Open Blog Saturday!
Nov. 5, 2005 at 10:47 AM
This was orginally supposed to be another Open Blog Friday, but the sun was shining and we went to the park for quite a while yesterday. But I enjoyed last week's open blog that I thought I'd repeat it again this week. So feel free to let me know what's on your mind or blog. Here's a few things going on around here a few items I just didn't get time to blog about in more detail.
Parental Rights? Not in the public schools: This is a must read post for every parent concerned about the direction of education in this country. This week the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a case brought by parents upset over a very explicit survey given to elemenatary aged students. In a unanimous decision they ruled against the parents complaint. It's not suprising that our schools are taking on more and more parental responsibility wha's so sad is that more and more parents are just letting it happen.
Heaven Without Christ?: I am reading John Piper's new book, God is the Gospel. (Thanks to Stacy at Mind and Media.) In the introduction he asks the questions. Would you be happy in heaven if everything were perfect, no sin, no sickness, no problem but NO Christ? That's an interesting question especially when so often we live our daily lives as if Christ and His Word do not matter much. However, it is only because of a love for Christ that we can enjoy any of the blessings that are result of God's love for us. I hope we all begin to answer no to this question and live and accordingly.
Defying Logic: We are going through The Thinking Toolbox by the Bluedorn's. And having a great time. I know it doesn't seem right to enjoy logic. I took a fair amount of in college and never remember laughing while I studied it. A few tears maybe but never laughter. But everytime we read a lesson we find ourselves laughing outloud.
More on the Bluedorns: Thank you to Laurie Bluedorn for sending me a complimentary set of the books her daughter Johannah illustrated. They are beautiful (see left photo). I am so impressed with her talent and the whole Bluedorn family. Their father Harvey Bluedorn also has a list on his website that is excellent it's called The Ten Undeniable Truths of Homeschooling.
I'm impressed by my own two year old too: No she's not doing logic or drawing pictures like Johanna but I think she's equally brilliant. She received a new set of glasses last week with bifocals. We put them on and she looked up, smiled, and said "New bifocals!" I didn't even know she knew the word let alone what they were. Do all parents think their kids are the smartest in the world?
Homeschooling: Ann from Holy Experience sent me a link to an article called Reflections on the Right Use of SchoolStudies with a View to the Love of God. It's all about building a habit of attentiveness in our studies so that we can be attentive in prayer and before God. Here's are two quote that I especially liked,
Tapestry of Grace: We are in the midst of World War One and the Russian Revolution. This is one time I wish my paternal grandfather were alive. He fled Ukrainia in 1917 to come to the Ellis Island as a young man of 17. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Detroit and worked as an assemblyman at Ford Motor Company. He died before I was born and never talked about his life before coming here. He left his whole family behind to start a one here. How hard that must have been. I am told I have many relatives back in the Ukraine but unfortunately finding them would be extremely difficult. But the history he left behind would make the history we are studying today so much richer and real.
Congratulations to...:
...Patricia Hunter who just celebrated her 29th wedding anniversary. She actually married the same man twice. Read her inspring story at A Chord of Three Strands is Not Easily Broken.
...Adrienne and the new addition to her family. They recently adopted a little two year old boy.
It's a blog world after all: The blogosphere is growing tremendously. Everyday it's connecting people and ideas faster than ever before. Especially among families that homeschool. The Homeschoolblogger.com website is fast approaching their 3000th blogger. To celebrate they are giving away a prize to the 3000th blogger and the person or blog that refers them. To find what the prize is click here. The time to start blogging has never been more right.
Family Farming: Nancy Carter wrote a post called "If you give a family a farm." I"m not a farmer nor do I ever hope to be one. But many homeschoolers enjoy the farm life and Nancy takes a humorous look at what happens when a family decides to get a farm.
Updating my blogroll: I've had some e-mails and comments from fellow bloggers asking to be added to my blogroll I'll get my executive assistant of SpunkyHomeschool to it some time today. If you would like to be added let me know.
There's alot going on around the blogosphere. I can't keep up with it all. Let me know what you're talking about.
