Get Schooled

By flipper

February 27, 2009 9:26 AM | Link to this

Heck no.

By jim d

February 27, 2009 9:31 AM | Link to this

HB 281: mixed feelings since I know a few parents will abuse this to assure little johnny remains academically elgible for athletics.

SB 210: thunbs up

HB455: uneccessary if teachers would refuse to sign blank contracts. (I never have understood that one)

By Teacher, Too

February 27, 2009 9:46 AM | Link to this

What determines who gets into the Governor’s Honors Programs? Do students have to maintain a certain grade point average? Do they need recommendations from teachers? Do they submit a portfolio of work?

If students submit a portfolio of work, and the determination is based solely on that work— then it’s fair to allow homeschooled children to participate. If students have to have teacher recommendations and a grade point average— then it gets a little more complicated.

I don’t have a problem with homeschooled students participating in sports at their home school. Florida allows this— Tim Tebow is an excellent example.

By Old School

February 27, 2009 9:51 AM | Link to this

Why not? Most are taxpayer supported and even if there are school sanctioned fees, as long as they meet eligibility requirements and pay any fees, let them participate. As for GHP, I taught in the program for a number of years. If they meet the selection criteria and make it through the interview/audition process, they ought to have the chance to participate.

By Ernest

February 27, 2009 9:54 AM | Link to this

No to HB 281 in the current form. I would reconsider if the student took at least 75% of the classes a public school student would take, via virtual school.

I could support SB 210 being that Governor’s Honors is funded with taxpayer dollars. I would assume their parents pay taxes also. This simply allows them to be considered for entry in the program.

By high school teacher

February 27, 2009 9:58 AM | Link to this

Home-schoolers participating in public school extracurriculars: NO. If you want your children to be part of the school, then send them to that school (Tim Tebow included). As a parent, I would have a hard time accepting the fact that my son was cut from a team because someone who didn’t even attend his school was put on the team. GHSA will have a nightmare with this one as well - how do you keep coaches from recruiting home-schoolers to move to their district?

Home-schoolers attending GHP: YES. They should be afforded the opportunity to compete for Governor’s Honors.

By jim d

February 27, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this

The problem with HB281.

star athlete looks like he’s about to become inelgible. Send him home to momma so grades can be padded to maintain elgibillity.

I see this as a REAL PROBLEM

Believe me folks, if this bill passes it will happen!

By jim d

February 27, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this

Playing devils advocate.

Is there any particular reason y’all are avoiding discussion on HB455? :-) Legislation requiring the systems to do something y’all should have forced years ago?

By jim d

February 27, 2009 10:19 AM | Link to this

Perhaps some teachers find it a bit embarassing that with close to 100,000 teachers working in Georgia public schools, they were not involved enough to force their employeers into following what should be considered sound business practices when it came to contracts. That they would sign a contract not knowing their salary and then just take whatever was given. I know I’d be embarassed to have taken contracts that way.

By V for Vendetta

February 27, 2009 10:45 AM | Link to this

Jim D, my salary is printed on my contract. I don’t know how other counties do it, but I know ahead of time what I’ll be making.

SB 210: I have no problem with that one at all as long as the student’s work meets or exceeds the given standards. I think it’s a great idea. We’ve blogged about the ills of homeschooling before, but I think we sometimes forget that there are some wonderful homeschooled kids out there who are talented, capable, and, for lack of a better word, normal.

HB 281: I’m with JimD on this one. Anything involving extra curriculars can get messy REAL fast. I see grade inflation, recruiting, and a host of other problems stemming from a bill such as this. However, if there were a few provisions against some of those practices, I might not have a problem with it. Then again, rules haven’t really stopped a lot of those practices from happening so far … .

:-)

By lyncoln

February 27, 2009 11:00 AM | Link to this

Teacher, Too, I believe that teachers recommend students for trying out for the GHP program. But, GHP is based on an interview/body of work review for acceptance.

For music (I didn’t quite make the cut), I performed a prepared etude as a solo with 2 judges and other things similar to an All-State/District Audition and followed up with a music theory test and maybe there was a short interview.

I think HB 210 would be a reasonable thing to allow, but if the ‘teacher’ is what starts the process with a recommendation there will be lots of recommended home school students. Simply because it will be much harder for a parent to compare their child with other children in the state because of lack of reference. It will probably result in an increase of students at the auditions and potentially higher failure rates. Of course, failure can be a learning experience just as much as success.

