Homeschool Alliance of North Carolina

“By Greenhut, Steven

…California officials operate some of the worst education bureaucracies in the nation. Yet some officials here are concerned not so much with the government-run schools, but with the possibility that a fraction of the state’s students are being educated by their non-credentialed parents at home. This is the “let no flower bloom” approach to public policy, as government officials and public-sector unions react against small private successes in their midst, mainly, I suppose, because of the embarrassment it entails. If for a few bucks a year parents can teach kids who go on to excel in state tests, get accepted to Berkeley, and win spelling bees, then why can’t the professional “educators” do as well with $11,000 or more per student each year taken from taxpayers?

In California this issue of homeschooling had been dormant for about five years, after the current superintendent of public instruction overruled his predecessor’s policy of harassing homeschools. But a February ruling by the state district court of appeal brought back reminders of the bad old days after it ruled that “parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children. . . . Because parents have a legal duty to see to their children’s schooling within the provisions of these laws, parents who fail to do so may be subject … to imposition of fines or an order to complete a parent education and counseling program.” The court even issued a threat to parents that they could lose custody of their children if they persist in teaching them at home: “the juvenile court has authority to limit a parent’s control over a dependent child.”….”

For the complete article visit: http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/1492893/court_holds_californias_homeschoolers_in_suspense/

“by Ed Tate | Flint Journal guest columnist

Retired state Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Levin stated that “Home-school has a very long and honorable tradition.” Levin was the chief justice for the DeJong case, which established the legal right to home school in Michigan. On July 20, 2008, The Flint Journal published a column by Kelly Flynn titled “Home schooling should be a choice — however odd.” Her conclusions that home schooling is “odd” and that Michigan should put more legislation in place are wrong.

Ms. Flynn stated that “home schooling is an odd choice when I look at the bounty offered in the public school system.”

However, well over one million home schoolers disagree with her. The US Census Bureau estimates 86 percent of home schoolers report dissatisfactory academic environment or instruction as one of the reasons they home school. While home schooling is not for every family, the public education system is not for others. The pioneers in home schooling risked fines and imprisonment for this freedom.

Home schooling is pursued for many reasons. The majority of families who home school are solidly middle-class. Most are a two-parent household with a stay-at-home parent.

Almost 45 percent of home schooling parents Have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Less than 21 percent of Michigan adults had a bachelor’s degree at the last census.

Home schooling families are some of the best educated in Michigan. Home schooling is so mainstream that over 83 percent of colleges have formal policies for admitting home schoolers. …”

For the complete text visit: http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/voices/index.ssf/2008/07/kelly_flynn_is_wrong_on_homesc.html

“…Libertarian vice presidential nominee Wayne Allyn Root is issuing this press release:

Government Should Leave Home Schooling Families Alone, Says Wayne Allyn Root

Henderson, NV — “There is no more important task for a parent than the education of one’s children. That responsibility belongs to parents, not the government,” insists Wayne Allyn Root, the Libertarian Party candidate for vice president. “As a home school parent myself, I know how important it is for government to not interfere in the education process.”…”

For the complete article visit: http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/07/root-speaks-out-on-homeschooling/

“…The NEA fiercely opposes any competition for public schools, such as vouchers, tuition tax credits, parental option plans, or public support of any kind to non-public schools. The NEA strongly opposes designating English as our official language even though such a designation is supported by more than 80 percent of Americans.

The NEA opposes home schooling unless children are taught by state-licensed teachers using a state-approved curriculum. The NEA wants to bar home-schooled students from participating in any extracurricular activities in public schools even though their parents pay school taxes, too….”

For the complete article visit: http://www.townhall.com/columnists/PhyllisSchlafly/2008/07/28/the_nea_spells_out_its_policies

“Mark Segraves, WTOP Radio

WASHINGTON - Some important changes are coming for parents who want to home school their children in the District.

Parents will have to give the school system 15 days notice that they plan to do so.

Parents also will have to keep a portfolio of their children’s work, including writing examples, worksheets and assessments. District school officials will be able to review the portfolio twice a year.

Currently, about 130 city students receive their educations at home.

Students are required to be taught language arts, math, science, social studies, art, music, health and physical education.

Prior to these new rules, the school system had no rules governing home schooling. ”

The link to the original source: http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1444508

“By RORY RYAN
Publisher & Editor
A request was made by a local public school administrator at a recent board of education meeting that the newspaper “do” an exposé on home schooling.

Such a request, and one made in a public forum by a school board president, at the very least implies some knowledge of something amiss.

