Newscomm for October 20, 2004

In This Edition:

An Invitation to Regulation
Massachusetts - Homeschoolers Know Their Law
Mississippi - Official Stirs the Pot
New Jersey Case - Update On Last Year's Story
Pennsylvania - Lawsuits Debated
Texas - Heads up on Home Businesses and Homeschoolers
Australia - Homeschooling Targeted for Registering
Why We Homeschool - ADD
"I laughed at the irony"
Letter to the Editor Campaign
Letter Writing Campaign - Another Example
Homeschooling is Hot
Forty-foot Dragons - Homeschoolers in the News
Daytime Curfew - Michigan
Daytime Curfew - Illinois
Pushed Out? Or Best Educational Choice?
Why We Homeschool - No Soiled Tests
Final Words

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An Invitation to Regulation
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headline: IRS Bulletin IR-2004-124
October 13, 2004
http://www.irs.gov
WASHINGTON - "The Internal Revenue Service today advised teachers and other educators to save their receipts for books and other classroom supplies. They will be able to deduct up to $250 of such expenses again this year, following recently-enacted legislation.... The deduction is available to eligible educators in public or private elementary or secondary schools. To be eligible, a person must work at least 900 hours during a school year as a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide."

Ann: I hope homeschoolers, especially those in "private school" states, do not try to use this deduction by the IRS. I hope they see the inherent dangers in trying for this deduction. They risk triggering an IRS definition of homeschooling - and irreparable damage to homeschooling freedoms.

To explore the issue further:
"Taking Charge: Are Tax Credits for Educational Expenses a Good Idea for Homeschoolers?"
http://homeedmag.com/HEM/HEM153.98/153.98_clmn_tkch.html

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Massachusetts - Homeschoolers Know Their Law
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headline: Homeschool parents not happy about regulations
Sentinel and Enterprise, Boston, Massachusetts, By Caitlyn Kelleher October 14
http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com
"ASHBURNHAM -- Approximately 100 homeschooling parents and students from across the state argued against the revisions and the institution of the regional school district's policy on home instruction Wednesday.... Parents disagreed with the policy's requirement of providing the approximate instructional time for each subject, the parent/teacher's qualification to teach and the requirement of homeschooled students to take standardized tests at the superintendent's request."

Ann: Massachusetts homeschoolers are knowledgeable and unwilling to tolerate policies that exceed the bounds of case law. That makes me appreciate the power of individuals who know the law take individual action.

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Mississippi - Official Stirs the Pot
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headline: Homeschooling worries official
The Mississippi Clarion Ledger, The Associated Press October 12
http://www.clarionledger.com
"'Mississippi has the most lenient homeschool laws in the nation,' said Peggy Peterson, director of compulsory school attendance enforcement with the Mississippi Department of Education. Peterson said she fears that some children may not be receiving top quality education instruction from their parents....Peterson, former president of the Mississippi Association of Educators, said some states require parents who teach their children to have a certain level of education. She said there is no such requirement in Mississippi."

Ann: Peterson's comment shows her poor understanding of homeschooling law in other states. Furthermore, there is no basis for her presumption that parental level of education affects the high success rate of homeschoolers. She also forgets that some children attending public schools fail, suggesting that strict public school regulation has never assured a child a top education. So why does Peterson suggest that state regulation would assure a top education for homeschoolers?

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New Jersey Case - Update On Last Year's Story
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headline: 4 boys in starvation case gain weight, height
Asbury Park Press, New Jersey, By Jason Nark, October 17
http://www.app.com
COLLINGSWOOD -- "The four adopted boys removed from their Collingswood home have gained weight and gotten taller in the past year."

Ann: You remember this story, which spawned a relentless media pounding of homeschooling and an attempt to strictly regulate homeschooling in New Jersey? It is heartening to read that, at this point, the boys are improving. It is also good to see that this story is no longer being spun as a homeschooling story, nor is there a hysterical call to regulate New Jersey homeschoolers.

Nark writes about the real problem, the gross mismanagement by the state Division of Youth and Family Services. The mismanagement has triggered an ambitious reform plan. "The Office of the Child Advocate released its report on the Jackson case in February... found that nThe four Jackson boys had seen a doctor in six years, even though caseworkers were mandated to evaluate medical records of all children yearly.... [C]aseworkers visiting homes today are not constrained by the 'tunnel vision' policies that forced them to focus on one specific child."

Ann: A new restriction on children in foster care would not allow them to be homeschooled. The reason, I suspect, is that DYFS wants to use teachers and other school personnel for a backup system for those times when their own supervision of foster families is inadequate. In any case, this restriction will stop some homeschooling families, who are often highly qualified, from becoming foster parents. That will be a loss, both to the foster care system and to many foster children who would benefit from homeschooling.

