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Newscomm July 23, 2003
In This Issue:
Home School Non-Discrimination Act of 2003 (HONDA)
Homeschoolers in the News
Is Your Child a Type 13?
New York Student Loses Age Discrimination Case
South Dakota Interscholastic Policy
Charter Schooling in Alaska
Evidence of the Mainstream
The Worst Headline of the Week
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"Home School Non-Discrimination Act of 2003"(HONDA)
Federal Bill Introduced via HSLDA
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HSLDA News, Purcellville, Virginia, July 14
http://www.hslda.org
Headline: Congress to Introduce Homeschool Non-Discrimination Bill
"On July 15, 2003, Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) will introduce the Homeschool Non-Discrimination Act (HONDA). HONDA will bring federal law up-to-date with changes in the state education systems, particularly regarding the homeschooling movement."
A selection of HSLDA documents related to this bill are here,
http://www.hslda.org
The entire text (in PDF format) is here,
http://www.hslda.org
Ann: Folks, you'll want to read this bill carefully and discuss its implications with fellow homeschoolers, friends, and family. And when you've done that, will you let me know what you think? Because I haven't read it yet -I've still got page 2, lines 11 and 12, stuck in my craw!
"Section. 2. Findings.
...(3) Education by parents at home has proven to be an effective means for young people to achieve success on standardized tests and to learn valuable socialization skills."
Ann: Choke, hack, sputter. Excuse me? "...achieve success on standardized tests...?" Do we REALLYneed federal legislation about homeschooling, much less wording that relates homeschooling success in any way whatsoever to standardized test success? Do we? Do we?
All right, I'll breathe! - and I'll ponder the bill more later. I'm calm now, so let's move on to the rest of news.
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Homeschoolers in the News
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Ann: Hot summer days slow some of us down, but not these busy homeschoolers. Busy students - sports teams, a gymnast and a racing driver - a volunteer "party animal" helper, and a scholarship winner - and family activities, including mentoring moms, a homeschooling materials lending library, and a mother/daughter art team - congratulations to all and best wishes for further success.
Honolulu Star Bulletin, Hawaii, By Joleen Oshiro, July 13
http://starbulletin.com
Headline: Going with the flow
"ART is the current that meanders through Alyce Dodge's life... 'The nice things about home-schooling your children is that you can take your classroom wherever you go,' Dodge says."
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The Arizona Republic, by Connie Cone Sexton, July 13
http://www.azcentral.com
Headline: A guided tour through the maze of home-schooling
"The 'mentor moms' are ready and waiting. There's no need for anyone to be lost and confused while venturing around the 20th annual Arizona Home Education Convention..."
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Florida Today, Brevard County, Florida, By Ed Pierce, July 09
Headline: HEAT expands program geared to home-school athletes
"'More than 100 home-schooled prep athletes participated in programs sponsored by the Brevard HEAT in their inaugural season, and the number is expected to grow this coming school year,' said athletic director Rob Apsey... The HEAT will add teams in junior varsity girls' volleyball, boys' and girls' varsity golf, boys' varsity soccer and girls' varsity basketball."
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The Buffalo News, New York, By Brenda Lee, July 15
http://www.buffalonews.com
Headline: Early Riser
"Vanessa Schoellkopf hits elite status in gymnastics at the age of 13 ... Schoellkopf's mother, Spring, has been home-schooling her daughter for the past year to accommodate her training schedule..."
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Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Pennsylvania, July 15
http://www.post-gazette.com
Headline: Western Pa. Class of 2003 National Merit Scholarships
The National Merit Scholarship Corp. has announced about 8,000 scholarships sponsored by the National Merit program, corporations and colleges and universities... The 2,500 who are officially called "National Merit Scholars" won $2,500 scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship Corp. They include: Allegheny County: Benjamin Nylund, a home schooler in Bethel Park..."
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The Capitol, Annapolis, Maryland, By Kimberly Marselas, July 14
http://www.hometownannapolis.com
Headline: Program honors student helpers
"...after a year spent reading to the youngsters, helping them spell and making them laugh, the home-schooler [Nicole Cook] got a surprise thank-you from her students...'You tell jokes a lot. I like that,' a little boy named Casey wrote between crayon marks. 'You are a party animal.'"
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Arizona Republic, By Mark Armijo, July 11
http://www.azcentral.com
Headline: Hopeful drivers aiming for racing's big time always have to start somewhere.
"McDowell is 18, and like Smith and Rudolph, has a karting background. 'I actually started my career on BMX bikes when I was 3 years old, and I even did a little ATV off-road racing,' said McDowell, who received his high school education via home schooling."
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Austin American-Statesman, Texas, By M.B. Taboada, July 10
http://www.statesman.com
Headline: Parents who home-school can try before they buy
"JoAnn Nolte... decided there was a need for a home-school lending library. So she started one out of her Georgetown garage last year... the library offers an array of topics and videos..."
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Is Your Child a Type 13?
