Barry Goldwater Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 It's probably because I've been in bed sick for four days, but now I am envisioning a WTM fight club. Sidebar, but your comment reminded me of this little diddy...I'm sure it's been here before...Jane Austen's Fight Club... :001_smile: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Sidebar, but your comment reminded me of this little diddy...I'm sure it's been here before...Jane Austen's Fight Club... :001_smile: I love that clip. Although today I think all the Austenites are fighting over Mr. Colin Firth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Yes, please!!! I'm sure my dh (chemistry instructor) would be willing to do a workshop on his subject. How incredibly grateful I would be for that too since we are doing high school chemistry next year and I'm going nuts trying to pick a curriculum. This is exactly the kind of thing that is desperately needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 How incredibly grateful I would be for that too since we are doing high school chemistry next year and I'm going nuts trying to pick a curriculum. This is exactly the kind of thing that is desperately needed. He's teaching dual credit right now, so I'm sure he'd be willing! I might be able to talk. :) I'm afraid I'm knowledgeable about many subjects but expert in none, myself. I'd be willing to talk about adult self-education, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 So, really people, I think I would be able to swing something like this. I'm in Florida, but I've been scheming to do a cross country road trip with ds for a while. Can somebody set up a poll to vote on locations? A serious one where people vote for a location they would really be willing and able to travel to for HS Festivus? (I would but I have yet to figure out how to make a poll. :blushing:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Never mind. I just saw the poll! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 (edited) Ok, so let me see if I've got this right.....We will be meeting somewhere west of the Mississippi and in between getting "glitter toe" pedicures, braiding each other's hair, eating obscene amounts of really good chocolate and imbibing on suspect home-brewed beverages, we will have an airing of the grievances on the last year's posts, compete in feats of strength, tie-dye some groovy t-shirts.....oh, and have Susan give us a workshop or two on how to teach our kids to write. :lol: :lol: I am SOOOO there! This will be the best homeschool convention since the inception of homeschool conventions. That it will also be the most legendary goes without saying. ;) Edited February 28, 2011 by DianeW88 Sigh...spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I will preface by saying that I haven't read through the entire thread. I remember *loving* our homeschool convention 10 years ago. Although, over the past 5 years, I've really started to become frustrated with it. It is very difficult for new vendors to get into... and many of the featured speakers I have no interest in hearing. In some ways, it seems "taken over" by a certain bent... and I had been just going for the floor sales. I've become increasingly frustrated with what was being offered at our local convention in Richmond. So, we're going to make the trek to PA instead. I may still head to Richmond for the used curriculum sale, to see what I might be able to pick up... otherwise, it's off to PA for my family! I would like to talk to MCT, and look at some different things for once! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Ok, so let me see if I've got this right.....We will be meeting somewhere west of the Mississippi and in between getting "glitter toe" pedicures, braiding each other's hair, eating obscene amounts of really good chocolate and imbibing on suspect home-brewed beverages, we will have an airing of the grievances on the last year's posts, compete in feats of strength, tie-dye some groovy t-shirts.....oh, and have Susan give us a workshop or two on how to teach our kids to write. :lol: :lol: I am SOOOO there! This will be the best homeschool convention since the inception of homeschool conventions. That is will also be the most legendary goes without saying. ;) We might need to throw in a rule for no picture photography. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemMommy Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I think the MACHE conference is much better than what people here are sharing. They certainly have their parenting/marriage type workshops that I tend to avoid, but they have also had some marvelous academic workshops over the years that have been well worth attending. I'd also say women in pants is more the norm than the oddity there. If you like to shop used books-they have a lot of hsers selling used stuff. Usually come across some good/great finds. I think there are some great workshops there this year I'd love to hear, but alas, it's almost 6 hours away and too much money. After YEARS of attending the ND conference, that's the one that had the keynote address on the virtues of arranged marriages, MACHE was a breath of fresh air!! I wore pants and fit in. LOTS of talks, some fluffy, some academic, some Christian, some vendor talks, huge vendor hall....it was wonderful. But I'm at least 5.5 hours from Duluth. I could double what I'd spend on Duluth and head to Cincy. That's the one I want!