The Homeschool Connections Open House will be at the Bloomfield Hills Baptist Church, 3600 Telegraph Rd, which is just south of Square Lake Road

All are welcome. Those who are thinking about homeschooling, already homeschooling, currently taking classes with us, interested in teaching with us…everyone. Hope to see you there!

For more information, please contact Tarla Gernert at tarlager@gmail.com or 248-390-0213.

Please pass this along to anyone and everyone you can think of that might be interested.

Homeschoolers Day in the state of Michigan

SR-169, As Adopted by Senate, March 27, 2008

Senator Cropsey offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 169.
A resolution recognizing April 9, 2008, as Homeschoolers Day in the state of Michigan.
Whereas, Homeschooling is the fastest-growing educational trend in the United States, growing by an estimated 15 percent per year of the last several years with 2 million to 2.4 million children nationwide in a homeschool program; and
Whereas, The state of Michigan recognized in 1963 that parents and legal guardians have a natural and fundamental right to direct the care, education, and upbringing of their children; and
Whereas, Homeschooling provides young people with a strong foundation of values and academic skills needed to become responsible citizens of our state and nation; and
Whereas, Homeschooling parents see themselves as the primary educators and know that parental supervision and involvement play a major role in the education of students; and
Whereas, Homeschooling parents know that teaching morals and values is essential to the complete education of the student since every member of society continually makes moral decisions; and
Whereas, Homeschooling parents are dedicated to producing academically-strong students who also commit themselves to service, with studies demonstrating that homeschool students have a stronger understanding and higher participation rate in the governmental system and elections, and a significantly higher percentage are involved in community organizations; and
Whereas, Homeschoolers come from a diverse number of socioeconomic backgrounds and are from a variety of races, sex, and creeds; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize April 9, 2008, as Homeschoolers Day in the state of Michigan.

Michigan Legislature Website

During this special Educator Appreciation Week, Home Schoolers can save 25% on both classroom and personal purchases. Don’t forget to bring your Borders Classroom Discount Card with you. There is a special reception Friday, April 4 from 4:00pm – 8:00pm with food, fun & prizes!

Excludes electronics, periodicals, and special orders. See attachment flyer for detailed exclusion info.

For more homeschool discount information, visit the website http://www.homeschoolingonashoestring.com/educatordiscount.html.

File: Borders flyer for Educator Savings April 2-8, 2008

Discover how the Hebrew Biblical Holy Days point to our Lord, Jesus. Take part in family focused hands-on activities, events and seminar sessions that will encourage a deeper understanding! FIRE Camp is a fun and affordable time of fellowship for the entire family. http://www.homeschoolblessings.com/firecamp/

Speaker: James Whitman, Director of The Center for Judaic – Christian Studies
When: August 24 – 29th 2008
Where: FaHoLo Campground in Grasslake Michigan

$225 Family Pass Discount Extended Until March 28th. Visit their website for full details as well as room and meal options. http://www.homeschoolblessings.com/firecamp/campfees.shtml

• Thursday, March 20, 2008, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Home School Students: Exploring For-Mar’s Sugar Bush. Learn about the history of making maple syrup and take a hike to our sugar shack. This program includes tasting maple syrup! *Note: This time of year our trails tend to be very muddy. Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 03/18/08.
• Thursday, April 17, 2008, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Home School Students: Wacky Weather. Learn about Michigan’s extreme weather, take weather measurements outside, and make a windsock to take home. Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 04/15/08.
• Thursday, May 15, 2008, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Home School Students: Spring Splendors. Learn to identify some Michigan wildflowers, learn why they grow when they do, and plant a flower to take home. Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 05/13/08.
• Thursday, June 19, 2008, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Home School Students: Hiking Safety. Learn about the importance of hiking safety including: what to wear on a hike, what to take with you, and what to do if you get lost. Program includes a hike and an item to add to your hiking gear collection. Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 06/17/08.
• Thursday, July 17, 2008. 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Home School Students: Incredible Insects. Students will learn basic insect identification skills and go exploring for insects out on the trails. We will take an insect survey and learn how to graph our results. Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 07/15/08.
• Thursday, August 14, 2008, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Home School Students: Birding 101. Learn some key ways to identify birds in your backyard. Students will go on a hike and look for birds on their way to study the Foote Bird Museum in our Dewaters Education Center. Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 08/12/08.
• Thursday, September 18, 2008, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Home School Students: Dead or Alive?. Are trees really dead once they fall down in the forest? We will go on a hike and study some “dead” trees up close. This program includes making a nurse tree bingo card. Everyone’s a winner! Cost: $4.00 per student. Pre-registration required by 09/16/08.

