N.C. Homeschool News

Kernersville Homeschooler Wins $20K Scholarship From Duke Energy

2009-05-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

Natalie Thomas, the daughter of Duke employee Scott Thomas of Kernersville, N.C., has been awarded a four-year renewable scholarship of $5000 annually from the Duke Energy Foundation. The scholarship was awarded to children of twenty employees this year, including seven in North Carolina. Duke Energy is headquartered in Charlotte.

Accept No Substitutes

2009-05-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

Some 1500 public school teachers gathered in Raleigh this week to protest plans to cut teacher pay (by as much as $250 a year, said the Winston-Salem Journal) in the midst of the state's revenue reductions.

"It gets to the point where they're hurting our children," said Denise McCoy, Konnoak Elementary School's home-school adviser.

It should be noticed that in North Carolina the public school system has no authority or control over homeschooling. Under the non-public education statute, Article 39 Chapter 115C, a home school is defined as

a nonpublic school in which one or more children of not more than two families or households receive academic instruction from parents or legal guardians, or a member of either household. (G.S. 115C‑563(a))

and their contact with the state is through the Division of Non-Public Education, not the Department of Public Instruction.

The tendency of some public school systems to create a "home-school advisor" or similar position which does not refer to home education but the school systems' interaction with their own students' families and home life, just creates unnecessary confusion.

State Singling Out Large Families For Tax Audits

2009-05-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

Official says homeschoolers not targeted, but many report receiving notice

Carolina Journal's David Bass reports that the N.C. Department of Revenue has opened a new offense against income tax fraud by demanding extensive documentation from families who claim eight or more exemptions on their state tax returns. Secretary of Revenue Kenneth Lay refused to answer questions on how many fraudulent returns they hope to catch, and how much the additional processing will cost the state.

N. C. Homeschool News has received reports that homeschooling families with as few as four children have received audit notices, and according to Census Bureau estimates, over 86,000 households could be affected if every family with four children was audited.

SPORTS: Cabarras-Rowan Beats Wake for State Homeschool Baseball Title

2009-05-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

From the Salisbury Post:

Stallions win state title

Cabarrus-Rowan won the baseball state championship for homeschoolers with a 9-7 victory against Wake County in Kannapolis on Saturday.

Benji Jackson hit a three-run homer and earned a save. The winning pitcher was Stephen Shue.

Josh Tossas had three hits, while Jackson, Shue, Christian Hicks, Bobby Zimmerman and David Bancroft had two hits apiece.

TV Station Discovers African-American Homeschoolers

2009-05-13T05:36:00.000-07:00

WITN TV-7 in Washington, N.C., has a story on "The New Face of Home Schooling", focusing on African-American families which have left the public school system in favor of home education.

While it may be news to WITN, this is not a new story. For the past ten years, the face of North Carolinians for Home Education at the General Assembly has been NCHE's legislative administrator, Mari Fitz-Wynn, an African-American homeschool mother and former lobbyist for conservative organizations in D.C. Likewise, the founders and leaders of the National Black Home Educators, Eric and Joyce Burges, served as president of the state homeschool organization in Louisiana many years ago and continued to serve at the state and national levels.

Neither NCHE nor the state's Division of Non-Public Education track the ethnic background of homeschoolers in North Carolina.

Should State Supply Books to Homeschoolers?

2009-05-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

In their story on the recent Beaufort County Commission meeting, the Washington Daily Times mentions
Commissioner Hood Richardson argued that the state should provide textbooks to home-schooled students.

Richardson went on to criticize local education spending, saying that most of the money the schools receive "is just plain wasted ... mismanaged and ill-used.”

It may be mentioned that while some school systems have allowed homeschoolers to use public school textbooks which have been retired, states like Alaska which have provided funding to purchase books for home instruction -- which is not the same thing as independent homeschooling -- have seriously restricted which titles and content are available, cutting out authors and publishers in wide use by home educators.

16-Year-Old Race Driver Is Homeschooled in Kannapolis

2009-05-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Motorsport.com reports on Chris Buescher, a 16-year-old race driver from Texas who now lives with friends near the Charlotte Motor Speedway. He is currently in Ohio preparing for a race this weekend and commented on being a student driver as well as a high schooler:

"I'm just trying to learn what the car does in different situations," said Buescher, whose cousin James Buescher won the ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Kentucky Speedway Saturday night.

"Really just trying to learn the car and what adjustments it needs." Buescher is testing the same Roush Racing Ford that David Ragan drove in both events at Toledo in 2008. Buescher currently lives with David Ragan's parents' Ken and Beverly Ragan in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Originally from Texas, Buescher is home schooled while he pursues his racing career. A sign of our changing world,
Buescher is utilizing virtual online courses to get there.

"It's tough - teaching myself chemistry and Algebra II. But I love Math, so it's coming along. David's mom (Beverly) helps me a lot too."

UPDATE: The Toledo Blade has a story.

More Allegations Raised In Lundeby Case

2009-05-08T06:01:00.000-07:00

More information has come out on the case of Ashton Lundeby, a 16-year-old homeschooler from Oxford, N.C., who was arrested in March on federal suspicion of making bomb threats. Both the Raleigh News & Observer and the Internet magazine Wired.com report that Lundeby may be under investigation for multiple threats, some of which may have been recorded.

While his mother admits that a certain amount of prank calling went on, she maintains her son did not make the threatening calls but was the victim of someone using his online identity and IP address.

[Annette] Lundeby, who home schools both of her children, said Ashton did spend a lot of time on the computer, in chat rooms and playing games. In the months before his arrest, he had started to exchange messages with computer users who dared him to make crank phone calls. "But they were to places like Wal-Mart," Lundeby said. "They were harmless."

In February, however, someone asked Ashton to make a bomb threat and he refused, Lundeby said. She thinks someone hacked her son's computer and used his IP address to make the bomb threat, traceable to his computer. [N&O]

Lundeby's next court appearance is scheduled for May 22 in Indiana, where he is being held in juvenile detention.

N.C. Homeschooler Is Not A PATRIOT Case

2009-05-07T15:37:00.000-07:00

WNDU-TV in South Bend, Indiana, has reported this evening that the Justice Department is not holding N.C. homeschooler Aston Lundeby under terms of the PATRIOT Act, as initially reported.

The teen is accused of making a bomb threat against Purdue University, and early reports renewed widespread debate over the controversial anti-terrorist law.

UPDATE: WRAL-TV in Raleigh has posted the press release from the Department of Justice.

COMMENTARY: The Homeschooler and the PATRIOT Act

2009-05-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

EDITORIAL COMMENT:

N.C. Homeschool News is an independent clearing house for news of interest to homeschoolers. As much as possible, the focus is on positive, constructive stories, to reflect the largely positive experience of homeschoolers in our state.

This is not always possible. Occasionally homeschoolers are swept into stories which are anything but positive. Sometimes the media treats homeschoolers unfairly, although years of watching news coverage of home education in our state suggests that homeschooling is generally seen in a tolerant light here.

Sometimes homeschoolers demonstrate they also suffer from the effects of Original Sin, and find themselves in the news for their own crimes and misjudgments. This is regrettable but unavoidable in a fallen world.

Then occasionally, a story will appear without enough information for outsiders to form a rational or discerning opinion. The case of Ashton Lundeby, an Oxford teenager arrested and held for allegedly issuing a bomb threat against Purdue University, is the current example. The family has given a plausible and verifiable alibi for the time of the crime, but authorities are prevented from commenting. The few facts available suggest that Lundeby's homeschooling status is only incidental to the case.

Initial reports said Lundeby was being held under the PATRIOT Act, sparking a great deal of comment and debate which is beyond the scope of this journal; the latest update appears to rule out this flashpoint issue.

N.C. Homeschool News will continue to monitor this case, and as useful information is added, may report on it again. Anything beyond this would simply be another blog, conjecturing.

Woman In Iron Lung Was Homeschooled

2009-05-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

The obituary of 71-year-old Martha Mason of Lattimore, N.C. notes that she was homeschooled. There was good reason she was allowed to do so 37 years before it was recognized in the N.C. Supreme Court decision in Delconte v. N.C. -- a bout with polio forced her to depend on an iron lung from the age of ten. The Associated Press story says she graduated from Wake Forest University at the top of her class.

Granville Co. homeschooler jailed on bomb threat charge

2009-04-30T08:49:00.001-07:00

Mother accounts for the time, claims hackers are responsible

WRAL-TV reports that 16-year-old homeschooler Ashton Lundeby has been detained by federal agents on a criminal complaint that he made a bomb threat from his Oxford, NC home the evening of February 15. His mother, Annette Lundeby, says that the family was at a church function that evening and hackers had used her son's IP address to make crank calls that appeared to come from their home.
"Undoubtedly, [law enforcement agencies] were given false information, or they would not have had 12 agents in my house with a widow and two children and three cats," Lundeby said.

She told WRAL that since the charges were filed under the Patriot Act, she has had little access to her son since the March 5 arrest. Ashton is being held in a juvenile detention facility in South Bend, Indiana.

Advocates for disabled citizens report more contacts about homeschooling

2009-04-23T06:30:00.000-07:00

The Vance County chapter of the Arc of North Carolina, an advocacy group for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities, recently hosted the state organization's director of advocacy for a presentation in Henderson.

Nancy Russell, the featured speaker, said their organization "has been getting increased numbers of calls in recent years, many having to do with inquiries about home schooling or private schooling of disabled students," according to the blog Home in Henderson:

Russell asked why parents are moving away from public education. ...
Stating that her purpose was not to “bash the school system”, Russell enumerated several issues, some of which she speculated might be changed through policy shifts.
Russell questioned why disabled students were not achieving outcomes from school like job skills, obtaining real-world jobs, having post-secondary education options, learning skills for living and participating in the community, and having self-advocacy skills.

Rowan County homeschoolers honor public library

2009-04-23T06:22:00.000-07:00

The Rowan County Homeschool Association recently gave special thanks to the staff of the Rowan County Public Library, as reported in the Salisbury Post. The support group of over 200 families presented a banner recognizing National Library Week, books for the libraries' collections, gifts to the librarians, door prizes, and "pizza and baked goods -- home-baked, of course," said the paper.

