Hello Homeschool Families
If you live on St. Helena Island as our family does or maybe you live nearby, you might be interested to know about programs the local library has to offer. There are story times, game nights, special programs and even socials. The library also has many new books, audio books, DVDs, video tapes, magazines and recordings. If you haven't visit your local library lately you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to use our facility, get to know the staff and interact with members of our community. Come on out and enjoy your local library!
Chess Anyone?
Are you interested in learning how to play chess or improving your present skills? Well, if you are or you’d like to come out and observe you are invited to come out to the St. Helena Island Public Library on Tuesday afternoons for free class on the basics of chess offered from 4 to 5 p.m. Children, teens and adults are welcome to learn chess or play chess.
Family Reading Night with Scavenger Hunt
Location: St. Helena Branch
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Family Reading Night will feature a Library Scavenger Hunt. For reservations, contact Ginny Marshall at 838-8304 or gmarshall@bcgov.net
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
ARCHAEOLOGY MONTH SERIES (OCTOBER)
October is Archaeology Month and the Beaufort County Library is co hosting several programs for the community. Homeschooling families will have the opportunity to explore this topic in conjunction with subjects like history, geography, and even literature. We hope you will plan to attend one of the remaining presentations.
________________________________________________________
Submitted by Grace Cordial
You may recall that for the past 5 years or so, the Library and Beaufort County Planning have put together some programs on whatever the SCIAA Archaeology Month theme of the year happened to be. Thus, we've covered Military archaeology, Native American archaeology, the connection between the lowcountry and the Caribbean archaeology, etc. Well, we are at it again.
Ian Hill, Historic Preservationist, County Planning and I have teamed together with Historic Beaufort Foundation and USC-B to sponsor a series of 6 programs in observance of Archaeology Month 2009.
We're offering a variety of programs -- all free -- all designed to be enjoyable to anyone with an interest in archaeology, architecture, history, African-American culture, slave resistance or genealogy over the age of 12 years -- at various times of day -- on various days of the week -- and at 5 different venues -- to celebrate. Thus, you will have a hard time not coming to at least one of the offerings.
Note from CHSB::These are the remaining programs and they would be great for older homeschool students to attend.)
“My Family History Research in Black and White,” Barbara Carter Sat., Oct. 17, 1:00 - 2:00pm Beaufort District Collection, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 2nd floor
“African-American Genealogy Workshop,” Grace Cordial Sun., Oct. 25, 2:00 - 4:00pm (RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: 757-1537) Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way, Bluffton
“Maroon Communities,” Dr. Timothy Lockley Tues., Oct. 27, 1:00 - 2:30pm Performing Arts Center, 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort
________________________________________________________
Submitted by Grace Cordial
You may recall that for the past 5 years or so, the Library and Beaufort County Planning have put together some programs on whatever the SCIAA Archaeology Month theme of the year happened to be. Thus, we've covered Military archaeology, Native American archaeology, the connection between the lowcountry and the Caribbean archaeology, etc. Well, we are at it again.
Ian Hill, Historic Preservationist, County Planning and I have teamed together with Historic Beaufort Foundation and USC-B to sponsor a series of 6 programs in observance of Archaeology Month 2009.
We're offering a variety of programs -- all free -- all designed to be enjoyable to anyone with an interest in archaeology, architecture, history, African-American culture, slave resistance or genealogy over the age of 12 years -- at various times of day -- on various days of the week -- and at 5 different venues -- to celebrate. Thus, you will have a hard time not coming to at least one of the offerings.
Note from CHSB::These are the remaining programs and they would be great for older homeschool students to attend.)
“My Family History Research in Black and White,” Barbara Carter Sat., Oct. 17, 1:00 - 2:00pm Beaufort District Collection, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 2nd floor
“African-American Genealogy Workshop,” Grace Cordial Sun., Oct. 25, 2:00 - 4:00pm (RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: 757-1537) Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way, Bluffton
“Maroon Communities,” Dr. Timothy Lockley Tues., Oct. 27, 1:00 - 2:30pm Performing Arts Center, 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Be Creative at Your Local Library
When is the last time you and your family visited your local library? Hopefully, it's not taking you long to answer that question. Certainly most homeschooling families visit the library quite often during the school year but what about during the summer break? Libraries across the nation, including our local Beaufort County Branches, are offering exciting reading contests, programs and activities designed to keep everyone reading, children, teens and adults, during the summer months.
