There are so many freakin' stupid, unbelievable, dumb, moronic, senseless ... things going on that one could write about. So, let's pick one. How about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act? Under the guise of protecting our children from lead - remember, Thomas and His Friends are all contaminated - we are now going to destroy all books printed prior to the 1980's. Okay, so lead is present in older homes. And we know that if the paint is intact, we are instructed not to touch it, right? And we have now all warned our children against eating Thomas and His Friends, right? So, if your son or daughter picks up a copy of, say, a family heirloom Holy Bible, maybe a little warning, like, "Baby, we don't eat great-grammy's copy of God's Word" might just be in order. But make sure your old books are safely ensconced in protective, inconspicuous niches in your home, otherwise, when the CPSIA staffers start making rounds to confiscate our books, they might take them, hold a communal bonfire in the cul de sac, and everyone can sing, "God Bless the USA".
Why books? I have a neighbor that douses her lawn with Chem Lawn products all spring and summer - it stinks so bad, I need to close all the windows. The smell is reminiscent of the pesticides the exterminator used to use in our house while I was growing up. Know what? They found out that stuff causes cancer. And how about cigarette smoking? All those lawsuits, with those poor fools never knowing they were being poisoned. I do believe it is still legal to smoke, is it not? And, at least here in PA, while it is illegal to buy cigarettes if you are a minor, it is not illegal to smoke them. The list of legislating STUPID is endless. I am so tired of wondering who the hell is running this country - and if they actually are. Read the damn constitution - none of this is in there for a reason. It is unnecessary. And a waste of money, taxpayer money. Go after the terrorists, find the tax-evaders, fix the damn roads and leave the raising of and protection of children to people who actually do it - those of use who pay your freakin' salaries!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Cheeseburger Bill, Our Children, and the Threat to American Liberties ...
During our recent bout with the flu, I spent a great deal of time watching NetFlix. There are some movies available for instant viewing that I would have never seen had it not been for this terrific value in video rentals. Spellbound is one I highly recommend, and Super Size Me is another. It is this second movie that inspired this post, and many more to come, as I strive to put my thoughts on this topic together in a concise, coherent, intelligent manner.
The premise behind Super Size Me is basically an experiment conducted by one man in an attempt to either prove or disapprove the ill-effects of an all-McDonald's fast food diet for a period of one month. Now, the movie in and of itself is very interesting, and does a good job of solidifying the case against eating out as one's sole means of sustenance. But it was during the end credits that my interest was really peeked, when I saw something called "The Cheeseburger Bill". Having done a bit of research on it, I have since discovered that the Cheeseburger Bill was an attempt in Congress to protect the food industries from lawsuits that seek damages against the harmful effects eating their products may have on us, the American public. You know, the little people, the ones expected to pay their taxes and uphold the laws of this nation, the ones who do not get away with tax evasion and could never hope to get pay increases or a benefits package to rival those of our illustrious leaders. And I do not have a problem with the legislation. I actually think the same should have been done with the case against the tobacco industry, 'cause everyone knows, and has always known (read the history of the use of tobacco and the admonishments of the kings of England against the disgusting, dirty habit of smoking in the sixteenth century) that smoking is bad for you. When I see a twelve-year old step off a school bus and light up (because it is only illegal to sell cigarettes to minors, not for them to smoke), I wonder who he is going to blame his ignorance on in the future, when he is hacking up a lung.
Anyway, back to the Cheeseburger - this bill unabashedly protects the industries, not the consumers. Yet, the US Food and Drug Administration "(FDA or USFDA) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for regulating and supervising the safety of foods, dietary supplements, drugs, vaccines, biological medical products, blood products, medical devices, radiation-emitting devices, veterinary products, and cosmetics". See some conflicts of interest here? I do. Our government is supposed to protect us from harmful foods, but our government wants a policy that stipulates, should such food harm us, we may not do anything about it.
So, where am I going with this? Well, do you know about the Parental Rights amendment? Go to ParentalRights.org and read up on it and then come back here and I will tell you where I am going with this.