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Ann: I'll show you what a Type 13 is in a minute, but first, I have a question for you. Do you know what these traits -- birth weight, blood type, disciplinary action taken, and family income -- have in common? Don't bother to guess, I'll tell you outright. These traits are samples of the many, many kinds of data that may be collected about your child and your family while your child is enrolled in a public institution, according to the "Student Data Handbook 2000" published by the National Center of Educational Statistics http://nces.ed.gov
The "Student Data Handbook 2000" appears to be a "how-to collect student information" for public schools. From the handbook website: "This Handbook aims to promote the use of a standard vocabulary and to encourage the maintenance of accurate and complete data about students... However, this Handbook is NOT a data collection instrument, nor does it reflect any type of federal data maintenance requirements."
Ann: Okay, I get it. The schools have always collected this data, and this is a way to standardize all that information from school to school, and institution to institution. (Don't ask me why, but I am guessing No Child Left Behind is behind this move to standardize the data.)
What other kinds of data, you may well ask, are being collected? Check out the amazingly lengthy list and the broad range of types of data here:
http://nces.ed.gov
Ann: Are the privacy rights of your family and your child protected? Well, yes, and maybe not. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act http://www.ed.gov offers protection. However, as you'll note at the FERPA website, that protection can be trumped by quite a number of exceptions, including other educational institutions and state and local authorities. The Patriot Act may also erode FERPA's protection. Anyway, we could speculate all day about why schools collect all that personal information and how it might be used, but I promised to help you find out if your child is a Type 13.
In the "Student Data Handbook 2000," go to Data Element Outline and Definitions, scroll down to Enrollment, Exit/Withdrawal information. Click on 1060 Exit/Withdrawal Type, then Options http://nces.ed.gov where you'll find Type 13: "Transfer to home schooling--A student who transfers to a period of instruction in a home environment for reasons other than health."
So, if your child has been enrolled in a public institution and withdrawn for homeschooling, his/her transfer is recorded as Exit/Withdrawal Type 13. Aren't you glad to know? Seriously, you might want to request a copy of those school records so you too can know what is known about you and your family.
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New York Student Loses Age Discrimination Case
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Albany Times-Union, New York, by Andrew Tilghman, July 15
http://www.timesunion.com
Headline: Quick learner's case fails
Albany - "An Albany judge told a 15-year-old college student that she was not legally allowed to "skip high school" and threw out an age discrimination lawsuit leveled against the state Education Department that denied her a diploma... [ruled] on a lawsuit brought by the family of Angela Lipsman of Manhattan... 'I thought high school would be a complete waste of her time and effort,' the father said. Angela will continue studying for her bachelor's degree and, under state law, can receive a degree after her 17th birthday."
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South Dakota Interscholastic Policy
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Aberdeen News, South Dakota, Associated Press, July 15
http://www.aberdeennews.com
Headline: Sioux Falls decides not to let home-schoolers take part in district activities
"The Sioux Falls School Board voted 4-1 Monday not to allow home-schooled students to participate in extracurricular activities at public high schools. Students educated at home can and do sign up for selected classes at district schools, and those students may continue to do that."
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Charter Schooling in Alaska
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Anchorage Daily News, Alaska, Community Datebook, July 15
http://www.adn.com
"Frontier Charter School, an alternative for home schooling in Anchorage, holds its enrollment/parent information meetings... This is a tuition-free K-12 home-school program open to all families that live within the Municipality of Anchorage."
Ann: Blurring the boundaries in Alaska... again.
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Evidence of the Mainstream
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Houston Chronicle, by Shannon Buggs, July 13
http://www.chron.com
Headline: Pinpointing your goals helps put you in the money
"Why do you invest? ... So, if you want to make more money, ask yourself, what will that money allow you to do that you can't do now? ... Quit a dead-end job so you can get another degree or home school your children? [from a list of seven]..."
Ann: Ah, homeschooling mentioned in passing, homeschooling seen as a reasonable and considered option - and that's good news.
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The Worst Headline of the Week
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Tarboro Daily Southerner, North Carolina, July 10
http://dailysoutherner.com
Headline: Home schooling
"As recognized and promoted by a resolution from the North Carolina Parent Teacher Association, a student's family is "an undeniable influence in a child's attitude, academic performance, and general health and welfare." And while teachers have always been encouraged to tap into this influence, parents do not always reciprocate."
Ann: Nope, the article is not about homeschooling at all, but just a misdirected attempt to get parents to get their kids to turn in their homework when school starts. Homework as homeschooling? What's next, homework as housework?
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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.
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HEM News & Commentary is a weekly report on what's happening in the world of homeschooling. Gleanings from the news media, accolades and pans, hot discussions, legal and legislative successes and problems - all are fair game, and gathered in one column for your convenience.
And just in case you don't have the time to read every word in print, we will summarize and discuss key news and trends that we think are the most provocative or that may have the greatest impact on the future of homeschooling.
This service is available free. Archives can be accessed at
http://www.homeedmag.com/nc/newscommentary.html
The weekly updates will be announced on HEM's discussion lists. You'll find a print version - the highlights of these reports - in a column by the same name in Home Education Magazine.
Your opinions and feedback are always welcome. Contact me.
Ann Lahrson-Fisher
HEM News & Commentary
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