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Department of Defense Discontinues Homeschool Support
2007-02-20 16:05:13
By Mimi Rothschild Last week I read a somewhat disappointing news story at the Leavenworth Lamp. DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates and manages the education programs for Defense Department family members who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality public education. Although operating a home-schooling program is outside of its directed mission, officials said, DoDEA has administered the Remote Home School Program since school year 2001-2002, when it received the first in a series of unsolicited allocations and grants to support the program. What’s good about this is that maybe families will begin looking for private alternatives to this public service.  The HSLDA has a wonderful page for those who are not yet convinced that public homeschooling programs are undesirable. What’s sad, however, is that this is going to leave thousands of children without an education in the fall.  Many military families value homeschooling because they so often move from place to pla
Read more: Homeschool , Support

Public Charter Schools Doomed to Failure
2007-02-13 15:14:52
By Mimi Rothschild Although it doesn’t seem that the mainstream media is interested in reporting this, I came across this innocent-sounding blurb at 21st Century Cyber Charter School, a Pennsylvania government-sponsored virtual school. We have been notified by the Department of Education that we have once again made AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress). 21st Century Cyber was the only cyber school to make AYP last year, and is the only cyber school in PA that is not on the academic warning list. Congratulations to our students and staff! Congratulations indeed! Out of the twelve public cyber charter schools based in Pennsylvania, only one is meeting AYP standards set forth in the No Child Left Behind plan. What a track record! This news comes hot on the heels of the HSLDA’s recent announcement that public virtual schools are performing worse than not only private schools and homeschools, but the very public schools for which they were designed to provide an alternative! Pare
Read more: Public , Schools

Public School Cultivates Learning Disabilities
2007-02-06 15:10:18
By Mimi Rothschild Joel Turtel, author of “Public School s, Public Menace” cites a harrowing tale of the public school’s incompetence. He was a volunteer reading instructor some time ago and was asked to help a young boy read. He was dismayed to find that the child was never taught to sound out words using phonics, but simply memorized words that were simple enough to sight read. As a result, the boy insisted on reading only certain books that he had been able to memorize. When Turtel expressed to the boy’s parents that the reason why their child has not excelled in reading is not due to a learning disability or disinterest in reading, but because he had never actually learned how to read. When the school’s administrators found out about his suggestion, they were furious and demanded that he leave the premises. This heartbreaking story is indicative of a greater problem that is endemic to the public school way. Reading is perhaps the most tangible of s
Read more: Learning , Disabilities , Public School

Homeschooler Banned from Spelling Bee
2007-01-30 15:23:46
By Mimi Rothschild Here’s another example of the inability of the public school system to appropriately deal with homeschool students. A bright homeschooler wanted to participate in a Philadelphia-area homeschool spelling bee and she was declined because the first round of the spelling bee is a “classroom activity” rather than an extracurricular activity. Is there any reasonable way that the school administration can justify this behavior? What positive outcome can this decision yield? I can see only negatives. I am forced to assume that the school administration doesn’t like to see homeschoolers put their students to shame. The hostility that school administration has shown homeschooling families (especially ones with bright kids) is well documented. When a homeschooler comes into a classroom and shows everyone up it embarrasses teachers and administration. There is no other explanation. The law says that home-schoolers must be allowed to participate in
Read more: Banned

Public School Crushes Souls
2007-01-16 19:06:28
By Mimi Rothschild I would encourage all parents to read Steve Olsen’s heartbreaking account of his experience in the public school. Here we have a brilliant young mind that is systematically stifled and neglected over the course of twelve years. He went to one of the best schools in one of the most highly regarded states in terms of education: Minnessota. Here was a student that had a real burning curiosity for learning. His passion was stifled by uncaring teachers and peers. Two years later in Jr. High, I took an Apple II computer class. On the first day of class, I looked through the syllabus, found the last lesson, loaded the 5 1/4 inch floppy, and completed it. I beamed with pride and arrogance. The teacher looked at my program, turned bright red, yanked me out of my seat by my ear, and I fell to the floor humiliated. He pointed to the door and said, "get out of my classroom" He forced me to sit in the hall the rest of the semester and failed me. Tragically, that was
Read more: Public , School , Public School , Crushes , Souls

