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Wednesday, February 03, 2010

A New Basis for U.S. Asylum Claims: Homeschooling

 
From Time.com... I think it's safe to say the media is beginning to take note.
Uwe and Hannelore Romeike are not like other asylum seekers, people fleeing war or torture in places like Afghanistan, Iraq or Somalia. They're music teachers from a village in southern Germany. And yet, in what appears to be the first case of its kind, the couple and their five children were granted asylum in the U.S. last week by an immigration judge who ruled that they had a "well-founded fear of persecution" in their home country for engaging in what has become a popular albeit somewhat controversial American practice — homeschooling their children. Read more...


German homeschoolers' political asylum exposes the EU Gulag

 
From the Telegraph Blogs (UK).
The case of the homeschooling couple from Germany who were granted political asylum in the United States, about which Ed West blogged recently, becomes even more interesting if one reads the remarks of the man who granted the Romeikes asylum, Immigration Judge Lawrence O. Burman, of Memphis, Tennessee.

Burman said: “We can’t expect every country to follow our constitution. 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.” He observed: “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…”

Those last remarks might have been uttered in 1933. Do we truly realise the significance of what has happened? Read more...


Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Carnival of Homeschooling – What Matters Most

 
The Carnival is hosted this week by "As for My House" blog, reminding us what matters most.
It’s been a rough time for us lately… Unemployment… New job, but underemployed, and having to move out of our house… Living in the RV with three kids and four cats…

And we just learned that my Father-in-Law has been diagnosed with lung cancer (He’s going through a troubled recovery from throat cancer, beginning two years ago, and his wife has just been through a bout with cancer as well). We’ll be heading for Mississippi tomorrow to spend a week with the family there.

Nothing like struggles to make you re-evaluate your priorities!

With that in mind, I present this, the

Carnival of Homeschooling – “What Matters Most” Edition Read more...


Sunday, January 31, 2010

Homeschool Writer of the Year Competition 2010

 
Okay, this took me a while to understand. it's not a writing contest in the usual sense but Homeschool Writers site lists a bunch of other contests and they want to encourage homeschoolers to enter by offering prizes for entering the most.

It's a great idea and I encourage your K-12 homeschoolers to check out the list of writing contests waiting for their entry. They also offer deadline reminders for you.
Who can enter the most writing contests this year? This competition encourages homeschoolers of every age to get out their pens and join in the race!

Our Goal
The goal is to help students see that winning a contest is not the important part-- it's entering the contest itself. That's where this competition comes in; we try to encourage the student to enter writing contests without getting discouraged that they didn't win each contest. We award recognition not for who won the most but for who entered the most. Our hope is that students will find entering contests fun, even if they don't win. Read more...


Saturday, January 30, 2010

Homeschooling breeds new culture of learning

 
Via accessAtlanta
It’s part of a trend of home schoolers becoming involved in activities that would have once seemed the antithesis of learning in a private, family-based environment. What began with home educated students making their presence felt in scholastic sports leagues and youth orchestras has spread to cultural institutions.

“Part of what’s happening is that home schooling now is, or is really close to being, mainstream,” said Brian D. Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute. “If you’re a museum, a theater, a library, a team or a community chorus, you’re going to hear, ‘We’re here. Is there some way we can be part of what you do?’ ” Read more...


Friday, January 29, 2010

I thought people like me were nuts

 
Via the Austin Daily Herald | Home schooling provides an alternative
Cindy Stevens, mother of 3, and Lisa Jewett, mother of 5, have taught their children all that they know — well, not exactly everything. But, the two women aren’t just mothers. They are teachers. Stevens and Jewett teach their kids at home, taking on everything from choosing the curriculum, writing lesson plans and grading exams.

“It’s funny because I used to be anti-homeschool,” Jewett said. “I thought people like me were nuts.” Read more...


Homeschoolers at the Kitchen table again

 
All these slice of life homeschool stories mention the kitchen table. Via Postbulletin.com: Rochester, MN.
Cindy Stevens' three children study at the kitchen table, but it's also where they get their daily lessons about math, science, history — you name it — from their mother.

Their day starts at 7:30 a.m. and is usually done by 2 p.m. The family does this five days a week.

The Stevens family is one of a few families in the Austin area that homeschool their children. Stevens said she became concerned about her children's behavior while her two oldest children, Olivia, 12, and Nathan, 11, were in preschool. A conversation with an elderly woman who homeschooled her grandchild offered Stevens a view that led her to homeschool her children. Read more...


German perspective on Homeschool Asylum in the U.S.