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I agree and we are Christian. However, I need to see high school curriculum and be told how to actually use the darn stuff in our home! What does my dd NEED before college? I only go as a vendor now, and won't be going to any workshops ever again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momzilla333 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Ok, so let me see if I've got this right.....We will be meeting somewhere west of the Mississippi and in between getting "glitter toe" pedicures, braiding each other's hair, eating obscene amounts of really good chocolate and imbibing on suspect home-brewed beverages, we will have an airing of the grievances on the last year's posts, compete in feats of strength, tie-dye some groovy t-shirts.....oh, and have Susan give us a workshop or two on how to teach our kids to write. :lol: :lol: I am SOOOO there! This will be the best homeschool convention since the inception of homeschool conventions. That is will also be the most legendary goes without saying. ;) This sounds utterly perfect! Please count me in. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer3141 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 This sounds utterly perfect! Please count me in. :D :iagree: THAT is a HS convention I might even cross that earthquake faultline to attend. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 You are all missing the obvious solution here. Regional Festivus Conferences! I know that Susan doesn't want to be away from her family too much but over the next couple of years she could convert over to primarily the Festivus circuit and it can all equal out. So I am thinking..... Portland Austin Denver or Reno to start and after that expanding East (since they already have some access to conventions that include SWB) This could work. A more casual conference, classical, academic. The only problem will be that once word gets out we will have to beat people back with a stick! No doubt!! Were we not just talking about this? There are others I wouldn't mind having, but none who can talk so neutrally so that all could enjoy. :) Maybe, SWB should give HS Speakers conferences on "How to not offend" :) She seems to do well with just talking about Homeschooling :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 No doubt!! Were we not just talking about this? There are others I wouldn't mind having, but none who can talk so neutrally so that all could enjoy. :) Maybe, SWB should give HS Speakers conferences on "How to not offend" :) She seems to do well with just talking about Homeschooling :) Really I'm not that easy to offend. There was only one aspect I mentioned in my op that offends me. The rest did not offend even though I don't agree with it. My point was not one of offense. It was one of frustration that a home schooling convention had little to nothing to do with providing an actual academic education whatsoever. So if we could table the feel good rhetoric and actually discuss the work at hand in the job of providing an education to our kids, I'd be mighty happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choirfarm Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Hey the Arlington Home School Book Fair looks good? It has some of the iffy stuff, but it also looks like a good mix of vendors and speakers topics? http://www.homeschoolbookfair.org/index.html But it is just four weeks before my due date. That is likely cutting it a bit close for a weekend drive out of state. Figures. :( No!! No!!! It is a great place to go to see curriculum, but not to hear speakers. This is where I heard the vaccination speech. Christine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 No!! No!!! It is a great place to go to see curriculum, but not to hear speakers. This is where I heard the vaccination speech. Christine Well crap. What the heck does vaccinations have to do with schooling?:001_huh: Ug. And I don't vaccinate normally, so, again, it's not even about whether I agree with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Could someone tell me which chemistry I should order for 10th grade so I will quit considering a conference this summer??:) Friendly Chemistry. http://www.friendlychemistry.com So apparently one could listen to Pudewa all day long. There was also a keynote address by Pudewa, a session for new homeschoolers (:D), a break for confession, and anticipatory mass (which is standing room only on an ordinary Saturday as it is :glare:). It looks like the fee was only $25. Hmmmm.... Yes, he is well worth listening to all day long. How about Chicago? Does southwest fly there? Or was SWB thinking further west..... I can coordinate if we are thinking Chicago. OH OH OH! Then we could invite the "honorable" Senator Maloney and educate him into submission. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 No doubt!! Were we not just talking about this? There are others I wouldn't mind having, but none who can talk so neutrally so that all could enjoy. :) Maybe, SWB should give HS Speakers conferences on "How to not offend" :) She seems to do well with just talking about Homeschooling :) I appreciate SWB's talks and own several of her mp3's. However, because you and I choose not to be offended by anything she says does not mean everyone else reacts that way. I'm sure someone, somewhere has taken offense at something she has said. The only advice that can be given to speakers so no one is offended is "shut up and stay home." The problem with that advice is neither you or I nor any other offended party here constitutes the whole homeschooling population and I, at least, recognize that although some speakers are not going to help me or my family, that doesn't mean they are