By lyncoln

February 27, 2009 11:06 AM | Link to this

I agree that there will likely be people that use HB 281 to work the system to their child’s benefit, but I don’t think it will be any more widespread that signing up students of PE or other courses to pad GPAs. There will still be other students that use the system correctly and properly and there can always be review/judging systems put in place to determine if students are abusing the system.

You could require that switching from real school to virtual school (and keeping eligibility) can only be done between semesters/school years and not allowed in the middle of a semester. Then a student doesn’t have a quick out when the mid-term test scores are horrible.

By high school teacher

February 27, 2009 11:11 AM | Link to this

jimd, ditto on what V said with regard to contracts. The May 15th extension doesn’t bother me; I would prefer to know all the details instead of estimating anything based on what our legislature says.

By Lisa B.

February 27, 2009 11:17 AM | Link to this

At first glance, I think HB 455 is bad for teachers. Currently, teachers must be notified by April 15 if they will not receive a contract for the next school year. That gives teachers time too look for another job before school ends, and while administrators are actively hiring. Extending the date to May 15 won’t help anyway. I don’t think a budget will be passed before June, so principals will have no more information May 15 than they do April 15. Finally, administrators know by April 15 who they like or dislike. One thought though, is that by May 15, CRCT results will likely be back. Could that mean that a teacher everyone likes, but who had disappointing test scores chould be terminated after all? What if that annoying teacher no one likes has great test scores? As I think about this, it may be interesting to have CRCT scores in hand before contracts are offered. What a can of worms!

By sarahp

February 27, 2009 11:55 AM | Link to this

Hmm… When we lived out of state we had a homeschooler make my son’s high school soccer team. It was sort of a sad experience for the homeschool kid. The kids who actually attended the school wouldn’t give him the time of day and would avoid involving him in plays during games. He ended up being benched most of the time and eventually just quit.

I just think that the bond that you need to play effectively on a team is lost when there is an outsider there - particularly if it is a homeschooled kid who may have some trouble fitting in with public school kids to begin with. Why don’t all the homeschoolers get together and start their own teams?

By Sarah4

February 27, 2009 12:03 PM | Link to this

Should homeschoolers be allowed to participate in public schools extracurricular activities? NO Should they be allowed to participate in Governor’s Honors? Yes. This is my opinion.

By DB

February 27, 2009 2:53 PM | Link to this

To both of them: No, although I’m 51/49 on GHP. Extracurriculars are just that: EXTRAS. If the school’s not good enough for your child, then why is the fun stuff suddenly good enough? Talk about having your cake and eating it, too! Most sports teams require a minimum GPA to participate, and who can argue with Mom when she says her child has a 4.0? There are plenty of club teams around that will be able to accomodate a child in just about any sport, not to mention theatre groups for young people, special interest organizations, etc. This is one of the consequences of the choices that you make — you don’t get to pick and choose.

SB210: IF entrance to the program is based on judgement criteria other than self-reported grades (i.e., audition, entrance exam, etc.), then yes. If it’s based solely on a home-schooler’s self-reported grades, then no. I have seen too many kids who proudly brag of the homeschool 4.0, but who can’t manage math past Algebra I, whose Spanish is rudimenatary at best, and whose exposure to English literature seems to be limited to Gossip Girls and Clique books.

By Yes, He!! yes, yes!

February 27, 2009 3:50 PM | Link to this

Yes to both. An emphatic yes to both. And for one reason that trumps all others. Any and everything, short of nuclear war, that chips away at the monolithic stronghold of the public education system is a good thing.

Slay the dinosaur.

By Tony

February 27, 2009 3:58 PM | Link to this

Governor’s Honors is a wonderful program. It is already open to private school participation, so adding home school students to the mix would not be a problem. The mechanism for selection of students would be the same for everyone. The final interviews and auditions determine the final acceptance. I presume the home school students’ parents would have to prepare some formal process to select those students who would be eligible for the final interviews. The current process allows a quota of students from each system to be nominated for the interviews. The final selections are based on the merits of the students in the interviews. Grades, PSAT scores, and performance are most important.

When it comes to allowing the participation of homeschool students in a school’s extracurriculars, I am adamently opposed. There are many good reasons for this. First, the extracurriculars are extensions of the school’s program. If the school is not good enough to attend, why is it then good enough for extras? When people make the choice to home school they also choose the natural consequences that go with it.