Creative Class Turns to Homeschooling
2007-01-09 18:22:07
By Mimi Rothschild This Business Week article takes a fascinating look at a growing number of upper-class folks who have embraced homeschooling to avoid the intellectually stifling atmosphere that they endured as children. These are families that could afford expensive private educations, but choose to make sacrifices, such as dad working his office time around the kids, or even (gasp!) mom staying at home full time. Religion, generally thought to be the primary impetus for homeschooling, comes in a close second to concerns about the learning environment itself. This includes peer pressure, bullying, irresponsible teachers, self-esteem pressures, and boring class work. Many of today’s parents are realizing that the public school no longer has to be a given. Many don’t want their children to suffer through the boring busy work and drawn-out lectures that they did as kids. The best part of the article is the comparison made between the public school system and old assembly-
Read more: Homeschooling

Unschooling Picks Up Steam
2007-01-02 17:19:37
By Mimi Rothschild The Louisville Courier-Journal ran a recent story on the growing popularity of unschooling. Unschooling was the hot topic of the homeschooling world in 2006 and it shows no signs of slowing down. Self-taught learning, educational autonomy, child-led learning, are all names for what is now considered “unschooling.” “It’s an awareness that learning is always happening because it’s part of living,” said Jane Van Stelle Haded of Hobart, who unschools her two children. “It’s almost trying to capitalize on whatever your children are interested in.” Whether that means baking bread with mom or playing an education video game with little brother, learning can happen anywhere. This type of learning stands in stark contrast to the rigid structures and testing formats of the public school system. Educators are currently unable to tell if unschoolers can stack up against their public school counterparts academically becau
Read more: Steam

Crunchy Cons Embrace Homeschooling
2006-12-26 17:24:30
By Mimi Rothschild What are “Crunchy Cons”? According to Rod Dreher, the author of Crunchy Cons, they are conservatives, usually Christians, who uphold traditional Christian values, but adhere to certain beliefs that are popularly considered “lefty” such as pro-environment, pro-organics, and anti-capitalism. Many of these folks are homeschoolers, or “hip homeschooling mamas” as the cover of Dreher’s new book claims. These folks take the concept of “pro-life” and expand it to every aspect of living. This includes eating organic foods free of pesticides and growth hormones, raising crops on healthy soil, supporting environmental awareness campaigns, parenting large families with 10+ children and more. Essentially, they are attempting to live life naturally, as God would have us live. Godly and groovy! Although these characteristics may seem conflicting, it really makes sense that these two subcultures are beginning to mingle. R
Read more: Homeschooling

Strong Families as Idols
2006-12-12 17:58:57
By Mimi Rothschild  The Highland’s Study Center’s Every Though Captive is a wonderfully insightful publication. Consider a recent entry regarding the idolatry of the family. When we get ourselves backwards and pursue as our primary goal the family-integrated thing, the homeschooling thing, the patriarchy thing, the breeding thing, the modesty/home-baked bread thing, or the “making sure our boys are tough warriors and not wimpy” thing, instead of God’s glory, idolatry is just around the corner. Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with any of these things I have just mentioned. But they are means, not ends. Yikes. I think that some Christian homeschooling families tend to err on this side of the continuum. Some of us are so pro-family that we forget what a strong family is for in the first place. Every institution or lifestyle decision should be made to give glory to God and spread his love and truth. While a strong, God-fearing family is a
Read more: Strong , Families , Idols

Teacher Dad Homeschools Kids
2006-12-05 16:12:49
By Mimi Rothschild I can’t tell you the amount of public school teachers I have met who have chosen to pull their own children out of the public school. After all, these folks, experiencing its failures day in and day out have the greatest incentive to homeschool. Take a look at this heartwarming article from the St. Petersburg Times. These teachers recognize that a public school environment is not only not conducive to learning, but most often antagonistic. The article details a family’s unconventional learning techniques, such as a trip to the beach to dig up shells and fossils. Compare this peaceful scene to the classroom setting, full of screams, whines, and cursing. For three months, Daynard has been homeschooling his children. He left his job as a Pinellas County teacher and pulled his sons out of public school because he found the environment chaotic, even threatening, he says. A particularly interesting element of this picture is that dad is the teacher. This i
Read more: Teacher

