Do you have a great support group that you want to kill? Courtesy of Elena at My Domestic Church, here are the quickest ways to do just that.

1. Stop Having meetings. That way no one connects and new people never have a chance to come and make friends.

 

2. Don't have strong discernible leadership. Spread the leadership over a large committee that way no one person has a vision or a focus and no one is ever quite sure who to go to.

 

3. Make a big controversy over something that has almost nothing to do with homeschooling. Point out all the ways people in the group are different and make sure everyone sees where the battle lines are. Then folks can just break off and take like-minded folks with them, further diluting the effectiveness of the original group.

 

4. Miss certain touch points. If you have a yearly picnic - miss it this year and don't tell anyone why. This is more effective if you can combine it with another missed event like dues notification. Then people really will start to wonder if the group is still going on or not.

 

5. Go out of your way to make it difficult for new people to join. Don't advertise your meetings and make sure all the topics are only of interest to old timers.

Hat tip to Esther.

The last seriously comprehensive national study of homeschoolers took place in 1997. In the time since NHERI had focused on a study of adults who were homeschooled. It's now past time to see how homeschoolers in general are doing.

If you tested your child for the 2007-2008 school year with one of the following testing services, and you know your child's student number (on the results page), you are asked to participate in the study online.

• Bob Jones University Press
• Family Learning Organization
• Piedmont Education Services
• Seton Testing Services

To participate in the study, have your child(ren)'s student number(s) handy and go to the following website:  www.nheri.org/study. It takes only a few minutes to complete.

The Zeta Delta Chapter of Eta Sigma Alpha, the homeschool honor society is now accepting new members for the new school year.

The Zeta Delta Chapter of Eta Sigma Alpha is a new chapter of HSA started in the Spring of 2004. It is open to all Oahu home schooled students, grades 7-12, who meet the membership requirements. Each applicant must complete and submit an application form. Applications may be submitted in the summer following the student's 6th grade year through summer following his/her 11th grade year. See the Membership Requirements page for deadlines to submit applications.

The Homeschool Court Report magazine featured an article about the Kamakawiwaole family. The article is also available online:

http://hslda.org/courtreport/V24N2/V24N206.asp

• Excel in an independent work environment with limited supervision.
• Own (and provide, for work purposes) an Internet-ready computer running Windows XP or equivalent, MS office and Excel, along with a functioning on-site printer and FAX machine.
• Possess a professional demeanor, excellent communication and sales skills and a high level of proficiency in MS Office, Excel and e-mail applications.
• Provide telephone service with an unlimited nationwide calling plan (cellular or land line ok)
• Have the ability to dedicate significant periods of uninterrupted time to work related activities.
• Learn quickly and follow instructions

Previous professional sales or advertising experience preferred. This position pays commission only, no salary or hourly pay.

For contact information, please visit this page.

Over this week and next many school districts will be hosting the PSAT. This test is an important component of the National Merit Scholarship Program.

We have received reports that sometimes school districts do not provide the “Homeschool Code.” Consequently, homeschoolers end up using the public school code and their results become part of the public school total.

HSLDA encourages all homeschooled students who are taking this test to use the “Homeschool Code” for their state.

The homeschool code for Hawaii is 991299.