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Newscomm August 12, 2003
In this issue:
"Small, innocent-looking steps"
Homeschooling, Charterschooling, and Tax Dollars
Getting It Right
Homeschooling's Popularity
Florida Vouchers
Small Signs of Big Change
More Experts Who Just Don't Get It
More Homeschooling in the News
Interscholastics, District by District
Updates to Previous Stories
Final Words
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"Small, innocent-looking steps"*
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Ann: Debate about HR 2732/S 1562 is growing.
HSLDA, Virginia, August 11
http://www.hslda.org
Headline: S. 1562 - Home School Non-Discrimination Act of 2003 (HONDA)
"HSLDA supports S. 1562. There are currently several areas of federal law that unfairly impact home education. Congress must pass the Homeschool Non-Discrimination Act (HONDA) to remedy this unfair treatment."
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NHEN Forums, Sandi Chelan, August 11
http://www.nhen.org
"...Though most of us never asked (or paid for) HSLDA to act as our legal or political emissary, their self-initiated role as representatives of homeschooling, often results in consequences for all homeschoolers in terms of political fallout and public misconceptions about homeschooling."
Sandi sums up her opposition to the bill this way: "By creating the opening for the federal definition of homeschooling through legislation such as HR 2732, we would allow for the future restriction of homeschooling autonomy by government fiat."
Ann: Shouldn't every homeschooler be worried about political fallout and potential backlash against homeschoolers if this legislation passes? Shouldn't we be looking at those "small, innocent-looking steps"* with a jaundiced eye?
*Kyle Williams' wording, borrowed from the following story.
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Homeschooling, Charterschooling, and Tax Dollars
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WorldNetDaily.com, Exclusive Commentary By Kyle Williams, August 09
http://worldnetdaily.com
Headline: Government Butts into Homeschool
"Generally, government doesn't outright intrude into the private lives of citizens. It takes small, innocent-looking steps."
Ann: In his Commentary, Williams attacks Florida's mega-contracts with K12 and Connections Academy (cited here last week, see http://www.sptimes.com ) as a violation of "the true spirit of home education."
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Arizona Republic, Matthew R. Holmes, Opinion, August 08
http://www.azcentral.com
Headline: Home-schoolers deserve tax help
"It seems hypocritical for some sections of the public to criticize the public funding of the new Arizona Virtual Academy...It's about time home-schoolers get something in return for their tax dollars."
Ann: Williams and Holmes represent two sides of a growing argument - are homeschoolers "entitled" to a share of their tax dollars (and is the cost of exchanging freedom for accountability worth it?) or do education tax dollars enter the system solely for "the common good"?
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Getting It Right
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HSLDA News, August 07
http://www.hslda.org
Headline: Homeschoolers Add Protective Amendment to "Head Start" Bill
"The U.S. House of Representatives passed "early education" legislation that included an important provision...:
'Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require a State to establish a program of early education for children in the State, to require any child to participate in a program of early education, to attend school, or to participate in any initial screening. . .'"
Ann: I think HSLDA got this one right. This provision assures choice to ALL families. Now let's be vigilant and make sure that the provision doesn't get dropped in the future.
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Homeschooling's Popularity
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Plano Star-Courier, Texas, By Cliff Despres, August 08
http://www.zwire.com
Headline: Home schooling maintains popularity in North Texas
"'About 2 million children were home-schooled in 2002, according to national statistics. Lunsford estimated that more than 200,000 North Texas children are home-school students.
"Home-schooling has grown at a phenomenal rate,' [Steve Lunsford] said."
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Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, West Virginia, The Associated Press, August 11
http://www.herald-dispatch.com
Headline: Percentage of homeschooled children booming
CHARLESTON -- "HomeschoolingÍs popularity is growing in West Virginia, with the number of children who are taught by parents jumping more than 700 percent in a decade...'But what it comes down to is what is best for your child.'"
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Hillsborough Beacon, New Jersey, By Beth Kressel, August 07
http://www.zwire.com
Headline: Home-schooling offers academic, religious choices
"...In 2001-2002 New Jersey had 1.3 million public school students and 2,823 students who [optionally] reported to their local school districts that they were being home-schooled... 'Home-schoolers are the 'most cussedly' independent people you'll ever meet,' said [Nancy] Plent..."
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Florida Vouchers
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Palm Beach Post, By Kimberly Miller and S.V. Date, August 10
http://www.palmbeachpost.com
Headline: Middlemen getting piece of school vouchers
"State tax money intended to send disabled students to private schools is being siphoned off by middlemen who use it to help parents home-school their children -- a use never envisioned by the law's sponsor...But proponents argue that home-school parents, especially those of disabled students, have just as much a right to vouchers as those whose children attend failing schools or who are poor; both groups are eligible for vouchers under existing law."
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Small Signs of Big Change
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Daily Hampshire Gazette, Massachusetts, By Nicole Sequino, August 05
http://www.gazettenet.com
Headline: Home school store to open at Eastworks
EASTHAMPTON - "Holyoke Street resident Lisa Piwcio will fulfill her dream this week when she opens an educational toy store... The Kid Zone will sell books, educational supplies, and new and used toys for teachers, day-care providers and parents who homeschool their children."
Ann: Interesting - A new learning supply and educational toy store opens and chooses to focus on homeschooler use of the store. It wasn't that long ago that learning supply stores were reluctant to carry items for homeschoolers or offer them discounts because they didn't want to upset their "real" teacher customers. The times - they are a'changing.
