For the last couple of days an instance of school bus violence has dominated education news and blogs. Basically, a white student got on the school bus and no one would allow him to sit down next to them. (There where both white and black kids on the bus refusing him.) The driver yelled for the kids to sit down so he moved the book bag of a black kid and sat down. Other students began to instigate and the black boy who he sat next to attacked him. A few minutes later it appeared that the first attacker had … Continue reading →

Let me begin by stating that I do not believe for a second that by homeschooling my kids that they will not be exposed to swine flu or a similar kind of yuck. Just this year, we have experienced more yuck episodes than in the last few years. Our drama club was a hot bed of germs. We had stomach viruses. We had the flu. We had a second round of stomach viruses, and a little bit of strep come our way. Let me tell you, if you were in our particular group of homeschoolers, or remotely related to us, … Continue reading →

This is a difficult year end for us as homeschoolers. Both of my kids are highschool level next year as are most of their friends. For many of these friends, because we live in a somewhat good area are returning to public school or private school in the fall. In areas where schools are poor it is more likely that parents will begin homeschooling in middle school and high school. In good areas, parents will homeschool in lower grades to give kids and academic headstart, and then return them to public school. So right now we are saying goodbye or … Continue reading →

It has been 10 long years since the Columbine tragedy, but that horrible day when two students murdered 12 others and one teacher is etched deep in the hearts of our country. That day proved that those we trust to protect and teach our children really have limited power to do anything. Faced with guns and a detailed plan, almost anyone can wreak havoc on our schools and endanger our children. While many homeschoolers do so in an effort to protect their kids from the danger of schools, my reason was more academic and emotional. Still the side effect not … Continue reading →

When I read recent posts about young girls and bikini waxing by Michele Cheplic , I could not help but sigh a relief that we homeschool. You might think that the two things have nothing in common, but I beg to differ. You see, one thing I realized in the process of homeschooling my daughter is that it all but stops pre-mature maturation. Long after seven and 8-year-old daughters began shunning their mothers, my 12 year old, still has a habit of sitting on my lap (regardless of how much it hurts). I was able to be the first person … Continue reading →

Michele Cheplic, fitness blogger for families.com recently wrote about a controversial school fitness option… pole dancing, that is being entertained in European high schools. This school was not alone in choosing curriculum and educational options for students that border on lack of morals. Just this week in the news, there were stores about the musicals and plays such as “Rent” being hotly debated in Drama Club due to homosexual themes and adult content. Recently in Georia, a dance sqaud was retired for the year for very provocative moves. While some parents see nothing wrong with these decisions made by these … Continue reading →

I just read an article by the education blogger about a family who felt humiliation might be the key to get their child to try harder in school. The family punished their kids for bad grades by making him stand on a corner for six hours with a placard announcing his bad grades and that his “future=shaky”. As homeschoolers we also have times when we feel a child is not putting forth his or her best effort academically. The thing is that lack of academic effort is usually a symptom of a bigger problem. As parents we must ask ourselves: … Continue reading →

Were you aware that students print cheat sheets in a very small font, then tape them to the inside of a water bottle label. The water magnifies the text, and walla! They get an easy A? Were you aware that students scan a coke label, and then edit in a graphic design program to have information on the exam instead of the ingredients? Neither did I? Did you know that you can purchase a pen that you can tape cheat information in and each time you click the barrel, it reveals more information? I am amazed. Did you know you … Continue reading →

Reports of an increase in students cheating has caught America by surprise. Sixty-four percent of students cheated on a test in the past year and 38 percent did so two or more times, up from 60 percent and 35 percent in a 2006 survey. In addition, 36 percent of students admitted to using the Internet to plagiarize an assignment compared to 33 percent in 2004. Despite such responses, 93 percent of the students said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character, and 77 percent affirmed that “when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than … Continue reading →

Homeschool opponents like to point out that homeschoolers avoid talking about downsides of homeschooling. So I thought I would take this moment to mention that homeschooling through high school can be downright hazardous. This is not to say that you should not homeschool through high school, but to inform you that you should be ready and in fighting form. Hazard #1: Their crowd gets smaller every year. Each year as we gather at our homeschool classes or activities we find that the number of kids in our children’s age group has gotten smaller. There seems to be a gazillion teeny … Continue reading →