By Lori

February 27, 2009 4:18 PM | Link to this

I’d have a problem with this. How can you be sure that these students actually meet the criteria for the honors that public schoolers meet. Parents may be bending the rules for their kids. Also, sports at schools is a matter of school pride and spirit. Home schooled kids don’t belong there. If they want to do sports, they can participate in their resident county sporting activities. There are so many organizations and resources for home schooled kids these days. I’m not prejudiced against them, I just think it is too difficult to regulate that they are really on par with public students. And as a protection for them (the home schoolers) I would think they would not want this. If we have to allow this, then we also have to more closely monitor them as well, so now you are letting the government into your homes. I think this could be a double edged sword that could come back to bite these kids/parents. Be careful what you wish for!!

By It's because of if

February 27, 2009 6:14 PM | Link to this

If the school is not good enough to attend, then why punish the parent who is already paying for the substandard school with their taxes, by not letting their child participate in the one thing that might actually be decent about the school?

Slay the dinosaur.

By lovemy4kids

February 27, 2009 6:52 PM | Link to this

Laura, would you please use correct terminology? A “virtual student” is not a home school student! THEY ARE A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT WHO SAVES THE COUNTY MONEY BY NOT OCCUPYING A SEAT IN A BRICK AND MORTAR BUILDING. THEIR TEACHERS AND CURRICULUM ARE CONTROLLED AND PAID FOR BY THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL SYSTEM. A true home school student is fully funded and taught by their parent(s). Some think the government schools are deliberately confusing the terminology. OF COURSE a virtual student should have access to a brick and mortar government school-they are part of it already! As for the Gov. Honors Program, just which “home schooler” are you talking about? As a “true” home educator, all I would want is the use of our personal property taxes each year to pay for our own school extras! Free market education = more for less.

TONY’S SAD TALE One day Tony decided to go to Micky D’s for his lunch break. As he got into the drive-thru line, a law enforcement officer walked up to his car and told him he could not eat there but would have to leave and go eat at Tofu Burger, just down the street. “But why must I do that?”, he queried. The officer smiled and said, “Tofu Burger will go out of business if we don’t make people eat there.” “Well, I’m not a vegetarian and I love the grilled chicken burgers at Mickey’s,” Tony countered. “That’s irrelevant,” the kind officer said, jingling his handcuffs. “There’ll be no business failures on my watch.” “I see your point,” Tony quickly agreed. “I have some extra cash today; what if I just give the folks at Tofu Burger the price of their Veggitastic Supersize Meal, and then I come back to Mickey’s and get what I really want, yes?” The officer rubbed his chin thoughtfully and said, “Well, I suppose that would be OK.” Relieved, Tony decided to press his luck. “Officer, as long as I have to pay for the meal, could I at least have the chocolate shake that comes with it? I do like those.” The officer’s bushy brows arched in shock under his shiny brimmed hat. ” Well of course not!,” he bellowed. “The meal comes together; you can’t just eat the dessert.” Tony quickly explained, “But I would eat all of my Micky’s Chicken Deluxe first.” “It doesn’t matter,” retorted the officer. “A Chicken Deluxe is NOT a Veggitastic Supersize Meal.” Dejected, Tony drove over to Tofu Burger and quietly paid the $15.95 for his uneaten meal and returned to Micky D’s, only to wait in the now lengthy line to buy his favorite lunch for about half the price.

By Tony

February 27, 2009 10:22 PM | Link to this

love4mykids - I’m flattered.

By high school teacher

February 27, 2009 11:52 PM | Link to this

Ridiculous analogy, lovemy4kids - being an educator, Tony doesn’t get to go to Micky D’s or Tofu Burger on a lunch break :)

By clarify please

February 28, 2009 12:05 AM | Link to this

At one time schools were limited in the number of students they could nominate for GHP. I believe the limit was two - regardless of how many gifted and talented kids attended the school. If those limits still exist, home school children would have an unfair advantage in that they would not have to compete against other students in school for the nomination. Does anyone know if this is still the case?

