Augusta kids killed (Another Homeschool Killing)

Helena Independent Record ^ | 8/27/2002 | CAROLYNN BRIGHT

[CholeraJoe]

Augusta kids killed
By CAROLYNN BRIGHT, IR Staff Writer - 08/27/02

Swanson faces 2 counts of murder.
A 46-year-old Augusta mother allegedly shot and killed two of her four children as they slept in their beds at the family ranch about 15 miles southwest of Augusta early Monday.
Jeanette Swanson faces two counts of deliberate homicide in connection with the shootings and is being held in the Lewis and Clark County Jail without bond.
Swanson was placed on suicide watch at the jail Monday afternoon while the bodies of her children — a 10-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy — were brought to the State Crime Lab in Missoula, where an autopsy will be conducted, said Undersheriff Cheryl Liedle.
According to Liedle, emergency responders flocked to the Swanson Ranch just before 6 a.m. after Swanson called 911, reporting that she had shot her two children.
Swanson’s other two children — boys, ages 16 and 20 — were in the house at the time of the killing, but were unharmed in the incident.
Swanson’s husband, Gene, was sleeping in a camp trailer outside the residence when the shootings occurred, Liedle said.
According to reports, Swanson was waiting at the door of the residence when emergency crews arrived.
Her children were located in their beds inside — both were dead at the scene, Liedle said.
Liedle said a firearm believed to have been used in the shootings was recovered at the family home, but officials will await the results of the autopsies to determine whether it was, in fact, the murder weapon.
Court documents indicate that Swanson’s 20-year-old son reported to authorities that his mother had a .38 Smith and Wesson gun in her possession when she placed the 911 call, but Liedle would not confirm whether that was the same make of gun seized at the scene.
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Sam McCormack said Monday morning that a motive for the killings was sketchy.
However, he said that Swanson and her husband had argued last week about Swanson’s decision to enroll the two children in school in Augusta — Gene Swanson wanted his wife to continue to home school the kids on the ranch while she wanted them to attend public school.
The children attended their first classes at school in Augusta last week.

[xsmommy]

dang you, CJ!

[Tired of Taxes]

Hey, nice chatting with you. You're one sharp tack, in all honesty! Cheers, and I agree with your last post.

Awww... thanks. I just checked my messages this morning, and now you have me blushing. When it comes down to it, we all agree on principle in the end. We only disagree on a few details. =)

[Tired of Taxes]

Great screen name! I'm tired of Texas too, and I've never even been there!

Thanks. It was the only one I tried that wasn't already taken. :-( It's a good thing no one else from TX saw your post. ;-)

[homeschool mama]

**given what specialty of medical practice he is in, you are SO RIGHT!!!! **

uh oh...is he a Vet? Proctologist? Gyno? LOL

[homeschool mama]

**bellyaching 101 **

I like that! LOL

[homeschool mama]

**tell him to stop laughing or you'll throw him in SCHOOL!! **

hmmm...I've threatened that from time to time over the last 7 years. :o)

[TxBec]

Gasp!!!

[Michael Maher]

who said anything about public schools?
I didn't

[KineticKitty]

I just do not agree with homeschooling period."~Michael Maher

"Dont worry there are many people here that do not agree with public schools. period. lol."~KK

"who said anything about public schools? I didn't "~Michael Maher

You made a statement, I made a statement. lol No biggy...

[KineticKitty]

"We don't sit in caves with our offspring, shielding their eyes from sun and people. LOL...what a joke!

Thank you for my first laugh today, You would swear some people really do feel this way about home schooling with the look on their faces when home schooling is being discussed.

[scripter]

There is something to be said about socialization (or the lack thereof.)

We homeschool and think "socialization" is the biggest myth on homeschooling. Most of the homeschooled kids we meet are extremely well behaved and have no social issues whatsoever.

