News & Comment June 23, 2004

In This Issue:

Charter School Magnate Labels Homeschoolers "Semi-Dropouts"
Homeschooling Through Hard Times
Virginia - Update and Correction
Parent-Partnered Charter School Woes
Students Brighten Our Days
Extracurricular Participation Allowed in South Dakota
Baptists: Education Authority Remains in the Home
Why We Homeschool - How Children Learn
Why We Homeschool - To Teach Diversity Without Trauma
Defects in School Mathematics
Final Words

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Charter School Magnate Labels Homeschoolers "Semi-Dropouts"
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headline: Innovation and Profit: What Education Needs Most
School Reform News, published by The Heartland Institute, Chicago, Illinois, July 01
an interview with David L. Brennan, By George A. Clowes
http://www.heartland.org

Ann: Does the term "semi-dropouts" incense you as it did me? Good. I recommend that you read the entire piece and form your own conclusions, but let me first whet your appetite. David Brennan's term - "semi-dropouts," which I'll get to in a minute - maligns homeschoolers. That is self-evident. This condescending attitude might explain his determined effort to include homeschoolers in school reform. First, a statement from the introductory material -

"White Hat's [White Hat is Brennan's company and the largest charter school operator in Ohio] tuition-free educational offerings include Life Skills Centers for at-risk and dropout youth, HOPE Academies for K-10 charter school students, and the DELA Academy for Ohio and Pennsylvania homeschool students."

Ann: The phrase "Ohio and Pennsylvania homeschooled students" blurs the boundaries between students enrolled in ODELA and PDELA and traditional private and independent homeschoolers in those two states. From the interview -

"We [White Hat] are developing education programs for a population that does not fit well into the traditional public education mold. About a third of our population appears to prosper under that traditional model, but two-thirds doesn't. The most obvious symptom that there is a problem is the dropout. The second-most obvious symptom is homeschooling, where you have a semi-dropout. They've dropped out, but they're still being educated."

Ann: Hey, homeschoolers, you are "semi-dropouts" - a problem in need of a fix! And Mr. Brennan and White Hat are here to help. Seriously, can you wrap your mind around homeschoolers being labeled "semi-dropouts" by the same folks who are determined to blur the lines between homeschooling and public charter programs in Ohio? I'm still working on it. Moving further into the interview, I am also deeply disturbed by Brennan's idea of "innovation." Get this Brennan quote:

"In our biggest traditional-looking schools--our Life Skills Centers--a typical classroom has 35-50 students, with three teachers and two aides. No student goes unattended when they want attention.... learning plans are individualized to suit the student. I go at my own pace. I may be a fast reader and a very slow math student, but I can take all the time I need with computer-aided instruction. Each student has his or her own computer. Students come in, choose the subject matter they're going to work on, and proceed at their own speed."

Ann: This "innovative" program - classrooms with rows and rows of students in front of computers, six hours a day, five days a week - what does it really offer? Profit for the company? Oh definitely. Go at your own speed? More profit I suppose. Computer-aided instruction? Yes, ho-hum. Job training? Possibly. Education? Not by my definition. Thinking skills? In your dreams. And innovation? HAH! Brennan's vision of a brave new world of education reform for two-thirds of our population - especially dropouts and "semi-dropouts," coupled with his desire to profit on the backs of taxpayers, gives me the heebie-jeebies. Read the article.

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Homeschooling Through Hard Times
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headline: Father Knows Best
The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, California, By Guy Kovner gkovner@pressdemocrat.com, June 20
http://www.pressdemocrat.com
"When Petaluma resident Greg Babb's wife died, he was left with eight kids and one big role.
With friends and his older children watching in amazement, Greg Babb has in the past six months melded his accustomed role of entrepreneur and breadwinner with the sudden responsibility of a Mr. Mom -- household manager, disciplinarian and binder of wounded bodies and souls....Gregg Babb assured his younger children -- Winston, 11, Weston, 6 and April, 4 -- that little would change.... In 1996, the Babbs began home-schooling their children, and Winston continues to follow lessons in reading, math, science, history, spelling and art, mostly on his own. 'I like it five times better than public school,' he said."

