Illinois School Pushes Smut on Children

[OneAugustKnight]

NMJenny,

Yes I am sure.

Martha,

Oh, I’ve heard of internet academies, like Seton, but I didn’t know the government was in on it too.

I’m sorry I guess I’m not clear on what a parish is yet. I am a new Catholic also, and I thought that since the kids that go to the school attend the church with the same name, those children were part of my parish. And since all the youth programs like volunteer work and the children’s choir are run as extracurriculars in the school, except CCD, that the school was kind of an extension of the church.

I wish I grew up Catholic so I knew all this basic stuff.

PaulinVA,

I just remembered Catholic and public schools can and do participate with each other a lot! The Catholic kids use the public school buses, the public school kids attend summer school at the Catholic schools, instructed by Catholic school teachers, and the sports teams play each other all the time! or use each others fields and pools as needed. Why leave hsers out?

I am sorry for getting this thread so off topic. Back on the subject of schools pushing smut on children, I wonder if this is an indicator of just how big of a problem there is with pedophiles in the public school system. I’ve heard it is as high as 10 percent of ppl working in schools are pedophiles, and articles like this make me wonder if it might be more.

Who reads that kind of thing, and worse, who recommends it to a child after they read it? Are these people trying to be popular in certain circles or do they enjoy perverting children’s minds?

 

[holly_potter]

Who reads that kind of thing, and worse, who recommends it to a child after they read it? Are these people trying to be popular in certain circles or do they enjoy perverting children’s minds?

In a word: modernism. We push kids to be like adults (just look at the fashions).

Where I am, we run our own homeschool activities, like football, volleyball, basketball, speech, drama, art, langage, prom, homecoming, etc and we even have a graduation ceremony! I graduated 06, was class VP. (So long as you’re willing to work with Christian, not just Catholics).

So that’s an option. Yes, it takes work, but it’s worth it! Usually moms and dads help run whatever they’re interested in, so you don’t have to plan everything, just pick one activity and follow through! All too often homeschoolers think they’re immune to deadlines

I’m going to create a (hopefully free) homeschool class for ASL for gradeschoolers next semester, for example. Join or create your own homeschool group. And control your curriculum!

 

[OneAugustKnight]

In a word: modernism. We push kids to be like adults (just look at the fashions).

Maybe I get it from television, but I think some of the more flamboyant homosexual men have a strong influence over the fashion industry.

Where I am, we run our own homeschool activities, like football, volleyball, basketball, speech, drama, art, langage, prom, homecoming, etc and we even have a graduation ceremony! I graduated 06, was class VP. (So long as you’re willing to work with Christian, not just Catholics).

In a 75% Catholic area, I don’t think I will need to work with Protestant groups, but I am having trouble finding any homeschoolers around here.

So that’s an option. Yes, it takes work, but it’s worth it! Usually moms and dads help run whatever they’re interested in, so you don’t have to plan everything, just pick one activity and follow through! All too often homeschoolers think they’re immune to deadlines

I’m going to create a (hopefully free) homeschool class for ASL for gradeschoolers next semester, for example. Join or create your own homeschool group. And control your curriculum!

Congratulations! I hope it goes well for you and you enjoy the class you create.

Since you’ve been involved with hsing, I’d be interested in getting an honest view from the inside. What works, what doesn’t, what are some of the big mistakes hsers make, and how to avoid them? I know it’s a subject for a different thread, and a big question, but if you feel like going into depth about the good, the bad, and the ugly of homeschooling, I’d be very interested to hear it.

That deadline thing will drive me crazy. We are pretty strict on routine and organization, and are very goal-oriented. We did design our children’s curriculum, it was easy and it’s more fun that way.

 

[Rob_s_Wife]

Martha,

Oh, I’ve heard of internet academies, like Seton, but I didn’t know the government was in on it too.

ug. No, Seton is not an example. K12 or Keystone would be examples of virtual schools. Seton simples gives materials, has a few online tutorials, but the parent is using the materials, the parent is teaching the materials, and the parent can change or opt out of any or all of it.