not benefitting someone else. Someone else posted listening to certain speakers made her physically sick. Listening to someone who is so neutral that everyone enjoyed them~well, I think that's impossible, but I suspect that would make me physically sick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 How I long for a home school convention sans the propaganda and actually about *gasp* academics. I think purity rings are somewhere between stupid and creepy. Neither Rob nor I have any desire for me to be a meek and quiet wife. (Thank goodness! LOL) I think real boyhood is more than learning to be a good provider. I think Hank the Cowdog should be put down -seriously that dog is horribly behaved! And hearing a couple expound on their research into how effective home schooling is, is not particularly helpful in practical applications. Though I'm sure it is temporarily inspiring to hear that if we just relax and leave the kids to their own devices and raise them to be Godly - that everything else will fall into place. And if it doesn't, well at least they aren't having sex at the public school. What I wouldn't give for actual academic discussion of options and how to apply them in our homes. All the rhetoric about how to raise our sons to be manly providers and our daughters to be pure is not very helpful when it comes to teaching actual religion, algebra, dissections, or how to write a coherent 5 paragraph essay with end notes and bibliography. It perpetuates a stereotype that most home schoolers don't fit (IME) or want to fit and excuses poor education in the name of being a better Christian, which I personally find insulting. I probably shouldn't hit post. Feel free to ignore. I will go to the convention tho I won't attend a single speaker. I just want the free shipping and instant gratification of my vendor purchases.;) :001_huh: I had NO idea!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegularMom Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I might go, too. Valley Forge Convention Center is only 45 minutes away for me by car. I've had my eye on attending this thing for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Well, I think it's like anything else. You take what you can use and leave the rest. I can go to the organization talk and skip the teaching history from a Biblical perspective talk. I think the larger conferences have something for everyone. I got a lot from Andrew Pudewa even though I disagree with him politically (and he insists on making a lot of political commentary, people should be warned) and I disagree with him on the grammar issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leav97 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I want it... I'll come if you can provide an area for my sleeping bag and me :) I would bring... hmmm... I'm eating organic, healthy, no sugar food.... What could I bring??? Chicken pot pie with homemade crust :) Must have recipe. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In2why Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 (edited) Never mind.....back to thinking about Fesitvus. Edited February 28, 2011 by In2why So that I don't derail the thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarfoot Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I can go anywhere. We're planning to go to Colonial Williamsburg in Sept., and I'll plan that around the Festivus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWOB Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Absolutely!:D We might even do wine making too! You are speaking my language! I'd go anywhere for a convention on hard-core homeschooling/wine making. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmy Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 OH OH OH! Then we could invite the "honorable" Senator Maloney and educate him into submission. :D LOL! Funny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 We might need to throw in a rule for no picture photography. ;) What happens at the Homeschool Festivus stays at the Homeschool Festivus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMary2 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 How I long for a home school convention sans the propaganda and actually about *gasp* academics. I think purity rings are somewhere between stupid and creepy. Neither Rob nor I have any desire for me to be a meek and quiet wife. (Thank goodness! LOL) I think real boyhood is more than learning to be a good provider. I think Hank the Cowdog should be put down -seriously that dog is horribly behaved! And hearing a couple expound on their research into how effective home schooling is, is not particularly helpful in practical applications. Though I'm sure it is temporarily inspiring to hear that if we just relax and leave the kids to their own devices and raise them to be Godly - that everything else will fall into place. And if it doesn't, well at least they aren't having sex at the public school. What I wouldn't give for actual academic discussion of options and how to apply them in our homes. All the rhetoric about how to raise our sons to be manly providers and our daughters to be pure is not very helpful when it comes to teaching actual religion, algebra, dissections, or how to write a coherent 5 paragraph essay with end notes and bibliography. It perpetuates a stereotype that most home schoolers don't fit (IME) or want to fit and excuses poor education in the name of being a better Christian, which I personally find insulting. I probably shouldn't hit post. Feel free to ignore. I will go to the convention tho I won't