PART II
Read up on ParentalRights.org? What do you think? Do you think it is a fair thing to give the parents in this country - now, I am talking about PARENTS, people who actually PARENT their children, as differentiated from the group that reproduces and then ... nothing - the right to raise their children in the manner they deem most appropriate, if they are responsible, law-abiding citizens who ask for nothing to carry out their responsibilities?
Goodness, there are so many tangents here ... including, let's start taking away rights to biological children from criminals who have never shown any responsibility, yet who are able to dictate that their children flounder in the foster care system all their childhood because they refuse to terminate their "rights". The judicial system, and the social service system has not worked on behalf of those kids, has it? No, it is actually the "right" of the criminal to keep their parental rights. How about teen-agers who reproduce - repeatedly - get all sorts of government support and have no oversight as to how "appropriate" they are in raising said child/children?
In the movie Super Size Me, the role of government and its failure to protect the interests of its citizens over big industries was discussed. This is of no surprise. But, if our government can consider The Cheeseburger Bill, in an attempt to openly protect industries that may harm its people, then how can we entrust them with the care and best interest of our children? Please sign the Parental Rights Amendment petition - life, liberty, and the pursuit of family all depend on it under the current administration. Don't let legislators that consider The Cheeseburger Bill good for the country have control over your family.
The premise behind Super Size Me is basically an experiment conducted by one man in an attempt to either prove or disapprove the ill-effects of an all-McDonald's fast food diet for a period of one month. Now, the movie in and of itself is very interesting, and does a good job of solidifying the case against eating out as one's sole means of sustenance. But it was during the end credits that my interest was really peeked, when I saw something called "The Cheeseburger Bill". Having done a bit of research on it, I have since discovered that the Cheeseburger Bill was an attempt in Congress to protect the food industries from lawsuits that seek damages against the harmful effects eating their products may have on us, the American public. You know, the little people, the ones expected to pay their taxes and uphold the laws of this nation, the ones who do not get away with tax evasion and could never hope to get pay increases or a benefits package to rival those of our illustrious leaders. And I do not have a problem with the legislation. I actually think the same should have been done with the case against the tobacco industry, 'cause everyone knows, and has always known (read the history of the use of tobacco and the admonishments of the kings of England against the disgusting, dirty habit of smoking in the sixteenth century) that smoking is bad for you. When I see a twelve-year old step off a school bus and light up (because it is only illegal to sell cigarettes to minors, not for them to smoke), I wonder who he is going to blame his ignorance on in the future, when he is hacking up a lung.
Anyway, back to the Cheeseburger - this bill unabashedly protects the industries, not the consumers. Yet, the US Food and Drug Administration "(FDA or USFDA) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for regulating and supervising the safety of foods, dietary supplements, drugs, vaccines, biological medical products, blood products, medical devices, radiation-emitting devices, veterinary products, and cosmetics". See some conflicts of interest here? I do. Our government is supposed to protect us from harmful foods, but our government wants a policy that stipulates, should such food harm us, we may not do anything about it.
So, where am I going with this? Well, do you know about the Parental Rights amendment? Go to ParentalRights.org and read up on it and then come back here and I will tell you where I am going with this.
PART II
Read up on ParentalRights.org? What do you think? Do you think it is a fair thing to give the parents in this country - now, I am talking about PARENTS, people who actually PARENT their children, as differentiated from the group that reproduces and then ... nothing - the right to raise their children in the manner they deem most appropriate, if they are responsible, law-abiding citizens who ask for nothing to carry out their responsibilities?
Goodness, there are so many tangents here ... including, let's start taking away rights to biological children from criminals who have never shown any responsibility, yet who are able to dictate that their children flounder in the foster care system all their childhood because they refuse to terminate their "rights". The judicial system, and the social service system has not worked on behalf of those kids, has it? No, it is actually the "right" of the criminal to keep their parental rights. How about teen-agers who reproduce - repeatedly - get all sorts of government support and have no oversight as to how "appropriate" they are in raising said child/children?