Parental Rights? Not in the public schools: This is a must read post for every parent concerned about the direction of education in this country. This week the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a case brought by parents upset over a very explicit survey given to elemenatary aged students. In a unanimous decision they ruled against the parents complaint. It's not suprising that our schools are taking on more and more parental responsibility wha's so sad is that more and more parents are just letting it happen.
Heaven Without Christ?: I am reading John Piper's new book, God is the Gospel. (Thanks to Stacy at Mind and Media.) In the introduction he asks the questions. Would you be happy in heaven if everything were perfect, no sin, no sickness, no problem but NO Christ? That's an interesting question especially when so often we live our daily lives as if Christ and His Word do not matter much. However, it is only because of a love for Christ that we can enjoy any of the blessings that are result of God's love for us. I hope we all begin to answer no to this question and live and accordingly.
Defying Logic: We are going through The Thinking Toolbox by the Bluedorn's. And having a great time. I know it doesn't seem right to enjoy logic. I took a fair amount of in college and never remember laughing while I studied it. A few tears maybe but never laughter. But everytime we read a lesson we find ourselves laughing outloud.
More on the Bluedorns: Thank you to Laurie Bluedorn for sending me a complimentary set of the books her daughter Johannah illustrated. They are beautiful (see left photo). I am so impressed with her talent and the whole Bluedorn family. Their father Harvey Bluedorn also has a list on his website that is excellent it's called The Ten Undeniable Truths of Homeschooling. I'm impressed by my own two year old too: No she's not doing logic or drawing pictures like Johanna but I think she's equally brilliant. She received a new set of glasses last week with bifocals. We put them on and she looked up, smiled, and said "New bifocals!" I didn't even know she knew the word let alone what they were. Do all parents think their kids are the smartest in the world?
Homeschooling: Ann from Holy Experience sent me a link to an article called Reflections on the Right Use of SchoolStudies with a View to the Love of God. It's all about building a habit of attentiveness in our studies so that we can be attentive in prayer and before God. Here's are two quote that I especially liked,
This is almost completely opposite the philosophy of the young man I blogged about a few days ago.Students must therefore work without any wish to gain good marks, to pass examinations, to win school successes; without any reference to their natural abilities and tastes; applying themselves equally to all their tasks, with the idea that each one will help form in them the habit of that attention which is the substance of prayer. (snip)
We do not obtain the most precious gifts by going in search of them but by waiting for them. Man cannot discover them by his own powers, and if he sets out to seek for them he will find in their place counterfeits of which he will be unable to discern falsity.
Tapestry of Grace: We are in the midst of World War One and the Russian Revolution. This is one time I wish my paternal grandfather were alive. He fled Ukrainia in 1917 to come to the Ellis Island as a young man of 17. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Detroit and worked as an assemblyman at Ford Motor Company. He died before I was born and never talked about his life before coming here. He left his whole family behind to start a one here. How hard that must have been. I am told I have many relatives back in the Ukraine but unfortunately finding them would be extremely difficult. But the history he left behind would make the history we are studying today so much richer and real.
Congratulations to...:
...Patricia Hunter who just celebrated her 29th wedding anniversary. She actually married the same man twice. Read her inspring story at A Chord of Three Strands is Not Easily Broken.
...Adrienne and the new addition to her family. They recently adopted a little two year old boy.
It's a blog world after all: The blogosphere is growing tremendously. Everyday it's connecting people and ideas faster than ever before. Especially among families that homeschool. The Homeschoolblogger.com website is fast approaching their 3000th blogger. To celebrate they are giving away a prize to the 3000th blogger and the person or blog that refers them. To find what the prize is click here. The time to start blogging has never been more right.
Family Farming: Nancy Carter wrote a post called "If you give a family a farm." I"m not a farmer nor do I ever hope to be one. But many homeschoolers enjoy the farm life and Nancy takes a humorous look at what happens when a family decides to get a farm.
Updating my blogroll: I've had some e-mails and comments from fellow bloggers asking to be added to my blogroll I'll get my executive assistant of SpunkyHomeschool to it some time today. If you would like to be added let me know.
There's alot going on around the blogosphere. I can't keep up with it all. Let me know what you're talking about.
