NHENotes, April 2001
[email protected]
**************************************************************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NHENotes
Volume 3, Issue 4
April 2001
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**************************************************************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NHEN MISSION STATEMENT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The National Home Education Network exists to encourage
and facilitate the vital grassroots work of state and local
homeschooling groups and individuals by providing information, fostering
networking and promoting public relations on a national level.
Because we believe there is strength in a diverse network
of homeschoolers, we support the freedoms of all individual
families to choose home education and to direct such education.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IN THIS ISSUE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=> HOMESCHOOLING IN THE NEWS
=> WEB PAGE FEATURE
=> VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
=> NETWORKING
=> KIDS AND TEENS NETWORKING *New Feature*
=> HOT TOPICS
=> FUNDRAISING
=> NHENotes CLASS ADS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOMESCHOOLING IN THE NEWS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Homeschoolers are in the news across the country this month. They are
winning bees and contests in record numbers and because of that seem to be
on the media's mind. ABC News aired a national television piece on its
"World News Tonight" about homeschoolers being admitted to colleges.
Broadcast on April 14, you can read the trascript of this very positive
piece at
http://abcnews.virage.com/cgi-bin/visearch?user=abc&template=template.html&q
uery=+homeschooling
====================><====================
Paige Warns Districts Of Increased Competition
Education Week
http://www.edweek.org:80/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=28paige.h20
March 28, 2001
This article is not about homeschooling, but it is important because it
brings to light Secretary of Education Rod
Paige's beliefs about alternative forms of education. He
is quoted as saying "In addition to charter schools and private schools,
districts are likely to see growing competition from home schooling and new
Internet-based education, or "cyber schools." "We are in some real serious
competition and we need to figure out who we are, because we can beat the
competition."
====================><====================
Home-school success stories
The Daily Star
Oneonta, New York
Monday, April 9, 2001
http://www.thedailystar.com/ news/stories/2001/04/09/homeschool.html
Several homeschooled students and their parents were interviewed for this
article about homeschoolers who go on
to college. Clayton Smith, the director of admissions at
the State University College of Agriculture and Technology
at Cobleskill, is quoted as saying, "Research indicated that
home-school graduates are doing very well in colleges and universities
throughout the country." This is a great
article to pass on to worried relatives!
====================><====================
Of Venus, Serena and Sisterhood
San Francisco Chronicle
Saturday, March 24, 2001
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/24
/SP13925.DTL
This is an excellent article about the incredible tennis playing Williams
sisters. "Into a very white establishment, filled with spoiled-rotten rich
kids, jealousy, a country-club mentality and more than a hint of racism,
along came Venus and Serena: Jehovah's Witnesses, home-schooled and
from the ghetto, without playing junior tournaments or any other
establishment games. They came separately, but as
one: The Williams family against the world."
====================><====================
HOMESCHOOL WINNERS!
Homeschoolers are winning geography and spelling bees
across the country!
Give championships to those who can spell it
The Clarion-Ledger
March 30, 2001
http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0103/30/30gary.html
Amusing article about homeschooled student, Joshua Hanssen, who won the
Mississippi State spelling bee.
Home-school student wins geographic bee on his third try
Indianapolis Star
April 7, 2001
http://www.starnews.com/news/articles/bee0407.html
Homeschooler Erik Bolt, of South Bend, won the Indiana Geographic Bee. The
thirteen year old is also a spelling
whiz who placed 13th at the National Spelling Bee last year.
Jefferson girl defends spelling crown to earn return trip
to Washington
Bangor Daily News
March 26, 2001
http://www.bangornews.com/cgi-bin/article.cfm?storynumber=31228
Fourteen-year-old homeschooler Rebecca Garthoff won her second state
spelling bee in a row and will represent
Maine at the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
And although there isn't yet a news piece where you can read all about it,
we thought you'd like to know that the team that includes the homeschooled
children of NHEN Board
members Cindie Edmunds and Christine Webb, took first place at the Oregon
Destination Imagination competition. They
will be traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee for the
Destination Imagination Global Finals in May.
Remember to check out our In The News section of the For The Media page at
NHEN's web site at www.nhen.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WEB PAGE FEATURE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As conference & event season has started across the country, we thought it
appropriate to feature our EVENTS page, which you can access by pointing
your browser to: http://www.nhen.org/cal/.