The summer reading program this year is called, Be Creative, and you can still join in all the fun. This week the Beaufort County Branches are hosting a nature education program featuring, Low Country Naturalist, Tony Mills from the LowCountry Institute who brings with him a host of lowcountry animals and will talk about the Lowcountry Ecosystem. We caught the program this morning at the St. Helena Island Branch and had a great time along with a lot of other kids from local summer programs and their counselors, learning about animals that are indigenous to this area as well as some that are transplants and adapting here.
Thursday morning, cartoonist Dave McDonald will be at the St. Helena Branch showing the basics of drawing cartoons. Mr. McDonald, lives in Charlotte, NC and created a coming book character called Hamster Sam and he is becoming very popular. We are looking forward to gaining a few tips from Mr. McDonald on Thursday morning at 10:00 but you can also catch his presentation at the other branches as well. Visit the Beaufort County Library website for the calendar of events and see when more of these exciting presentations and activities are taking place at a library branch near you!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Judge orders homeschoolers into public district classrooms
This article is from World Net Daily, it is an important article that shows the changing mood toward homeschooling.
Judge orders homeschoolers into public district classrooms Decides children need more 'focus' despite testing above grade levels
By Bob Unruh © 2009 WorldNetDaily
A North Carolina judge has ordered three children to attend public schools this fall because the homeschooling their mother has provided over the last four years needs to be "challenged."
The children, however, have tested above their grade levels – by as much as two years. The decision is raising eyebrows among homeschooling families, and one friend of the mother has launched a website to publicize the issue. The ruling was made by Judge Ned Mangum of Wake County, who was handling a divorce proceeding for Thomas and Venessa Mills. A statement released by a publicist working for the mother, whose children now are 10, 11 and 12, said Mangum stripped her of her right to decide what is best for her children's education.
The judge, when contacted by WND, explained his goal in ordering the children to register and attend a public school was to make sure they have a "more well-rounded education." "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." The judge said the husband has not been supportive of his wife's homeschooling, and "it accomplished its purposes. It now was appropriate to have them back in public school." Mangum said he made the determination on his guiding principle, "What's in the best interest of the minor children," and conceded it was putting his judgment in place of the mother's. And he said that while he expressed his opinion from the bench in the court hearing, the final written order had not yet been signed. However, the practice of a judge replacing a parent's judgment with his own regarding homeschooling was argued recently when a court panel in California ruled that a family would no longer be allowed to homeschool their own children.
WND reported extensively when the ruling was released in February 2008, alarming homeschool advocates nationwide because of its potential ramifications. Ultimately, the 2nd Appellate District Court in Los Angeles reversed its own order, affirming the rights of California parents to homeschool their children if they choose. The court, which earlier had opined that only credentialed teachers could properly educate children, was faced with a flood of friend-of-the-court briefs representing individuals and groups, including Congress members.
The conclusion ultimately was that parents, not the state, would decide where children are educated. The California opinion said state law permits homeschooling "as a species of private school education" but that statutory permission for parents to teach their own children could be "overridden in order to protect the safety of a child who has been declared dependent."
In the North Carolina case, Adam Cothes, a spokesman for the mother, said the children routinely had been testing at up to two years above their grade level, were involved in swim team and other activities and events outside their home and had taken leadership roles in history club events.
On her website, family friend Robyn Williams said Mangum stated his decision was not ideologically or religiously motivated but that ordering the children into public schools would "challenge the ideas you've taught them." Williams, a homeschool mother of four herself, said, "I have never seen such injustice and such a direct attack against homeschool." "This judge clearly took personal issue with Venessa's stance on education and faith, even though her children are doing great. If her right to homeschool can be taken away so easily, what will this mean for homeschoolers state wide, or even nationally?" Williams asked. Williams said she's trying to rally homeschoolers across the nation to defend their rights as Americans and parents to educate their own children. Williams told WND the public school order was the worst possible outcome for Ms. Mills, who had made it clear she felt it was important to her children that she continue homeschooling. According to Williams' website, the judge also ordered a mental health evaluation for the mother – but not the father – as part of the divorce proceedings, in what Williams described as an attack on the "mother's conservative Christian beliefs."