I thought that since the kids that go to the school attend the church with the same name, those children were part of my parish.
Whether the children are part of your parish or not is irrelavant, so is the name and location of the school.

---

And since all the youth programs like volunteer work and the children’s choir are run as extracurriculars in the school, except CCD, that the school was kind of an extension of the church.
Not really. It’s a bit the same here. Yes the parish may have a school they support, but more likely it gets more funding from the entire diocese. And most parish schools have rather clear lines between what is a church donation and what is a school donation. If for no other reason, than in my area, up to 80% of the student in those schools are NOT catholic, they are of other religions.

The Catholic kids use the public school buses, the public school kids attend summer school at the Catholic schools, instructed by Catholic school teachers, and the sports teams play each other all the time! or use each others fields and pools as needed. Why leave hsers out?

As far as teams competing, we do have hs teams that compete against public/private, so it’s not sharing fields/pools - it’s home team advantage. That or an exchange of funds for use of another schools equipment/field. I don’t think ANY of our schools, public, private, hs-ing “share” anything, they charge money for it.

---

I’d bet good money that is true for buses and classes as well. If the school needs a bus or a certain class, they are simply renting and out-sourcing with schools that do have it. THAT happens a lot here.

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**HS-ers are not being left out. They opted out when they decided to homeschool. **

 

[mommyof4]

That’s kind of weird. I wonder why they don’t think homeschool kids should be allowed to participate in the schools extracurricular activities?

I have no idea. I know that in our district, home schooling kids often participate in sports, band, choir, etc. It really is not an issue around here.

 

[Rob_s_Wife]

Where I am, we run our own homeschool activities, like football, volleyball, basketball, speech, drama, art, langage, prom, homecoming, etc and we even have a graduation ceremony! I graduated 06, was class VP. (So long as you’re willing to work with Christian, not just Catholics).

**This is what we work to see happen here too! **

All too often homeschoolers think they’re immune to deadlines

**Oh man, that chaps my denim! I know exactly what you mean and I find it soooo rude. I console myself that it really is not just hs-ers, but still… “represent” please my fellow hs-ing people! **

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I’m going to create a (hopefully free) homeschool class for ASL for gradeschoolers next semester, for example. Join or create your own homeschool group. And control your curriculum!
awesome!

In a 75% Catholic area, I don’t think I will need to work with Protestant groups, but I am having trouble finding any homeschoolers around here.
Search the net, put a little blurb in the bulletin, catholic paper, or a notice up at the libraries and/or used bookstores, maybe even one of the local teacher supply stores. I promise you they are there somewhere.

starting to completely hyjack, so I’ll stop there.

 

[holly_potter]

Since you’ve been involved with hsing, I’d be interested in getting an honest view from the inside. What works, what doesn’t, what are some of the big mistakes hsers make, and how to avoid them? I know it’s a subject for a different thread, and a big question, but if you feel like going into depth about the good, the bad, and the ugly of homeschooling, I’d be very interested to hear it.

Sometimes it takes a while for homeschoolers to come out of the woodwork, but definitely put in an ad in various places (the library is a great place!), and eventually you’ll get a group going Often its the existence of a group that actually encourages others to begin homeschooling, so that they’re not alone

I don’t mind going into depth! Maybe I should create another thread, but here goes

Honestly, I loved homeschooling, especially when, in the upper grades, you (the student) gets to control what you want to study when–so long as you get all the work done. What is really effective for high schoolers is to go to community college–often the credit counts for both highschool AND college!