Ann: When a family faces a sudden loss such as the Babbs' experienced, the strength of homeschooling often helps carry them forward. Our prayers and kind wishes go to this family as they adjust to their loss.

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Virginia - Update and Correction
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headline: Letter from VHEA
Celeste Land, Chair, Government Affairs Committee, Virginia Home Education Association
http://www.vhea.org

Ann: Last week, I made a couple of factual errors. In a letter, Celeste kindly explains where I went wrong.

"First and most important, the Virginia Home Education Association (VHEA) did NOT oppose HB 675. We supported HB 675, and spent countless hours lobbying on its behalf in both the state legislature and the governor's offices. The bill was opposed by the "Virginia Education Association" (VEA), a statewide teachers' organization which has no ties to the homeschooling community.
"Secondly, the Georgia and Virginia bills are not 'similar.' They deal with very different issues: the Virginia legislation dealt with parental qualifications, while the Georgia legislation dealt with tutor qualifications.
"You can learn more about HB 675 and its controversial legislative journey by reading the archives of our Legislative Updates at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VHEA-announce/."

Ann: Thank you, Celeste, for setting me straight and clarifying the finer points of Georgia's and Virginia's proposed laws. And a note to all you legislature watchers, please follow VHEA's lead and keep me on my toes!

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Ann: Although it has been some weeks now since Governor Warner's veto, the Virginia bill continues to get press coverage.

headline: State's Home-schooling Laws Still Under Debate
The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Virginia, By Philip Walzer, June 21
http://home.hamptonroads.com
"Virginia law offers several pathways to home schooling, with differing levels of demands. A proposal earlier this year to ease the regulations drove a wedge between Gov. Mark R. Warner and the General Assembly."

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headline: Parents Know What's Best for Children's Education
The Virginian-Pilot, Opinion By Kerry Dougherty, Norfolk, Virginia, June 22
http://home.hamptonroads.com
"Why not leave home-schoolers alone? They keep to themselves. Their children are doing just fine. Best of all, they save taxpayers, money. The ability to teach well doesn,t come with a college degree. ...Where we teach them should be left up to us, too. So unless Gov. Mark Warner can come up with something other than a bedrock belief that government knows best, he should step aside and allow parents to educate their children."

Ann: How interesting to read this opinion from someone who refuses to homeschool her own children. And Dougherty is just right - parents do know best when it comes to their children's education.

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Parent-Partnered Charter School Woes
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headline: Internet Schools Fall Short on Tests
Miami Herald, Florida, By Steve Harrison sharrison@herald.com, June 18
http://www.miami.com
"Two voucher-supported Internet schools [Connections Academy by Sylvan and K12's Florida Virtual Academy] struggled on the math and writing sections of the FCAT, calling into question their ability to teach the basics. When the Florida Legislature created two taxpayer-funded Internet schools for students as young as 5, critics wondered if parents could effectively teach their children at home using a computer. FCAT results released this week confirm those concerns: Students at Internet schools -- in which a certified instructor monitors progress but parents do most of the teaching -- tested well at reading, but poorly at math and writing..."

Ann: Shouldn't students' low scores be a red flag to parents about the programs' weaknesses, rather than the other way around? The critics are quick to blame the low scores on the parents' ability to teach their children. I hope Florida parents are offended - I am! What about the programs themselves not being suitable? Are there holes in the curriculum? Maybe the supervising teachers are weak in math and writing? What about computer delivery of education? Maybe the test itself is flawed? How could all of these be above reproach, while parents get skewered?

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headline: Horizon Parents View Options
The Frontiersman, Alaska, By Jen Ransom, June 22
http://www.frontiersman.com
PALMER -- "Emotions were kept in check Thursday evening as Horizon Charter School parents met with seven representatives of the Mat-Su Borough School District and Board to review options their home-schooled children now have within the district.... Some parents voiced frustration with the board's decision to terminate the school's contract earlier this month, leaving around 180 students enrolled without a school."

