Why Do We Home School?

I have been asked for years why we home school our children. We are a secular family and most home school families are Christian. I am happy to see the secular home school groups sprouting up all over the United States recently. Have you seen the state our public school system is currently in? Our math and science is sorely lacking, as is our grammar! Very few students can remember what they are taught from week to week, once they pass that test, the slate is wiped clean. I am a product of public schools and I think it is safe to say I had four very good teachers who inspired me and pushed me to do my best in my twelve years of school. I never really learned anything in school during those years, most of my learning came after school when my father and mother would take time through out the evening to talk to me, read to me, tell me about history, show me how math is used in the real world. I wish home school had been legal back when I was young. My years spent in school was spent in complete agony. I was constantly in the bathroom hiding out from emotional bullies, more days then not I could be found somewhere crying. I hated school, and worse, it hated me. It wasn't enough I got it from a lot of the students, but some of the teachers were emotionally abusive as well. I decided I would not put my kids through that. Twice my son was enrolled in public school, both times it was a nightmare, for him and us. The first time the teacher refused to let my son go to the bathroom and he came home daily with urine stained underwear. Then something major happened, he started defecating in his pants. Seems the teacher had made it a point not to let him go, and he held it day in and day out that he became impacted! He was referred to a gastroenterologist who told me it was a common thing among teachers and it made her angry to no end. He was on medication for a year before it was straightened out, and still suffers ill effects of that first 6 months in 1st grade many years ago. We filed a lawsuit against the school district and the teacher. They settled out of court, paying all of his medical bills and medications as well as monetary damages. The teacher told me what a huge mistake I was making when I pulled him, I would never be able to home school. How wrong she was! I had as much, actually more education than she did, I had his best interest at heart, I could not possibly do any worse than the public school did with him. We tried again in high school only to watch him fall further behind, or repeat what he had already accomplished.

I bought secular curriculum, same as you find in the public schools, and got busy. We found home school social groups, co-ops, and nearby universities who offered extras such as science lab, classes in robotics, speech and drama, and world history. We had him in Earth Scouts, drama classes and art classes at the local Art museum, and 4H and Irish dance. He took years of Taek won do. We taught him music and let him play in sessions locally so he could learn about his favorite music. We went on field trips both as a family and part of our home school group. We contacted universities and asked for dvd's of professors who gave lectures on subjects on which we were covering. we traded "tutor time" with other parents who had expertise and degrees in areas that we did not. I would teach their children Languages and world history, they would teach mine Algebra. It was a well rounded education. If he was interested in a subject, we could let him run with it, spending more time on it and then we would move on.

Socialization was an issue until we realized or children's social skills far outweighed their public school peers. They could socialize with people of all ages, carrying on an intelligent conversation with a 40 year old, or a 10 year old. We had more socialization than public school kids, because we had more time! when you home school, you find that you do not need 8 hours a day to teach all subjects, and that learning is an ongoing process and goes on long after the books and workbooks are put away.

My kids are read to on a regular basis. they are encouraged to help build things with their father, using that opportunity to give math drills, to cook in the kitchen with me or dad again, using math skills. They learned to balance a checkbook, and do their taxes before the age of 10. They love to read and our little ones are just as likely to read you a story as they are to ask for a story. Our older son is involved in reading classics right now, and is animated as he describes what he thinks the writer was trying to say. He is very aware of the political goings on in the US and around the world and is free to form his own opinions. I like the way this is going, I am glad we decided to go the route of home schooling. Now when people ask why we home school, I can sum it up in just a few sentences:

We home School because public education, as currently implemented, is designed to systematically drive the joy of learning out of children as early as possible: tedious homework; fixed class periods that are rarely just the right length for learning the material; disjoint subjects that obfuscate the relationship between information and useful real-world applications; stressful tests and quizzes; segregation by age and ability; severely limited selection of potential friends, typically 12 years of the same group of 30 kids; limited control over such basic functions as when to awaken, eat or urinate; KIDS SITTING, for HOURS. It's amazing anyone learns anything at all, despite this contrived, convoluted, Byzantine environment. I admire teachers, but they are just as limited and victimized by the strictures of the system as students. The only moderately legitimate purpose school appears to serve is to warehouse children during the day, so parents can work more hours, thereby facilitating payment of school taxes and summer camp bills.

