Historical Menus for Barack Obama's Inauguration Tomorrow
You know that no one fought harder and worked longer for the Republican ticket than our family did! That being said, tomorrow IS an historical day!
Hello LisaB!
Reconstruction of The Prudent Wife Website
If you have been to ThePrudentWife.com lately, you will notice we are in the midst of a complete reconstruction! Pardon our mess, while we update the site and burn the midnight oil to make it more user friendly for you.We will have a grand unveiling at the end of January!
Our goal is to help you save time, money, energy and sanity, while attacking debt, and that required a major revamp of the site. We will let you know the moment it is done, and just beg your patience while this massive endeavor is ongoing.
Paid subscribers - your time will start from the time we unveil the new site! New subscribers, we are almost ready to OFFICIALLY LAUNCH!
1st Annual Crock Pot Slow Cooker Month
We are bubbling with success in the 1st Annual Crock Pot Slow Cooker Month on ThePrudentWife.com! Each and every day, we are creating delicious dinners, breakfasts, lunches and snacks in a crockpot. From Cinnabon cinnamon rolls to lasagna, enchiladas to hearty soups, we are amassing a wonderful month of crock pot recipes to share with our Prudent Wife subscribers! Some of these recipes will knock your socks off - and definitely help you save money, time and effort, while feeding your family nourishing food! And yes, we have thrown a little comfort food in too!
So far:
·New Year’s Black Eyed Peas in the Crock and Black Eyed Peas and Rice Soup
·Spicy Turmeric Chicken (brain building recipe that is PHENOMENAL!)
·Bow Ties and Cheese (or Mac and Cheese), Lasagna & Penne Pasta
·Maple Dijon Pork with Sweet Potatoes (bubbling in the crock pot for less than $5)
·Enchiladas, chili and more!
·Oatmeal, steel cut oats, granola, Upside Down Blueberry Pancakes and many more breakfasts!
The best thing about all of these recipes is a hot dinner is waiting for YOU with just a little prep, then simply leave it alone to cook, including a hot breakfast that cooks overnight! Second best thing, you get to enjoy your day and dinner cooks while you are doing other things! Third, substitutions are easy to do when crock cooking, allowing you to use up your pantry or fridge. I had literally not gone to the store since before Christmas, and squeezed an extra week out of stuff we already had on hand or in the pantry!
We will let you know how to get your copy of the 1st Annual Crock Pot Slow Cooker Month soon!
2009 Inaugural Luncheon Recipes
For the greater part of the last decade, our family have been Civil War living historians, sharing about our nation’s history at reenactments, living history displays and in schools on both sides of the country. If you have read our blog, you know where we stand on this election and of our tireless devotion, thwarted on election night. That being said, whether you voted for Mr. Obama or not, tomorrow is a historic day for our nation and you can taste a bit of that history in your own kitchen.
We have found the recipes that the White House has created for tomorrow’s festivities! If you would like to share a slice of history with your family, consider cooking up some of the recipes that will be served, based on some of President Lincoln’s favorites, served on china that Mary Todd Lincoln had.
In honor of 1st Annual Crock Pot Slow Cooker Month at ThePrudentWife.com, we have converted two of the inaugural recipes, Molasses Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Chicken with Cherry Chutney into dishes you can easily prepare in the crockpot.
Please forward this to anyone interested in history, who might enjoy making the inaugural lunch, especially homeschool families.
Life can still be an adventure. When you get lemons, make lemonade! We are going to cook an inaugural feast tomorrow and enjoy it!
Never stop praying for America…..
May the Lord bless you and keep you –
LisaB!
President-elect Obama has decided on Lincoln themed inaugural, from the Bible that President Lincoln took the oath on, to inaugural luncheon dishes based on Lincoln's favorites, and even the painting of Yosemite below.
Mr. Obama has chosen to pay tribute to Mr. Lincoln in many ways according to the NY Post.The backdrop for the luncheon will be Lincoln-esque as well - the painting "View of the Yosemite Valley" by Thomas Hill, borrowed from the New-York Historical Society.The painting, which will hang behind Obama, is a landscape of Yosemite Valley at dawn - representing Lincoln's signing of the 1864 Yosemite Grant that set aside the land as a public reserve.
Part of the meal will even be served on replicas of the china picked out by First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln at the beginning of her husband's first term in office in 1861.The appetizer will feature a seafood stew in puff pastry - including scallops, shrimp and lobster - in honor of Lincoln's love of seafood.The main course of a "Brace of American Birds (pheasant and duck)" with sour-cherry chutney will be served with molasses sweet potatoes - a nod to the root vegetables and wild game that Honest Abe ate as a child in Indiana.
According to the NY Post, President Lincoln chose much simpler fare than President-elect Obama. Taking office on the eve of Civil War, Abe Lincoln kept things simple after being sworn in as the 16th president: He lunched on mock turtle soup, corned beef and cabbage and blackberry pie.
Take a ride through history and make a few of these recipes for your kids on Inauguration Day 2009, which is coming up on January 20! Food photos can be viewed here!
6 (1 Lb) Maine lobsters
20 medium size Sea scallops
36 Large shrimp, peel, cleaned and tail removed, aprox. 2 lbs.
10 (1 oz) pieces of black cod
½ cup small dice carrots
½ cup small dice celery
½ cup small dice leek
½ cup small dice Idaho potato
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground white pepper or black pepper
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 quart heavy cream
1 cup dry vermouth (can be made without)
10 (5 inch) puff pastry rounds
Equipment
10 (3 ½ inch) terrines/ramekins or serving dish of your choice
Directions
1. Bring 1 gallon of water to a boil; poach lobsters, then shrimp, then black cod and last scallops. After
seafood is cooked, remove from water; reserve water and bring to boil.
2. Cook all vegetables in liquid that was used for the seafood, remove vegetables when tender. Allow
the liquid to continue to boil until only 1qt of liquid remains. This will be the base for the sauce.
3. Bring seafood liquid back to a boil and add the vermouth and heavy cream and reduce by half,
season with salt, white pepper and nutmeg to taste. You have reached your desired thickness when
the sauce will cover the back of a wooden spoon. Set aside to cool.
4. Cut Maine lobster, shrimp and scallops into bite size pieces.
5. Pre-heat oven at 400 degrees.
6. Fold seafood and vegetables into cool sauce, being careful not to mix too much as this will break up
the seafood. Scoop mixture into terrines or oven proof baking dish of your choice.
7. Cover terrines with puff pastry rounds, brush them with egg wash and bake them until golden
brown about 8-10 minutes, allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. You can cook this 2-3 hours
ahead of time and keep warm at 150 F degrees.
*All seafood can be substituted with other favorite options of your choice and availability.
Second Course
Duck Breast with Cherry Chutney
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup chopped onion (1 small)
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin
Scant ¼ teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
¾ teaspoon salt
½ cup coarsely chopped red bell pepper (½ medium)
1 plum tomato, coarsely chopped
¼ cup dry red wine
1 ½ to 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 can (3 cups) Bing cherries, quartered *Oregon brand
½ cup Golden Raisins
10 (6 oz.) boneless duck breasts with skin
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon or chives
Method for chutney and glaze
Heat oil in a 2 to 3 quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook onion, garlic, and shallot, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 7 minutes. Add tomato paste, black pepper, cumin, hot pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium and add bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in wine, vinegar (to taste), and sugar and simmer approx 5 minutes. Stir in mustard, 1 1/2 cups cherries, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer 1 minute. Allow to cool slightly and reserve all but ¼ cup of the mix to the side. Place1/4 cup mix in a blender and puree until very smooth, about 1 minute (use caution when blending hot liquids). Reserve for glazing duck. To finish the chutney, add the remaining 1 ½ cups of cherries, tarragon, chives and all the golden raisins. Can be prepared one day ahead.
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F. Score duck skin in a crosshatch pattern with a small sharp knife and season duck all over with salt and pepper.
Heat water in an ovenproof 12-inch heavy skillet over low heat until hot, then add duck, skin side down. Cook duck, uncovered, over low heat, without turning, until most of fat is rendered(melted) and skin is golden brown, about 25 minutes.
Transfer duck to a plate and discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet. Brush duck all over with cherry glaze and return to skillet, skin side up.
Roast duck in oven until thermometer registers 135°F, about 8 minutes for medium-rare. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
Holding a sharp knife at a 45-degree angle, cut duck into slices. Serve with cherry chutney and molasses whipped sweet potato.
Chicken Breast with Cherry Chutney in the Crock Pot
In honor of The First Annual Crock Pot Slow Cooker Month at ThePrudentWife.com
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup chopped onion (1 small)
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin
Scant ¼ teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
¾ teaspoon salt
½ cup coarsely chopped red bell pepper (½ medium)
1 plum tomato, coarsely chopped
¼ cup dry red wine
1 ½ to 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 can (3 cups) Bing cherries, quartered *Oregon brand
½ cup Golden Raisins
10 (6 oz.) boneless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon or chives
Method for chutney and glaze
Heat oil in a 2 to 3 quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook onion, garlic, and shallot, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 7 minutes. Add tomato paste, black pepper, cumin, hot pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium and add bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in wine, vinegar (to taste), and sugar and simmer approx 5 minutes. Stir in mustard, 1 1/2 cups cherries, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer 1 minute. Allow to cool slightly and reserve all but ¼ cup of the mix to the side. Place1/4 cup mix in a blender and puree until very smooth, about 1 minute (use caution when blending hot liquids). Reserve for glazing duck. To finish the chutney, add the remaining 1 ½ cups of cherries, tarragon, chives and all the golden raisins. Can be prepared one day ahead.
