston, May 14
http://www.hendersondispatch.com
"When I entered my freshman year at UNCW, I found two additional reasons to oppose home schooling: my roommate and my neighbor. Both of those guys were home-schooled and represented opposing negative results of the practice."
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Ann: Here are two of the many responses that address Alston's concerns.
http://www.hendersondispatch.com
From Charles J. Busada - a pastor and educator with a B.A., B.S. and M.S. in the biological sciences and a M.Div. and Ph.D. in biblical studies, New Testament and Greek
"Can the myriad of issues composing a personality really be reduced to whether or not one has been home schooled?"
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http://www.hendersondispatch.com
From S. W. Hubbard, Kittrell Home School Association
"The fact that you are acquainted with so many former home schoolers that attend the same university that you attend pretty much says it all. In the end it doesn't matter what way they lean religiously or politically, they are without a doubt as well educated as you are."
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Homeschoolers - Talented and Gifted
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headline: Missouri Youth Wins Junior Duck Stamp Competition
The Chattanoogan, Tennessee, April 27
http://www.chattanoogan.com
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that a pair of fulvous whistling ducks will be featured on the 2004-2005 Junior Duck Stamp. The design for the new stamp, painted by 17 year-old Adam Nisbett of Saint James, Missouri, was chosen by a panel of judges on April 24 at the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest in Ocean City, Maryland.... Adam Nisbett's art teacher is his mother, Kim Nisbett. He is home schooled by his parents."
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Home-schooler Wins Merit Scholar Honor
Daily Herald, Chicago, By Lisa Smith, May 05
http://216.239.53.104
"...typical students aren't named National Merit Scholars. That designation is earned by a select few - including 17-year-old [Sarah] Bramsen of St. Charles Township, home schooled since first grade. 'We've just given her what she can do,' said her mom and teacher, Annette Bramsen, after rattling off a long list of classics Sarah has recently read that includes 'Moby Dick,' 'MacBeth,' Tolstoy's 'The Death of Ivan Illych' and Joyce's 'Dubliners.'...Of the 114 National Merit Scholarship winners in Illinois, three are home schooled."
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headline: Talent from Twelve to Twenty
Prairie Home Companion, Minnesota Public Radio, May 08
http://prairiehome.publicradio.org
Homeschoolers Andrew and Noah Van Norstrand, traditional-music-playing brothers from Fulton, New York, played original music in Garrison Keillor's annual talent contest.
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headline: Local Teens Win State Title
Staunton News Leader, Virginia, May 18
http://www.newsleader.com
"The 4-H homeschool team won the Virginia Envirothon Competition on Monday at James Madison University. The team is from the Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District. The homeschool team was named champion at the local April 2 competition in Staunton. After judges realized they had miscalculated scores, both the homeschool team and the Fort Defiance team were sent to the state competition."
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headline: Home School Runners Set Records
Lebanon Daily Record, Missouri, May 22
http://www.lebanondailyrecord.com
"Two members (Shane Anderson, and Josh Owens) of the Lebanon Area Home Schoolers Track and Field Team set state records in the 14-and-under division of the Missouri State Home School Track Meet on May 15 at Warrensburg."
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Pennsylvania Law Suits
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headline: Home-school Suit Centers on Religious Freedom
The Intelligencer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, By Ben Finley bfinley@phillyBurbs.com, May 05
http://www.phillyburbs.com
"More than 50 Pennsylvania families who home school their children for religious reasons are using a little-known state law [Religious Freedom Protection Act] to force school districts out of the educational process....school officials in Bristol Township and in western Pennsylvania have threatened to charge two of those families with truancy. The parents responded by suing them."
Later in the article we hear from Norma Young, Quakertown, who is on the advisory board of the Pennsylvania Home Educators Association, a secular organization. 'I don't know that we'll be successful [with these court cases] the way you might think,' Young said. 'What this might do is cause the legislature or the courts to seriously look and address the law so parents can home school under less restrictive means.'"
I hope you are right, Norma. We'll keep an eye on this one.
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Tennessee Equalizes Access
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headline: Legislature Passes Budget, Lottery Reform, Adjourns
The Chattanoogan, Tennessee, by Lance Frizzell, May 21
http://www.chattanoogan.com
"Legislation that would end lottery scholarship discrimination against home-schooled students passed the House this week. Currently, to receive a HOPE Scholarship a student needs to have a 3.0 overall GPA or a 19 on the ACT. However, home-schooled students, who do not have a GPA recognized by the state, need to reach a score of 23 on their ACT to receive a scholarship."
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Why We Homeschool
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Headline: No Room For Poetry
http://www.washingtonpost.com
"Several weeks into my after-school program, the principal of my school, who has been the recipient of a national distinguished-principal award, said that my [poetry] program would have to be terminated....The message was clear: In the new world of standardized tests and top-down directives, poetry has no place -- not even after school."
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headline: Playtime Is Over
Teacher Magazine, By Linda Jacobson, May 2004
http://www.teachermagazine.org
"Every Monday, Micaela Avila receives a packet of worksheets that she's expected to complete at home and turn back in on Friday. The assignments are meant to help her meet class requirements for the year, including writing a story that follows a logical theme and recognizing and spelling words correctly.... Micaela is in kindergarten."
These stories make me ache for school children today. Lucky the child who still gets to play and write poetry.
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Homeschooling Activists in Maryland
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headline: Bullying Bill
WUSA-9 TV, Maryland, By Cindy Pena, May 22
http://www.wusatv9.com
"How many times have you fantasized about going back in time giving a well-deserved punch to a school yard bully who made your life miserable? In Maryland legislators are hoping to offer some real time help to put a stop to all the juvenile harassment. ...the bullying bill is now awaiting the Governor's signature; victims of bullying are waiting too."
Watch the video to learn more about the efforts of Alice Gordon and her now homeschooled daughter Melody.
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A Parent-Partnered Story in Disguise
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headline: Home-schooling Made Easy
Durango Herald, Colorado, By Christina Simms, http://durangoherald.com, May 24
http://durangoherald.com
"... The girls are enrolled in Connections Academy, a virtual school based out of Baltimore that takes much of the groundwork out of home-schooling by providing families with all they need to conduct class..."
This article is a thinly cloaked advertisement for the publicly funded Connections Academy. It is off the homeschooling mark from the headline on. The quotes are from Connections Academy spokespeople, public school staff, or the spotlighted cyber-enrolled family. The reporter writes about parent-partnered public school as if it were homeschooling. Reporter Christina Simms is a summer intern at the Herald. Shame on her editor for failing to guide Simms - this is a fine "parent-partnered" story, but it is not a homeschooling story at all.
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Baptists Promote Homeschooling
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headline: Baptist Leader Pushes Homeschooling
CNN.COM, May 07
http://www.cnn.com
"NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) -- A prominent Southern Baptist is asking the national convention to consider a resolution recommending parents remove their children from what he calls 'godless' and 'anti-Christian' public schools. The resolution, co-authored by T.C. Pinckney, publisher of a Baptist newsletter in Alexandria, Virginia, urges parents to homeschool their children or send them to Christian schools."
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headline: SBC President Doubts Christian Education Resolution Will Pass
EthicsDaily.com, By Bob Allen, May 07
http://www.biblicalrecorder.org
"Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) president Jack Graham says he supports Christian education but doubts Southern Baptists will adopt a resolution urging parents to pull their children out of public schools."
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Final Words
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E-mail addresses of reporters or their editors 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. Please include a link if possible and a sentence or two of your own that summarizes the homeschooling aspect of the story. Thanks to all who contributed to this and past issues.
Ann Lahrson Fisher
News and Commentary Email
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