According to a proposed but as-yet unsigned order submitted by the father's lawyer to Mangum, "The children have thrived in homeschool for the past four years, but need the broader focus and socialization available to them in public school. The Court finds that it is in the children's best interest to continue their homeschooling through the end of the current school year, but to begin attending public school at the beginning of the 2009-2010 instructional year."
The order proposed by the father's lawyer also conceded the reason for the divorce was the father's "adultery," but it specifically said the father would not pay for homeschooling expenses for his children. The order also stated, "Defendant believes that plaintiff is a nurturing mother who loves the children. Defendant believes that plaintiff has done a good job with the homeschooling of the children, although he does not believe that continued homeschooling is in the best interest of the children." The website said the judge also said public school would "prepare these kids for the real world and college" and allow them "socialization." Williams said the mother originally moved into a homeschool schedule because the children were not doing as well as she hoped at the local public schools. In last year's dispute in California, the ruling that eventually was released was praised by pro-family organizations.
"We're pleased the appeals court recognized the rights of parents to provide education for their children," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice. "This decision reaffirms the constitutional right that's afforded to parents in directing the education of their children. It's an important victory for families who cherish the freedom to ensure that their children receive a high quality education that is inherent in homeschooling." "Parents have a constitutional right to make educational choices for their children," said Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb. "Thousands of California families have educated their children successfully through homeschooling. We're pleased with the court's decision, which protects the rights of families and protects an avenue of education that has proven to benefit children time and time again.
The North Carolina ruling also resembles a number of rulings handed down against homeschool parents in Germany, where such instruction has been banned since the years of Adolf Hitler's rule. As WND reported, Wolfgang Drautz, consul general for the Federal Republic of Germany, has commented previously on the issue, contending the government "has a legitimate interest in countering the rise of parallel societies that are based on religion."
"The minister of education does not share your attitudes toward so-called homeschooling," said a government letter in response. "... You complain about the forced school escort of primary school children by the responsible local police officers. ... In order to avoid this in future, the education authority is in conversation with the affected family in order to look for possibilities to bring the religious convictions of the family into line with the unalterable school attendance requirement."
WND also reported recently when a German appeals court tossed out three-month jail terms issued to a mother and father who homeschool their children. But the court also ordered new trials that could leave the parents with similar penalties, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association. The case involves Juergen and Rosemarie Dudek of Archfeldt, Germany, who last summer received formal notices of their three-month sentences.
The 90-day sentences came about when Hesse State Prosecutor Herwig Muller appealed a lower court's determination of fines for the family. The ruling had imposed fines of about 900 euros, or $1,200, for not sending their children to school Muller, however, told the parents they shouldn't worry about any fines, since he would "send them to jail," the HSLDA reported. HSLDA spokesman Michael Donnelly warned the homeschooling battle is far from over in Germany. "There continue to be signs that the German government is cracking down on homeschooling families," he reported. "A recent letter from one family in southern Germany contained threats from local school authorities that unless the family enrolled their children in school, they would seek fines in excess of 50,000 euros (nearly $70,000), jail time and the removal of custody of the children."
HSLDA officials estimate there are some 400 homeschool families in Germany, virtually all of them either forced into hiding or facing court actions.
Judge orders homeschoolers into public district classrooms Decides children need more 'focus' despite testing above grade levels
By Bob Unruh © 2009 WorldNetDaily
A North Carolina judge has ordered three children to attend public schools this fall because the homeschooling their mother has provided over the last four years needs to be "challenged."
