Sunday, January 27, 2013

Forbes Magazine on Homeschooling

Forbes
 

"Want to Tel the State to Stick It? Homeschool Your Kids"

This notion that the children belong to the state, that their education must be provided for by the state … is inimical at every step to liberty.” – J. Gresham Machen

The swelling legions of homeschoolers poke a subtle rebuke at America’s ever expanding nanny state. Under both parties, Washington has systematically invaded private spheres and co-opted public services historically performed by local bodies. But a spontaneous groundswell of freedom minded folks has continued America’s rich inheritance of rugged individualism.

The God-fearing, flag-waiving, gun-toting homeschool crowd embodies the American spirit of mutual self-reliance. You won’t encounter a more neighborly bunch. Their children thrive without government “help.” Their support networks blossom sans the state’s sanction. Meanwhile, taxpayers waste a fortune securing abysmal academic results. In 2012, SAT scores fell to their lowest level since tracking began. As spending soars, assessment scores plummet.

The modern homeschool movement comes largely by Christians aghast over an academic establishment overrun by progressives. Schools long ago became laboratories for instilling statism and distilling politically correct groupthink. Values clarification anyone? With public education increasingly geared toward multicultural agitation against America’s godly heritage, many parents resolved to safeguard the hearts, souls and minds of their young.
At least 1.5 million students receive home-based academic instruction. The ranks of homeschoolers are rising rapidly across every social strata, faith and ethnicity. While many families lack sufficient means for someone to stay home, it’s not generally those affluent enough to afford exclusive parochial education. The highest homeschool participation appears in households with incomes ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. The homeschool community reflects a cross-section of Americans; the children of truck drivers and lawyers, whites and blacks, rich and poor, Christians and unbelievers.

What is civilization save passing to posterity the accumulated prosperity, cultural achievements, customs and mores of our forbearers? In the American context this includes self-reliance. Parents are the primary medium for rearing children. Should liberty endure, America must restore her multi-generational perspective, lately befuddled by Leviathan permeating life.

We have two principle tutors, lessons learned via individual experience and the wisdom amassed by our ancestors. Progressives have purposely uprooted America’s multi-generational perspective for many decades. Woodrow Wilson, who prior to the White House presided over Princeton, wrote, “The use of a university is to make young gentlemen as unlike their fathers as possible.”

Not to besmirch the many fine teachers, but an education establishment intent on discrediting tradition as a compass has rendered much of America’s youth adrift with only the pittance of personal experience to navigate their course. Students are prodded to disdain the independent spirit and biblical morality which birthed America’s exceptionalism. But casting aside the wisdom of our fathers comes at great peril.

Edmund Burke admonished “The individual is foolish, but the species is wise.”

J. Gresham Machen, the foremost defender of fundamentalism in the modernist controversy of the past century, also led the battle against compulsory public education. A fierce libertarian, Machen cautioned, “If you give the bureaucrats the children, you might as well give them everything else as well.”

We have. See election 2012.

Barack Obama – who spent his past assailing the American system – would not be president without overwhelming support from twenty-somethings imbued with a reverence for the state. No longer the family tree, “government is the only thing we all belong to” claims the ruling party.

Ron Paul senses the urgency, “Expect the rapidly expanding homeschool movement to play a significant role in the revolutionary reforms needed to rebuild a free society with constitutional protections.” Dr. Paul warns, “We cannot expect a federal government controlled school system to provide the intellectual ammunition to combat the dangerous growth of government that threatens our liberties.” Proving his point, homeschool parents were instrumental behind several UN treaties stalling in the Senate.

Like the local self-government formed indigenously by settler communities on America’s frontier, homeschoolers spontaneously built a support apparatus from the ground up. The free market at work, parents can readily access almost any curricula, subject matter or activity.

The Department of Education’s Dr. Patricia Lines countered the notion of homeschoolers withdrawing from America’s social fabric, “Like the Antifederalists these homeschoolers are asserting their historic individual rights so that they may form more meaningful bonds with family and community. In doing so, they are not abdicating from the American agreement. To the contrary, they are affirming it.”

A misperception persists that homeschooled children lack social skills. Dr. Brian Ray, of the National Home Education Research Institute, surveyed seven thousand adult graduates of homeschools. His research reveals they are significantly more likely to participate in community service initiatives, join civic, religious or business organizations and be politically involved. A limited study by J. Gary Knowles found no homeschool graduates who were unemployed or residing on welfare.

