As many of you know, I have been the Miami County Ohio homeschool coordinator for the past 11 years.  I will officially 'pass the torch' on May 20th to a very capable, dedicated homeschool mom.  One of the most important and busiest duties that I had was starting new homeschoolers on their adventure.  And that was one of my my favorites parts.  But...when receiving those calls - especially from parents whose kids were already in public school - I have heard some of the sadest, scariest, most maddening stories along the way. 

And as many of you may know, I am the regular Wednesday contributor on HomeschoolBlogger.com's "Home Where They Belong"/publisher's blog.  Today, I read a new entry by Tammy, a new contributor to HWTB, and she, also, has heard those terrible stories about what REALLY goes on in the public schools from parents wanting to start homeschooling...NOW.  I thought you would be interested in a comment I left to her entry: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TOSPUBLISHER/529767/

Thank you, Tammy...for being one more voice concerning what is REALLY going on in public schools and the problems that parents share with homeschoolers.  On May 20th I will wrap up 11 years as our county's homeschool coordinator and I, too, have heard all those heart-wrenching stories about what students (AND PARENTS) go through -- NOT just from other students -- BUT from teachers, "advisors," principals, superintendents and other administrators! 

And, like you, I have also noticed a SHARP increase of parents taking older students out of ps, and at anytime during the year.  It used to be that the bigger influx of "I want to take my kid(s) out of ps NOW!" calls came during Christmas break (or "Winter Break" in ps).  NOW...they come at a fairly steady clip ALL YEAR LONG.  I JUST had a mom of a 9th grader start homeschooling last week!  Last year I had a mom start homeschooling with 3 weeks to go in her district and another mom called to take her son out with ONE WEEK to go in her district!! 

Public schools are so far 'gone' and they will NEVER be the same.  They are NOT the place for children to be - especially Christian children.  DO NOT fall for the lie that Christian children need to be in the public school to evanelize...God NEVER sent children to evanalize...NEVER.  SEND CHRISTIAN TEACHERS but NOT kids!!  And then PRAY for those teachers.

But bring your children HOME WHERE THEY BELONG!!  What about socialization?  HOME is where good...REAL...socialization happens!  I don't see that public school socialzation is very successful.  But I CAN see that my children...and nearly every homeschooled child I've known IS successfully socialized, mannerly, polite, well educated, happy, engaged...I could go on and on.  I CAN see that people such as Winston Churchill, General Patten, General McArthur; Presidents Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Truman; Ansel Adams, Charles, Dickens, Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers and the Founding Fathers certainly seemed to be well educated...at home...and well socialized. 

Let the proof be in the pudding.  I've got all the proof I need when I see the sadness, anger and hopelessness of the public school kids walking around the malls contrasted by the happy, mentally healthy, hope-filled, motivated homeschool kids that we know.  WHAT A CONTRAST!!  I've got all the proof I need when I hear tearful parents calling me about how to start homeschooling NOW because their child has been beaten up in the locker room for the 4th time and the school won't do anything about it...AGAIN.  It's self-expression and their child just happens to be the canvas!  I don't hear about that nonsense going on with homeschoolers around here.  Do you?

Oh, the stories we could tell!  Bring them HOME WHERE THEY BELONG!!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

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