What works really well is to put what you’ve learned into practice. Hands on learning is most fun. This joke illustrates it:

Q: How does a homeschooler change a light bulb?
A: First, mom checks three books on electricity out of
the library, then the kids make models of light bulbs,
read a biography of Thomas Edison and do a skit based
on his life. Next, everyone studies the history of
lighting methods, wrapping up with dipping their own
candles. Next, everyone takes a trip to the store
where they compare types and prices of light bulbs and figure out how much change they’ll get if
they buy two bulbs for $1.99 and pay with a $5bill. On the way home, they discuss the history of money and Abraham Lincoln, as
his picture is on the five dollar bill. Finally, after
building a homemade ladder out of the dead branches in the woods, the light bulb is installed. And there
is light. Author Unknown

This is what homeschooling is a lot about

What really helps is having a newsletter. It can be online, paper, or both. There’s a small fee to cover costs of producing the paper newsletter. But it has all the information in it, classes, PE, workshops, etc. Here’s an online example: omahahen.org/

The bad–Deadlines. Not all kids are well behaved. And the amount of work that goes into homeschooling your kids. Depends on the state, but IA requires a LOT of documentation. HSLDA has a map about how strict each state is.

The ugly–Nasty public school reaction in some cases. Prejudice too, even within the homeschool community. The Catholic group in my area are quite cliquish—many Catholic homeschoolers graduated with the Christian group for that reason, because the Christian group was far more welcoming. And sometimes you’ll get families who are just bad apples, who think they’re exempt to the rules. For graduation, families were supposed to do their share of the work, or we’d cash their contingency check as compensation. This one family didn’t help, and put in a stop payment on their check, just out of spite.

Gosh, this is a long post, I apologize!

 

[holly_potter]

You Must Be Homeschooled If…

Someone asks what grade you’re in and you’re not sure.

You sometimes go to school in your pajamas.
You sleep till 9:00 am on school days, but get up
early on Sundays.
Your favorite author is Jane Austen (girls) or Robert
Louis Stevenson (boys).
You own the entire series of Saxon Math books.
Your birthday is an official school holiday.
You don’t get to stay home from school when you’re
sick.
You are unaware of the current fads, fashions, and
slang terms.
Your favorite activity is reading.
You know what a unit study is.
Watching a movie means you’ll have to write a report
comparing the film to the book.
You dress up as historical or literary characters for
Halloween.
You exchange e-mail Valentines with your homeschool
pen pals.
Your room looks like a science lab.
You can get science credit for going to the dentist.
You go to the park for P.E.
You check out at least ten books every time you visit
the library.
You have ever attempted to teach yourself physics.
You have no idea what rock bands are currently
popular.
You get books and science kits for your birthday.
You know what Latin roots are.
Your board games all have names like “Bookworm”,
“Scrabble”, “S’math”, “Game of Knowledge”, and “Name
The State”.
Your home library is arranged in Dewey Decimal order.
Your favorite place to study is outside, under a tree.

You can quote lines from Shakespeare, but not from
South Park.
You memorize math formulas for fun.
You never get nervous on the first day of school.
The only bully you ever run into is your big brother.
You don’t have to remember a locker combination, just
your computer password.
It takes you less than a minute to walk to school.
You don’t have to worry about forgetting anything -
you can just run back to your room and get it.
Your school bus is a nine-passenger van.
There are only nine students in your class - but all
of them are your brothers and sisters.
You have a 12-year-old, a 6-year-old, and a 2-year old
in the same class.
You can get extra credit for cleaning your room.

---

You Must Be a Home Educator If…

You live in a one-house schoolroom.
Your walls are covered with maps and timelines.
You know what math manipulatives are.
You have mold growing in your fridge.on purpose.
Your preschooler can name all the planets, but doesn’t
know who the Rugrats are.
You’ve mastered the fine art of vacuuming a floor
without sucking up a Lego or K’nex piece.
You’re either an expert at doing the Lego dance -
Oooch! Ouch! Yeow! - or else you’ve resorted to
wearing shoes around the house.
You know the recipes for homemade versions of
Play-doh, finger paint, and paste.
Your students have to clear the breakfast bowls off
the table before sitting down to do their school work.