[Michael Maher]

"You'd better have brought your asbestos undies"

No biggie, LOL That's the beauty of this country- it's OK if people like or dislike something, they are entitled to-

But-, "There is something to be said about socialization (or the lack thereof.)"
Yeah, just look at Ned Flanders kids.. LOL

[Aggie Mama]

We really do. The more I am up at the school, the more I see us as truly blessed to live where we do. At the parent meeting yesterday, they were coordinating all of the volunteer committies (50 of them). I was astounded how many moms and dads were involved at the school.

[mafree]

I am of the opinion that every mother and father are "homeshoolers" whether they realize it or not.

BINGO!!

That being said, let me say that this story is extremely sad. Sounds like this couple should have long ago decided how they wanted to educate their children and maintained the lines of communication over it.

[glory]

I hate posting on this thread so late, but I think maybe the disagreement is the AMOUNT and TYPE of socialization. I am a homeschool parent and I don't think 5 days a week of "socialization"(what's that, they are supposed to be learning and not socializing;-) in age restricted classrooms is unnecessary and even unhealthy.
However, I don't think completely isolating children is healthy either. Most homeschoolers I know are quite balanced. They maintain membership in a support group for homeschoolers which meet regularly, thier children attend the same sports and extracurricular programs that ps kids go to, and they have the added benefit of thier parents influence(usually a positive thing) and exposure to other adults on a DAILY basis in more capacities than just as teacher. The problem I see is with the modern day people here who think this is the way children were always socialized, they were not. This is a relatively new experiment as far as age segregating children and it made one of the most morally irresponsible generations we have ever seen(baby boomers).
Anyone not homeschooling for this reason only is not being honest with why they won't homeschool imo.

[glory]

Very true. I think again it's the public school lifestyle that has people like mik believing this tripe. I did too until I actually became a homeschooler and the resources are ASTOUNDING. It's amazing what is out there beyond the fray of the ps. The chances for enrichment and interaction with other children and adults is such that I find myself nixing some oppurtunities because it's just too much with what we already have going on. I'm sorry, but despite being socialized in public schools, my life was pretty drab as a kid. I WISH I had the learning and socializing oppurtunities my children have as homeschoolers. I see thier lives as so rich compared to what my childhood was(and incidentally most of my friends I had OUTSIDE of my local public school--so much for socializing at school eh?). They are blessed to be homeschooled--absolutely blessed--and my husband and I are blessed to have the oppurtunity to homeschool.

[glory]

I'm sorry I get you worked up, but did you for a moment care to remember that a GED is supposed to represent that you have a grasp of the basic body of knowledge required to graduate from 12th grade anyway? That body of knowledge aquired in the same public schools you seem to think so highly of?
I'm sorry, but some of us have had life circumstances that forced us to seek our GED instead of formerly finishing our "required" schooling. The GED represents that despite when we left, we had already emassed the body of knowledge required for graduation. Funny thing is, it was enough for the 2 year college I went too and later for the university I was accepted at with scholarship. I'm sorry if it doesn't measure up on your snob-o-meter, but the reality is that my children are doing just fine and the numbers in regards to testing are against your assumed idea that a GED is unworthy or inadequate.
Thanks for the insult!
glory(who will try and go back and answer any other posts made earlier--sorry guys--soccer and all that just started and I am going to a function tonight so I can't guarantee anything!)

[glory]

Oh crud, I take that back--i didn't realize how long the thread got--grrr...Off to go get ready..see you all on another one:-)

[glory]

Where do you teach sunday school? I want to be sure we are never affiliated with a program that has such a low regard for children of sahm children. Couldn't be they are reacting off of your probably negative treatment to them and thier parents as soon as they walk in the door could it? Children are quite perceptive in my observation.

As for your little study, on what--maybe 20 or 30 children raised in a similar area by mothers with similar ideals, I could site for you just the opposite in my experience. The only thing it proves to me is that your church attracts prideful people if in fact your observations are accurate at all. Perhaps that is where you should look for the problem.

[glory]

and kids are all different as well. My daughter is quite friendly, says hi to everyone(even sunday school teachers who hate that she is at home), and lately is a bit of a tattle. My son on the other hand is quite reserved, shy and quiet. Same home, both at home--go figure.