When Teachers Strike

With the start of the school year, usually students and parents utilizing the public school system, are again becoming concerned with classes, notebooks and pencils. But this school year brought a far greater concern: teacher strikes.   

In Washington State, we have recently watched as our Washington Education Association, (WEA) (or state branch of the National Education Association, the NEA, (or teacher's union..) encouraged school teachers to don red t-shirts and illegally go on strike.    In other-words...the teacher's union, is encouraging and organizing it's members to oppress parents and students and politicians in order to strong arm their own way... and get what they want.

Not only is it illegal, but this is a type of bullying.  Let's consider....

"Bully,"  as in to bully someone, is a verb. It means, to "use superior strength or influence to intimidate another person," ( typically to force him or her to do what you demand.)  The word, bully has synonyms, including words like to oppress, intimidate, strong-arm, and coerce   There have been mass anti-bullying ads on television renouncing "bullying"  as typically is done between school children, alarming the public as to this problem of bullying in the schools, but bullying is not just a problem with kids... no... no... adults do it too.

"Teachers in eight Washington school districts have decided to walk out of class for one day to protest what they say is too little funding for the state’s public schools.  Teachers want to see better health-care benefits for school staff, more money to pay for voter-approved class-size reductions and higher cost-of-living raises than the state House or Senate have proposed so far."  SeattleTimes,  Originally published April 17, 2015 

"Too little funding?"  (Don't people often vote to fund levies and bonds for our schools?)

"Better health care benefits for school staff." ( The teacher's union offers health care benefits too.)
"More money?"  The salary for Seattle teachers, as reported by one article about the recent Seattle teacher's strikes, a salary which includes some extra school hours and other pay, was $67,124 on average, but salary for teachers is usually not for an entire year as it does not include summer months and depends on the experience level of the teacher.   (Spokane Schools teacher's salaries can be viewed here. Hint: Look at salary by job title figures..)

"Class size reductions." (Is class size REALLY the issue?)

"Higher cost-of-living raises."....

Interesting note here might be that there is never any issue of curriculum content, better textbooks or free pencils and crayons for students.  No, when it comes to teacher strikes it is  always about the pay check and the hours.  

The teacher's union, the NEA, does not advocate bullying,  In fact, they have their own "anti-bullying" campaign.  So why then does the NEA use teacher power intentionally... to inflict pain on the education system in place by striking?  The answer is easy.... It works.  Then get what they want, because after all, they have the power to disrupt the flow of things and inflict pain in doing so.  

"Bullying is aggressive behavior that is intentional and that involves an imbalance of power. Most often, it is repeated over time."                          http://www.violencepreventionworks.org/public/bullying_tips_for_administrators.page

Make no mistake, teacher have power.  They control grades and seating in classrooms, they dominate parent teacher conferences.  Unions have power too... over teachers.... and therefore students and parents too.

"The last time teachers across the state held similar, one-day protests was in 1999, when thousands of teachers from about 50 school districts voted to walk out over a period of weeks, Wood said. That year, lawmakers granted a 3 percent raise for all public-school employees in the state."                                                            SeattleTimes,  Originally published April 17, 2015 

This year teachers in Seattle were on strike for a week.  Current headlines read,

" School will resume Thursday for Seattle's 53,000 students after teachers who have been on strike for a week reached a tentative agreement with Washington state's largest school district."SeattleTimes,  

Bullying works.

Teacher strikes are no small matter.  They negatively affect everyone in the community, and unions use this to their advantage as they tear down local control of schools by encouraging their members, local public school teachers, to strike, and to make it hurt parents, students and legislators s much as possible when they do.  

You can bet that legislators feel the pain when they work for votes after the public sees how the strikes are handled, or scramble for more funding to pay for the effect of a teachers strike and facilitate the legal ramification that ensue.  You can bet that parents feel oppressed as they are challenged to make adjustments for the absence of a child's overseer for the day if the parent is working outside of the home, or come up with activites and lesson plans to keep the kids busy while at home.  You can be confident too that they and their children all feel the threat of a loss of normalcy for the month of September, an effect that could quite possibly last the entire year.  Concerns about academia, sporting events and future in-school relationships with those who had been depended upon to teach that use the civic duty entrusted to them by the public for personal gain.  

Students not only feel the abandonment of not having a classroom to go to or a teacher to teach, but must also pay the penalty of extended days of school to make up for the lost required hours of learning mandated for schools and teachers to provide in a year.  

 In the city of Seattle this year, the strike cost $100,000 per day. Striking for five days cost the city $500,000. Tax dollars are supposed to be hard at work, instead they were on strike.  It makes you wonder what kind of learning could have taken place per buck, but teacher strikes are not done with students and their needs in mind.   They are about money, and control of the schools.  When all is said and done, the net result will be  the nationally organized unions, such as the WEA and ultimately the NEA, ( opposed to local/state governments and legislation,) will have more power over the management of our public schools.

