For now... IL SB 136

Amazing. Inspiring. Unbelievable. Those were the feelings that I had as we filed into the gallerys in the State Capitol Rotunda with 4000 other homeschoolers. 4000 well-behaved, well-dressed, and yes- well educated homeschoolers. Only 66 were able to fit into the hearing room, so the rest of us waited in the halls. Singing filled the entire building- God Bless America, America the Beautiful, Amazing Grace, and finally the Doxology. Beautiful music. Harmonies floating to the top of the dome.




We moved over to the left, when security asked us to make way for Senators. We moved over to the right when the tour guide needed to bring his group through. And we all became silent when Scott Woodruff came out of the hearing and told us that if we could keep quiet, the committee had agreed to allow the doors to the hearing to be opened. For the first time in history, they agreed to leave the doors open. I have never seen a more well-behaved and polite group.




Despite our best efforts, the bill was not withdrawn. There was much discussion in the hearing about those homeschoolers who are "falling through the cracks". I submit that homeschoolers don't homeschool so that their kids can stay out of school, I believe this to be a truancy issue in the government school. Parents who withdraw their kids and try for legal truancy.



For now, the Illinois Senate Education Committee did not vote on SB 136. However, the bill was not withdrawn, and Sen. Maloney indicates that he would like to amend the bill and still present it.



I think the guys in the picture above, would approve of what we did today! (Most especially George Washington!)

We will continue to pray for the legislators and that God will intervene in the situation. To Him be the glory for the wondrous showing of beautiful and godly people today!

Email Your Senators...

Email your Illinois State Senate Education Committee Members and tell them to vote NO on SB136! If you want to know why- check out my blog posting from Friday.

For the Democrats click here

You will find an alphabetical listing. Go to each page and email them directly from their page.

For Republicans click here:

Here's 2 republicans:

Senator Kyle McCarter mccarter51@att.net senatormccarter51@att.net
Senator Suzi Schmidt suzi@suzischmidt.com Senator Schmidt has already returned my email and told me that she will vote NO- but it doesn't hurt to reinforce the idea!

See you in Springfield!

Answers- SB 136

I've had a few questions since posting this morning about SB 136 in Illinois. Senator Maloney has authored the bill and will be putting it to hearing on Tuesday, February 15 at 10:45. You can read the bill in its entirety here.

So, what's so bad about SB136?

1. Ineffective and inappropriate regulation. Homeschoolers continue to perform above grade level on the standardized tests, so why regulate what is working. Government schools are failing, and their regulations aren't changing that. Read about that here and here.

2. Subjection to unbiblical educational goals. Our goals for the education of our children are different than those in public schools.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 ESV ⁴"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ⁶And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

If regulations beget regulations for "the good of the children", then we must ask ourselves: whose idea of good? God or man? I choose God, and do not want man interfering with what I can teach my own children. My goals will remain God's goals for us- to raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord, to do it myself, not just make sure it happens.

3. Use of homeschoolers for political or financial gain. It gives the Department of Education carte blanche to decide what should be reported. They could request any information on your children that they want. When deciding on the definition of "registration", parents will not be allowed at the table, only government officials. One of the reasons we homeschool is because we believe that it is the parents' responsibility to train up their children, not the state's.

What kind of information do they want? Where we live? What the names and ages of our kids are? How does that help the state? Well, when it comes time to lobby for money on behalf of the district's "students" our kids would be added in, including test scores (which might I again emphasize are typically very good!) More students= more money. Better test scores= more money.

4. A slippery slope. This is the opening of a can of worms. Turning up the heat on the frog in the pot. This kind of legislation could lead to more regulations, and then even more. The next step would be for the state to tell us what we can and cannot teach to our children. This is absolutely unacceptable as our rights to educate our children with a Christ worldview would be in danger. That is really the most important thing that we hold to in homeschooling. And the thing that we most want to protect. Regulation could lead to more regulation and on and on until we have no rights as parents in our homes.

5. Increased government and cost to taxpayers. Where will the resources come from to pay for all of the tracking and record keeping? Illinois is already borrowing money to pay their debts.

6. The sins of the few lead to the over regulation of the many. Families who do what is right and who do a wonderful job with homeschooling their kids should not have to answer for those who don't. This is continuing a dangerous government precedent and is reminiscent of scanning 80-year old ladies and 4-year old children at the airport to find terrorists.

When you read the bill, you might think that it looks like it is for the good of the children, that Senator Maloney wants to protect all non-public school children- homeschoolers and private schoolers alike.

