What do you and your family do in the summer? We usually just enjoy what happens and try to throw a littel school in where we can. I am hoping to be able to find some raspberries and blueberries this summer to make jam or jelly. We have red salmon in the freezer and hope to add some halibut to that soon. Enjoy the warmth and sunshine.
We are so excited to announce that our much-anticipated Schoolhouse Planner is READY!
The Schoolhouse Planner has so many wonderful features. You told us what you wanted in a planner, and we have delivered!
Some of the main features include:
Calendars in various forms - yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily
Planners for your homeschool - in various styles to meet your individual needs
Household planning forms
12 "homeschool must-know" items, one for each month of the year
12 essays from some of our favorite authors in the homeschool community - you absolutely won't want to miss these!
24 easy main-dish recipes from some top homeschoolers around the nation
and so much more!
PLUS, the Schoolhouse Planner is interactive! You can type right into the pdf! If you have Adobe Acrobat, you'll be able to save the changes you make. (Note: If you only have Adobe Reader, you can type in your planner information, print it, but will not be able to save these changes.)
Don't forget, monthly planner add-ons are available for purchase every month. We already have some great holiday related information ready for July's planner supplement!
We're there with you each month to make your home and school planning as easy and fun as possible throughout the year!
Have a friend who likes an organized home and school? Let them know about the Schoolhouse Planner.
We want to say a very special "thank you" to those of you who pre-purchased the planner.
If you pre-ordered the TOS Planner, you will receive download instructions within the next 48 hours. Watch your inbox! If you haven't ordered your Shoolhouse Planner, now is the time to order your copy. The new school year is quickly approaching!
It took summer a while to find us here in the Interior but we are finally enjoying some warm and sunny days. I apologize for not posting for a while. I just ended the first trimester of pregancy and the computer was not on my to do list during those days and weeks of sickness.
Have you been enjoying your spring? We sure have, we still have lots of water standing and the trees are just beginning to show a tiny green, but soon we will be all green and glorious once again. What do you have planned for the summer? We may not be working on book work but there are so many things to learn in the summer. Study the plants, trees and animals in your area; pick berries and make jam or jelly; fish! What ever you do remember that you are building upon the foundation!
"The fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments in this Union
repose excludes any general power of the state to standardize its children
by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child
is not the mere creature of the state; those who nurture him and direct his
destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare
him for additional obligations." (Pierce vs. Society of Sisters, 1922)
What In the World Is Going On In California?
By Karen Braun
By now, most homeschoolers across the country have heard about the
California appellate court ruling handed down on February 28 ordering the
children of Phillip and Mary Long to attend public school or a legally
qualified private school. The judge's ruling surprised everyone and sparked
a firestorm of concern among homeschoolers nationwide, many wondering if
homeschooling had become illegal in California.
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine staff has been following the developments since
World Net Daily first broke the story a week ago. In this Homeschool Minute,
we would like to provide a brief summary of the events and offer links to
various perspectives to help homeschoolers understand this ruling, how it
impacts homeschoolers in California, and what homeschoolers across the
nation can do to help.
To gain a better understanding of this case, it is necessary to note that
prior to this ruling, the Long family had been involved with the juvenile
court system regarding the care of their children. Such proceedings are
confidential, and in most cases, a court-appointed attorney is provided to
represent the interests of the minor children. The attorney representing two
of the children was not satisfied with a ruling made by Superior Court Judge
Stephen Marpet, who found the children's education to be "meager" but
determined that Phillip and Mary Long have a constitutional right to school
their children in their own home. The attorney for the children brought an
appeal before the Second Court of Appeals of California.
The California Second Appellate Court in Los Angeles found that the Longs
had not demonstrated that any of the exemptions to California's compulsory
attendance applied to their children. The court reversed the finding of the
Superior Court and ordered the children to attend public or a "legally
qualified" private school. The court remanded the case back to the lower
court for a hearing to determine if the family was in compliance with the
law. The family plans on appealing this ruling decision to the California
Supreme Court.
Read the complete court opinion here.
The ruling spurred reactions from attorneys representing various homeschool
groups and interested parties across the country. The Homeschool Minute
provides these links for informational purposes related to this case and
does not necessarily endorse these sites.
Sunland Christian School. The Long children were enrolled in this school.
Pacific Justice Institute (PJI). These attorneys are representing Sunland
Christian School and advising the family.
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). HSLDA presents several appeal
options to reverse this ruling or diminish its impact upon California
homeschoolers. There is a petition available for those interested in
supporting the HSLDA's move to depublish the ruling.
National Home Education Legal Defense (NHELD). Attorney Deborah Stevenson
offers a detailed and informative analysis of this case.
Several homeschool groups in California issued statements concerning this
ruling:
Homeschool Association of California
California Homeschool Network
Christian Home Educators of California
Private and Home Educators of California
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a statement in support of
homeschooling:
"Every California child deserves a quality education and parents should have
the right to decide what's best for their children. Parents should not be
penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education.
This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts and if the courts
don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will."
By the end of a long news week, the court decision reached the broader
Christian community through a radio broadcast by Focus on the Family. Dr.
Dobson discussed the California court case with several prominent guests.
From All of Us at TOS
We hope this information has helped you gain a greater understanding of the
facts surrounding this case and its impact on homeschooling in California.
Chinese Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao Jie is a traditional Chinese festival, which marks the last day of the Chinese New Year season and the date changes every year.
Great news! If you are a fan of the revolutionary children's show "Liberty's
Kids" and would like to see it back on the air, now is your chance!
Beginning this Wednesday, February 27, The History Channel will air episodes
of "Liberty's Kids" on Monday - Friday 7:00 am to 7:30 am and Saturday 7:00
am to 8:00 am. However, this is only a test marketing of the show.
IMPORTANT! The History Channel needs to know this is the kind of programming
that we as parents want for our children. So tune in and watch, then contact
The History Channel at http://www.history.com/global/feedback/index.jsp?NetwCode=THC and tell them
how much you and/or your children enjoy the program. If the show does well,
the producers are prepared to create more programs highlighting other
historical eras in American History. Imagine how much fun it would be to
watch the same type of educational animated series about other periods of
our nation's history like the Civil War or the Oregon Trail.
Our e-Newsletters give you wonderful, informative information about homeschooling, news bits, contests and PRIZES for homeschoolers, articles to encourage you, calls for writers, free unit studies and lesson plans, and just a lot of FUN. Bring the community to your inbox – and no worries, we never sell, trade or give your email or any other information out to anyone.
Come join the homeschool party!
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