Yes, striking teachers walk on out on  students, parents, and legislators, ignoring laws,  and contractual agreements.  you don't see the teachers marching for their own cause on the street in July or August, because they know all about bullying in the  union, and it works.  A strike will most effectively strong-arm the public into giving-in to their demands.

And what about teachers, parents or students, who cross picket lines?  Oh, it's dangerous to think differently than the crowd,  You have to consider what you plan to do and why you do it, because history shows us that often, these people are "bullied" too.

Curious About Common Core?

"Common Core – Common Core State Standards (CCSS) has been in the national and local news lately. Sometimes we hear negative comments, and sometimes positive. It’s important to re‐ member the state standards are there to help ensure teachers are teaching and students are learning. The new common core state standards will help lead all of our children to a successful future. The standards help to ensure students learn what they need to go on to pursue a technical, associates or bachelor’s degree after they complete high school."

                                                          Holmes Elementary School Newsletter, January 2015, Spokane

This is the propaganda going out to parents from schools regarding CCSS....otherwise known as Common Core State Standards,  but are they "state" standards?

This may come as a surprise..based upon the name of the program, but. the answer is "No."

Valerie Strauss, who studies this stuff reports that they are not state standards at all.  She says, in her article,  Common Core's, Fundamental Trouble, published in the Washington Post, June, 2013,  "They’re national standards, created by Gates-funded consultants for the National Governors Association (NGA). They were designed, in part, to circumvent federal restrictions on the adoption of a national curriculum, hence the insertion of the word “state” in the brand name. States were coerced into adopting the Common Core by requirements attached to the federal Race to the Top grants and, later, the No Child Left Behind waivers."

The history and implementation of the "Common Core" as well as all the controversy is an interesting subject, but it's hard to know everything about it, could even take you years.  Fact is, it is being used in a school near you and for this reason, people need to inform themselves about it, even if they are not subject to the Common Core Curriculum directly.

Homeschoolers, being independent of the direct oversight of public school, (and equal in competency to educate their own children from home in this manner legally) have never been required to participate in testing mandated for public schools. They have yearly testing requirements, but at this time are unaffected by "Common Core."  Just the same, as citizens who pay taxes in support of public education, who's students will be attending colleges in the future, they are often concerned about the issues of public education.  There is even a group in Spokane, parents with kids in the public schools, who are trying to stop Common Core in Spokane and they have created a Facebook page that can be accessed here.

What is wrong with Common Core... (you may wonder.)  It depends on who you talk to.A group like, " Stop Common Core" finds it detrimental.... while  the  National Education Association, (NEA)  for example, thinks it's great. 

The NEA also spends a lot of money promoting it and financially rewarding teachers who get on board with it.  Teachers who promote the Common Core concepts are no longer just "teachers," but are labeled "Master Teachers."  In some states, like Massachusetts, those teachers chosen via application to join the program, who then work to promote the project receive a stipend of $15,000.00.  But not all teachers think it's such a great thing, however, many find they have no choice.  They believe their job is on the line when it comes to support of Common Core.

If you are curious about why some criticize Common Core, you might want to check out the video at Stop Common Core of Washington State of a little girl, Sophia, doing a math problem both the common core strategy of place value, and again using the standard algorithm for addition. It will have you wondering what is the out is in training teachers to train kids to do math this new way and have you considering how your tax dollars are working in the local schools. If you are a homeschooler, your home based educated students are automatically exempt from  meeting common core standards, but you might want to know what all the hoopla about Common Core is about.

Teach Common Core methodology to your kids if you like it, don't teach it if you don't like it;  because as a homeschooler, you can implement your own philosophy on the matter,,,, but  you can bet that local school administers and teachers are being told to meet these standards.  They have already been trained to teach to the tests.... and this is often to the tune of a lot of dollars and cents.  If you are not a homeschooling family, just remember, your kids, even though they are in public school... are YOUR  kids.  You have parental rights and you have a right to know what they are learning and doing in school.

If you are curious about Common Core in our schools, here are some websites you might want to check out:

Learn about the Common Core "in 3 Minutes," (Watch the informative video promoting Common Core to and check out more information from a perspective in support of Common Core at www, corestandards.org

Have a look at National Public Radio's F.A.Q. and answers about Common Core.

Read from Joy Pullman, writing for The Federalist... as she discloses salaries of Common Core's co-authors.  And if you want to know more about who they are and the company they created to make the Common Core, read a concerned Arizona's report about it here.

Test yourself! Try this Math Test Common Core Sampler for First Graders... Here.  Check out a corrected first grade test, here.  REad about the first grader's parent's complaint, in a 2013 Washington Post Article about Common Core in New York public schools by Valerie Strauss.

Watch the Sophia Abelita Video on Vimeo, (if you missed watching it in the link earlier.)

Read a Spokane librarian's report on being "trained." (Important note: she was not being "educated" about, but being"trained" in "Common Core." and there is a difference between educating a person and training a person.  In "training," the outcome of the experience is already determined, and often rewarded.  Education involved critical thinking of the student to determine what to do with what is learned.)

