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Newscomm July 29
In this issue:
Federal Legislation
Legal and Legislative News
Homeschoolers In the News
International Homeschooling News
Charter Schools and Tax $$
$50,000 a Year!
Getting Together - Homeschool Conferences
National Association of Elementary School Principals
Opinion - Arrogant and Dangerous
Opinion - Toward a national home-schooling policy?
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Federal Legislation -
H.R. 273
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Ann: H.R. 2732 is the news of the day. An "omnibus" bill such as this one takes awhile to sort out and comprehend. H.R. 2732 proposes amending a number of different laws, and I have been digging into discussions that explore various aspects and ramifications of this bill. Here is some "in the news" info to get you started on your own research.
The bill begins: "108th Congress, 1st Session, H.R. 2732, to amend selected statutes to clarify existing Federal law as to the treatment of students privately educated at home under State law." Read it in its entirety at
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov
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Family News in Focus, By David Brody, July 16
http://family.org
Headline: Home-Schooling Protection Bill Introduced
"Chris Klicka and his group - the Home School Legal Defense Association - wrote the bill... The bill has a chance of passage. It has the support of House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner, which should ensure it has life through the legislative process. Supporters say even if the whole bill doesn't pass, they plan to attach certain parts of it to different education bills to move their agenda forward."
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Ann: Not all homeschoolers believe this bill is a good one. On July 28, Helen Hegener posted her position on the HEM-Networking list. Here is a small quote: "But there's an even larger question to ask, and that is: Why the move to strengthen the power of the federal government over what has always been a state concern? Constitutionally, education is the province of the states, and bills like this one force a conflict between the federal government and state governments."
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When you've done your research, here is help in expressing your opinion.
"How to Lobby Congress: A Workbook for Citizen Organizations"
http://www.citizenlobbyist.com
"We... can help you, the average person with no contacts, make your way through Washington's corridors of power and turn your ideas into law, all without having to pay high priced Lobbyists and without having to travel to D.C."
Download the free workbook (31 pages), "How to Lobby Congress: A Workbook for Citizen Organizations" at http://www.citizenlobbyist.com
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Legal and Legislative News
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Pennsylvania
Carlisle Sentinel, Pennsylvania, By Tiffany Pakkala, Jul 27
http://www.cumberlink.com
Headline: Keeping teens in the classroom
"A bill waiting for approval from the House Rules Committee would make kids go to school from age 6 until they are 18... Area school officials are skeptical about whether this would make a difference in attitudes and attendance. Former dropouts doubt it would change many minds, and home-schoolers staunchly oppose the bill."
Montana
Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Montana, by Gail Schontzler, July 27
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com
Headline: Private, home schools grew faster than county's public schools in past decade
"The share of kids getting private or home schooling has gradually increased, from 8.6 percent of all students in 1993 to 10.5 percent last school year... Home schools have outpaced all other options, growing by 120 percent (from 168 students to 372)[in the past decade]."
Puerto Rico
T'CHERs (The Caribbean Center of Home Ed. Resources, by Maria Luisa Inserni
http://www.nhen.org
http://www.tchers.net
Headline: Legal Update-Shifting times
"The University of Puerto Rico is now admitting homeschoolers! This has been a major achievement, not only for our students, but for the whole home educating community." (Much more info at the website.)
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Homeschoolers in the News
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Ann: These young people are winners, every one.
The Tampa Tribune, Florida, July 16
http://ap.tbo.com
Headline: U.S. Wins World Geography Title
TAMPA - "Three U.S. teenagers won the gold medal Wednesday in the National Geographic World Championship. `It's kind of nerve wracking,' said U.S. team member John Rice, who is home schooled by his mother at his family's Maddock, N.D., wheat farm. '"
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The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, by Ashley Michael, July 28
http://www.fortwayne.com
Headline: Siblings finish first at city meet
"Jamie Curtis and her younger brother Jesse practice together, they study together and they win together. 'Between home schooling and the amount of time (Jamie and Jesse) spend together, they have to get along,' their father, Jack, the director of the meet, said with a laugh."
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Public Opinion on Line, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, July 28
http://www.publicopiniononline.com
Headline: Graduations
Mason-Dixon Home Schoolers
"Former Pennsylvania Congressman William Goodling spoke on June 28 to the 18 members of the Mason-Dixon Home Schoolers Association's graduating class of 2003, urging the class members to become leaders, not followers."
