Elections

Which National Candidates Will Support Educational Freedom?

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As campaign season starts, we remind you to be engaged and informed about the candidates running for elected office in 2012. The people we put put in office have a lot of power to influence educational freedom and parental rights across the state and nation.

We, at Homeschooling United, have contacted several candidates running for US Congress and Senate, and asked them to sign the Educational Freedom Pledge as well as submit a “guest-post” so that they can tell you, first hand, about their views regarding education. So far, Ed Martin, candidate for the 2nd congressional district, has signed The Pledge. We have also contacted Ann Wagner, a candidate for that district, as well. U.S Senate candidates, Congressman Todd Akin, Sarah Steelman, and Senator Claire McCaskill have also been been offered the opportunity to advocate for parental rights and educational freedom. If anyone else jumps into the fray, we will also give them the same opportunity to communicate with the homeschooling community, here. We hope to hear from all of these candidates soon and look forward to their support for educational choice.

UPDATE: 5/18/2011 – Congressman Russ Carnahan was left off the list of contacts. He also received and invitation to support educational freedom. Sorry for the oversight.

parenting

Love Letter To My Son

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A woman with a new-born walked by me, in the store, the other day and I immediately flashed back 18 years. It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago when I was carrying you in my arms. And I can’t believe I sound like my mother as I remember her saying the very same thing about her own children.

Tomorrow you graduate from high school. You are a grown, young man. You are about to leave the familiar, comfortable and safe surroundings of home and go out into the world and shape your own life. Mixed emotions. I can’t be more excited for you and proud of your accomplishments. I can’t be more terrified of sending you off to college and into the world. Where did the time go? Did I teach you all the skills you’ll need to navigate what you are about to experience? Did I pass on enough wisdom? Did you listen? Did I love you enough, care for you enough, make you feel secure enough? Are you ready; am I?

When you become a parent, your life does a complete paradigm shift from being completely self-absorbed to becoming all about teaching someone else to become an independent human being. That’s it. It’s all about doing for and giving to someone else. Everything you do is about providing for your child(ren). Teaching them, loving them, providing for them, caring for them. Parenting is pretty selfless undertaking. But, in some monumental ways, the paradigm shift gave me some gifts and taught me a few things, as well.

It’s obvious that parenthood makes us care givers when we have children, but what surprised me the most about becoming a parent is what you did for me, gave to me, how you changed the way I saw the world. When I became a parent, I learned the gift of knowing how important it is to have something in this life, someone, important enough to walk through fire for. Having a child brought me to understand the significance of how the life cycle is intended to work and why the bonds of parent and child are strong enough to never break, but pliable enough to stretch and allow for change. You are the one who first gave me the gift. And although that gift wasn’t minimized when your sister came into our lives, you are the one who first opened the door to the new existence.

Life’s events threw us some compelling curves. Public school, dyslexia, homeschooling, divorce. Even at the youngest ages you navigated them with great strength and sensitivity. Beyond being your mother, I admire the person you are and the character you possess. I hope, in time and as you gain strength from living in new experiences, you will recognize and fully appreciate these qualities you own. I want you to know how much I love you, how proud I am of the wonderfully compassionate young man who you have become, and how much faith I have in you and your ability to succeed in building a fulfilling life. As you graduate and move into your future, (Grandma was right; you never stop worrying about your children, no matter how old they are.) I also want you to know that I will always be here. There will always be a soft place for you to land, a place to call home, if you need it.

Love always, 
Mom

Educational

Computer Sciences At Home!

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If homeschool parents know about techy stuff and can teach kids, at home, about the latest and greatest in computer science, they are so ahead of the rest of us who are struggling with just getting through the history timelines and quadratic equations. My friend, Darin, sent this nifty website, Aviary, for any who are brave enough to venture into the world of electronic techydom. I plinked around a bit and found some pretty cool stuff to play with. 

I am under the impression that there are tutorial videos to start you off and the apps translate to Adobe’s commercial software. Knowledge of such would be considered a head-start for any who pursue the field of computer technology because Adobe is widely used in the professional realm.

I am guessing most of us will turn our kids loose with the site and let them teach us about the ins and outs of the fine points in computer generated media. Enjoy and please let me know how you liked this post. I would love to post some creations here.

Homeschooling, Legislation

The People Are Not Safe From Last Minute Legislation Until The Fat Lady Sings

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The following education bills, in the Missouri House and Senate, are outlined and updated here as to their status as the 2010/2011 session has progressed. Some bills that advance Race To The Top/Educated Citizenry 2020 are included here as well as any that are related to the threat of undermining homeschooling freedom as we, at Homeschooling United, believe that RTTT/EC 2020 does threaten homeschooling. Please also understand that even though bills may not, as of this posting, look as if they may advance through, to the Governor’s desk, nothing is ever dead until the session closes. Very often bills are, at the last minutes of the session, lumped together in omnibus bills, grouped or added as amendments on unrelated legislation and passed under the radar. It is very important to keep a watchful eye on all legislation until the session closes.

HB179: Nasheed, Jamilah – CoSponsor: Curls, Shalonn Raises the compulsory school attendance age to 18 in all school districts unless the student has successfully completed 16 credits towards high school graduation. Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education (H) Bill currently not on a House calendar

HB393: Jones, Timothy: – CoSponsor: Dieckhaus, Scott Establishes the Parent Empowerment and Choice Act or the Parent Trigger Act which allows parents under certain circumstances to invoke interventions for a struggling school Public Hearing Completed. (H) Bill not currently on House calendar.