Homeschooling Triples in Britain
2007-02-28 16:29:38
By Mimi Rothschild At least 16,000 children in the UK are homeschooling, according to a recent Guardian article.  According to parents, bullying is the primary reason that parents choose to homeschool.  I’ve heard that bullying in Britain makes America’s average bullying behavior look tame.  Children have committed suicide over it. The UK’s increased religious subgroups such as Muslims, Gypsies, and Christians have also opted to remove their children from government-sponsored schools. A DfES spokesman said: “Standards have never been higher and with record funding in our schools we believe the best place to educate a child is actually in school. Not all homeschoolers are convinced. And why should they be?  Funding does not equal quality. “Some of the parents interviewed felt that standards of education had declined,” the report said. This, coupled with a view that the current education system is overly bureaucratic, inflexible and assessment-driv
Read more: Homeschooling , Triples

Colleges Friendlier towards Homeschoolers
2007-03-13 15:02:01
By Mimi Rothschild The Deseret News has some good news. Colleges are becoming friendlier towards homeschoolers. In the past, college admissions departments raised an eyebrow at the applications of homeschoolers. As homeschooling grows in popularity, these institutions of higher learning have begun not only considering homeschooled applicants, but seeking them out. And with good reason! Homeschoolers have now been shown to excel at the college level in an age where colleges are scrambling to maintain academic standards. Under UC Riverside’s new policy, home schoolers can apply by submitting a lengthy portfolio detailing their studies and other educational experiences. A portfolio is a great way to prove to college admissions counselors that you’ve completed a legitimate homeschool program. Students at The MorningStar Academy can receive portfolios detailing their yearly progress. These can come in very handy when hunting for colleges.
Read more: Friendlier

Legislators Attempt to Raise Compulsory Attendance Age
2007-03-20 15:45:32
By Mimi Rothschild Problem: Children don’t like going to school. Solution: Make it mandatory! Problem 2: Children still don’t like going to school. Solution 2:  Make them stay longer! From the HSLDA: “Senate Bill 171 is a legislative proposal which would raise North Carolina’s compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 17, until the child graduates from high school. If enacted, this legislation would require homeschoolers to comply with the law for an additional year, including an additional year of standardized testing. Home School Legal Defense Association believes that Senate Bill 171 should be opposed, because it represents an expansion of the state’s control over education, particularly homeschooling.” When will they ever learn!  Studies show that students who lack the motivation to attend school are not benefited by this policy.  All this will do is take resources away from students who actually want an education. Perhaps the worst part of this leg
Read more: Legislators

Announcing Online Summer School Program
2007-03-26 16:30:36
By Mimi Rothschild The MorningStar Academy is pleased to announce our online Summer School Program !  This program allows existing homeschoolers and public school students to enroll in a course from July 2-August 31. This program is a wonderful solution for children who are interested in preparing for college, wish to make up a missed class, learn a new skill, obtain extra credits towards a diploma, or try out online homeschooling. You won’t hear “Mommy, I’m bored!” this summer! Visit The MorningStar Academy to find out more our online Summer School Program!


Sam Harris vs. Rick Warren
2007-04-03 15:39:08
By Mimi Rothschild In one corner we have the it-boy of evangelical Christendom, Rick Warren . Pastor of the 25,000-strong Saddleback mega-church, Warren is certainly a force to be reckoned with. In the other corner, Sam Harris , prominent atheist author and student of neuroscience. When these two power-players square off, it is bound to be interesting. I’m disappointed in Warren for invoking so many cliched and emotionally-based arguments. I would have liked to see a more logical approach. Then again, I think Sam Harris did not do nearly as good a job evaluating the historical effects of Christianity vs atheism. What folks like Harris and fellow author Richard Dawkins must realize is that dogma exists on both sides. Here are some hilights: WARREN: You have common grace. Even in people who don’t believe in God, there is a spark God has put in you that says, “There’s got to be more to life than just make money and die.” I think that that spark does not come


