www.homeschoolblogger.com/earthenvessel/

It's really no surprise to anyone ever that the NEA was more interested in protecting its power than educating children. What is surprising is that they actually feel confident enough in their power to admit it. Here's the NEA's General Counsel admitting as much in his retirement speech this past summer.

"Despite what some among us would like to believe it is not because of our creative ideas. It is not because of the merit of our positions. It is not because we care about children and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power....

This is not to say that the concern of NEA and its affiliates with closing achievement gaps, reducing dropout rates, improving teacher quality and the like are unimportant or inappropriate. To the contrary. These are the goals that guide the work we do. But they need not and must not be achieved at the expense of due process, employee rights and collective bargaining. That simply is too high a price to pay.

(View YouTube video on this subject here.)


If you're a parent with children in the public schools you can voice your objections here. But the best way to object is by removing your children from their schools. Without your children they have no real power.

In a related story, future teachers in Minnesota are being "reducated" and become "culturally competent"

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin in order to obtain a teacher certificate.

-Spunky

Cross-posted, with permission, from SpunkyHomeSchool

I can't believe it's Thanksgiving week.  We bought a 25lb bird this year, so I had to put it in our fridge Saturday , which is way early for me.  But it just made me realize how close Thanksgiving really is.  I'm going to make a list today of all the things I want to get done this week.  I usually bake my pies on Wednesday, still have to practice cookies with Sarah, that will probably be Tuesday.  It's things like that I need to make a list for, otherwise I'll forget the things I need to get done, and only do the things I want to do. 

I will be finishing up our Christmas cards today.  Well, the cards are done, pictures developed and yearly letter printed out.  I just need to sign the letter, put the kids ages on the back of the pictures, then put it all in the envelopes.  Maybe I'm a little optimistic on getting that all done today, but it's my goal.  We also have a bible study tonight, so we'll see how much I get done.  I just made a mental list of all the things I need to bake this week, I'm tired all ready. 

We finished school already.  We have this whole week off, makes things easier for me.  But the kids doubled up on their school work on Thursday, and had Friday off too.  Which was nice.  I helped out decorating our church last Thursday, it was lots of fun.  The kids were so good, and finished all their school work while I was gone.  (Proud mama here). 

Friday was a great day.  I went to a new woman's bible study I'm going to on Friday mornings, and it was such a blessing.  Then in the evening the kids both had homeschool outings to go to, so Paul and I had a date night.    We went to the Olive Garden, and had such a nice time.  We haven't had a date in a couple of weeks, it was very nice.

Saturday we decided to brave the stores and do our grocery shopping on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.    It was a bit of a mad house, but it was fun.  The hardest part was the cold, blowing wind.  We all just wanted to get home.  I thought I had gotten everything I needed and wouldn't have to go back out to the store before Thanksgiving, I was wrong.    I forgot to get a big thing of cool whip for a fruit salad I'm making.  Can't make it without it, so I guess I'll be running back to the store real quick on Monday.  Then I won't enter a store again until after the weekend sometime.  I stay clear of them all during this time of the year.    We don't do the black Friday shopping, and I just read today how they limit those 'specials' anyway.  Like those tvs or something big on sale.  Only 4 can be sold from the whole store!    Only four people will get that big deal.  Ugh, so not worth it to me.

What we do the day after Thanksgiving is put up all our Christmas decorations.  As most of my regular readers know, we put up our decorations the day after Thanksgiving, and take them down the day after Christmas.  But we really enjoy setting them up.  We eat Thanksgiving leftovers, drink eggnog, and watch It's A Wonderful Life.  My kids really enjoy that movie.  And it really is a fun, relaxing day.  We are pretty mellow with our decorations, so it only takes a few hours.  Hanging the Christmas lights in the kids bedroom takes the longest, but it's what they love the most.  Falling to sleep with their Christmas lights on.

Well I should get going and work on the Christmas cards.  It's snowing pretty heavy out right now.  We need to go out tonight, I hope it lets up soon.  But it is so pretty.

Bummer deal.  Once again our hard drive on our laptop has crashed.

Yep it just died this past Feb., November 2008, and one other time before that.  This will be our fourth replacement.

It is still under warranty so we should be back within a week or so.

Not the end of the world but an inconvience.  You would think that we would learn to back it up.  Maybe we will this time.

Well Ive got a sick one on my hands today. Dakota started running fever yesterday and  not feeling well.
He was cold all day and last night. I checked on him through the night and a few times he was still running fever. Around 4am he must have sweated it out. It allergies because the seasons are changing and we do this everytime. Hes ok today so far. We made some homemade chocolate chip cookies and that made him feel a little better.
Right now Im enjoying a glass of goat milk with some homeade peanut butter cookies. I cant believe they turned out right.These boys love cookies. Ive gotten an Amish Cookbook and Im enjoying it so much. So much I want to try to make. Its mostly a baking cookbook. Im gonna find an Amish Recipe book for meals. WOW. I finally got some goat milk because I outsmarted the baby. She is pouting at me. I finally figured out the udder support which she kept walking out of and got it strapped right. Tasha is not happy. While Im milking, she will bite on my hair when Im not looking or she will "politely" try to nudge me off the stool. I can feel her breathing down my neck and probably making faces at me behind my back. She snorts at me too. She is just too funny. Ive got to take Cocoa back to the breeder, because she didnt "take". This is the time of year that drives me crazy with worry. Are you pregnant or not?  I really thought she was pregnant but she came back in to a strong heat. She has been pacing the fence looking for a MAN!
We had baking day and the boys really enjoyed it. We started out with Chocolate-Chocolate Chip pancakes for breakfast. All you do is add cocoa powder and chips to your batter. Wonderful with whip cream or chocolate syrup
I had all my baking things out on the counter. I really wanted some pecans and walnuts, they are just too expensive.
Next we started with simple things like cookies. We made homemade peanut butter cookies. Lets see, 3 people, 3 cookies missing, you do the math. Ha! I just had to try this Chocolate Chip Pie next.Look a there, somebodies been taste testing again. You do the math. I couldnt resist making my holiday favorites. Sweet Potato pie and Pumpkin pie.
I made Sweet potato and pumpkin bread. Had a slice of it this morning with some butter. Yummy. Ive got to try some of their bread recipes. My boys also love homemade bread warm with butter.
Sister Baby spent the night with us last Friday night. She has Dakota wrapped tight around her little finger. If she wanted to play dr. he was the patient, if she wanted to play horse, guess who was the horse?
Our church took the children to the Childrens Museum in Memphis that Saturday and to Taco Bell afterwards to eat. They had a blast. Us adults were exhausted.

We are trying to get our back deck finished. This is what it looked like before we started.Now were getting the platform put on.



Next will be the steps, but is has rained a couple of days. Cant wait til those are on and we can start using the back door. Some men are coming to estimate the walls and roof for us. I guess this is my Christmas present. Ha.
Dakota is doing real good on his Research report. He just hates all the reading. I have to read it too, because Im the one who grades it, so I have to make sure its right.Ugh!!!I took a picture of Davids medals and he will put this in his folder.
He will do an interview with Daddy, but there is just some things he want talk about that happened. That is understandable.
Dallas has started Karate. Hes already having trouble pairing up with a girl, cause he knows we dont hit girls. Ha! He would hardly punch at all. But when the young instructor came and told him to punch him in the stomach, he did. Whopow!!!!!!!!! It is just too funny. Now hes going around the house punching and kicking everything.
His next class is tonight. He is so excited. He just couldnt wait til Thursday.
Well speaking of that Ive got to go get ready to take him. Let ya know how hes doing.