Unless socialization means sassing their parents, as confirmed by Dr. Larry Shyers, homeschooled children exhibit significantly less behavioral problems than other students. Public schools nurture self-esteem. Homeschooling cultivates character allowing children to flourish into responsible citizens. Moreover, Dr. Ray concludes adults taught at home retained their parent’s worldviews far more frequently than peers. Students learning at home absorb much less liberal cant.

Homeschooled kids don’t lack socialization . . . but socialism.

The most pressing motive behind taking on the terrific burden of home education is to impart religious or moral beliefs at 36 percent; safety was primary for 21 percent of parents and dissatisfaction with academic performance at other schooling options accounted for 17 percent. Parents also cited geographical distance, preferring non-traditional teaching methodologies or wishing to tailor classes per a particular student’s needs.

Some parents simply prioritize getting our children into Heaven over getting them into Harvard. Forging godly character, precept upon precept, surpasses SAT scores in importance. But homeschooled children suffer no discernible academic handicap.

It’s not only national spelling bees and similar competitions where homeschooled students have become a force. Studies consistently have homeschooled students scoring 15-30 points above national averages. A recent survey by Brian Ray covering 11,739 students showed homeschooled children tested at the 86th percentile. These stellar results held for boys and girls; all incomes; whether or not the parent had teacher credentials; whether their budget was above or below $600; and the amount of state regulation.

The Home School Legal Defense Association asks, “If government regulation does not improve the results of homeschoolers why is it necessary?” Many Americans coming from other walks no doubt similarly ponder the efficacy of red-tape.

The impressive results may partly derive from positive selection. And any child whose parents willingly invest so much time would likely thrive in other settings, but students previously homeschooled continue to prosper at college. They obtain above average grades with higher graduation rates.

Despite undeniable successes – or perhaps because of them – homeschooling still faces resentment by suspicious social workers and government bureaucrats. Per Christine Field, an attorney with the National Center for Life and Liberty (we are members), “If we are losing rights, it is in the social services arena where an anonymous phone call can bring authorities in to ‘investigate’ a homeschooling family. The Fourth Amendment violations committed by social workers … can wreak legal havoc on parents.”

Homeschooling represents a microcosm of traditional Americana and a rebuke of government meddling. Hence liberals hate it.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Ronald Regan First Inaugural Address

Mark Levin was playing part of Regan's first inaugural address. Dr. Paul Kengor laments the radical change in world views.

Ronald Regan Second Inaugual Address: "If not us, who? If not now, when?"

Regan's Second Inaugural Address. "If not us, who? If not now, when?" Listen and weep, then persevere on doing what is right!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Periodic Table of Elements


If you are looking for an interactive Periodic Table of Elements for studying chemistry, when you click on the element at ptable.com lots of info pops up.

But my all time favorite Periodic Table of Elements site not only offers wild hair and humor, but cool experiments, periodicvideos.com, The Periodic Table of Videos.

Have fun!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Les Miserables: A Review


Les Miserables: To See or Not to See.

Ever since she heard the movie was coming out, my daughter (who is 24) has been waiting anxiously to see it. Years ago, she saw the spectacular Broadway version. She sings the incredible music all the time. My other children also like to play the music on the piano. It is very dramatic and moving. The words are inspiring. My husband and I have also seen the theater production. All three of us have read the book. I don't think you need to read the book to understand the storyline, but it definitely offers a depth to understanding the complete story and the times. The author, by the way, likes to digress from the storyline and pontificate.

There have been discussions on blogs asking for advice on whether or not to see the movie and what age is it appropriate for? First off, I think the film industry was disingenuous in giving the movie a PG-13 rating. After seeing the movie, I would not let my 12 or 15-year-old see the movie. It should be rated R for the sexual content. That being said. They probably didn't give it an R because they felt there was not enough nudity. It is too bad the producer(s) decided to add some extra images that did not need to be included. I was hoping to take my younger daughters to see it.

The problem is images. They stick in your mind. The question is whether the negative images stick more or the positive images? If you want to close your eyes to avoid the negative images (as someone suggested), then the 2 parts to avoid are when Fantine sells her body to the soldier. She has nothing else to sell and she fears for her daughter. The other part is the song "Master of the House."