Homeschooling Professor Lays it Down
2007-04-10 16:04:28
By Mimi Rothschild I was overjoyed to read an article in the Boston Pilot that served as a pretty good introduction to the joys and advantages of homeschooling. Professor Michael Pakaluk is a professor of philosophy in Cambridge, Mass. who has chosen to homeschool his 16-year old daughter. He provides the following excellent list. 1. It’s efficient. 2. It’s inexpensive. 3. Homeschooling tends to develop good habits of reading. 4. Homeschooled children more easily become friends with their parents. 5. Homeschooling requires that the father play the role that he really should play in his children’s education. 6. Unity of studying and religious belief. 7. Homeschooling tends to foster a lively patriotism. 8. Homeschooled children can enjoy the innocence of childhood longer. 9. Homeschooled children socialize better. I found the fourth point to be especially interesting. How many teenagers do you know that have healthy, loving relationships with their parents? Now, I’m not


Our Prayers are with You
2007-04-16 23:15:46
By Mimi Rothschild I would like to take a moment to extend our sympathies and prayers to the families of the students who were killed in the Virginia Tech massacre. In times like these, it is difficult to find words to express what we are feeling. As a mother who has lost a child, I know all too well the pain that goes along with such loss. God has a plan. That’s all I can say. It may be difficult to accept this fact now, but please know that God giveth and taketh away according to a perfect plan. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.


Announcing the Jr. Picasso Contest
2007-04-27 23:22:20
Attention all starving artists! The MorningStar Academy is now accepting submissions for our Jr. Picasso Art Contest .  Submit your artwork now for a chance to win a gift certificate from Utrecht Art Supply!  All children under the age of 18 are welcome to enter. Please visit the following web page for more information. Homeschooling Art – The MorningStar Academy’s Junior Picasso Contest!


Stupid in America
2007-05-05 00:30:51
Have you ever seen John Stossel’s “Stupid in America ” documentary?  If not, I highly encourage you to check it out when you have a free forty minutes.  It doesn’t tell we homeschoolers anything we don’t already know, but it justifies our cause like no other video, book, or lecture I’ve watched. We all know naysayers that consistently deny the value of homeschooling or say that it couldn’t work en masse.  This is a great way to point out to these folks that it couldn’t be any worse than it already is. Kudos to these private homeschool programs that are giving children an amazing education for a fraction of the cost.  It’s great to see how the free market provides the best quality service with little more than an entrepreneurial spirit.


The Importance of Creativity in Education
2007-05-10 22:04:09
By Mimi Rothschild Ken Robinson provides us with a witty and incisive critique of how the public school squanders the minds of children by squelching their natural creativity.  Arguing that creativity is just as important as literacy (which we’re not doing so well on either), Robinson declares that so many children are shuffled from class to class without exploring creative pathways.  We are teaching kids that there’s nothing worse than making a mistake, and in doing so, we grow children out of their creativity. It has been said that tomorrow’s marketplace will be driven by ideas.  Adults can no longer get by filling a position or warming a seat.  Of course, this is not a new phenomenon.  The world’s greatest innovators have always been the ones who are most curious and ambitious.  However, technology has provided a way for so many more people to achieve great creative heights.  The bored and the boring people will be the worker bees. Homeschooling allows
Read more: Creativity , Education

Michelle Malkin Understands Homeschoolers
2007-05-14 17:28:55
By Mimi Rothschild It’s a short post, but it’s something.  Possibly the hottest conservatively-minded politics and culture blogger, Michelle Malkin has linked two news stories that should make your blood boil. The first, from the Edmonton Sun paints a picture of absolute terror as sixth graders were subjected to a staged gun attack.  One of the teachers donned a ski mask and pulled on the locked door of the classroom, frightening the sixty-nine students in the room, who were crying and hiding under tables.  The second, from Fox News details the shocking story of an 8th grade class which was forced to watch Brokeback Mountain, a tale of homosexual lust.  The film depicts a drawn-out homosexual sex scene, frontal nudity, among countless depictions of adultery, violence, foul language, and other unsavory images. “It’s no wonder homeschooling is so popular,” mused Malkin.  No wonder indeed.  Between this, sex-change lessons, and innumerable other offen
Read more: Homeschoolers , Michelle Malkin

