Morning Thoughts...

I’ve been reading some forums in the last few days in which the participants are discussing this new California law, and for some reason I can’t stop thinking about it.

I think of myself as very tolerant about everything in life.

But maybe I’m not?

I have my own set of values, standards, beliefs, opinions. People I know have their own, and people I don’t know have their own. Whatever anyone wants to live by is fine by me. As long as we don’t step on each other’s toes regarding our values and beliefs, we’re fine, right?

Well, apparently not. There are some people who believe that their values and beliefs should be made into law so that everyone – regardless of their values and beliefs – have to abide by the values and beliefs of others, even if those values and beliefs are not their own, or even AGAINST their own values and beliefs.

This just irks me.

I’m trying to understand here. BUT – these people (the gays) are claiming “equality”. I see the “equality” issue, but I don’t see the equality issue for what I see as an abomination.

There were people quoting the Bible, even! The Bible talks about homosexuality?? I didn’t know that! **run to get all my versions of the Bible** I looked up all the citations, did research on the net. Now, this REALLY has got my interest up!

One of the most popular quotes from the Bible for Christians is about Sodom and Gomorrah (Lev 20:13). There are many quotes from the Christian side condemning homosexuality, though. Okay, I figure those can be easily found.

But what about the gay side? What about their quotes? It seems that the two books of Samuel are quoted quite frequently.

2Sam 1:26 (this one was especially quoted)
1Sam 20:30

The story of these books talks about King Saul and David’s rise to becoming king. Saul has a son named Jonathan who makes an oath to protect David from the wrath of his father.

Okay, on to the gay agenda. The gays say that Jonathan and David had a homosexual relationship.

In reading ALL the versions and footnotes in ALL my Bibles, ONLY the NIV has anything that even REMOTELY could be interpreted as homosexual between the two. AND, that has to be taken out of context of the story to be interpreted as such.

In looking at all the other Biblical citations, I find basically the same thing. The gays’ citations are all taken out of context of the story in which they were written.

Now – and this is the most important thing I discovered in looking up the quotes –
the thing that I saw that surprised me the most was the “attitude” that the gays have in interpreting Bible quotes. It gave me an “inside” look into gay attitude, you might say.

It’s ALL sexual.

Now, I don’t live my life with sex continually on my mind. I’m sure if I did I would see SO MANY things that I would consider sexual in nature. I found this very interesting, and an eye-opener for me about gays. ‘Course, I never thought much about gays before, either. So my new-found revelation is that gays think about sex a lot.

ALL of the Biblical quotes I found supporting homosexuals were interpreted from a sexual point of view. And with the quotes basically being out of context, I found the interpretations to be very perverted.

Whether or not being gay is a choice or not, is now beside the point for me. It is obvious that by trying to use the Bible as a defense for being gay is still trying to assuage any guilt or negative feelings about being gay. And whether that’s from within our current cultural context or not, I don’t know; could be. But the point is that there are many gays who are TRYING to using the Bible to defend themselves about it being okay to be gay.

And it doesn’t work.

On the matter about whether being gay is a “choice” or not: I’ve been thinking. You know how plastics (for one) put estrogens into the atmosphere? Our skin is like a sponge, soaking up everything. There are frogs, or something like that, that now have both sexes in them. Then there are the studies where it’s shown that men today don’t have as many sperm as previous generations have had (“you’re only half the man your grandfather was!”). I’m wondering, maybe being gay ISN’T a choice any more? Maybe some people’s hormones really are now so changed because of our environment, thus producing more people who are confused about their sex? Just a thought...

Homeschooling Thoughts...

I've been sitting here doing some thinking and reminiscing about homeschooling. For those of you who started homeschooling right from the beginning, I think you’re really lucky, because you don’t have to try to throw off or deprogram that public school mindset! Grrrr...

It’s nearly summer, and here I am going through the SAME THING again this spring... which is, my son has that old public school mindset of time: summer=no school. Granted, I plan on cutting back for the summer months because of other activities and travel, but I DO want him to continue to do reading, writing and math whenever possible. That’s not so much to ask for, I don’t think. Outside of reading (which I require 2 hours), the math and writing should only take an hour tops.

So here I am starting to butt heads with my public school mindset son – again. Frustrating!

I'm finding that *I* have lost a lot of the public school mindset (FINALLY!) of trying to echo public school. If all anyone knows is the public school (or private, for that matter, which basically mirrors the public schools), then one has no knowledge of any other way to educate, unless he digs in and does tons of research. It’s REALLY HARD to lose that mindset (for us, anyway!). Does that make sense?

And why, you might ask, would I want to lose that mindset? Public schooling is GREAT! Or is it?

