Yes I said it, Home Schools are becoming the fast trend now... Well that isn't exactly true, it has been around since education was first thunk up (hehehe I had to do it). Given the fact that so many parents, like me, are fed up with the school systems, mandatory attendance laws and the State trying to rear our children, it is the most practical, totally legal (in almost every state I think) and viable alternative.

Take my situation for instance. I have two children, both with  'Hidden Disabilities'. One is a great student and makes A/B Honor Roll almost every year. But due to her asthma and anxiety, she misses a lot of school. This year (2004/2005) was no exception; she missed 28 days. Now the State of Texas is wanting to fine me, as well as my asthmatic daughter, because she has a disability that prevents her from attending school like a good little Mindless State Owned Drone. Anyone with asthma will tell you there are days when they are great, days when they are just so, so and then those days every year when they look and feel like hammered poop, choking for every precious life giving breath.

Normally I wouldn't make a fuss over it, but Texas has a law, that has no allowances, unless the student has a disability, that causes their grades to falter. Otherwise this 'Law' says a school district can fail the child, and make them repeat the same grade over. Umm, does anyone see a problem here besides me?

This law, although well meant I am sure, should be bendable given the health issues of every child that has a disability; but can not qualify for Title 504 or IDEA. Yet, when you ask for a meeting, and try to get your child into either program, then you are slapped in the face with, "What's the second qualifier for meeting the minimal 504/IDEA criteria?" Umm, the child needs this to better assist them in their educational endeavors, even if that means they miss a few more days than the law allows?

Now because my daughter has Asthma, and that is recognized by the school district as a disability; BUT she is a good student, she does not qualify for any allowances for her absences when her asthma acts up. I mean, what am I supposed to do, tell her 'not' to do her school work, so she has bad grades, and can qualify for the allowances? NOT AN OPTION! We do not condone that kind of thought about education. We believe that a child should have the best possible education affordable and/or offered. However, in the case of my Asthmatic daughter, I don't see her blossoming when she knows that the school she likes will cut her educational throat because she has problematic days.

My other daughter, has a hearing disability. She is not totally deaf, but does have ear infections quite a bit, and the drainage from those infections causes her to become ill. Now, this daughter qualifies for some allowances, but not absences due to the ears making her physically ill. As for her grades, she tries, but those are not as good as the other daughters grades.

In the case of my oldest here, she is limited in her education because she has a hard time hearing everything the teachers say. Now she says she asks the instructors to repeat themselves, but you and I know that children become embarrassed and feel ostracized because they are different from say Joanne next to them, who is in perfect health, and makes basically the same grades.

Here again, the days are 22 missed, because of her ears and yes the usual infectious crap that is spread around the schools; by 'Parents' that are terrified of the Texas Compulsory School Attendance Law. It should be illegal to send a child with a fever, snot running out of their noses, and hacking up their lungs, to any school in the United States. If a child has two of any of the three I just mentioned, they should be forced by law to stay home, even if that means mom/dad/guardian has to go by the school and get their assignments.

REASONS TO HOME SCHOOL

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1: A Home Schooled child can excel in areas where they have strengths like Math, Grammar, Reading or Science. Because they can focus on those subjects for the day or the week.

2: Weaker subjects can be focused on longer, and time allowed to work slowly, giving the child a real feeling of accomplishment when they finally realize what they need to be getting from a weaker subject. In time that weakness can become a strength (almost Zen like huh?).

3: There are no set times when a child has to attend classes (OMG! you mean they can actually wake up later in the day and maybe be more functional and ready to absorb knowledge?) Some children learn better after certain times of the day. ex. My oldest loves to read in the evenings... Hmmm, her 'Prime Retention Time' for reading maybe?

4: There are no Compulsory Attendance Laws, mandating that State Owned Drones must attend classes for 90% of the day, of the Semester of the physical school year. This means that if you want to take a week off to visit grandma, while Holiday traffic is still waiting for the State Owned Drones to be excused from school for the holidays, you can take off and miss the traffic.

5: You decide what your child learns (As long as it meets the Minimal Requirements of the State). Thus you can teach Theologically Based Education to Classically Based. As long as the educational needs are met.