You can view a monthly calendar and search by state to see
if an event you're interested in is listed. Information
about events are provided, as well as contact information. Don't see you're
conference listed? Just click on the "add event" button and fill out the
form!
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
If you're planning to travel to another
state this spring or summer, plug in the
state & the month you'll be there to see
if there's a homeschooling event taking
place. This would be a great way to meet
other homeschoolers.
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MILITARY HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES
We are gathering information that would be useful to
military families choosing to homeschool. Here are 3 brief questions that
could really help us out:
--Would you share any links you have for websites, email lists, message
board folders devoted to helping military homeschooling families?
--Would you be willing to be an overseas point of contact
for those pcs-ing to your area?
--If you're a military homeschooling family, would you be willing to write
about your experiences?
Please send your responses to Sue Patterson Patterson5@...
If you'd like to help with this project, (even in a small way) please
contact Sue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NETWORKING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOMESCHOOLING 101 Seminar in Texas
Introduction to Homeschooling seminar presented by Homeschoolers EXCEL in
cooperation with Eastfield College Home School Connection on Monday, April
23 at 7:00 p.m. at Eastfield College, Bldg. C, Rm. 135, 3737 Motley Drive,
Mesquite, TX. Designed for parents considering homeschooling and for those
new to it, Homeschooling 101 will present an overview of this fast-growing,
gentle approach to education and family nurture. Come learn about the
different approaches to homeschooling, resources and activities available to
homeschooling families in our community, and more. To make reservations
contact Tracy Wallace of Homeschoolers EXCEL at tracy@....
====================><====================
START YOUR OWN SUPPORT GROUP
Do you want to start a new support group? Homeschoolers experienced in
support group basics and in helping others
get groups started are at your disposal! Send a blank email message to
[email protected] and tell us
about the group you're wanting to start! All questions welcome.
====================><====================
HOMESCHOOLING EVENTS
To find out about events, conferences, or get-togethers in your area, check
out the Events webpage at the NHEN website:
http://www.nhen.org/cal/ To have your event listed, send
the information to Jenn at Events@....
====================><====================
Networking announcements are FREE to all NHEN members. Just send your
networking need or opportunity to rsc218@... and we'll see that it gets
into the next issue of NHENotes!
Guidelines for Networking announcements:
Limit 50 words. Open to NHEN members only. Not available
for commercial advertising.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KIDS AND TEENS NETWORKING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With this issue, we're offering a new service for NHEN members kids & teens.
We realize that often homeschooling kids need a place to let others know
about their networking projects. Whether they're trying to start a post card
exchange, working on a service project that they want to share with others,
or raising funds for a specific purpose, we'd like to offer them the
opportunity to share their needs with other homeschooling families. As much
as possible, we hope to allow the children to tell you in their own words
what their project/needs are.
====================><====================
VIRTUAL NON-BAKE SALE TO HELP OREGON TEAM OF HOMESCHOOLERS!
We're sure you've been asked to donate goodies to a bake sale before. Well,
this is our first virtual bake sale fundraiser and we'd like you to
participate! The good news is, you don't have to bake a thing!
Our team, the Oregon Home Education Network Secondary Destination
Imagination Team, has won Oregon's state D. I. championship again and will
be traveling to the Global Finals competition in May!! This is a very big
deal for us as we've been working diligently toward this since last August.
Last year, with lots of help from family, friends and supporters, we were
able to travel to Iowa where we won the international competition.
This year we travel to Knoxville, TN for the competition. We're facing the
grueling task of raising $8,000 in just a few weeks. Like most
homeschoolers, we aren't from wealthy families, so we're turning to the
homeschooling community for help.
What we're asking is, instead of actually baking us a goodie to sell, you
contribute to our team the cost of the ingredients. Then, instead of
spending hours baking, just sit down in your favorite chair and have a nice,
relaxing cup of tea. Please send your contributions (checks made out to OHEN
Destination Imagination Team) in care of:
Christine Webb
13193 NW Mason Hill Rd
North Plains, OR 97133
If you have any questions you can contact our team coaches at:
Christine: retromom@...
Laurie: pjletts@...
If you would like to know more about Destination Imagination you can go to
their web site at: www.dini.org
If you would like to see our team you can go to our web site at:
http://welcome.to/ohendini
The competition is the third week of May. We'll post the results when we
return. Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement!
Matthew, Caitlin, Jake, Lauren, Alaina & Keegan
====================><====================
AFGHAN PROJECT FOR FOSTER KIDS!