Well, for one thing, education or learning doesn't take place just between certain set hours of a day and certain days of a week. Learning goes on 24/7.

And because I don't see any "education" going on in our schools! After almost three years of continual researching "how to educate", I'm pretty well convinced that there is no real education going on in our public schools. I want to EDUCATE my son, not just have him learn some fleeting basics to get by (or to learn to pass a test). I want him to KNOW EVERYTHING! LOL! Well, of course he can't know EVERYthing, but I want him to have a great foundation for life.

I don't feel textbooks are good; in fact, I believe they're horrible! Especially history textbooks. Why do the kids have textbooks, anyway? Why aren't they reading (or being read to) the ACTUAL documents of history? Or biographies or historical novels (getting a feel for people, places and things of a time period)?

Workbooks -- oh, my! Fill-in-the-blank and that's how you learn? With the exception of grammar, I just can't see learning how to read, write, and grasp concepts of history or science. It's almost like busy-work -- no real substantive learning. The kids MIGHT grasp snippets of info, but absolutely nothing in depth.

And then there's the "politically correct" garbage. "Multiculturalism" for a big one. I can't remember all the others I was shocked at seeing, but a lot of the school day is spent on pc stuff. Oh, yeah -- "stranger danger", drugs, weapons, "lock down", feelings, racism (how NOT to be, therefore teaching it), etc.

Here’s another thought I’m seeing by me losing that mindset:

I feel like the people involved in public school are really pretty uneducated and very narrowly set in their ways when it comes to *real* education – and missing SO MUCH! True, I know several people who currently teach in the public school system (my brother for one) who feel the same as I do -- EXCEPT they are so entrenched in the “system” that they just can’t see beyond it to help themselves in their goals as teachers. (Actually, I’m not so sure that they could do anything about it even if they could see beyond the “system”.) Sad, because they’re great teachers. And because of the way they were taught to BE a teacher, unless they remove themselves from what they were taught, they just can't see WHAT they were taught, therefore continuing the cylce of "schooling" and not "educating". My brother has some great ideas, complains about the system, but just can't completely see outside the system to truly teach like he wants to. Does that make sense? It's hard for me to try to explain.

The other day, I saw more of public school “education” with my son’s friends (one in a supposedly excellent private school). I stood looking in disbelief. It was like my son’s education was “serious” and his friends’ were frivolous busyness – very little substance, you might say.

Does anyone else feel this way? Or is this just a stage I’m going through? I just have such a different perception of education now. And I mean “education”, not “schooling”. I see the two as so different now!

I rarely look to see what the public schools are doing any more (I used to for reference -- is he doing "enough"?), and now go by my “gut instinct” and by Derek’s lead in his interests. I’ve always had an idea of what “education” SHOULD be, and have stuck with it, with GREAT results so far. And I’m finding I’m not alone in my instincts – in fact, I’m being validated all over the place in things I read and hear, both in books, online and in person. Which gives me confidence to dump that public school mindset.

Here's one example of what I'm talking about:

Kids "in school" are told to read 20 minutes or so a day. Do they? Probably not. I know there are some parents that have their kid read a bit now and then, but not on a regular basis. And there MUST be some parents somewhere who DO have their kids read all the time. But I'll bet not from any of the classics! And has anyone looked at all the new books put out for kids? They are so hyped up with politcally correct garbage! My favorite that comes to mind are the Junie B books. Horrible! Well, the one I read had kind of a cute story, but the grammar! Oh, my! Slang for kids to read in second grade! How in the world are kids -- still learning to read, still learning grammar, still learning to write -- going to "get it" if the books they read don't set a good example? And as for vocabulary -- forget it! There were no new words to look up or learn in my opinion. Just basic every-day words.

Derek (my son) complained last year about the kids in his Sunday School class. He said they could barely read. I talked with some of the parents after his class (not about that, just in general about where the kids went to school, grades, etc.), and most of the kids in his class were top students. Wow.

And what does Derek read that makes him better than his peers? Old classics. I don't mean rewritten, edited or abridged, I mean the original books. Let me tell you, the old books are gems! The sentence structure plus the vocabulary are HARD (even for me)! And he's reading them just fine. And his verbal and written communication is impressive, too -- complex sentences for his age and a pretty good vocabulary. I attribute it all to his reading. I doubt that ANY of his friends could read the books he read even two years ago! Yes, they're that hard compared to what his friends can read. But then the reading that his friends are limited to are a few paragraphs out of a textbook -- MAYBE a "chapter" book along the simple lines of Junie B. (where did that new buzz phrase come from, anyway? "Chapter book", good grief! Except for picture books for the non- or very beginning reader, aren't ALL books "chapter" books?). I'm sure there are some new good books out there for kids, but I just haven't found any -- nor have I looked for any lately.