HB463: McNary, Cole – CoSponsor: Funderburk, Doug Changes the laws regarding virtual schools Public Hearing Completed (H). Bill not currently on House calendar

HB473: Jones, Tishaura – CoSponsor: Cookson, Steve Changes the laws regarding charter schools and establishes the Missouri Charter Public School Commission Perfected with Amendments (H). Bill not currently on House Calendar

HB476: Funderburk, Doug – CoSponsor: Parkinson, Mark Establishes the Students First Interscholastic Athletics Act which requires every high school age student to have the opportunity to participate in interscholastic athletics. Public Hearing Completed (H). Bill not currently on the House calendar

HB639: McNary, Cole – CoSponsor: Dieckhaus, Scott Requires each school district to establish a comprehensive program for student academic progression.  Public Hearing Completed (H). Bill not currently on House calendar.

HB 738: Nasheed Requires that students develop a personal plan of study by the eighth grade year; Reported Do Pass (Senate)

HB752: Torpey, Noel – CoSponsor: Lampe, Sara Changes the laws regarding the compulsory school attendance of certain students Elementary and Secondary Education (H). Elementary and Secondary Education Date: 4/20/2011 Time: 8:00AM Location: House Hearing Room 6

HB835: Lampe, Sara – CoSponsor: Newman, Stacey Requires a child in the St. Louis City School District, except for a child who is intending to be home schooled, to be enrolled in a public, private, parochial, or parish school by five years of age Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education (H). Bill not currently on house calendar

HJR10: Barnes, Jay – CoSponsor: Dieckhaus, Scott Proposes a constitutional amendment repealing the prohibition against state funds being used to support any religion or religious school and specifies that parents have the right to choose any school Public Hearing Completed (H). Bill not currently on House calendar

HB939: Dieckhaus, Scott– CoSponsor: Jones, Timothy Creates procedures for open enrollment of public school students across school district boundary lines Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education (H). Bill not currently on House calendar

HJR38: Barnes, Jay Proposes a constitutional amendment allowing the General Assembly to provide financial assistance to students to pay for elementary and secondary education at any accredited school they select Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education (H). Bill not currently on House calendar

SB 20: Wright-Jones Modifies the compulsory attendance age for the St. Louis City School District so that students must attend school from five years of age to eighteen years of age Bill not currently on Senate calendar

SB 21: Wright-Jones Requires kindergarten attendance at the start of the school year for children who turn age five at any time during the calendar year. Bill not currently on Senate calendar

SB 124: Keaveny Requires children in the St. Louis City School District to attend school at age five

There have been many, many bills added to the list of educational legislation since we last updated you on bill status. The session ends in mid May and all bills are up for grabs even though elected representation may claim the demise of any particular legislation. It’s a good idea to continue to monitor any and all legislation you are particularly concerned with, until the session is over, because it isn’t over until it’s over and the fat lady sings.


Uncategorized

Missouri School District Tries Dirty Tricks To Encourage Homeschoolers To Declare

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Home Schooling Legal Defense (HSLDA) issued this statement today about a Missouri school districts deceptive tactics to add to the coffers of the public school funds. It’s all about the money, folks and public education will stop at nothing to get more of your money…..

Missouri–Branson Using Ploy to get “Declaration of Enrollment”

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:

Branson Public Schools recently sent a misleading letter to area homeschool families referring to the homeschool statute and saying, “In order to meet these requirements, we will need the attached form [a Declaration of Enrollment] completed and returned to us.”

Missouri law allows a family to file an optional “Declaration of
Enrollment.” It is rarely, if ever, to a family’s benefit to file it.
If filed, it may be treated as a public document and be made available
to any interested party, whether their intentions are honest or
otherwise.

When public schools use tactics like this, the motive can often be traced back to money. Public schools may get a little extra money from the state for every family that files the optional declaration.

If you think you might be one of those few families who might be benefitted by filing, please call so we can talk.  Otherwise, feel free to disregard a school’s invitation or demand to file.

Sincerely,

Scott Woodruff
HSLDA Senior Counsel

It is always important for citizens, especially homeschooling citizens to be aware of what the laws are in your state. There will always be someone who is willing to take advantage of those who are less than vigilant about protecting their freedoms.

 

Educational, Homeschooling

Homeschoolers Taking Action Against The Threat Of Further Mandates In Missouri

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Missouri homeschooling freedoms are under a very stealth like attack by a variety of sweeping educational reforms introduced into the legislature in 2010/2011 and some lawmakers who have been less than forthcoming with their views about educational choice/freedom. Homeschoolers are trying to absolutely identify just who is and isn’t a champion of their freedoms. Some legislators are expressing an interest in putting methods into place that would require more scrutiny into the homeschooling family’s process. The following email was circulated in the St. Louis Region as a call to action, so to speak.


The following is from, Kathie Zuroweste, a homeschooling mom in the Franklin County area.  This is the third conservative legislator that has voiced similar concerns about homeschoolers this session.   As you may recall there have been other homeschoolers in the Franklin County area that have addressed this issue this session with different legislators.

Kathie has removed the legislator’s name, but she did want other homeschoolers outside her area to be aware of the fact that questions are being raised about how legislators can ensure that all homeschoolers are receiving a quality education.  She is also asking  for people to send her ideas on how she can respond to this legislator, and others, with similar concerns about what we are doing.

From Kathie Zuroweste:

This is for both Public School families and teachers and Home En how ockquee
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