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Newscomm June 25, 2003
In this issue:
Standing for Homeschooling
Legal and Legislative News
CALIFORNIA update - Policy change still in the news
DELAWARE - recommending compulsory Pre-K
MASSACHUSETTS update - the Bryants get national coverage
NEW JERSEY - extracurricular participation
OREGON - veto update
PENNSYLVANIA - interscholastic access problems
TEXAS and tax dollars
Charter, Alternative Education, Cyber-schools, Etc.
IDAHO
IOWA
OHIO
OREGON
WASHINGTON
Grass Roots Homeschooling
"Homeschooling is in serious trouble" (or not?) - in the EU
Calling Attorneys!
Homeschoolers Express Themselves - Winningly!
Department of Huh?
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Standing for Homeschooling
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http://www.westandforhomeschooling.org
Ann: The "We Stand for Homeschooling" Resolution (announced here last issue) has created a stir in the homeschooling community. If you haven't yet read the Resolution, please do so and discuss it with your friends and family. To whet your appetite, here is Sandi's (Washington Home Education Network e-group) tidy summary:
"I think it is an effort to keep that ever-expanding definition of public schooling from assimilating homeschooling as a form of education in which parents 'take direct responsibility by choosing a curriculum, an approach to learning, and the principles and values on which these are based.'"
Writing this newsletter convinces me that such assimilation is possible, and that the opportunity for my children to independently homeschool their own children is indeed at risk. Perhaps that risk will not play out today or tomorrow, but the squeeze on independent homeschooling seems inevitable. The Resolution is but one vision, one first step. I promise to share more of my thinking on this issue later.
Today though, as I prepared this report, I read each news story with renewed attention -the essence of the Resolution burning in the back of my mind. Many of these news stories point to amazing homeschooling success, while other stories point squarely to the risk of assimilation. These stories speak louder than any argument, pro or con. I wonder: would any of these stories be in the news today if thousands of homeschooling parents before us had not stood tall for independent homeschooling?
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Legal and Legislative News
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CALIFORNIA update - Policy change still in the news
Stockton Record, California, By Abbie Dutcher, June 23
http://www.recordnet.com
Headline: Truancy issue had parents worried
"...Superintendent O'Connell is inclined to give those parents who are doing a good job and not neglecting their children the benefit of the doubt... Home-schoolers applaud the shift."
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DELAWARE - recommending compulsory Pre-K
From Daryl Cobranchi's Blog - http://www.cobranchi.com
Headline: HJR9
"This House Joint Resolution on early childhood education is about as ugly as any I have seen...recommending compulsory pre-K for all 4-year-olds."
Read the rest of Daryl's commentary and the full resolution at Daryl's site above or see http://www.legis.state.de.us )
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MASSACHUSETTS update - the Bryants get national coverage
Sierra Times, California, By J.J. Johnson, June 22
http://www.sierratimes.com
Headline: When Is the Use of Force Against Government Officials Justified?
"...here's what made this six-year saga go national: "We have the legal custody of the children and we will do with them as we see fit," DSS trooper Susan Etscovitz told the Bryants Thursday morning. "They are minors and they do what we tell them to do..."
Ann: To follow the story from the beginning:
http://www.educationalfreedom.com
Many Bryant advocates barraged the DSS offices with calls. Other media have latched onto the story, including:
http://www.chuckmuth.com<BR>
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/6/232003f.asp
http://www.conservativenews.org
http://www.townhall.com
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NEW JERSEY - extracurricular participation
Haddon Herald, New Jersey, June 18
Headline: Rights of home-school students debated
Subhead: Youngsters are either 'in the system or out,' says Steven Weinstein, BOE vice president
"Whether or not to allow home-schooled students to participate in Haddonfield School District's extracurricular activities was the focus of debate at last week's board of education meeting at the Chestnut Street School."
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OREGON - Veto update
Ann: Oregon's Homeschool Freedom Bill Veto continues to get coverage, including the following.
Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, The Associated Press, June 17
http://news.statesmanjournal.com
Headline: Governor's veto upholds home-school tests
From Gov. Ted Kulongoski, "I am deeply concerned that a system with no monitoring or accountability will allow a small number of children to fall through the cracks and to reach adulthood without receiving the minimal education."