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Pennsylvania - Lawsuits Debated
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headline: Home-school policies debated
Valley Independent, By Jeff Pikulsky jpikulsky@tribweb.com October 11
http://pittsburghlive.com
"Some Mon Valley school district superintendents say opposition to their districts' home schooling programs is non-existent. That's not the case elsewhere in the state, where two families who home-school their children filed suit against public school districts Sept. 27. The parents contend in the filing that they don't have to report their educational plans to school officials, according to the state's Religious Freedom Protection Act. Thomas and Timari Prevish filed suit against the Norwin School District, and Darrell and Kathleen Combs filed suit against Homer-Center School District in Indiana County."

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Texas - Heads up on Home Businesses and Homeschoolers
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headline: City may vote on home-business rules
Star-Telegram, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, By Mike Lee Mikelee@star-telegram.com October 17
http://www.dfw.com
FORT WORTH -- "Now, after nine months of discussions and several rewrites, the city may be ready to take a final vote Tuesday on a set of regulations for home-based businesses.... Home-school families have asked the city to remove restrictions on private tutors and other educational uses."

Ann: Sigh. One more item on the to do list - watch the business community for actions that could limit freedoms.

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Australia - Homeschooling Targeted for Registering
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headline: Push for tougher truancy penalties
The Courier-Mail, Queensland, By Rosemary Odgers October 19
http://www.news.com.au
"A discussion paper endorsed by State Cabinet yesterday also proposes tougher controls for home-schooling, letting state schools charge for specialist programs, and allowing them to expand their religious courses to include spiritual or philosophical teachings...Home schooling will be targeted, with parents facing the prospect of registering and providing annual information on their child's academic progress. In exchange, home-schooling families would have access to more resources, including school dental clinics."

Ann: I don't pretend to understand the issues at stake in Australia. But exchanging registration for dental work? I am trying to figure that one out.

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Why We Homeschool - ADD
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headline: Home-school your kids, and you'll solve ADD Greensborough News & Record, North Carolina, Letter to the Editor by Larry E. Rayle, October 05
http://www.news-record.com
"There is no reason to think that a bright, energetic child should be forced to sit and work through an eight-hour school day when two hours at home in friendly surroundings would accomplish even more. If there is not a class, a class cannot be disrupted. This is not a disease; it's putting children in an adult-contrived situation."

Ann: Many homeschooling parents have discovered Rayle's insight for themselves. Rayle closes: "The cure for parental ADD is showing your love for your children by tutoring your own special child in your own special way...."

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"I laughed at the irony"
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headline: A bonfire out of a molehill
The Augusta Free Press, Virginia, Guest View by Shay Seaborne, October 18
http://www.augustafreepress.com

Ann: This letter is in response to The Augusta Free Press op-ed piece (Homeschooling Under Assault) by Stephen Winslow http://www.augustafreepress.com that tries to one-up the Washington Post's Michelle Malkin piece (Home-Schooling Bigots Strike Again), a hair-curling response to the Muskegon County Emergency Services' portrayal of homeschoolers as Wackos Against Schools and Education. Seaborne sees both of these writers as indulging in excessive hyperbole.

"As a 10-year veteran of home-schooling, I laughed at the irony of Ms. Malkin's charge that the public-school establishment is to blame for the 'smearing' of the home-school movement 'as a conspiracy of conservative Christian zealots.' This is because I am keenly aware that it is exactly the 'conservative Christian zealots' who have, for the past 20 years, portrayed all home-schoolers as being of their ilk, when, in fact, the home-school community is as diverse as the rest of America. As one long-time home-schooler put it, 'any way you slice the American pie, you'll find a home-schooler.'"

Ann: Another excellent and sensible letter. It gives me an idea -

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Letter to the Editor Campaign
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Ann: We need a letter writing campaign by everyday homeschoolers in the mode of Seaborne and Rayle, who see the broader picture. Join me in writing to letters@augustafreepress.com to let the Augusta Free Press know that you appreciate a balanced view. I encourage all homeschoolers to keep an eye on local media sources and write letters that promote a balanced view of homeschooling. If your letter is published, please let me know.

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Letter Writing Campaign - Another Example
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headline: Discuss the positive side of home schooling youths
Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, Letter to the Editor by Mary Ann Baclawski, October 06
(cache)
"Several weeks ago, Dana Haynes wrote a column about an airline conversation he had with a home school parent. He listed several reasons people home school. Unfortunately, he chose to list only negative reasons to home school, including school safety. Then in his Sept. 23 column, Haynes talked about why great schools succeed - engagement, innovation and flexibility. Without realizing it, he described the strengths of home schooling far better than he did in his earlier column.... Perhaps his 'In The Know' column should talk about home schooling more."

