http://www.parentalrights.org/ HSLDA is behind this parental rights movement. I don't know a lot about it except that it's a reaction to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which they oppose. http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/20091120.asp

Thanks, everyone, for discussing. Very thoughtful replies. I agree that raising awareness can do a world of good. If we are in contact with other homeschool families, we can help them be responsible parents. Peer pressure among parents is a strong force--I firmly believe peer pressure has influenced many to jump on the patriarchal/fundamentalist bandwagon. Let's provide a better model of what a homeschool family should be. I think the freedom we've been given here in the States is a little scary. If parents want to treat their children as if they own them, they can. We can get away with almost anything as long as no one reports or there is no physical evidence. Is that ethical? Don't children in a free society have some basic rights that those outside their family should attempt to protect? HSLDA scoffs at that idea, from what I've seen, because "of course parents will do what's best for their children." Unfortunately, not all parents will. Going to check out La Texican's thread about rights before I comment further. Thanks!

Homeschool graduates have started a new non-profit, complete with a web site that covers a wide range of topics related to problems within homeschool families: The Coalition for Responsible Home Education. If you have seen the Homeschoolers Anonymous blog, or if you caught the article, Homeschool Apostates, you may recognize some of the names and ideas. The problems they are addressing can be summed up in 2 words: neglect and abuse. I've read enough of their stories to be convinced that the problems are real and serious. However, I'm not sure which of their policy recommendations I agree with at this point. Like most U. S. homeschool parents I know, I cherish my liberty to raise my children the way I believe is best. From their Mission & Vision page: OUR MISSION is to raise awareness of the need for homeschooling reform, provide public policy guidance, and advocate for responsible home education practices. OUR VISION is for homeschooling to be a child-centered educational option, used only to lovingly prepare young people for an open future. Just wanting to inform you about this and find out what you think. (Maybe this belongs on the Chat Board... ? If so, can a moderator move it?) ColleenInWis

If he likes anything with legumes (dried beans), try that. Refried beans w/cheese and tortillas OR Spanish rice? Chili? Minestrone? Lentil stew? Baked beans? Hummus? No-meat options will help save your budget! Add fat to the legume dish by sauteing veggies in olive oil, with cheese, sour cream or yogurt, olives for toppings. Cheese is expensive now, but grilled cheese sandwiches or a broiled "pizza" on an English muffin or bagel or Fr. bread--these are staples of our diet. Here's a great peanut butter recipe: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/open-face-apple-tahini-sandwich Many seeds and nuts, besides peanut butter, will add protein to cereal, snack mixes, baked goods, etc. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds, for example. Soaked nuts are more digestible than dry nuts and thus more nutritious, or so they say. Same with oatmeal--soaked oatmeal supposedly allows us to digest more of the nutrition. We did a smoothie challenge, and some of the recommended "super-food" add-ins were chia seeds, ground flax or flax oil, hemp seeds, coconut oil, bee pollen, spirulina, maca powder, Goji berries... I don't know which of these are high in protein or fat, because that's not what we were going for, so do some research and see if any fit your situation. Fattening him up: With my teenage girls, who tend to get busy and not eat enough at one meal to keep themselves healthy, snacks are essential. A snack before going to class, a snack after returning from class, a snack before work, etc. With my one teenage son, a midnight snack is his main meal. Whether he likes what he have for supper or not, he knows he can have a burrito, quesadilla, scrambled eggs with lots of cheese, pizza-English muffin, or something when he gets the kitchen all to himself. I also keep canned salmon and tuna around for him. Sorry this is long. I'm in the kitchen a lot, and we read food blogs, so this topic can spark a bunch of ideas. :)

Thanks for pointing out that there is another thread, Sebastian. Found it! I

I don't go to conventions, but I really, truly would like to see the foundation of a home education conference be education, not religion, and not religion-based recruiting for the "culture wars." Homeschool is not about taking back the culture, but about what's best for the children. If we teach them well, they will be able to discern what battles they need to fight in the future. My state, WI, does have an inclusive conference, sponsored by Wisconsin Parents Association, but I've never felt I could take the weekend and the $$ to travel 3-4 hours to attend. Maybe soon when I only have one child to teach, I can be more supportive.

