Public school lawyers say parents have no say if public schools teach homosexuality

Nmh, that's a good point about children being able to academically scoot ahead while homeschooling. Every child has strengths that can receive extra attention through home education, whereas in public school there is a lot of "dumbing down" time spent. Even if the school provides accelerated courses, it is nothing compared to what can be accomplished at home. If desired, you can hire people specialized in particular fields to tutor your child in a specific area, supplement with community courses, or utilize the assistance of another parent highly skilled in that discipline.

And if you lack some confidence in teaching a subject like math, for example, you can co-op with other parents to help in that area. Or purchase videos to supplement. Or utilize a grandparent, aunt, or your husband! Or pay for special tutoring in that one subject. There are many creative ways to meet a child's needs outside of a rigid public school setting.

That is, unless you live in Germany and experience outright persecution and abuse from the government where nothing a homeschool parent does is ever good enough to please their socialist objectives!

Vigilance, people!!! Vigilance. Keep your eyes on upcoming elections and do all you can to get Constitution-friendly people into office. Support the good candidates who truly have a chance to win!

Pandora, several years ago we knew a family who started homeschooling precisely because their child was getting sick from something in the school. It turned out to be cleaning chemicals being used.

As nmh suggested, you might want to check on this anonymously as you never know which way the public school administration will twist it, sad to say.

Yes numbers do make a difference, sometimes. It forces the Liberals to go to the courts which are full of like thinking clown judges that will legislate from the bench.

It looked pretty hopeless for our Founding Fathers when they decided to uphold freedom too.

This is why I say vigilance is needed by each one of us in keeping a careful eye open for candidates in upcoming elections who are Constitution-minded.

If a socialist gets into the office of president of this country we'll be in for a very hard fight.

We all need to be giving support, both verbally and monetarily, to causes working hard to support our freedoms too. Organizations such as law firms working to protect Constitutional freedoms, Focus on the Family, the Family Research Council, Eagle Forum, Concerned Women for America, etc. etc.

With enough of us recognizing the problems and then putting our concerns into positive action in the right direction, changes can and will happen.

If our Founding Fathers had employed a "what's the use" attitude, then America would not be here today.

Just because it's challenging doesn't mean we throw in the towel.

If you think about it, fifteen years ago we didn't have the organizational power we do today. We didn't have all these law organizations going to bat for us. We didn't have all the family organizations working hard to protect our freedoms. Increasingly, we're seeing Christians wake up!

We've got a lot from God to work with if we recognize it and use it. God is calling us all to repentance and going before Him in prayer. He is not a quitter so we shouldn't be quitters either. Our God perseveres and so should we. Never give up! When the sky is darkest is right before the dawn.

Teachers and school districts at large can be more petty and vindictive that any child you will encounter - that's why I suggest to tread lightly but get results. Some teachers and principles WILL take out their displeasure on a child. If there are a bunch of kids having the same problems then a group is good if yours is the only child having a problem - then I'd take the anonymous route. To see if this is so, I'd be cautious when approaching other parents and make it a casual inquiry.

SeasideSparrow, thinking ahead ... I'd like to move her along. Math and typical subjects are a breeze. When it comes to chemistry and biology then I'll get my husband involved. He's got a masters in Physics. He surpasses me in the hard sciences. I only got to a masters in Computer and Business.

What people don't realize is how EASY it is to "teach". They've been conditioned to believe that you SHOULDN'T because you haven't wasted oodles of time in early childhood development or some such nonsense. It's all bull. ANYONE can teach if they want to - you do have to have some patience and be able to explain things in various ways but most homeschooling books script it all out for you so there's no reason not to be successful.

My daughter could EASILY do at least TWO grades at home if not THREE. EASY! What holds me back is the emotional maturity ... I want that to catch up alittle. Right now I want her to shine academically and GET INTO THE HABIT of LEARNING. It's a full time job. She will NEED this attitude for her future - reinventing herself when changes occur in the workforce ... etc..

As I mentioned earlier I HATE paying private school tuition. For right now though it is worth it. It's a very conservative Christian school and that is very helpful in how she CONDUCTS herself and of course the values/beliefs that go along with that. She can see other ADULTS living what they teach and believe. I can't put a price on that. Also she likes to be with other kids - only child so ... so I keep that in mind.