6: No mindless rushing to sign little Suzie into Drone Education Camp. Thus you can wake when the kids do and begin their education.

7: No gas to and from school when kids are sick, to obtain State Drone Approved Training Materials. Because if they are capable, even with like a bad cold or flu, they can do some school work at their own pace in bed.

8: No school Lunches, then having to hear how the cafeteria lady dripped sweat into the fish sticks, and served them up (this actually happened in one of my kids schools).

9: Kids are more apt to learn at faster paces when they can be comfortable in their surroundings. Thus allowing them to excel as children into teens and adults. They can wear their gowns/pajama's or dress up for the fun of it. Oldest just said, man that will save Thousands in Drone Attire every year!

10: Kids are able to simply be themselves, and maybe allowed to have fun working, and working together. Teaching teamwork, and the importance of family.

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I will debunk these if I can, since I am logically inclined, and do a lot of self analysis (Psyche 101).

1: Home Schooled children are more withdrawn or mentally handicapped by nature.

WRONG! Home Schooled children are in most all cases very productive and highly motivated children. Because they are encouraged by those that love them to be and do more.

2: People call Child Welfare on you, and they will take your kids away if you Home School. You can't fight the State, they will make sure you suffer.

OK, yes people will call child welfare, but according to 'LAW', you have the right (check your State Laws on Home Schooling and so on) to teach your children. Also, you do not have to allow anyone into your home, according to the

4th Amendment. This is inclusive of Child Welfare and Police Officers. Unless there a Warrant to search the property and such Warrant includes the welfare check of your children. Social Workers can and often make threats of taking your kids to scare you, but they can't without presenting a Judge with clear and indisputable 'evidence' that you are doing something that is bad for your children, like molesting them, not feeding them, keeping them in a cage and so on.  So, as long as you are not locking your kids in a cage or molesting them and you are feeding them, then you have nothing to fear. However, I suggest you join a Home School Legal Defense Organization. They are your Shield and Sword, and they will defend your rights to Home School your children, as well as your 'Civil Rights'.

3: Schools will have your neck in a noose if  you try Home Schooling.

NOT SO, according to Texas Law for example. All I have to do is notify the school, by sending a 'Letter of Withdrawal' to the school in question and Superintendent of Schools. A 'Letter of Assurance' to the district officials making inquiries into the educational welfare of the child.

4: People that Home School have something to hide.

WRONG! People that Home School are tired of the school systems teaching our children something that we do not agree with. Christian Parents for example want their children to learn that God and Jesus are part of their lives as well as have a significance in the history of our world and offer explanations as to cultural diversity (Tower of Babble for example).

Other parents may be concerned with issues like... Gangs and Crime in schools, Drugs in Schools, Teaching kids that there is not God or Greater Power, Children being singled out because they are different or even have a different sexual orientation. There are 1000 reasons not to Home School, and 1000 reasons to Home School, you have to make a logical decision for yourself, based on the best interest of your children.

5: Home Schooled children don't have exposure to other children, so that they can make friends and learn beneficial social skills. They always wind up being social misfits or have social issues dealing with peers or people in general. Basically, they are doomed to failure as people, educationally as well as economically. Just more welfare cases for America to deal with in the future.

Wrong again. Here is one of the most idiotic excuse against Home Schooling I ever heard. Children are not shut-ins, they will go outside, they will make friends, play with others and so on. Home Schooling is not a dedication to seclusion, but a dedication of focusing on strengths and improving weaknesses, thus allowing them to excel educationally. Plus, there are others in your area that are Home Schooling their children, and you can meet with them for Social Activity Dates. The best part of this, is your child will be exposed to social, economic and ethnical differences of their peers. Also there are many scholarships out there for children who are Home Schooled, as well as Colleges accepting Home Schooled children. In many cases, such acceptance is nothing more than a test, just like a public or private school child would take.

6: Home Schooled children can never go back to a public school, unless they are willing to be an 18 year old in 6th grade when they left.