Note the foriegn political slant found being taught to students across
the nation, vis Common Core (masquerading as "English" lessons.)
(Fox News exposed this example while examining
Common Core material.) 

And finally, here's some articles  by Laurie Rogers about (against) Common Core in Spokane Schools.... (particularly in the area of Math:)

Common Core Leading Districts to Adopt Unproved Math Programs

A Battle for Our Freedom

Be informed, learn more about Common Core!

2015 NEWS fromThe Christian Homeschool Network of WA (CHNOW) to Homeschoolers in WA

NEWS from The Christian Homeschool Network of WA. 2015
Intent to Homeschool Form due September 15th:
• The annual Declaration of Intent (DOI) to Homeschool form is due to be filed with your local school district superintendent’s office by September 15th, or within two weeks of the start of the school year. 
• In most cases we encourage sending in this form via certified mail to avoid unnecessary interaction with school officials.
• And we encourage you to use only the form provided on our website. This form includes only the small amount of information required by the Washington Home-based Instruction Law.
o Be wary, sometimes a district forms will ask for more information than you are legally responsible to provide! 
o Find the Declaration of Intent (DOI) form http://www.chnow.org/declaration-of-intent-form.html
o Filing instructions, here: http://www.chnow.org/declaration-of-intent.html 
o AND note, This form is only required for students 8 years and older.

Growing Our Network: 
• Homeschooling has not always been legal! So we need your help to keep it this way! 
• CHN is working to build a large, vibrant network of homeschoolers, concerned about their future rights to homeschool and willing to become involved in the political process necessary to protect our rights. 
• And being involved is as easy as 1 ... 2 … 3!
1) READ … our emails. Involvement starts by simply being informed!
2) LEARN … to understand our political process through events like Homeschool Day at the Capital (DAC). 
3) PHONE … when notified about crucial issues by CHN. Use the State Capitol central legislative number enabling you to briefly inform all your state legislators of your position on important bills with just one call.
4) So Don’t Wait! Begin Today!
o VERIFY … this is the correct email for us to contact you.
o E-MAIL … five friends who would also like to take action.
o SIGN-UP … send our e-Alert link to your friends http://www.chnow.org/e-Alert.html 
o VISIT … CHNow.org to see what we have available on our website. 

Day at the Capital – March 1, 2016: 
• This action packed day includes:
o Morning in the Columbia Room: Speakers include former Washington State Sen. Val Stevens and Rep. Jason Overstreet, plus a legislative update 
o Noon Under the Dome: Rotunda events include homeschool musicians, hearing from legislators, and more …
o Afternoon Activities: Visiting your legislators; Tours of the Capitol
o Our Apple Pie Tradition: Delivery teams taking apple pies made by homeschooling families to all the legislators and key government officials. 
• Mark your calendar now! And look for the DAC registration link coming soon at http://www.chnow.org/day-at-the-capitol.html

Need Some High School Ideas?

Sometimes parents are intimidated with homeschooling high school.  A parent might not feel confident about a certain subject area... perhaps a higher math, or theater arts, or a writing class.  There may be areas where you child need some special help.  It can boost your confidence and your student's confidence as well, to remember that there's beauty in the flexible schedule allowed in homeschooling, especially in the high school years and that there's a lot of options for meeting the various "requirements" when one is homeschooling high school.

Here is a 2013 High School Course Catalog from the Spokane Schools that you can look at.  It's not current, but it will give you an idea  of what credits the local public schools require of their students in each year and what the courses and course content was in the classes they offered.  Seeing the schedule and classes offered might boost your confidence in covering all the required subject areas in your home-based, parent directed and selected, course of study from home.   As you will see, the public school day is not as flexible for public school students as it can be for homeschooling kids.    The catalog says it is used for Ferris, Lewis and Clark, NEWTECH Skills Center, North Central, Shadle, Rodgers, and two more.

If you are not high schooling...  or if you do not have kids in a public high school, please simply remember that here in America, the local public school is accountable to the people who not only use them, but also pay taxes to support them.... and it is important to know and care about what your local public school is teaching, regardless of if you have kids in the public school or not.

The PDF provided at the above link, (if it continues to work, )will supply you with a lot of helpful information.  It also contains a list of tests that public high schoolers are given and a schedule as to when they are usually administered.  There are tips for college admission and even student planning sheets that will give you an overview of a typical public school students day and their course of study when planning to head to college.  Of course, this can all change, as curriculum and educational goals change, but it will give you some direction as you plan ahead. Remember, there are a lot of options that keep parents in the driver's seat regarding their kids educational decisions until they are grown and "driving" on their own.

Also, it can help to know that as a Home Based Student, as a tax paying person, there are ancillary classes for various subjects that may be available.

Regarding ancillary classes, the Washington Homeschool Organization,  reports that:

"Homeschoolers may take "courses" at the public school on a part-time basis. A "course" is defined as any instructional curricular service or activity. They may also avail themselves of ancillary services. These are defined as co-curricular services or activities. Some examples are counseling, testing, hearing tests and speech therapy, etc. While participating at the public school for part-time courses or for ancillary services, homeschoolers remain under the home-based instruction statutes"

HSLDA  The national organization offering homeschoolers legal defense, offers some high school consultants to help you plan too.