Hi, I am a 14 year old home schooler from Mass. I am involved in a community
service project called the Afghan Project. The purpose is to supply a
personalized afghan to foster children. There are 10, 000 foster children
in Mass. and I have helped personalize nearly 600. I have an on line
newsletter which I send out each month looking for help. I also would like
to get other states involved. I would like to do this through home
schoolers or 4-H.
My personal goal is to help give 200 foster kids an afghan this year. You
can help me with this goal in many ways.
If you do not knit or crochet you could:
1. Donate:
1. usable afghans
2. washable 4 ply acrylic yarn
3. knitting needles or crochet hooks
2. Make afghans - knit or crochet - any size - any color
3. create 6" squares
for knitters: cast on 20 stitches and straight knit until 6 inches (can
do patterns but prefer not the stockinette (knit a row, purl a row)
crochet any 6" square
4. repair donated afghans
5. assemble afghans
1. sew together squares
2. add borders
3. personalize afghans
6. prepare afghans for delivery (decorate bags, etc)
There are many ways to help me with this project and I would appreciate
anything you could do. I also could come talk to a small group that might
be interested in learning more about this project. If you want to know more
about this project, please contact Erin Rosen-Watson at: Gymkar2004@....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOT TOPICS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The National Home Education Network brings a new feature to NHENotes and
offers the opportunity for homeschoolers to speak out on some of the tougher
issues facing us today. We'll feature a question and comments in each issue
of NHENotes.
This time we asked:
How do you feel about homeschoolers participating in extracurricular
activities at public schools?
Here are some of your responses:
I am torn on this issue. I think it depends on how intrusive the public
school system is when the homeschooler uses the service. --Nance
====================><====================
I used to think that if I homeschooled then I should not have access to the
activities at the schools then I realized that I do pay taxes and should
have every right if I so choose.
--Laurie
====================><====================
I am not in favor - the further we stay away from government run services,
the freer we shall be. --Shannon
====================><====================
Personally, I don't want to take part in any activities our public schools
offer to homeschoolers. I think this would open the door to the school
officials sticking their noses in our schooling. If I wanted the district to
be involved in my children's education, I would have kept them in the public
schools! I believe it would eventually compromise my freedom as a
homeschool parent to utilize the public schools extracurricular
activities --Karen
====================><====================
My county is very welcoming to homeschoolers inviting them to participate. I
feel this is a good thing. Our taxes pay for these activities, and if
someone chooses to put their child in band or sports,I think they should be
allowed to. --Pat
====================><====================
I will not tell others how to raise their children, and I can't fault
parents who are doing what they think is best. However, I will not use the
services of the public schools, because I think that, even if there are no
problems at the outset, it invites closer scrutiny and possible regulation
of homeschools when they entangle themselves with tax-funded schools. There
are many other worthwhile opportunites for us that do not present such
complications. --Karen
====================><====================
My son plays on the high school soccer team and at this time it's the only
way possible for him to get the competition he needs with other players who
play at the same level. It has never been a problem for us and the athletic
department has been outstanding in their support...what it all boils down to
for me, is that this is a personal choice made by my son, who is passionate
about his sport. Arbitrary arguments about whether or not this is the
"politically correct" homeschooling choice doesn't enter into it. For him,
his love of the game and his commitment to his sport is all that matters and
I will always support him in his choice.
--Cindie
====================><====================
As long as there are no governmental strings attached, sure! Why not?
Wouldn't it be great if the public school could serve as a community
resource rather than insist upon maintaining a stronghold on all those
participating in its programs? Until that happens our family will forgo,
however. --Carol
====================><====================
Under no circumstances should homeschoolers participate in Public school
activities. This sends a two sided message. We do not want the government to
regulate homeschool yet we want to participate in government run schools.