Ann: Baclawski responds to the columnist kindly and thoughtfully, pointing out ways the columnist could improve his coverage of homeschooling. Perfect.

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Homeschooling is Hot
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headline: The marketplace discovers homeschooling
c.2004 Newhouse News Service, By Michele M. Melendez, michele.melendez@newhouse.com October 08
http://www.newhousenews.com
"Home schooling is hot. With more kids getting their lessons from Mom and Dad, the marketplace is responding. A vast range of products and services to create a learning environment at home have cropped up, from science kits to home-school consultants. So have the trappings of traditional school: home-school yearbooks, class rings,T-shirts... 'We know we're a valuable market, because we spend money on our kids,' said Shay Seaborne, president of the Virginia Home Education Association, who home schools her two children."

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Forty-foot Dragons - Homeschoolers in the News
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Ann: Forty-foot dragons, tennis players, roller skating, studying elections, PE classes at the Y, academic challenges, theater, networking, family and individual needs, graduates - what do these have in common? Why, homeschoolers making news, that's what.

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headline: Home-schooler rock the vote!
Kids Voting USA helps children understand electoral process
The Brownsville Herald, Texas, By Kevin Garcia, kgarcia@brownsvilleherald.com October 06
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com
"In less than one month, United States citizens will decide who will lead the country for the next four years. 'You want to choose wisely about your president,' said Bethany Doolin, age 7. 'You might pick somebody that,s not a good president.'... Bethany,s mother Kathy Doolin, who often votes Libertarian, said she doesn,t care how her children are politically aligned, as long as they are well informed on how and why to vote."

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headline: Right at home
Bismarck Tribune, North Dakota, By Anna Martin, Century High School, October 10
http://www.bismarcktribune.com
"It all started in the third grade for Derek Berglund. He was a straight-A student at Shiloh Christian School. His parents decided he needed to be more academically challenged. Their answer: Home schooling....Even though home schooling is really different than regular school, home-schoolers are just like regular people -- they still have friends and they basically do the same things that regular teens do every day,' Berglund said."

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headline: Creating a class of their own
Los Angeles Daily News, California, By Lisa M. Sodders lisa.sodders@dailynews.com October 10
http://www.dailynews.com
"While precise figures are not available, educators estimate the number of California students learning at home now stands at about 125,000, up from about 80,000 to 90,000 four years ago.... Loren Mavromati, a spokeswoman for the California Homeschool Network who also home-schools her three children, said it's also easier today for parents to educate their children at home."

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headline: Joining together enriches everyone
The Washington Times, DC, By Kate Tsubata October 12
http://washingtontimes.com
"A friend who home-schools in Virginia recently told me about some of the exciting ways families in her area are networking for a more enriching learning experience. One example is the Young People's Theatre, a 10-year-old project in which professional dramatists Kathleen Richman Hiserodt and Jean Forbes produce musicals and plays using home-schooled student actors."

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headline: 'It's sort of like going to school'
As home schooling grows in popularity, so does its credibility
Mykawartha.com, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, By Clark Kim October 13
http://www.mykawartha.com
"While perceived notions of socially inept and academically disadvantaged home-schooled children still exist, a growing number of families, involving as many as 80,000 Canadian children and counting, have come to realize the benefits of teaching at home. Those advantages became apparent for the Galster household when they found themselves often moving from one community to the next - about seven times in the past 15 years."

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headline: Home schooled students excel
The Michigan Daily, By Alexa Jenner, October 14
http://www.michigandaily.com
"At a young age Peter Schriemer, now an LSA senior, adapted to the life of learning at home because his local elementary school in Ann Arbor was overpopulated....Now, as he prepares for graduation in the spring, Schriemer is working with the Discovery Channel and PBS to develop his wildlife special, 'Beyond Your Doorstep' which won him a People,s Choice Award from the National Religious Broadcasters in California at the age of 17....Nick Cudney, a graduate student in the Dental School, was home schooled from fifth to eighth grade because of his dyslexia. 'By the time I reached fifth grade I was three years behind in reading and writing, and my mom decided to home school me,' Cudney said."

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headline: PE for all - Local homeschoolers enjoy recess, team play at the Rogue Valley YMCA
The Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon, By Buffy Pollock buffypollock@juno.com October 14
http://www.mailtribune.com
"It,s Thursday afternoon, and some three dozen students are racing from one end of a noisy gym to the other. Most have spent all day on schoolwork, so the break is a welcome chance to stretch their legs - and lungs - and enjoy some friendly competition at team sports and relay races. This isn,t a school setting, however. The kids are homeschooled students who, thanks to a growing program at the Rogue Valley Family YMCA, have access to recess and team sports like their public-school counterparts."