Enough Already!

Just an FYI, my father was a baptist minister for over 20 years, and managed to NEVER molest any child. In fact, he was a wonderful father that gave me a perfect childhood, and treated my mother like a queen! I know many men in the ministry who are fabulous people. Are they mislead? you bet. Do I think they are misguided or brainwashed? yes indeed! Not all of them are all hell fire and brimstone, and not all of them are greedy money hungry power whores. I know many who have given their own money to help others. These people would have been good people whether they were christians or not because they were just good hearted and good natured. I have many family members that are genuinely good people at heart, and I guarantee you that when a child molester is found to be present in a church, they are just as angry, disgusted, and sick about it as we feel. To generalize all of these people in the same category is the same as saying ALL Mexicans are lazy, or generalizing any other ethnic group, or organization we do not like. It is the same as saying all atheist are hateful and spiteful toward religious groups, or all atheist are devil worshipers (as if!) I see a lot that is wrong with religion, but I see a lot that is wrong from many atheist too. I know that the prisons are filled with far more christians than atheist, I realize there are many crooks among the christians, I also make no apologies for feeling that christians are needy or gullible, otherwise they would not buy into the BS much like fat people buy into the 'lose weight overnight' scheme, or the poor are always chasing a 'get rich scheme'. But when something is said about pastors in general, I feel it is a slap in the face to wonderful people like my father who gave his time and money helping others, and I feel I must remind that these people are not all bad, after all, not all pastors, not all christians, are child molesters and not all atheist are the epitome of goodness and wholesomeness.

I knew this person for 6 years, we had a causal friendship through work. One day the topic came to church and she asked where I attended. I told her I did not attend anywhere because I am an atheist. She was shocked! She said "But you're so nice, and giving, I would have never guessed?!" At that point she realized Atheist does not = bad, hateful, or spiteful. I like to win people over by letting them get ton know me and seeing for themselves that we are indeed good without god. I have won more people over to my way of thinking this way than I ever could have by cutting them down and being nasty to them. Do we need to be firm on our position on government and political issues? you bet we do, but we can be firm without being nasty and disgusting. I have never needed to be loud and offensive to get my point across and have learned that that is an automatic turn off. Let them look like an ass, I refuse. I have far more respect for those who can keep their cool and 'one up' their foe with wit, charm and facts than I am am with the Sam Kinnison "in your face bull shit" I mean, isn't that what turns you off about christians? the "in your face, shove it down your throat" crap?

A Phone Call to Immigration.

I swear to my big toe, this is the phone conversation between my daughter and the Department of immigration concerning her husband this morning. It is sad, they do not know their own laws, they are pretty stupid at best and very confusing as well as confused.

IO: "If the I130 is approved then you file an G- 325 for each of you and an I864 as well as an I485 and I 765

, but if he was detained you will need form I601, and you need form I212, and well as form A11 since you moved out of the country."

Heather: "but he had been approved for his paperwork."

IO: "Oh, he already had paperwork? then you will need form I765, A11, and if you want to expedite, you will need form xxx, as well as biographical information and form xxx and form xxx. Now, if you get approved for all of those forms, you will need to get to the processing consular, be sure you take your medical processing form and forms Ixxx, Ixxx, Ixxx, Ixxx and your money for your medical exam and your paperwork as well as pictures of you and your husband fucking so we can see the marriage is real.(OK, I added that part, but they do want pictures of the happy couple together. I am tempted to send them the X-rated stash I have, bet they would never ask for pictures again!) See, it's easy!"

:/ SHIT!!!!

Heather: "so I sent in my AR11 but it doesn't matter because the paperwork was approved therefore the address can not be changed. so, how do I get my mail from immigration?

IO: "Oh, immigration doesn't have your paperwork anymore."

Heather: "well, where is it? "

IO: "oh, we do not know."