 
The German Spiegel Online (English Edition) has a piece on the case of the German homeschool family granted asylum in the U.S.. There is not much by way of German reaction but some interesting background on the case.
The decision on the family's political asylum could still be overturned if the US government appeals the ruling. But Mike Donnelly, the attorney for the Home School Legal Defense Association, said he hopes Tuesday's ruling will influence public opinion in Germany -- which is part of the reason his group offered to represent the Romeikes, he said. Read more...


German Homeschool Asylum, Where is U.S. Media?

 
The Reality Check Blog asks the question why this isn't being covered in the media. I have seen the AP wire story published in the Washington Post. The Conservative Washington Times has their own report. Beyond this, there's not much real independent coverage of this in the U.S.
Sadly, about the only people reporting on these incidents seem to be Christian groups and homeschooling networks on the Internet. Groups like the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). As mentioned above, the AP has a story that has made its way around the wires, too, but there doesn’t seem to be much independent coverage of this by the Old Media.

This seems odd since it is quite an interesting story where it concerns international relations. The HSLDA says that this ruling is “embarrassing for Germany.” That may be but the rest of the media is silent. Read more...


Thursday, January 28, 2010

U.S. Grants Political Asylum for German Homeschoolers

 
Via OneNewsNow.com. It's actually a judge in Tennessee, so it technically is not the "U.S." granting asylum. Let's hope the Federal Government doesn't step in worried about creating an international incident. (HT Stacy on Facebook)
PURCELLVILLE, VA- A German couple who fled to Tennessee so they could home school their children has been granted political asylum by an immigration judge in Memphis. (See earlier story)

The decision clears the way for Uwe Romeike his wife and five children to stay in Morristown, Tennessee, where they have been living since 2008.

German law requires children to attend public or private schools, and parents can face fines or prison time if they don't comply. Romeike, an evangelical Christian, said he believes Germany's curriculum is "against Christian values." Read more...


Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Carnival of Homeschooling: for Those Considering Homeschooling

 
The carnival is hosted this week at Corn and Oil.
It’s the middle of the school year. Unfortunately, there’s been one more bullying incident on the bus. The principal says his hands are tied, and maybe you’d consider driving your child to school (10 miles away). During those desperate times, you’ve considered homeschooling. Double DeckerAfter all, this double decker looks more appealing than that yellow one. Read more...


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Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science

Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science

Phineas Gage, a 19th century railroad construction foreman, survived an accident that blew a 13-pound 3 foot 7inch iron rod through his cheek and out the top of his skull. He should have been dead, but rather he was able to walk, talk, and account his accident to others. His recovery was not unremarkable though, after battling infection and suffering from delirious spells, his convalescence would last several months. Yes, he survived a catastrophic injury, but Phineas would never be the same. Read more...

Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching, and Appreciating Boys

Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching, and Appreciating Boys

As a mom to three active boys, I'm always eager to read what others have to say about raising boys to be men. What better people to take advice from than Hal and Melanie Young, parents to 6 boys (and 2 girls). In their book, Raising Real men, they discuss the intricacies of bringing up boys within a biblical worldview. They address numerous issues, such as boys needing heroes to look up to, leadership, competitiveness, stewardship, manners, and much more. Read more...

Blizzard!

Blizzard!

Having grown up in Upstate New York and now living in Western New York, I have grown accustomed to snow. Winters last sometimes 6 months here, and you learn to deal with it. But only a handful of times do I remember experiencing a true blizzard, the kind that closes shopping malls, grocery stores, and schools. In his riveting book, Blizzard, Jim Murphy tells of the infamous blizzard of 1888, where not only towns came to a standstill, but also 600+ people lost their lives. Read more...

When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me

Twelve-year-old Miranda is living in New York City with her mom, who has just learned she will be a contestant on the 20,000 Pyramid game show (book is set in the 70's). Excitement abounds and Miranda helps her mom prepare for the show with timed quizzes. Miranda is a latch key kid, and when she starts receiving some unusual notes from an unknown person she is intrigued, and a little spooked. Read more...

Frankie: The Walk 'n Roll Dog

Frankie: The Walk 'n Roll Dog

In this touching story we meet Frankie, an adorable dachshund who suffered rear leg paralysis after a spinal cord injury. You might think her quality of life would be compromised with such a handicap, but shortly after her injury she became fitted with a harness with wheels, and regains her mobility. Her uplifting and true story is told by her human mom Barb, but it is Frankie's voice. Read more...