The children, however, have tested above their grade levels – by as much as two years. The decision is raising eyebrows among homeschooling families, and one friend of the mother has launched a website to publicize the issue. The ruling was made by Judge Ned Mangum of Wake County, who was handling a divorce proceeding for Thomas and Venessa Mills. A statement released by a publicist working for the mother, whose children now are 10, 11 and 12, said Mangum stripped her of her right to decide what is best for her children's education.
The judge, when contacted by WND, explained his goal in ordering the children to register and attend a public school was to make sure they have a "more well-rounded education." "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." The judge said the husband has not been supportive of his wife's homeschooling, and "it accomplished its purposes. It now was appropriate to have them back in public school." Mangum said he made the determination on his guiding principle, "What's in the best interest of the minor children," and conceded it was putting his judgment in place of the mother's. And he said that while he expressed his opinion from the bench in the court hearing, the final written order had not yet been signed. However, the practice of a judge replacing a parent's judgment with his own regarding homeschooling was argued recently when a court panel in California ruled that a family would no longer be allowed to homeschool their own children.
WND reported extensively when the ruling was released in February 2008, alarming homeschool advocates nationwide because of its potential ramifications. Ultimately, the 2nd Appellate District Court in Los Angeles reversed its own order, affirming the rights of California parents to homeschool their children if they choose. The court, which earlier had opined that only credentialed teachers could properly educate children, was faced with a flood of friend-of-the-court briefs representing individuals and groups, including Congress members.
The conclusion ultimately was that parents, not the state, would decide where children are educated. The California opinion said state law permits homeschooling "as a species of private school education" but that statutory permission for parents to teach their own children could be "overridden in order to protect the safety of a child who has been declared dependent."
In the North Carolina case, Adam Cothes, a spokesman for the mother, said the children routinely had been testing at up to two years above their grade level, were involved in swim team and other activities and events outside their home and had taken leadership roles in history club events.
On her website, family friend Robyn Williams said Mangum stated his decision was not ideologically or religiously motivated but that ordering the children into public schools would "challenge the ideas you've taught them." Williams, a homeschool mother of four herself, said, "I have never seen such injustice and such a direct attack against homeschool." "This judge clearly took personal issue with Venessa's stance on education and faith, even though her children are doing great. If her right to homeschool can be taken away so easily, what will this mean for homeschoolers state wide, or even nationally?" Williams asked. Williams said she's trying to rally homeschoolers across the nation to defend their rights as Americans and parents to educate their own children. Williams told WND the public school order was the worst possible outcome for Ms. Mills, who had made it clear she felt it was important to her children that she continue homeschooling. According to Williams' website, the judge also ordered a mental health evaluation for the mother – but not the father – as part of the divorce proceedings, in what Williams described as an attack on the "mother's conservative Christian beliefs."
According to a proposed but as-yet unsigned order submitted by the father's lawyer to Mangum, "The children have thrived in homeschool for the past four years, but need the broader focus and socialization available to them in public school. The Court finds that it is in the children's best interest to continue their homeschooling through the end of the current school year, but to begin attending public school at the beginning of the 2009-2010 instructional year."
The order proposed by the father's lawyer also conceded the reason for the divorce was the father's "adultery," but it specifically said the father would not pay for homeschooling expenses for his children. The order also stated, "Defendant believes that plaintiff is a nurturing mother who loves the children. Defendant believes that plaintiff has done a good job with the homeschooling of the children, although he does not believe that continued homeschooling is in the best interest of the children." The website said the judge also said public school would "prepare these kids for the real world and college" and allow them "socialization." Williams said the mother originally moved into a homeschool schedule because the children were not doing as well as she hoped at the local public schools. In last year's dispute in California, the ruling that eventually was released was praised by pro-family organizations.
"We're pleased the appeals court recognized the rights of parents to provide education for their children," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice. "This decision reaffirms the constitutional right that's afforded to parents in directing the education of their children. It's an important victory for families who cherish the freedom to ensure that their children receive a high quality education that is inherent in homeschooling." "Parents have a constitutional right to make educational choices for their children," said Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb. "Thousands of California families have educated their children successfully through homeschooling. We're pleased with the court's decision, which protects the rights of families and protects an avenue of education that has proven to benefit children time and time again.