Heather: "well how do I find out where we are in the process? "

IO: "oh, you don't because you never responded to our last letter."

Heather: "I didn't get your last letter because you wouldn't change my address! "

IO: "yea, but that's a good thing because he was APPROVED!"

Heather: "so what now? "

IO: "well, we had to destroy the letter of approval because you never responded to the last letter we sent out."

Heather: "but you wouldn't change my address once he was approved."

IO: "yea, but he was approved, and once you're approved, we are not allowed to change the address."

Heather: "so where is my paperwork? "

IO: "we don't know Mrs Mendez, because he was approved!"

PHONE CALL # 2

Heather: "what immigration number do I put down on form I864?"

IO: "YOUR immigration number."

Heather: "but I am a U.S. born citizen, I don't have an immigration status number."

IO: "You have to have a immigration number."

Heather: "no, I am a US born citizen."

IO: "I don't understand what you are saying."

Heather: "really? You don't? Why am I not surprised by this? Every time I call, I get a different answer. No one understands any of my questions, no one can tell me where my paperwork is located. Tell me, which kindergarten did immigration raid to find employees?!"

IO: "You do not have to be nasty."

Heather: "no ma'am, I do not. I haven't been. you want to find me ONE PERSON who works there that knows anything about where my paperwork is, or what we are suppose to do next?"

IO: "ma'am, I can't. we are not lawyers, we do not know anything."

Heather: "no truer worlds have been spoken."

hangs up.

and Americans wonder why there is a problem with illegal immigration?! Just give me a tank and let me ram down the effing fence! I understand why people just swim over!

Immigration...In Mexico!

So I have seen the crap floating around on Facebook "Let's adopt Mexico's Immigration Laws!" Really want too? I am fine with that myself. I went to the Immigration office here in Mexico last Friday and today I am a holder of an FM3 status and have my curp (Much like a social security #) it took all of one week. Yes, I agree. Let's adopt Mexico's immigration laws. While we are at it we can adopt their open arms policy of granting status to the spouse of Mexican citizens without a lot of red tape and bureaucratic bullshit! Now excuse me while I go work on my husbands 3 thick files that require 3 separate appointments and many more documents than U.S. Immigration will ever be able to look at to make any fast and easy decision. It will take at the least one year at the most 5 to get my spouse to the U.S.

No wonder the US Immigration system is in the crapper, they make it difficult on themselves as well as US citizens families with all the red tape, paperwork, and appointment juggling. It is the most inefficient, disorganized mess I have ever witnessed. First this place gets this file, then that place receives file #2 then it all goes to place #3 and fill out forms I130, DS230, I864, I601 and if you live in the states add forms I486 and EAD form. and pay an amount for each form. Are you confused? So is US Immigration! They don't know whether to wind their butt or scratch their watch!

I walked into the ONE immigration office here in the town in which we live, filled out ONE form, turned in a copy of my last 3 bank statements and a copy of my American passport and paid 130.USD. and within one week I was given my legal status. Now, I have to ask the U.S. one question: You mean to tell me that a 'third world country' has whipped your ass in this department? come on, you can do better!

Who's My Neighbor?

Everyone who has gone to Sunday School has heard the parable of the Good Samaritan. For those who haven't here is the story:

Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins [Greek: two denarii] and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

– Luke 10:30–37, New International Version

I can not understand the hate for groups of people in the United States. I pick on the U.S., because I am an American, and I am damn well embarressed to be an American at this point in my life.

I see hate from so many Christians. Mostly against homosexuals, atheist, and immigrants. In this bitch session, I will focus on the immigrants. Jan Brewer, the governor of Arizona is one of these hateful, spiteful christians. She says that she often prays with her staffers about difficult issues.

"we stop, and we take that time, and we pray
about it," explaining, "I firmly believe that God has placed me... in this powerful position of Arizona's governor to help guide our state through the difficulty that we are currently facing."

well, I hope you read your bible too lady! Jesus clearly said to take care of all, not matter whether they are one of your own, or not. No matter what you think of him/her, it is your job to take care of that person. How did she miss this in the New Testament? I am an atheist, and I knew about this story!