Pajama School: Stories From the Life of a Homeschool Graduate

Pajama School: Stories From the Life of a Homeschool Graduate

As a homeschooling mom to three boys, Pajama School brought me both sighs of relief and smiles. The author's recollection of her homeschooling days gave me much needed encouragement. After all, don't we sometimes wonder if we are doing the right thing, educating our children at home? What about socialization, team sports, band, the "prom" and high school requirements? Are they missing out? Of course my answer to those questions is a big no, but every once in a while I wonder…. Read more...

Camp Club Girls and the Mystery at Discovery Lake

Camp Club Girls and the Mystery at Discovery Lake

In The Mystery at Discovery lake, summer camp cabin-mates turned friends Elizabeth, Alexis, Sydney, Mackenzie and Kate team up to investigate first some strange howlings, and then some strange diggings at the adjacent golf course. One of the girls brought with her some neat gadgets such as a robot spy-cam, which proves useful to the novice detectives. When they are not sleuthing around, they are doing regular camp activities such as crafts, horseback riding, and learning Bible memory verses. Read more...

The Make Today Matter Makeover

The Make Today Matter Makeover

I wish I were thinner. I need to get back to working out. I have a list of books I'd like to read. I want to break a bad habit. I must get more organized. Sound familiar? All of us have things in our life that we'd like to change. But where do we begin? How do we get from here to there? One resource that may help is the Make Today Matter Makeover: The 26 Best Ways to Recapture Daily Magic, Kick-start High-Energy Living, and Get the Most out of Life. Read more...

On the Edge with Coolhead Luke

On the Edge with Coolhead Luke

Do you enjoy poetry? Then you should like this book. Mother and son team, in which author Jennifer White produced the poems and artist Colin White provided the illustrations, came out with Coolhead Luke and Other Stories in 2007. Cynthia Clarke said this about it on Home School Buzz. “In the introduction the author, Jennifer White, explains that her son’s pictures ‘had a story to tell’ so she found the words and the book was born. Read more...

Catherine, Called Birdy

Catherine, Called Birdy

Privies and Muck, rats and pigs, fleas, embroidery, and eel pie. Oh the life of a 14-year old maiden in medieval times. In this amusing and eye opening journal, Catherine (called Birdy), tells of her life in the middle ages. Written with an honest and sometimes sassy tone, readers will be enlightened to innumerable facts about this time period. Birdy longs to be doing anything other than sewing. And, when she is not writing or sewing she's chasing away would be suitors. Read more...

Marie and Her Friend the Sea Turtle

Marie and Her Friend the Sea Turtle

In this unique and colorful picture book the story of a young girl who finds a sea turtle is told in 3 languages: English, Spanish, and French. Living next to the ocean, Marie walks along the seashore to collect shells. Thinking she found a giant shell she is surprised to discover it is actually a sea turtle. The gentle creature needs her help to get back to the ocean, but he is too big for her to move. What is she to do? Her parents eye the turtle imagining he would make a good stew. Read more...

No Bones About it! The Sum of Our Parts Series Book One

No Bones About it! The Sum of Our Parts Series Book One

In this educational picture book, kids will have fun while they learn about their skeletal system. Written in rhyming verse with additional "factoids", readers will be given a good introduction to the bones in their body. This is a great way to get across need to know information. I bet as you read along you will easily grasp the material. Illustrations abound, and include examples of the bones being taught. Here's an excerpt: "And, now, count your ribs-a ticklish lot. Read more...

A Dog of Flanders

A Dog of Flanders

A few years ago, on a video that we watched there was an advertisement for an animated version of A Dog of Flanders that looked good. I went back to the video store and found a copy of A Dog of Flanders, but when we got it home it was a live action version. We watched it anyway and enjoyed it. De la Ramee, an English woman of French extraction, wrote many romance novels that were popular in her day and several captivating stories for youngsters. Read more...

How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture

How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture

This book had long been recommended to me, so when Mark (now graduated from high school) studied world history in tenth grade, we combined it with a study of Western culture and philosophy using Schaeffer’s material. I just recently got around to reading it myself, and it is one of the most enlightening books that I have ever studied. Read more...

Here Lies Arthur

Here Lies Arthur

This fresh retelling of Arthur is narrated by Gwynna, a girl who's taken under Myrddin (Merlin) the Bard's care after her village is burned down. The author spins a whole new take on the legendary Arthur. For starters, Myrddin is no more a wizard then you or I. He is a conjurer of tricks and slight of hand, with an uncanny ability to weave embellished stories. The magic is easily explained to be nothing more than illusions and telling people what they want to believe is true. Read more...