In the movie Super Size Me, the role of government and its failure to protect the interests of its citizens over big industries was discussed. This is of no surprise. But, if our government can consider The Cheeseburger Bill, in an attempt to openly protect industries that may harm its people, then how can we entrust them with the care and best interest of our children? Please sign the Parental Rights Amendment petition - life, liberty, and the pursuit of family all depend on it under the current administration. Don't let legislators that consider The Cheeseburger Bill good for the country have control over your family.
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Flu ...
The flu hit us - and it hit hard. Five children fell like dominoes over the course of a week, and we are only now getting back to "normal". My oldest son developed pneumonia, the other four were in bed for days on end, and I could barely do the stairs until today. It has been two solid weeks of illness. For almost fourteen days we did not see the outside world (aside from the trip to the emergency room), did not care about life outside of our microbe-infested abode. Body aches, fever, stomach problems, coughing, coughing, and more gut-wrenching, rib-crushing coughing, boxes and boxes of tissues, laundry piled up and overflowing the baskets ... We were able to do school today, and the kids are finally eating again. Horrible thing, the flu. I may just re-think the whole vaccination thing next year - maybe.
Friday, February 6, 2009
It's Time for ...
The Weekly Report!!!
In school news this week, much was accomplished. Despite my continued health struggles, the kiddies plodded on. Having chosen resources for each level has been the best decision I have made thus far. My twins have their own ancient history resources and are working independently. The oldest twin completed another full week of My Father's World: Creation to the Greeks. She has the teacher's manual, and is completely responsible for her work. The highlight of the week was listening to the Vivaldi biography on Classical Kids. (I think that is the name - forgive me if I am confusing it with another.) We did supplement a bit with extra readings in both Story of the World, and Child's History of the World. But, those are like treats to my kids - time to color maps and extra coloring pages, play quietly while Mom reads. Even Rocky has requested the maps to color from the STOW activity book. I love when he asks to join it.
The younger twin completed his second week in The Mystery of History. This is working out well for him - bite size readings with a bit of meat. He likes to ask for supplementary readings to correspond with what he was reading about. We had a conversation about dinosaurs, the meaning of "behemoth" in the Bible, references to dragons in ancient literature and their cultural significance in ancient times, especially in Asian countries. We then happened to stumble across the movie The Water Horse on Netflix. They really enjoyed that. In case you never saw it, the movie explores some of the myths surrounding the Loch Ness Monster. It was very good. I showed him how to do a time-line to sum up what he learned this week. (Of course, I inserted the picture here, but blogger put it at the top.) And he completed all three books I had assigned him for the month of February - a biography on Louis Braille, a complilation of Arabian Nights, Aladdin, etc, and The Incredible Journey. Finding books that fit him has been a bit of a struggle, but we are doing well now.
In grammar, we completed Chapter 5 lessons, minus the ones related to writing skills. We will do the review lesson, and the writing skills next week. I continue to be impressed with Rod & Staff. The lessons are simple and clear, and the worksheets help to bring it all together. Plus, they serve as automatic documentation for the portfolio (Blah!!!). I purchased the R & S 6 science for my oldest twin, 'cause, you know, she wasn't burdened enough. I felt it was time for an actual science text. She is liking it, so far. I am teaching her how to outline the chapter, paying particular attention to vocabulary, and answering chapter summary questions. She did complete the first two lessons. And she is on lesson 17 in Life of Fred. I am having her complete some fraction worksheets from Math Mammoth because Fred is a bit light on the number of problems. The younger twin is still working on Singapore, all on his own, no more complaints since he can write in the books. I think he will be done with all the 3B books in a month or so, and he wants to continue with the program. I am glad he found a niche in math, too - finally!
