While it's not seen often, I don't think it's necessarily an outrageous or cult-ish issue. There are some faiths which hold to very strict Biblical standards, one of which is that the husband literally is the patriarch of the family. I'm LDS (Mormon) and in our Church it is very common before calling a married woman to a position to discuss it with the husband to be sure it will not conflict with their family or home issues. (There have been times I've really wished my husband would object to me being asked to do certain responsibilities, especially when it's something I abhor, such as being a scouting leader.) I don't see it as a permission thing as much as it is recognizing that the family is a unit and not to be interferred with. There really are women who overextend themselves and it's really not a bad thing to have the husband aware. I get tickled sometimes when I get mail from ABeka. I have always done ordering in my own name, but orders and mail always comes addressed to my husband. I'm guessing the ABeka folks are somewhat of the same mind. Linda

OK, this is what I knew. What I'm asking is can LL7 be appropriate to bring a 9th grader up to speed with literature studies? Although she has had "Literature" in the form of BJU literature, she has not had it in the format of LL. I think I'm answering my own question and just wanted "permission" to use it with her. I think I'm going with LL7 for this year and then to Late American next year.

I was in Walmart yesterday looking for our own items and was hysterical listening to others in the aisle. One mom was becoming frustrated that her school list required a 48pack of crayons and there were none to be seen. I found myself looking for them for her. Then another lady in the aisle was on her cell phone with a somewhat raised voice complaining that she had been to 3 stores already looking for certain colored pencils, and finally conceding that she would just have to take the red pencil out of a pack of pencils apparently to meet a need for colored pencils sans red pencils. My eyes just cross that the classroom teachers can dictate what materials the student must use. There's a whole aisle in Walmart with the schools' class lists of the supplies needed. Moms were going down the aisle with carts full of supplies. All I can think of is what a terrible expense. We got supplies too (at Staples, not Walmart), but only reasonable ones like glue, pencil leads, binders, etc. And they were the ones WE liked, not from a list. I SO could not parent public schooled kids now!

I'm in a quandary here. I've been somewhat slothful about teaching real writing to my kids (13 yo ds and 15 yo dd). I was impressed by Hewitt's Lightning Literature series so got the 7th grade level for my son (who will be in 7th grade this year) and the late American for dd (who will be in 9th grade). But now that I've gotten them and seriously viewed them, I'm not sure either of the kids is up to those levels. My dd loves to write stories (although from a technically uneducated perspective) so I can really see her benefiting from the 7th grade teaching. (I looked at the 8th grade level, but frankly I don't think the titles are very interesting.) The Late American level doesn't seem to teach the foundations (probably assuming the student has already had those) and I think might be way over her head. (It's over my head!) As for my son, the 7th grade level will probably be overwhelming to him. He will already be doing reading comprehension and vocabulary workbooks. I'm thinking now that my dd might probably benefit more from the 7th grade level, and hold off on that level for my son until next year. Then dd might be in better shape to do the Late American level next year. Any thoughts? Linda

I'm actually responding to several comments here. As to ABeka having created their algebra curriculum, I'm not certain that anyone has suggested that; if so I haven't seen that comment. I have said we liked it and that it worked for us. I would have to be a mathematician to be able to compare texts to see if some concepts were taught or not taught or perhaps taught differently. We found it to be more understandable and teacher friendly than Saxon. I found the edition we were using to be sufficient. We found the instruction to be sufficient; we found the solutions manual to be sufficient--I think it's really mandatory to have solutions manuals to see how the solution is worked. We worked from an older edition so I can't speak for the current edition, but there sure were more than enough practice problems. In fact, we had to do careful planning in order to get them all done. As for the Key To... series. it has been said on these boards that the Key To...algebra goes through quadratic equations, which (it was stated) is complete for an Algebra 1 course. My dd does not have plans to go into any careers that are likely to require any more advanced math. And if it turns out that her GED and SAT scores show that she needs remedial math, she can do that when and if she goes to college, just as my older son (who also struggled with math) did. It's not a big deal, it just delays their math track a semester or 2. We/she have/has had so much struggle and tears with math I am unwilling to continue such stress further if it's not necessary, and IMO, it simply is not that necessary. I cannot guarantee that Key to Algebra will work for anyone. I'm just stating an option that I think will work for us and might be considered by others with kids who struggle with math. Linda

"I don't think that being sick gives you the right to steal someone else's money. It certainly gives you the right to approach people and organizations for help. I'm not seeing how taking money from person A to give to person B is "civilized."" What do you think insurance does? Everybody pays in and those that need medical care can then draw from the "pot". You have some people that pay into insurance plans for years and never need to use it. There are others that use the insurance for medical care well in excess of what they have ever paid in. Some with this insurance run to the Dr. for every little thing because their insurance will pay for it. I don't see a real difference. Yes, I know--government control. But I'm not convinced that government control would be any worse than hundreds of insurance companies with their own varying standards as to what they will pay for, or where you get treated.