Experienced Educator Explains the Inadequacy of Public Schools in New Book
2007-05-24 10:29:07
By Mimi Rothschild Patricia Kokinos, a teacher and an assistant principal for more than 25 years paints a dark picture of the public school system in America. "Angel Park" is a fictional novel that was inspired by Kokinos career as an educator and her experiences in fighting for school reform. The novel describes the dismal state that public schools are in and the urgent need for public school reform. Kokinos was rejected from a number of publishing houses because they did not agree with her belief that a novel should be written on the downfall of public schools in America. She finally decided to print the novel herself through the independent publishing house iUniverse. I'm glad she did! "Angel Park" is now receiving national media attention and is a finalist for the Foreword's Magazine Book of the Year Award. Read more about Patricia Kokinos book. My children have benefited from a great alternative to the public school system: homeschooling. Christian homeschooling
Read more: Educator , Public , Schools , Public Schools

Christian Homeschools Growing as Critics Hurl Stones
2007-05-31 16:35:15
By Mimi Rothschild America is at the crossroads in many different facets of life. Religion, or difference in opinion on religious issues, acts as the catalyst that has propelled America to this new era of hostility between Christian s and Atheists. According to Rachel Zoll of The Washington Post Christopher Hitchens has published another anti-Christian book entitled “God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything” that has reached the top of the best-seller list. These sort of weightless attacks have become common over the last few years. The spiritual battle in America is increasingly becoming more and more evident each day, especially in America’s schools. Zoll questions the future of America’s public schools because of the rapid growth of Christian homeschools. Be sure to check out the debate between Hitchens and Reverend Doug Wilson, author of “Letter from a Christian Citizen,” on Christianity Today. Other hotly debated topics that normally divide between religious
Read more: Growing , Stones

Interview Reveals Number of Homeschool Students up Twenty-Nine Percent in America
2007-06-05 12:04:30
By Mimi Rothschild Parents are dramatically pulling their children out of public schools to homeschool them instead. According to the National Center for Education Statistics the number of homeschool students in 2003 is up 29 percent from 1999. Just imagine the increase of homeschool students in America now in 2007. Parents are discovering the benefits of homeschooling their children as public schools continue to be plagued with violence, drugs, bullying, and an overall failing approach to educating students. Some parents are still apprehensive about homeschooling their children, most often because of the myths that public schools have been feeding the masses over the years. Ruth Olson of Newsweek sat down with Laura Derrick, president of the National Home Educator’s Network to discuss issues on homeschooling for high school students. Derrick tackles some of the theories non-homeschoolers have about homeschoolers, talks about her own experience with homeschooling, and why so many
Read more: Number , Homeschool , Percent

The MorningStar Academy Summer Reading List and Summer Programs
2007-06-06 12:01:43
By Mimi Rothschild What are your homeschoolers doing this summer? Going back in time? Sailing on the high seas? Hanging out with the three little pigs? Summer is the perfect time for homeschoolers to improve their readings skills and have a blast while doing it. We’ve compiled a comprehensive summer reading list for each Grace Academy grade so that your homeschoolers can improve their reading skills over the summer and have fun reading a variety of amazing stories. Encourage your homeschooler to read everyday and see their reading skills improve dramatically over the summer! Homeschool parents should also check out our homeschool summer school program. Our summer school program helps homeschoolers grow their minds, gain credit toward a high school diploma, and surge ahead academically instead of developing lazy habits. Have a great summer!!!
Read more: Reading , Programs , Reading List