Spray crock insert with non-stick spray. Place chicken breasts in 6 quart crock. Pour chutney over chicken. Cook on LOW for 6-9 hours until chicken is tender. Serve with cherry chutney and molasses whipped sweet potato.
Herb Roasted Pheasant with Wild Rice Stuffing
Yield: 10 portions
Ingredients
10 Pheasant breast, boneless, remove tenders and reserve for stuffing, cut small pocket in side of breast for stuffing
½ cup Olive oil with chopped rosemary, thyme and sage
1 lb. Wild rice, long grain
2 quarts Chicken stock or canned chicken broth
2 Carrots, diced
½ Onion, diced
½ cup Dried apricot, small diced
1 Tablespoon Salt and pepper mix
2 Tablespoons Garlic, roasted
Directions
1. Boil the rice with the chicken stock, cook until soft and most of the liquid is gone.
2. Add the onion, carrot, garlic and apricot. Cook until the vegetables are soft and all liquid has been absorbed. Refrigerate rice mixture until cold.
3. In a food processor, puree pheasant tenders to a paste consistency to use as a binder for rice mix.
4. When rice is cool, add the pheasant puree to the rice until well mixed. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper and return to refrigerator until ready to stuff.
5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
6. Make 10 small football shaped patties of the rice mix, stuff inside the pheasant, being careful not to overstuff the pheasant. Rub herb/oil mixture on top and bottom of the pheasant, season with salt and pepper. Place the pheasant on a heavy gauge roasting pan and then in a preheated oven for approximately 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and cover with lid or foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Serve over sauté of spinach.
*Pheasant can be substituted with chicken.
Molasses Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Yield: 2 quarts
Ingredients
3 large sweet potatoes, about 3 pounds
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ cup orange juice
½ tablespoon of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of molasses
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and roast until easily pierced with a fork, about 1 hour.
3. Peel the skin off of the sweet potatoes while still hot.By hand or mixer, smash potatoes until all large chunks are gone. Combine the potatoes, butter, salt, orange juice, brown sugar, ground cumin, molasses and maple syrup in a large bowl. Continue to mix all together until all lumps are gone. Adjust any of the seasonings to your specific tastes. Can be made the day before.
Molassess Whipped Sweet Potatoes in the Crock Pot
In honor of The First Annual Crock Pot Slow Cooker Month at ThePrudentWife.com
Spray crock with non-stick spray. Put peeled sweet potatoes in the crock pot. Add other items. Cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, until sweet potatoes are tender. Whip in crockpot with hand held blender until lumps are gone.
Winter Vegetables
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients
2 bunches Asparagus, green, bottom 1/3 of stem removed
2 lbs. Carrots, peeled, cut oblong or large dice
1 lb. Baby Brussel Sprouts, fresh,cleaned or frozen can be used
1 lb. Wax Beans, ends snipped
2 oz Butter
1 each Zest from orange
4 oz. Olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Directions
Asparagus: preheat grill or large heavy bottom sauté pan. Rub 2 oz of olive oil on asparagus and season with pinch of salt and pepper. Lay flat on grill or sauté pan until lightly browned. Using long fork or tongs, rotate the asparagus to brown other sides. Usually 2 or 3 minutes per side. The asparagus is done when you can use a fork to cut through. Do not overcook, this will cause asparagus to become stringy. Keep warm until ready to serve.
Carrots: bring 3 qt salted water to a boil, add carrots to water and cook until fork tender, meaning a fork will easily pass through the carrot. Drain the water from the pot and toss 1 oz butter and zest of orange and mix until carrots are coated. Season with pinch of salt and enjoy. Keep warm until ready to serve.
Brussel Sprouts: For Fresh: Bring 3 qt salted water to a boil, cut into the stem of the sprout with a pairing knife to create an X on the bottom, this will allow the stem to cook more evenly. Place sprout in boiling water and allow to cook until bottom of sprout is tender and easily cut with a knife. Preheat a heavy bottom sauté while the sprouts are cooking. Remove sprouts from water and allow all water to drain completely. Add 2 oz oil to sauté pan and add the sprouts, season with salt and pepper while tossing the sprouts around to evenly brown in the pan. If sprouts are too big, you can cut them in half, keep warm until ready to serve.
For Frozen: Bring 3 qt salted water to a boil and drop frozen brussel sprouts into water, these are precooked so you are only thawing them out. Remove from water and sauté as above.
Yellow Wax beans: bring 3 qt salted water to boil, add snipped wax beans to water and allow to cook until fork tender or to your liking of doneness. Remove from water and toss with 1 oz butter and season with salt and pepper.
Third Course
Cinnamon Apple Sponge Cake
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients
Apple Filling
4 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup apple sauce
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
Grated zest from 1 lemon
1 teaspoon vanilla extractBread Crust
14 tablespoons unsalted butter, melt 10 of tablespoons
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
34 slices brioche bread (or white bread)
Equipment
10 Ceramic baking ramekins or metal molds (3” diameter)
Sauce
2 cups caramel sauce(store bought)
2 cups granny smith apples, peeled, cored, diced small
Pinch sugar
Pinch cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter Ice Cream
1 quart vanilla ice cream
Preparation
Filling
1. Melt butter in 6-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. Add apples and caramelize, add water, cook, stirring occasionally for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are completely soft. Remove cover and add sugar, nutmeg and salt. Increase heat to medium-high and continue to cook, stirring apples frequently, until liquid has completely evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest, apple sauce and vanilla. Set aside to cool while making crust. The filling can be made one day ahead
Making crust and assembly
1. Position oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 425°F. Grease 8 ceramic dishes with 1
Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
2009 Inaugural Luncheon Recipes 8
tablespoon butter. Sprinkle sugar in dish and tilt to coat bottom and sides. Tap out excess sugar and set aside.
2. Using a bread knife, remove crusts from bread. Center the bottom of mold over one of the bread squares. Cut around mold to form circle to use as the top. Make a total of 20 of these round pieces. Ten will be for the bottom and 10 will be used for the top. Dip each one in melted butter and place at the bottom of mold.
3. Cut each of the 15 remaining slices of bread into four rectangular pieces. Dip one side of each strip in the melted butter and arrange strips, upright, around the inside of molds, buttered-sides against mold and overlapping by about 1/2” to completely line mold. Use 6 rectangles to line the mold.
4. Spoon the apple filling into bread-lined molds, mounding it slightly in center.
5. Take the remaining ten rounds of bread and dip pieces of bread into the melted butter and place on top of filling, buttered-sides up. Press down lightly.
6. Bake for 30 minutes, then cover top loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until top is deep golden brown and side slices are golden brown (slide a thin-bladed knife between bread and pan to check). Remove from oven, uncover, and let rest for 15 minutes on wire rack. Run thin-bladed knife around edges of molds to be able to flip the mold out onto serving plates.
7. For the apple cinnamon caramel sauce, sauté 1 cup of peeled and diced Granny Smith apples in butter, add a pinch of sugar and cinnamon. Allow to cook until apples are lightly browned and all sugars have dissolved. Remove from heat and add 2 cups caramel sauce to the apples and stir to coat apples.
To Assemble
Pour caramel apple sauce over warmed apple cakes and serve with your favorite vanilla ice cream.
Much thanks goes to the NY Post for giving us these recipes!
INAUGURAL THEMES WILL HARKEN BACK TO GREAT EMANCIPATOR
By CLEMENTE LISI
Last updated: 8:59 am
January 13, 2009
Posted: 2:55 am
January 13, 2009
They're going to party like it's 1861!
In what will be a Lincoln-themed inauguration from top to bottom, Obama won't only follow in the footsteps of the former president - he'll also eat like him, it was announced yesterday.
Obama's jampacked Abe-apalooza moved into high gear with an announcement from the Congressional Inaugural Committee that it will hold a luncheon next Tuesday following the swearing-in ceremony that's modeled after foods Lincoln enjoyed.
The lunch menu is only the latest in a slew of references and tributes to Lincoln that will be folded into Obama's big day.
Part of the meal will even be served on replicas of the china picked out by First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln at the beginning of her husband's first term in office in 1861.
The appetizer will feature a seafood stew in puff pastry - including scallops, shrimp and lobster - in honor of Lincoln's love of seafood.
The main course of a "Brace of American Birds (pheasant and duck)" with sour-cherry chutney will be served with molasses sweet potatoes - a nod to the root vegetables and wild game that Honest Abe ate as a child in Indiana.
The Lincoln-fest luncheon at Statuary Hall, a chamber of the Capitol building, will serve some 200 guests, including members of the Supreme Court, the incoming Cabinet and congressional leaders.
"It's always good to model yourself after a great president," said Eric Foner, a professor of American history at ColumbiaUniversity. "The proof will be in the pudding."
The guests will enjoy an apple cinnamon sponge cake for dessert, which recalls Lincoln's love of apples.
Guests will wash it down with several California wines, since Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is the chairwoman of the planning committee.
Design Cuisine, a Virginia-based caterer, has been hired to make the meal.