Jana said: "My dh actually ASKED me to make him a list. He told me that men like to conquer things and a list was better for him than to have me asking him over and over or having to remember what I wanted done. I have always made the argument that I don't need a "list" to remember my household responsibilities - I just know what they are and do them. " I was alternately laughing and griping about this thread. It sounds like most husbands are like this. I've been aggravated at dh for 27 years. He will without complaint do pretty much anything I ask, if I insist on it right now. But if I don't ask, it's not going to get done, unless I do it myself. And dh is quite happy for me to do it. But Jana's post made me think. My dh is head of maintenance at a college apartment complex. He doesn't do jobs because he suddenly thinks of them or because a student catches him on the fly and asks him to do something. Instead, the office makes up a little sheet describing the job to be done which goes on a spindle, so when he's finished one job, he goes and gets another. He can see what has to be done, perhaps some can be done simultaneously, etc. I'm thinking that might be a system that works for us. That way I've passed on the "assignment", it's the spindle there that is "nagging" and will remain there "nagging" until he does it. I've got lightbulbs inside and outside that need replacing, and I know he knows it. These are things he has to do as they are high up and require stepladders, and I no longer am able to do stepladders for fear of falling. Now I'm getting very excited! Linda

My son always struggled with math. We had used Saxon for a few years before Algebra so we just continued on. It was a disaster. Saxon Algebra, while it may be great for some students who "get" math, is not for the struggling student. I found that in the teaching examples, Saxon often left out showing assumed steps, so it was incomprehensible to the struggling student. When I found that it would take me 1/2 an hour just identifying those assumed steps in one problem, I realized that we had to change. I found that ABeka algebra was much more user-friendly, although he still had difficulties with the math. My dd struggles as well, but I've decided to use the Key to Algebra for her. I wish I had with my son. Linda

IMO, denial of payment IS denial of treatment. If one is financially very well off, yes, they can opt to pay themselves. But if one is already paying for insurance (which in itself if outrageously expensive), one is assuming that medical expenses will be paid. Have you checked out how expensive medical care is now? Until last May, I hadn't. About 10 years ago I spent several hours in the ER with a passing kidney stone. It cost about $1000 for a 4 hour stay. I figured "well, ok, that's not too bad." Well, in May, dh had a bowel resection due to cancer. He has insurance on himself through his employer. Thank goodness! That 7 day stay (hospital only, not counting the various doctors' fees) cost $20,000. All told, it probably came close to $30,000. That is not something that most people can "opt" to pay. I do not have medical coverage, although I hope to get on his insurance the next time they have open enrollment. It will cost an arm and a leg, and will be struggle to pay the premiums, but after his experience, I realize that we will not be able to afford medical care for me if I need it, and odds are I will need something. Right now, if I needed the care he had, and said up front that I had no insurance, most likely I wouldn't get it. Dh and I are at odds with this. He always listens to Limbaugh, Beck and Ingram who always spout off against government health care. Notice they all could pay their entire medical bill even without insurance. It's easy to take that position if you can afford it. They don't seem to understand that there are millions of Americans that can't possibly afford $500 a month in medical insurance premiums, much less to pay the entire medical bill. Of course, dh does have medical insurance partially paid by his employer, and at the time of his surgery had just qualified (by age) for Medicare, so his perspective is also skewed. I'm in constant pain and feel crappy and can't afford to go the Dr, because when I finally get on his insurance (if I do) I don't want to be denied payment because of pre-existing conditions, so I just grit my teeth and drag myself through the day. It sucks not to be able to get help.

I have 8 cats. One is an indoor/outdoor cat (he showed up on our doorstep and was already an outdoor guy, so he insists on the dual life). The outdoor cat especially is a great hunter--outdoors. The indoor cats can and have on occasion played with and killed (probably by too vigorous play!) the occasional mouse. But the last couple of years we've periodically had mouse problems. Don't know why. But I do know that a cat in itself won't guarantee freedom from mice. And keeping one only in the basement will not keep mice out of your house as they will just stay out of reach of the cat. I think you will just end up with another issue in your home--allergies, litter, and a very unhappy cat. It does sound kind of mean to imprison the cat in the basement with little interaction with the family and probably not even windows to look out. Linda

When the series premiered, Shatner's role was as Kirk becoming the Captain of the Enterprise. Obviously he did not graduate from the Academy right into the captaincy. There were a number of intervening years in lower ranking positions on other starships. His age at the time (36) probably would not have been far off a "normal" age for a Starfleet Captain. Linda

At this point I can only answer "probably" for my son, unless I happen across something which seems better over the next 2 years. I found ABeka to be quite friendly for us. This is the first version, so may have been changed a lot in the last several editions. HOWEVER, since my son does seem to like the Saxon format, I may look into using the other resources available to supplement the Saxon book. Any current opinions about the DIVE CD's? Linda

I'm a confirmed fan of the original Start Trek series. I don't know how I'll feel about this new version. However, keep in mind that the cast of the original series did not have wrinkles, beer bellies and gray hair. We just grew old(er) with them. As I understand it, this new Star Trek is supposed to take place before the time setting of the original series, so they would be the age of Barbie & Ken. Linda

Your experience is similar to ours. We also switched from ABeka to TT Pre Algebra and we are so ready to be done with it. No TT ever again for us! I really liked ABeka Algebra for my son who was very math challenged. We found the explanations very understandable (unlike Saxon 1 which made us crazy).

Unfortunately this doesn't work in all places. My son and his fellow employees are constantly reminded that in Idaho, where we are, they can be fired without notice or excuse. In these days of unemployment, you don't rock the boat. Complaints to corporate would have no effect either, as they'd just get back to the local bosses. And our local bosses really don't care if you complain. I'm still trying to figure out how to truly anonymously make my own complaint to the corporate offices. Linda