Your house is messy, but your kids are happy.
You know that reverse psychology really works.
Your kids publish their own family newsletter.
You shop for birthday presents at educational stores.
All you want for Christmas is a Barnes & Noble gift
certificate.
You’d rather buy books than clothes.
Your friends don’t want to help you move because you
have so many books.
You turn a trip to the grocery store into a learning
experience.
You get nervous about what people will say when you
take your kids to K-Mart in the middle of the day.
You have a standard one-minute speech to give to store
clerks, mother-in-laws, and school officials about why
you homeschool.
You are sick and tired of answering the question, “But
what about socialization?”
For your wedding anniversary, you decide to splurge
and get a photocopier.
Talking out loud to yourself is the same as having a
parent/teacher conference.
When you see a parking lot full of mini vans, you
wonder if there’s a homeschooling conference.
You take your family vacation in September, when the
beaches and theme parks are empty.
You take a suitcase full of books along on your family
vacation.
You can never find your kitchen utensils because
they’re out in the sandbox.
Your kitchen doubles as a science lab.
You are on a first name basis with your local
librarian and bookstore owner.
The UPS driver delivers a box of Scholastic books to
your doorstep once a month.
You know the scientific names of dinosaurs from A to
Z.
You’re willing to drop what you’re doing at a moment’s
notice to go look something up in a dictionary or
encyclopedia.
You have ever vented for more than five minutes on the
evils of standardized testing.
You don’t get fired for teaching your students about
God.
Some days you learn as much as your students.
The more your kids learn, the less you seem to know.

---

 

[Ne_OrangeKnight]

This is the part that really sickened me.

I-13. Family Planning. The National Education Association supports family planning, including the right to reproductive freedom. The Association also urges the implementation of community-operated, school-based family planning clinics that will provide intensive counseling by trained personnel. (Emphasis added)

Digressing heavily, there are plenty of great extracurricular activities to do when you’re home-schooled. Taking out the trash, mowing the lawn, vacuuming the floors. The list goes on.

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight

 

[puzzleannie]

wow did not take long to derail this into a homeschooling debate, let me check my watch, I think the veil-wearers should be chiming in about now, then we will here from the ecological BFers. are we completely and totally unable to keep on topic?

 

[OneAugustKnight]

I hope they haven’t implemented any of those family-planning clinics.

 

[Rob_s_Wife]

**we have on-site health clinics here at many of the elementary schools. they plan to expand them to other schools **

 

[holly_potter]

Sorry

 

[gam197]

originally posted by ack
Some of this seems a little odd to me as an American. Do you live in the US, or another country? I’m curious.

I live in the Northeast and I probably could have tried to pursue some of this by going to the school board and trying to fight for the library card,etc. but really I haven’t found the time to get into a major hassle over these things so I really didn’t fight. I was told no at the libary and accepted it.

When some of my children went to the catholic schools- elementary and high school, I just got in my car and brought them. There were no school buses. I can understand why some of the high school kids would have had a problem with a bus because of distance but we lived about 1 mile from the catholic high school and 1/2 mile from the elementary school.

 

[ack]

Hmm.

The first thing that I thought was odd is paying to get a library card! I’ve moved a lot and I have used 7 different library systems, and I never had to pay for anything. Paying to use a PUBLIC library just seems weird.

Regarding busing – I don’t understand why you expected the city to provide bus transportation for Catholic schools. Cities don’t provide bus transportation for ANY schools, period. Public schools provide their own bus transportation, which comes out of the school’s budget, not the city’s transportation budget.

(Yes, there are exceptions here…there are some cities that give out free bus tokens for students to use on public buses…and there are cities that provide transit for handicapped students…but it is not the norm for the city to provide school buses for anyone.)

So, I was guessing that you lived in Canada, where Catholic schools are government run…

I live in the Northeast and I probably could have tried to pursue some of this by going to the school board and trying to fight for the library card,etc. but really I haven’t found the time to get into a major hassle over these things so I really didn’t fight. I was told no at the libary and accepted it.