WRONG! All schools offer Educational Aptitude Testing, of some form, that are given to all children at some point in their educational life. Thus, a Home School child can be 14 and test into a 10th grade level, if that is where they are educationally. Also, It is against the law and a violation of Civil Rights in the U.S. to exclude any child from partaking of public education, as well as, discriminating against that child based on the fact the child was Home Schooled. Do you realize that some kids are simply bored with certain subjects, because the grade level they are FORCED to

study is beneath their actual mental aptitude?

7: Materials are too hard to locate for Home Schooling. Besides you have to have computers and desks, plus all those school supplies. Sounds too expensive.

Nothing is further from the truth. I have found literally hundreds of sites that offer everything from Virtual Academies for grades K-12, Curriculum for grades K-12 and Books for Elective's like Marine Biology, Anatomy, Quantum Physics and so on. All it takes is a basic understanding of how to do a search on any number of search engines.

As for the computer, simply give up some of your online time so your children can use the computer if needed. Or simply go out and buy a used PC for a couple of hundred dollars. School supplies are minor matters of what you really need. Pencils, Pens, Paper, Ruler, Compass, Protractor... Basically Dollar Store stuff. As for Materials/Curriculum, well I can have both my children provided core curriculum for about $150.00 to $200.00 per child per year. This includes Spelling, Grammar (English), Reading, Math and Science, then Good Citizenship is a given, basic stuff and some volunteering of time. You can also buy Used Books/CDs from sites for Elective Classes, Foreign Language Skills, etc. Best of all, you can recoup some of this money by selling the materials back, or to another individual.

Kitchen Tables are good desks, or a couple of Chairs and Picnic Table. I have researched the initial cost as being about less than $500.00. (See below for my supply list for both of my children)

8: Parents that home school are pretty much on their own, no one is out there willing to help them get going.

Again, there are literally hundreds of sites that help with everything from How To information to Support Groups that meet weekly and monthly. In MSN Groups alone I found several pages of groups consisting of Christian Home School Support Groups to Pagan, Classic and New Age Home Schooling. It takes a little time to find the right one for you.

9: I am afraid of what my family may think if I Home School my children.

You have to decide what is best for your children. That is not just your job as a parent, but your obligation. If your family is misinformed, then educate them. There is tons of literature out there about the benefits of Home Schooling. Plus, you know where your kids are, and it can give you a chance to become closer in ways you can't imagine with your children.

10: It seems one would become tired of being with their kids all the time, having now social life of one's own.

This is a realistic possibility. But, you have to also know that you are an adult, you can go out, be your own person, be with your friends socially, make new friends. You have the chance to do what you want at any time after your children are done for the day. Sit back, watch a movie, go to the store, go to the park and read a book if you want. Heck, leave the kids with your parents and go on a romantic weekend with your Hubby/Wife/Boyfriend/Girlfriend. No one is saying you are to make yourself a social outcast, you are just making sure you children are taught what you feel they should be taught during class/education time, the rest of the day/evening is yours.

11: What proof can you offer me, that your Home Schooled Child will be successful in life, as opposed to a Public Schooled Child?

None, but I can prove they have an equal chance to become something good, even great. For this I refer to American History...

David Crockett Frontiersman/Congressman/Statesman/Freedom Fighter

Abraham Lincoln Lawyer/Congressman/President

George Washington Soldier/General/President

Benjamin Franklin Statesman/Scientist/Inventor/Founding Father/Ambassador

George Washington Carver Scientist/Inventor

Fredrick Douglass Escaped Slave/Public Speaker for Rights of Blacks in Civil War America/Newspaper Publisher

Sojourner Truth (Woman) Escaped Slave/Public Speaker

Robert B. Elliott Congressman during Reconstruction

and more.

American History is full of Home Schooled/Self Educated in their home Americans, and yes I am using unfair tactics by using Historical Figures, plus I am aware that some of these individuals also attended Universities in their lives at some point. But imagine if you can, this was the time when children were home schooled regularly in their early years, and look what those precious few people accomplished! Who is to say that just because it is a new Millennium that a Home Schooled Child can not accomplish great things in their lives as well? The only things that can hold them back is fear, ignorance and the inability to fight for what is theirs by right. Knowledge is there for us to obtain for our children, and give them that precious chance of learning. How they make use of that knowledge is their success or failure. As parents, we can only open the door, they have to step through.