Ann: Is this a new twist on parent-partnered programs - sometimes they vanish?

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Students Brighten Our Days
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Ann: I just love reading about the interesting ways homeschooled students learn, grow, and excel. Congratulations to each and all.

headline: Wild West Homeschooling: Receiving a Cutting-Edge Education
(This column originally appeared in the Belgrade News on June 15, 2004.)
By Izzy Lyman, June 18
http://www.opinioneditorials.com
"Like adults who exchange the bustle of the city for the peace of the country, young people sometimes elect to leave the grind of school to quietly learn at home. Sixteen-year-old Beth Gates of Manhattan, Montana, is one such trailblazer. Before beginning her high school years, Beth decided - with her parents' blessing - to retire from public school. The modern school culture, after all, can be a social rat race. 'I was tired of the cliques, the gossip, the drugs, and the drinking,' says Beth of the decision to become a homeschooler.... For other teens contemplating a move such as hers, she advises that successful homeschooling requires initiative. 'You have to create opportunities. If you find them, it's all worth it.'"

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headline: Homeschoolers Earn Math Olympiad Awards
Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 17
http://www.nola.com
"Ten students from Grace Home Educators, a West Bank-based Christian homeschool group, were among 150,000 students worldwide to participate in this year's Math Olympiad program.... Six of the Grace "mathletes" received a national award, the embroidered Math Olympiad patch, for scoring in the top 50 percent of all participating students. They are: Paul Morris, Anneliese Dailey, Ben DeBruler, Vaughn Johnson, Rachel Dailey and Caroline Morris. Paul Morris also received the silver pin awarded to students who score in the top 10 percent."

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headline: MWR Helps Home School Students Earn Fitness Awards
Dolphin News, Connecticut, By Laura Yeager, June 17
http://www.zwire.com
"The Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department's Bodyworks Fitness Center and Aquatics Department on Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE) recently hosted a class of 10 home school students to take the Presidential Physical Fitness Challenge. This program is designed to build strength, endurance, flexibility and motivate the students to maintain physically active lifestyles.... The Presidential Challenge offers four levels of awards. The Presidential Physical Fitness Award, the highest-level award, was awarded to Jordan Lane who achieved an outstanding level of fitness by scoring above the 85th percentile on all five fitness events."

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headline: Drawing a Bead for God, Country
Washington Post, District of Columbia, By Barry Svrluga, June 18
http://www.washingtonpost.com
"Nichols, Among America's Top Archers, Prepares for Olympics on Own Terms.
"There was that point, in 2001, when Jennifer Nichols faced the decision so many young athletes face: move to a training center, complete with a brilliant, seasoned coach, to pursue an Olympic dream. Or stay home, draw from the elite coaching only occasionally, and wonder whether the dream can be fulfilled anyway....[F]or the Nichols family of Cheyenne, Wyo., home is a way of life.... It is the rare American Olympian who can recall her training days as Nichols can: waking up, heading downstairs for breakfast, attending school in another room in her own house, where her mother provided the lesson of day. Then tending to chores, and bolting out to the back yard for physical education -- archery. All five Nichols children are home-schooled, taught by [mother] Cheryl."

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headline: 5,000 Join Christian Home Educators Meet; Local Students Capture Awards
The Fort Morgan Times, Colorado, June 21
http://www.fortmorgantimes.com
"The 20th annual Christian Home Educators of Colorado State Conference was held in Denver last week.... A popular display at the conference was the Gallery Showcase, a juried exhibit consisting of over 100 composition, fine art and needle art submissions from home schooled students ages 8 through 18 from across Colorado."

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Extracurricular Participation Allowed in South Dakota
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headline: Board Amends Activities Policy
Rapid City Journal, South Dakota, By Andrea J. Cook, andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com, June 10
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com
"Home-schooled high school students who want to participate in Rapid City School District extracurricular programs will have to comply with the district's immunization policies, the school board decided Tuesday night.... [T]he policy revision which takes affect for the 2004-2005 school year."