NCHSN Digest - 04/05/09

2009-04-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

Items from N.C. Homeschool News this week:

Several bills of interest are moving through the N.C. General Assembly. Two bills would open public school sports to homeschooled students, although one would also open up the homeschool statute (4/2) ... the House Education Committee considered a move to lower the compulsory attendance age to six years old (4/2) ... and the fiscal analysis came out for a bill to give tax credits to new homeschoolers -- it doesn't include students already taught at home (3/29)

In other news, a homeschooling family won a $5000 contest for their local 4-H chapter (3/31) ... and a public school mom told a Wilmington TV station that homeschooling may be her daughter's last resort (4/4).

N.C. Homeschool News is updated throughout the week.

Homeschooling, A Last Resort

2009-04-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

WWAY-TV3 in Wilmington reports that budget cutbacks may force the closure of Pender Success Academy, an "alternative school" in the Pender County school system. One parent said her daughter benefited from the change out of regular public schools, and if the alternative school shuts down, home education is the next viable option:
Kayla Murray's parents say in just two years, PSA has helped turn their daughter around. “Her grades have gotten a lot better since she has been there. She's doing extremely well. If they close the school she's either going have to go back to the high school, which she doesn't want to do. Or get home schooled in order to finish,” said parent Maxine Murray.

Murray said many people have misconceptions about the alternative school. Many students who attend PSA have behavioral issues, and may be at risk of dropping out. But, some students, like Kayla, chose the school for its smaller class setting, and one-on-one attention from teachers.

House Education Committee to Consider Lower Compulsory Attendance Age

2009-04-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

The N.C. House Education Committee is scheduled to discuss House Bill 161, "Require Six-Year-Olds To Attend School", at its regular meeting today. The bill, which has four primary- and twelve co-sponsors, would lower the compulsory attendance age from seven- to six years old. It does not change the upper end of the range, which is 16.

Although the bill does not mention homeschoolers specifically, the homeschool statute is based on how home education complies with the compulsory attendance law. The new regulation would require homeschoolers to begin formal instruction, testing, and documentation a year earlier, and would also add to the paperwork load at the Division of Non-Public Education.

(NCHSN Exclusive)

Related Story:

2/25 - "N.C. Bill Would Require Earlier Homeschooling"

Sports Access Bill Would Open Homeschool Law

2009-04-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

A measure to allow homeschoolers to play interscholastic sports on public school teams would modify the state's homeschool law. However, homeschoolers who want to play will have to demonstrate their academic progress to public school officials, a new development under North Carolina's nonpublic education law.

House Bill 1013, "Homeschoolers Participate In School Sports", was filed on Wednesday and will be introduced in the North Carolina House Thursday afternoon. The bill, sponsored by Reps. George Cleveland (R-Onslow) and Mark Hilton (R-Catawba) with seven co-sponsors, would give homeschoolers permission to take part in public schools' interscholastic sports programs in accord with existing regulations.

The bill amends the homeschooling statute, Article 39 Chapter 115C, adding five paragraphs to integrate homeschooled students into existing rules for residency, eligibility, behavior, performance, and fees and insurance.

The academic progress rule is an innovation in the relationship between homeschoolers and public school authorities:

A home schooled student shall demonstrate any required academic eligibility in all subjects taken in the home schooled program by a method of evaluation agreed upon by the parent and the school principal.

Currently, public school officials have almost no access to the academic records of current homeschoolers in North Carolina.

An earlier proposal, Senate Bill 259, would open public school sports to all students, including not only homeschoolers but students in private, charter, and other public schools which do not offer a sports program of interest. The senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Jim Jacumin (R-Burke, Caldwell) and nineteen co-sponsors, does not modify the homeschool law.

(NCHSN Exclusive)

2/26 - "N.C. Senate Proposes School Sports Access"

Homeschool Family Wins $5000 Magazine Contest

2009-03-31T14:10:00.000-07:00

As reported by the Fayetteville Observer, Kelli and Randy Hill and their children Luke and Jeralyn of Elizabethtown have won the top prize in FamilyFun magazine's "Going Green" contest, with a design for a solar powered oven. Luke's presentation on the idea won the N.C. 4-H Gold Medal in 2007, said the article.

The proceeds from the contest are going to benefit Bladen County 4-H.

Tax Bill Could Result in 5800 New Homeschoolers

2009-03-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

House Bill 335 provides tax credit to new homeschoolers (only)

The N.C. General Assembly's Fiscal Research Division, which studies potential costs and savings of specific bills, has released a ten page report on the possible effects of H335, the "Tax Fairness in Education Act", which would provide a refundable tax credit of $2500 a year to qualifying private- and homeschool families. By their estimate, the credit could encourage nearly 6000 students to leave public schools in favor of homeschooling.

However, those who are already taught at home are ineligible.

The measure is being promoted as a cost savings to state and local governments, which could avoid as much as $26 million a year in education expenditures if that many students leave public schools. To realize the savings, the tax credit would only be offered to students who were actually enrolled in public school for two semesters first. This means that students who are already homeschooled could not receive the credit, and neither could those who are homeschooled from the beginning or taken out of private schools.

The Fiscal Research Division does not believe many parents will "game the system" by sending their children to public school just to qualify for the tax credit.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Paul Stam (R-Wake), who distributed copies of the proposal at NCHE's Capital Fest this week.

(NCHSN Exclusive)

N.C. Apple Festival Opens Honor To Homeschoolers

2009-03-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

"Apple Ambassador" also receives $2000 scholarship

From the Hendersonville Times-News:
The board [of the N.C. Apple Festival] met recently and decided to modify the process for selecting an apple ambassador, Festival Director David Nicholson said. In the past, each guidance counselor at area high schools selected two names, which were forwarded to the festival’s board. It then selected a winner.

“We said, ‘Let’s take that off (the counselors’) shoulders and take it over,’” Nicholson said.
Now the board has opened up the selection process, allowing home school and private school students to apply for Apple Ambassador.

The Apple Ambassador receives a $2,000 scholarship and the runner-up receives a $1,000 scholarship. To apply, entrants should visit the apple festival Web site www.ncapplefestival.org and fill out an application.

NCHE Capital Fest Draws Hundreds To Legislature

2009-03-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

Semi-annual event continues to grow

About five hundred homeschoolers met with legislators and Supreme Court officials and visited Capitol-area museums today as part of "Capital Fest", a semi-annual event sponsored by North Carolinians for Home Education. The program is an expansion of NCHE's long-running legislative days, which always take place during the long session of each legislative term.

During the day, groups of homeschoolers took turns visiting lawmakers' offices and attending presentations at the state Supreme Court, hosted by associate justice Paul Newby. Nearly 300 attended an afternoon session which included remarks from Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House Minority Leader Paul Stam (R-Wake) along with several other legislators.

Rep. Stam, a longtime supporter of homeschooling, brought copies of his legislation to give tax credits to parents who take their children out of public school in order to homeschool them or enroll in private school. Of more interest, though, was a bill like the one sponsored by Sen. Jim Jacumin (R-Burke, Caldwell), which would open public school athletic programs to participation by homeschoolers. Rep. George Cleveland (R-Onslow), fielding questions on the concept, said that school officials he had approached were adamantly opposed.

"They not only said 'Go away', they said, 'Go away and die.'" He said that would not deter him from supporting the bill. "I'll introduce it again next year," he said. "I'm used to introducing bills year after year after year."

The legislators in the afternoon meeting all praised homeschooling parents and students for their diligence and success in home education. Rep. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke) said he was "impressed by the frequency I see homeschoolers in the paper receiving awards and scholarships, and -- while I probably shouldn't say this -- frankly, outshining the students in the public schools."

"You parents deserve all the respect and commendation we give you," Blackwell said.

Rep. Curtis Blackwood (R-Union) said that his daughter was homeschooled for a time, and he said that homeschoolers' excellent test performance "pull up the average for the state of North Carolina." Rep. Jeff Barnhart (R-Cabarras) is the only legislator whose children are currently homeschooled; he was unable to attend this afternoon's session.

Although every legislator in both houses was invited, only Republicans came to the afternoon "meet and greet" session. Participants did report favorable receptions from Democratic legislators they met privately.

(NCHSN Exclusive)

N.C. House Bill Would Halt Standardized Testing

2009-03-22T18:50:00.001-07:00

Homeschoolers not affected

House Bill 609, introduced in the N.C. General Assembly this week, would halt development and use of standardized tests in the public schools for two years, "except for those required by federal law or as a condition of federal funding." Republican lawmakers have criticized the state's testing program, saying it does not accurately compare North Carolina students' performance with their counterparts in other states. The bill currently has twenty-five sponsors.

Homeschoolers, meanwhile, will continue to administer a nationally-standardized test on an annual basis, as always.

NCHE Capitol Event "Not A Protest"

2009-03-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

For many years North Carolinians for Home Education has sponsored a Legislative Day, now called "Capital Fest", during the long-session years of the N.C. General Assembly. The event scheduled for March 24 was planned months before the Mills divorce case became news, and NCHE has posted a request on their website for participants to keep Capital Fest a positive event -- not a protest rally:
CAPITAL FEST 2009 IS COMING ON MARCH 24th.

IT IS A DAY FOR CELEBRATING HOMESCHOOLING AND NOT A DAY FOR PROTESTS.

NCHE wants to remind all participants in Capital Fest that our purpose for Capital Fest 2009 is show our support for our homeschool laws, educate our legislators on the success of homeschooling and to show our legislators how much we love homeschooling in North Carolina. NCHE strongly encourages participants to conduct themselves in a positive manner and to refrain from any protests. By educating our legislators on the positive success of homeschooling, you build a foundation for many future years of successful homeschooling in North Carolina.

The statement appeared on the NCHE home page, http://nche.com/. Some media reports have not made a distinction between possible protests over the divorce case and NCHE's event.

NCHE Releases Written Position On Homeschool Divorce Case

2009-03-22T17:18:00.000-07:00

The following press release was issued by North Carolinians for Home Education on Saturday. NCHE President Spencer Mason had already commented to Raleigh TV station WCNC (NBC 17), as reported on NCHSN earlier this week.

Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:38 pm (PDT)

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- March 21, 2009*

**

*Recent Divorce Court Ruling Does Not Threaten Homeschooling Says NCHE*

**

(RALEIGH) –

Recently a Wake County divorce court judge issued a ruling which will require a mother to place her three homeschooled children into the public school system at the beginning of the next school year. This is a civil divorce court decision that awarded joint custody of three children to parents that disagree on a number of issues concerning the rearing of their children. One of those disagreements is about how their children will be educated. The ruling does not interpret any law dealing with the well-established parental right to homeschool in North Carolina. Furthermore, it does not decide the superiority of any one educational methodology over another.