attend a single speaker. I just want the free shipping and instant gratification of my vendor purchases.;) Thank you. I am a Christian. I actually would like more practical advice on teaching my children. I do want to raise Godly children, I want them waiting until marriage for sex (although I suspect that it's too late for my oldest ds - but what can I do?) and I don't want them doing drugs. Homeschooling isn't going to be the deciding factor for my kids, on those issues. I know now that homeschooling doesn't shelter kids from these aspects of life. I don't want to spend money on a conference and be part of the choir that is being preached to. I want practical advice and teaching tips. I want to hear what works for people and what doesn't. I want to hear about learnin styles and how others do their lesson plans etc. I have heard other Christians say that if we focus too much on the academics that we will raise really smart heathens. Ramming scripture down their throat could also mean I raise really ignorant heathens since there are no guarantees. I'd rather them be very academically inclined and able to logically think and make decisions for themselves. Of course I want them to choose Christ, and I think educating them, praying for them and leading by example is the surest way they will do so. JMO of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Thank you. I am a Christian. I actually would like more practical advice on teaching my children. I do want to raise Godly children, I want them waiting until marriage for sex (although I suspect that it's too late for my oldest ds - but what can I do?) and I don't want them doing drugs. Homeschooling isn't going to be the deciding factor for my kids, on those issues. I know now that homeschooling doesn't shelter kids from these aspects of life. I don't want to spend money on a conference and be part of the choir that is being preached to. I want practical advice and teaching tips. I want to hear what works for people and what doesn't. I want to hear about learnin styles and how others do their lesson plans etc. I have heard other Christians say that if we focus too much on the academics that we will raise really smart heathens. Ramming scripture down their throat could also mean I raise really ignorant heathens since there are no guarantees. I'd rather them be very academically inclined and able to logically think and make decisions for themselves. Of course I want them to choose Christ, and I think educating them, praying for them and leading by example is the surest way they will do so. JMO of course. I agree. I get tired of the "churchy" stuff that's offered at conventions. I get my "churchy" stuff at church. This year, the conference I'm hoping to go to actually has workshops on teaching algebra, essay writing for the SAT, and other academic issues. I'm so glad. The last thing I want to spend money on is workshops on "family singing" or "family journaling". I don't mind practical workshops on organization or time management, though. But parenting, discipleship, family worship, etc, are topics I skip over. Most of the time, the world-views of the presenters of these topics are pretty far removed from my own world-view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy loves Bud Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Quit saying bad things about hank the cowdog! ETA: I typed that out in all caps because I was yelling at y'all. The board changed it. I'm taking to my bed now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paisley Hedgehog Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 ... I think purity rings are somewhere between stupid and creepy... Neither Rob nor I have any desire for me to be a meek and quiet wife. ...I think real boyhood is more than learning to be a good provider. ... It perpetuates a stereotype that most home schoolers don't fit (IME) or want to fit and excuses poor education in the name of being a better Christian, which I personally find insulting. :hurray: :lol: :iagree: I just have to say YES, YES, YES before this thread gets locked. I attended our state convention a few years ago and your comments about sum it up. Never. Again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowperch Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I'm still reeling over someone's description of a convention keynote speaker who spoke--approvingly, in a how-to context--about corporal punishment. I think I would cry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowperch Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 On a lighter note, my dear friend's BIL is Tim Hawkins. He and his family are Festivus kinds of people, and they come to RI every summer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LidiyaDawn Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Okay so most of the stuff that's being slammed in this thread is stuff that I would love to attend - I'd love to hear the Maxwells or the Duggars speak :D - but I see some people here looking for other things and another thread that seems to indicate there might be something happening, so I hope that you guys can create what you want. I think that's probably the best option - creating what you'd like to have, rather than wanting what exists already (and is welcomed by many) to change. Go, make it happen. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Rather than continuing this thread, weigh in on locations here: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249563 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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