|
Newscomm April 28, 2003
***
In this issue:
A Celebration - Revisiting John Holt
An Aggravation - "Public schools can't be beat"
Legal and Legislative News
Hybrid Programs of Any Flavor
Homeschoolers in The News
Pablum-ization - Exposed
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A Celebration - Revisiting John Holt
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ann: In 1981, John Holt, a founder of the modern homeschooling movement, published the now classic book "Teach Your Own." This month, his book is newly revised and back in print, thanks to homeschooling dad and writer Patrick Farenga.
Title: Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book of Homeschooling
by John Holt, Patrick Farenga, Perseus Publishing; (April 15, 2003)
Available from your favorite bookseller.
***
Ann: A previously unpublished article, based on a series of Holt interviews, offers another peek into the early days of the homeschooling movement.
http://www.rationalreview.com
Headline: John Holt Interview from 1981, by Steve Trinward
The article begins: "The atmosphere at 729 Boylston Street, Boston, has been a bit frantic of late. The mailman brings sacks of letters daily; the phone is ringing off the hook; for two days in early November the "People" magazine folks were even prowlinq about the tiny office-space.
The reason? John Holt's latest book, "Teach Your Own", has been released, and from early returns it is likely to spark yet another major revolution in education, with its well-considered, strongly supported presentation of the value and feasibility of parents taking their children out of the schools and helping them to grown and learn themselves."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
An Aggravation - "Public schools can't be beat"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ann: Despite years of concerted efforts by homeschooling advocates to change stereotypes, it is hardly surprising to learn that some minds remain tightly closed. Kelly Flynn's article is an in-your-face reminder of how difficult it is to get through to some people. The feigned confusion about why people homeschool, the tunnel-vision about the public school experience, the unquestioned belief that public school is equal to the real world, and the social myths - well, the stereotypes are all here, intact and unchanged, after all these years. Sigh.
The Flint Journal First Edition, Flint, MI, By Kelly Flynn, Sunday April 13, 2003
http://www.mlive.com
Headline: "Public schools can't be beat"
"...The educational choice that confounds me, though, is home schooling. Why would parents choose to isolate their children from a rich and varied learning environment? Why would parents choose to pull their children out of the real world and shelter them from the very society that they will ultimately have to live and work in? It's perplexing."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Legal and Legislative News
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CALIFORNIA update
From: Debbie Schwarzer, Legislative Committee
HomeSchool Association of California
hsclegislative@sbcglobal.net
Topic: California SB 950 update
"For those of you interested in what's happening with California SB 950 (the bill that would have added truancy to the list of things for which a child could be made a dependent of the juvenile court), it's currently dead. There is a chance that it could be revived, but it would cost the Senator's office political capital to do that and my sources think this might not be where Alarcon wants to spend it."
FLORIDA
Suwannee Democrat, North Florida Online, Violet McDonald, Friday, April 25, 2003
http://www.suwanneedemocrat.com
Headline: Home school parents make plea for equal access
"During the April 22 School Board meeting, Trudy Benson spoke to the board on behalf of home schoolers throughout the county, saying the group is allowed a niche within the law, and it needs to be allowed a niche within the district. According to Benson, her [homeschooled] child was refused entry to the prom, and Benson said he should have been allowed to attend that event. But Superintendent Wyman Harvard said the prom does not fall into the category of extracurricular activities, which home school students are, by law, allowed to participate in."
Ann: Wouldn't a homeschooled kids' prom in Suwannee County be fun?
FEDERAL
National Parent Centers
http://www.nationalparentcenters.org
Headline: HR 1350: IDEA reauthorization bad idea
"Virtually every parent and disability organization have been joined by other organizations who are involved in special education, to oppose the House of Representative's IDEA Reauthorization bill. A National IDEA Call-In Day has been scheduled for April 29, 2003 to convey our opposition to this bill."
