Kernersville Homeschooler Wins $20K Scholarship From Duke Energy

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Related Stories:

3/24 - "NCHE Capital Fest Draws Hundreds To Legislature"

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

Homeschool Family Wins $5000 Magazine Contest

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

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

"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

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

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"

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pardon The Interruption

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"

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

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.