By Tony

February 28, 2009 11:08 AM | Link to this

Clarify - yes school systems still have quotas for nominations. The nomination quotas are based on enrollment within the system, so larger systems are allowed more nominees. The quotas are also broken down into the various areas of academics and arts. I don’t foresee that homeschoolers would have any advantage over any other students because the final selections are made through interviews, auditions and reviews of academic records.

you’re right high school teacher, I don’t get to go away from campus for lunch. Instead I get to enjoy the well-prepared school lunch that includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, is low in fat, and high in vitamins.

By high school teacher

February 28, 2009 11:58 AM | Link to this

Tony, you mean those high school lunches that consist of pizza, corn, an apple and an Italian ice cup? :)

By Lovemy4kids

February 28, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this

Well Tony, I understand that RED HERRING is your favorite dish. But I digress.

CITIZENS, FELLOW AMERICANS, WOW GAMERS, LEND ME YOUR BLUETOOTHS! THE OBAMANATION OF DESPERATION HAS BEGUN…. Please download and read “A New Era of Responsibility: Renewing America’s Promise.” THIS IS THE 150+ PAGE BUDGET PROPOSAL. PAGE 59 BEGINS THE SECTION ON EDUCATION. EDUCATE YOURSELVES! KNOW WHAT IS IN IT. I WILL BE QUIZZING YOU ON IT ON MONDAY.

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/budgetblueprint02262009.pdf OR WSJ.com/budget

By Tony

February 28, 2009 2:57 PM | Link to this

lovemy4kids - ad hominem attacks are most often used when you have no substantive argument left.

After reading the education section of the document you suggested, the broadly worded statements give very few specifics about the administration’s plans. All the points make sense based on what our students need in terms of resources, effective teachers, early access to education, and improving school quality.

What was scary was the previous administrations disdain for fully funding his own educational legislation. It is very ironic that there have become so many alarmists amongst the conservative ranks. It seems to me that the previous president was responsible for the biggest erosion of civil rights of anyone since Lincoln. Perhaps the conservatives are actually more afraid of everyone having access to a better education. Maybe that’s why so many middle class and wealthy want vouchers - so they can take advantage of the money. Then, the remaining children are left with no funding for their education.

By lovemy4kids

February 28, 2009 6:29 PM | Link to this

Tony, you would be in error to suggest that I supported the former regime. The truth is, both parties are controlled by the banksters. They understand the Biblical truth, “the borrower is servant to the lender” all too well. Andrew Jackson understood the evils of a Central bank and was the only president to successfully “route them out” during his administration and live. The power that controls a nation’s economy, controls the nation, regardless of its political window dressing. This power is derived through DEBT. The most tragic date in our country’s recent history is 1913. Please research the passage of the Federal Reserve Banking Act. Our current devastated economy (including the Depression, WWI, WWII) is directly related to this event.

Charles Lindberg, father of the famed aviator and House Representative at the time, had this to say about it:

“This [Federal Reserve Act] establishes the most gigantic trust on earth. When the President (Woodrow Wilson) signs this bill, the invisible government of the monetary power will be legalized….the worst legislative crime of the ages is perpetrated by this banking and currency bill.”[5] Also quoted as: “This Act establishes the most gigantic trust on Earth. When the President signs this bill, the invisible government by the Monetary Power will be legalized, the people may not know it immediately but the day of reckoning is only a few years removed…. The worst legislative crime of the ages is perpetrated by this banking bill.” “A radical is one who speaks the truth.”[5] “The Aldrich Plan is the Wall Street Plan. It means another panic, if necessary, to intimidate the people. Aldrich, paid by the government to represent the people, proposes a plan for the trusts instead.” - The Aldrich Plan (History of central banking in the United States) was a forerunner to that which spawned the Federal Reserve. “To cause high prices, all the Federal Reserve Board will do will be to lower the rediscount rate…, producing an expansion of credit and a rising stock market; then when … business men are adjusted to these conditions, it can check … prosperity in mid career by arbitrarily raising the rate of interest. It can cause the pendulum of a rising and falling market to swing gently back and forth by slight changes in the discount rate, or cause violent fluctuations by a greater rate variation and in either case it will possess inside information as to financial conditions and advance knowledge of the coming change, either up or down. This is the strangest, most dangerous advantage ever placed in the hands of a special privilege class by any Government that ever existed. The system is private, conducted for the sole purpose of obtaining the greatest possible profits from the use of other people’s money. They know in advance when to create panics to their advantage, They also know when to stop panic. Inflation and deflation work equally well for them when they control finance.” “The financial system […] has been turned over to the Federal Reserve Board. That board administers the finance system by authority of […] a purely profiteering group. The system is private, conducted for the sole purpose of obtaining the greatest possible profits from the use of other people’s money.” Quoted from Wikipedia Speaking of debt, Obama’s budget plans to spend $3.6 TRILLION THAT WE DON’T HAVE! The proposed tax hikes to pay for some of the spending will CRUSH the small business owner, the source of over 70% of our nation’s jobs. He plans to drag us into an escalated mission in Afghanistan, at huge cost, etc. etc., and continue to throw taxpayer’s earnings down the liar loan black hole as well as continue to bailout bankster banks and hedgefunds. In short, Fascism. The monster that Bush built is being led out of its cage by Obama. However, don’t look at Obama, but at the white guys that stand behind him. Find out their names and their connections. They all seem to have a favorite foreign country. Wonder what it is? Find out about their former employers and what country they emigrated from. See the connections. They, are the connection to the true source of power in this country. Gradually your eyes will open and you will see what has happened to our former “America the Beautiful.”