Homeschooling Receives Long Overdue Credit From Mainstream Media
2007-06-12 16:31:55
By Mimi Rothschild Michael Alison Chandler of The Washington Post wrote a compelling and positive article on homeschooling yesterday. Often times the mainstream media has been critical of homeschooling. Media outlets have overlooked homeschooling’s success and instead focused on a number of unimportant related issues during the debate over homeschooling. Chandler gives credit where credit is due and praises the quality education homeschooling delivers to students. Chandler notes that homeschooling “is gaining ground in a crucial arena: college admissions.” Most colleges and universities have a formal policy in place for evaluating homeschooling students. This policy will prove to be monumental as the number of homeschooling students have increased to almost two million students in America. I’m so happy that homeschoolers are finally being lauded for their accomplishments and their first-class educations. Chandler describes my excitement when thinking about how far homesch
Read more: Homeschooling , Mainstream , Mainstream Media

Corporations in the Classroom?
2007-06-20 11:30:09
By Mimi Rothschild Children all over the United States and Canada are being bombarded in their own public schools by a slew of marketing messages from corporate America. Public school students can no longer walk down the hallway, ride the bus, or even open up their textbooks without being subjected to a message that essentially tells them that they need to buy something. “Corporations in the Classroom ” is a one-hour documentary that profiles the increasing covert influence that big business is exerting on public school children in America and Canada. Marketing to school age students is estimated to be a 2 billion dollar industry. The film raises questions about the lack of regulations that are in place that would protect our children from the aggressive corporate marketing campaigns that are often masquerading as classroom lessons. The problem that I see with this new “curricula,” that is being perpetrated on our children, is not necessarily the idea that corporate sponsors


Public School Educator Gives Home Schooling High Marks
2007-07-03 12:08:47
By Mimi Rothschild Hello all, this is a short post, but I thought I’d share this great article I read. Duane Sheppard, a retired educator with almost three decades of experience in the public school system, wrote a compelling article on home schooling and home schooling’s increasing popularity. I find Mr. Sheppard’s article to be extremely fascinating because he gives home schooling such high marks even though he worked for almost thirty years in public schools. Mr. Sheppard recently watched his home schooling grandson graduate. He notes that home schooling is not a new trend. “Though it may seem like a recent trend, home schooling is nothing new. George Washington, Queen Elizabeth, Theodore Roosevelt and Sandra Day O’Connor were home schooled. However, a couple of decades ago, this option still seemed like a fringe choice.” He meticulously documents home school’s progress, home school’s tremendous success, reasons to home school, and home schooling benefits.
Read more: Public , School , Educator , Schooling , Public School , Home Schooling

The Decision to Homeschool
2007-07-03 11:53:15
By Mimi Rothschild Thirteen years ago, Jon Yarrington was on his way to way to work on the first day of school when his wife told him that she wouldn’t send her children to the local public school anymore. Yarrington was a skeptic of home schooling at the time, but 13 years later he is now the president of the Utah Home Education Association. The Yarrington family is not alone in making the dramatic life-changing decision to home school. Parents all across the United States are choosing to home school their children. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that there are 1.1 million home schooling students in America while other studies, like that of Dr. Brian Ray, estimate there are between 1.7 and 2.1 home schooling students in America. The National Home Education Research Institute also says that home schooling is “growing at a rate of seven to fifteen percent each year.” James Stoddard and Barbara Miller, both former public school teachers, chose to home school their c
Read more: Homeschool

The MorningStar Academy Graduating Senior Publishes Book
2007-07-18 07:22:36
By Mimi Rothschild The MorningStar Academy is proud to announce that graduating senior Melissa Pettignano’s first book, entitled “Suzanna Lantana” is now available to the public. “Suzanna Lantana” “is about a young, full of life girl that has gone through many things a pre-teen would go through all the way up to being a teen. The biggest one is loosing her aunt Arlene T. Babakitis on Sept 11th 2001 in The World Trade Center. This book is a collection of short stories. Stories that have meanings and teachings for young girls who can relate. If not relate can understand.” Melissa exemplifies the home school education to the fullest. Home schooling allows students to pursue their interests and encourages a love of learning. Melissa pursued her passion for writing and telling stories. Home schooling also allows parents to customize and tailor their children’s education to meet their learning styles. These are only two home schooling benefits, but they show why home scho
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