The article below was written by Debbie Schwarzer
HSC Legal Team Co-chair
and posted this morning on the list sponsored by HSC, the large California Homeschool Association, HomeSchool California (HSC).
_______

I have been astonished about the hype about this case. So many have been making sensational claims that parents will be criminally prosecuted, etc.

Please rest assured about a number of things. First, the law, other than this court’s interpretation, hasn’t changed. Parents involved in a truancy prosecution might face criminal charges, but only after a rather lengthy series of hearings and court orders, and only if the parents failed to comply with the orders. It would be a criminal contempt charge, which isn’t nothing but doesn’t land you in Pelican Bay.

We have never known conscientious parents ever to be prosecuted under truancy laws to the point of contempt charges. It’s highly unlikely.

The media also appear to be saying that no one can teach their children without a credential. I am not certain that the holding is that broad, and I also doubt it would survive legal challenge.

The holding really applied to private ISPs (there are persistent mistatements, that began with fact statements in the case, that the family was enrolled in a charter. Obviously a school with the name “Christian” in it wouldn’t be a public charter. It was a private ISP). It could be read by someone reading broadly as applying to any situation where the child is not continuously in the presence of a credentialed teacher.

The court started on a very slippery path of appearing to think that some situations were OK and others weren’t, effectively trying to enact an entire code of regulations for governing this situation from the bench. He hasn’t been given the constitutional authority, of course, to do this.

How do we get rid of this case?

There are a number of paths. One is seeking actual review by the Supreme Court. HSC and at least several of the other major groups’ legal teams aren’t in favor of that. Even if you could get the court to accept your petition (they only take 3-5% of cases), the chances that it will be decided the way you want aren’t real good. It’s a very dangerous road to take, because if the Supreme Court were to affirm the appellate court ruling on either of the main points (constitutional or statutory), there aren’t many options left. The constitutional argument, of course, could be appealed to the US Supreme Court, but the statutory case about the proper interpretation of the California Education Code could not. California Supreme Court is the last stop on that road. If that happens, then you have two bad choices that I’ll discuss below.

There is another much easier choice, and it’s the one we want, as well as the one being trumpeted in the HSLDA petition. You ask the California Supreme Court to depublish the opinion, or, in other words, have them say that while this might have been the right result in this particular case involving this particular set of facts, the court finds that the reach of the opinion is overbroad and should not become law for the entire state. That is the choice we all (meaning HSC and, I believe, the other groups) want.

You get this by filing a letter with the Supreme Court in compliance with the applicable rules of court. While anyone can file one by stating their interest, we DO NOT think it is an appropriate use of grassroots activism. We DO NOT want every HSC member or HSLDA member or grandmother or irate citizen dashing off their letters to the Supreme Court. There are sober, measured, legal arguments to make about why depublication is appropriate, and those arguments are made after researching the applicable standards, etc. The Supreme Court will not be swayed positively by public outcry. In fact, it could backfire, and backfire badly.

If the Supreme Court affirms on the statutory points, then the two bad choices are to either seek legislation or to do nothing and hope that a further case is brought that can involve a better set of facts and better explanation of the issues (and reaching a better result). Both are very dangerous. Legislation isn’t the answer because of the extraordinary strength of the teachers’ union. It is unlikely we will see any legislation ultimately pass that gives us the freedom we have today. And the second choice is dangerous. I know lots of families that would make terrific test case defendants — they’re conscientious, they actually get their kids educated, they follow the laws. But we don’t get to pick who the family is. As a friend of mine said, we couldn’t have gotten a worse set of facts for this case if we had a contest.

We are trying to get one or more of the fanciest law firms in the state to help us on taking the fangs out of this case. We know what we’re doing. Please let us do our jobs.

I would be personally, professionally, and, as a representative of HSC, globally grateful if everyone on this list would calm down and ask others to calm down. Specifically, I would ask people:

a. Not to write to the Supreme Court or any court.

b. Not to talk to their legislators or make any public statements about a need for legislation.

c. Tell their neighbors, friends, lists, groups both of the above and to educate them about the choices available and about how panic isn’t necessary, marches on Sacramento aren’t necessary, etc.

I wish this were the type of situation where we could put the fury, passion and energy of the members of this list to good use. Trust me, if we end up having to go the legislative route, we will have that situation at some points. But this isn’t that type of situation, and too many folks stirring things up hurts instead of helps.

Thanks for listening.

Debbie Schwarzer
HSC Legal Team Co-chair