Now, let's go look at this scripture in the old testament

Leviticus 19:33-34 (New International Version)

³³: " 'When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. ³⁴: The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

well, it looks as though that commandment came straight from the big boss himself! Jan, if you are going to claim to be a christian, use your bible as a reference manual, a set of directions if you will. The profiling law you passed in Arizona is there for one purpose, to stir the hate. Today the Mexicans, next who? You, Gov. Jan Brewer, are making your state a target. A target for many lawsuits for many years to come. A target for hate groups such as the KKK, Neo Nazis, Skin Heads and other various militia groups. I hope you are happy with the results. You have caused revenue to drop in Arizona businesses by 30%, teachers to be laid off due to federal aid being taken away as hundreds of Latino kids are pulled from your public schools, some facing closure. Clinics in rural areas closing due to lack of funding, they have lost their clients! The housing market in your state is between a rock and a hard place now with banks having to cut their losses. Is this your fictional god punishing you for making poor decisions and clearly acting against what he has told you to do? He did tell you not to behave this way, it is clearly in the old and new testament. the only good thing to come of this is that Republicans are quickly losing ground. I expect we will see Washington dominated by Democrats after the next election. Thanks for that Lady!

While we are on the subject of Jan Brewer, she passed a law some time ago that would deny benefits to domestic partners, and adult children who are in college, or have a disability. This woman just will not stop until she has screwed the population of Arizona! Hey people in Arizona, are you not pissed enough to pull a Grey Davis maneuver? You should be!

Our STUPID AWARD for the day goes too.....

Group will sue McDonald's over Happy Meal toys

WTF?!

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press Writer Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Writer – Tue Jun 22, 8:36 pm ET

WASHINGTON – Are the toys in your child's Happy Meal making him fat?

The Center for Science in the Public Interest says they are. The Washington-based consumer advocacy group threatened to file a lawsuit against McDonald's Tuesday, charging that the fast food chain "unfairly and deceptively" markets the toys to children.

McDonald's marketing has the effect of conscripting America's children into an unpaid drone army of word-of-mouth marketers, causing them to nag their parents to bring them to McDonald's," CSPI's Stephen Gardner wrote to the heads of the chain in a letter announcing the lawsuit.

The center, which has filed dozens of lawsuits against food companies in recent years, is hoping the publicity and the threat of a lawsuit will force McDonald's to negotiate with them on the issue. The group announced the lawsuit in the letter to McDonald's 30 days before filing it with the hope that the company will agree to stop selling the toys before a suit is filed.

McDonald's Vice President of Communications, William Whitman, said in a statement that the company "couldn't disagree more" with CSPI's assertion that their toys violate any laws. He said McDonald's restaurants offer more variety than they ever have and Happy Meals are made smaller for kids.

"We are proud of our Happy Meal which gives our customers wholesome food and toys of the highest quality and safety," Whitman said. "Getting a toy is just one part of a fun, family experience at McDonald's."

CSPI says the suit would be filed in state court. The center has not settled on a state yet, but the group believes the toys in Happy Meals violate state consumer protection laws in Massachusetts, Texas, the District of Columbia, New Jersey and California.

California's Santa Clara County voted earlier this year to ban restaurants from giving away the toys and other freebies that often come with high-calorie meals aimed at kids.

McDonald's has fought such criticism for years, and the company made a pledge in 2007 to advertise only two types of Happy Meals to children younger than 12: one with four Chicken McNuggets, apple dippers with caramel dip and low-fat white milk, or one with a hamburger, apple dippers and milk. They both meet the company-set requirement of less than 600 calories, and no more than 35 percent of calories from fat, 10 percent of calories from saturated fat or 35 percent total sugar by weight.

CSPI argues that even if those Happy Meals appear in advertisements, kids order the unhealthier meals most of the time.

The group is hoping its first lawsuit against the mega-chain will have a similar effect as its 2006 lawsuit against Kellogg that prompted the company to agree to a settlement raising the nutritional value of cereals and snacks it markets to children.