There are a lot of  "ancillary classes" available to homeschoolers through tutors and other sources... and yes, some are even offered at the local public school but don't forget.... be aware.... your local public school now-a-days would "rather" you enroll full-time in their " parent partnership program" than homeschool your children on your own.  This is because a school district gets a little bit of funding for your child taking an ancillary class, but they get a lot of money for full time enrolled students.... and a lot of money per student, is better than a little when the dollar is the bottom line.

You must remember that, as professionals who need employment, and as people whose employment depends upon your kids being under their care and supervision for which they are paid, they often dislike homeschooling as an option for education.... unless they have explicit jurisdiction over your time teaching your own kids.  Remember, Home Based Education Laws were never intended to give the teachers employed at the local school jurisdiction over your homeschooling.  In fact, it was the other way around.   The state does not provide funding for people to home educate or  "pay" people to school their kids at home, so make no mistake, schools prefer that you be a full time enrolled public school student than a student schooled at home, because when you are enrolled in their program, schools get more money and they get control.

The parent, in a partnership program is not the "teacher" and the teaching must conform learning to the objectives of school.  Instead, the parent asan  educational "coach,"  does the work of an educational mentor (not "teacher" though that is what a "teacher" is...) under the direct supervision of one "highly qualified teacher,"  Be reminded, that college-graduated and "qualified" parent, even one who has taken a "qualifying course" in order to homeschool legally in our state can legally home school without such oversight.  Parents can be community based instructors, (CBI)  in Parent Partnership programs, and they can be paid, (your tax dollars hard at work) to teach classes at the campus location by the school district, but are never really thought of as being on par with the "highly qualified" teachers.

Anyhow, you may, as a homeschooler, take ancillary classes at the local public school and you may also be able to participate in school sports,and do this without full-time enrollment. 

For more information on how to access sports and classes in regular school (not taught by community based instructors,) view the Homeschool Legal defense Association' PDF on the topic of equal access, here.  Participation in homeschool co-ops, like this one, private tutoring and other private self-pay options for learning is more often recommended by homeschooling support groups and organizations than is taking ancillary classes at school but as a Homeschooling High School Student seeking educational resources, you need to know that there are many options.... including using the local schools.  You can even utilize your child's smarts at the local colleges through the program known as  Running Start.  

The running Start Program allows high school students to take college classes free of charge and earn college credit while in their high school years.  This is done on the college campus or sometimes through teleconferencing classes.  Juniors and seniors must have a GPA of at at least 3.0 to qualify and pass required entrance exams.  Spokane Falls and Spokane Community, as well as Eastern Washington University all offer Running Start.   Unfortunately, Running Start programs  which used to be handled directly at the community college campuses are now accessed through the local high schools, but again, you register there, but do not necessarily have to attend in order to participate.

There's beauty in the flexible schedule allowed in homeschooling , especially in the high school years and there's a lot of options that you can make work for you too.  


Contact  your State support Groups like the Washington Homeschool Organization  and the Home School Legal Defense Association to  has the resource of  you can confer with to help you in your decision to homeschool high school with your teens. 



The link address for the Public School high School Cataloguecatalogue is: (as of July 28, 2015,)
http://www.spokaneschools.org/cms/lib/WA01000970/Centricity/Domain/1434/SPS%20Course%20Catalog%202012-13-proof.pdf

Book Sale! Book Sale! Another Summer Book Sale!

Homeschool Curriculum Sale!

Newman Lake, WA

July 30th, 2015

10:00 - 2:00

The Newman Conference Center




6703 N. Idaho Road

                   

Newman Lake, WA. 99025







FREE to attend!

 Sponsored by the Newman Lake Christian Homeschool Co-Op.

Homeschool Booksale June 23, 2015

Mark your calendars!  Start rounding up used books! A favorite event is coming in June...a ​Used and New​ Curriculum Fair!...where oodles of resources (curriculum, books, educational games, puzzles, etc.) will be available to browse and purchase.  ​While most vendors offer used items, there are often several new vendors as well. 

CHEE HOMESCHOOL *​​​​USED ​AND NEW ​CURRICULUM* FAIR! ​

TUESDAY ​​ JUN​E​​​​​ 23​​​​, 201​5​​​ ​10:00am - 2:00pm

​ ​FREE ADMISSION​ ​

MT. SPOKANE CHURCH ​ 6311 E. MT. Spokane Park Drive

Need more information?  Want to sell at the event?  Contact person for this event is Tammy 
and you may email her directly and ask for seller registration information at:   thecheebee@gmail.com.  Cost is $10 per space, in advance.  Individual spaces are approx. 8 x 10.

Just want to come and buy stuff?  Please do... and tell your friends about the sale too!