North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE) is aware of divorce cases since the late 1980s where families were forced to stop homeschooling, and these rulings have had no ill effects on our homeschool statutes as a result of these decisions. Therefore, we believe this ruling represents no threat to our right to educate our children at home.

###############

*North Carolinians for Home Education * was founded in 1984 to protect the right to homeschool in North Carolina, to promote homeschooling as an excellent educational alternative, and to provide support and encouragement for families interested in home education. For twenty five years, North Carolina homeschoolers have joined member-supported NCHE for information, assistance, networking, and more. To find out more about homeschooling in North Carolina, contact our Raleigh office at (919) 790-1100, e-mail *NCHE@nche.com*, or visit our website, *http://nche.com/*

*Contact:* Spencer Mason, President -- *President@nche.com* or (919)790-1100

Scholarship Offered In Homeschooler's Memory

2009-03-22T16:39:00.000-07:00

The Morgan Gray Scholarship is awarded annually in memory of Morgan Gray, a Rowan County homeschooler who was killed in an auto accident in 2001. Deadline for application is March 31; more information is available at www.rchsa.com, and an announcement appeared in the Salisbury Post.

Popular Novelist Works and Homeschools in N.C.

2009-03-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

Nicholas Sparks, author of The Notebook and Message in a Bottle, described life at home in New Bern for an Indianapolis television station, WISH-TV8:

Sparks writes 2,000 words a day ... despite all the distractions.

"I have three dogs, I have a wife at home, I home school my three kids at home, there's a teacher there, there's a manager. So the phone is ringing, the dogs are barking, people are coming and going," said Sparks.

His next novel, called The Last Song, is coming out late this summer. And he manages to read close to 100 books a year, 60% novels.

"The other 40% are history, biographies, anyone except entertainers, and uh celebrities and economics," said Sparks.

Sparks' official website is http://www.nicholassparks.com

Divorce Ruling Focuses on Church, not Homeschooling

2009-03-19T17:19:00.000-07:00

Wake County Judge Ned Mangum on Tuesday released his written decision in the divorce case between Venessa and Thomas Mills, as reported in the Raleigh News & Observer on Wednesday. The full order is posted on the N&O website.

Mangum's decision centered on the couple's conflict over Venessa's membership in an out-of-state church which some former members described as abusive and manipulative. As a result of this conflict, Mangum carried out his proposed order requiring the three homeschooled children be enrolled in Wake County public schools beginning this fall. The judge wrote:

"It is clear to this Court that all three children are intelligent and have thrived academically by performing at grade level while in home school and have participated in valuable extra curricular activities, as evidenced in sworn affidavits ... "

"As previously stated in open court ... this Court clearly recognizes the benefits of home school -- and any effort to characterize it differently is incorrect ..."

Both North Carolinians for Home Education and the Home School Legal Defense Association have declined to enter into the dispute, saying the case was fundamentally about divorce and not home education. Venessa Mills plans to appeal the decision.

Southern Baptists Weigh In On Homeschool Divorce Case

2009-03-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

Raleigh's NBC-17 reported on Tuesday that the Southern Baptist Convention had called for direct political action to oppose Judge Ned Mangum's ruling in the Mill divorce case.

On Wednesday, though, the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, which often takes stands on current events, published an editorial by commission president Dr. Richard Land, calling for a different response:

Please pray for this mother and those who are trying to help her overcome this judge’s ruling. Remember this family that is being torn apart by divorce. The final order in this divorce case has not been written. Please pray for our nation’s leaders and policy makers that they would value and protect families, in general, and parental rights, in particular.

Land says that "It is not the judge's business to make sure these children have a 'well rounded education'" and that the decision "is an example of what happens when judges run amuck, and it is reflective of a growing assault on parental rights in this country."

NCHE Takes Position On Divorce Case

2009-03-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

President says judge is "biased" but case is "not about education. It is really about a divorce."

In a story by NBC-17's Julie Henry, Spencer Mason, president of North Carolinians for Home Education, said the organization is not looking for a battle with Wake County divorce judge Ned Mangum, who has stated that the homeschooled children of Thomas and Venessa Mills should be enrolled in public school next year.

"We really think this is a lot of ruckus and fuss about something that is really not about education," said NCHE President Spencer Mason. "It is really about a divorce."

Nevertheless, in a statement in the video report, Mason expressed concern with the ruling:

"It does appear that the judge has a bias when it comes to home schooling. The judge felt that for the kids to be prepared for high school or college, they needed to go to the public school and be exposed to a variety of children and backgrounds. That is not the case."

The Home School Legal Defense Association has already declined to take part in the case, as related by spokesman Ian Slatter last week. HSLDA does not get involved with custody battles, because the great latitude given to family court judges makes a positive, precendent-setting outcome difficult or unlikely.

According to NBC-17, the Southern Baptist Convention has taken a different position:

The ruling last week by family court Judge Ned Mangum has prompted a backlash from the Southern Baptist Convention, which has called for homeschoolers "around the world" to contact the judge, legislators and the governor to "fight the battle."

NCHSN will provide more details in later updates.

=====

UPDATE 1: Expanded Spencer Mason's remarks

UPDATE 2: The Southern Baptist position mentioned in Julie Henry's story was from Rev. Wiley Drake, a former SBC official in California who has covered the case on his radio program. Thanks to Ms. Henry for sharing her souce with NCHSN.

UPDATE 3: NBC-17's story was updated this morning to read: The ruling last week by family court Judge Ned Mangum has prompted a backlash from folks in the Southern Baptist Convention, who have called for homeschoolers "around the world" to contact the judge, legislators and the governor to "fight the battle." See other news, above.

Divorce Judge Grants Time for Suggestions

2009-03-14T19:16:00.000-07:00

The parents have until Sunday to propose changes to custody order

Keung Hui of the News & Observer continues his series of reports on the Wake Co. divorce case where the homeschooled children may be ordered to enroll in public school next year.

RALEIGH -- A Wake County judge has given both parties in a highly publicized divorce case until Sunday to propose changes to his plan to require three North Raleigh children to leave home schooling in favor of public schools.

In a message sent Friday, Wake District Court Judge Ned Mangum told Venessa and Thomas Mills that they can suggest things they want to add to the temporary child custody order that he'll be writing.

While Thomas Mills has asked that the children be sent to public schools, his wife said she'll continue to ask that she be allowed to home school them.

"The only thing I can do at this point is voice my objections to the judge," Venessa Mills said. "I highly doubt he's going to look at my objections." ...

(Full story here)

Mills Case An Example of Bad Law

2009-03-14T19:06:00.000-07:00

Delma Blinson of The Beaufort Observer, an online news publication in Washington, N.C., uses the Mills case as an example of problems with state family law:

North Carolina has a compulsory education law. Parents are required by law to see that their children get a basic education up to the age of sixteen. They may comply with this duty either by sending them to a public school, a private school or by homeschooling them. The homeschooling option has certain stipulations that safeguard whether the child's interest is being met in the home schooling environment, such as testing, attendance etc..

We're not talking about the general merits of home schooling vs. public schooling. We're talking about a process the state has established to verify whether an individual child is being educated. Given that provision, it would seem obvious to us that the standard (of whether the mother was meeting the state's homeschooling requirements) should have been applied by this judge and "findings of fact" entered to validate a conclusion (order) that this mother was not adequately educating these particular children as required by the state's homeschooling standards. No such order was issued according to the advocates supporting the mother. Indeed, it is reported that what little evidence that was presented tended to show that the students were doing just fine ("thriving" was the description at the hearing) with their homeschooling. The judge just felt "they need to be exposed to the real world." Say what?

Who is a judge to decide what the "real world" is and more particularly what in the "real world" a child is required by law to be exposed to?

N.C. Judge Ordering Homeschoolers into Public School

2009-03-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

World Net Daily reports this morning that Wake County Family Court Judge Ned Mangum is ordering three homeschooled siblings to enroll in public school next year.

The three children, aged 10, 11, and 12, are academically above grade level and active in a large support group in Johnston County. Their parents however are going through a divorce, and the judge told WND that the father does not support the mother's desire to continue homeschooling:

"I thought Ms. Mills had done a good job [in homeschooling]," he said. "It was great for them to have that access, and [I had] no problems with homeschooling. I said public schooling would be a good complement." ...

... "[Their homeschooling] accomplished its purposes. It now was appropriate to have them back in public school."

A family friend has set up a website, http://www.hsinjustice.com/, to chronicle the situation.

UPDATE 1: The mother's publicist, Adam Cothes, has a press release posted on Christian Newswire.

UPDATE 2: Keung Hui of the Raleigh News & Observer covers the story here.

Governor Perdue Declares Home Education Week

2009-03-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

A PROCLAMATION:

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina is committed to excellence in education and to public policy that strengthens the family; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina recognizes parental choice in pursuit of that excellence and the importance of parental involvement in education; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina appropriately and statutorialy recognizes home education as a viable educational alternative; and

WHEREAS, parents have the ultimate authority and responsibility for the care, upbringing, and choice of education for their children; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate that North Carolina home educators and home educated children be recognized and celebrated for their contributions to the diversity and quality of education in this great State;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim March 22-28, 2009, as "HOME EDUCATION WEEK" in North Carolina and call upon all citizens of this State to observe this week and recognize the continued growth and importance of home education in the State of North Carolina.

SPORTS: Wake Forest Basketball Teams Honored

2009-03-09T16:13:00.001-07:00

The Lighthouse Eagles basketball program in Wake Forest celebrated its season at their annual awards banquet last Friday night. The full write-up with team pictures is on the Learning Together blog.

Like the Surry Runnin' Patriots, the varsity teams will be competing at Liberty University later this month.

SPORTS: NCHE Champions Travel to Tennessee

2009-03-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

The Surry Runnin' Patriots girls basketball team, fresh from their NCHE title win, traveled to Knoxville to compete against two Volunteer State teams last weekend.

Surry beat Nashville Home School 50-35 before a one-point loss in double overtime against Knoxville Home School, 65-64.

The team will next go to the east coast homeschool tournament at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.

The complete write up appears in the Mt. Airy News.