By Dr. Craig Spinks/Augusta

March 1, 2009 11:03 AM | Link to this

MUST one’s participation in a public school’s extracurricular activities be contingent upon one’s enrollment in the school’s academic programs? What compelling operational reasons preclude the latter participation by home-schoolers?

By Dr. Craig Spinks/Evans

March 1, 2009 11:10 AM | Link to this

(j)im d. re: 2/27/09, 0905 post - Grade “padding” occurs already. It’s a primary source of the “grade inflation” phenomenon. Would “grade padding” and “grade inflation” increase under HB 281? The issue deserves study, for sure.

By jim d

March 1, 2009 4:01 PM | Link to this

Hey Doc.,

I’m confident we would see an increase in the case of athletes. I’ve been associated with parents of athletes that would stop at nothing to assure Johnny gets to play. Often times because they see this as his only path to college.

By sarahp

March 1, 2009 6:09 PM | Link to this

Craig… the problem is that the kids who actually attend the public school and are on the team exclude the weird little home schooler… the coach usually does too. It just doesn’t work out for the home schooled kid - why would you want to make your home schooled high schooler miserable?

By lovemy4kids

March 1, 2009 6:43 PM | Link to this

Sarahp You are a perfect example of a dysfunctional parent with dysfunctional children in a dysfunctional government school. Please explain why you feel compelled to steal money from a perfectly adjusted free-market educated individual and waste it on such crap?

By catlady

March 1, 2009 7:03 PM | Link to this

If homeschoolers can go to the sports team of the high school, then any high schooler should be able to go to the sports team of any other high school, should they desire.

I know in some areas homeschoolers have extensive networks and activities and even sports programs available to them. In my (rural) county there is a support group, but that is all. They sometimes put on plays at the elementary school auditorium.

If we do this with sports, homeschoolers should be able to “drop in” for calculus or physics or ag classes. Could be a logistical nightmare for scheduling. And what if (as we see often at the elementary level) they have a revolving door love/hate affair with the school, depending on whether the teacher “appreciates” the kid? “Precious” (actually, almost exactly the name one of our former homeschooler’s parents wanted us to call her) doesn’t like the teacher or is struggling with grade level work—parents pull her out for the rest of the year. The next year, she is back, same problems in tow.

Homeschool, private school, or public school—stick with your decision instead of flopping like a fish out of water.

On Governor’s Honors: no problem as long as everyone has an equal shot, based on skills, talents, and abilities, not grades.

(I have also met a 4.0 homeschooled student who was unable to muster the SAT to get into any kind of a college. Working as a stocker at the store, he was very proud of that 4.0.)

On the contract date: fine with me, but I am betting some teachers will be issued theirs “early”—folks like physics and calculus teachers, for example. I would think school systems would want to lock down their best teachers of any level as early as possible.

By lovemy4kids

March 2, 2009 10:31 AM | Link to this

Catlady, You just made a compelling case AGAINST tax supported government schools. It is IMPOSSIBLE for them to “promote the general welfare” of citizens as stated in the Constitution. IT IS BY DEFINITION, DISCRIMINATORY! Can the government set up a Christian school? No! Can the government prevent the establishment of such? No! Because of this, Christians and those of other faiths who see no separation between practicing their religion and the education of their children are, by the formation of a government school, forced to pay for something that denies them their religious freedoms!

