HOMEWORK (Home Schooling)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 8-15-02 | Amy White

[FairWitness]

In a few weeks, students will return to their public, parochial and private schools with stacks of school supplies and new shoes. But thousands of Missouri's children will not. They will remain at home, learning with their parent as their teacher.

[FairWitness]

Home-schooling continues to grow in spite of the occasional harassment by local authorities & school boards.

Recently I have come to think of home schooling and the second amendment in a very similar way. Beyond the immediate benefit to the individuals who believe in, and practice, either self-defense or home based education (or both), both send a signal to government: You (government) are the servant and we (the people) are the masters.

[kinsman redeemer]

Home School Legal Defense Association - HSLDA.

[ShadowAce]

Homeschool ping

[Artist]

Thanks for posting this, FairWitness.

Homeschooling ping!

[BallandPowder]

Powder..patch..Ball FIRE!

Homeschool and HSLDA ballandpowder BUMP!!!!!

[jjm2111]

Hear Hear!

[AppyPappy]

I'm reading a biography of Teddy Roosevelt. He was home-schooled by his aunt.

[Diamond]

I can't believe the Pravda-Dispatch actually printed this article.

Cordially,

[2Jedismom]

Ping!

[TxBec]

*In a few weeks, students will return to their public, parochial and private schools with stacks of school supplies and new shoes*

I braved the crowd at the Super-WalMart the other day and watched everyone running around with lists and stressed looks on their faces, looking for all the "exact items" they need. I felt sorry for them. I remember my kids telling me years ago how all the pencils, kleenex, etc, that we had bought would wind up in the "class chest" for everyone to use (including those who hadn't contributed.) You would think they would keep their individual items in their desk.

[TxBec]

bump

[Congressman Billybob]

Excellent point, my friend. Every time citizens quietly take matters into their own hands and demonstrate that the government is not doing its job correctly, all citizens benefit. So, as you say, home schooling and defense of the Second Amendment are related not by subject, but by attitude.

In the long run, there is no greater threat to America than bad education. Time alone will transfer the fate of America from our hands into the hands of our children and grandchildren. How competent will they be, then? It depends on education.

That's why I included a section on "Reforming Public Education" in my pamphlet just published, "to Restore Trust in America." Click the second link, below.

Congressman Billybob

Click for latest column: "Good People, Naked People, People Who Are Wet and Wild."

Click for latest book: "to Restore Trust in America"

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Missouri statutes allow for any parent to educate a child at home, so long as 1,000 hours of instruction are given in a school year, with at least 600 hours in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science.

Does the public school year include 1000 hours? That's almost 7 hours a day for 150 days. My kids don't get that in public school.

[FairWitness]

I can't believe the Pravda-Dispatch actually printed this article.

My attitude towards the Post-Dispatch has mellowed slightly theough the years. Their editorials, including the incredibly mean-spirited 'Sherffius' editorial cartoons, are still hoplessly and irredemiably leftist, but they do print a fairly good range of opposing opinion in the editorial section.

[FairWitness]

Thank you. However, as usual, you have said it better than I could: "Every time citizens quietly take matters into their own hands and demonstrate that the government is not doing its job correctly, all citizens benefit." - Congressman Billybob

[dd5339]

"For the parents who homeschool children, there is no salary, tax-break or the other "break" most parents greet with relief when school begins in September. But there are payoffs: a thousand extra hours a year in your child's company and the accomplishment of a lifetime.

Not bad work if you can get it."

That says it all!

Semper Fi!

[widowithfoursons]

I must say that I use the ABEKA Video program (I am therefore only a supervisor), but my son still thinks I'm a DI. BTW I love ABEKA.

[2Jedismom]

I bought my son a couple of those really thick pencils the other day. That's it (besides his curriculum.) We're ready for school.

If he needs a tissue, he can go get some off the roll in the bathroom. ;-)

[TontoKowalski]

We used the full-up Abeka program last year. It was our first year, and we wanted an all-in-one program to ease us in. It was OK, except that it was still geared to a classroom instead of individual instruction. Lots of busy-work. We didn't use the video program, though.

This year we're launching off on our own, picking and choosing, and, more importantly, combining. My thoughts are these...If Tonto Junior reads a kid-level bio of Jefferson and writes a short report on it, we can count it as History, Reading, English, and Handwriting. Follow important events on a map, and you've got Geography. Draw a sketch of Monticello, you've got art.

The one Abeka subject we're retaining, however, is math. It is very advanced. He'll be beginning multiplication when we begin second grade this month.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

But there are payoffs: a thousand extra hours a year in your child's company and the accomplishment of a lifetime.

What a great article! I must say that when I got to this line at the end, I got choked up. I've had the privelege of being with my children fulltime since the day they were born. My oldest will be a junior this year and I've been blessed to have him here at home while he learns instead of off with people who could never love him as much as I do.