The backdrop for the luncheon will be Lincoln-esque as well - the painting "View of the Yosemite Valley" by Thomas Hill, borrowed from the New-York Historical Society.
The painting, which will hang behind Obama, is a landscape of Yosemite Valley at dawn - representing Lincoln's signing of the 1864 Yosemite Grant that set aside the land as a public reserve.
Just to make sure everyone gets it, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, which handles much of the inaugural planning, has deemed that "A New Birth of Freedom" will be the official inaugural theme.
The phrase, from the Gettysburg Address, expresses Lincoln's hope that the sacrifice of those who died to preserve the nation would lead to "a new birth of freedom" for our nation.
And at his swearing-in ceremony, Obama will place his hand on the same Bible that Lincoln used at his first inauguration.
On Saturday, Obama will travel by train from Philadelphia to Washington, DC - part of the route taken by Lincoln during an 1861 trip.
Obama also has said his essential reading in the Oval Office would include "Team of Rivals," Doris Kearns Goodwin's 2005 best seller, which recounts how Lincoln surrounded himself with advisers who were better educated and more experienced than he was and who could be rivals for his job.
You may feel free to forward this message on to any of your friends, as long as you keep the following information. Copyright Lisa Baughn. All rights reserved. www.theprudentwife.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
--Lisa Baughn is the creator of The Prudent Wife website. Learn how to save time, money and sanity in your home as you go green, saving $$ and the environment while honoring the Lord with your homekeeping and living on ONE income. Members can view signature how-to videos which explode open easy cooking techniques with simple meals and maximum nutrition. Visit Lisa online at www.theprudentwife.com and sign up for a FREE bi-weekly newsletter full of prudent tips! May the Lord bless you on your prudent journey.
As the New Year bustles toward us, many of us are making goals and resolutions for 2009. It is often a time of reflection, and thought on the year that is coming to an end. What happened in 2008 in your lives? What are you planning in 2009? Is the Lord working a theme in your lives? Is He creating a tapestry in your life?
The theme the Lord keeps whispering to me is discipline. 2009 is going to be the year of Sweet Discipline in our lives. From the food we eat, to moving more, Bible study to homeschool, paying off debt and especially The Prudent Wife, all require more concerted, and disciplined effort in 2009!
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:11
This verse keeps running through my mind, entwined with the thoughts of discipline and endurance, which often boil down to obedience. Obedience always results in walking closer with the Lord, and in this context I see discipline as a wonderful word, a freeing word to wrap a frame around 2009!
We have been prayerfully reflecting on our goals all week. Considering what the Lord wants in certain areas of our lives, thinking through other areas, trying to winnow our lives down into a tapestry that pleases Him, not just one that we think we want to do.
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.Proverbs 29:18
What is the Lord’s vision in your life this year?
If you are like us, 2008 was a year of change and difficulty. 2009 seems alive with the promise of a fresh year full of new possibilities, new life, and new days on a crisp, clean calendar! What will honor the Lord the most as we fill it? How can we attack our debt snowball? How can we narrow down what we will eat for maximum nutrition and savings?What are some natural health and beauty tips to help save money? How will we navigate this new economy? How can we pray at this time in HIStory. How can we keep our focus on the Lord, when our lives seem in turmoil?
We will be addressing a lot of these issues when we unveil our new The Prudent Wife site very soon! You are going to love the bright and clean new look, and the easier navigation! I can’t wait to share it with you!
How are you doing on your goal setting for 2009?
For now, we are writing our goals on paper. We have all heard that 97% of the people do not write goals down at all. Only 3% do, and they accomplish much more than the 97% who do not commit them to paper. If you don’t aim at anything, you will hit it every time.
his year, we are making our goals high impact and front and center by writingthem on foam boards, keeping them easily visible for motivation. We are going to make it a fun project, breaking each large goal into smaller steps. Breaking down goals into quantifiable chunks with specific steps and smaller goals leading toward the larger goals helps you succeed. We can track progress monthly, quarterly and yearly. There is nothing as motivating as actually seeing yourself hit your target goals in small steps, climbing that disciplined ladder to success.
If you don’t have some spare foam boards, maybe you have some poster board that you and the kids can write your goals on. Perhaps tucking them into a journal is the better option for you, or writing them on your calendar or planner. Either way, break them down and see how much easier they are to achieve. Celebrate when anyone hits the little goals, and when you hit the big ones!
We all want to live life purposefully, with a plan, a direction, a vision moving toward goals. Let 2009 be the year that your goals propel you to action and a terrific, fresh, new year!
The Prudent Wife is a new website showing you how to navigate today's economy, while having fun and paying off debt. Signature how-to videos explode open easy cooking techniques with simple meals and maximum nutrition. Enjoy the healthy recipe archives with fabulous food, strategies for incorporating maximum nutrition leading to vibrant health, how to create restaurant favorites at home, natural alternatives and women's health, simplicity, homekeeping, decorating on a dime, seasonal ideas, a Prudent Wife Bible Study & more!
When you join The Prudent Wife Membership Site you will learn the concepts of creating your own prudent journey and how to save time, money and sanity in your home as you go GREEN, saving $$ and the environment while honoring the Lord with your homekeeping and living on ONE income!!
Sign up for our FREE newsletter full of prudent tips at www.ThePrudentWife.com!
Stressed by Election 2008? Top 11 Things You Can Do To Gain Control & Make a Difference in Election 2008
Stressed by Election 2008? Top 11 Things You Can Do To Gain Control & Make a Difference in Election 2008
The goal of this email is to go viral. I am sending it to almost 2000 people, between Yahoo Groups, homeschool groups and friends. I am posting it on all of my blogs.
The Goal – get 1 million people working NOW in the next 6 days to turn this election around.
The polls are tightening - we can absolutely do it! This email/blog post will begin with you…will you choose to send this to your Yahoo Groups, your friends and post it on your blogs? If the 2000 people who originally receive this send this to 20 people, or 200 people, or all of their Yahoo Groups, we can make a huge difference!
Many of us are stressed by Election 2008. The minutes drip by as we agonize over the most important vote in our lifetime. A charismatic candidate with unlimited money and liberal ideas veering off toward socialism vs. the POW fighter pilot who has taken on the establishment, balked both parties, relentless about national security and supporting our troops, realizes that energy is a top priority and had the courage to ask Sarah Palin to join his ticket. Both are fallible men who make mistakes. Neither is perfect. Quite frankly, neither is my first choice.
In the balance hangs life as we know it. Constitutional rights. The right to bear arms (fall is deer hunting season where we live). Freedom of speech. Freedom to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, without fear of “hate speech” editing our Bibles and our pastors.
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; andif anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19 NASB
Freedom to worship. Freedom to work hard, prosper without “redistributing the wealth.”
Will we follow the Bible or man? Will we vote for “Change we can believe in?”
Wish you Could DO Something? Not Sure Where to Start?
This is the 6th presidential campaign I have worked on. The best thing about working a campaign is the assurance that YOU did all YOU could do to make a difference! That is truly satisfying! We can all do one of the top 10 – many of us can do all 10!
Top 11 Things You Can Do To Gain Control & Make a Difference in Election 2008
1. Call battleground states from home! Go to www.JohnMcCain.com. Enter the site. On the right hand side you will see buttons that allow you to volunteer from HOME or WHEREVER you are right now! Press on “Make Phone Calls.” You will hear a message from Senator McCain. Follow the directions (I had to register, just adding in my name and email etc). The campaign will then give you an easy telephone script and a cycle of 40 names to call. Each new number has a screen that you quickly fill out. Calls are simple and fast to make. You can do 40 calls, 5 at a time, throughout the day, or all at once. I did laundry, cooked dinner, and taught school while making calls. So far this week, I have been calling Missouri and Michigan – both battleground states and done at least 40 calls a day.
Tips for making phone calls:
Begin with prayer.
Have a drink ready.
Read and stick to the script.
Realize that with some callers, you will kind of stumble through it – that is okay! They don’t know you – go on with grace!
Call with a SMILE on your face.
Be bright, be brief and be gone!
Ask them for their VOTE (that is “closing the sale!”)
Don’t let nasty recipients get you down; you are calling for your children and grandchildren.
Take on 40 a phone calls a day
2. Allow your older teens and children to make 40 phone calls. Larger families can rotate it through family members, so the phone is going non stop. Idea: while we adore our younger children – voters might not. Prayerfully use good judgment here. We love our kids and all of their triumphs – but voters may not find a child as charming as we do.
3. Join the 72 Hour Program. Sign up at http://www.johnmccain.com/72hour/ by clicking on your state. If you live near a battleground state, click on it too, if you would consider crossing the border to help!
4. Find your LOCAL Republican headquarters at www.rnc.org and volunteer in your state. Google it, call around your town or county to find out where your election office is. Go down and volunteer. You can:
Make phone calls
Go door to door (in parties, supervising children!) and get the vote out
Stand with a McCain/Palin sign on busy corners at busy times (supervise kids and use wisdom)
Let the kids make their own signs “Homeschoolers for McCain” “Learning Challenged Kids for Palin” etc.