Directions to church: *From Hwy 2...* go east on Mt. Spokane Park Dr. (near Yokes Market Shopping Center). Church is about 2 miles down on the left, next to Mt. Spokane High School. *From the valley...* I -90 to Argonne (north), (Argonne will change names to Bruce Rd. ) Follow north past Bigelow Gulch to Mt. Spokane Park Drive. At the roundabout, go left.  The church is about a mile down on the right, next to Mt. Spokane High School.

* PLEASE NOTE... THIS IS THE SAME LOCATION AS LAST YEAR.*

"Advocates Seek To Legalize Home Schooling" 1985

"Parents who teach their children instead of sending then to school will renew their push Monday for a state law legalizing homeschooling," began the news article in the Spokesman-Review, Jan 27th, 1985.  Note the verb... "teach."  It is not "want to teach,"  but "teach."

Yes, parents were home educating... teaching their own children at home and NOT sending them to someone else's care and tutelage each day.  Yes, parents were being told this was "illegal," but these parents were not simply keeping kids home from school for convenience sake, not because they had some preference or because they were interested in doing anything illegal.  They were teaching their kids at home because it was a conviction of their heart and from this came the legalities of homeschooling that we have today!

What is your conviction?

 

It's For The Kids!

School Bond and Levy Feb.  2015

The notice in the mail reads, HERE"S THE TRUTH.  Funny, but it feels a little like and "Easy-open package," you know, the kind you have to wrestle with for at least ten minutes and then you still cannot open it, even if you resort to using teeth.  There may be a lot of truthful information here, but then, is it really full disclosure?  You have to wonder...... Is it the TRUTH, or just what the sender wants you to know?

The directive is to  "VOTE YES TWICE" The words on the yellow paper work to convince the reader that "Mead kids need" your vote of  YES.  It's an emotional plea, isn't it?  (It always is!)  "Help the children, please continue funding public schools." 

We are told that the state only provides 77% of the District budget.  The levy funds the remaining 23 %.  Could the math really be that simple? 


Hardly.  It's interesting too that in this simple equation there is no mention of how much Federal fund in at use in our local  public schools.  with  no mention of any federal funding in this mailing,one might recall how, last year,  the Spokesman Review reported that in Washington there had been a decision made that took a chunk of federal funding, (about 40 million dollars,) out of the control of Spokane school officials.  Bummer for them. Needless to say, schools didn't like the loss of funding control... and many didn't like the notion of parents choosing their child's school,or using outside rescources for learning... but your kids... are your buisness and their education is your choice.... and  it's your job, to fund the schools.  You can bet they like having your money in the form of taxes... "for the kids."

While the schools do get and use federal funds, they make it sound like all the funding they use comes from two sources; the state money allocated to the district's budget and your generous bond and levy funding.  And while schools do accept and sometimes solicit, donations from parents and philanthropists, there is no mention of any private donations or grants or even business "donations"to a tax deductible charity...known as the local public school.  There is no mention of any federal funding either..


We are told that the bond is needed to upgrade "all" facilities and implement them with new security enhancements, build new schools, and purchase land for future school sites.  It's not for the economy, it's not for the peace of mind for staff and parents, nope. It's not for school administrators, teacher salaries or job security for staff and planners who work in the system to make it the best it can be, those have to think about the future of public education in general. It's not so that the parents can go to work, make a living and pay bills know the kids are being taken care of in a good and competent school......  No, the "truth" is, it's "for the kids"

We are also encouraged to renew a levy, to maintain "superior learning programs, "and this is also "for the kids," but what these programs are or might be is left to our imagination.  We are not told specifically what programs these are, just given superlative adjectives.  It sure seems odd too, that the state funding would not be being used to provide these anonymous "learning programs" used in schools for kids.  We are also informed that levies support athletics and activities, but we have no idea of what thee activities might be...

All we are told as voters who have received this yellow paper in the mail is that the schools can use the money and "Vote yes, twice... It's "for the kids."

 

 To learn more about how money is spent in your school district, (so you can perhaps better decide how best to vote,) go to the OSPI website, here.  Use the pull down menu to select you particular district of interest, then click on "search" for links to the published reports.

Other articles that might be of interest include:

The Mead Schools Levy Bond Information page

Yes for Spokane Schools Page

 Spokesman Review article - Schools loose control over federal money 

Journal of Business article- Spokane School Bond Measures could top 480 million

KXKY article on Bond and Levy 2015

Spokane Valley Article about Lotteries and School funding

Some articles related to things that your dollars buy for schools:

A Stadium 

 https://www.facebook.com/KXLY4News/posts/148449061965852

 http://www.spokanejournal.com/local-news/albi-stadium-could-change-hands/

http://m.spokesman.com/stories/2013/jul/12/city-school-district-trade-property/

Buildings and Land.  

http://www.spokanejournal.com/local-news/central-valley-district-buys-former-yokes-building/

http://spokanevalleytech.org/2012/04/09/district-to-purchase-building-for-skill-center-branch-campus/ 

http://www.khq.com/story/21203333/spokane-public-schools-withdraw-from-building-purches

http://www.spokanejournal.com/local-news/spokane-public-schools-floats-2049-million-project-list/

New Classroom Materials

http://www.krem.com/videos/news/2014/10/04/15151638/

Homeschool Conference in Spokane 2015

HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCE IN SPOKANE!