Any contact with the public school in this day and age opens up
homeschoolers to government invasion. Many times children are only able to
participate based on test scores. It would be much more beneficial for
homeschoolers to band together and get leagues going on their own...When
homeschoolers participate in public school activities we send the message
that we approve of the school system and that we cannot function without
it...There are always strings attached and no matter how enticing the offer
there are still consequences. Unfortunately many do not look at the whole
picture...Be sure you understand the implications by participating in public
school activities of any kind. --Beth
====================><====================
I think it's fine as long as it is very clear that the programs and
activities are public school activities, not public school activities billed
as "homeschooling" activities. Tough balancing act on this one! --Christine
====================><====================
The typical objection I encounter revolves around the homeschooler taking up
a "slot", thereby denying some other student the position. My usual answer
centers around having provided the same funding (taxes & fees) as any other
participant, and subjecting oneself to inferior education should not be a
prerequisite to participating in something paid for. --Bob
====================><====================
If you would like to add your opinion, you can find the current Hot Topics
at: http://www.nhen.org/newsletter/hottopics.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FUNDRAISING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NHEN T-SHIRTS & TOTES! FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!
To commemorate NHEN's first year as a non-profit organization serving the
homeschooling community, the National Home Education Network is pleased to
offer your choice of the following items with your $50.00 donation:
A T-shirt or Jumbo Tote with a great new design by Sagittarius
Screenprinting, a homeschool business. Please allow several weeks for
processing and shipping. You can see these unique products and find out how
to order them by going to: http://www.nhen.org/pr/donate.asp
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NHENotes CLASS ADS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Home Education Magazine
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
Our March/April issue includes articles on teens, gifted children,
unschooling, learning in the community and many more! Regular columns by
Larry and Susan Kaseman, Linda Dobson, David Albert, Carol Narigon, Rebecca
Rupp and several others! Check out our special online subscription price:
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/ORD/order.html
Supporting homeschooling families since 1983!
====================><====================
HOW DO I PLACE A "NHENotes" CLASSIFIED AD?
You can have a copy of "NHENotes'" Class Ads Guidelines, Rate Card and Class
Ad Submission Form e-mailed to you automatically by sending an e-mail to:
NHENotes@... and please make sure you include "CLASS AD INFO" in the
SUBJECT field. It doesn't matter what you put in the message field.
=======================><=======================
HELP SUPPORT NHEN BY SUPPORTING OUR ADVERTISERS!
=======================><=======================
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONTACTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NHENotes Volunteer Staff may be reached at NHENotes@...
PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: Cindie Edmunds, Oregon
EDITOR: Sue Patterson
NHENotes WRITERS:
MEDIA & HOMESCHOOLERS - Christine Webb, Oregon
NETWORKING CLASSIFIEDS - Rhonda Conner, South Dakota
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - Hallie Pentheny, New Hampshire
FUNDRAISING/NHEN PROMOTIONS - Mary Spinks, Virginia
NHENOTES ADVERTISING - Ben Bennett, Indiana
IMPORTANT URL'S / ADDRESSES WEBSITES:
NHEN Homepage: http://www.nhen.org/
NHENotes Archive: http://www.nhen.org/nhenotes/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NHEN E-MAIL LISTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The National Home Education Network invites you to subscribe to any of our
open email lists for networking with homeschoolers across the country. Email
lists are not restricted to NHEN members, but are open to anyone with an
interest in the topic.
An explanation for all of the lists that NHEN sponsors:
http://nhen.org/main/lists.html
You can join any of these lists by going to the web site, or by sending a
blank e-mail to the address given. You may choose to receive the digest form
of a list so that one or more times per day you'll get up to 25 messages
combined into a single email, or you may choose the "no mail" option, which
means that you will not receive any email but you can go to the list's
website and read the archives. To choose the digest or nomail options, go
to: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/mygroups.
====================><====================
NHEN Discussion List:
[email protected]
NHEN Announce List:
[email protected]
NHEN Legislative List:
[email protected]
NHEN PR List:
[email protected]
NHEN Resource List:
[email protected]
NHEN Writers' List:
[email protected]
New Support Groups List:
[email protected]
Homeschool Editors' List:
[email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUBBING & UNSUBBING INSTRUCTIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Become a member of the National Home Education Network and have this
publication delivered directly to your mailbox each month! Fill out the form
at http://www.nhen.org/membershipform and become part of
this network of homeschoolers helping homeschoolers!!
====================><====================
If you would like to be unsubscribed from the NHENotes, please e-mail
Membership@... with "Unsubscribe NHENotes" in the subject line.
====================><====================
Copyright (c) 2001, National Home Education Network,
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NHENotes is a free monthly newsletter homeschoolers sponsored by the
National Home Education Network. Subscribers are welcome to reprint and/or
distribute NHENotes for nonprofit use as long as the appropriate credit is
given and the ENTIRE text of the newsletter is included (including credits
and information at the end of each issue).