We reviewed our Shakespeare play, read our "life" (Plutarch), began reading Homer Price and The Tanglewood Secret, and continued to work on drawing skills. The oldest twin completed another lesson in Latin, and read Plain Girl and All of a Kind Family. (She is a bibliophile in making - she has a stack of no less than 20 books on her nightstand, and is currently reading three books at once, not assigned reading, just for fun. One she keeps on the dining room table, one open on her desk, and one in her bed - I am so proud!) Little Bear has completed 5 lessons in ETC 4, is on lesson 15 in Primary Language Lessons, and completed lesson 6, a review lesson, in spelling. We decided to continue with Rod & Staff for math, and, once the books arrived, she began them immediately. She is reading through the literature selections from Sonlight level 2 readers, and is doing very well with them.
All in all, a good week. Thanks for stopping by.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Why Do We Even Bother ...
Well, if a single woman, who lives with her parents, and has six children already, can willfully get impregnanted with seven embryos - resulting in eight pre-term infants, in need of NICU attention - and then hire a PR firm to get the word out that she is in need of financial help so that she does not have to go on welfare ... And if government workers - who are public figures, in the public eye, for Pete's sake (doesn't anyone care anymore about their image or reputation, PERHAPS SETTING AN EXAMPLE?) - are not concerned about paying their taxes ... And if I have to scrimp on clothes or food or other necessities so that I can afford a new book for one of my kids but the school district can approve a four percent per year raise for the teachers when my husband has not seen a four percent raise since ...never... I just have one question -
What the h-ll are we all doing going to work, paying our taxes, and our mortgages, struggling to make ends meet and live within our means, etc?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Changes ...
We've made some changes around here in the past few weeks. While I am fighting this illness that grabs hold of me every couple of months, I needed my oldest daughter to be able to continue her work on her own - something she is quite capable of, and willing to do. So I purchased My Father's World: Creation to the Greeks for her, and she is loving it. It is for grades 4-8, so I look at it as a middle ground between the Dialectic level work she was doing with Tapestry of Grace (which required too much from me) and the grammar level of SL Core 1. My 9 yo son is working his way through The Mystery of History, Volume 1, and my little ones will still do SL. When we do get together as a group, we still do SOTW, and the activity pages, as well as CHOW. But the pressure is off to make sure the group is all together every day. My 10 yo is loving MFW, and she loves the freedom of getting up early, beginning her work, checking off all the things she has completed. She is very much the independent learner.
So since this blog is to serve as my "diary" of our homeschooling journey, I should take a moment to jot down where we are for the new school year.
Oldest Twin, 10, 6th Grade
My Father's World: Creation to the Greeks (history, geography, theology, music and art history, art applied, literature)
Rod & Staff: Grammar, Spelling, Science 6
Life of Fred: Fractions
Rod & Staff Mathematics 7
Lively Latin
Latina Christiana
Ludere Latin
Literature from MFW, SL Core 4 (readers and read-alouds we did not get to)
Shakespeare and Plutarch, one per month from each
Younger Twin, 9, 4th grade
Mystery of History, Volume 1
Our Young Folks' Josephus
SOTW, Volume 1
Studying God's Word, Book E
Rod & Staff: Grammar, Spelling
Singapore Math 3B with all the supplemental workbooks
Saxon 65
History of Medicine, supplemental science encyclopedias and lit.
Lit. from Ambleside On-line, Years 1-5 (anything we missed)
Shakespeare and Plutarch, one per month from each
*They are both still working on an independent lap-book project of the United States Presidents.
Assigning a grade level has been a difficult thing to determine. The 10 yo just took the 5th grade CAT, and the 9 yo took the 3rd grade one. I only gave them those levels because I did not want to be forced to give them the higher levels at a mandated time in the future (every two years is required here) just because the school district expected it. In other words, if I gave my 9 yo the 5th grade test this year (which he could have taken with ease), then he would have to take the 7th grade test at the age of 11. I do not want that, because who knows if he will continue to be as advanced in his work as the work gets progressively harder? I am calling my 10 yo a sixth grader only because she just took the 5th grade test. And it provides some structure for me as I plan out the higher grades.