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In her June 23 letter to the (Oregonian) editor, homeschooling activist Christine Webb responds to the Governor's statement:
http://www.oregonlive.com
Headline: Biased against home schooling
"...The more likely truth is that the governor's education adviser, James Sager, a former president of the Oregon Education Association, found an easy way for the governor to "win points" with that powerful supporter... [I think] this veto had nothing to do with education and everything to do with party politics, as usual."
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PENNSYLVANIA - interscholastic access problems
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, Pennsylvania, By Matthew Epstein, June 15
http://www.tribune-democrat.com
Headline: Bill would open district activities to homeschoolers
Homeschoolers in Pennsylvania have often had to fight to get access to their local school's sports teams and clubs. In one district the doors might be wide open, while a few miles away homeschoolers could be completely denied access. Now, legislation may open the playing fields as well as stages and track lanes..."
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TEXAS and tax dollars
Houston Chronicle, Texas, By Janet Elliot, June 24
http://www.chron.com
Headline: 2 Houston legislators on school, tax panel
AUSTIN -- An executive committee of six representatives will lead the House effort to revamp the state's tax code and its method of funding schools... Public school advocates fear that could be an opening to funnel tax dollars to students attending private schools or being home-schooled."
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Charter, Alternative Education, Cyber-schools
and District-sponsored Home Study Programs
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IDAHO
The Idaho Statesman, Boise, Idaho, By Kim Hughes, June 16
http://www.idahostatesman.com
Headline: Charting a new course for charter schools
"Sixteen charter schools have been created in Idaho... State money follows any homeschoolers and private school students who switch to publicly-funded charter schools. Again, ordinary public schools get nothing."
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IOWA
WHOTV, Des Moines, Iowa, June 14
http://www.whotv.com
Headline: Virtual Schools the Way of the Future
"What if your child could get an education without leaving your home? Better yet, it's free. It's called the Iowa Virtual School Program...The district would also provide teachers to monitor your child's progress."
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OHIO
Toledo Blade, Ohio, By Janet Romaker, June 19
http://www.toledoblade.com
Headline: Online school expects 25 students by August
"...superintendent of the [The Perrysburg Digital Academy], told members of the Perrysburg Schools board of education...that efforts are under way to meet with parents of homeschooled children to tell them about the new educational option..."
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OREGON
The Oregonian, Oregon, by Tom Quinn, June 24
http://www.oregonlive.com
Headline: Oregon City charter school plan raises questions
OREGON CITY - "Oregon City School District officials say they are concerned about a proposed K-8 charter school designed to get home-schooled children back into the classroom. Organizers behind Discovery Academy hope to open the school in August..."
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WASHINGTON
Anacortes American, Washington, June 18
http://www.goanacortes.com
Headline: Home education partnership accepting registrations
Subhead: Anacortes Home Education Partnership is accepting registrations for the 2003/2004 school year.
"AHEP is a program of the Anacortes School District for home-schooled students and their families... Students must register with Anacortes School District and meet certain requirements -- the chief one is that students must have been home-schooled a minimum of 90 days. If you are interested, fill out an Intent to Home School form now."
Ann: Washington Alternative Education Programs for homeschoolers have a curious feature that requires a 90-day homeschooling minimum before students can be enrolled - and once the 90 days of homeschooling is completed, students who enroll in the programs lose their homeschool status and become public schooled students. I wonder if completing an Intent to Home School form in June gets that 90-day minimum out of the way before school starts in the fall.
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Grass Roots Homeschooling
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Ann: I love stories that show individuals and organizations making things happen for homeschooled kids - like these.
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Rockford Register Star, Illinois, By CARRIE WATTERS, - June 20
http://www.rrstar.com
Headline: Home-schooled kids find social growth
Subhead: Programs that allow the children to interact with others are becoming more common.
"Sam and Mitch Anderson... are home-schooled... they joined a group of Rockford parents searching for ways to increase social opportunities for their children. The grass-roots, yet sophisticated alliances are called cooperatives."
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Daily Citizen-News, By Andrew Skwara, Georgia, June 17
http://www.zwire.com
Headline: Swim team gives home-schooler a chance
"The Carpet Captial Aquatic Club and coach Charles Todd give needed opportunities to swimmers like George News. Since he's home schooled, the 18-year old News doesn't get to compete on the high school level... it looks like News will swim for a college swim team."