"The new reauthorized IDEA is not new and improved- many aspects of the revisions strip rights from parents, and ignore recommendations made by deaf and hard of hearing organizations and significantly reduces funding for captioning for television."
See the website for full information.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hybrid Programs of Any Flavor:
Charter, Alternative Education,Cyber-schools and
District-sponsored Home Study Programs
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ann: Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin are addressing public school problems by sending kids home to do public school via computer. California is opening another charter school for homeschooled kids. Washington homeschoolers claim dissatisfaction with the public school-like atmosphere in their homeschooling program that is administered by - you guessed it - the local public school district. All use the term "homeschooling" interchangeably with virtual - charter - alt. ed. schooling. Can you find any trends, class?
CALIFORNIA
Modesto Bee, Modesto, CA By Susan Herendeen, April 26, 2003
http://www.modbee.com
Headline: Academy planned for home students
"The Stanislaus County Office of Education plans to open a third charter school in August, this time offering a program for home-schooled teens....Students will have to meet state standards and complete the same classes required of peers at traditional high schools, but Archway's students will have flexible schedules and individual lesson plans."
FLORIDA
Miami Herald, Miami, FL By Steve Harrison, Apr. 26, 2003
http://www.miami.com
Headline: House class-size bill has plan for Internet school
TALLAHASSEE - "A class-size reduction bill that passed the state House on Friday would allot tax dollars for students as young as 5 to be taught at home over the Internet. Under the proposal, a certified teacher would be required to communicate with students only an hour a month, possibly by phone...At least one legislator has suggested the virtual school would be a financial windfall for a company founded by former U.S. Education Secretary William Bennett....Some of the friction nationwide has come from parents who already teach their children at home. They worry that the virtual schools will force them to enroll, making them part of state testing and accountability programs."
***
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL, Editorial, April 27, 2003
http://www.sptimes.com
Headline: Virtual vouchers
"Florida voters want better schools. Instead, the House is offering them money to give their children online lessons - in other words, to home school them."
TEXAS
Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX By Janet Elliott and Polly Ross Hughes, April 24, 2003
http://www.chron.com
Headline: Home-school bills have mixed day
AUSTIN -- "The House on Wednesday pulled the plug on a bill to give taxpayer-funded computer equipment to some home-schooled students, but the Senate passed a similar measure.
"The bills would authorize so-called virtual charter schools where students use computers to learn from home or another location. The state would pay for computers, printers, software and Internet connections....The virtually schooled students would have to log in a certain number of hours each week and would have their educational activities monitored by a teacher.
"The bills were being pushed by K12 Inc., a company that offers a computerized educational curriculum. K12 was founded in 1999 by William Bennett, former U.S. education secretary and a leading proponent of school choice. Bennett testified in favor of both the House and Senate bills."
WASHINGTON
Peninsula Daily News Clallam County edition, by JIM MANDERS, April 22, 2003
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com
Headline: Sequim: Parents of home-schooled children complain about how district's support program is run
SEQUIM -- "A group of parents who use the assistance of the Sequim School District to home-school their children are threatening to drop out of the program...The parents' main complaint is that administrator...runs the program more like a traditional school -- something they are trying to get away from, they told the School Board on Monday night."
WISCONSIN
Monroe Times, Monroe, WI, By Brian Gray, Published Wednesday, April 23, 2003 11:49:51 AM Central Time
http://www.themonroetimes.com
Headline: Monroe board told loss will turn into gain
MONROE -- "Monroe's virtual high school is expected to lose about $5,000 its first year but could make more than $100,000 in its second year, virtual school director Dan Bauer told the Monroe school board Tuesday...The virtual, or online, school allows students to take classes from home using their computers. The school allows homeschooled students to take courses in a variety of topics and also helps students who have dropped out of school earn diplomas...But next year, the virtual school should see a profit..."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Homeschoolers in the News
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ann: A planned community on the drawingboard; a conference; a TV program spotlight; park district sponsored programs; plays; talent shows; a Navy medic; a circus family; a $30,000 prize-winning team. What a diverse crowd of homeschoolers! Congratulations to all for imagination, creative thinking, and hard work.