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Country World News, Texas, By Monette Taylor, July 24
http://www.countryworldnews.com
Headline: Bastrop County teen's talents bloom through 4-H horticulture projects
"Stephanie Roberts, one of twelve home-schooled members of the 4-H club, enjoys growing flowers, as well as sharing their beauty with others."
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KCT5, Kansas City, Missouri, July 28
http://www.kctv5.com
Headline: Southwest Missouri Soldier Killed in Iraq
ANDERSON, Mo. (AP) -- A 21-year-old Army soldier from southwest Missouri has been killed in Iraq, the Department of Defense said Monday.
Spc. Jonathan Paul Barnes, of Anderson, was guarding a civilian hospital Saturday in Baghdad when a grenade was thrown out of a hospital window, killing Barnes and two others in his unit... He is survived by his wife, Amanda, and daughter, Michelle, of Goodman. Barnes... was a home-school graduate."
Ann: My sincere sympathy to the Barnes family at the loss of their loved one.
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International Homeschooling News
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Canada
Quebecois Libre, Canada, Opinion by Harry Valentine, July 19
http://www.quebecoislibre.org
Headline: State Behaviour Makes The Case For Homeschooling
"...state bureaucrats are overzealous in compelling homeschooling parents to comply with the state curriculum.... state education bureaucrats in several North American school districts remain adamantly hostile to the concept of homeschooling, harassing and victimizing homeschooling parents, even arresting and laying truancy charges against homeschooled teenagers."
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Scotland
The Scotsman, UK, By Seonag MacKinnon, July 16
Headline: Home teaching plan 'putting children at risk'
http://www.thescotsman.co.uk
"Alison Preuss of the Scottish home education grouping, Schoolhouse, said: "I am glad that we will not now have men up trees with binoculars trying to track down children."
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South Africa
The Mercury, Africa, By Philani Makhanya, July 23
http://www.themercury.co.za
Headline: Home schooling is growing in popularity
"An increasing number of parents in KwaZulu-Natal are turning their backs on the public school system by choosing to teach their children at home to escape the regimented approach of mainstream education."
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Charter Schools and Tax $$
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Ann: Maybe it is the recession - tax dollars are on people's minds.
WCJB TV-20 News, Ocala, Florida, By Beth Younggren, July 18
http://www.wcjb.com
Headline: Public E-School
"Florida will use state tax dollars and resources to offer the home school environment to children who used to attend public school... The state won't accept current home schooled students. Their admittance would not decrease class size. Opponents say the programs just turn state tax dollars earmarked for public education into profits for out of state corporations."
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eSchool News, July 28
http://www.eschoolnews.com
Headline: Arizona OKs five new virtual academies in extended charter-school program
"Arizona Virtual Academy is partnering with K12 Inc., an online program developed by former Secretary of Education William Bennett. Originally, K12 Inc. targeted home-schooled children and charged tuition. But now K12 Inc. is joining with charter schools across the country that can offer the program free because taxpayers pick up the bill."
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The Mercury News, California, July 23
http://www.bayarea.com
Headline: Charter schools challenge state after funding cut
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Two of California's largest and oldest charter schools are suing the state after the Department of Education asked them to pay back millions of taxpayer dollars... Until a few years ago, independent-study and home-school charters received the same amount of money that regular schools did -- about $5,000 per student."
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Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, By Anne Davis, July 23
http://www.jsonline.com
Headline: Shutdown sought for virtual school
Fredonia - "The state's largest teachers union has asked the Northern Ozaukee School District to shut down its new virtual charter school, saying the school's method of operating violates state law... because: * The costs of operating this type of school are less than the costs of operating a traditional "bricks and mortar" school, and the use of the open enrollment revenue could mean "significant profits" for K12 Inc. and a "windfall" for the home district..."
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$50,000 a Year!
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Courier-Journal, Indiana, July 25
http://www.courier-journal.com
Headline: Mother says autistic son was tied to chair in school
GREENSBURG, Ind. - A special-education instructor at North Decatur Elementary School tied an autistic child to a chair to control his behavior earlier this year, the boy's mother says... Richards said she planned to file suit against the Decatur County school system to pay for home schooling her son, who is nonverbal. Home schooling can cost up to $50,000 a year, she said."