5. Give grace ~ the last few days of an election are crazy! They want your help, but may not get back to you in a way that makes you feel wanted. Realize that all McCain/Palin staffers, RNC folks are swamped and exhausted at the end of the campaign. They need you and want you – but may not be able to go out of their way to let you know. The competition has a much better ground operation in place along with unlimited funds and people. The RNC is working twice as hard with a fraction of the resources. BE AGGRESSIVE in finding the RNC. Go the extra yard to find them and be gracious when you do!!I cannot underestimate the exhaustion they feel at this point of the game.
6. Make goodies for a campaign office! Campaign offices scrape by hoping to make it to Election Day with enough toilet paper. There is no budget for bottled water, snacks, lunches, dinners, treats. Visit your local campaign office and determine what is needed, than take it. Have the kids make muffins and bring coffee in the morning, bring a crockpot of soup and sandwiches at lunch, make pizzas or finger foods for dinner. Bake brownies, cookies, cupcakes or treats. Take fresh fruit and nuts, or veggies with dip and bring them down. Take iced tea, sodas, or drinks or buy readymade stuff. Pleas remember whatever serving items are needed for your snack – they probably won’t have them on hand! Commit to take a treat per day – or coordinate with your homeschool group to bring snacks in the AM, lunch, PM.
7. Ask your local campaign office WHAT THEY NEED and do it! It might be pencils and paper, food, someone to clean the bathroom, or volunteers! Be a servant this election.
8. Volunteer in a battleground state! We live TN, but live an hour from NC and an hour from VA. TN is solidly in the red (although 30% of the evangelicals voted Democrat in the primaries) We are rotating between these two battleground states and volunteering a day in one, a day in the next. Yes – this costs more gas and time (but hey – gas is $.20 cheaper PER gallon in one state, making my trips “free!”) This election is worth it!
9. Send your testimony out on why you are voting Republican. Write a quick email and press send! What you say may make a difference in an undecided voter. From national security to religious freedom to the right to bear arms – what you say is important!
10. Help this email go VIRAL! Send TheTop 11 Things You Can Do To Gain Control & Make a Difference in Election 2008 to 20 friends, all of your Yahoo Groups, your homeschool groups and post it on your blog. Or send them to my blog www.ThePrudentWife.com/blog where they can read and click live links!
11. Campaigning Counts AS SCHOOL! It is more important than any book you can read or worksheet you can complete – get your kids learning about the election process now!
THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO is Pray! Pray! Pray! The single most important thing you can do this election is to PRAY for our nation. Visit www.Precept.org to view America At the Crossroads.
You can make a TREMENDOUS difference this election if you put wings to these ideas and act. Don’t sit around stressed for another moment! Choose an activity a day – or two or three and go for it!
If you are tempted to do nothing, know that the Obama campaign is paying for a BUS to pick people up in Chattanooga and Knoxville, taking them to North Carolina to WORK, and have arranged for a church for folks to stay at (where is the IRS when WE need it??) If he is busing people to the battleground out of MY state – he is probably doing it out of YOURS.
Copyright 2008. Permission is granted to post this article on blogs and websites, as long as it is copied IN FULL with author's blog listed.
Can I just say for a minute – I understand busy and stressed. As I write this, we just downsized into a home 1/3 the size, house not together yet, summer wardrobe not switched for winter and the cold has set in, I was in a car accident and go to the Dr 3x a week in a lot of pain, my husband works for a company that is downsizing and expects to be laid off at any moment, he is applying for jobs everywhere, we homeschool and to top it all of – I will know for sure if I am prego on Election Day. We are the prototypical family this election! So we understand stress, being tight on funds, no time, physical limitations, etc! You can still DO this!!! Your kids can still do this! You can make a tremendous difference – no go email this to your whole list and ACT!
If there are mistakes in grammar – forgive me! Emily and I have to get to liberal Ashville (Obamaland) and work and get back to TN in time to lead Dave Ramsey’s FinancialPeaceUniversity tonight! We have 3 hours round trip, and want to spend our day campaigning NOT writing! There is truly never a dull moment in our family the week before ANY election!
Looking to fill in those pesky math gaps - Math on the Level!
Are you struggling with HOW to teach your kids math? Have you tried all of the homeschool heroes so long recommended in math, and still haven’t found what you need? Do you have a super bright child that gets math easily and needs to skim ahead? Do you have an older child who is still struggling with concepts, but tired of being in younger math? Would you like ONE simple math program that you can buy ONCE for ALL of your kids?
You have got to see the wonderful new math program I found! Math on the Level was a delightful discovery from the CHAP homeschooling convention in PA. Creator Carlitta Boyles started out homeschooling her own kids with the principles in Math on the Level. Other moms in her homeschool group asked her for help with their kids, and out of that Math on the Level was born!
The Math on the Level approach
To make math real, the curriculum emphasizes teaching math through practical, family-life experiences. With Math on the Level, the world is your classroom!
Because each child is unique, math instruction is focused to each child’s maturation level, not age or grade level. (No topics are grade leveled.)
Its organization and practical emphasis let you teach different-aged children together if desired and include math instruction in your family activities (even in unit studies).
An effective yet simple to use record keeping system helps you be sure that all necessary math concepts have been covered as well as plan and track each child’s individualized 5-A-Day review.
To address different learning styles, more than one teaching approach is included for difficult topics.
Instead of using a generalized set of 30 (or more) daily practice problems that you hope will give sufficient practice for your child, the Math on the Level 5-A-Day review system lets you tailor the review to your child’s actual level of need and make sure each child gets the right amount of practice without busywork.
To ensure long-term retention, every math concept the child has learned is practiced continually throughout the curriculum at least once every 3 weeks (and more often as needed).
I highly recommend you check out this fabulous new math curriculum! It was rated HIGHLY in the Spring 2008 edition of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, with a great TOS review (you will have to scroll down the page to find Math on the Level!!)
Five In A Rows Jane Lambert to speak in Gray TN June 13, 2008!
Since they are in town for the Real Life Marriage Weekend(are you signed up yet?) we had to schedule a FIAR event as well. The Lamberts graciously said yes, even though it will be a jam packed weekend! Just think, you can get an extreme marriage makeover and learn how to simplify your life with FIAR all in the same weekend!
The Lamberts are an absolutely wonderful couple and you do not want to miss seeing them while they are back in the Tri-Cities area! Jane has a delightful way of describing how to use Five in a Row. You will be captivated (and set free) by the simplicity of using FIAR in your home with multiple levels of kids and seeing first hand just how easy it is to do. Steve will talk about what FIAR can do in the life of a child, all the way through college. They are both tremendous encouragers with a love for wonderful books, and a heart for teaching children in the unique FIAR way!
It is such an unbelievable blessing to meet and talk to the authors and creators of curriculum. We are to be careful of what goes into our children’s minds, and having the opportunity to talk to the Lamberts, ask questions, and really see how to use FIAR is again, a blessing!! We would have loved this opportunity when we using FIAR in the early days.
When: June 13, 2008
Where: Gray TN,
Time: 10:30-12:00
Email me at lisa@theprudentwife.com for more information.
Europes Hottest Homeschool Speaker Coming to the Tri-Cities to do a FREE Workshop Mon June 9th!
Another one??? Yes….we are having ANOTHER incredible homeschool speaker in our home next week! It is Jane week! Monday, June 9th at 7:30 pm, is a Free Workshop with Jane Bullivant, from across the pond in England! Jane is so popular that HEAV (in VA) has flown her out for their homeschool conference this week, and she is a featured speaker! And you are going to LOVE Jane, she is witty, funny, speaks all over the world, loves the Lord and homeschooling and all is such an inspiration in that delicious English accent! You will fall in love with her the moment you meet her! You can pay $75 to go to HEAV, plus gas, hotel and meals, or you can see her locally Monday, June 9th at 7:30 pm for FREEEEEEEEE! This is mom’s night out, and we would love to have dads too! The Old Schoolhouse Magazine will have give aways and prizes, so you might win something grand!
JANE BULLIVANT (from the HEAV brochure!)
www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com
Jane is an international author, columnist, and broadcaster based in England. She works with The Old Schoolhouse Magazine to encourage and inspire parents in the adventure of educating and raising their children to be the people God created them to be. Jane's dynamic presentations are bursting at the seams with warmth, humor, and practical advice for parents wishing to take their homeschool to the next level. Jane and her husband Darren homeschool three turbo-charged children (11, 10, and 6) and their escapee hamsters. Jane's books are available world wide and have been translated into several languages. Her latest book is titled Skydiving for Parents: Raising amazing kids without going into freefall, and was recently named as an iParenting media award "greatest product" winner of 2007-2008.
Jane will smash two classes into an hour and half of pure encouragement Monday, June 9th at 7:30 pm at the Baughns house in Gray TN.
Exploding the Myth of the Perfect Homeschool ~ Jane Bullivant
This presentation explores the effect of perfectionism in the homeschool and reveals a fresh approach to striving for excellence without being a slave to the schedule.
Beat Homeschool Burnout ~ Jane Bullivant
It is entirely possible to raise and educate your children in excellence without burning yourself out in the process. Organization is not the answer; it’s merely a tool. The answer to beating burnout? Come and find out. Homeschool frenzy will be a thing of the past!
Who: Jane Bullivant, England’s hottest homeschool speaker!