Later on is when I will consider testing her out of grades.

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. With this school we can go in ask the principal who is new this year....She seems to have a real interest in helping us. I think because the other parent has the children with the peanut allergies and asthma we will be able to have a reasonable talk with her. If theres any fallout I will just pull my child out. I have been a sheeple that d@amn school system for too long and I am determined to make my feelings known. I just won't let them know I don't plan to let her go back next year. I am very much encouraged by everyone and I AM going to make home schooling work! I would like her to finish this year out as she really loves her teacher but if I get any negative feedback or fallout she will be out of there asap. thanks to ALL of you ! ~P~

Also check out the homeschooling groups in your area. There should be a website on that. Where we live there aren't any that I can find ... another reason why I'm not doing it full time now.

We did this craft for Valentines Day

http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=48/1230&mode=Searching&erec=8&No=32&D=picture%2Bframes&Ntt=picture%2Bframes&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=16&N=0&x=18&sd=%22I+LOVE+YOU...%22+PHOTO+FRAME+CRAFT+KIT

Prior to giving them the craft we took two pictures of each student and then let them cut one out to size to fit into the "photo" area. This was fun. They were sooooooooo quiet and busy doing this. It allowed them to be creative. When done they decorated the envelope. If it were just me and my daughter it wouldn't have been as much "fun". It was interesting to see what kids did with it ... some were very creative and some were funny with how they placed the heart flowers.

We do plan on upgrading (no mansion - LOL!) and there are areas where there are more home schooled children. I will give careful thought to those areas - where group activities can happen. Right now her being in elementary school, she loves the interaction with other kids. In out neighborhood there aren't that many kids and NO home schooled kids.

Pandora, you go, girl!!!! :o) :o) :o)

Nmh, a good Christian school is sure better than a public school and you sound veeery well informed and caring of your child. I know you're doing what you feel is best and that's great!

But for others here trying to decide whether to homeschool or to pay for their child to attend a Christian school, here are some thoughts to consider. (Nmh, please understand that what I'm saying here may not apply in your situation at all and my words are only meant for others who may read this while trying to make a decision. Nothing I say applies to your or your daughter! The last person I want to offend is you, my friend - so please understand my words do not apply to you.)

1. Some parents with kids who have had behavior problems in public schools put their kids in Christian schools in the hope the school can "fix" them.

2. There is a tendency for some parents with kids in Christian schools to "assume" their children are receiving a quality education with Christian curriculum. I've heard some real horror stories about some Christian schools, so keep that in mind. Your parental responsibility as primary teacher of everything doesn't go away just because your child is in a private Christian school.

3. Christian school classrooms are modeled after the same pattern as public schools. This pattern lends itself to boring students silly and can be quite rigid. That's a whole other topic!

4. If you are particular about not wanting your child to learn inappropriate sexual material, then keep in mind that just because someone else's child attends a Christian school does not in any way mean that the child is not being exposed to movies or magazines with explicit sexual material in their own home. Children will bring what they learn at home into the school. Not everyone placing their child in a Christian school is necessarily a strong Christian, in other words.

5. Studies show that homeschooled children have high exposure to a variety of people of different ages and a diligent parent can expose their child to adults of upright character in their Sunday school, at church, or in community or homeschool activities on a frequent basis. Private schools are not the only place a child can mingle with positive adult role models.

6. Due to local homeschool groups hosting lots of different activities for children to participate in such as science fairs, art shows, drama teams, sports activities (even at high school level), bands, play days (for younger ones), co-ops focusing on certain topics, international days, etc. etc. - children without siblings can enjoy a lot of exposure to other children. This exposure is not exclusive to an institutional school setting.

7. Private schools cost a lot of money that could perhaps be spent in other areas of value.

8. For Christians reading this thread there is a scripture in Deut. 11:19 speaking of the many blessings you can receive from "teaching your children as you sit in your house, walk by the way, lie down, and rise up in the morning." We live in a society where people put their kids in public school saying they can have "quality" time in the evening with their children. But evidently this scripture indicates that God counts "quantity" time very, very important. Only homeschooling affords that kind of time with loved ones.

All that said, each parent is given the responsibility to choose what he or she feels best for his own children.

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