I leave you with a quote by the Senator himself, "We're not going for the private school students, we're going to change that [in the proposal]. What we want to know is where the homeschoolers are. It's as simple as that," Maloney said from his Springfield office.

Homeschool for 2010-2011

I thought it would be helpful to post what we are doing in our home-school this year. I have had some of you ask what we use, and it will help me to see it all written out! So here goes:

Everyone:
Art: Artistic Pursuits
Artist Study: 4 different artists during the year
Composer Study: 4 different composers during the year
Poetry: 4 different poets during the year
Hymn Study: a new hymn every week or so
Nature Study: aiming for one a week (hikes at Giant City State Park and on our property)
Illinois History
Character Traits
Scripture Memory
Skip Counting
Geography Songs
Read Alouds: currently reading Great Expectations

Bennett (10th grade):
Science: Apologia Biology
Math: Math U See: pre algebra and algebra
Logic
History: Veritas Press Omnibus
Theology: Veritas Press Omnibus
Literature:Veritas Press Ominibus
Writing: Veritas Press Omnibus
French: The Easy French

Sam (8th grade):
Science: Apologia Biology
Math: Math U See- Zeta
Spelling: Christian Liberty Press 8
History: Veritas Press Omnibus
Theology: Veritas Press Omnibus
Literature:Veritas Press Ominibus
Writing: Veritas Press Omnibus
French: The Easy French

Emmie (3rd grade):
Science: Apologia Zoology 2 Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day
Math: Math U See- Gamma
Spelling: Christian Liberty Press 2
Copywork: copying character traits
Handwriting: Classically Cursive
History: Veritas Press- Greece and Rome
Bible: Veritas Press- Judges- Kings
Grammar: Simply Grammar
Literature: Veritas Press reading list
Latin: Latin For Children Primer A
French: The Easy French

I am, I can, I ought, I will

Started the school week off with a reminder of our school motto (actually Charlotte Mason's school motto- but why change a great thing!)

I am: a precious creation of the Father. I am here because He wanted me here and He loves me infinitely.

I can: because He will give me what I need to do it! He has gifted me in so many areas the least of these being in every spiritual blessing.

I ought: because I am His and He has given me the abilities, I owe my allegiance and duty to Him to do my very best.

I will: I will choose to do the best I can, because I know that all opportunities put in from of me are from Him and I will honor Him with my obedience and best effort glorifying Him in all that I do.

Charlotte Mason Conference- this weekend!

Back to School - the Charlotte Mason Way

Everyone is invited to attend a mini-conference which will explore
the gentle teaching methods of Charlotte Mason.
If you could use some encouragement in your home-schooling journey,
you don't want to miss this!

When: October 1 & 2
Where: Cornerstone Reformed Church
801 N. Almond St., Carbondale
Cost: Donation (suggested donation, $5 each day per family)

Speakers:
Sue Pruett, homeschooling mom of 5, from the St. Louis area. Her passion is to encourage others in their homeschooling and introduce weary families to the joys of Gentle Learning. More information at http://www.thecharlottemasongirl.com

Caroline Ferrell, married to Roger Ferrell. They have 4 children- Bennett (16) Sam(13) Emmie (8) and Isaiah (9mos). Caroline and her husband have served as Missionary/Church Planters for 12 years and Roger is now the Director of Missions for the Clear Creek Baptist Association in Anna. They have been homeschooling off and on for 16 years, but totally on once they discovered Charlotte Mason about 5 years ago. "Homeschooling is the heartbeat of Christ in our home, and Charlotte Mason has set us free to enjoy that!" Caroline blogs at http://www.alongobedienceinthesamedirection.blogspot.com/


Schedule:
Friday evening:
6:30-7:15 - Intro to CM / Atmosphere of the Home - Caroline Ferrell

7:15-7:30 - Break- concessions available downstairs (Girl's Sunday School class providing food as a fund raiser)
-book table (Sue will have school materials for sale)

7:30-8:15 -Living Books (What qualifies a book, do text books ever qualify?) -Sue Pruett

8:15-8:45 book sales, concessions, visit


Sat. morning:
9:30-10:15 - Teaching Language Arts (narration, writing, grammar) -Caroline Ferrell

10:15-10:30 - break, concessions, book sales

10:30-11:15 -Sciences and/or Math -Sue Pruett

11:15-11:30 -break, more concessions, more book sales

11:30-12:00 -Q&A with both speakers

You don't have to be using Charlotte Mason methods to benefit from this conference.
Pass the word along to your friends, everyone will leave with new ideas for instilling a love of learning in their homes.
Hope to see everyone there!