I am looking to add a writing program to our studies. My dilemma is I really enjoy R&S Grammar. Most of the writing programs that teach the progymnasmata have their own grammar programs scheduled, or incorporate grammar. I did use Imitations in Writing one year, and my daughter enjoyed it. I may choose that again for her, and allow her to continue with R&S. As for my son, I think Writing Tales is looking promising. Working within the framework of the LCC for him is the best approach. The structure of Writing Tales, as far as I can tell from the samples, seems to fit that very nicely.
Well, I've updated, droned on for a bit, and now it is time to do some actual work. So, adieu for now.
So since this blog is to serve as my "diary" of our homeschooling journey, I should take a moment to jot down where we are for the new school year.
Oldest Twin, 10, 6th Grade
My Father's World: Creation to the Greeks (history, geography, theology, music and art history, art applied, literature)
Rod & Staff: Grammar, Spelling, Science 6
Life of Fred: Fractions
Rod & Staff Mathematics 7
Lively Latin
Latina Christiana
Ludere Latin
Literature from MFW, SL Core 4 (readers and read-alouds we did not get to)
Shakespeare and Plutarch, one per month from each
Younger Twin, 9, 4th grade
Mystery of History, Volume 1
Our Young Folks' Josephus
SOTW, Volume 1
Studying God's Word, Book E
Rod & Staff: Grammar, Spelling
Singapore Math 3B with all the supplemental workbooks
Saxon 65
History of Medicine, supplemental science encyclopedias and lit.
Lit. from Ambleside On-line, Years 1-5 (anything we missed)
Shakespeare and Plutarch, one per month from each
*They are both still working on an independent lap-book project of the United States Presidents.
Assigning a grade level has been a difficult thing to determine. The 10 yo just took the 5th grade CAT, and the 9 yo took the 3rd grade one. I only gave them those levels because I did not want to be forced to give them the higher levels at a mandated time in the future (every two years is required here) just because the school district expected it. In other words, if I gave my 9 yo the 5th grade test this year (which he could have taken with ease), then he would have to take the 7th grade test at the age of 11. I do not want that, because who knows if he will continue to be as advanced in his work as the work gets progressively harder? I am calling my 10 yo a sixth grader only because she just took the 5th grade test. And it provides some structure for me as I plan out the higher grades.
I am looking to add a writing program to our studies. My dilemma is I really enjoy R&S Grammar. Most of the writing programs that teach the progymnasmata have their own grammar programs scheduled, or incorporate grammar. I did use Imitations in Writing one year, and my daughter enjoyed it. I may choose that again for her, and allow her to continue with R&S. As for my son, I think Writing Tales is looking promising. Working within the framework of the LCC for him is the best approach. The structure of Writing Tales, as far as I can tell from the samples, seems to fit that very nicely.
Well, I've updated, droned on for a bit, and now it is time to do some actual work. So, adieu for now.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
It's Been Awhile ...
It's been a while since I posted. I have not been in a posting mood. And I question my reasoning for keeping this blog. The blogs I enjoy reading are those through which the blogger shares glimpses of her life. I am not good at sharing - it makes me feel exposed, vulnerable, and ashamed. Those are not good things to feel. So, while I enjoy detailing our home-schooling journey, I am finding it difficult to straddle the line demarcating home-schooling from intimate life details. Because, as any true home-schooler knows, that line is fine, and the two spheres often overlap, and blur. My life is home-schooling. All that happens happens in the context of my obligation and responsibility to my kids, whom I home-school. Still with me?
So, as I continue to ponder my thoughts - which are, as usual, deep and dark - I ... well, that is it. I will continue to ponder, and question, and ultimately decide if I have what it takes to be a blogger in the blogging world. 'Cause, right now, I don't think so.
So, as I continue to ponder my thoughts - which are, as usual, deep and dark - I ... well, that is it. I will continue to ponder, and question, and ultimately decide if I have what it takes to be a blogger in the blogging world. 'Cause, right now, I don't think so.
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