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Clarion-Ledger, Mississippi, June 22
http://www.clarionledger.com
Headline: Home-schoolers get taste of science
"Mississippi University for Women is offering home-schooled students an opportunity to learn practical science in the laboratory...This exercise is open to home-schooled students at the seventh-to-eighth-grade level and is taught under the supervision of a science faculty member."
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KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, Nevada, by Michael Geeser, June 20
http://www.klas-tv.com
Headline: Home Schooling Options
"...more parents are becoming aware of homeschooling. One sign of that is the first Annual Convention for the Nevada Homeschool Network..."
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Journal-Gazette & Times-Courier, Illinois, By Sue Smyser, June 16
http://www.jg-tc.com
Headline: Strader enjoys being dad to house full of adopted and foster children
"... The children are homeschooled and Strader said his role is to be the principal... they have a great social life and the youngsters can even carry on a conversation with adults with no problem."
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Swarthmore College Bulletin, Pennsylvania, By Angela Doody, June, 2003
http://www.swarthmore.edu
Headline: Learning at Home
Subhead: The number of homeschooled students attending Swarthmore is on the rise.
"...Swarthmore students-and a growing number of students throughout the country-whose parents elected to teach them at home before they entered college.
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"Homeschooling is in serious trouble" (or not?) - in the EU
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National Review, By Iain Murray, June 23
http://www.nationalreview.com
Headline: Wish Fulfillment
Subhead: The EU Constitution lays down NGOs' ideals in stone.
Ann: Are European homeschoolers are worried about this? Tucked into a long opinion piece on the European Union is this comment: "In Article 14, however, we see that social policy, too, is an area of human rights, as the charter guarantees the "right to education and to have access to vocational and continuing training . . . [including] the possibility to receive free compulsory education." Employers must therefore allow their employees to undertake vocational training, and homeschooling is in serious trouble. European teachers' unions will be happy."
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Calling Attorneys!
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From Linda J. Conrad-Jansen, Esq., June 20
Headline: Nationwide Homeschool Attorney Listing
"I've started the Nationwide attorney listing, but I only have a few names. Please go to http://www.ahsa-usa.org. I am looking for other attorneys interested in helping homeschoolers to add to the list. Please ask your local support groups for names of attorneys who have been particularly helpful to them and send me their contact information so I can contact them to see if they would like to be listed. If you are an attorney, please send me your contact information so I can list you. As time permits and information is received, we may add other legal experts."
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Homeschoolers Express Themselves - Winningly!
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Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, June 24
http://www.oregonlive.com
Headline: Revel in season's berries and cherries at farmers market
Subhead: Strawberry essay winners
"The Oregon Strawberry Commission has chosen three winners from more than 900 entries in its 2003 essay contest [including] Elise and Laurel Stewart, home-schooled... Each won a year's worth of Oregon strawberries..."
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Benton County Daily Record, Arkansas, By Jamie Brunk, June 23
http://nwanews.com
Headline: Cave Springs teen wins national essay contest
CAVE SPRINGS - "...Jenny Morris... 13, had entered a writing contest as a homeschool writing assignment for the second time and when the FedEx truck arrived, she knew from experience it was a package informing her she had won the essay contest..."
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Charlotte Observer, South Carolina, June 24
http://www.charlotte.com
Headline: If you were Hillary ...
Q. ... What would you have done?...
A: Julie Flanagan, 13, home-schooled, Charlotte: "I would have divorced him..."
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Naples Daily News, Florida, Jun 22
http://www.naplesnews.com
Headline: Good for You
"Kristy Daly...has been awarded first place in the Hillard Society's International Young People's Awards 2003 for her watercolor painting... She was home-schooled and has been accepted into the honors program at the University of Notre Dame."
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Department of Huh?
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Detroit Free Press, by John Lowe, June 19
http://www.freep.com
Headline: Home schooled: Bonderman latest victim in Comerica Park malaise
Ann: In this insider sports article about the Tigers, the headline uses the term "home schooled" in a way that I, pitifully uninformed about sports, cannot decipher. Any Tigers fans want to drop me a clue?
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Final Words
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Always keep me in mind as you find and make the news. Hugs and hearty handshakes go out to those who have contributed to this and past issues.
Ann Lahrson Fisher
News and Commentary Email
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