The North Carolina ruling also resembles a number of rulings handed down against homeschool parents in Germany, where such instruction has been banned since the years of Adolf Hitler's rule. As WND reported, Wolfgang Drautz, consul general for the Federal Republic of Germany, has commented previously on the issue, contending the government "has a legitimate interest in countering the rise of parallel societies that are based on religion."
"The minister of education does not share your attitudes toward so-called homeschooling," said a government letter in response. "... You complain about the forced school escort of primary school children by the responsible local police officers. ... In order to avoid this in future, the education authority is in conversation with the affected family in order to look for possibilities to bring the religious convictions of the family into line with the unalterable school attendance requirement."
WND also reported recently when a German appeals court tossed out three-month jail terms issued to a mother and father who homeschool their children. But the court also ordered new trials that could leave the parents with similar penalties, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association. The case involves Juergen and Rosemarie Dudek of Archfeldt, Germany, who last summer received formal notices of their three-month sentences.
The 90-day sentences came about when Hesse State Prosecutor Herwig Muller appealed a lower court's determination of fines for the family. The ruling had imposed fines of about 900 euros, or $1,200, for not sending their children to school Muller, however, told the parents they shouldn't worry about any fines, since he would "send them to jail," the HSLDA reported. HSLDA spokesman Michael Donnelly warned the homeschooling battle is far from over in Germany. "There continue to be signs that the German government is cracking down on homeschooling families," he reported. "A recent letter from one family in southern Germany contained threats from local school authorities that unless the family enrolled their children in school, they would seek fines in excess of 50,000 euros (nearly $70,000), jail time and the removal of custody of the children."
HSLDA officials estimate there are some 400 homeschool families in Germany, virtually all of them either forced into hiding or facing court actions.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Fire Station Visit a Great Success!
Yesterday, two home school families accepted the invitation extended by Lt. Byrne, community educator from Beaufort Fire station #1 to visit and receive a presentation about fire prevention, survival during a fire, and a number of other things. Our visit began in the Beaufort Fire and Rescue Family Safety Education House which is a converted RV complete with a carpeted stair step seating area in what would have been the dining area, for participants to sit receive instruction.
Lt. Byrne began the presentation with a video presentation to show us just how quickly a fire can start and spread to the point that it engulfs an average family room. The fire on the training video started by a single match dropped into a waste paper basket without any fire inducing agents. Within 2 minutes and 35 seconds the entire room was in flames. We were told to pay close attention to the recliner because it would ignite before any flames reached it and it did. The chemicals in the fabric along with the synthetic wood reached their ignition temperature and the chair burst into flames due to the heat in the room.
We received instruction about cooking fires, one of the top five cause of house fires. Warnings were given about the misuse of extension cords, over loading multiple outlets, and long term use utility cords.
We learned a new danger with candles. Lt. Byrne showed us a candle in a jar that caused a fire in a bathroom. The decorative piece of string around the jar reached its ignition point and ignited into flame. The fire then spread to a box of facial tissue near the jar. The flame from the wick of the candle itself never touched the string so we were quite amazed to know that again, to be aware of the ignition point of objects, not to actually know the temperature but to take it into consideration when we have fires around us.
A substitute for a wax candle is a new electric candle that looks like a wax candle. comes with fragrances but is battery operated.
Children were warned not to play with matches, a classic and still very important. Parents were encouraged to place matches, lighters and any other type of fire started in out of the way, hidden places.
Smoke detectors are still the number one method to warn us of fire in our homes. Instruction about the placement of the smoke detectors in a room or hallway, the care of smoke detectors and new smoke detectors on the market were shared during the presentation. Lt. Byrne informed us of a detector that a parent can record his or her voice with instruction along with the alarm noise.
After leaving the kitchen instruction area, we moved into the bedroom for further instruction. It was there we learned how to stay low to the floor when we smell smoke, touch the door with the back of our hand to detect if it's hot, if so don't open the door move to the window to get out. If the door isn't hot slowly open it to see if there is smoke or fire nearby, if the coast is clear proceed to the nearest exit and then to the meeting point. We practiced this before leaving the room.