With Gas Prices UP, how DO we afford the Real Life Marriage Conference (At the Journey Church in Gray TN - June 13-14, 2008)
With Gas Prices UP, how DO we afford the Real Life Marriage Conference (At the Journey Church in Gray TN - June 13-14, 2008)
So glad you asked! We are all feeling the SQUEEZE of gas and food prices these days! It feels like the month runs longer than the money! Here are a few suggestions to raise a little cash for the RLMC (and you will notice many of them are really HOMESCHOOL ENTREPRENEUR 101 ideas)!
Take the money you make Saturday at the NETHEA Sale and invest it in one of the most important things your kids will ever see – a SOLID MARRIAGE! Quietly, in a life well lived honoring the Lord and loving your spouse, your kids will pick up more values and truths than any curriculum you can buy with the same amount of cash! A solid marriage IS one of the best gifts you can give your kids!
Sell something on ebay! We all have too much stuff! Get creative, enlist the kids in a homeschool experiment and get to selling stuff on ebay! Goal – pay for dinner out for mom and dad, and the RLMC!
Have a garage sale! We all want to declutter, so get a jump on your plans and have that garage sale the first week of June, then sign up!
Scalp a little money out of the vacation fund, and treat mom and dad to a weekend they will long remember!
Schedule “Entrepreneur Days” at home with your kids – challenge them to earn half of the marriage retreat as a gift for you (and you will contribute the other half!) This will teach them a cornucopia of invaluable tools (they can earn money, gift someone else with their hard work, reach a goal, etc!)
Go to Sam’s Club and buy the large candy bars. Create a contest for your kids, scrub them up, give them a lesson in salesmanship and unleash them on the world! Plan a special trip for them, and the special trip for mom and dad and let them roar off! Don’t we all get asked a million times a year to buy wrapping paper, junky gifts, candy, candy, candles, and more from all the other neighborhood kids! Since we aren’t “working” for the school district – why not let them “work” for the family homeschool?
Gather up all the lose change, roll it up and you might have enough!
Use your birthday money, anniversary money, etc.
Stop eating out for a month – drop the lattes, or fix hubby fabulous brown bag lunches for a month!
Pull some cash out of your Emergency Fund! Really, a homeschool retreat JUST for HOMESCHOOLERS is an emergency!
Sign up for The Prudent Wife E-newsletter for money saving ideas and tips!
Ever wondered where the “Marriage Retreat” for homeschooling parents is???
Real Life Marriage Conference – JourneyChurch in Gray TN - June 13-14, 2008
We were having the world’s most perfect traveling day. Had breakfast with our sweet friends at MainStay Suites in Roanoke (an EXCELLENT HOTEL ) and on the road, driving through the glorious spring of the Blue Ridge – oh it was stunning! We stopped in Harrisonburg to eat and plot our Chipotles/Trader Joes run and found out we are way OFF the mark on TJ’s boo hoo hoo, BUT Chipotles was 2 hours away. And the ONLY Chipotles today, or until Sunday. So we decided to take advantage of the fact we were in the Shenandoah Valley and could see a battlefield. New Market was close by. We went and it was beyond wonderful – too bad we only had 2 hours to spend. Phenomenal place! This is THE battle site for the Confederate Engineers (Dave’s first CW group) and they are coming to fight here in 2 weeks. Every year, they fly out from CA to portray the Engineers – so totally cool! This was a 5 year dream to see! THANK YOU!
Then, off shimmy on up the road. We had already done some Tennessee, crossed VA. We were headed up the top of the Shenandoah Valley – the Blue Ridge majestic in the distance, having the happy we just saw a battlefield time of our lives, and noticed a bunch of police zooming up I-81. We were sandwiched in between trucks and so we HELD UP THE POLICE, us a van behind us that was totally on our tail, and had to wait ½ a mile to a mile to get out of the trucks way – you know how narrow the 81 can be when trucks are all around. We were so concerned for whatever the accident was. Dave finally pulled between two trucks, leaving room for the van behind us to fall in, and instead, he zoomed past us TALKING ON HIS CELL PHONE – with a smarmy look on his face. The police were chasing HIM. We were in the middle of a police chase. This all happened very fast – but at one point, the van swerved, heavy trucks all around and everyone just flying and police on all sides and just like LA – you keep going or get run over. So long story short – they chased him, he was swerving, they got him over, and we drove by in time to see him slammed on the floor getting arrested. Nice. Up the road about a mile, was an officer with the tacks, and at the WV line was another one with tacks – so they were out in force – but no way to warn the drivers AROUND the chase. Hunky dory – life in the city – and why did we leave?
We hit traffic – what is that???? We forgot.
God is soooo good though!
So, we carried on, crossed a tiny swath of W. Virg, then crossed the Potomac (oh happy day) over into Maryland, in the historic town of Hagerstown (which we had read umpteen books about with the girls) was Chipotles. We got messed up and cruised the old town, charming row houses – all beautifully restored and it was the ghetto – not the rich district. They must have tight historic standards – very cool. Then off to the brand new shopping mall with Chipotles. Anti biotic free, hormone free, deliciousness! THANK YOU
Then back in the car. Saw a horrible wreck as we got back on, one the one side, the other side a mile up we saw another hideous flipped truck. Is it Friday the 13th? What is going on? The Lord saying – “when you think of moving back to the city to make more $$, this is what it means.”
So – we happily rolled into PA (although we missed the sign) saw the signs to Gettysburg, Antietam, HERSHEY, and trudged another 150 miles up yonder road to make it to the hotel. We left at 6am – got here at almost 11. Granted we stopped for our friends in Roanoke (and free breakfast) and did the CW battlefield – but we needed to walk after 5 or 6 hours of driving.
We really did quite well, considering and look forward to tomorrow. Dave is pretty frayed – keeping the car on the road between car chases and all.
We have noticed quite a change in accents. No one has blessed my heart all day, or said “God love her.” It is new ground.
I also blew it – trying to figure out the cheapest hotel in PA (they were all pricey, or in the capital) and we have to reroute directions to Mass in the AM. Oh lucky day! but that is okay – this is the path the Lord apparently has for us!
So – I must say I am so thankful for a child that prays for SAFETY – we have certainly needed it so far!
Also –we realized, with the bigger ride, we brought Em’s cash register and we do NOT HAVE ELECTRICITY!. Duh!
We also left the cord to download my pix unto my laptop – argh – so I can only shoot 600 pix and already did 150 or so on the road – BUMMER. We will have to try and delete some, so we can do New England – boo hoo hoo!
Oh well.
I also finished my column on the road and wrote up most of the info on New Market Battlefield – so super productive, caught up on SOME of my email from the last week and responded to folks I needed to. All in all, super productive for being on the road!
Holler if we can fix the electricity.
Off to bed….praying there are NO bed bugs to top this adventureous day off!
We have five hour drive to MASS tomorrow, set up our convention etc. We hope to see Emily Dickinson’s home tomorrow first and it looks like Old Sturbridge village will have to wait.
Real Life Marriage Conference Journey Church in Gray TN - June 13-14, 2008
Ever wondered where the “Marriage Retreat” for homeschooling parents is???
Real Life Marriage Conference – JourneyChurch in Gray TN - June 13-14, 2008
Every Successful Homeschool Marriage
Begins with a Strong
Foundation.
How strong is the foundation that your homeschool is built on?
Let’s face it. Homeschooling is a huge commitment. Navigating the unique intricacies of balancing homeschooling and marriage can create tension and stress. It’s easy to focus on the job of homeschooling your children, and give your marriage the “leftovers”.
It's easy to focus on the job of homeschooling and give your marriage the leftovers.
RLM: Homeschool Edition’s mission is to help restore balance and revitalize your marriage through a weekend filled with Christ-centered workshops, general sessions and personal time designed specifically for homeschooling parents.
We believe that God’s word still has the best advice
for restoring hope and rekindling the passion of the one-flesh relationship.
Real Life Marriage Weekend: Homeschool Edition is not your ordinary marriage retreat weekend. Why? Because no "ordinary" marriage workshop or retreat can possibly deal with the unique issues we face as homeschool parents. Come and see why this is one homeschool event you can't afford to miss. Whether your marriage needs a little tune-up and refreshment, or whether your marriage is already at, or even past the breaking point, set aside these two special days and ask the Lord to meet you and your spouse at RLM: Homeschool Edition. The Lord is faithful!
At Real Life Marriage Weekend: Homeschool Edition, you will
Revitalize your vision and discover together the JOY of homeschooling...
Reconcile the difficulties of living on one income in a two-income world...
Realize how homeschooling can actually make your marriage stronger...
Rekindle romance and Rediscover the joy of sexual intimacy...
Reconnect with one another and learn how to make effective communication a priority...
Receive the tools and skills to create a true and living partnership with your spouse...
Route an exciting new course for your homeschool years and beyond.
Don’t just survive the homeschooling years … thrive! Join us for this Christ-centered, homeschooling marriage makeover.
Real Life Marriage?
Real life for real marriages. We all know the pressures and stresses that come with homeschooling our children. We have all had times when we've said "we can't keep doing this." Real Life Marriage Weekends are designed to give you that bit of encouragement and resources to keep going.
Steve and Jane Lambert and Jay and Heidi St. John bring years of homeschooling and ministry experience to encourage you and your spouse. We want every homeschool family to experience the joy and freedom that comes from following and learning from Christ as we walk with him.
The Real Life Marriage Conference has a location!!!