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headline: PACE activities rollin' along
Culpeper Star Exponent, Virginia, Alicia Petska apetska@starexponent.com October 15
http://www.starexponent.com
The multi-colored lights were flashing at Dominion Skating Center early Thursday afternoon, the tinted rays glinting off the disco ball hanging overhead. The roller rink is usually closed about now, but this was a private [homeschool] party.... Many homeschool advocacy groups, such as the Virginia Home Education Association, say the public school system actually has a negative effect on children,s socialization, often causing them to identify with their own peer group so strongly they can no longer relate well to people outside of their own age range."

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headline: After years of home-schooling, Great Oak's Aloia is making waves
North County Times, San Diego, California By Ed Wehde October 18
http://www.nctimes.com
"[Tennis player Molly Aloia], like her four older siblings, was home-schooled by her parents through eighth grade....'We realized the one thing we couldn't give Molly was the experience of playing high school sports,' said Stephen Aloia, Molly's father."

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headline: Home and Beyond
Homeschooling parents use creativity to expand the educational experience
Daily Camera, Boulder, Colorado, By Cindy Sutter, sutterc@dailycamera.com October 19
http://www.bouldernews.com
"Forty-foot dragons and kids dressed in knight costumes aren't the first images that come to mind when you think about homeschooling. But this event, along with classes, sports, field trips and other group activities allows homeschooling families to meet each other and socialize, as well as augmenting gaps in parents' teaching expertise. The number of activities is limited only by the hours in the day and family preference, says Terri Kirby of Lyons..." ++++++++++++++++++++++++
Daytime Curfew - Michigan
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headline: Battle Creek Daytime Juvenile Curfew takes effect Monday, October 18
Homeschoolbuilding, By Mrs. Julie Camp, mrsjcamp@juno.com
http://www.homeschoolbuilding.org
"[Lt. Hampton of the Battle Creek City Police] outlined operation standards related to the curfew. He feels that at this time, a child stating that they are homeschooled would be allowed to continue with their activities immediately, without even providing parent's contact information. He also stated that he feels that contacts from police officers will 'never' go any farther than collecting parent contact information."

Ann: Also interesting in this piece is a simple scenario you can use for role playing with your child about what to do if questioned by an officer during curfew hours. I do wonder how many kids would rather stay home rather than risk a confrontation, even a friendly contact like the one described above.

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Daytime Curfew - Illinois
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headline: Milford adopts truancy ordinance
Iroquois County Times-Republic, Illinois, By Sherry Waters, October 11
http://www.watsekatimesrepublic.com
"Milford Village Board members deliberated at length Tuesday night before adopting a truancy ordinance for the village. The new ordinance prohibits school-age children from being on the streets of the village when they should be in school. Home schooled children are included in the truancy law...[Attorney Jim Kinzer] said."

Ann: It sounds as if enforcement somehow turns on whether the town has the right to dictate hours of instruction through the curfew.

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Pushed Out? Or Best Educational Choice?
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headline: Mom will home school Henry student at odds with district over facial piercings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia, By S. A. Reid, October 11
http://www.ajc.com
"A Henry County student who refuses to remove his facial jewelry is finally moving out of detention. But instead of returning to a regular classroom, Corey Rager will be home schooled..."

Ann: You be the judge.

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Why We Homeschool - No Soiled Tests
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headline: Where Have All the Children Gone?
By Susan Ohanian, September 26
http://www.susanohanian.org
"The political mania for inflicting high-stakes tests on students has reached such insanity that a couple of years ago when a teacher revealed that Harcourt, publisher of the widely used Stanford 9 test, sends out instructions on what a teacher should do when nervous children vomit on the tests (Soiled tests cannot be discarded but must be returned to Harcourt.), it wasn't even a three-day wonder. No group stepped forward and demanded that schools discontinue practices that make kids vomit. Instead, a principal in San Diego insists that kindergartners must take pre-Stanford-9 tests, declaring 'Unless students become familiar with the exam format, they cannot zero in on the academic skills. Try passing a bar exam without preparation.'"

Ann: Well, sure, (slapping forehead) we've got to prepare 5 year olds for the bar exam - vomit or no vomit! What have parents been thinking, for Pete's sake, letting kids play and learn and act like children? Sorry, my little try at sarcasm here barely touches the depths of my disgust with the testing mania. Ohanian's entire article is an eye-opener.

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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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