Ann: I have the heartfelt concern for the horror this family has been through, and I do hope that the child recovers and his education is put on track. Still, I WOULD like to know how that $50,000 figure was calculated.
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Getting Together
Homeschooling Conferences
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Atlanta Journal-Constitution, by Jennifer Brett, July 28
http://www.ajc.com
Headline: Cobb expo draws area home schoolers
"...the 10th Annual Southeast Homeschool Expo Friday...the ever-larger crowds at the annual expo point to greater interest in and acceptance of home schooling."
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The Arizona Republic, by Betty Reid, July 19
http://www.azcentral.com
Headline: Home school group meets to aid parents
"Montoya...wants to deepen the bond with her daughter in the same way she's seen her sister grow closer to her children through home-schooling."
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Modesto Bee, California, by Susan Herendeen, July 21
http://www.modbee.com
Headline: Expo coming to help with back-to-(home)-school time
"...the 10th annual Home Education Convention sponsored by Valley Home Educators... 'I see it as a real refueling stop,' [Mary Winther] said."
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NEWS4JAX.com, Jacksonville, Florida, July 18
http://www.news4jax.com
Headline: Home School Convention Expected To Draw Many
"The 18th Annual Home School Curriculum Convention... Organizers said they're seeing an increase in the numbers of families who decide to home school."
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St. Louis County Library, Missouri, July 09
http://www.slcl.org
Headline: St. Louis County Library Presents...Homeschool Informational Fair
"...offering great opportunities for homeschoolers and anyone else..."
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El Paso Times, by Laura Cruz, July 23
http://www.borderlandnews.com
Headline: Fair will inform military of schools
What: Fort Bliss Education Fair
"'When military parents move to a new area, we're lost...' this year's fair will include representatives from 67 schools in El Paso's three largest school districts, as well as private schools, parochial schools and home school programs."
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National Association of
Elementary School Principals,
NAESP), brought to you by Disney
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Ann: The Internet is a vast wonderland - look what I found in the land of Disney.
Disney Online, by Anne Sterling, no date available
http://family.go.com
Headline: Educators Criticize Homeschooling
"When parents decide to homeschool and then inform their districts, they may be met with hostility and sometimes suspicion, but nearly always they are met with rules and regulations. Nevertheless, the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) has published its list of eight homeschooling concerns." (To be fair to Disney Online, they did post one homeschooler rebuttal to each of the eight "principal" points.)
**SARCASM ALERT**
Ann: I was personally touched by NAESP's concerns and struggled to pick the list item that really moved me. I finally settled on the heartbreak of number five, which states that homeschoolers callously "Create an additional burden on school administrators whose duties include the enforcement of compulsory school attendance laws."
Goodness gracious! We forgot all about our first high duty as parents, did we? We forgot our duty to place the feelings of local administrators before the needs of the children, did we? We forgot to enroll children in school to lighten the administrative burden, did we? It brings a tear to my eye, thinking about those forlorn, comfortably paid yet oh-so-burdened, administrators. Where oh where is my hanky? Sheesh... All right, sarcasm alert is down.
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Arrogant and Dangerous
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Chronwatch, San Francisco, California, Posted by Roger Burdick, July 22
http://www.chronwatch.com
Headline: Democrat Discrimination
"...reason why Democrats are against home schooling. They try to put the fear into parents that home schooling will make their children fall behind in adult life. There is no way the Dems want a properly educated America, since they would lose their power base."
Ann: No, no, no! Inflammatory opinions that use homeschooling success to flog the Democratic Party are arrogant and dangerous. Arrogant - because many successful homeschooling families are in fact Democrats. Dangerous - because you don't win allies on your path to homeschooling freedom by insulting people. Knock it off, Mr. B.
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Opinion -
Toward a national home-schooling policy?
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Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Georgia, by Kaffie Sledge, July 26
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com
Headline: Going out of business?
"Are we moving away from public education and toward a national home-schooling policy?"
Ann: No, no, no, once more. In this opinion piece, the author's quip about a "national homeschooling policy" tries to refocus Georgia's attention on fixing the problems of public schooling. I understand the point, I really do, but don't invent trouble for homeschoolers just to make a clever point. Talk about a dangerous concept.
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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
News and Commentary Email
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