Real Life Marriage Conference - Gray TN - June 13-14, 2008
The JourneyChurch
102 Old Stage Road – Corner of North Roan/Old Stage Rd
1 ½ miles North of Boones Creek off 36
2 ½ miles South of Highway 75
For more information on the conference and to register - http://www.reallifemarriages.com/ We have had the pleasure of meeting the Lamberts and the St. Johns and they are going to BLESS YOU tremendously! We highly, highly recommend this and will be there with bells on!
Susan Seaman is coordinating this event – for questions contact Susan Susan Seaman 423-967-6281. I am just doing PR….what else would I do?!
Survey on WHERE your homeschool kids have GONE to college -- Please help expand options for ALL homeschoolers!
I am doing a quick survey to see WHERE your homeschool graduates have GONE to college! Informal, for personal information on a project I am working on that will help all homeschoolers with college options! It will be posted on my blog. I really want to know exactly WHICH options homeschooled kids are choosing! Please, please forward this on to all of your homeschool friends who have graduated kids! If you have graduated several kids, just answer per kid, if you would be so kind!
If your kids have graduated and gone to college could you please send me a quick email lisa@theprudentwife.com and answer the following questions:
College options while in high school
Did you pursue dual enrollment options (Jr. and Sr. year in high school – enrolling in college courses that counted double for high school credit?)
If so, how many?
Did your child take CLEP tests?
College After Homeschool Graduation
Did your child attend Junior College/Community College?
·Private?
·Public?
Did your child pursue Distance Learning?
Did your child attend a StateSchool (UCLA, UT,)?
Did your child attend a private college or university?
Did your child attend a Christian college of university?
Cost Questions
Was cost a big factor in undergrad education?
Did you encourage your child to attend college debt free?
Any other information you would like to include would be most appreciated! We thank you for participating in this INFORMAL survey that I will happily publish! This will greatly help ALL homeschoolers!
What a wild ride it is in ad sales! I joined the TOS team last month, with the Spring 2008 deadline breathing down our necks. We are all racing toward the finish line, a team in motion. It has been so exciting to see how so many on the team are getting phenomenal sales - it is very motivational! (somehow, I feel more like I am stumbling toward it - but I will get it eventually!) As we try and keep contacting folks with the hours spinning quickly by, I put chicken breasts on to cook, threw potatoes in the microwave (don't tell anyone) and ran upstairs to keep calling. I sent Emily down to check on the chicken and flip it. She did. All was well. I finally reached a client I have been trying to reach and have a great conversation.
I begin to smell something. My office is upstairs, and if I can smell a burnt smell upstairs...oh my! So I got off the phone and sent daughter Emily down to flip the meat as I make notations in the database. I notice the burnt smell getting worse and shudder to think of a decimated dinner. I finish and run downstairs. My favorite pan is blackened. Inside my beloved pan, miraculously are three relatively edible chicken breasts that look like they survived one of our fires from back home in California. All around is charcoal, but somehow, they might still make dinner.
I dread the taste, and run back upstairs to make a few more calls, instructing Emily to finish making dinner (Should have had her do the whole thing to begin with - which she is until we get past deadline!)
I am continuing to play the phone game that is so often part of my day, trying to find just the right person at the right college or university. I have been going through a voice mail system and am almost to the gentleman I need, and the dog bursts in. ClaraBaughn is truly a princess, but she has this quirkly little habit around dinnertime....she runs around in circles and pants if we forget to feed her. I am on the phone to CA, hubby just got home, and her GIRL is cleaning up a mess. All of the humans forgot to feed her and she is up here to tattle. ClaraBaughn goes GREEN! Don't all cockers love their collards??? (last week - not today!!)
She tattles by breathing hard and crashing through the office, the message is getting closer and closer to the beep, and ClaraBaughn is getting louder and louder. I can't catch her before it is time to leave a message. My husband figures out what is going on and tries to catch her, and get her out of the office, she is still spinning in perfectly cocker spaniely coiffed circles and breathing hard. It took me a minute to get to the beep in this particular voice mail - do I hang up NOW? Hubby got her out the door and was shutting it, as I began to leave a message. In this general comedy of errors, as I leave my bright sunny message about our Spring specials, ClaraBaughn managed to spin around and leap back through the door, knocking over a set of decorative stacking boxes. Holding in my laughter, I finished leaving my phone number, hung up and hubby and I about died laughing.
Adventures in ad sales! You would never know I am passionate about organic cooking and am about to debut a website full of healthy cooking! During final ad sale week - it is microwave potatoes and burnt chicken. LOL!
Vacationing?? Find the BEST Living History Sites in the US!
Our passion for living history has bubbled out in a brand new website that is getting ready for launch soon! We are living historians who have been so frustrated trying to find ALL of the historical sites we want, when we go to a particular city or area of the country. We wanted reviews on the best museums and battlefields, why chose one historical village over another and how to use our time wisely and get the most history and fun out of a vacation. What makes a place family friendly and educational, and where is a great place to eat that it is a little out of the ordinary. When you move from one coast to the other because you are crazy about history - this is the site you want to find!
But, alas, there isn't one. So we are creating the Living History Site for families!
Explore a whole new world of history in full color at www.livinghistorysites.com From historical reenactments to the homes of poets, you will find out about living history sites, farms, old mansions, plantations, battlefields, and more in a family friendly site aimed at sharing history with families! If you are passionate about history and your kids don’t get it, this is the site for you to blow the lid off their slumber and make history come alive before their eyes! Homeschoolers, home educators, living historians, this is your guide to the best spots in the US! Living History Sites will be your real life guide to history! Join us for the adventure!
Whether you want to see a Civil War reenactment, a living farm museum, a historical interpretation, a Revolutionary War battle, or a trip through colonial America, find it all here, as the site grows and expands! Learn about fabulous old homes, mansions and plantations, exploring a world of old!
I know this looks silly - but don't have time to change coding! Information needs out now!
HB2795-SB3412
Testing for all students
105th Tennessee General Assembly
2007-2008
3/18/08: This statement just in from TACRS:
HB2795 and TACRS - Statement from TACRS - by Rob Shearer - rob@greenleafpress.com
To: Representative George Hardaway and all interested parties
From: Rob Shearer, vice president, TACRS
I have just reviewed the text of the proposed amendment to HB2975 which now seeks to mandate an annual consultation between the department of education and "representatives from the Tennessee association of independent/municipal schools, the Tennessee home education association representing schools established under 49-6-3050, and the Tennessee association of church related schools representing schools established under 49-50-801." Ron Scarlata, the president of the Tennessee Association of Church Related Schools (TACRS) and I spoke by phone this morning and he has authorized me to speak on this matter for TACRS.
Please be advised that this proposal came as a complete surprise to both of us. Neither of us has ever spoken with Representative Hardaway.
And while we have no objections to consulting with the Department of Education, we could not do so "representing schools established under 49-50-801." There is a rich diversity of private schools, both church-related and independent throughout Tennessee. No one organization could ever speak for all of them. There is a rich diversity of church-related schools even within the TACRS membership. We would be reluctant to speak about methodologies even on behalf of our member schools, since the membership is so diverse.
The kind of consultation ostensibly desired by Rep. Hardaway does not need to be mandated by the legislature. It could easily be achieved by the department issuing broad invitations to all the organizations designated in 49-50-801.
We urge Rep. Hardaway to withdraw this bill, even with this last-minute amendment substituting new language. It does not appear to have been very carefully thought out. And the organizations named in it have not been consulted.
- Rob Shearer
Vice President, TACRS
Please feel free to distribute/forward this email (so long as the distribution includes the entire message)
By deleting all language after the enacting clause and by substituting instead the following language:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 6, is amended by adding the following language as a new, appropriately designed section:
49-1-614.
The department of education shall consult at least annually with representatives from the Tennessee association of independent/municipal schools, the Tennessee home education association representing schools established under 49-6-3050, and the Tennessee association of church related schools representing schools established under 49-50-801, to assess actions taken by such non-public schools which, if taken by public schools, may lead to improved student performance in public schools. The department shall report the results of such consultation to the select oversight committees of the house of representatives and the senate no later than February 1 each year.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
This is still completely unacceptable and calls against this bill and its amendment should continue. It's obvious from the wording of this bill that Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) is completely unfamiliar with the homeschooling community and how it operates.
He seems to have cherry picked one homeschooling group over others by designating 'the Tennessee home education association' as representing homeschoolers. He may have meant that generically and its use is just sloppy legislative writing. Regardless, Tennessee Home Education Association does exist. However, it doesn't represent all homeschoolers and I suspect doesn't want the job. Further not all homeschoolers want to belong to this group and there are many who would vehemently oppose any requirement that any one group speak for all homeschoolers.
Again, he's used phrasing in this legislation that is an actual entity. Sloppy or intentional there is a 'Tennessee association of church related schools'. TACRS accredits some of our church-related schools but certainly not all. Ditto the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools (TAIS) There are actually seven listed in TCA 49-50-801.
There is no sunset provision to this legislation. Once created, have you ever known a government entity to disappear? We do not need this oversight committee to expand its mandate and start demanding more and more accountability from non-public schoolers in their misguided effort to improve public schools.
The 'at least annually' portion seems to leave room for the Department of Education or the legislature to require more than annual meetings once the meetings are required.