Reviving the Heart
21st Annual CFHE Homeschool Conference
Millwood Community Presbyterian Church
Spokane, WA
March 13 & 14, 2015

TODD WILSON is a dad, writer, conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and down to earth realness have made him a favorite speaker at homeschool conventions across the country and as a guest on Focus on the Family.   You can read more about Todd Wilson at his website,  www.familymanweb.com

For more information about the conference, workshops, vendors and vending or to register early and plan to attend  or bring your family, go to The Christin Family Home Educators website: http://www.cfhe.net/

"Dangerous?"

According to the Herald, there's been some legal changes changes for homeschooling families in Pennsylvania, and homeschoolers in Washington State should "read all about it," especially if you are a homeschooling who has never felt the pinch of going against the flow of what is commonly called, called "public education."  This article does an excellent job of pointing out the value and validity of the educational choice called independent homeschooling, or as our law refer to it, home based education.  It reminds us of  the precious freedoms we in Washington already enjoy to homeschool while Pennsylvanians, jump through a lot of hoops to do it and are still having to take legal stands to make it happen. Pennsylvania homeschool parents, with the recent passing of House Bill 1013, are experiencing freedom.  

No longer do they have to undergo the public school superintendent’s review of their child's individual portfolio at the end of each school year.  Also, they can now issue their children a homeschool diploma instead of being required to obtain a diploma from a "certified" diploma issuing organization, which can be costly.  It's great news... right?  Yes it is! But, you have to understand....  not everyone likes parents having this freedom. 

Officials from the Albert Gallatin Area School District,are quoted as saying, “It’s very difficult to say that the diploma has the same value, or merit, when issued by a parent, when the criteria aren’t clear,” ( this was the assistant superintendent for the district.)  There is also a quote of Gary Serock, "homeschooling coordinator" and "attendance director for the Albert Gallatin Area School District." He's not in favor of the change.  He says,, "It’s “dangerous” to allow a parent to give his child a diploma."

Dangerous?  

  Synonymsto "dangerous" are words like, "hazardous," "menacing," "threatening," "treacherous."  The word means "involving possibly harm or death."  Dangerous to whom or what?



Everyone knows that good parents have their child's best interest and success in life at heart.  They will make sure their kids are learning what they need to succeed.The onlyy thing in danger is his job as "attendance director" or "homeschool  coordinator" at the school.  Even in WA we have laws governing homeschooling that must be complied with and these arein place because of the collaboration of lawmakers, parents and school personnel... for the benefit of the children's education.... not to protect someone's governmental job.

Dr. William Edmonds, Dean of Admissions at California University of Pennsylvania, is also quoted in the article in support of the things that homeschooling families have done.  He says that home-schooled students have performed very well at the school  In fact, the article reports that "twenty-six home-schooled students entered Cal U of PA in the fall of 2013, and 21 entered the university in the fall of 2014. In reviewing their coursework, grades, standardized test scores, and their overall high school experience, Edmonds said the students performed very well before college and are also performing well at the university. 

Dr. Edmonds also said that homeschooled students go through the same review process to enter school as every other student..  The school reviews transcripts, GPA and SAT score as well as things the individual studies of the students in subjects like English, Mathematics, Science, and Art.  He is quoted as saying,“I remember one home-schooled student in particular who entered Cal U with a 4.0, and a SAT score of 1410,” He added, “She also graduated from Cal U with a 4.0. We’re pleased. We welcome home-schooled students and we wish them best.”

 Besides the fact the the article demonstrates more "proof"  that homeschooling works well in the educating of some of America's children, there are a couple of other specific things that this article sheds light on for us in Spokane.  One, is that when concerned citizens write or call their legislators it does make a difference.  It reminds us to never hesitate to write your legislators in support of home based education.

We also see that Pennsylvania homeschool families have formed their own support groups. They meet occasionally to do fun things with a group of kids.  /This is another reminder, to be active in the homeschooling community by being a part of local homeschool cooperatives and support groups too, or start your own!  Always help support our state homeschool groups like WHO, (the Washington Homeschool Organization,) homeschool lobbyists, like  CHNOW (Christian Homeschoolers Network of Washington,) and our national homeschool organization, HSLDA, (the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.)  And remember, that there is a clear distinction of between home based education (homeschooling) and publically funded "school-at-home" programs offered through the district offices.  Don't take parental rights,  homeschooling freedoms or responsibilities for granted.

Many a homeschooler has given their child a quality education without being under the direct oversight of the local public school. It has been being done even long before there were even public schools.  Even in the public eduction system, the parent's support of the child and their involvement in their child's education is what often makes or breaks sucessful schooling.  The best public schools employ public servants who work for the benefit of children, educating them to be the best they can be as they grow, but some people simply view public school is a means of promoting their own agendas of careers or philosophy. even simply a means of securing themselves a rather lucrative kind of job.  Neither parenting, nor homeschooling, is something that you'll find people doing for the money.