NCHSN Digest -- 03/08/09

2009-03-09T15:51:00.000-07:00

Highlights from this week on N.C. Homeschool News:

COMMENTARY: We point out that some community college programs are not homeschool friendly.

PEOPLE: A homeschooler was honored by Charlotte public schools -- really ... the Garner paper noticed a homeschooler working as a Senate Page ... the New Bern paper profiled a typical non-typical teenage homeschooler ...

US: and NCHSN got a "thumbs up!" from Homeschool Nation

Read about homeschooling in the state throughout the week on N.C. Homeschool News ... thanks!

Not All Community College Programs Are Homeschool Friendly

2009-03-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

The Moore County Pilot reports that Sandhills Community College, like others across the state, is seeing a surge in enrollment this year. One observation, though, needs clarification:
Current high school and home-schooled students take college courses through Sandhoke Early College, Dual Enrollment, the First Step/Huskins program, and the Learn and Earn program.

While dual enrollment is indeed popular with homeschoolers, to our knowledge no homeschoolers have been able to utilize the Huskins program. This policy, enacted by the General Assembly several years ago, allows schools to contract with the community college to have a college instructor present classes for the school. While several homeschool support groups have investigated this idea as a sort of co-op program, we have heard no report of success with their applications.

"Early College" and "Learn and Earn" are both public school programs, a joint effort of the Department of Public Instruction and the community colleges. While homeschoolers may enroll, when they do so, they become public school students, and DNPE may close the homeschool involved. This is not always explained clearly, and some community colleges actively recruit homeschoolers to enroll in their DPI-sponsored programs. Online versions of some classes may be allowed, but with limits on the number of credits taken. Caveat emptor.

Maybe Not "Typical" After All

2009-03-06T10:24:00.000-08:00

The New Bern Sun-Journal says that 17-year-old homeschooler Sara Hand is "a typical teen", but then shows why she's worthy of a news story. Sara is involved in several charitable activities, including one she founded, and is active in student and community drama including one production she directed. She is considering attending the N.C. School of the Arts to become a theater teacher, she said.

Page Duty for Homeschoolers

2009-03-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

Homeschoolers have been popular with legislators, the governor's office, and the people who run the House, Senate, and Governor's Page programs. The Garner News reported that Austin Parks Hunter, the son of Les and Beth Hunter of Garner, served as a Senate Page recently.

Track Back

2009-03-06T10:09:00.001-08:00

Homeschool Nation gives a "thumbs up" to N.C. Homeschool News. Thanks!

Pardon The Interruption

2009-03-06T10:04:00.001-08:00

To NCHSN Readers:

Sorry about the pause in daily postings to N.C. Homeschool News. We had a medical emergency involving our newborn daughter last week and spent several days in the ICU. Thankfully, the situation seems to be under control now and we are resuming our regular activities. There may be some delayed posts in the next few days -- thanks for your support and understanding!

Hal

Homeschooler Honored by Charlotte Public Schools?

2009-03-03T09:27:00.000-08:00

In an interesting twist, a homeschooled student in Charlotte has been honored by a program sponsored in part by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system.

Although the initial story in the Charlotte Observer did not identify the student by name, 12-year-old homeschooler Zeke Bey was recognized by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and fire departments in their "Do The Right Thing" program last night.

While on a walk last month, Zeke discovered a house fire just starting and alerted residents, allowing six adults to escape injury.

NCHSN Digest - 3/1/09

2009-03-01T22:00:00.000-08:00

This week in N. C. Homeschool News:

LEGISLATION: The state Senate proposes opening high school athletics to homeschoolers, but NCHE is opposed on principle (2/26) ... meanwhile the House wants to lower compulsory attendance to six years old, which would require earlier formal homeschooling, testing, and record-keeping (2/25) ...

COLLEGE: Piedmont Baptist College offers an education degree with homeschoolers in mind (2/25) ...

SPORTS: Surry "Runnin' Patriots" score six positions on NCHE All-Conference squads (2/26) ...

PEOPLE: A Charlotte homeschooler wins a $10,000 scholarship in the same national competition his sister won last year (2/24) ...

You can read it in full, as it's posted, on N.C. Homeschool News every day. Thanks!

N.C. Senate Proposes School Sports Access

2009-02-26T18:51:00.000-08:00

NCHE opposes, saying the measure invites more regulation

A bill introduced in the state senate by Sen. Jim Jacumin (R-44) would open public school athletic programs to students of any school, public or nonpublic, whose school did not offer the interscholastic sport in question. The bill, S259, states,

These rules shall provide that any high school student who attends ... [a] private school, home school, or charter school that does not have an interscholastic athletics program in a given sport may participate in that sport at the base public high school for the student's address, subject to the terms and conditions applicable to a regularly enrolled member of that school's student body.

While the bill specifically includes homeschoolers -- WRAL in Raleigh focuses on this fact, downplaying the private, charter and public school students who also benefit -- North Carolinians for Home Education opposes the bill.

NCHE president Spencer Mason told WRAL the bill could open the door for more restrictions on homeschoolers who participate, but added, "We would be in favor of allowing home-schooled students to participate in public school club sports, if there were no additional regulations that would affect home-schoolers."

The bill continues to allow an outside organization such as the N.C. High School Athletic Association to implement the rules for interscholastic competition. NCHSAA has opposed allowing students to play for schools in which they were not enrolled because one school may recruit players away from another. They told WRAL they also oppose the bill.

SPORTS: Surry Places Six on NCHE All-Conference Teams

2009-02-26T05:32:00.000-08:00

From the Mt. Airy News:

The Surry Runnin’ Patriots are cashing in on the payoff of a couple of stellar seasons.

Surry placed a total of six players on the North Carolina Home Educators [sic] all-conference team.

The girls team saw four players make the cut: Becca Tomkins, Sally Ann Edwards, Molly Hamilton and Hannah Tomkins. Becca Tomkins, Edwards and Hamilton are co-captains.

“They each bring something to the table,” Surry girls coach Glenn Edwards said.

The boys’ Luke Hamilton and Daniel Sheaffer were also voted to the
all-conference team for their performances in leading Surry during the season.
Surry boys coach Lin Hamilton was pleased the other coaches noticed what he had seen all year long from his star players.

“I was glad because it was chosen by the other coaches in the league,” he said. “It makes it that much better.” ...

NC Bill Would Require Earlier Homeschooling

2009-02-25T06:58:00.000-08:00

A bill introduced in the N.C. House last week would lower the compulsory attendance age from seven to six years old.

Although the bill, H.161, only makes two changes, exchanging the word "six" for "seven" in two places, it directly impacts homeschoolers as part of the nonpublic education law, requiring them to administer standardized tests and keep formal records on children a year younger than before.

The compulsory education law, G.S. 115C-378, currently stipulates that "Every parent, guardian or other person in this State having charge or control of a child between the ages of seven and 16 years shall cause such child to attend school ..." That requirement may be satisfied by enrolling in a public school or in a form of nonpublic education, whether a conventional private school or a home school, as defined by Article 39, Chapter 115C.

The bill is currently assigned to the House Education Committee and will go from there to Appropriations.

Education Degree With Homeschooling In Mind

2009-02-25T04:25:00.000-08:00

Piedmont Baptist College in Winston-Salem has a unique course description for this degree program:

The purpose of the Elementary Education, Missions Emphasis is the same as elementary education, but additionally has as its purpose to prepare teachers for a mission field context, either in a national school, school for missionary children, or home school situation. The program maintains the biblical studies, general education, professional studies, and elementary education courses, but includes missions courses.

Keeping It In The Family

2009-02-24T07:09:00.000-08:00

Charlotte Homeschooler Wins $10K Prize One Year After His Sister

Tucker Haas, 11, of Charlotte, has won the grand prize of a $10K savings bond in the Third Annual Bubble Wrap For Young Inventors Competition. Haas designed a portable swing with Bubble Wrap padding to help his younger sister, who has cerebral palsy, enjoy playground outings.

Tucker's older sister, Hannah, created a "sensory wallpaper" for autistic children, to win the same prize in last year's competition.

Sealed Air Corporation's press release carries the full story.

Wilmington Homeschool Grad Leads Chatham Swim Team In Tournament Victory

2009-02-24T07:04:00.000-08:00

From the Chatham University press release:

Chatham Wins Smart Women Sweat Invitational

Pittsburgh, PA - Chatham traveled to Agnes Scott College to participate in the Smart Women Sweat Invitiational that also included the women’s colleges of Agnes Scott, Sweet Briar, Hollins and Salem. The Cougars won the invitational with a decisive 1157 points and registered first place finishes in 13 of 17 events, including all four relays.

Chatham was paced by junior Amy Kuuskoski (Wilmington, NC/Homeschool) who accounted for three individual wins in the 50, 200 and 100 freestyle as well as being a part of four winning relays. ...

App State Science Program Recruiting Homeschool High Schoolers

2009-02-19T12:08:00.000-08:00

Appalachian State University, using money from the state and a corporate foundation, is offering laboratory science classes to high school students at no charge to the participants.

The yearlong AppalSEED program allows twenty students to get hands-on instruction and experience in a variety of laboratory and field work in weekly, three-hour evening sessions. Although the Department of Public Instruction provides a portion of the funding (the university and the Burroughs Wellcome Foundation provide the rest), homeschoolers are actively invited.

The story appeared in the ASU campus newspaper, The Appalachian. See the website for application and contact information.

NCHE Schedules Capital Fest 2009

2009-02-19T07:01:00.000-08:00

North Carolinians for Home Education is hosting Capital Fest 2009, a day of activities for homeschoolers at the N.C. General Assembly and nearby museums. The semi-annual event, which takes place during the long session years of the legislature, will take place March 24; see their website for more information.

Homeschooler Comes In Third In County Bee

2009-02-11T12:26:00.000-08:00

Emily Parker, daughter of Rob and Wendy Parker of Clayton, won third place in the Johnton County Spelling Bee held Tuesday, February 10. Besides a trophy, the 7th grader won subscriptions to Encyclopedia Britannica Online, The Clayton News-Star, and her choice of two other local newspapers, and an Amazon.com gift certificate. Emily advanced to the county tournament after winning the Johnston County Home Educators spelling bee.