Still, some may accuse the group of extremism, arguing that it's the parents' responsibility to monitor what their children eat, not the restaurant's.

Michael Jacobson, executive director of CSPI, says it's the parents responsibility too, but he equates the toy giveaways to a door to door salesman coming to a family's house every day and asking to privately speak with the children.

"At some point parents get worn down," Jacobson says. "They don't always want to be saying no to their children. We feel like an awful lot of parents would be relieved if this one pressure was removed from them."

McDonald's also came under fire over Happy Meals earlier this year when it recalled 12 million "Shrek" drinking glasses sold with the meals. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the levels of the carcinogen cadmium in the glasses was too high.

how stupid and irresponsible are these parents? Why are they having children to begin with?

I posted this article on my FB page, here are the comments that followed:



Friend #1: You should really see the documentary Killer At Large. It does an excellent job addressing this very argument. Kids are subjected to hundreds of thousands of ads directed at them each year. The purpose of these ads is to develop brand loyalty at a very early age. There is no way for parents to compete with this constant message.

Friend #2: I disagree. Turn off the damn TV! Monitor their exposure to media. Really, who's in charge here?

Friend #1: The system is set up to make the parent the automatic bad guy if they limit their kids' exposure to such things. You cannot control what they have access to 24/7. There are billboards, print ads, schools, movies, books. It's everywhere.

Friend #2: In which case it is the parent's job to say --- NO! Again, who is in charge here?

Me: I agree with Friend #2 100%!!!! Sorry Friend #1, but a parent has a responsibility to guard and guide their children. If your child is seeing that many adverts in a year, you are a poor parent with poor parenting skills. My children watch 1 hour of TV a day, if even that. We involve them in play where they can use their imagination, sports, dance, music,,,etc..we have plenty for them to do out side and inside without constantly barrage them with tv everyday. Parents do not need to compete. I am not my children's friend, I am their parent, I am in charge. I make the rules. When I say no, I mean no and it is nonnegotiable! Also, my kids are not allowed to eat hamburgers or pizza from a burger joint more than twice a month. When we do have pizza or burgers, usually it is at home grilled burgers or home made pizza. it is another thing we do together. But I am the final word, I am the authority. It is my job to make sure my kids eat healthy. When we drive by McDonalds and my kids start whining for a happy meal I say NO, and keep driving past McDonalds. How freaking difficult is that? What we have here is a case of LAZY PARENTING and lack of responsibility. Parents just do not want to deal with their own kids. It is easier for them to buy the meal to 'shut them up.'

As the mother of several children, I assure you this method has worked well for me for years. My children have not suffered any over the lack of Happy Meals in their life.


Need I say anymore? I think Friend #2 and I have pretty much covered it!

Texas GOP platform: criminalize gay marriage and ban sodomy, outlaw strip clubs and pornography

this article was written by:

Aliyah Shahid
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Tuesday, June 22nd 2010, 12:36 PM

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/06/22/2010-06-22_texas_gop_platform_criminalize_gay_marriage_and_ban_sodomy_outlaw_strip_clubs_an.html#ixzz0ri8EQNKO

The Texas Republican Party gives a whole new meaning to the word conservative.

The GOP there has voted on a platform that would ban oral and anal sex. It also would give jail sentences to anyone who issues a marriage license to a same-sex couple (even though such licenses are already invalid in the state).

“We oppose the legalization of sodomy,” the platform says. “We demand that Congress exercise its authority granted by the U.S. Constitution to withhold jurisdiction from the federal courts from cases involving sodomy.”

The Lone Star state initially passed a law barring sodomy in 1860. Violators faced anywhere from five to 15 years in prison. The ban was overturned in 2003.

In addition, the platform says that homosexuality “tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit and leads to the spread of dangerous communicable diseases.”

It also states that homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable “alternative” lifestyle in public schools and “family” should not be redefined to include homosexual couples.

The 25-page proposal, presented last week as a guide for the state GOP over the next two years, includes other measures including outlawing “sexually oriented businesses” like strip clubs and banning “all pornography.”

so this is the exchange on a friends FB wall that shows me how many stupid people there are still out there for me to bitch about!

