If you Live in Kansas.. and Homeschool You should Read This.

I received an email from Midwest Parent Educators (a homeschool group).. if you live in the state of Kansas I hope you'll read this note below and call or email our Kansas State Board of Education Members.

Some Homeschooled kids I love…

Dear MPE member family in Kansas,

We received this letter from HSLDA following up on the statement by the Chair of the KSBOE proposing homeschool legislation:

"The Kansas State Board of Education has agreed to discuss homeschool legislation and regulation at its meeting on September 18–19. This issue has received much media attention. However, state law gives the Board no jurisdiction over non-accredited private schools (which includes homeschools).

It would be appropriate for the Board to operate within its proper boundaries and not stray into the area of homeschooling.

Action Requested

1. Before September 18, please write, call or email the elected member of the State Board of Education who represents your district. Your message can be as simple as, "The State Board of Education has no jurisdiction over non-accredited private schools. Please leave homeschooling off your agenda."

2. Tone is important! If your communication is respectful, polite and courteous, it will give board members a good impression of homeschool families.

3. This website shows what counties are assigned to which of the 10 districts. Below the map, click on your district number to get contact information for your board member.

Background

One board member was quoted as saying she would like to have a conversation about legislation for homeschoolers. It is not appropriate for the Board to be having conversations about regulating homeschooling since the Board has no jurisdiction over non-accredited private schools.

Kansas has a sensible legislative framework for homeschooling that has worked well for many decades. No change is necessary. The framework involves a low level of wasteful red tape (a one-time registration as a private school), but a high level of performance: a homeschool parent must be prepared to prove his or her competence as a teacher if challenged.

HSLDA sent a letter to Board Chair David Dennis on Wednesday, September 15, about the Board's plans to discuss homeschool legislation. A copy of our letter is on the HSLDA website on the Kansas homepage.

HSLDA is working closely with Kansas homeschool organizations on this issue.

Thank you for standing with us for freedom!

Sincerely Yours,

Scott A. Woodruff, Esq.,
Senior Counsel
Home School Legal Defense Association"

Homeschool Conference 2009

 

Today I went to the place that makes me crazy… Why would I go some place that makes me crazy?  

                                                                        
Because of children like this.. that decorate Christmas cookies naked.  I have  other children.. that don’t decorate cookies naked, but I picked this one because well.. he looks like the rest of them and I think he’s pretty darn cute.

I went to the Midwest Parent Educators Conference ALL the way up by the Kansas City Airport.  It was packed as usual, but this year it had one special person.. that has never come with me…

                                                                      
                                                                                                  It’s the Man!

It was his first year coming to the conference with me. We looked at homeschool curriculum, chatted about books, education and all that good stuff.  I believe he was a little SHOCKED at the sticker price of the curriculum there. It’s not that he’s never bought a book for the kids.. it’s that we’ve never talked about the books or the curriculum like we did today. He’s never seen first hand the mother’s in their uniforms (jean jumpers) or the fabulous Johnson County Mother’s that look like they just stepped out of a spa.. and had a day with the best Hollywood stylist.  (think seven jeans, little graphic t-shirts and wedge heel sandals)

                                                
                                                Leave it to me to take a photo that does not represent my issues…

 

I have some serious insecurities when I go to this conference.  The first  two years I went I was good!  It’s only been the last 3 years or so that I feel like a complete doofus sitting in the presentations, walking around the vendor hall. I mean.. I know that I’m a good homeschooling mom.. but COULD I BE BETTER?  YES!!!   (editor note.. I’ve been homeschooling since 1998)

I think going there reminds me I am not as good as I should be.

Take the booth with all of the fabulous history novels… there are kids SWARMING this booth.. where do you think the 2 kids I brought with me were? Sitting in the cafe with their laptops playing a game (and not an educational one either).

And then there is the presentations that don’t just talk about being a good teacher.. they bring the dreaded "W" word into the picture.. you know

WIFE

.  The man says "I’m the best wife he’s ever had."  But if he would have listened to some of these other presentations, he just might have said something different.  I mean really….  iron the sheets and his underwear? Greet him at the door with a kiss and a smile?  Do little things to let him know he’s THE MAN?!?!  You mean I don’t?

                                                                    

                                                                        

Really not a good photo to show my issues…

So if you’ve read this far.. and you homeschool.. let me know what your  homeschool conference experiences are.. and what kind of curruiculm do you use?