The winner of the county event, Shayne Jacobs of Clayton Middle School, will compete in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

(HT: Cathy Jones, JCHE)

Warning: Strings Attached

2009-02-07T12:33:00.000-08:00

Guest Commentary by Davis Carman

President Obama has called for a salary cap on top executives that accept large amounts of future government bailout money. Many will give a silent cheer that Wall Street executives and CEO's of major financial and government institutions will be limited to $500,000 per year. After all, isn't that plenty to live well?

You may ask, how could this possibly apply to home education? The lesson for us is that there are strings attached to government money. The companies and organizations that accept government money will now be required to allow others to make inside decisions. These decisions will range from payroll and advertising expenses all the way to travel, entertainment, and product development. The reaction is one devoid of power. That is, those once in charge now have big brother looking over their should and saying "yea" and "nay" as though Santa were checking his list.

As a homeschool organization with one of our missions being to protect the right to homeschool, let us watch these events closely and be reminded that we never want the government to dictate how we should homeschool our children. If we ever attach ourselves to the state (and there will be more temptations in the future) be forewarned that we will lose control. It may be limitations on the type of curriculum we can use, but it will be something.

Therefore, let us now walk as the wise, redeeming the times, for the days are evil. (Eph. 5:15-16)

Davis Carman is owner of Apologia Educational Ministries and Administrative Vice President of North Carolinians for Home Education.

High Point University Hosts Science Fair for Non-Public Schools

2009-02-07T12:06:00.001-08:00

The article, for some reason, does not give the outcome of the project presentations, but it speaks well of non-public school students:

HIGH POINT, N.C., Feb. 6, 2009 - High Point University recently hosted more than 150 parents and children for the fifth annual Piedmont Science Fair for Non-Public Schools. ...
Children participating in the science fair presented their projects and were interviewed by judges as well. This year, the event welcomed students from around the Triad, including children from Greensboro Montessori School, Greenhills School, Our Lady of Mercy and Community Baptist School, as well as children from Classical Conversations home-school groups and independent home-school families.

Dr. Aaron Titus, assistant professor and chair of the HPU Physics Department, says the event was highlighted by the amazing curiosity of such talented young people who exhibit the excitement of scientific discovery.

(High Point University press release, 2/6/09)

SPORTS: Surry Scores "Lopsided" Wins Over Davidson, Oak Level

2009-02-06T22:20:00.000-08:00

From the Mt. Airy News:

The Surry Runnin’ Patriot girls picked up a lopsided win Thursday, defeating Davidson Home School 76-23, in a tune-up game for the Runnin’ Pats
upcoming conference tournament.

The outcome of Thursday’s contest was never in doubt, with Surry jumping out to a 14-7 first quarter lead, then outscoring Davidson 18-2 in the second quarter. ...

The Surry Runnin’ Patriots boys basketball team lived up to its moniker by outgunning Oak Level, 75-45, Thursday night.

The key to the offense, coach Lin Hamilton said, was beating Oak Level down the floor.“We did a much better job getting on the break,” Hamilton said. “We got open looks, my team passed the ball to the open man and we had 20 assists.” ...

Retired Homeschool Parents Open Bookstore

2009-02-06T12:27:00.000-08:00

Ed and Joy Roy recently opened Corner Books & More on Main Street in China Grove. The Salisbury Post carried a feature story mentioning their homeschooling background and growing supply of books and materials for home educators.

Best wishes to the Roys and their clientele!

Homeschooled student dies in truck accident

2009-02-05T07:14:00.000-08:00

The Hendersonville Times-News reports that Travis Sain, a 16-year-old homeschooler from Hendersonville, died Tuesday in a one-vehicle crash near Edneyville. Police say he was exceeding the speed limit when his truck left the road and struck a tree. His passenger, Will Stepp, 17, is hospitalized in critical condition.

Travis, a former student at East Henderson High School, had been homeschooled since a dirt bike accident caused him to miss too many days of public school.

Concise Coverage

2009-02-05T07:12:00.000-08:00

Verona Callaway has a short, well-balanced story on the Raleigh News & Observer's "Project Education" blog today. In just five paragraphs she interviews two homeschooling families, addresses public school issues, homeschooling high school, co-ops, black homeschoolers, and socialization.

NCHE President Shares Good News on WPTF

2009-01-26T04:24:00.001-08:00

Homeschoolers in North Carolina are involved in real life activities, not "make work" tasks, as an integral part of their education, said Spencer Mason, president of North Carolinians for Home Education this morning. The socialization question is being addressed through outside activities, churches, and the numerous homeschool support groups across the state, and more homeschoolers head to college than their general population counterparts.

In a interview with Scott Fitzgerald on WPTF's N.C. Morning News, Mason said that a study by the University of Michigan found that 41% of the homeschoolers in that state went on to attend college. He said that NCHE's own survey of homeschooling parents a few years ago found that most chose home education in order to teach their values to their children; while some two-thirds file with the state as "religious" homeschools, a full third do not [choosing the "independent" option]; and the typical homechool family is a two-parent, single-income household with Mom doing the majority of the teaching. He pointed out that homeschooling can be much less expensive than private schools, though it is certainly possible to spend much more if the family chooses.

Asked about Wake County in the context of ongoing student reassignment controversies, Mason said there was a 2.4% increase in the number of Wake homeschoolers two years ago, and a whopping 8.3% last year. This year is still underway, he said, but there are indications it may actually show a drop in Wake County for 2008-9.

NCHE President On Talk Radio Monday

2009-01-25T14:54:00.000-08:00

Spencer Mason, president of North Carolinians for Home Education, will be interviewed by Scott Fitzgerald on North Carolina Morning News, the drive-time program of News-Talk 680 WPTF in Raleigh. The segment is scheduled for 7:10 a.m. and can be heard online at http://www.wptf.com (click the "Listen Live" button).

SPORTS: Forsyth Over Cabarrus-Rowan

2009-01-22T19:00:00.001-08:00

From The Salisbury Post:
The Cabarrus-Rowan Stallions varsity boys basketball team lost to Forsyth Home Education 80-60. K.P. Hicks (19), Christian Hicks (17) and Caleb Dietz (10) scored in double digits for the Stallions.

Weaverville Pastor Returns to Alabama Home

2009-01-22T19:00:00.000-08:00

Bart Culpepper, former minister of music of North Point Baptist Church in Weaverville, has accepted the position of music minister for First Baptist Church of Troy, Alabama. Culpepper, a native of nearby Abbeville, Alabama, has two children in college and a 15-year-old daughter, Nichole, who is homeschooled.

(Troy (AL) Messenger, 1/21/09)

Limbaugh Asks If New SecEd Will Kill Homeschooling

2009-01-17T18:38:00.000-08:00

On his Thursday show, Rush Limbaugh raised the question whether President-elect Obama's nominee for Secretary of Education, Chicago public school chief Arne Duncan, will trust parents with their children's education, or will take steps to eliminate homeschooling. The comment was part of a promotional announcement for the conservative Heritage Foundation's new website, "Ask Heritage".

Attempts to access the website during and after the program were unsuccessful until Friday night. The most relevant item posted there was Dan Lips' article, "Key Questions for Arne Duncan, Nominee for Secretary of U.S. Department of Education"; in it, he praises Duncan's record supporting local leadership and flexibility in administration of the public schools, but still asks how much support he is willing to give parents who want to choose their child's school.

Even this is quite far from a statement on home education, so it seems Limbaugh's comment was nothing more than a rhetorical question, after all.

SPORTS: Homeschooled Pitcher Signs for Masters College

2009-01-13T13:23:00.000-08:00

Daniel Schaeffer, who plays pitcher for the South Hurricanes team and is also a standout for the Surry Home Educators Runnin' Patriots basketball squad, has signed a letter of intent to play baseball with The Masters College in Newhall, California. He has been awarded an 85% scholarship by the college. Daniel is the son of Danny and LaDonna Schaeffer; his father Danny is a former major league catcher.

The Mt. Airy News has a lengthy write up on their website.

Pre-Teen Gets Involved, Saves Six

2009-01-13T13:19:00.000-08:00

A story that is getting wide replay: An unnamed twelve-year-old homeschooler, walking to a Charlotte fast food restaurant for lunch, noticed smoke coming from the back of a home and notified the elderly residents inside. A fire official credits the boy with possibly saving six lives by his action.

(The Greenville Daily Reflector, one of many who picked up the original Charlotte Observer story)

S.C. Homeschool Family in Fatal N.C. Accident

2009-01-13T13:15:00.000-08:00

A homeschooling family on a day trip from South Carolina ended the day in a tragic accident that left the mother and both children dead.

Patricia Bigger, 29, of Liberty, S.C., and her two children, Caroline, 7, and Anthony, 4, died Friday after their minivan crashed into a pond near Rosman, N.C. News reports said the cause of the crash is under investigation. The father, Brent Bigger, who was driving at the time, survived the 8:30 p.m. accident and helped pull his family from the water, but they could not be revived in time.

(Asheville Citizen-Times, 1/10/09)

Homeschoolers take top prizes in Youth Authors Contest

2009-01-12T22:00:00.000-08:00

Homeschoolers won top honors in several categories of the Piedmont Parent Young Authors Contest this week:

Grades K-1:

1st Place: "The Four Friends" by Michaela Hope Gross, first grade, The Shepherd's School (Home School).

2nd Place: "The Duke of Dork and the King of Kina" by Jasmine Marshall, first grade, Paideia Marshall Home School.

Grades 4-5:

1st Place: "Corey the Toad and the Adventures of Gredimous and Wibowbow" by Corey K. Smith, fifth grade, Smith Acres Academy (Home School).

Grades 6-8:

1st Place: "Gooba Plans a Surprise", by Harper Springer, sixth grade, Chestnut Hill Academy (Home School).

The grand-prize winner for story was "Corey the Toad and the Adventures of Gredimous and Wibowbow" by Corey K. Smith, fifth grade (home school) ...

The Piedmont Parent Young Authors Contest is sponsored by Lake Jeanette Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry, the Greensboro Public Library, the Greensboro Children's Museum, the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem and Barnes & Noble in Winston-Salem.