====================><====================
The National Home Education Network
http://www.nhen.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NHENotes
Volume 3, Issue 4
April 2001
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**************************************************************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NHEN MISSION STATEMENT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The National Home Education Network exists to encourage
and facilitate the vital grassroots work of state and local
homeschooling groups and individuals by providing information, fostering
networking and promoting public relations on a national level.
Because we believe there is strength in a diverse network
of homeschoolers, we support the freedoms of all individual
families to choose home education and to direct such education.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IN THIS ISSUE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=> HOMESCHOOLING IN THE NEWS
=> WEB PAGE FEATURE
=> VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
=> NETWORKING
=> KIDS AND TEENS NETWORKING *New Feature*
=> HOT TOPICS
=> FUNDRAISING
=> NHENotes CLASS ADS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOMESCHOOLING IN THE NEWS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Homeschoolers are in the news across the country this month. They are
winning bees and contests in record numbers and because of that seem to be
on the media's mind. ABC News aired a national television piece on its
"World News Tonight" about homeschoolers being admitted to colleges.
Broadcast on April 14, you can read the trascript of this very positive
piece at
http://abcnews.virage.com/cgi-bin/visearch?user=abc&template=template.html&q
uery=+homeschooling
====================><====================
Paige Warns Districts Of Increased Competition
Education Week
http://www.edweek.org:80/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=28paige.h20
March 28, 2001
This article is not about homeschooling, but it is important because it
brings to light Secretary of Education Rod
Paige's beliefs about alternative forms of education. He
is quoted as saying "In addition to charter schools and private schools,
districts are likely to see growing competition from home schooling and new
Internet-based education, or "cyber schools." "We are in some real serious
competition and we need to figure out who we are, because we can beat the
competition."
====================><====================
Home-school success stories
The Daily Star
Oneonta, New York
Monday, April 9, 2001
http://www.thedailystar.com/ news/stories/2001/04/09/homeschool.html
Several homeschooled students and their parents were interviewed for this
article about homeschoolers who go on
to college. Clayton Smith, the director of admissions at
the State University College of Agriculture and Technology
at Cobleskill, is quoted as saying, "Research indicated that
home-school graduates are doing very well in colleges and universities
throughout the country." This is a great
article to pass on to worried relatives!
====================><====================
Of Venus, Serena and Sisterhood
San Francisco Chronicle
Saturday, March 24, 2001
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/24
/SP13925.DTL
This is an excellent article about the incredible tennis playing Williams
sisters. "Into a very white establishment, filled with spoiled-rotten rich
kids, jealousy, a country-club mentality and more than a hint of racism,
along came Venus and Serena: Jehovah's Witnesses, home-schooled and
from the ghetto, without playing junior tournaments or any other
establishment games. They came separately, but as
one: The Williams family against the world."
====================><====================
HOMESCHOOL WINNERS!
Homeschoolers are winning geography and spelling bees
across the country!
Give championships to those who can spell it
The Clarion-Ledger
March 30, 2001
http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0103/30/30gary.html
Amusing article about homeschooled student, Joshua Hanssen, who won the
Mississippi State spelling bee.
Home-school student wins geographic bee on his third try
Indianapolis Star
April 7, 2001
http://www.starnews.com/news/articles/bee0407.html
Homeschooler Erik Bolt, of South Bend, won the Indiana Geographic Bee. The
thirteen year old is also a spelling
whiz who placed 13th at the National Spelling Bee last year.
Jefferson girl defends spelling crown to earn return trip
to Washington
Bangor Daily News
March 26, 2001
http://www.bangornews.com/cgi-bin/article.cfm?storynumber=31228
Fourteen-year-old homeschooler Rebecca Garthoff won her second state
spelling bee in a row and will represent
Maine at the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
And although there isn't yet a news piece where you can read all about it,
we thought you'd like to know that the team that includes the homeschooled
children of NHEN Board
members Cindie Edmunds and Christine Webb, took first place at the Oregon
Destination Imagination competition. They
will be traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee for the
Destination Imagination Global Finals in May.
Remember to check out our In The News section of the For The Media page at
NHEN's web site at www.nhen.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WEB PAGE FEATURE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As conference & event season has started across the country, we thought it
appropriate to feature our EVENTS page, which you can access by pointing
your browser to: http://www.nhen.org/cal/.
