“Homeschools more popular than private schools in McDowell” plus 3 more |
- Homeschools more popular than private schools in McDowell
- Johnsburg library to host homeschool event
- New Lake City school’s staff has ‘calling’ to meet students’ needs
- New Christian school to open in Lincoln
| Homeschools more popular than private schools in McDowell Posted: 07 Jul 2010 02:12 PM PDT When a family wants to opt out of traditional public school, they find there are few alternatives. Thirteen of the state's 100 counties do not have any private schools operating in 2010. According to the state's Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE), which tracks "non-public" schools, about 90 percent of the state's "compulsory education-age" students (in grades kindergarten through 12th) attend traditional public schools. Charter schools are limited to no more than 100 by state law. There can be no charter school in McDowell without a change to that law. There are two private schools operating in McDowell County: Marion Christian Academy and New Manna Christian School. For a surprisingly large number of families locally and statewide, homeschooling is the answer. McDowell's private schools had a total of 235 students combined in the past school year. Statewide, 96,421 students attend private schools. That's down slightly from 2009, when the state counted 244 McDowell kids in private school. In 2008, there were just 217. More kids are homeschooled in McDowell. Although the state has not released its figures for the 2009-10 school year, in 2008-09, 293 homeschools in McDowell educated 491 kids, more than twice the number who attended private schools. Although homeschooling appears to have been more popular in McDowell than private schooling, that trend is not reflected statewide. In total, for the 2008-09 school year, 77,065 North Carolina kids were homeschooled and 98,545 were private schooled. Some families begin homeschooling after being unable to resolve differences with public school officials, but others homeschool out of a desire to form the closest possible bond with their children or for reasons of faith. The McDowell News recently spoke with Pam Gessler of Hendersonville, who has homeschooled 12 children. Attempts at reaching adults in McDowell who homeschool were unsuccessful. She said when she and her husband, Joe, became interested in homeschooling, it was practically unheard of. "It was 1983," she stated. "We had never heard of homeschooling until a friend, disgusted with every public and private school in the county, kept her child at home. It was being done in other states, but we knew no one in Henderson County who was doing it." Indeed, she added, when they started, it was unclear if North Carolina law allowed homeschooling. "We looked into the legal requirements of education and found that North Carolina didn't require a child to attend school until they were 7," Gessler stated. "Our daughter was 5, so we began to teach her at home, and we prayed that God would protect us and make it work" A challenge to state mandatory attendance restrictions by another family resolved the issue in favor of homeschoolers, keeping the Gesslers out of the courtroom and in the classroom, she added. "They won their case before our daughter turned 7, so we never had to decide what legal steps to take next," said Gessler. In those early days, she continued, the family was often challenged by friends and strangers alike. People asked, sometimes insistently, if homeschooling was legal, if she had a teacher's license and how the children could ever get into college. "We felt like pioneers in those days. People were shocked and often hostile in their attitude," said Gessler. "The (objection) my husband and I found the most comical was, 'What about their socialization?' The question itself implied that herding children together teaches them social skills." She added that the social pressures in a traditional school were one of the main reasons her family chose to homeschool. "When students are slaves to the latest fads or they feel compelled to experiment with alcohol, drugs, pornography and sex, that is not good socialization," Gessler stated. Today, Pam is a single mother. Joe died nearly six years ago, but she is still homeschooling. Seven children have graduated. The eldest is 31 -- and she has five more to teach. The youngest is only 7. "We still have several years of school ahead," she said. The requirements are pretty simple, she added. The DNPE asks for annual attendance records, either immunization records or a signed objection and results of an annual standardized test. Gessler credits North Carolinians for Home Education and Home School Legal Defense Association of Virginia for "tenaciously defending" the rights of homeschool families. "We knew that we had to answer to God for what we taught our children," she said. "We couldn't put them in a secular school that would teach things contradictory to the truth." Five Filters featured article: Headshot - Propaganda, State Religion and the Attack On the Gaza Peace Flotilla. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Johnsburg library to host homeschool event Posted: 06 Jul 2010 09:01 PM PDT JOHNSBURG – Thinking of homeschooling? Or are you a homeschool parent interested in picking up some curriculum books and mingling with other homeschool parents? Then be sure to stop by the Johnsburg Public Library on Saturday for the Homeschool Resource Center Open House and Used Curriculum Flea Market. From 10 a.m. to noon, Anyone interested in selling can reserve a table in advance or bring a blanket to use the lawn to sell materials. Then from noon to 1 p.m., parents are invited to mingle with other homeschool parents over boxed lunch, available for $10. At 1 p.m., an open forum panel will kick off, featuring panelists Barbara Frank and Alison McKee. The library is at 3000 N. Johnsburg Road, Johnsburg. For information call 815-344-0077 or visit www.johnsburglibrary.org. CommentsAdd CommentsThere are 27 hours, 25 minutes remaining to comment on this story. Click here to read the rules for posting commentsFive Filters featured article: Headshot - Propaganda, State Religion and the Attack On the Gaza Peace Flotilla. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| New Lake City school’s staff has ‘calling’ to meet students’ needs Posted: 07 Jul 2010 11:56 AM PDT LAKE CITY — The staff at Emmanuel Academy, a new private Christian school in Lake City, aims to offer "the next best thing to homeschooling" through small class sizes and attention to each student's learning style, director Marcia Ramsey said. "It's not a job; this is our calling," she said. On Aug. 17, the school will hold its first classes for 5K through eighth grade. The school will have five to eight students, or fewer, in each class, said Ramsey, who will teach the younger grades at the school. The school will include a traditional classroom setup, but also will incorporate the Montessori method, allowing students to move into a more relaxed setting, such as a sofa and chairs around a table, she said. In a more comfortable setting, "the barriers come down" and students are more likely to attempt their writing and reading assignments and participate in discussions, Ramsey said. Some classroom settings might only reach auditory learners, but Ramsey said she doesn't want to miss those who learn through other methods such as hands-on instruction. She wants gifted students to flourish and for students who need special attention to learn the same information by whatever means work best for them, she said. "They feel safe; they feel comfortable," said Debbie Miles, who will teach middle school grades at Emmanuel Academy. "It's very relaxed, but it's also very challenging." Ramsey said she knows how important it is to have the best learning learning environment for every child. Her daughter, Dana, was born with a rare disorder called occipital encephalocele and died in 1993, at age 7. Dana was "bright" in a comfortable environment, but became "vulnerable" when she wasn't. "I know that I'm a skilled teacher, but I have a mother's heart, and I know the challenges you face in wanting the best for your child," Ramsey said. "And we don't live in a one-size-fits-all world when it comes to educating children." The school will follow South Carolina standards and administer placement test and standardized testing, said curriculum specialist Gloria Evans. Evans, Ramsey's sister, has 30 years' experience in public schools and is acting as a consultant for the new school. The plans for Emmanuel Academy began to fall into place when Ramsey and Miles discussed their teaching ideals, which they decided to pursue if they could find a suitable location, Ramsey said. They found a building on Dansing Street, which offers the benefit of proximity to the library, fire department, olice department, city offices, the National Bean Market Museum, The History Store and the Ronald E. McNair memorial. School leaders are planning interactive field trips to these locations and others, Ramsey said. "So really, Emmanuel Academy is the culmination of two people, two teachers who feel called to work with children," she said. "Our visions happen to blend well for these ages." In addition to academics, the school will offer art, music and drama as well as optional piano and guitar lessons. While teaching students in drama classes at the former Grace & Glory school in Coward, Ramsey said she and Miles found roles for all students, whether it was onstage or designing props. Many schools are cutting arts education, but Ramsey wants to ensure her students have access to such programs. "I feel like that is a chance for students to develop their confidence," she said. Emmanuel Academy also will offer Bible classes as electives, and Ramsey said she hopes churches will allow students to present holiday programs to their congregations. "Emmanuel means 'God with us,'" Ramsey said. "That name was not chosen just because it was a beautiful name. It was chosen because of that meaning." Teachers at the school also hope to teach students good stewardship by providing ways to give back to the community. For students moving beyond eighth grade, the school is considering partnerships with virtual high schools and universities' online programs, Evans said. School leaders also could guide students into an adult education program or develop a high school program at Emmanuel, she said.
FUNDRAISER Five Filters featured article: Headshot - Propaganda, State Religion and the Attack On the Gaza Peace Flotilla. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| New Christian school to open in Lincoln Posted: 07 Jul 2010 03:20 PM PDT A new Christian school in Benton County is set to open its doors to students in August. The motto of the school is "where each one can reach one." According to Administrator Pamela Keller, the school will be called Evangel Christian Academy. She chose the name because two of her children attend Evangel Christian University in Springfield. Keller, who has 21 years of experience in education, decided to open the school after homeschooling four Warsaw students in a building in Lincoln. Keller said she soon realized the building, which is located at 19336 Zion Road in Lincoln, could house many more students. Keller said the location is ideal because Lincoln is located near several small towns. "God made a way," Keller said. The new school features a 900 square-foot learning center, where students in grades first through 12th will receive instruction. Kindergartners will be taught in an adjacent room. Kitchen, lunch area and restroom facilities also are inside the building. Physical education activities will be held in the on-site weight room or outside on the two and a half acres that surround the building. Keller also plans to schedule horticulture lessons on the grounds. Besides Keller, the school will employ a kindergarten teacher and a learning center supervisor, who will oversee first- through 12th-grade students. Parents and family members will serve as volunteer monitors in the classroom. Keller said each student will have two flags on their desk. A raised Christian flag indicates the student needs academic assistance. A raised American flag means anything other than schoolwork help including sharpening their pencil, taking a restroom break or just needing to talk. "Our volunteers will be trained," Keller said. The school will use the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum. According to www.aceministries.com, the program's philosophy is built on basic principles of the word of God and students are taught to see life from God's point of view, to take responsibility for their own learning and to walk in Godly wisdom and character. The Bible-based program focuses on character development, scripture, academic excellence and multimedia and computer technology. "This is individualized learning," Keller said. "The curriculum teaches the students, we are there to tutor." The students will take a few core classes on computers in the media center and they will be expected to set both short- and long-term goals. The students also will attend weekly chapel sessions where they will hear talks by area Christian leaders and business people and enjoy music. "Christian leaders will speak on how the students have a right to be a Christian," Keller said. Bible verse memory also will be required of each enrolled student. And as the school grows, Keller plans to add more music and sports programs. Keller described the atmosphere of the non-denominational private school as upbeat and positive. "A student who excels can graduate early," she said, "and there will be one-on-one learning time with every student." Keller and her staff also will offer assistance to homeschool parents including record keeping, tutoring and testing. "We are here to help any parent," she said. Eleven students have enrolled in the school and Keller is hoping to fill the learning center with 50 or more students by August. An open house will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at 19336 Zion Road in Lincoln. Staff members will be on hand at the event. For tuition or additional information call 553-7191. Five Filters featured article: Headshot - Propaganda, State Religion and the Attack On the Gaza Peace Flotilla. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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