Lastly, the article serves as a good reminder to be vigilant to do our best at what we do as homeschoolers, to encourage one another and even pool our resources together too; for there are those who disapprove of parents overseeing the education of their own children and would like to stop them from doing what they dare to do.  There are some who also dislike the concept of private schools.  This is because there are those who think they know better, (always,) than you do for your own kids and some of them will even label you awful things, like "dangerous" if you make the decision to use your freedom to choose something besides public education to school your kids.

Read the article referred to here in the Herald-Standard, Jan 12, 2015
(Be sure to watch the video news report too!)

A quote, from Thomas Jefferson, one of the founders of our US of A:

"I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery"   

See: montecello.org

Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem"  

 It has also been translated as, "I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude.")

Seven Lies About Homeschoolers

A little truthful humor courtesy of the Taylor Family.

Ask Your Kids..... "What Did You Learn At School Today?"

Well, boys and girls.... ladies and gentlemen.... 
                                                                                                        (or maybe "cookies"? )

What did your kids learn in school today?

Asking kids,  "What Did You Learn At School Today?" is the proverbial question that parents ask their kids at the end of the school day, and with good reason.  It's not a meaningless question.  It's good to know hat kids are learning, because if they are not learning, there's a problem.  These days you might make a special effort to ask them what they are learning, especially when it comes to things like "sex ed" class. 

It's often been controversial when it comes to sex ed being taught in public school, hasn't it?. In fact, it's so controversial that you would think that by now, in the sxhool year of year 2014-2015, some sort of curriculum had been laid out that works for everyone, but that's not the case. It seems that when it comes to this subject, most anything goes.  What kids learn depends on the district, the parents... and no doubt, who is overseeing or teaching the class.  The controversy seems to arie most, when those teaching the class have an agenda.

It.wasn't the biological science or learning how humans reproduce or methods of contraception being taught in Acalanes High School,  California, when Planned Parenthood came into the school to teach sex ed, and for this reason.  ABC News in November 2014, reported that parents of students in the East Bay School District were complaining.  Parents who had given consent for their students to attend a class insisted that they had not been completely informed about what, exactly, was being taught to students, and some of them were outraged.  Students were taught, says FOX NEws, that people are not born boys and girls, but that they choose their gender. 

This story of how one gets their gender was illustrated to the students using the Genderbread model,  a gender neutral gingerbread cookie looking character.  Besides the genderbread cookie and the  wonderment of deciding your own gender, these same students, some as yung as 13, were given  tips on materials to have on hand and a checklist to go through to see if they were ready for sexual responsibilities, like pregnancy or STDs.  They were also given a paper with directives on how to get "clear consent" (for sex) from a potential sex partner. That in itself was a lot to consider, but parents were really set on edge when they learned it was self-proclaimed "pleasure activists" teaching the classes to the youth.

This last week the Pacific Justice Institute, (PJI)  wrote about what was being taught behind those school walls... and by whom.  They also were contacted by a lawyer for the school who defended the information taught as "age appropriate."   The school district,  perhaps forced by the will of the parents who were not pleased with what was taking place in the class, had to address the issue they have been trying to ignore.   The superintendent, while continuing the "controversial program" did tell parents that those same individuals would not be returning to teach.  Remarkably, the schools admitted that they do not and did not routinely conduct background checks on these instructors.

uperintendent John Nickerson confirmed to parents that neither of those individuals would take part in the sex ed program that began January 5. - See more at: http://www.pacificjustice.org/press-releases/parents-alarmed-by-pleasure-activist-in-high-school-classroom#sthash.jreVdZDw.dpuf

uperintendent John Nickerson confirmed to parents that neither of those individuals would take part in the sex ed program that began January 5. - See more at: http://www.pacificjustice.org/press-releases/parents-alarmed-by-pleasure-activist-in-high-school-classroom#sthash.jreVdZDw.dpuf

If you have not already, (above link) you can read the PJI article about it, here.  

If you live in Spokane, remember, it's not just happening in California.  Chicago, for example, has this kind of public controversy over similar issues.  Chances are, Spokane s not immune.  It's likely that other schools will be inclined to follow suite or are already doing the same.  There's also suggestion being made to teach this kind of material to younger and younger children, in school.  You can rest assured, Planned Parenthood (and the Genderbread  friends,) want to teach your kids. They have conviently made the Genderbread Person, cute, funny, familiar and appealing to kids.. 

"Genderbread"  may or may not be the next fractured fairytale coming to a school near you, but don't be surprised when you kids are no longer though of in schools as "boys" or "girls." People with this agenda have come up with new ideas for referring to differences, terms much more ingenious than that!  In fact, teachers in Nebraska are being asked to stop calling children "boys" and "girls," (so as not to confuse them too early about their preferred gender.)  There, they suggest calling the chidren in a classroom, "purple penguins!"  (No joke.) But in a pinch, one could say, "boy, girl both or neither" instead of  "boys and girls." 

