I can understand and agree with the fact that these are things that should simply be parented. But something that many colleges are finding out is that if a kid can't keep up physically with the stressful demands of college work, the academics will suffer. The transcript is simply a way to impart to the institution what the student knows: otherwise we wouldn't even bother listing those extra curriculars or volunteer opportunities. But just listing those doesn't always show that a topic was truly researched at a suitable depth. I took plenty of math in high school, and none of that 'stuck' either, lol. Even when i made great grades. But that doesn't mean the course wasn't helpful or that colleges would expect me to leave it off. But honestly? if you know your student has mastered a lifestyle skill, just search some course descriptions and award the credit. We don't have to keep track of hours if our student can essentially 'CLEP out' of a subject that we know they understand well.

I think the best first step is to organize a voter registration drive outside a store. kids can help make signs, hand out applications, and learn what races are coming up [National/ State/ Local]. For example: my 16yo can make phone calls and set up a time/date for the event, send in announcements to the paper advertising the event, research upcoming elections, and make bulletins encouraging people to vote, when and where to vote, and who's running. My 13yo can help research and make the bulletins, fold them, help make signs, and help organize the materials [tape, paperweights, snacks, table, chairs, etc] My 9yo can help fold bulletins, practice learning who is running, and hand out bulletins to people ["Hi! would you like some information on our upcoming election?"] My 7yo likes handing out bulletins and can learn the phrase above too. She's kinda shy so she probably won't get past telling what race is coming up... My 5yo is a lot more outgoing and might even learn the names of some candidates. Even small children can wear pins/buttons or a shirt that says 'Vote' or 'Elect so and so to this office'. Kids are MAGNETS when it comes to getting people's attention. ================= We make doorknob hangers and go door to door. Most little kids LOVE being the one to ring the bell/ knock on the door, and hand the info out. I try to let them say the opening lines and then step in to answer questions. My older kids do more research on the issues/candidates and can often answer questions. Even my 5yo likes putting up campaign signs: we had about twenty campaign signs in our front yard scattered all over like wildflowers when Mr. Boo got his city council signs in, lol. parades: usually for awareness. the more people the better- even short young people. :) Meetings: all my kids have attended meetings. even a toddler can be kept busy and learn how to behave/ where to sit in a meeting. The older kids grab an agenda and follow along. My 16yo knows how to fill out a form to request to speak for citizen comments and watches the city website for upcoming meetings/ events. Internet: even small children can learn how to start researching candidates. every few days check certain sites [city/ party/ state/etc] and let them help you navigate. Some sites have printable flyers that the kids can help print and post. Writing letters: it doesn't have to be something deep and profound. Even writing to talk about a park or playground is still important. Meeting candidates: My kids all recognize our city officials and some of our county/state officials. Our city officials know my kids by sight, and they know my oldest by name. ;) Make trading cards for them if nothing else, lol. It's important that they realize the mayor is just another guy, and that our City Councilmen have likes, dislikes, and personalities too. Attend events: volunteer to help set up and hand out info. Simply by working w/ like minded people they start realizing the importance and rewards of service. Discussion boards: this can be tricky...not all political discussions are age-appropriate, but my oldest can track down political discussion boards and search for topics of interest, and see what is of interest to others. He's exercising discernment on when to abandon a topic, lol. anywho, that's some things we do. Next year will be our city's elections for council/ mayor. I may end up filing if we have someone running unopposed. Our running joke is that any campaign signs we get will only have our last name on them so ds can inherit them when he's 18, lol.

make labels [for household items: copying things like forks, plates, cups, pots, bowls, window, door, bathroom, etc onto post its and having them place on appropriate item. can do in foreign language too.] wash windows scrub walls scrub floors [i often give my 3 younger guys 3 soapy washrags and an eye patch and send them in to 'swab the deck' w/ many Arrrs! and "me mateys" lol...] sort coins [from change jar]

ayup. high school is about correct preparation for *life* -- including physical and social skills. All the academic knowledge in the world won't serve you well if you are constantly distracted by poor health or can't communicate it effectively to those around you.

i quit counting at about 7K several years ago, but the librarian in me still wants to organize and categorize, lol....

aw.... I was gonna say Mommy X + Daddy X = Brownie. :)

do a google search for 4-H horse project workbook: there are some awesome academic opportunities out there that you can either print [for free!] and file or she can take on as a 4-H project [The Horse Quiz Bowl is a good one]. 4-H offers a lot of scholarships too. There's also the merit badge stuff i linked above-- print out the worksheets and use them as academics! and don't kid yourself-- the "normal active lifestyle" ain't all that normal......or active......

my FAVE volunteer gift [and I usually don't like volunteer gifts-- i'm volunteering to RELIEVE the burden, lol!] was Gorilla Glue... "cuz volunteers are the glue that holds everyone together." kinda pricey tho.

maybe cheaper than cellophane bags.... our library offers a diecut machine that has a couple dies of foldable boxes. you could cut a bunch of those and stamp/hand write a thankyou on them. better yet-- let THE KIDS write the thank you! I think the candy is a great idea. :D

we don't do too much organized sports, but we organize a weekly PE class following the President's Physical Fitness challenge exercises/run as well as basic warmups/ stretches; they also do a LOT of hiking. Their merit badges in Scouts work towards a credit too [anyone can use the free worksheets at meritbadge.org as a guideline if you wanted too-- lots of physical activities to choose from. and everything we do in Scouts counts towards a 4-H Healthy Lifestyles project. :)

