I was reading some blogs today and came across a link to this article Not Much Ado About History.  I found it to be an interesting read.  At the end of the article there is a few questions and I'll admit there were a few I couldn't answer.  I had to Google the answers. LOL  I know shameful.  I've known that the phrase "wall of separation" that is referred to by many trying to push God out of the country is nowhere in our country's documents but I couldn't remember where it was located. 

So I did an Internet search to see where it is written.  I can not believe that the source of this controversy is from a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote to Danbury Baptist.  It was a letter reassuring the group that they would be protected from the federal government interfering with them.  You can go here and read it for yourself.  I am wondering since when does someones personal letters become law?  Last time I checked a law had to be voted on by a majority of us or our Representatives. 

My interpretation of Jefferson's letter, he's assuring them that the "government" will not establish a state religion.  That we are free to practice a religion anywhere, anyway we want.  That this separation is to limit the government not the people.  Isn't it funny how they twist it in a way to boot God out of everything possible?  I mean you can't pray on school grounds, school gatherings, courts, and a bunch of other places.  Doesn't this come down to your personal choice of where to pray?  I know they say its because the government owns these places but if you want to get real technical, isn't it our money paying for them?  How long before you aren't allowed to pray in public at all?  I know it seems extreme but lately I'm thinking this is the agenda.  Just a few thoughts I had.

I read this article today "Banned from US textbooks: owls, ketchup, dinosaurs, and old ladies with cats".  I just can't believe the extent they go to to be politically correct.  Its no wonder our schools are becoming so horrible.  What ever happen to freedom of speech?  Well apparently if you want your children to read any good literature you will have to supply it for them.  The school apparently does not believe in awakening the mind with good literature.

Yes, there is some books that have questionable language and some might find offensive, but doesn't that provide an opportunity for discussion?  Isn't the point of education to broaden your horizons, discuss opposing views, and learn to accept others points.  Maybe I'm strange but I think it is better to be exposed to some politically incorrect material while they are still under the guidance of adults.  Isn't it better to teach them how to deal with now, then to throw them out into the world unprepared? 

What I find kind of funny about this article is I thought homeschoolers were the ones that were isolating our children and creating little robots.  I mean isn't that what we are often accused of?  I'm beginning to think they are so opposed of homeschoolers because our children are free thinkers and don't follow the herd.  After all you can't create your ideal society with free thinkers in it, can you?

And some of the things they deem offensive is just laughable.  I find evolution offensive.  Does that mean they are going to stop putting that in textbooks?  I don't think so.  I also wonder what is going to happen to our history books.  There is a lot of history that is offensive to different groups of people.  I really worry about this country's future if we keep letting them lead us down this path.

I come across several articles I think to myself I should blog about that article.  Then I don’t because I think I don’t want to bore people with my opinions.  Well guess what!  I’m going to start boring you once a week.  And just so you know I’m an ultra conservative and very opinionated.  I’m not out to offend anybody I just thought I’d share my views on things.  I also love a good clean debate so don’t be afraid to post an opposite view point from mine.  I promise I will not attack you personally; I won’t degrade or name call either.  I would appreciate if you would follow the same and please link any related info.  Though I still want to keep the focus of this blog to homeschooling and our life but once a week I’m going to get opinionated.    Now here is my first entry.

I came across this article titled “The Downside to Homeschooling” and about laughed because I think the same list can be used as reasons to homeschool.  Here I’ll break it down like she did.

Social Interaction

First let’s look at the definition of the word social.  There are several but the one I think that relates best is: tending to form cooperative and interdependent relationships with one’s kind.    It doesn’t say only with one’s kind and age, it says with one’s kind.  One’s kind is what we refer to as our society.  The definition of society is:  a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions,institutions, and collective activities and interests.  See even in this definition it doesn’t say anything about age it says a broad grouping.  Therefore does it not make sense for our children to be socialized in an atmosphere that truly prepares them for society?  Homeschooling is a prime environment for this.  Homeschooled kids get to interact with a wide range of people on a daily bases.  As for the teamwork that is taught through sports in public school, homeschool kids learn teamwork not only through sports but through daily living and educating.  I know my children learn teamwork by working on projects together and when we do work on the house as a family.  They also participate in various sports and clubs.  Teamwork is not only taught through sports but through cooperation in completing a task or project.  Teamwork is not only needed in physical activities but also in mental work.

Lessons

This one is laughable.  Are you telling me that children who go to public school don’t ever get frustrated or that the teachers never do?  Please.  Getting frustrated is part of life it is how we deal with these frustrations that matters.  Homeschool teachers are very supportive of each other if we are feeling frustrated or unsure about something we just reach out to another homeschool teacher.  Sometimes just talking it out will help and sometimes they’ve been there done that and can give you pointers or a different perspective.  And quite frankly I think if nice that I’m there to help my child deal with his frustration at his schoolwork and help him work through it.  I will also admit that I’m not excellent in every subject but I will also tell my child I don’t know let’s go find out.  If there is some subject that our child is really struggling with homeschool teachers are usually the first to ask for help, search for a different approach, or find a solution because we want them to succeed. 

I remember when I was in high school I was having a problem with geometry so I asked the teacher for help.  Her reply was read the book.  I said I read the book and I still don’t get it.  She just replied read the book again and went back to reading her book.  I also had another teacher that taught business law and he would just write the notes on the board, the pages to read, and the questions to answer.  When the bell rang he'd say do this and point to the board.  That was the extent of his teaching.  How is that not frustrating to a child.  I’m not saying all teachers are that way but I know enough of them to keep my kids home.  I believe homeschool teachers will go that extra mile to help because it is our children.

Dances

I’m sorry to say but I think the public school atmosphere causes public school kids to value these dances.  I never went to any and honestly I didn’t feel slighted then or now.  Our church did hold lots of teen activities that I participated in and they were a lot of fun.  I remember listening to kids talk about the dances it was a well known fact that immoral behavior was expected at these events.  I think that is enough to make my children feel deprived from partaking in these events.  Enough said.

Graduation

Now granted not every homeschool kid partakes in a graduation ceremony but neither does every public school kid.  There are many options for graduation.  There are events sponsored by homeschool groups.  You can order a graduation certificate off the internet and throw a graduation for your child yourself.  There is no reason for a child to be deprived of a graduation if they want one.  Granted it won’t have 300 or more kids but it will definitely be an event that they remember forever.  It will be an event where they know everybody and everyone is thrilled for them.

So in my opinion the reasons given in the mentioned article are shaky at best and can easily be looked at from a different perspective.