A few years ago,  I had a conversation with one of my nephews that I found very discouraging.  Our discussion turned to cars and I asked him if he knew how to change his oil or do simple maintenance on his new car?  His reply was  “I’ll just pay someone to do all that; I don’t want to get my hands dirty.”   I thought to myself ” What!”  What are you thinking? If you don’t know anything about your car how are you going to know if the mechanic is telling you the truth about the repair he’s just done.   This is something I found very disturbing,  not only then but now.   I also see it as a trend that most young people today seem to look down on those people who make their living working in “blue collar jobs.”   Many simply want to sit in an office all day and make big paychecks, but they for the life of them can’t change a faucet or install a spark plug.  The fact is that the “Blue Collar” guys are going to own you if you can’t even do simple things for yourself.

I remember watching an episode of a TV show called” Frasier.” The episode was called “Seat Of Power.”  In this episode Dr.  Crane played by David Hyde Pierce is talking with a plumber who also happened to be  the bully who terrorized him in school.  He  was trying to show how successful he was by telling him he owned a very expensive brand of car. The most amusing part of the scene was that the plumber used to own the same car as the doctor, but found it to small so he bought the bigger model.  Read more...

So often at the end of our homeschool day I ask the question that many homeschool Mom’s ask, “Did I do enough?”  Sometimes my  friend and homeschool mentor will call me and ask “Did you have a good school day today?”  As we sit at the dinner table my dear husband will often ask our  boys “What did you learn today?”

So often I think about what we did not get done.  Let me see….we did not get to our Apologia Science today.  Oh dear,  we did not get to our “Jump In” writing program.  We did not write our vocabulary sentences today….and we did not do our copywork.  Oops, we did not get to our “Daily Grams.”  Yikes!  I did not listen to them read aloud today!

What did we do….how did we spend our time today and did we learn anything at all? Would my boys have accomplished more if they were in a classroom?

Inspite of our schedule, my heart is full tonight.  As I write,  I feel as though we had a really good day, even though our list was not completed.  We talked a lot today.  We talked about the Founding Fathers  and how they shared the Gospel and spoke of the Savior in  their last Will and Testaments.  We learned that most were devout Christians. We discussed what revisionist history meant.  We watched a video on the founding fathers.  Read more...

The definition of a homeschooler seems to have become so blurred, that I feel compelled to write once again about this issue.  I am going to be very straightfoward in order to be clear. Are you a legal homeschooler when you sign up for a charter school program?

Because the charter school programs are calling themselves homeschool programs, true homeschoolers have  been made more vulnerable. For over 18 years now HSLDA has fought for the rights of families to homeschool with minimal regulations.  If homschoolers contiune to rely on these government programs to help them homeschool their children,  homechooling liberties will continue to be whittled away.
When I say that those in charter schools are not true homeschoolers, I am talking legal terms.  Legally, if you are enrolled in a charter school program, you are not homeschooling  but are in the public school.   It may seem as though the words and definitions are no big deal,  but in fact the words we use have huge consequences as they describe what is actually legal and true.  For example,  if one enrolls in a public school charter, HSLDA does not recognize them or even allow them to join. Why is this so? After all you are at home with your children all day.   This is not to be unfriendly but just because it would be futile and silly to defend “homeschoolers” in public school programs. Please know and understand that you are no longer a homeschooler if you are enrolled in a government program. You are infact setting up a little public school in your home.  Read more...

The following is a reprinted article  from the HSLDA website posted January 26,2010 used by permission

Immigration Judge Says Germany Violating Basic Human Rights

In a case with international ramifications, Immigration Judge Lawrence O. Burman granted the political asylum application of a German homeschooling family. The Romeikes are Christians from Bissinggen, Germany, who fled persecution in August 2008 to seek political asylum in the United States. The request was granted January 26 after a hearing was held in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 21.

“We can’t expect every country to follow our constitution,” said Judge Burman. “The world might be a better place if it did. However, the rights being violated here are basic human rights that no country has a right to violate.”

Burman added, “Homeschoolers are a particular social group that the German government is trying to suppress. This family has a well-founded fear of persecution…therefore, they are eligible for asylum…and the court will grant asylum.”

In his ruling, Burman said that the scariest thing about this case was the motivation of the government. He noted it appeared that rather than being concerned about the welfare of the children, the government was trying to stamp out parallel societies—something the judge called “odd” and just plain “silly.” In his order the judge expressed concern that while Germany is a democratic country and is an ally, he noted that this particular policy of persecuting homeschoolers is “repellent to everything we believe as Americans.”  Read more...

As I write this month, I have a lot on my mind and heart regarding this calling of homeschooling. I am reluctant to share some of it, because anytime we share from our gut, we are made vulnerable. I never like that feeling. : ) Yet, I am compelled to share a few things.

I have been praying and thinking about this journey. What is my passion, regarding homeschooling? What are my concerns? Joys? Successes? Failures? What are yours? I realize and respect that the “vision” may be different for each family. Your homeschool journey may look different from mine. You may have different definitions, goals, etc. The circumstances that led you to homeschool may be entirely different from mine. With that understanding, I will share a little of our story. Most who know me well, know that I am passionate about independent homeschooling, K-12. It is my calling. And on days when I don’t “feel” the calling, it is my conviction. So I look to resources that will inspire me and help to equip me for that long journey all the way through high school, help remind me of the costs… both of home schooling and NOT homeschooling my children.

Sometimes the stresses of life and the attack of the enemy wear us down, until we are weary and vulnerable to choosing other options for educating our children… options we really are not comfortable with, never thought we would consider. For me, educating my children is a form of discipling my children. So, there is no other option. I am committed. A little like marriage.  Read more...

Are you tempted to join government homeschooling (a charter school or public school independent study program) or do you know someone who is? Read on!

These days, Christian parents who are thinking about homeschooling are often unaware that you can homeschool in most states without public school control. And those who do know are often tempted to join government homeschooling for the supposed goodies. The bait of free materials or the perception of getting help from “real teachers” seems inviting, but having public school employees overseeing your homeschool dramatically alters the spiritual dynamic of the home.

You need to know that there is another form of homeschooling; one that is scriptural. Private biblical homeschooling strengthens God’s design for the family and helps ensure the future right of our children and grandchildren to freely homeschool in a Christ-centered manner.

Homeschooling has always existed in this country — from the native Americans to the first Europeans to form colonies in the New World. Yet it was mostly forgotten as state funded schooling, the purpose of which is to create obedient productive citizens, pervaded the land in the 19th century. But in the late 1970’s and 1980’s, a resurgence in homeschooling began among parents who were mostly Christians. These “pioneer” families often resisted the idea that the state was supposed to control the education of their children. They blazed a path few dared to follow – with parents at the head of their children’s learning.  Read more...