Under this amendment the fiscal note will not be anywhere near the $4 million his original testing attempt would have cost. That makes it more friendly to other legislators. Of course, the hidden cost born by non-public schoolers, both in resources and loss of freedom could eventually be enormous.
The information about best practices that Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) says he's trying to obtain can be found outside of enacting a law, expending tax dollars and encroaching on the freedoms that people who privately school their children already have.
My suggestion is that phone calls, faxes, emails and personal contacts continue. Again, seriously consider attending tomorrow's meeting. Details are just below.
It's become obvious to even the most hopeful among us that Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) is not a man of his word. Despite assuring the public, Special Initiatives sub-committee members and the Chair of the House Education Committee that he would communicate with them and the homeschooling community regarding changes he was making to HB2795 he still hasn't done so. He has ignored phone calls and personal contacts. The result is we're just a day away from the next scheduled sub-committee hearing for this bill and the new wording is not public information. He fully expects us to get a copy of this legislation cold and deal with it immediately. Well, we shall.
You are, again, encouraged to call the Special Initiatives sub-committee members and voice your concerns regarding this bill. Most of them have expressed surprise at Hardaway's actions and do not see the need for the state to test all children in this manner. They, and their staffs, are also frustrated but the process must run its course.
If you can make the trip to Nashville come. The committee meets at 11:45 a.m. in the Legislative Plaza. This committee usually meets in Room 29, however, it may be moved to Room 16 again to accommodate a larger crowd. HB2795 is early on a short agenda so don't be late. If there is no way you can make it to Nashville you can watch streaming video via the Internet from the legislative website here. In the meantime, make phone calls, send faxes, contact their district offices. Focus on Rep. Hardaway, the bill sponsor, and Reps. Brown and Towns who enabled this legislation to even be heard three weeks ago.
I believe we need an even bigger turn out than we had three weeks ago. If our effort is smaller, it will give the appearance that we're already tired of the battle and don't have the stomach for a full scale assault. Let's ensure that's not the case.
Rep G.A. Hardaway -Can he handle the heat on TN HB 2795??? There is a story about this legislators behavior!
I spoke to Rep Hardaway TWICE today, and TWICE he hung up on me, despite the fact that I was professional and simply tried to voice my opposition to HB 2795. I could not get a whole sentence out.
In the first phone call Rep Hardaway said that “Since you are from WashingtonCounty, you need to call your OWN representative.” Then hung up.
Perplexed, and wanting to give Rep Hardaway the benefit of the doubt, I hit redial and said, “Sir, I believe we just got disconnected.” Instead of having a dialogue of any kind, Rep Hardaway, again said that “Since you are from Washington County, you need to call your OWN representative, I can’t help you” and hung up on me.
This is the height of unprofessional behavior, and back home in Southern California, we would just flat out call this rude.
It also defies logic. Since Mr. Hardaway is proposing a bill that AFFECTS me in WashingtonCounty – I have every right to call him, as the author and promoter of HB 2795. If he would like to limit his bill to his constituents, then he can exclude hearing from home educators all over the state. Since HB 2795 affects the entire STATE, and since we live in TN, we would be affected, whether I live in his district or not.
I am profoundly discouraged by the rudeness of this legislator. I am astounded, in this day and age, that a legislator could be so unprofessional. Rep Hardaway does not care about the citizens of TN, only his personal agenda and his personal slice of the pie, yet he proposes legislation that affects the state.
I think Rep Hardaway should be held accountable for his unprofessional behavior and his exclusion of the majority of the state he represents.
Lisa Baughn(who is still pretty stunned! It is a rare day when I am treated with disrespect and it always amazes me!)
Original letter I wrote legislators about HB 2795 - STOP the threat to test in TN homeschools!
Thank you for the work you are doing in Tennessee. We appreciate your service, and your time.
We are a homeschooling family and have become aware of House Bill 2795. This bill will destroy our ability to instruct our children in the creative way that is best suited to each child and family. I tell my children all the time, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire,” a quote from William Butler Yeats. Our goal is to teach our children how to THINK, to inspire in them a passion for learning, and to endow them with the ability to reason through things, ultimately nurturing that into a lifelong love of learning. We would not want to smite passion for a lifetime, merely by forcing them to learn specifically for a test today. That is short sighted and hedonistic at best.
Take a strong look at homeschooling. The numbers are growing every year, families are enjoying their children, homeschooled kids are getting an excellent education. Colleges are clamoring for the homeschooled students, noticing a distinct difference. The College of Idaho notes on their website, “We find that most of our home-schooled students have the ability to "think outside the box" and work independently--exactly the attributes you'll need to succeed here.” EasternMennoniteUniversity in VA says, “Home-schooled students -- with their strong self-confidence, critical thinking skills and disciplined study habits -- make great contributions to campus life. They are academic leaders and student life role models.”
The Army and our military branches are actively recruiting homeschoolers. From the website GoArmy.com > Benefits > Bonuses for Home School Graduates The Army now offers home school graduates who qualify the same enlistment incentives as traditional high school graduates, including cash bonuses up to $40,000 for enlistments of three or more years and the Army College Fund, which provides up to $71,424 for college. *Enlistment of home school seniors in the Army's Future Soldier program is also authorized. If you’re interested in finding out more about bonuses for home school graduates, contact your local Recruiter or fill out this form.
If colleges around the US and our military branches are eager to enlist homeschoolers, then homeschool families must be making excellent curriculum choices. This negates the need for House Bill 2795. Homeschooled kids are not the children who are failing at life.
Homeschoolers are hardworking kids who understand how to manage their time, think and reason independently and are not peer driven. This is largely because the current homeschooling freedoms we enjoy in the great state of Tennessee. We have the freedom to choose the curriculum best suited to our children, to their learning styles, interests and needs. We pay CASH for our curriculum, and we continue to pay the same taxes that every other Tennessean and every other American pays. We sacrifice greatly to homeschool, and are more than willing to pay for the curriculum we choose in our homeschool, remember, we are lighting a fire, not merely filling a bucket to pass the test of the year.
Please oppose House Bill 2795, which would impose public school testing on non-public school students. This bill would effectively destroy non-public education in Tennessee by requiring private schools, church-related schools, and homeschools to adopt the public school curriculum for their instruction programs.
Who IS Rep G. A. Hardaway of HB 2795 - the proposed bill to require homeschoolers to be tested?
As we all pray specifically about HB2795, it is good to have some information about the bill’s sponsor Rep G. A. Hardaway, including a new bill he is sponsoring on the bottom!
In the video in the previous post, Rep G.A. Hardaway said he is the “founder and visionary of the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences, the 1st public charter school in Tennessee.” Therefore he understood the “anticipation and anxiety” of the public system and he “had sympathy with the anxiety of homeschoolers” about the “autonomy we enjoy.” Find that charter school here http://www.mahsmemphis.com/home.htm
This appears to be the document spoken of in the video as the Tennessee State Board of Education’s High School Transition Policy http://tnmea.org/hs_transition_policy.pdf that Rep Hardaway needs to review in light of his bill. This says:
TENNESSEESTATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL POLICY 2.103
ELEMENTS OF SCHOOL-WIDE REFORM
The following policy will be effective beginning with the ninth grade class entering high school during the 2009-2010 school year.
Thanks for all of the great info on HB 2795 and what happened yesterday.
Did any of you see Hardaway on NBC local news last night? An entirely
different piece of legislature but another one that is completely
outrageous IMHO. See for yourself with this link (or copy/paste in
your browser):
Getting your husband involved in 2795 -- Daddies - we need YOU!
Since many folks have one family email address, we can write two emails (one from us, one from hubby), but it makes it hard to prove a different person wrote the second email. Think about it, if you and hubby both write from happyhomeschoolfamily@WeHateTesting.com it could have just been you sending two. Not that they are tracking – but one never knows! If they are receiving multiple emails from the same address – it will look like one person is sending them all.
I just asked my hubby to write an email from work – from his work address – (even though we own about 20 domains and have multiple email addys with each one!) This will spread IP addresses around and make it look like a bigger assault AGAINST HB 2795 (which is total geek-talk, but a way of tracking emails) Spread the wealth!
Each time I have PERSONALLY written, I have made sure to use a different email address (again, I have 9 that I use based on different domains) I think at this point I have shot out an email from all 9! LOL!
Why? Our Nashville Reps need to know it is not just the WOMEN fighting this – it is the Daddy’s (and we all know how little Rep Hardaway thinks of paternity with his nasty bill – but lets worry about HB2795 first!) who are wholeheartedly against HB 2795
Now obviously – if this is something that will get your husband in trouble at work – don’t do it! Since my hubby controls the network – it is no problem! He just emailed me to let me know his emails are OUT! PTL!
So ladies – let’s all forward this to our hubby’s and ask them to WRITE these folks TODAY. At their next lunch break. IF and only IF it is safe for them to do so from work! If not, do it from home tonight – on a different address.
The contact information for these Representatives is set forth below.
Representative G. A. Hardaway (615) 741 5625 rep.ga.hardaway@legislature.state.tn.us
Representative Tommie Brown (615) 741-4374 rep.tommie.brown@legislature.state.tn.us
Representative Joe Towns, Jr. (615) 741-2189 rep.joe.towns@legislature.state.tn.us
Round 2 HB 2795 -- The horrendous TESTING bill for homeschoolers in TN
Hey everyone – HB2795 is going to be heard again THIS WEDNESDAY – MARCH 19th (unless it is withdrawn Monday night!)