If you are homeschooling, you pretty much know what your kids are learning in school, but to keep the mental gears i your young ones turning, especially those older ones, you just might want to ask them anyway!  

If your kids are in public school.. keep asking them, "What did you learn in school today?" Your kids, are, after all, your kids, and you, as parent have every right to participate in their education and every right to know.

Video:   Peter Seeger, 1964, singing, What Did You LEarn In School Today?

Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, commented, “It has become clear that Acalanes officials have breached parental trust at every turn. They have brought individuals into the classroom who should not be anywhere near a school campus, and they continue to defend an indefensible program. In light of these most recent revelations, we are renewing our call to the District to suspend its relationship with Planned Parenthood and make sweeping changes to comply with the letter and spirit of state law. We are also calling on responsible journalists to join us in asking tough questions and holding the District accountable for these serious lapses in judgment.” - See more at: http://www.pacificjustice.org/press-releases/parents-alarmed-by-pleasure-activist-in-high-school-classroom#sthash.jreVdZDw.dpuf

Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, commented, “It has become clear that Acalanes officials have breached parental trust at every turn. They have brought individuals into the classroom who should not be anywhere near a school campus, and they continue to defend an indefensible program. In light of these most recent revelations, we are renewing our call to the District to suspend its relationship with Planned Parenthood and make sweeping changes to comply with the letter and spirit of state law. We are also calling on responsible journalists to join us in asking tough questions and holding the District accountable for these serious lapses in judgment.” - See more at: http://www.pacificjustice.org/press-releases/parents-alarmed-by-pleasure-activist-in-high-school-classroom#sthash.jreVdZDw.dpuf

Do You Like Legos?

Let There Be Legos!  (At the local public libraries)

"Mix fun and learning by spending a Saturday creating engineering feats at the library! SCLD is hosting a series of day-long Lego Build Days, one at each library throughout 2014 and 2015. The library will provide thousands (current count is roughly
47,000270+ pounds which is about 150,000 pieces!) of Lego pieces for kids and families to build.

Drop in for an hour or all day! Doors open at 10am and we’ll finish up building by 5pm so that we have plenty of time to put the display together. Enjoy some snacks and build to your heart’s content. Your awesome creations will be on display at that library for the duration of the month. Then, they will be dismantled, sorted, and shipped off to the next library for their Lego Build Day! Feel free to follow the Legos to as many building days as you like!"

See: http://www.scld.org/let-legos/

Other interesting LEGO related learning websites:

http://www.learningliftoff.com/20-fun-activities-learning-legos/#.VLhpbC7LpIY


http://www.edudemic.com/legos-education/ 


'http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2013/12/using-lego-build-math-concepts


http://livingmontessorinow.com/2013/06/20/free-lego-printables-and-70-plus-lego-learning-activities/


And

taDa..... LEGO MAN!
http://www.instructables.com/id/LEGO-Man-Costume/

A Sense of Belonging

By AquaBluePhotography

A Homeschoolers Best Rescource

So many times parents think that they could not homeschool because they cannot afford books and materials to do so.  They browse the internet and get overwhelmed by the plethora of homeschooling resources; they feel  intimidated and sometimes deterred by the cost, especially when they consider that public school and the state run school-at-home programs are presumed to be "free."  If that is you, be careful not to let the financial outlook blur your vision for home educating your own children!  In the planning for your homeschool year, there is one homeschool resource that you may have overlooked, and it's not only invaluable, but small enough to carry with you everywhere you go.  It's the Library card!  And would you believe, just ike the public school, it's free to you, thanks to the money people like you pay in taxes. 

Yes, it is free!  With your card you also get in-library (free) wi-fi connection, free computer use with accessibility to a printer, and you can make serveral copies for free!  You can use this both as a teacher finding resources or as a researching student.  There is computer software you can use and some common office software you can borrow.  There are books and books and more books, as well as educational and entertainment videos, computer games and music. In fact, the local library in Spokane boasts a collection of popular materials of approximately one-half million items, and best of all it's FREE!

Libraries have information on all kind of subjects of interest to you and your little learners.  They have a great educational support system and they advertise that it even includes" on-line tutoring"    and various digital opportunities that you can access via computer at home too.  The Library card is one thing that no family doing life and learning together (in or out of regular school) should be without.

 Kids can ask, (even call the librarian) and ask for help in finding information or answers to their important questions.  Parents and kids can request titles to be bought for library use.  Families can pick up a themed book bag..... and learn something new!  One other thing you might want to know is that your local library offers the use of their  meeting rooms (low cost and sometimes FREE) for public use, giving you a workspace to meet up with other families who homeschool.  The library also hosts various activities you and or your children can take part in,.  They offer STAR classes to make you more comfortable teaching your kids and all sorts of adult workshops as well as classes for teens 
There is even  story-time for preschool aged children and group activities of interest to  older kids, which all just might have a place in your homeschool and be of benefit to you so that you can spend less money on materials for your homeschool.