You can view a monthly calendar and search by state to see
if an event you're interested in is listed. Information
about events are provided, as well as contact information. Don't see you're
conference listed? Just click on the "add event" button and fill out the
form!
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
If you're planning to travel to another
state this spring or summer, plug in the
state & the month you'll be there to see
if there's a homeschooling event taking
place. This would be a great way to meet
other homeschoolers.
*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MILITARY HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES
We are gathering information that would be useful to
military families choosing to homeschool. Here are 3 brief questions that
could really help us out:
--Would you share any links you have for websites, email lists, message
board folders devoted to helping military homeschooling families?
--Would you be willing to be an overseas point of contact
for those pcs-ing to your area?
--If you're a military homeschooling family, would you be willing to write
about your experiences?
Please send your responses to Sue Patterson Patterson5@...
If you'd like to help with this project, (even in a small way) please
contact Sue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NETWORKING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOMESCHOOLING 101 Seminar in Texas
Introduction to Homeschooling seminar presented by Homeschoolers EXCEL in
cooperation with Eastfield College Home School Connection on Monday, April
23 at 7:00 p.m. at Eastfield College, Bldg. C, Rm. 135, 3737 Motley Drive,
Mesquite, TX. Designed for parents considering homeschooling and for those
new to it, Homeschooling 101 will present an overview of this fast-growing,
gentle approach to education and family nurture. Come learn about the
different approaches to homeschooling, resources and activities available to
homeschooling families in our community, and more. To make reservations
contact Tracy Wallace of Homeschoolers EXCEL at tracy@....
====================><====================
START YOUR OWN SUPPORT GROUP
Do you want to start a new support group? Homeschoolers experienced in
support group basics and in helping others
get groups started are at your disposal! Send a blank email message to
[email protected] and tell us
about the group you're wanting to start! All questions welcome.
====================><====================
HOMESCHOOLING EVENTS
To find out about events, conferences, or get-togethers in your area, check
out the Events webpage at the NHEN website:
http://www.nhen.org/cal/ To have your event listed, send
the information to Jenn at Events@....
====================><====================
Networking announcements are FREE to all NHEN members. Just send your
networking need or opportunity to rsc218@... and we'll see that it gets
into the next issue of NHENotes!
Guidelines for Networking announcements:
Limit 50 words. Open to NHEN members only. Not available
for commercial advertising.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KIDS AND TEENS NETWORKING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With this issue, we're offering a new service for NHEN members kids & teens.
We realize that often homeschooling kids need a place to let others know
about their networking projects. Whether they're trying to start a post card
exchange, working on a service project that they want to share with others,
or raising funds for a specific purpose, we'd like to offer them the
opportunity to share their needs with other homeschooling families. As much
as possible, we hope to allow the children to tell you in their own words
what their project/needs are.
====================><====================
VIRTUAL NON-BAKE SALE TO HELP OREGON TEAM OF HOMESCHOOLERS!
We're sure you've been asked to donate goodies to a bake sale before. Well,
this is our first virtual bake sale fundraiser and we'd like you to
participate! The good news is, you don't have to bake a thing!
Our team, the Oregon Home Education Network Secondary Destination
Imagination Team, has won Oregon's state D. I. championship again and will
be traveling to the Global Finals competition in May!! This is a very big
deal for us as we've been working diligently toward this since last August.
Last year, with lots of help from family, friends and supporters, we were
able to travel to Iowa where we won the international competition.
This year we travel to Knoxville, TN for the competition. We're facing the
grueling task of raising $8,000 in just a few weeks. Like most
homeschoolers, we aren't from wealthy families, so we're turning to the
homeschooling community for help.
What we're asking is, instead of actually baking us a goodie to sell, you
contribute to our team the cost of the ingredients. Then, instead of
spending hours baking, just sit down in your favorite chair and have a nice,
relaxing cup of tea. Please send your contributions (checks made out to OHEN
Destination Imagination Team) in care of:
Christine Webb
13193 NW Mason Hill Rd
North Plains, OR 97133
If you have any questions you can contact our team coaches at:
Christine: retromom@...
Laurie: pjletts@...
If you would like to know more about Destination Imagination you can go to
their web site at: www.dini.org
If you would like to see our team you can go to our web site at:
http://welcome.to/ohendini
The competition is the third week of May. We'll post the results when we
return. Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement!
Matthew, Caitlin, Jake, Lauren, Alaina & Keegan
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AFGHAN PROJECT FOR FOSTER KIDS!