(Winston-Salem Journal, 1/12/09)

Homeschoolers' participation shows museum program is "community based"

2009-01-05T06:46:00.000-08:00

The children's museum Hands On! in Hendersonville recently sponsored classes in model rocketry for beginners and intermediate level hobbyists, ages 8-12. The Hendersonville Times-News covered a recent launch day in a local park and spoke with several families as well as the class instructor. One interesting point is that homeschoolers' participation seemed to prove to the museum staff that their outreach was truly broad, perhaps that it extended beyond the elementary school system:
Around 40 beginner students and 15 intermediate students attended class. It was a blend of children, and a lot of the kids at the launch were homeschooled.

“That’s what we’re trying to be is community-based,” said Heather Boeke, executive director for the gallery.

“It’s wonderful to see,” she added. “We have this great classroom facility ... (we want) people to use our facility and help us accomplish our mission.”

2008 Top N.C. Homeschool Stories

2009-01-01T07:04:00.000-08:00

1st Homeschooler Named UNC Morehead-Cain Scholar

In March, Kelsey Rushing Farson, the daughter of Jak and Teresa Farson of Davidson, was chosen as the first homeschooler to receive the University of North Carolina's Morehead-Cain Scholarship.

Homeschooling Becomes A Campaign Issue

Home education became a campaign issue in the state's elections in 2008, with candidates from all three parties taking positions involving homeschooling. State Senator Fred Smith (R) and Duke professor Dr. Mike Munger (L) made homeschooling part of their platform and gubernatorial campaigns, as did several candidates for lesser office. However, the greatest controversy involved the support of Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory (R) for an educational tax credit or voucher for families of private- and homeschooled students. Lieutenant Governor Beverly Purdue (D) claimed this was an attempt to divert public school funding to homeschoolers and elite private academies, a claim that was repeated throughout the campaign although denied by McCrory and almost immediately refuted by the Raleigh News & Observer.

Child Fatality Report Calls for More Homeschool Regulation

The report on the abuse-related death of 4-year-old Sean Paddock of Johnston County admitted that social service agencies in both Wake and Johnston counties had failed to identify the problems and intervene with the troubled family that adopted Sean, but newspapers zeroed in on the report's call for closer supervision of homeschoolers generally. Sean's older siblings were homeschooled, although Sean himself was not yet school-aged.

Apologia Educational Ministries Purchased by N.C. Homeschool Leaders

In June, the company which publishes Dr. Jay Wile's popular Apologia Science curriculum was purchased by Davis and Rachael Carman, longtime homeschoolers and board members of North Carolinians for Home Education. Dr. Wile is continuing with the company as an author and speaker, saying he simply wanted someone with shared vision to take over the operation of the business.

Number of N.C. Homeschoolers Tops 70,000

Estimates released by the Division of Non-Public Education in August said that some 71,000 students were being homeschooled in North Carolina in 2007-08, an all-time high.

Homeschoolers dominate Burlington Teens & 20s stories

2008-12-29T07:20:00.000-08:00

Stories by and including homeschooled students dominated the "Top Ten" of 2008 in the Burlington Times-News "Teens & 20s" feature in 2008. Sarah Osburne, a homeschooled student, wrote the number one story, "Trading Spaces: Exchange students travel overseas for a unique learning experience"; she also wrote stories on pets for cancer patients, urban farming, and caring for an abused horse.

Sarah Troxler, another homeschooler, wrote stories on summer exercise programs for teenagers and playing on travelling softball teams. Kristian Whitesell wrote about her family's visit to the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

In all, seven of the top ten youth stories this year were written by homeschoolers, and an eighth story involved several of the authors as subjects.

SPORTS: Private school star to be homeschooled

2008-12-29T07:16:00.000-08:00

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that Allen Ebert, a senior forward for Veritas Christian Academy's basketball squad, will be homeschooled next semester. Ebert, a 6'7" guard, has averaged ten points and four rebounds per game, according to the C-T.

Saving citizens a billion a year

2008-12-25T20:28:00.000-08:00

Budget and Tax News, a publication of The Heartland Institute in Chicago, reports that homeschooling and other forms of private education are saving North Carolina taxpayers over a billion dollars per year in education costs:

By some estimates, nearly 40 cents of every revenue dollar in North Carolina goes to K-12 education, making it the largest category in the state’s $21.4 billion budget. According to statistics released by the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE), which monitors homeschoolers and traditional private and religious schools, some 10.4 percent of school-aged children in North Carolina were educated outside public school classrooms in the 2007-08 school year. About 98,000 students attend conventional nonpublic schools, while more than 70,000 are homeschooled.
DNPE’s director, Rod Helder, told Carolina Journal last year the savings to the state in fiscal year 2006-07 were $1.3 billion, reflecting higher per-pupil expenses in the public schools and continuous growth in the number of nonpublic school students. Since the 2004-05 school year, the number of students being homeschooled has increased almost 22 percent, while public school enrollments increased by 6.6 percent.
“You see how much money the public schools did not have to spend,” Helder told Carolina Journal.

The article by NCHSN editor Hal Young appears in the January 2009 print edition of B&TN but is available online as well.

SPORTS: Homeschoolers make a bigger splash in WNC

2008-12-25T20:25:00.000-08:00

The Asheville Citizen-Times headline says "Tuscola swimmers dominate new WNC swim honor roll", but there are two names that help keep the Haywood County high school from a near-sweep. In fact, one of them, homeschooler Nathan Hart, has the same number of top rankings as the public school student highlighted in the article.

Nathan was the highest-ranked swimmer in 200- and 500-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke events. He is ranked number two in 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, and 200-yard individual medley, and number three in 100-yard breaststroke. His seven top-three rankings beat out four for Tuscola student Jake Stringfield.

In the girls' rankings, homeschooler Emily Marett is number one in 100-yard breaststroke and 100-yard butterfly, number two in 200-yard individual medley, and number three in 500-yard freestyle.

SPORTS: Homeschool Football League featured on WGHP-TV

2008-12-25T20:22:00.000-08:00

The Greensboro Panthers, a team in the Raleigh-based Homeschool Football League, are featured in this video report on Greensboro's FOX affiliate, WGHP. Footage includes semi-final action against the Raleigh Warriors and mentioned the Panthers' final, title-clinching victory over the Raleigh Crusaders the following week. An excellent report and positive reaction from the media.

Homeschoolers prompt change in doctor's office?

2008-12-22T20:44:00.000-08:00

Apparently so -- their responses to a new Blue Cross/Zagat online patient survey suggested better facilities to one large pediatric practice in Raleigh:
At one point, a group of parents of home-schooled children gave [Dr. Jerry] Bernstein's practice generally good marks online. But the group pointed out that "if you can get past the look of the building, the doctors are great," Bernstein said. "It certainly hastened our move" to new offices.
(Raleigh News & Observer, 12/22/08)

SPORTS: Lighthouse falls to Cary Christian

2008-12-21T17:05:00.000-08:00

Lighthouse Homeschool boys' basketball (Wake Forest) was defeated by Cary Christian this week, as briefly reported in the Southwest Wake news blog (Raleigh News & Observer) -- final score 84-43.

SPORTS: Cabarrus-Rowan scores against private schools

2008-12-18T18:16:00.000-08:00

The Salisbury Post reports that the Cabarrus-Rowan Homeschool Stallions scored three decisive basketball wins this week. The varsity boys team defeated Grace Academy 86-76; varsity girls beat Grace girls 35-23; and the middle school boys won against St. Ann's Catholic 40-16.

See the article for stats on individual players.

Homeschooling N.C. pastor moves to Virginia

2008-12-15T18:26:00.000-08:00

Rev. Baker Rigg, formerly of Roanoke Rapids, is now the pastor of the Free Methodist Church in Culpeper, Virginia. The Riggs have seven children; the five at home are homeschooled. The Culpeper Star-Exponent interviewed Rev. Rigg for their church news section this week.

Clemmons homeschooler named Explorer of the Year

2008-12-15T18:23:00.000-08:00

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that homeschooler David Simpson shared the 2008 Explorer of the Year Award for Explorer Post 14 with fellow Explorer Michael King. The two were tied for the most points for "training, meeting, responses, community service and education". The Explorer post is sponsored by the Clemmons Fire Department.

Young homeschool grad receives two degrees at 14

2008-12-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

Julia Nepper was homeschooled for seven years. Although she spent a semester each in junior high and high school, the schools "wouldn't agree to promote her according to her abilities", so her parents enrolled her in community college at age 11.

Now 14, Julia is graduating with two associates degrees, a 4.0 GPA, and admission to UNC-Wilmington. She told Chelsea Keller of the Wilmington Star-News,

"I don't feel that this is a great achievement, because if you don't do pointless teenage things and care about doing well, you can go to college ... It's not that hard."

WNC homeschooler wins in essay contest

2008-12-06T17:46:00.000-08:00

Homeschooler Kayla V. Jones came in second out of 120 entries in the Vince Colan Memorial Essay Contest.

This is the second year of the contest which remembers the attack on Pearl Harbor, according to the article in the Hendersonville Times-News.

Wingate football team included two homeschoolers

2008-11-30T11:20:00.000-08:00

This year's football team at Wingate University included two area homeschoolers. Running back Samuel Pittman, a senior from Concord, and linebacker Daniel Hearn, a sophomore from Charlotte, were members of the 2008 NCAA Division II team.

Gardner-Webb recruits homeschooled athletes

2008-11-30T11:07:00.001-08:00

The Charlotte Observer reports:

Benji Jackson, a home-schooled student who played outfield for the Cabarrus-Rowan Stallions last spring, signed with Gardner-Webb.

GWU also attracted Kimberly McKenney of Flint, Michigan, for the women's basketball program. Kimberly was MVP of the Michigan Homeschool State Championship, according to GWU's press release, and is a "very talented" player for "one of the top AAU teams in the country", Faith High.

Charlotte arts merger will benefit homeschoolers

2008-11-30T05:38:00.000-08:00

Two Charlotte-area arts programs, ArtsTeach and the Arts & Science Council, will merge next summer, according to the Charlotte Observer. The change is intended to extend their outreach beyond the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system to included homeschoolers and private school students.

Chaplain's wife "the real hero"

2008-11-20T11:13:00.000-08:00

WRAL-TV in Raleigh spoke with Army chaplain Kirby Vidrine, who says that his wife Wendy, the homeschooling mother of eight (with another on the way), is "the backbone of our family".

The Ft. Bragg captain is leaving for an extended deployment to Iraq.