The song "Master of the House" displays the depravity and debauchery of man (humankind--for those who are politically correct). How low will a man sink? The Thenardiers are a direct contrast to the other characters who are trying to lift themselves up. They seem to know no bounds on how far they can sink.

In reading some comments on various sites I want to also add that the movie is not doing great at the box office, because they know how to market it to a Christian audience, breitbart.com, but because of the theme of the movie of love, mercy, kindness, and redemption--a universal message of Christian love. It is the innate desire of the human heart, as St. Augustine says, "Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in thee." The movie also shows how one person's choice can dramatically affect another. It is perhaps even more sad that people don't understand poetry. They truly don't understand the line "To love another person is to see the face of God."



 "To love another person is to see the face of God" is the message of Bl. Mother Teresa. She said, “Seeking the face of God in everything, everyone, all the time, and his hand in every happening; This is what it means to be contemplative in the heart of the world. Seeing and adoring the presence of Jesus, especially in the lowly appearance of bread, and in the distressing disguise of the poor” (In the Heart of the World: Thought, Stories and Prayers).


This movie has one of the most Catholic inspiring messages I have ever seen. The ending alone is something to reflect upon. Where does JeanValjean die? In a convent! In front of the Eucharist!!!!  It is peaceful and quiet and the candles are flickering. What is he doing? Praying for his "daughter" and her husband to be: Cosette and Marius. When he dies, who comes to greet him? Fantine. Why? Because he has turned his hatred and bitterness into love. He loved another person--truly loved--with pure intentions, not expecting anything in return and at great personal expense to himself.

To fully understand the closing moments of the movie is to reflect back on the very beginning and to meditate on all the choices Valjean makes. Repeatedly, he comes to a crossroads and has to make a decision. When he wavers and starts to think about himself instead of those around him is when his poor choice leads to Fantine losing her job and sinking into depravity.

He could have chosen not to help the man who is trapped under the cart. By doing so, Javert would have found it more difficult to recognize him. But in freeing the man from under the cart, the man was later there to help Valjean to find a place of refuge. It is an incredible movie of love and forgiveness. 

Javert also contrasts with Valjean. Javert embodies justice without mercy to the bitter end. He despairs because he cannot accept mercy. He does not understand it. Through the Bishop's kindness and forgiveness, Valjean begins his journey to understanding mercy. He is at first the receiver of mercy, but then he must learn to pass mercy onto others. He does this multiple times: Stepping forward to save the man condemned because he looked like him, saving the man under the cart, interceding on Fantine's behalf, saving Marius' life, and sparing Javert's life. He personifies Christ's command to us to forgive "seventy times seven."

The movie is all about choices. It challenges the viewer, "Are you going to make choices so that you too can be like Valjean at the end of your life?"

"Come with me, where chains will never bind you
All your grief, at last, at last behind you
Lord in heaven, look down on him with mercy
Forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your glory."

"Take my hands
I'll lead you to salvation
Take my love for love is everlasting
And remember the truth that once was spoken
To love another person is to see the face of God"

The Complete Text Below:

 VALJEAN:
Now you are here
Again beside me
Now I can die in peace
For now my life is blessed

COSSETTE:
You will live, papa
You're going to live
It's too soon to ever say goodbye

VALJEAN:
Yes, cossette
Forbid me now to die
I'll obey
I will try

On this page
I write my last confession
Read it well
When I at last am sleeping
It's a story of those who always loved you
Your mother gave her life for you and gave you to my keeping

FANTINE:
Come with me
Where chains will never bind you
All your grief
At last, at last behind you
Lord in heaven;
Look down on him in mercy

VALJEAN:
Forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your glory

FANTINE, VALJEAN AND EPONINE:
Take my hand
And lead me to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken:
To love another person is to see the face of god

ALL:
Do you hear the people sing?
Lost in the valley of the night
It is the music of a people who are climbing to the light
For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies
Even the darkest nights will end and the sun will rise

They will live again in freedom in the garden of the lord
They will walk behind the ploughshare
They will put away the sword
The chain will be broken and all men will have their reward!

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes!
REPEAT

Aaaaah, aaaaah, aaaah,
Tomorrow comes!