Hi, I am a 14 year old home schooler from Mass. I am involved in a community
service project called the Afghan Project. The purpose is to supply a
personalized afghan to foster children. There are 10, 000 foster children
in Mass. and I have helped personalize nearly 600. I have an on line
newsletter which I send out each month looking for help. I also would like
to get other states involved. I would like to do this through home
schoolers or 4-H.
My personal goal is to help give 200 foster kids an afghan this year. You
can help me with this goal in many ways.
If you do not knit or crochet you could:
1. Donate:
1. usable afghans
2. washable 4 ply acrylic yarn
3. knitting needles or crochet hooks
2. Make afghans - knit or crochet - any size - any color
3. create 6" squares
for knitters: cast on 20 stitches and straight knit until 6 inches (can
do patterns but prefer not the stockinette (knit a row, purl a row)
crochet any 6" square
4. repair donated afghans
5. assemble afghans
1. sew together squares
2. add borders
3. personalize afghans
6. prepare afghans for delivery (decorate bags, etc)
There are many ways to help me with this project and I would appreciate
anything you could do. I also could come talk to a small group that might
be interested in learning more about this project. If you want to know more
about this project, please contact Erin Rosen-Watson at: Gymkar2004@....
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HOT TOPICS
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The National Home Education Network brings a new feature to NHENotes and
offers the opportunity for homeschoolers to speak out on some of the tougher
issues facing us today. We'll feature a question and comments in each issue
of NHENotes.
This time we asked:
How do you feel about homeschoolers participating in extracurricular
activities at public schools?
Here are some of your responses:
I am torn on this issue. I think it depends on how intrusive the public
school system is when the homeschooler uses the service. --Nance
====================><====================
I used to think that if I homeschooled then I should not have access to the
activities at the schools then I realized that I do pay taxes and should
have every right if I so choose.
--Laurie
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I am not in favor - the further we stay away from government run services,
the freer we shall be. --Shannon
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Personally, I don't want to take part in any activities our public schools
offer to homeschoolers. I think this would open the door to the school
officials sticking their noses in our schooling. If I wanted the district to
be involved in my children's education, I would have kept them in the public
schools! I believe it would eventually compromise my freedom as a
homeschool parent to utilize the public schools extracurricular
activities --Karen
====================><====================
My county is very welcoming to homeschoolers inviting them to participate. I
feel this is a good thing. Our taxes pay for these activities, and if
someone chooses to put their child in band or sports,I think they should be
allowed to. --Pat
====================><====================
I will not tell others how to raise their children, and I can't fault
parents who are doing what they think is best. However, I will not use the
services of the public schools, because I think that, even if there are no
problems at the outset, it invites closer scrutiny and possible regulation
of homeschools when they entangle themselves with tax-funded schools. There
are many other worthwhile opportunites for us that do not present such
complications. --Karen
====================><====================
My son plays on the high school soccer team and at this time it's the only
way possible for him to get the competition he needs with other players who
play at the same level. It has never been a problem for us and the athletic
department has been outstanding in their support...what it all boils down to
for me, is that this is a personal choice made by my son, who is passionate
about his sport. Arbitrary arguments about whether or not this is the
"politically correct" homeschooling choice doesn't enter into it. For him,
his love of the game and his commitment to his sport is all that matters and
I will always support him in his choice.
--Cindie
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As long as there are no governmental strings attached, sure! Why not?
Wouldn't it be great if the public school could serve as a community
resource rather than insist upon maintaining a stronghold on all those
participating in its programs? Until that happens our family will forgo,
however. --Carol
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Under no circumstances should homeschoolers participate in Public school
activities. This sends a two sided message. We do not want the government to
regulate homeschool yet we want to participate in government run schools.
Any contact with the public school in this day and age opens up
homeschoolers to government invasion. Many times children are only able to
participate based on test scores. It would be much more beneficial for
homeschoolers to band together and get leagues going on their own...When
homeschoolers participate in public school activities we send the message
that we approve of the school system and that we cannot function without
it...There are always strings attached and no matter how enticing the offer
there are still consequences. Unfortunately many do not look at the whole
picture...Be sure you understand the implications by participating in public
school activities of any kind. --Beth
====================><====================
I think it's fine as long as it is very clear that the programs and
activities are public school activities, not public school activities billed
as "homeschooling" activities. Tough balancing act on this one! --Christine
====================><====================
The typical objection I encounter revolves around the homeschooler taking up
a "slot", thereby denying some other student the position. My usual answer
centers around having provided the same funding (taxes & fees) as any other
participant, and subjecting oneself to inferior education should not be a
prerequisite to participating in something paid for. --Bob
====================><====================
If you would like to add your opinion, you can find the current Hot Topics
at: http://www.nhen.org/newsletter/hottopics.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FUNDRAISING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NHEN T-SHIRTS & TOTES! FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!
