Mandatory Service Requirements for Youth

Posted on March 26, 2009 by Barb

Ok, class, time for a quick current events pop quiz:

Which country just approved a $6 billion initiative that includes the following, directing its legislative body to determine:

“….whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.”

Your answer, please.

Russia? No.

China? No.

Sorry…..the correct answer is the United States of America.

I’m not kidding. HB 1388 passed in the Senate today. This is scary stuff. The fine print includes descriptions of young people wearing uniforms and being trained on campuses (the term originally used was ‘camps’ but they changed that, I wonder why?) It’s even been suggested that middle schoolers and high schoolers should be included.

Ironically, despite the use of the word ‘mandatory,’ the name of the bill is GIVE (Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act). Isn’t ‘mandatory volunteerism’ an oxymoron?

If there was ever a time for homeschoolers, as busy as we are, to pay close attention to the quickly changing agenda of our government, it’s now.

Learn more from:

San Francisco Examiner

Spectator (UK)

American Thinker

Michelle Malkin

Once in a While, Some Good News is Reported

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Barb

My blood pressure has surely gone up lately from reading about all the ridiculous things going on in our government. My husband even threatened to take away the Internet because I was getting so irritable reading about how our taxes are going up bailing out all sorts of stupid behavior while our freedoms are being eroded.

But then I read this story, about the smart trick a caring fireman used to rescue a frightened autistic boy who escaped his first day of school by climbing out of a third-story window and refusing to come in off the ledge. Best thing I’ve read in weeks! And the photo of the boy and his rescuer is awesome.

The Cost of Homeschooling vs. the Cost of Public Schools

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Barb

I wonder if the average citizen really understands just how cost-efficient homeschooling is?

Back when I was homeschooling all four of my kids, the most I ever spent in a year for “school” was probably $1500, and that was when my two older kids took high school by correspondence.

That was a while back, but I have a hard time imagining someone today even spending $1000 per child to homeschool them. The thing is, educating a child costs far more in time than in resources, and we moms don’t invoice for that time.

As for resources, a Bible, a public library and some good museums are really all you need. The rest is gravy.

And there’s plenty of gravy in the public schools. Get a load of this, from today’s Wall Street Journal:

The state now spends roughly $13,000 per public-school student in Chicago, but the money has done little to reverse a dismal high school graduation rate of 51%.

Holy cow! For $13K annually per child, most homeschool parents could homeschool their children through graduation, and pay off the mortgage early with the money left over.

President Obama’s Slip of the Tongue

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Barb

Without his crutch teleprompter, President Obama is forced to speak his own mind, giving us a rare peek into his thoughts and personal character. Probably not a good idea, as evidenced by his appearance on Jay Leno’s show last night:

Nice. I have a wonderful son with Down syndrome, so I’m more than willing to point out that President Obama has a deep character flaw, as does anyone who makes fun of the developmentally disabled.

Kind of reminds me of the time then-vice president Al Gore referred to his political enemies as “the extra-chromosome right wing.” (Down syndrome is characterized by an extra 21st chromosome.)

Ugh. How disappointing.

Grandma’s Cooking

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Barb

Isn’t she just the cutest thing? And this is just one of several short films made by her grandson, a filmmaker who wanted to preserve his memories of her.

Grandma is 93-year-old Clara Cannucciari; her 30-year-old grandson Chris is the filmmaker. When Chris posted his films to YouTube, neither of them had any idea that a turbulent economy would make their series on Depression-era cooking a smash hit on the Internet.

Clara has had an interesting life, as this article describes. Watching her in the kitchen brings back my own “grandma memories”….maybe it will do the same for you 🙂

Here’s the link for the entire series of films, so you don’t miss out on any. Enjoy!