We are days away from a new year! For the 2017 THSC Watchmen, part of the hustle and bustle of the season includes completing their advocacy training as policy watch dogs during the upcoming legislative session in Austin. We sat down with Paul Exley, one of our outstanding new THSC Watchmen, to find out how home schooling has prepared him for the tasks ahead.
One of the most difficult times of the year to home school an active learner is the winter. Why do I know this? Because I home schooled two active learners through 11 Minnesota winters. Teaching in those conditions was taxing, but it resulted in learning experiences my teenage boys fondly remember. Although Texas winters are not as harsh as those in Minnesota, there are still days where the weather is sure to keep you and your kids inside more than you would like. Here are some of my top recommendations for ways you can redirect your child’s wiggles into memorable learning adventures.
Following a productive meeting and correspondence with Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) Commissioner Henry Whitman, Jr., THSC was able to prevent CPS from overstepping its authority.
Not long ago, THSC was contacted by an Odessa home school parent who had been told by a CPS caseworker that she and her husband must stop home schooling and enroll their child in public school. The child’s father began gathering his daughter’s personal records, while Mom placed a call to THSC.
For the Orr household, Christmas break marks a midway point for our school year. While many families choose to school year round, we opt to have a break during the summer months, so we push through the entire fall, and by December, we’re ready to relax!
The challenge for our family is staying on pace so we can enjoy a treasured time of rest. I ask myself things like, “Have we completed all the lessons we should have completed?” and, “Will we finish our notebooks on time?” Some years the answer is yes. Some years we struggle.
Welcome to my laboratory. You’ve caught me right in the middle of ...
This year has been a year of abundant joy, but it has not been free of its share of struggles.
Leaders are often faced with personal trials that they do not share outside of their closest inner circle. This can leave them feeling overwhelmed as they listen to complaints and criticism from others. Many are unaware of how leaders take these words to heart as they strive to continually improve the groups they serve.
I distinctly remember a Christmas Eve many years ago with a blistering cold wind and snow on the ground. I was sharing a cup of warm hot chocolate with my grandmother. I think I was 10. We were discussing the virtue of giving and how it is the thought that counts. In my wise, 10-year-old brain, I agreed wholeheartedly. After all, it was Christmas Eve and that was the thing to say, right?
Our Constitution provides for three branches of government, but it seems we have a fourth branch—regulatory agencies. The legislature creates laws, but their oversight and implementation are entrusted to regulatory agencies. Public policy set by these agencies is a great place to affect change. In Texas, laws related to child protection cases are implemented and regulated by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Over the years, this enabled THSC to successfully negotiate several changes to CPS policy on behalf of home schoolers and parents.
By Richard Haines It seems like a long time until August, ...
Have you ever ordered online and when the shipment arrives, it’s only part of what you ordered? As customers we want to find satisfaction and usefulness with our purchase. No one wants buyer’s regret. But when it comes to taxes, are we satisfied with our purchase?