{{i was thinking that as I typed out 'legal liability' above.....}} ;)

mine will get 4 full credits of PE cuz they've earned them . ;) Extra Curricular activities will show things like Scouting High Adventure Camps and 4-H stuff.

that was my oldest. it was mostly cheap practice for the SAT. he just took the SAT a second time yesterday as a junior. His math is his weakness, but he'll keep working on that. Seeing his scores is the best motivator for him to get his act together on math. ;) My 2d will be a freshman next year. Definitely a STEM track, but not too confident when it comes to testing/ new situations so he'll take the PSAT 3 times. The first will be a wash, the second will be our baseline, and the third will get him into MIT. :D lol.... Not sure about my younger 3 yet. Will definitely plan for at least twice. I don't test on school subjects, but if they want to go to college [and my older two are looking pretty solidly that way] they need the scores, whether I want them or not. ;)

lol...but MY first thought of a middle name was and Titus and Philemon. :) so I'd probably pick Titus Andrew or Titus Alexander. a lot would depend on how many syllables in the last name. Like scrappyhappymama, I tend to be picky about that kinda thing....

This is my vote too. besides, I detest having to tell businesses that the 'homeschool ID cards' they keep seeing are basically worthless as real IDs...of either actual identification or proof of homeschooling.

Pros: They are the world's oldest security system. even a small yappy dog has a heightened sense of smell and hearing and can alert you to dangers/ unexpected situations faster. Therapeutic comfort -- petting an animal does wonders for the psyche Training can be fun - doing things WITH a dog/pet like tricks and obstacle courses can be rewarding DogScouts.org. Pricey, but what a COOL idea!! 4-H Dog Project/ Dog Merit Badges for Scouting. Make it an educational, academic endeavor. Develop a 4-H speech and win at State for scholarships, whether you do anything career wise w/ dogs or not. fairly easy to take along to parks n such - they naturally enjoy being with you-- their pack. Kids tend to like taking responsibility for them. reminders needed, yeah, but still... ;) Cons: They bite. even small dogs. If you have a dog w/ a bad temperament or not trained well that bites a person even one time, it can be a huge legal liability. They tend to roam. If your dog gets out and onto other people's yards, they can cost you money, legal liability in property damage, or be shot [dead or severely injured] Vet bills. Between a well-check, tests, vaccinations, microchipping, and preventive maintenance [flea/heartworm] you can spend several hundred dollars a year on even a low-budget vet bill. Another mouth to feed. we use basic Dog Chow, but many prefer a Raw diet-- setting up food for another critter needs to be a habit. Can't take a dog everywhere: extra hotel fees, some places they aren't allowed period. Either need to have them able to be out in a yard at home, come home to let them out if they are inside, get a friend to dog sit/ visit, or board them [$$]. You probably don't speak Dog-- gotta learn a new language. :-) Learn dog body language and pack behavior so you and your family are leaders of the pack. Will probably upset the typical American ideas of owning a dog. Registration: many cities require a registration fee. check if it is yearly and if there's a difference for intact animals. There tend to be a lot more cons than pros, but the pros outweigh the cons in my book. ;) The biggest pro is the security feature-- even if they don't DO anything usually, you might be surprised how even a lovable friendly couch potato will spring into action at REAL danger. The biggest con is the legal liability. Once your dog leaves your property, you are at the mercy of the world. Be prepared and know the laws....and your dog.

yeah... I haven't used it, but my thousands of books would cost me. ;) I *really* like the idea of using an iphone... gotta get me one of those now that Verizon is on the ball.... hope they get a scanner app, lol!

I just embrace the duplicate copies. :-) or use them as gifts [cuz we only buy GREAT titles 4 times, right?!]. yeah, I know... that can get expensive, lol. have you checked out Library Thing? there are lots of neat library catalog software programs that you can invest in [or are FREE!] that you can use w/ a laptop. Or leave a kid at home and call to check on titles. ;) some keep your titles online--you can check them from anywhere [phone!]. good luck! eta: a barcode scanner at radio shack is Very Helpful.. if you get a cuecat, google about neutering the cuecat. ;)

yabbut, my question was for those who DO think it makes a difference. ;)

I understand the checks and balances against mistakes, but my question was about why killing a 100% guilty person is evil if done by an individual vs ok if done by the gvt. If the person is 100% guilty, why would it matter? I saw Spy Car make the distinction, and was kinda hoping more than one person could weigh in on that, but maybe not....?

because they were trying to assemble a larger picture from many pieces of evidence. I'd have to say there are degrees of 100% certainty. ;) eta: which is why it's "beyond a reasonable doubt" not 'absolutely certain.' Having a video of the murder is quite different from depending on a victim's testimony and other evidence gathered.

that's not what he was asking.

yeah but.....Revelation is about God meting it out perfectly, not supporting us doing it personally. ;)

and here's the weird part..... most communities [when asked as individuals] tend to support a vigilante form of justice over NO justice/failed justice/ corruption, which seems to negate a 'need' to build trust in the community via collectively determining guilt/punishment....

but if the man being killed was the trauma, then that would be another reason to be against ANY death penalty, but my question was about one type of killing vs another..... In the story quoted, 'her words' would have killed him regardless WHO [gvt/individual] carried out the punishment of death....