To commemorate NHEN's first year as a non-profit organization serving the
homeschooling community, the National Home Education Network is pleased to
offer your choice of the following items with your $50.00 donation:
A T-shirt or Jumbo Tote with a great new design by Sagittarius
Screenprinting, a homeschool business. Please allow several weeks for
processing and shipping. You can see these unique products and find out how
to order them by going to: http://www.nhen.org/pr/donate.asp
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NHENotes CLASS ADS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Home Education Magazine
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
Our March/April issue includes articles on teens, gifted children,
unschooling, learning in the community and many more! Regular columns by
Larry and Susan Kaseman, Linda Dobson, David Albert, Carol Narigon, Rebecca
Rupp and several others! Check out our special online subscription price:
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/ORD/order.html
Supporting homeschooling families since 1983!
====================><====================
HOW DO I PLACE A "NHENotes" CLASSIFIED AD?
You can have a copy of "NHENotes'" Class Ads Guidelines, Rate Card and Class
Ad Submission Form e-mailed to you automatically by sending an e-mail to:
NHENotes@... and please make sure you include "CLASS AD INFO" in the
SUBJECT field. It doesn't matter what you put in the message field.
=======================><=======================
HELP SUPPORT NHEN BY SUPPORTING OUR ADVERTISERS!
=======================><=======================
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONTACTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NHENotes Volunteer Staff may be reached at NHENotes@...
PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: Cindie Edmunds, Oregon
EDITOR: Sue Patterson
NHENotes WRITERS:
MEDIA & HOMESCHOOLERS - Christine Webb, Oregon
NETWORKING CLASSIFIEDS - Rhonda Conner, South Dakota
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - Hallie Pentheny, New Hampshire
FUNDRAISING/NHEN PROMOTIONS - Mary Spinks, Virginia
NHENOTES ADVERTISING - Ben Bennett, Indiana
IMPORTANT URL'S / ADDRESSES WEBSITES:
NHEN Homepage: http://www.nhen.org/
NHENotes Archive: http://www.nhen.org/nhenotes/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NHEN E-MAIL LISTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The National Home Education Network invites you to subscribe to any of our
open email lists for networking with homeschoolers across the country. Email
lists are not restricted to NHEN members, but are open to anyone with an
interest in the topic.
An explanation for all of the lists that NHEN sponsors:
http://nhen.org/main/lists.html
You can join any of these lists by going to the web site, or by sending a
blank e-mail to the address given. You may choose to receive the digest form
of a list so that one or more times per day you'll get up to 25 messages
combined into a single email, or you may choose the "no mail" option, which
means that you will not receive any email but you can go to the list's
website and read the archives. To choose the digest or nomail options, go
to: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/mygroups.
====================><====================
NHEN Discussion List:
[email protected]
NHEN Announce List:
[email protected]
NHEN Legislative List:
[email protected]
NHEN PR List:
[email protected]
NHEN Resource List:
[email protected]
NHEN Writers' List:
[email protected]
New Support Groups List:
[email protected]
Homeschool Editors' List:
[email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUBBING & UNSUBBING INSTRUCTIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Become a member of the National Home Education Network and have this
publication delivered directly to your mailbox each month! Fill out the form
at http://www.nhen.org/membershipform and become part of
this network of homeschoolers helping homeschoolers!!
====================><====================
If you would like to be unsubscribed from the NHENotes, please e-mail
Membership@... with "Unsubscribe NHENotes" in the subject line.
====================><====================
Copyright (c) 2001, National Home Education Network,
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NHENotes is a free monthly newsletter homeschoolers sponsored by the
National Home Education Network. Subscribers are welcome to reprint and/or
distribute NHENotes for nonprofit use as long as the appropriate credit is
given and the ENTIRE text of the newsletter is included (including credits
and information at the end of each issue).
====================><====================
The National Home Education Network
http://www.nhen.org