Have you taken the opportunity to CALL, WRITE, EMAIL, and FAX these folks for round 2???
All it takes for evil to prosper is for good homeschooling moms to figure some other homeschooling mom will call/write/email/fax and do nothing herself!
As posted a few days ago, Rep Hardaway is NOT playing fair, NOT talking to the homeschoolers as he promised at the last meeting and still pushing his subversive agenda!
We have got to keep the pressure on OR we get to do school at home, teaching what the govt wants, so our kids can pass the same tests as the public schools. I am not into the whole scare tactic thing or herd mentality, but hey, if this is the upcoming reality in the great state of TN and we have the opportunity (granted, we keep getting this particular opportunity on this bill!) and we fail to do all we can, as many times as we have to, then we deserve the bill! Harsh reality.
There is not one of us on this list that has inordinate amounts of time, energy and enthusiasm to do this sort of stuff – it is kind of like taking out the trash and flossing! Not our favorite thing to do – but necessary nonetheless! Go ahead and ASK them to WITHDRAW this bill as you make the contacts below – and definitely tell them you are AGAINST IT! Remember, be brief, be bright, be gone!
This is an excerpt from Kay Brooks – who is one of MANY who are fighting tirelessly, day in and day out on this! A huge thank you to all who are working so hard!
He did add that bills being withdrawn must be announced from the floor. That hasn't been done and the next opportunity is
Monday night. Hardaway can put the bill 'off notice' at any time. This just
removes it from any calendar. BUT he can put it back 'on notice' at any
point so it wouldn't be dead until the close of this session in---well who
really knows, April, May, June whenever the legislature adjourns.
So, my suggestion is you still contact Hardaway and his cohorts JoeTowns
and Tommie Brown. I think contacts with the other committee members should
express something along the lines of, I'm sorry to bother you but Hardaway
isn't communicating as he promised and it looks like we'll be down there
again on Wednesday dealing with this.
ALSO, those of you that can should seriously consider planning on being in Nashville Wednesday morning. Check regularly to see if it's withdrawn or
taken off notice before you actually get in the car: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/asp/webbillinfo/BillCompa
nionInfo.aspx?BillNumber=HB2795
Rep. GA Hardaway (D-Memphis) is the House Sponsor of this legislation. His
contact information is:
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California Gov Schwarzenegger vows to fight & The HomeSchool Association of CA --> please remain calm!
Statement from CA Gov. Schwarzenegger, The HomeSchool Association of California’s legal team co-chair.
03/07/2008 GAAS:121:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Statement Regarding Court of Appeals Home Schooling Ruling
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement regarding the recent Second District Court of Appeals ruling on home schooling:
"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."
Appellate Court Case, Please Remain Calm, By Debbie Schwarzer HSC legal team co-chair
I have been astonished about the hype about this case. So many have been making sensational claims that parents will be criminally prosecuted, etc.
Please rest assured about a number of things. First, the law, other than this court's interpretation, hasn't changed. Parents involved in a truancy prosecution might face criminal charges, but only after a rather lengthy series of hearings and court orders, and only if the parents failed to comply with the orders. It would be a criminal contempt charge, which isn't nothing but doesn't land you in PelicanBay.
We have never known conscientious parents ever to be prosecuted under truancy laws to the point of contempt charges. It's highly unlikely.
The media also appear to be saying that no one can teach their children without a credential. I am not certain that the holding is that broad, and I also doubt it would survive legal challenge.
The holding really applied to private ISPs (there are persistent misstatements, that began with fact statements in the case, that the family was enrolled in a charter. Obviously a school with the name "Christian" in it wouldn't be a public charter. It was a private ISP). It could be read by someone reading broadly as applying to any situation where the child is not continuously in the presence of a credentialed teacher.
The court started on a very slippery path of appearing to think that some situations were OK and others weren't, effectively trying to enact an entire code of regulations for governing this situation from the bench. He hasn't been given the constitutional authority, of course, to do this.
How do we get rid of this case?
There are a number of paths. One is seeking actual review by the Supreme Court. HSC and at least several of the other major groups' legal teams aren't in favor of that. Even if you could get the court to accept your petition (they only take 3-5% of cases), the chances that it will be decided the way you want aren't real good. It's a very dangerous road to take, because if the Supreme Court were to affirm the appellate court ruling on either of the main points (constitutional or statutory), there aren't many options left. The constitutional argument, of course, could be appealed to the US Supreme Court, but the statutory case about the proper interpretation of the California Education Code could not. California Supreme Court is the last stop on that road. If that happens, then you have two bad choices that I'll discuss below.
There is another much easier choice, and it's the one we want, as well as the one being trumpeted in the HSLDA petition. You ask the California Supreme Court to depublish the opinion, or, in other words, have them say that while this might have been the right result in this particular case involving this particular set of facts, the court finds that the reach of the opinion is overbroad and should not become law for the entire state. That is the choice we all (meaning HSC and, I believe, the other groups) want.
You get this by filing a letter with the Supreme Court in compliance with the applicable rules of court. While anyone can file one by stating their interest, we DO NOT think it is an appropriate use of grassroots activism. We DO NOT want every HSC member or HSLDA member or grandmother or irate citizen dashing off their letters to the Supreme Court. There are sober, measured, legal arguments to make about why depublication is appropriate, and those arguments are made after researching the applicable standards, etc. The Supreme Court will not be swayed positively by public outcry. In fact, it could backfire, and backfire badly.
If the Supreme Court affirms on the statutory points, then the two bad choices are to either seek legislation or to do nothing and hope that a further case is brought that can involve a better set of facts and better explanation of the issues (and reaching a better result). Both are very dangerous. Legislation isn't the answer because of the extraordinary strength of the teachers' union. It is unlikely we will see any legislation ultimately pass that gives us the freedom we have today. And the second choice is dangerous. I know lots of families that would make terrific test case defendants -- they're conscientious, they actually get their kids educated, they follow the laws. But we don't get to pick who the family is. As a friend of mine said, we couldn't have gotten a worse set of facts for this case if we had a contest.
We are trying to get one or more of the fanciest law firms in the state to help us on taking the fangs out of this case. We know what we're doing. Please let us do our jobs.
I would be personally, professionally, and, as a representative of HSC, globally grateful if everyone on this list would calm down and ask others to calm down. Specifically, I would ask people:
a. Not to write to the Supreme Court or any court.
b. Not to talk to their legislators or make any public statements about a need for legislation.
c. Tell their neighbors, friends, lists, groups both of the above and to educate them about the choices available and about how panic isn't necessary, marches on Sacramento aren't necessary, etc.
I wish this were the type of situation where we could put the fury, passion and energy of the members of this list to good use. Trust me, if we end up having to go the legislative route, we will have that situation at some points. But this isn't that type of situation, and too many folks stirring things up hurts instead of helps.
Many of you are aware that an appellate court decision came out on February 28, 2008 that potentially affects homeschooling.
The case arose out of a dependency proceeding in juvenile court. As luck would have it, the family was not the one we would have picked for a homeschool test case.
Attorneys were appointed by the court for the youngest children, and they requested the court to order that the children be sent to public school because it would be in the children's best interests. The parents claimed both a constitutional right to homeschool on religious grounds and that the private school independent study program (ISP) in which the children were enrolled provided a legal exemption from public school attendance. The trial court judge accepted the constitutional argument, even though it might not be a very strong one.
The appeals court did not accept it. It reversed on the constitutional argument and remanded the case back to the trial court for a hearing on whether the private ISP in which the family's children were enrolled met the requirements for an exemption from the compulsory
attendance laws. The court, however, made it pretty clear that they did not think the ISP would or could qualify for the exemption, taking the bulk of their written opinion to explain their reasoning.
Whether what they said is binding on the lower court or whether it is dicta (basically just their opinion) that was beyond the scope of the case, we don't know, but we do know that the appellate court badly misinterpreted the California educational code.
The interpretation essentially said that the only types of schooling that were legal in CA were full-time attendance in a brick & mortar institution or being taught full time somewhere (home, wherever) by a full-time credentialed tutor. This means that ALL educational alternatives could be construed as illegal, from homeschooling to distance learning to ISPs and possibly even public charter home study programs.
As you can all imagine, the homeschooling community is alarmed. The major state advocacy groups (HSC, CHN, CHEA, FPM), together with HSLDA, have been working on strategies to address this matter. We have also been in contact with representatives of some of the major third party homeschooling programs to let them know that this could impact them and to ask them to coordinate any response with HSC.
HSC is being represented by counsel in this issue, and we will consult with them about our options and about the best strategy for limiting the impact of this decision. It is not appropriate for us to state what that strategy is, but there are actions we can take that could significantly minimize any bad results. HSC understands that its mission is to support the right of all parents to teach their children at home, and we will continue to work toward that end. We will keep you informed here and through the e-list.
At the present time, it is recommended that California homeschoolers not change anything they are doing, just remain informed, support the groups who are handling this, and don't panic. When and if the time comes that public support needs to be rallied, we'll let you know. We specifically request that no one contact any members of the legislature to suggest that a legislative solution be found. It is quite possible that we can reach a result that limits the impact of this case and makes legislation unnecessary.
ClaraBaughn goes GREEN! Don't all cockers love their collards??? (last week - not today!!)