If this administrator is aware of anything which ought to be “exposed,” maybe he should simply contact the proper authorities. If he suspects cases of abuse, there’s Children Services, the police, the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, the Juvenile Court judge, all of whom would, no doubt, respond to the legitimate complaints of a school administrator.

Why challenge the newspaper? We are not the home school police. Frankly, we have enough to do to keep up with those public bodies that spend more and more of taxpayers’ money each year. But I digress.

Families who choose to home school their children have every right to do so. At least for the time being. A number of states are working hard to change that. Some state lawmakers - encouraged, no doubt, by the contributions from the teachers’ unions - would like to force parents of home schooled children to earn degrees in each subject they teach (to their own children).

This suggests the government can usurp parental guidance and parental responsibility.

That’s too bad. And, sadly, it has less to do with educating each individual student and much more to do with capitalizing on the government funds attached to each student….”

For the complete article please visit:  http://www.timesgazette.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=155493

“For the Teeter family, a school day is just a hop, skip and a jump away. Ten year old Ryan Teeter says, “Usually we just come down, I am the latest because I am usually reading in my room. We just come down, eat breakfast, play some and then do our work.”

Ryan and his brother Zachary have been home-schooled their whole life, with teacher and Mom Ashley. The boys say they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Seven year old Zachary says, “We play outside, then take a snack, then we kind of play some and then Mom lets us have the rest of the day to ourselves.”

Nearly 40,000 families in North Carolina home school their children. Five hundred right here in New Hanover County. Experts say it fosters family values while allowing a child to learn at their own pace. For the Teeters, home schooling their children just came naturally. …”

For the complete story visit: http://www.wwaytv3.com/node/9003

MANCHESTER — Two and a half years ago, Marissa Houle graduated from Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif., at 16 years old. Armed with her associate degree in general studies, she moved to Hollis to pursue her degree at the University of New Hampshire at Manchester. She graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree in English on May 22.

At 19, Houle was the youngest person to receive a bachelor’s degree from UNH Manchester.

Home-schooled for the majority of her academic career, she began attending Palomar College shortly after her 15th birthday. At 16 and the youngest of her 2005 class, she graduated. …

“Home schooling is nothing to be afraid of. It’s not about the education level you possess; it’s about a love of learning you instill in the kid,” Houle said, giving her mother credit for the philosophy. …”

For the complete article visit:

http://www.nhbroadcaster.com/ci_9850718

“By Madison Park | Sun Reporter

July 7, 2008

Children darted across the grass carrying small balloons and then plopped to the ground trying to pop them. The relay runners came back and slapped the hands of the next children, as the games progressed for the springtime ritual known as Field Day.

The group of Harford County home-school families was using a Churchville park and simple props such as small orange cones, balloons, rubber balls and hula hoops for the event. Cathy Rodriguez, president of the Home School Association of Harford and Surrounding Areas, said she had spent $200 for athletic equipment for Field Day.

Home-school children don’t have the benefits of an athletic department, she said, but rely instead on recreational centers to play soccer or basketball and participate in physical education cooperatives taught by parents.

Rodriguez said these students are often overlooked, and that’s why their parents were not happy when a restaurant’s essay contest, offering $5,000 in sports equipment as the grand prize, shut out home-school children….

When the Subway sandwich chain’s essay contest excluded students taught at home, thousands of parents flooded the restaurants’ customer service line to complain. Subway restaurant officials quickly apologized for excluding home-school children from their “Every Sandwich Tells a Story” writing contest, which awards the winner’s school the sporting equipment.

Subway officials promised to hold a similar competition in the future that would be open to students taught at home….”

For the text of this article please visit: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/harford/bal-md.ha.contests07jul07,0,2885023.story

“by Julie E. Washington/Plain Dealer Reporter

Wednesday July 09, 2008, 3:27 PM

A short film about a discouraged soldier won Cleveland teen Timothy Kay a full scholarship in Regent University’s “ReelDreams Film Competition.

It was affirmation that the aspiring filmmaker did the right thing when he used his $3,000 in college savings — with his parents’ blessings — to make “A Fragile Hope.” ….

Kay, who is home-schooled, learned about the contest when he and Ben visited Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., last year to see the campus. Kay immediately began writing the script for “A Fragile Hope.”

The film focuses on Joshua, the leader of a defeated and depleted army, as he writes a letter home expressing his despair. No matter the odds, it’s important to do the right thing even if you stand alone, Kay said. …”

For the complete article visit: http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2008/07/cleveland_teen_filmmaker_wins.html