***
A Planned Rural Community in Indiana
http://www.familyco-op.com/
Headline: Learn more about a Planned Rural Community...
"...this community is designed with families who value home education and home based business in mind..."
***
Virginia
ABC13, WSET.COM, Saturday April 26, 2003 5:56pm Posted By: Liz Bryant
http://www.wset.com
Headline: Home Educators Attend Conference
Lynchburg, VA - "...Liberty University hosted the second annual Central Virginia Home Education Conference on Saturday."
***
New Florida: Florida's Weekly Television News Magazine, PBS
http://www.newflorida.org/#
Home Schooling - In an effort to avoid the plagues of the public school system, many parents in Florida are taking their child's education into their own hands."
***
Newark Advocate, OH - Saturday, April 26, 2003
http://www.newarkadvocate.com
Headline: Homeschool Tuesdays
"The Licking Park District has put together a new program series for 2003 designed specifically for homeschool children....to learn more about our cultural and natural heritage."
***
Capital Weekly, Augusta, ME BY John Hale, April 25, 2003
http://www.zwire.com/
Headline: Skakespearian Homeschoolers present "Toad Hall"
EAST WINTHROP - "For the 10th year in a row, Pastor Sam Richards of East Winthrop Baptist Church is leading youngsters of the Southern Maine Association of Shakespearian Homeschoolers in an ambitious production."
***
Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, MN, By Chris Hamilton, Friday, April 25, 2003
http://www.duluthsuperior.com
Headline: Circus act is a family affair
"In the grand tradition of family circus performers, the Renowned Redpath Family is an aerial acrobat and trapeze artist act....The children were homeschooled through a Chicago-based Christian organization."
***
The White County News-Telegraph, Cleveland, GA, By Julianne Wilson, April 24, 2003
http://www.whitecountynewstelegraph.com
Headline: Local mom receives telephone call from son serving in Iraq
"Corpsman Kris Mandaro, a medic in the U.S. Navy, who currently is attached to a Marine unit in Iraq, moved to White County from Florida with his mother in 1995, and was homeschooled until going to Gainesville College to finish his high school credits..."
***
Vancouver Sun, Vancouver, BC by David Reevely, Friday, April 25, 2003
http://www.canada.com
Headline: Langley students take $30,000 prize for Internet creation
"A group of Langley students has won an international competition...The team, made up of home-school children...and teacher John Harris..."
***
The Reporter, Fond du Lac, MI Apr. 22, 2003
http://www.wisinfo.com
Headline: Keeping on track in Rosendale, Brandon & Eldorado
"Fond du Lac County Homeschoolers will present a talent show and play, ÒHouse of the Heart,Ó by Constance DÕavey Mackay..."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pablum-ization - Exposed
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Headline: What Dick and Jane can't read
Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, IL, Henry Kisor, Book Editor, April 20, 2003
http://www.suntimes.com
"'Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings and call off Christmas!' You'll never read that delicious line from "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves"--or even its components "lepers," "orphans," "beheadings" and "Christmas"--in America's textbooks and standardized school tests. The sensitivity police of American educational publishing, as rigid and ill-tempered as the sheriff of Nottingham, won't allow it. To them those words are just too controversial."
More from Kisor's Review of "The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn," by Diane Ravitch: "'As a result, America's children increasingly can't read and can't think and can't (until very recently, thanks to television, not the schools) find Iraq on a map. The textbooks they read and the tests they take have been so completely expurgated, sanitized and bowdlerized by self-righteous busybodies on both Left and Right that they're bland, boring, simplistic and unreadable, purged of ideas and images that might stir independent thought.'"
Ann: Are textbooks worse than ever? I usually find them fairly dull and prefer real books written from a real point of view. "The Language Police" sounds like my kind of real book.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Finally
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As always, let me know what is happening in your part of the homeschooling world.
top index
|