4 Comments and Trackbacks
posted by Tami on Nov. 5, 2005 at 9:27 PM
I get to be the first one to respond to your Open Blog Call this week. I just wanted to say that I have a son who has been in glasses with bifocals since he was 20 months old. He doesn't remember how the world looks without his glasses. They are the first thing he puts on in the morning, and the last thing he takes off at night. He wears them for strabismus, and he has had 2 eye surgeries to correct it in addition to vision therapy. We were just at the othamologist's office yesterday for a 3-month re-check, and we go back in January to see if he is improving or will need more surgery. We are going to patch the strong eye for 2 hours per day to see if we can help him get that left eye stronger.
He relies strongly on the bifocals. It is amazing that he learned to use them at such a young age, and he uses them just like an adutl would.
I hope your daughter does well with her new glasses.
Have a blessed day! Tami
posted by spunkyhomeschool on Nov. 5, 2005 at 9:33 PM
I'm right there with you on the patching Tami. She has to do that as well. She had been up to 6 hours a day. But that has been slowly decreasing. Now she just has to wear it an hour a day. My son had surgery and so did I. It's genetic in my family. She is just like your son. She loves her glasses.
posted by gottsegnet on Nov. 6, 2005 at 1:19 AM
Mostly on my blog I just talk about our homeschool day and share our best lessons and how we try to teach from the bible, focusing on biblical principles and how the subjects come from that...at least that's my intent. Sometimes I just jump on my soapbox, too : ) My dd6 just finished her very first computer project, though and put it on her blog...I helped with most of the typing while she dictated, but otherwise it is her own work. You can see it at http://homeschoolblogger.com/rainbowdash.
On the 9th circuit's decision...it really is no surprise to me. When I was teaching, I was instructed that field trip forms are only a nicety and not really necessary. The school system does not have to tell the parent where it is taking their children becasue the state has the ultimate authority over their children. That is why the state can remove a child from a home for suspected child abuse...they do not even need a court hearing. The child is taken into protective custody, and the parent will not see that child until aftrer the court date and visitation is ordered. In regards to homeschooling, this is why in most states you must seek permission to homeschool. Even here in NE, where legislation is light, you have to provide a scope and sequence which somehow addresses how you are going to meet state standards in the core subject areas in order to receive approval.
It seems backwards to me. Why do we have a national education plan when our local schools should be under the direct authority of the parents in that community? Why should President Bush have anything to say about what kind of education Johnny in Norris elementary is receiving or what kind of training his teacher should receive? My child's education should be my responsibility, and if I choose to have my child enter public school, said school operates under my authority. Not the other way 'round. But that is not really the way the law reads, and it come as a shock when court rulings come down.
In Germany, parents were jailed for keeping their children home from a field trip to a play with questionable morals. The same will begin here if we continue in our complacency.
posted by Harriette on Nov. 6, 2005 at 3:30 PM
Here in Georgia our homeschool statute provides that parents submit a "notice of intent" to homeschool ~ in other words, I'm letting you know that I'm keeping mine to educate myself. However, the county we now reside in just doesn't seem to grasp the true interpretation of the statute and try their best to "approve" and interject their authority at any opportunity. What I find interesting about our homeschool statute here in Georgia is that "private schools" also fall under this very same statute. Ahem, homeschooling parents are only required to have a high school diploma or G.E.D. (you don't have to provide documentation - just have it) - thus, private schools (that parents pay thousands of dollars to ~), by law, can hire teachers to teach with this amount of education also. Let me be the first to say that I question the whole "piece of paper" mentality ~ except for certain occupations (i.e. the physician who is about to operate on me.......I'm looking for it....LOL)........but you all know what I'm getting at. I feel quite certain that the majority of reputable private schools prefer hiring teachers with higher education and the appropriate credentials, NOT that this necessarily qualifies them to teach my children.......but I am never ceased to be amazed at the number of parents who have no idea that private schools fall under the same guidelines as homeschoolers ~ they just write that check.
I don't even need to go into my feelings about the State believing they have ownership of my children - no where on their birth certificate do I see anything remotely close to birthrights of my children and my hair has already been standing up for the last 3 days over other things.........I need it back where it belongs by morning ~ LOL! WHEW! ....oh, just the thought........maybe New Zealand is an option - dunno - will have to check w/LeeAnneNZ.......
Thanks for the open-blog forum~
Blessings to all,
Harriette