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Baptists: Education Authority Remains in the Home
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headline: Baptists Reject Plan For Home Schooling
Star-Ledger, New Jersey, By Adelle M. Banks, Religious News Service, June 17
INDIANAPOLIS -- "Southern Baptists yesterday turned down a plan to remove their children from public schools in favor of home education.... T.C. Pinckney, a former second vice president of the denomination, co-authored a plan that encouraged Southern Baptists to remove their children from public schools and instead place them in home schools and private Christian schools.... Calvin Wittman, the chairman of the resolutions committee, said the 10-member committee prayerfully considered Pinckney's proposal and decided not to bring it to a vote. 'We believe this is a responsibility that God has given to the parents,' said Wittman, pastor of a Denver-area church. 'We must be careful as a denomination not to usurp the authority that God has placed firmly in the home.'"

Ann: The Baptists chose to leave educational authority and decisions in the home and squarely on the shoulders of parents. Though some believe the decision may have been complicated by Baptists' traditional support of public schools, I understood the decision to come from a careful and prayerful religious perspective by the church's leaders. To my mind, this was a good decision from the "homeschooling freedoms" standpoint as well. Why? Because the best chance for homeschooling success results when the family exercises full freedom in choosing homeschooling as their preferred educational approach.

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Why We Homeschool - How Children Learn
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headline: Kids' Brains Dictate How They Learn
Providence Journal,Rhode Island, By Julia Steiny juliasteiny@cox.net, January 4
http://www.projo.com
"If you understand the brain, the current effort to punish, sanction, name and shame schools and kids is just not going to produce a big, sustainable leap forward in test scores. Our goals may be right, but how we think about education just doesn't honor how the human functions. How learning feels to grownups and kids makes a huge difference."

Ann: This is a timeless article, even six months after publication. Steiny's discussion of brain-based learning is familiar to many homeschoolers who have left schools in disgust, either following their gut-driven intuition that their child was not learning or by making a decision based on research that led to conclusions similar to Steiny's. Steiny, a former school board member, draws needed attention to the deep incompatibility of the learning brain and the inherent structures of modern schooling.

A couple of starting places for learning more:
http://www.funderstanding.com/brain_based_learning.cfm
http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/brain.html

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Why We Homeschool - To Teach Diversity Without Trauma
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headline: A Diversity-Training Tool We Don't Need
Sacramento Bee, California, Scripps Howard News Service, By Linda Seebach, June 18
http://www.sacbee.com
"The more sadistic exercises practiced by some operators who drive the diversity machine goes by the name "Brown Eyes, Blue Eyes." You may have heard of it, because an elementary-school teacher in Iowa first perpetrated it on her fourth-graders in 1968 and it quickly became notorious. Jane Elliott divided her students into two groups based on their eye color. The blue-eyed children were forced to wear collars symbolizing inferiority, and were constantly humiliated by the brown-eyed children, egged on by their teacher....Why am I telling you about this now? Because an extremely and righteously angry woman wrote me recently that her son, a ninth-grader at Peak to Peak Charter School in Lafayette, Colo., had been subjected to this abusive treatment in his English literature class..."

Ann: If we learned anything from Jane Elliott's experiment, we learned the power and danger of bigotry. We should also have learned that forcing this ugly exercise on children is wrong. Diversity is best taught with kindness, not trauma.

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Defects in School Mathematics
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headline: High Stakes Examinations and Educational Foolishness
By Ralph A. Raimi, June 3, 2004
http://www.math.rochester.edu
"It was not necessary to sift through all the newly posted CMP exercises, or all the Michigan or New York examination questions, to find the kind of thing that exemplifies, and implicitly defines, the defects in today's school mathematics philosophy and instruction, for much of it is immediately visible even in questions that are correct enough and simple enough to be 'correctly' answered by any student who has learned what the school has sought to teach."

Ann: Raimi gives many examples of poorly thought out math problems. This is a sobering exercise when we realize that students' futures sometimes hinge on high stakes examinations.

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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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