Doug Phillips clarified some points about his resignation today at: http://www.visionforumministries.org/issues/news_and_reports/clarification_on_resignation.aspx Further comments have been posted here, http://homeschoolersanonymous.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/doug-phillips-clarifies-his-resignation-statement/, and also a warning: "If you know the identity of this girl, please do not post it anywhere on the Internet. She deserves her privacy, she’s absolutely the victim in all of this."

Yes, this. If your children are ever in a college choir, chances are they will sing lovely Latin Psalms and hymns (which aren't obviously catholic). I would love to be a classicist, but the main chance I get to use my high school Latin now is singing along to choral music on youtube. ;) Using LC and then Henle to teach my dc, fwiw. The references to Mary and all aren't bothersome to this very non-catholic family.

Has anyone mentioned that you can make the applesauce way ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze it until Thanksgiving Day?

This expresses so well why I know the patriarchy movement isn't right: You see, when it's all about.... Roles and rules instead of love and liberty The system instead of the Savior Following Pharisees instead of following Fairest Lord Jesus Controlling others instead of controlling yourself The earthly father instead of the Heavenly Father Silencing and shaming instead of giving voice to the victims Intimidation instead of inspiration Authoritarian dogma instead of authentic dignity ... then it's time to "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace." from http://watchtheshepherd.blogspot.com/2013/11/vision-forum-and-friends-turn-your-eyes.html

On casting stones... written by a former homeschool student.

I wonder how state homeschool leaders are responding to the Phillips story. Would it be too much to hope that many of them will come to their senses and not invite VF to future conventions to sell their wares?

Hi from the hilly southwest corner of Wisconsin! :hurray: I wasn't expecting a new format...

Ah, yes, I remember the news about the reality tv program SAT prompt. Well, I think I'll make sure he understands definitions of: curfew, tenure, textbooks ;) etc., and focus on the actual writing skills. He's competed in debate, so the skills of taking a stand and defending it are developed pretty well. Thanks for your input, ladies!

Yes, yes! Our 4th daughter is a freshman at Berea College, KY. Our bill for 2 semesters was around $2500, not counting books. Check out the Work Colleges Consortium web site for more schools: http://www.workcolleges.org/ Colleen

Hi! I haven't been around here very much, but our family has scaled back some of our out-of-the-home activities, so I am freed up for some good discussion forum encouragement! I have turned to this community many times in the past for curriculum advice. :) My son is preparing for the ACT (older sisters took the SAT), and I'm noticing that the sample essay prompts in study materials are all about issues in traditional schools. Has anyone else noticed this, or can you give me examples of ACT essay topics that your student has faced that support or refute my suspicion? I don't remember the sample SAT prompts having such a narrow focus... I won't type out the entire essay prompts. The subjects deal with: Should teenagers be required to maintain a "C" average in school before receiving a driver's license? Educators debate whether performing several tasks at the same time is too distracting when students are doing homework. Is it? Who is primarily responsible for students' success in school--teachers or students themselves? Some teachers support a policy that would require television channels to devote at least 20 percent of their programming to educational shows. Some high schools have considered creating separate classrooms for male and female students in subjects such as math and science. Should high schools require students to complete a certain number of hours of community service? Should high school be extended to five years? What do you think? Colleen

Hi! I've posted here some before, but not in this thread. I'm in southwest WI, Richland Center area, an hour north of Jean in Wisc, who has given me much help w/curricular choices over the years. :) We are into NCFCA speech and debate, so if you want to hear about that, email me! We have a club in the Hillsboro area... Colleen mom to Anna, 25; Beth, 23; Cara, 20; Dawn, 18; Evan, 16; Faith, 12

Hi Sabrina, We enrolled in Lightning Lit this year with the added-on option of emailing the essays to a Hewitt evaluator as they were completed, rather than waiting until the end of the quarter. The evaluator provides editing and feedback within 2 weeks. This isn't the same as having examples to follow, but it does give you another adult who is reading your student's work and giving ideas on how to improve. Our daughter is above average (I think) in writing, so the instructor hasn't given her a lot of feedback. Right now, the main thing she needs to improve on is getting the assignments finished in time! She'll be spending the summer catching up... In grace, Colleen M.