By mystery poster

March 2, 2009 11:49 AM | Link to this

@lm4k

To paraphrase Demetri Martin:

“Shouting…. the next best thing to being right.”

By lovemy4kids

March 2, 2009 12:02 PM | Link to this

Poor Martin, may he rest in peace. The last words he heard were, “LOOK OUT FOR THE BUS!”

Red herring, anyone?

By sarahp

March 2, 2009 3:46 PM | Link to this

Love4mykids - Because I can.

If you don’t like my dysfunction or the dysfunction at my children’s school… please keep your kids away - particularly from the sports teams…. your kids might be corrupted….. worse yet, they might decide that they want to go to school.

By Homeschooler

March 2, 2009 7:02 PM | Link to this

I say yes to both, but obviously, I’m biased as we’ve been a homeschooling family for several years now. Why shouldn’t homeschoolers be able to get a little benefit from the hundreds of thousands of tax dollars we pay into the system without ever getting a single thing in return?

That said, my child would have to be an absolutely amazing athlete for me to consider such a thing. I would also want him to already be friends with some of the kids he would be playing with. My kids have lots of friends who attend public schools, but neither shows a great deal of natural athletic ability so far. So it’s likely to be a non-issue for us. But I’d want other homeschoolers to be able to do this if they had an athletically gifted child.

I don’t see how permitting homeschooled kids to participate in these things would “strip away the rights” of other students. People who work for and send their children to public schools need to be thankful for all of us who homeschool and therefore save money and resources for the kids who have to go to public school.

Not only has my family paid thousands of dollars into the schools via property taxes, we’ve saved taxpayers $68,760 in just the few short years my elementary-aged kids have been taught at home. (Statistic based on annual spending-per-student information found at: http://www.schooldatadirect.org/app/location/q/stid=11/llid=111/stllid=211/locid=11/stype=/catid=-1/secid=-1/compid=-1/site=pes ).

So yeah, let them play sports and compete for Governor’s Honors. They’ve earned the right as much as any other kid.

By Batgirl

March 3, 2009 12:10 PM | Link to this

I know I’m a day late, but here goes.

Wow, homeschooler, you must be very rich to have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in school taxes. You could probably afford to hire a qualified tutor for your children. The truth is that none of us pays enough in taxes to send even one child to school, much less 3-4 children. It takes all of us, including those of us with no children.

As for the topics at hand, go ahead and let the homeschooled kids try out for public school extracurriculars, but only if the coaches are allowed to cut them if they aren’t good enough. Maybe they could try out at private schools, too, since they’re less likely to come in contact with the great unwashed at those schools. I also think they should be allowed to try out for Governor’s Honors, too. However, if there is a limit on the number that public and private schools are allowed to recommend, then there should be a limit on the number of homeschoolers who can be recommended. Perhaps the homeschool associations could work to recommend kids from their groups. Yeah, that would work.

As for my contract, I just hope I’ll have the same job with at least the same pay next year. Too many other people are suffering for me to quibble about when I get my contract. Which brings me to this thought—what happens to all those self-righteous homeschoolers when the breadwinners of the family lose their jobs?

For those of you who want to “slay the dinosaur”, what will you do when you succeed? There is very little cohesiveness left in our country. The public school system is one thing that binds us together. When you tear it down because it does not serve you the way you want it to, you will also tear down our country.

DB, Tony, love ya. You two are wonderful.

By Homeschooler

March 6, 2009 4:18 PM | Link to this

Batgirl, I didn’t say that I had paid hundreds of thousands of dollars into the school system in taxes. I wish I were that well-off! I was referring to homeschooling families as a whole, collectively paying in that much. If you re-read the first paragraph, you’ll get that.

Later, I said that I have paid thousands into the system, and I have.

And of course, homeschooled kids who participate in sports should be able to be cut or whatever, treated just like any other kid on the team.

What will happen if my husband loses his job and my freelance work dries up? We’ll eat beans and continue giving our kids the excellent education they have received thus far…because one of the greatest myths about homeschooling is that it is expensive. We can do more with a library card and $100 annually per student than the schools can do with $8000.

Homeschoolers aren’t trying to tear down the public school system. We’re just opting to provide what we feel is the best for our children. It’s amazing to me how many people hate us for that.