Core Curriculum

Place to Study

Pencils

Pens

Paper (College Ruled)

Erasers

Rulers

Protractors

Compasses

Erasable Board and Pens

Planner each child

Year Total (+/- 10%)

325.00

0.00

2.00

2.00

5.00

1.00

1.00

1.00

1.00

15.00

2.00

355.00

Basically, I plan to do a Modified Focus Plan based on repetition of sorts. This plan is to provide focused activities on one particular subject each week. Now, if this doesn't work, I will simply make it one subject per day.

Basically, I want my children to be able to focus on one thing at a time, to allow them to excel in their educational endeavors. This gives them a firm foundation of what is happening tomorrow. Plus, they can work at their own pace to complete any given assignment each day. Simple and direct, no rushing to finish a particular assignment every hour. They know what has to be done for the week, and they have all week to finish the assignment series.

Legal Shafting

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On 5/6/05 Mesquite Independent School District sued my daughter MXXXXXX for 'Failure to Attend School' and myself for 'Thwarting School Attendance'. The case went like this...

Plea's you can enter:

1. Not Guilty: Meaning your child has not missed one single day of school, has been there on time and in class every single day. This one we could not do, because she has missed days due to her asthma, and she was not in class the days she missed. To do this is effectively Perjury. Plus the trial alone considering lawyers, court fees, etc, would screw with anyone's pocket book.

2. Guilty/No Contest: In this case, effectively the same thing, and the judge gets to decide what to do and what if any fines, counseling, etc are part of his judgment.

1: MXXXXXX - Failure to Attend School (when her asthma acted up).

Plea: No Contest

Applicable Fine: Counseling $100.00, Court Costs $69.00

2: Forest - Thwarting School Attendance

Plea: No Contest

Applicable Fine: Counseling $000.00, Court Costs $69.00

So now, instead of having to pay  up to $500.00 a day for 28 missed days of school (Upwards of $14,000.00 just for the days missed alone, not counting the fines for the charges themselves), we are only out the cost of the Concealing and the Court Costs or $238.00. This is better than the alternative.

As for this explanation I had done, explaining the reasons for the 28 missed days (the last 5 or so thanks to the Mesquite School District Elementary Administrators scaring my daughter into a serious asthma attack, that caused her to stop breathing twice and two emergency room visits, seeing four different doctors and a assortment of medications); meant nothing.

One thing I did find out... The State of Texas dose not care why your child misses school, whether it is simple truancy or a disability. The letter of the 'Law' is paramount and inflexible; with no allowances for disabilities. This is one law, until amended, you can not win against. What scares me, and I know this is reaching way out there, is would the Mesquite ISD and State of Texas still have followed suit if my daughter had become disabled or died during her last attack. Makes one wonder; doesn't it?

So, why home school, especially when you have a child with a disability? DUH!

Update on Our Home-Schooled Kids

Our youngest HAS NOT HAD ONE SINGLE MAJOR ASTHMA ATTACK SINCE BEING HOME-SCHOOLED for the 2004/2005 School Year. The has to be attributed to there being less airborne crap in our home. No 50 sick kids at any given time being forced into the Day Care Camp of a Public School System. This is also given the fact we have had the local area fires in Texas. Given the fact one of those fires was less than 5 miles away, and even I could smell it. Given the fact we use 2 air filters on our AC/Heat intake for better filtration. 

Our schools are a hot bed of bacteria and disease in the air. Parents are terrified of the Mandatory Attendance Laws. Parents are afraid to tell the a FAILING school system to shape up, or screw off. You can't fight City Hall, but you sure as hell can find a legal and acceptable way around it.

Schools in the Dallas Area, as in our case, are rank with problem, budget deficits and white collar crime; just to name a few. A number of teachers here, can't even pass testing required for their jobs? What is this?! These people are supposed to educate our children. Now the School District is considering the hiring of illegal's, and foreign educators? Talk about OUT SOURCING! Education is not a competitive field of work for people any more. They need more money for teachers, less for sports, more money for improving schools, and less for stupidity. Stop wasting money!!!! IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS, MAKE THEM SAFER!