Yet, all of these classic books were required reading decades ago -- maybe 100 years ago. Why aren't kids reading them any more? These old books that everyone used to have to read, tells where mankind has been, where we've come, and can maybe tell us where we're going. Also, MUCH higher morals!! How can a child, once an adult, have an intelligent conversation? Will any of our kids be able to quote or talk about some of the great writers and thinkers throughout history when they grow up? Will they be able to THINK about ideas, or apply great ideas or ways to solve life's problems to their every-day lives? I doubt it.

I have a feeling we're producing a very in-the-moment, immediate gratification, shallow feeling generation of people, who have no idea where humanity has been or why -- and who doesn't care. It's scary.

Derek just turned 12. He's reading Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Conan Doyle this week. And loving it!

California Goes Berserk! Part 2

The third California law that changed has to do with homeschooling. So that's why a separate entry in this blog.

A couple of months ago, a Los Angeles appellate judge handed down his opinion in a case against a homeschooling family. Although not the best family to represent homeschoolers (apparently the family has its problems), the judge, ALSO handed down his opinion about homeschooling.

Which, in effect, changed the way homeschooling is done is California.

Now, technically, there is no such thing as homeschooling in California. There are several ways a parent can school their child(ren) at home, and the most popular way is for a parent to sign up as a private school. Another popular way is to be under an "umbrella school", which is basically being enrolled in a private school, but the children do the school work at home under the supervision of their parents. The latter is what this homeschooling family was doing.

This judge basically said that any parent who is schooling their child at home has to have a teaching credential. So the homeschoolers in California (and across the nation) are now upset -- with many being in a panic.

The national homeschool organization Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) got involved in this case after thoroughly looking at it. Several California homeschool organizations also did the same. Now all of them are working together to depublish the case so that California homeschoolers can continue as they were.

You can read about this on HSLDA's web site here: http://hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=4831

Now, this has really unsettled me -- this and that new law that Schwarzenegger just recently signed into law about *having* to teach alternative lifestyles equally with mom/dad/marriage/heterosexual (or face hefty fines and/or jail time!) in the public schools. This was one of the major issues the judge had in this case, that the family was ONLY teaching Christian values. After all the investment (time and money and emotional committment) I’ve now put into homeschooling, and feeling safe and secure in doing so, I feel like I’m back in the ‘70s again with this ruling. I think I'm going to see about getting a teaching credential just to be on the safe side in case this has repercussions across the states. There are so many people out there anyway who would like to see homeschooling outlawed again across the nation, and many of them are very verbal and antagonistic. This ruling only gives them fuel for their fire.

Add to that, there are people in California pushing for an "anti-spanking" law. Sweden has one, I understand, but their culture is a bit different than ours, and I think that it's not working great there, either. Anyway, the bill in California was introduced last year. I just did some research on that spanking law because I didn't remember if it was ever passed. That spanking law was rejected. But apparently just having it introduced has caused some social workers and people to try and enforce it! There are laws on the books in California, but it's for actual beating and abuse -- and they've been there a long time.

Now this is what worries me: the mindset of people, especially social workers. By having the judge overturn homeschooling in California, and also by having that anti-spanking law introduced, there will be people who remember these NOT as being introduced or over overturned, but as being actual law.

A friend told me, "A friend was turned in over the spanking issue, and the social worker said an open hand to the rear was the only legal way." See, this is the perfect example of someone incorporating an introduced -- but controversial -- bill into their thinking (although erroneously) and believing that it passed. That bill stated that even an open-hand swat would be illegal (to kids under 3 or 4). There's nothing actually on the books about "open-hand" at all that I found.

From the chatter on the internet of people, parents and attorneys, it seems the general consensus is that as of that ruling, even though from a lower court, parents having their kids schooled at home is now illegal in California unless the parent is a certified teacher -- even though the ruling is being appealed. In other words, anyone schooling their kids at home, even under an umbrella school with certified teachers, can now find themselves in trouble – unless at least one of the parents holds a teaching credential. Just as with that spanking bill, I can now see social workers going after homeschoolers to see if the parents are credentialed teachers -- even if the ruling is overturned at the State Supreme Court level. A very dangerous atmosphere for homeschoolers in California has now been created in my opinion!

Upon hearing the judge's opinion, the governor of California came out publicly and said, Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education. This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts and if the courts don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will.

BRAVO FOR ARNOLD! Sometimes he does surprise me... especially his wording about protecting parents' rights. 'Course, then he'll do something really stupid, like signing that "alternative lifestyles" bill... Hmmmm... just got to thinking... for the governor to take a public stand on this, will that affect the case? You know, undue influence or something? Is this a trial with a jury? Not sure how this works...