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More Experts Who Just Don't Get It
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Ann: About the only people willing to criticize homeschooling these days are college professors. Reporters seek them out, I suppose, to avoid one-sided stories touting riotous homeschooling success. Ho-hum, here they go, dragging out that old socialization thing again.
Miami Herald, Florida, By Cynthia Daniels, August 08
http://www.miami.com
Headline: More students avoid public schools as families choose to teach at home
"Dr. Mary Lynn Collins, a professor at the Fischler Graduate School of Education at Nova Southeastern University, worries that home-schooled kids don't get all of the experiences they need. 'These kids miss out on an important human-socialization factor that is not there whether you are learning alone or with your siblings,' she said. `Home-school is teaching a child to be by one's self in a world where we need leaders.'"
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Dayton Daily News, Ohio, By Ismail Turay Jr., August 02
http://www.daytondailynews.com
Headline: Home-school lessons include Bible study, farm work
Despite criticisms, parents say kids well-rounded
"Art Jipson, a University of Dayton sociology professor, said home schooling can limit the social development of children. 'How do you deal with somebody that has a different view of the world than you?' he asked. 'You get to become more well-rounded in terms of how the world works when you are in the traditional school.'"
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More Homeschooling in the News
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Jefferson City News Tribune, Missouri, By Kris Hilgedick, August 02
http://newstribune.com
Headline: Missouri family wraps up tour of 50 state capitol buildings
"Tired, but in euphoric spirits, the Gall family on Friday achieved a goal few have accomplished: they visited the last of 50 U.S. capitol buildings, leaving their home state's for last....It was a chance to teach their sons about the history of America. For this one year, the Galls chose to home school their sons, although the boys normally attend school in Des Peres."
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The Ithaca Journal, New York, By Anne Ju, August 06
http://www.theithacajournal.com
Headline: Home schoolers give library $1,000 memorial
ITHACA -- A local home school association donated $1,000 to the Tompkins County Public Library Tuesday for the purchase of books in memory of a 6-year-old [homeschooled] girl who died in January."
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Reno Gazette-Journal, Nevada, by Sheila Gardner, August 11
http://www.rgj.com
Headline: Homeschooling gains momentum
"During the 2003 legislative session, the organizations were successful in getting a law passed that allows the participation of home-schooled students in varsity sports."
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Interscholastics, District by District
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The Barnstable Patriot, Massachusetts, By Mark Mumford, August 08
http://www.barnstablepatriot.com
Headline: BHS policy on home-schooled athletes to get another look
"...What the Dooleys say they find particularly puzzling is that Stephen was allowed to play on Barnstable's middle school level football team, but once he reached the high school level the picture changed dramatically."
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Aberdeen American News, Associated Press, South Dakota, July 31
Headline: Aberdeen says yes to home schoolers
http://www.aberdeennews.com
ABERDEEN, S.D. - "The Aberdeen School Board voted to let home-schooled students take part and compete in extra curricular activities at Aberdeen Central High school this fall."
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Aberdeen American News, Associated Press, South Dakota, August 12
http://www.aberdeennews.com
Headline: Spearfish says no to activities for home-schoolers
SPEARFISH, S.D. - "The school board in Spearfish decided unanimously on Monday not to let home-schooled students take part in extracurricular activities governed by the South Dakota High School Activities Association."
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Updates to Previous Stories
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Ann: In an August 05 story from the News Observer, North Carolina, we read the headlines:
"Home schooling slows" and "Growth down, but option still popular"
"North Carolina's runaway growth in home schools slowed this past school year, but their popularity siphoned away more students from Wake County and other public school districts..."
Seemed like bad news at first glance.
Hal Young, President of North Carolinians for Home Education (http://nche.com) passed along NCHE's latest Press Release.
Headline: "N. C. Homeschool Students Top 50,000 Statewide"
RALEIGH - "The number of North Carolina students enrolled in home schools topped 50,000 this year, according to North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE), the statewide home school association. While the total number of school-aged children in the state grows just over 2% annually, homeschooling has grown an average of 19% for the past nine years."
Ann: Same basic information - but what a different "feel" you get - it all depends on your point of view. Thanks for passing that release along, Hal.
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In the April 21 Issue of News & Commentary and the July-August column in Home Education Magazine, many bills that would affect homeschoolers were cited, including this one from Arizona.
http://www.azleg.state.az.us
Headline: SB 1263: Corporate Tax Credits for Private Education
"This bill would extend Arizona's existing scholarship tax credit to allow corporations to donate money to let children leave the public school system. Passed the Senate."
Ann: Chris Mahar writes to tell us how this turned out.
"A very homeschool friendly legislator (Representative Karen Johnson) introduced it before talking to the homeschool groups in the state. In January we had our annual statewide support group leaders meeting and came to a consensus that this year was a really bad time for this sort of bill. There was also the predictable discussion over what strings would come with tax credits. The legislator who introduced the bill was there and promised to do whatever we felt was best with the bill. We asked that it be withdrawn and she did so. But I think it's not a dead issue and will not be the least surprised to see the bill in future sessions."
HSLDA first pushed in favor of this legislation
http://www.hslda.org
and later retracted after the desires of state homeschooling leaders became known to them.
http://www.hslda.org
Ann: This Arizona story offers a lesson for every one of us - eager legislators, homeschooling leaders, HSLDA, and individuals alike - if we have the wisdom to learn. Thanks for the update, Chris.
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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 Emai
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