ME: well, Arizona is losing a lot of revenue by running out both legal and illegal immigrants. they are losing clinics, schools and business. laying off teachers, cutting programs the housing market is suffering...etc.. they have shot themselves in the foot. Now let's watch Texas screw themselves out of revenue when all the GLBT folks pack up and leave Texas. Think I'll pop some popcorn and pour me a coke now, this could get interesting.


Stupid Friend #1: zero loss in losing non-taxpaying illegals that suck off infrastructure. zero.

(hey stupid! My comment was a comparison, your comment should have been about the new anti gay, anti anal sex, anti blow job law!)


Stupid Friend #2: Rock on Walt! (simply because she has nothing of value to add.)


Stupid Friend #1: and I shall. ;)

Me: Really? because of Arizona's racial profiling law, Arizona is having to lay off teachers in the schools where these people are pulling their children by the hundreds! They are looking at closing schools, and rural clinics. They are both losing thousands in funding. Arizona is also seeing problems in the housing market, foreclosures on the homes people bought cost the banks a lot of money. Businesses are seeing a 30% dip in revenue. Arizona business, housing market, banks, schools, and clinics are all suffering and feeling the financial crunch. I hope they continue to slide down the potty and are a model for the rest of the country showing that they do indeed contribute more than they take.

now, back to the Original Post, why is it anyone's business what goes on behind someone's closed bedroom door? How are they going to enforce these messed up laws? Walt, I hope you don't like Blow jobs, otherwise you may find yourself in jail according to this law! They are not just dictating what gays can do in their bedrooms, this affects straight people as well!

I really do not see them closing strip clubs since the majority of men in government frequent these businesses. As far as banning porn goes well, there will be a lot of priest, preachers and church going folks in your jails. Studies have shown from IP logged addresses that it is church going folk who regularly access porno websites.

Also, how are Gay folks non tax paying illegals?! WTH?! Every gay person I know pays their taxes and spends money in their city, state, country! If all the gays left Texas, they would lose a lot of their revenue as well as government officials. I was just comparing the rapid decline of Arizona's revenue to what may be the rapid decline of Texas revenue if the gay folk do the same as legal and illegal folks are doing in Arizona. BTW, LEGAL immigrants are leaving Arizona as well. They can feel the atmosphere of hate this new law has created and are no longer comfortable there.I am assuming you are a christian,did your Jesus teach you to love your neighbor but with restrictions to skin color, nationality, origin, and religion? I thought the story was LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR PERIOD. To be a christian is to be christ like. I do not remember Christ teaching to have an attitude of hate toward their fellow man.

Yea, you keep rockin on there Walt! today they tell gays what they can and can not do in their bedroom, now straight folks are being told they can't engage in anal sex or oral sex, next thing you know you will be told what positions you can and can not use within the privacy on your own bedroom. you might think about this law the next time you want your gal to give you a BJ there Walt!



Now I ask you, what kind of dumb ass respects or even thinks this law can be good or useful? First and foremost, I do not want a lawmaker to tell me what I can and can not do in my bedroom. My husband and I can decide that on our own fine without outside interference. How are they going to enforce this law anyways? you have no proof of what one does in their bedroom. I know couples who are celibate due to medical reasons. I know gay men who are in relationships who are celibate!

We know this law is aimed at the GLBT community which you should know I stand behind 100% they pay taxes, they are first rate citizens, they are my brothers and sisters. I believe in equal rights for ALL!! now, it may be aimed at the GLBT community, but if you read the law, it also targets the heterosexual community as well. Hey, what straight woman doesn't like a little cunnilingus? what straight man doesn't like a blow job? well be careful, they are now treading into your territory! No matter how you feel about Gay rights, if you stand by and do not support their rights, the government will take them away, then they will come after YOU! Next thing you know we are back to missionary position and anything else will be punishable by jail time.

I fully expect this law to be repealed by ACLU. If not you can bet it will be repealed the first time we see the Governor of Texas of some other government official caught giving signals in a bathroom stall, or some other compromising position that boots him out of the closet.