Feel the door with the back of your hand.
Atmosphere smoke enters the room
Exit the room from the window.
After we exited the portable education vehicle we went to the garage where Firefighter Rob assisted Lt. Byrne with a demonstration of firefighter gear. Many children are afraid of firefighters and won't approach them when they are in danger. This activity teaches children to trust the firefighter, allows them to touch gear and watch the firefighter put each piece on. They see the transformation of the firefighter without gear and then completely suited. The lessens the chance that these children will run from the firefighter in the case of a real emergency.
Pictures of Firefighter Rob putting on gear.Following this time, the children were given a ride around the block in the fire truck by firefighter Andy. As the truck re-entered the station lot, all the bangs and whistles were sounded and the children were thrilled.
The final instruction for the day was a hands on demonstration of how to properly use a fire extinguisher and we each were allowed to practice this new skill.
Overall, we had a fantastic visit at the fire station. We all learned loads of new information and were reminded of many important things we often let slip. We are thankful for the community education program offered by the Beaufort fire department. The program depends on funding that is very low and may very soon be deleted due to lack of funds. Presently the department has a grant that allows them to purchase and give away smoke detectors to families that don't have one. The presentation we participated in is still available to the public as funding allows.
If you have fire extinguishers that are out dated they can be donated to the fire department for training and demonstrations such as we participated in. The department also accepts monetary donations as well as donations of new smoke detectors. Lt.. Byrne would like to get the word out about fire prevention to the general public. Please don't think you know everything there is to know about fire prevention, you'd be surprised about how much there is to know.
Yes, the date on the pictures is wrong.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Fire Safety Fieldtrips
We are thankful that Lt Byrne of the Beaufort Fire Department sought to include homeschool students in their fire prevention and safety programs. With his assistance we have orchestrated two field trips for homeschoolers in the Beaufort area.
The first field trip is Saturday, January 24th 10 am for kids (elementary school) this program is focused on fire safety and surviving a fire.
The second fieldtrip is Saturday, January 31st 9:00 am for the adults (middle school and above) the focus is on preventing fires and how to keep our family safe and survival.
Lt. Byrne needs to know numbers so please RSVP to our email address chsb@embarqmail.com by Wednesday, January 21st. When you RSVP please indicate the number of adults, grade and age of your children and which date or dates you will attend. Again Lt. Byrne encourages as many families as possible to attend the programs; he and the staff have a great program with lots of great information. Please pass this information on to other homeschool families you know.
The location for each visit is the station right across from the county building 135 Ribaut Road. You can park in the back of the station. Go down Green St from Ribaut Rd, make the first right, coming from the opposite end of Green St. make the last left, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church is on the corner, turn there. After passing the church property, go through the gate and enter the station parking area. All families are invited to fellowship together at Pigeon Point Park after the January 24th field trip. Pack a lunch to bring along and we can meet, greet, eat and play for an hour or so. A get together for the middle and high school attendees on January 31st is in the works.
The first field trip is Saturday, January 24th 10 am for kids (elementary school) this program is focused on fire safety and surviving a fire.
The second fieldtrip is Saturday, January 31st 9:00 am for the adults (middle school and above) the focus is on preventing fires and how to keep our family safe and survival.
Lt. Byrne needs to know numbers so please RSVP to our email address chsb@embarqmail.com by Wednesday, January 21st. When you RSVP please indicate the number of adults, grade and age of your children and which date or dates you will attend. Again Lt. Byrne encourages as many families as possible to attend the programs; he and the staff have a great program with lots of great information. Please pass this information on to other homeschool families you know.
The location for each visit is the station right across from the county building 135 Ribaut Road. You can park in the back of the station. Go down Green St from Ribaut Rd, make the first right, coming from the opposite end of Green St. make the last left, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church is on the corner, turn there. After passing the church property, go through the gate and enter the station parking area. All families are invited to fellowship together at Pigeon Point Park after the January 24th field trip. Pack a lunch to bring along and we can meet, greet, eat and play for an hour or so. A get together for the middle and high school attendees on January 31st is in the works.
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