When some of my children went to the catholic schools- elementary and high school, I just got in my car and brought them. There were no school buses. I can understand why some of the high school kids would have had a problem with a bus because of distance but we lived about 1 mile from the catholic high school and 1/2 mile from the elementary school.

 

[Wolseley]

That’s kind of weird. I wonder why they don’t think homeschool kids should be allowed to participate in the schools extracurricular activities?

It’s a petty, vindictive punishment by the NEA on the parents for homeschooling their kids. "Well, if you won’t allow us to indoctrinate your children with whatever kind of perverted, vile deviant swill we want to poison them with, then we won’t allow your kids to play with our kids! So there!"

And these people are (supposedly) adults.

 

[Rob_s_Wife]

It’s a petty, vindictive punishment by the NEA on the parents for homeschooling their kids. "Well, if you won’t allow us to indoctrinate your children with whatever kind of perverted, vile deviant swill we want to poison them with, then we won’t allow your kids to play with our kids! So there!"

And these people are (supposedly) adults.

Nonsense.
It’s plan and simple common sense.
Your child is not a student in the school, so your child is disqualified from participating in the school event.
Thank goodness they do it and I hope they never stop!

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I would be royal ticked if my kid didn’t get to participate in a school event and some other kid who isn’t even a student gets that opportunity.

---

Every school has pros and cons. Some have a great liberal arts program, some have sports teams that are highly regarded, some are notorious for rigorous academics, some are well known for their diversity.

---

No matter what school you choose, you have to accept that it will not have something because none have everything.

---

However, that does not entitle you or your kids to demand that other schools allow your school any involvement with them.

 

[catechumen08]

An article on Catholic Exchange…

catholicexchange.com/node/65137

Oh wow! This is really sad. I went to middle school, high school, college, and grad school in Illinois, all public schools. I don’t remember things being this bad when I was there. We read mostly classics, although there were some “questionable” choices in the more advanced courses in high school, but we still had the choice to pick out a book from a list.

 

[HouseArrest]

Participation in public school extra curriculars must vary a lot by state. In Pennsylvania, you are entitled to public school services no matter “how much” of it you want. Now, you can’t just go and disrupt their schedule and make them cater to you, of course. If you are homeschooled or go to Catholic school and need special education services, you have a right to them. I think rights were granted through a lot of the special education cases in the '70’s. If we are all granted “least restrictive environment” for our children, then choice of schools fits into that. Parents of a student in our Catholic school was looking into dual enrollment so he could receive special education in reading. We have Title X services that come to our Catholic school as well - funded by the public school system. We are also entitled to sports at the public school.

I don’t see why the public school should not provide these things to Catholic school or homeschooled students. The reason is that public school is for everybody. I don’t know why it’s any different than lets say the library. Just because I buy some books doesn’t mean I can’t borrow some, too. Or the roads. Just because I don’t travel I-95 doesn’t mean I can’t go on I-80. Okay - not exactly the same thing but I’m just trying to make a point.

 

[gam197]

originally posted by ack
The first thing that I thought was odd is paying to get a library card! I’ve moved a lot and I have used 7 different library systems, and I never had to pay for anything. Paying to use a PUBLIC library just seems weird

I live in the US.I understand as most libraries require you to pay only a minimal fee. Not only that but they usually allow you to have access to many of the surrounding libraries which is great.

Not here. I moved to a very small town. I pay taxes. It has a very, very small library so the bigger library in in the main city. Our students from here get bused to the city high school as we don’t have a high school in town but pay for our students to attend their regional high school.

If my son were to attend the public high school, he would qualify for a free library card. My grandson goes to a catholic elementary school in the same city although he doesn’t live there and he gets a card free. We have to pay the forty dollars per year to join. We questioned it at the library but they told us “No.” As I’ve said, I haven’t pursued it through the school board.