Surry wins regional preseason competition

2008-11-09T12:09:00.000-08:00

From the Mt. Airy News:

GREENSBORO — The Surry Runnin’ Patriots got 10 points from a trio of players in a 50-27 victory against Wake Forrest in the championship game of the North Carolinians for Home Education Athletic Conference’s East Coast Tip-Off Classic played at Greensboro College Saturday night. ...

The championship win by the Runnin’ Patriots marks the third straight year the team has captured the preseason tournament title.

The tournament included teams from as far away as Charleston, S.C., and Atlanta.

Lexington homeschool grad returns with "Seussical"

2008-10-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

Mychal Phillips, the daughter of Mike and Debbie Phillips of Lexington, is a 2005 homeschool graduate. She is taking time off from her studies at New York University to tour with a production of the musical "Seussical", which will be presented in her hometown next Tuesday. The full story appears in the Lexington Dispatch.

SPORTS: Forsyth takes state soccer title

2008-10-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

Forsyth Home Educators scored its third consecutive title in the NCHE State Homeschool Soccer Tournament last Saturday, defeating teams from Fayetteville and Asheville in the semi-finals in Wake Forest. FHE will compete in the National Christian School Athletic Association Tournament in Erie, Pennsylvania, later this month; they came in second place there last year.

(Winston-Salem Journal, 10/22/08)

Perdue supports homeschooling?

2008-10-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Greenville Daily Reflector reported Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue gave an ambiguous answer during a campaign stop in Greenville:

Beth Sanchez, an Obama supporter and Greenville resident, was there to ask Perdue about her views on home schooling. Her two sons, 9-year-old Wesley and 6-year-old Greyson, were at her side to hear the answer.

“She's in support of all types of education,” Sanchez said, visibly pleased, after consulting Perdue on her way out.

NCEA v-p sets homeschooling against needy public schools

2008-10-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

In a letter to the Winston-Salem Journal, Rodney Ellis, vice president of the N.C. Association of Educators, criticized the paper's endorsement of Patrick McCrory for governor.

Ellis said that "McCrory supports a transfer of $877 million from our neediest public schools to private prep schools and home schools", even though this figure has already been checked and labeled "misleading" by the Raleigh News & Observer.

N.C. Homeschool News 10/19/08

2008-10-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

Parents Tried Public School, Found It Wanting, Chose Home Education

The New Bern Sun-Journal spoke with several parents whose children had been in the public school system, sometimes at several different schools, and finally concluded homeschooling was the better alternative.

Victoria Baldwin of New Bern made a 98 several months ago on a test about the Boston Tea Party. But when Victoria, a Craven County middle school student, took the paper home, she couldn't tell her father Gerald anything about the tea party.
"She said she thought it was about the president's wife having a party," Gerald Baldwin said. "I found out all their tests were open book. They weren't learning anything."
When Baldwin went to talk to school administrators about the tests, he said they didn't see a problem because his daughter was making A's.
"She has A's, but I'm not hearing A's," he said.
"They're preparing children for an end-of-grade test, not life. I feel like my tax dollars have been paying for an education for the world, and they didn't get it."
Gerald and Chenona Baldwin have decided to home school their daughters
this year.
...

Homeschooled competitor interviewed at the Coastal Carolina Agricultural Fair

The Havelock News featured an interview with 14-year-old Hannah Davis, a long time 4-H member and returning champion in the livestock arena:

A short distance from the Ferris wheel, 14-year-old Hannah Davis and others were preparing for the livestock exhibits, which begin receiving animals Wednesday.
Davis, who lives in the Straits community of eastern Carteret County, was joined by Jasper, a 2-week-old Angus-mix calf, who rested in a stall.
Davis is a member of the Otway Livestock Club and Newport Roadrunners 4-H. She was tending to Jasper for Kim and Russ Nead. A home-schooled ninth-grader, Davis has been a fair livestock competitor for three years, winning best in show for her chickens last fall. She also shows goats.
She has been in 4-H for nine years, but after she got involved in raising livestock three years ago, she developed a serious interest and now plans to attend N.C. State University and become a livestock veterinarian.

Graham homeschoolers interviewed at Sarah Palin appearance

"What a good field trip," their mother told the Salisbury Post:

"I try to instill in my girls that women can do anything," said Dawn Williams, a Graham mother who home-schools her three children, Caitlin, Emily and Gabe. In the hours before Palin arrived, they waited in the shade along the outfield's warning track in left field. ...

The family members said they were definitely McCain-Palin supporters and would not be attending had it been a rally for the Democratic ticket of Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Caitlin, 13, said Palin would stop illegal immigration, and Emily, 11, said Palin would try to lower taxes.

N.C. Homeschool News 10/12/08

2008-10-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

Charlotte's Belmont Abbey College welcomes homeschoolers

Belmont Abbey College in Charlotte is enthusiastic about homeschool graduates:

We recognize the extraordinary talents and achievements that home-educated students bring to our campus. We know for example that home-educated students are excelling academically, outperforming their public school peers by 30 - 37 percentile points across all subjects. We also know that home-educated students are involved in an average of 5.2 activities outside the class. We have a great number of success stories from our home-school students ... We look forward to enrolling more ...

It probably doesn't hurt that college president Dr. William Thierfelder is a homeschooling father of ten.

Thirteen-year-old homeschooler is youngest member of Asheville jazz ensemble

Will Newman, a 13-year-old homeschooler, plays keyboard, violin, and guitar for a young Asheville band, Jazz the Ripper. "Marv D" at The Urban Music Scene gives a great review to the group, saying the five musicians, ages 17 to 13, "are beginning to make their mark on the jazz scene, and in a serious way":

For a group of young men still in high school, the rawness and freshness they bring to their own compositions is to be commended. ... [W]hatever they do, the musical possibilities are endless for them. Somehow all this talent must reach the masses.

N.C. Homeschool News 10/05/08

2008-10-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

Perdue ad opposing McCrory on vouchers leads N&O fact check

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue's ad, "Difference on vouchers" is the first on the list reviewed by the Raleigh News & Observer. She claims McCrory "supports taking 900 million taxpayer dollars away from public schools to pay for kids in private schools." The N&O points out this assumes a much broader program than McCrory supports, including vouchers for homeschoolers, and would exceed voucher programs found in any other state.

N.C. family combines homeschooling and gospel singing

Jeff and Susan Whisnant of Morganton are part of the Southern gospel quartet, "The Whisnants". Their family goes on the road with them as they sing for church events all over and recently, at the annual National Quartet Convention in Louisville, KY. Jeannie McPail, herself a gospel singer, profiles the family in a feature for the Morganton News Herald.

2008 homeschool graduate leads Greensboro College golf team

The Winston-Salem Journal reports:

Freshman Ben Nihart (Forsyth Home Educators '08) led host Greensboro to a sixth-place finish this week in the Greensboro College Invitational golf tournament at Bryan Park.

Nihart, the 2007 Forsyth Junior champion, shot 73-72 to finish at 1-over-par 145 and tied for sixth overall.

N.C. Homeschool News 9/28/08

2008-09-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

HSLDA alerts members that Federal "Education Begins At Home" Act is not homeschool friendly

Home School Legal Defense Association notified members this week that the pending bill is not a homeschool bill per se but could impact the privacy of families who are homeschooling:

H.R. 2343 seeks to expand the Head Start Early Home Visitation program to supposedly "educate" parents of children from infants to 5-year-olds on parenting strategies. If passed, this bill would literally open the door for government employees to enter private homes to impose unelected officials' educational agendas, which may prove offensive and contrary to many families' moral and religious beliefs. Although at this point enrollment in the home visitation program is voluntary, government programs almost always grow beyond their original scope when bills are amended.

This intrusive and unnecessary legislation comes at a whopping starting cost of more than $190 million—a burden that will be incurred by already struggling American taxpayers.

More information is available on their web page.

Greensboro paper sees education vouchers as the more interesting issue

When Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue declined an invitation to a gubernatorial debate on UNC-TV this week, it gave Libertarian candidate Michael Munger a greater opportunity to promote his own platform. The Greensboro News & Record, commenting on this, mentioned three issues of interest, but focused on this one:

Munger is running on a platform to provide a $1,250 voucher to every child in the state that could be used toward private education or home schooling. Perdue has consistently accused McCrory of backing a broad voucher program, which McCrory denies.

N.C. Homeschool News 9/21/08

2008-09-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

Perdue ties McCrory to homeschool vouchers; McCrory denies

At a debate on education Friday, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue attempted to define Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory's support for vouchers as a program intended for homeschoolers (among others).

In a question about private school vouchers, McCrory said he supports their selected use, especially for children with disabilities or special needs where private education may be more suitable. Perdue has said his plan would cost $900 million, which he denies.

"I believe in changing the status quo of our educational system," McCrory said. "But I've never recommended an across-the-board voucher system because the state's broke and couldn't afford it anyway."

Perdue responded by reading quotes and responses to voter questionnaires saying he supports vouchers for private and home school children and suggested he's more ardent about talking with them to conservative groups.

"I'd like to know what he's talking about," Perdue said.

(Associated Press in Education Week)

The Raleigh News & Observer points out that Perdue's ad claiming a voucher program would cost $900 million annually assumes every non-public student in the state would receive one. However, they also noted that McCrory did, in fact, indicate support on the survey by the N.C. Family Policy Council, answering "Yes" to the question, "Should parents who choose to educate their children in private, religious, or home schools receive a voucher or tax credit from the state?"

Libertarians reaffirm support for homeschool tax credit, vouchers, lighter regulation

Duke Professor and gubernatorial candidate Mike Munger, not included in the recent education debate, again stated his support for tax credits for homeschool families.

Phillip Rhodes, the Libertarian candidate for N.C. lieutenant governor, used his time in a debate on Tuesday to call for lifting "burdensome" regulations on homeschooling. He also expressed support for vouchers to increase competition in the school system and even suggested ending government-operated schools "altogether".

Homeschooling family chosen for next "Habitat" home

The Dunn Daily Record reports that Donna Smith and her daughter Kaitlyn will be the owners of the next home built by Harnett County's chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Construction on the home, just started, will be completed in early 2009.

Asheville homeschooler helps organize peace march

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports a group of "about 50 people ... marched through downtown Asheville Saturday to promote the cause of peace.":

"This would make peace and peacemaking a national priority,” said Daniel Pinelli, 16, a home-schooled student from Asheville who helped organize Saturday’s walk.

