Home Education Magazine

HEM News & Commentary - June 25, 2003
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/whts_nw.html
Compiled and edited by Ann Lahrson Fisher

In this Issue:
Standing for Homeschooling
Legal and Legislative News
* California update - Policy change still in the news
* Delaware - recommending compulsory Pre-K
* Massachusetts update - the Bryants get national coverage
* New Jersey - extracurricular participation
* Oregon - veto update
* Pennsylvania - interscholastic access problems
* Texas and tax dollars
Charter, Alternative Education, Cyber-schools, Etc.
* Idaho
* Iowa
* Ohio
* Oregon
* Washington
Grass Roots Homeschooling
"Homeschooling is in serious trouble" (or not?) - in the EU
Calling Attorneys!
Homeschoolers Express Themselves - Winningly!
Department of Huh?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Standing for Homeschooling
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

http://www.westandforhomeschooling.org/res/index.php
Ann: The "We Stand for Homeschooling" Resolution (announced here
last issue) has created a stir in the homeschooling community. If
you haven't yet read the Resolution, please do so and discuss it with
your friends and family. To whet your appetite, here is Sandi's
(Washington Home Education Network e-group) tidy summary:
"I think it is an effort to keep that ever-expanding definition of
public schooling from assimilating homeschooling as a form of
education in which parents 'take direct responsibility by choosing a
curriculum, an approach to learning, and the principles and values on
which these are based.'"
Writing this newsletter convinces me that such assimilation is
possible, and that the opportunity for my children to independently
homeschool their own children is indeed at risk. Perhaps that risk
will not play out today or tomorrow, but the squeeze on independent
homeschooling seems inevitable. The Resolution is but one vision,
one first step. I promise to share more of my thinking on this issue
later.
Today though, as I prepared this report, I read each news story with
renewed attention -the essence of the Resolution burning in the back
of my mind. Many of these news stories point to amazing homeschooling
success, while other stories point squarely to the risk of
assimilation. These stories speak louder than any argument, pro or
con. I wonder: would any of these stories be in the news today if
thousands of homeschooling parents before us had not stood tall for
independent homeschooling?

To read the rest of this NewsComm issue, click here:
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/whts_nw.html

HEM News & Commentary is a weekly report on what's happening in the
world of homeschooling. Gleanings from the news media, accolades and
pans, hot discussions, legal and legislative successes and problems -
all are fair game, and gathered in one column for your convenience.

And just in case you don't have the time to read every word in print,
we will summarize and discuss key news and trends that we think are
the most provocative or that may have the greatest impact on the
future of homeschooling.

This service is available free. Archives can be accessed at
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/nc/newscommentary.html

The weekly updates will additionally be announced on HEM's discussion
lists. You'll find a print version - the highlights of these reports
- in a column by the same name in Home Education Magazine.

Your opinions and feedback are always welcome. Contact me.
Ann Lahrson-Fisher
HEM News & Commentary
mailto:newscomm@...