Okay, here's another tidbit about the schools in California:

Did you hear that Arnold cut $40 BILLION from the education budget??? My sister-in-law, who is director of the music program for the Capistrano School District, has just lost her job. She was very optimistic, though, saying they would assign her as a principal at a school -- and you know what? She was right! Hallaluja! But it does make me wonder who DID have to go... Music, can you believe that?

Here in New Mexico we're just plodding along... whew! But with California being a huge state, this could mean repercussions across the nation for all of us homeschoolers. So we need to be hyper-alert about anything going on in our own legislatures.

California Goes Berserk! Part 1

Have you heard what's going on in California? I tell ya, sometimes I think that state has gone completely berserk!

Just since the beginning of the year three major laws have come into effect. Two of them have to do with gays.

First, let me give you my stance about gays (or whatever they want to be called) before any of you go flaming me. I could care less about whether a person is gay or not. I have gay friends. People who are gay have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I especially like gay men -- they can be like a girl's best friend!

Okay, and what I'm about to say has nothing to do with whether I like gays or not. I'm trying to be clear here. It's about the laws just passed; it just so happens that two of them deal with gays.

Another "first of all" -- this country is passing waaaay to many laws restricting our freedoms -- taking personal things and turning them into law. My opinion, of course. And there are, of course, enough people to argue that these "personal" laws are for the good of the many, or argue how these personal laws are valid as laws.

And many of these "personal" laws I actually agree with. But that doesn't make me believe they should be LAWS. I always bring up the seat belt law as my example. Yes, I believe we should wear them, but should it be a LAW? Heck no!

Okay, on to the new California laws. I do feel that anyone in a "domestic partnership" should be allowed whatever they want or need -- just as any family. It's a "household". I don't care if they're gay or otherwise. BUT, I don't think there should be a LAW about this. I think this needs to be fought with the individual agencies (insurance, hospitals, workplaces, etc.) to get THEM to recognize who the person regards as "family" or "household". I really don't feel, say, an insurance company, should restrict a person who that person wants to put down as a beneficiary or put down who they consider their family for medical purposes. It's a HOUSEHOLD, for crying out loud.

But then, I also do understand the "heat of passion", too, where the phrase "marry me" really ups the passion. And THIS is the only valid reason I can see for wanting a "domestic partnership" law, especially one that is called a "marriage".

"Domestic partnership" laws are worldwide now, so really the U.S. is behind -- as usual. We're always behind, it seems, from medicine to social issues. But on the other hand, we still have many of our freedoms because of (especially) the social issues... which we're losing rapidly.

So on to California. A couple of months ago the governor of California just signed into law about "equality" of -- what? What would you call it? Anyway, what it basically says is that public schools (teachers and administration) canNOT mention "mom and dad" in the classroom without also mentioning alternative lifestyles. The teacher/administrator could be fined and/or fired.

Now, to me, that is blatant brainwashing at the point of a knife. It's forcibly pushing a segment of society's agenda onto other people. Sure, those who agree with this say it's a "victory" because now those kids in the classroom who have gay tendencies don't have to feel like they have to hide or they won't feel there is something wrong with them. Well, phooey, I don't care if this is a gay agenda thing or not; it's still just a segment of society pushing their agenda on us.

I disagree. I think this comes under "sex education". One of the things I don't like about our culture nowadays is the sexual promiscuity. Sex is not "special" any more. And the gays' viewpoint is strictly sexual in nature to me. It is encouraging even more sex, only this time with ANYone (maybe even with anyTHING??). It's like our country (and the world) has become one great big orgy.

California does already have a law in place for "domestic partnerships". Last week the California Supreme Court just redefined this law as a "marriage". The victory side says "about time" and say that that's what a domestic partnership should be called. I again disagree, and this time it's for Biblical and traditional reasons. Now I feel that "marriage" isn't "special" any more. It's now a bureaucratic exercise that brings in more money to the state.

Okay, so gays want to be "special", too. But come on, do gays REALLY think their "marriage" is the same as a heterosexual's? How will geneology records look? CAN a gay's "marriage" be recorded in a geneological record? Or, how about when asking a kid "where do you come from?" They can't say "from my daddies", because two daddies can't produce a baby. There HAS to be a woman and a man to produce that child. So is biology now out the window, too? Sure there's adoption, but is a gay couple really going to hide a child's adoption like many hetero couples do?

Sorry, it just doesn't work for me.

Nothing is "special" any more. I especially don't like that. There are no checks and balances in morality any more. And the laws of our land are now upholding this amorality. I don't care if you're gay or hetero, I just wish we'd get a check on our morality. I also hear that "abstinance" means absolutely nothing to kids, either, so the whole thing is a down-hill battle. Now these laws just add to that battle.

Okay, so flame me.