“The current situation in our world is one where violence is a cure-all, and I think until we see peace as a valid means of conflict resolution, we’re not going to get anything done.

“I am doing this for all of the kids my age throughout the world who need peace in their mind, peace in their heart and peace in their world, but do not receive it.”

The push to create the Department of Peace is championed by The Peace Alliance, a national organization with chapters across the country. A Cabinet-level secretary of peace appointed by the president would head the department.

The House bill, H.R. 808, has 70 cosponsors, although none are from North Carolina. All but one of the cosponsors are Democrats. The legislation was
first introduced in 2001.

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler [D-NC] said he couldn’t support the legislation.

Shuler represents the 10th Congressional District, which includes Asheville.

Fayetteville mom homeschools in protest over school bus

Tammie Neiss-Mote told the Fayetteville Observer that she had been homeschooling her 4-year-old son because Ft. Bragg schools "have to be out of their mind if they think my son will be getting on that bus." Neiss-Mote had questioned the practice of mixing younger and older students on the same bus without monitors, seat belts, or car seats. She said her son weighs 36 pounds, which is well under the 8 year old, 80 pound requirement to ride without a booster in a private vehicle. School officials responded that safety is "an important factor" to them but N.C. public schools operate their buses the same way.

CDC says U.S. measles resurgence due in part to homeschoolers

Dr. Jane Seward of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention told National Public Radio that the return of significant measles outbreaks in the U.S. is "mainly children whose parents have chosen not to vaccinate."

"A high proportion of those children are home-schooled. In Illinois, pretty much all of the new cases of measles were among home-schooled children — and none of them were vaccinated," she says.

SPORTS: Euroclydon defeasts Westover Christian

From the Madison Messenger, Danville, VA:
ROXBORO, N.C. — Westover Christian fell to Euroclydon Home School in four games 26-24, 25-22, 17-25 and 25-22 on Tuesday. Peyton Parrish led the way for the Bulldogs (6-3) with 16 points and 10 digs. Donna Motley had eight points and six kills and Brook Grant had nine points and three aces.

In junior high action, Westover defeated Euroclydon in three games 20-25, 25-13 and 25-21. The Bulldogs (7-0) were led by Natalie Petrovich with 17 points and three kills. Sydney Bowles added nine points and four assists.

N.C. Homeschool News 9/14/08

2008-09-14T18:42:00.000-07:00

Baptist survey finds 86% of Americans believe homeschooling is a Constitutional right: A telephone survey conducted this summer by LifeWay Research, a ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention, found that more than eight out of ten Americans support homeschoolers' right to teach their children. However, 54% of respondents also agreed that homeschoolers "often lack social skills".

The survey contacted over 1200 people and had an error of less than 3%.

Homeschooling growing as public schools shrink in Asheville: The Citizen-Times reports that public school enrollment has fluctuated in Buncombe County and Asheville City, but homeschooling has grown by 615 students in the past five years. Private school enrollment increased by 150 during the same period.

Two out of fifteen W.N.C. National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists are homeschooled: At least two of the semi-finalists in the National Merit Scholarship competition come from western North Carolina. Grace Broadwell and Nathaniel Jeffries will be considered for the scholarship which will be awarded in 2009. This was reported by the Asheville Citizen-Times, which deserves kudos for giving homeschoolers coverage that other papers frequently ignore.

N.C. Homeschool News 9/07/08

2008-09-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

McCain voices support for home education: Presidential candidate John McCain, speaking at the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency hosted by pastor Rick Warren, interjected his support for school choice and home education into Warren's scripted question and answer session:

"Can I just say choice and competition, -- choice and competition, home schooling, charter school vouchers, all the choice competition, I want -- look, I want every American family to have the same choice that Cindy and I made and Senator Obama and Mrs. Obama made as well and that was we wanted to send our children to the school of our choice. And charter schools work, my friends, home schooling works, vouchers in our nation's capital works. We've got thousands of people in Washington D.C. that are applying for a voucher system. New York City is reforming. I go back to New Orleans. They were -- as we know, the tragedy devastated them. They now have over 30 charter schools in the city of New Orleans and guess what? It's all coming up. It's all coming up. It's a simple principle, but it's going to take dedicated men and women, particularly in the teaching profession, to make it happen. And by the way, here in -- I won't go any further, but the point is it's all based and it's being proven that choice in competition for every American family and it is the civil rights issue of the 21st century because every citizens' child now has an opportunity to go to school. But what kind of opportunity is it if you send them to a failing school? That's why we got to give everybody the same opportunity and choice."

(Forum transcript, part 5)

Although he continued the theme of education as the civil rights issue of the 21st century, his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention this week did not mention homeschooling specifically.

Injured motorcyclist credits homeschoolers' prayers for his survival: In a follow up to last week's story, the Morganton News-Herald interviewed Jamie Freeman, the 21-year-old motorcyclist who was injured while showing off in front of a crowd of homeschooled and other teenagers at a Pioneer Football League event at the School for the Deaf. While coaches checked on his injuries, 160 teenaged boys knelt on the field and prayed for his recovery. "I just wanted to come out publicly and thank them for their support," he told the News-Herald.

Person Co. homeschoolers discuss their reasons and philosophy: The Roxboro Courier-Times spoke with several families, mentioning homeschool graduates from the area that attended Cornell University and Washington University of St. Louis and those who now serve as deputy sheriff or special ed teachers. Homeschooling parents interviewed include the head of the Business Development Center at Piedmont Community College and a former teacher at Roxboro Christian Academy, the latter now leading the Home Educators Association of Roxboro (HEAR). She points out, accurately, that "homeschooling is your life" when you take on the responsibility.

The sweet smell of success: Brian, Melissa, and Owen Gold are homeschoolers in the Triad town of Whitsett, N.C. They are also entrepreneurs who have saved $2000 -- after charitable giving -- from the profits of a candy vending business they started three years ago as a school project. WFMY-TV in Greensboro reported they current service some forty vending locations from Burlington to Asheboro.

Pursuing a dream: Joey Logano of Huntersville attended traditional schools when he lived in Connecticut, but since he became a stock car driver, his mother homeschools him. When he turns 18, he'll move up to the Busch Series races. The New York Times reported the story.

Homeschooler honored for 12 years of 4-H achievement: Rebecca Craven of Asheboro was inducted into the state 4-H Honor Club, in recognition of accomplishment and service in 4-H, leadership, and high moral standards. (Courtesy Randolph County Extension Service website)

N.C. Homeschool News 8/31/08

2008-08-31T22:00:00.000-07:00

Homeschooled twins run "Best Lemonade Stand In America": Gunnar and Hunter Greer of Ocean Isle Beach won $1000 and a Nintendo DS in the contest sponsored by Inc.com magazine. The project started with a business plan and several investors, and earned nearly $1000 in sales besides the contest prize:

The Inc.com editors, who picked the winner from at least a hundred entries from across the country, were impressed that the twins took the lemonade stand seriously, "not just something to do on a lazy summer afternoon," said Ron Kurtz, the senior editor at Inc.com who was part of the panel that selected the winner.

"They sort of captured the essence of why we started this contest in the first place," Kurtz said.

(Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News, 8/30/08)

N.C. Homeschool News 8/24/08

2008-08-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

McCrory again calls for vouchers for nonpublic education: Gubernatorial candidate and Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory spoke at the opening of the Allamance County GOP headquarters in Graham. According to the Burlington Times-News,

He said he wants to improve public schools, including charter schools, while also supporting parents who homeschool their children and advocating vouchers to give more parents the option of sending their children to non-public schools.
Congressman holds Town Hall meeting with Burke Co. homeschoolers: Rep. Patrick McHenry met with local home educators recently at Winkler Park in Hickory, as reported by the Hickory Daily Record:

"I'm a big supporter of homeschooling and the rights of parents to homeschool their children rather than leaving that choice up to a bureaucrat," said McHenry, adding, "You shouldn't be punished for homeschooling."

McHenry said he's in favor of providing vouchers or tax refunds for parents who educate their children at home to pay for expenses related to education because, "The cost to homeschool is significant — this is not free."

But, McHenry said, providing parents who homeschool with relief money is not a main priority for Congress.

"Unfortunately, I don't see Congress doing anything to fix this problem this year," he said.

"Homeschooling" to play Guitar Hero: The Raleigh News & Observer reported July 27 that 16-year-old Blake Peebles had convinced his parents to allow him to leave a traditional Christian high school to focus on becoming a professional video gamer, majoring in Guitar Hero. He is now being taught at home by tutors, although the paper continued to refer to the change in schooling as "dropping out" or "homeschooling", interchangeably. Blake now spends several hours per day practicing the game and has won about $1000 in prizes so far. The story has prompted widespread interest around the country, including references in Education Week and a video gaming blog that brought the News & Observer a stunning 85,000 visits to the already three-week-old story online.

160 football players "take a knee" to pray for accident victim: Reported in the Morganton News-Herald, when a motorcyclist's stunt resulted in a 50 mph crash next to a high school football game, players at the Pioneer Football League event held a spontaneous prayer meeting for the rider as coaches cared for the victim. PFL is made up of homeschoolers and other students whose schools may not offer a football program.

Economist notes "amateurs" outperform professionals: Thomas Sowell, writing in Townhall.com, points out that when untrained practitioners get better results than government-certified and -backed professionals, there is something seriously amiss in the profession:

If ordinary people, with no medical training, could perform surgery in their kitchens with steak knives, and get results that were better than those of surgeons in hospital operating rooms, the whole medical profession would be discredited.

Yet it is common for ordinary parents, with no training in education, to home-school their children and consistently produce better academic results than those of children educated by teachers with Master's degrees and in schools spending upwards of $10,000 a year per student-- which is to say, more than a million dollars to educate ten kids from K through 12.

Nevertheless, we continue to take seriously the pretensions of educators who fail to educate, but who put on airs of having "professional" expertise beyond the understanding of mere parents.

(Noted by George Leef at the Pope Center for Higher Education, Raleigh, NC)

UPDATE: Fixed the broken link on the Morganton football story; sorry for any inconvenience.

EDITORIAL NOTE: I'm pleased to be back in the U.S. and back on N.C. Homeschool News. Saudi Arabia was a very different kind of place, and for myself, I'm glad to be back in a country with cool breezes, green grass, and occasional thunderstorms. My pictures are posted on my personal blog, The Inundated Calvinist. -- Hal