Monday, July 1, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
A Little About Me
I've been prepping future blog posts and I thought, "Well, better let you know in advance some of my stances."
First, as a child of two public school students, early on I understood that one size does not fit all, when it comes to education. I remember many times my dad telling me he was frustrated he couldn't meet everyone's needs in his classroom. He eventually moved out of a regular classroom into "basic skills classroom", lower number of kids to help. It is ingrained deeply in me that education needs to be personalized to each child's needs (skills, levels, abilities and interests).
As a homeschool mom, the above has been proven daily and I accept it as truth.
As a result of my understanding and belief I have to come down on the least restrictive method of laws and policies that guide "teaching"...because teaching is really about KIDS LEARNING.
So, often in this blog, you will see posts against Common Core, against stronger laws and policies dictating testing, about more regulations for homeschooling or for creation of charter or private schools and who knows what all else.
Hopefully we'll all think more about this truth and how we can best apply it in a mass educational setting.
Elissa
First, as a child of two public school students, early on I understood that one size does not fit all, when it comes to education. I remember many times my dad telling me he was frustrated he couldn't meet everyone's needs in his classroom. He eventually moved out of a regular classroom into "basic skills classroom", lower number of kids to help. It is ingrained deeply in me that education needs to be personalized to each child's needs (skills, levels, abilities and interests).
As a homeschool mom, the above has been proven daily and I accept it as truth.
As a result of my understanding and belief I have to come down on the least restrictive method of laws and policies that guide "teaching"...because teaching is really about KIDS LEARNING.
So, often in this blog, you will see posts against Common Core, against stronger laws and policies dictating testing, about more regulations for homeschooling or for creation of charter or private schools and who knows what all else.
Hopefully we'll all think more about this truth and how we can best apply it in a mass educational setting.
Elissa
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
New study shows NV needs to deregulate private schools
I've been saying this for years! Many of my friends have, over the years, wanted to try to start private schools in Nevada. Unless you want to look pretty much like a public school, good luck! They've been discouraged and given up. That's a shame, really...especially if you knew the innovative things they wanted to do.
Now a new 2013 Mercatus Report shows the same thing.
Someone start working on Private School Laws too!! And, hopefully, it won't need to be me!
Elissa
Now a new 2013 Mercatus Report shows the same thing.
Nevada’s private schools are the most regulated in the nation: they must conform to universal registration, state approval, teacher licensure, and detailed curriculum requirements.and, under Policy Recommendations
Deregulate private schools
Someone start working on Private School Laws too!! And, hopefully, it won't need to be me!
Elissa
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Parental Rights
Today was a big day for one of the non-profits I co-founded...Nevada Homeschool Network . We introduced SB314, a bill which codifies into Nevada law that parental rights are recognized as being fundamental.
You may ask, why is a homeschool advocacy organization introducing into the legislature a parents rights bill?!
As we advocate for homeschooling, one of the foundations of our cause is that parents have a God-given (natural) right to direct their child's care, including their education. This right, while being so obvious, wasn't mentioned in the Constitution, but it has been upheld repeatedly in US Supreme Court Cases.
Supreme Court justices can seriously impact OUR lives by changing their stance on an opinion, or by delivering a new outcome. Could this happen regarding education, YES! Then what do parents who want to direct their child's education have left to stand on? No court cases....then, it's not in the Constitution specifically, what's left? I know, God gave them to us! That argument is not going to work for every legislator, every judge, nor even for every parent.
We need something in our state law that affirms this belief NOW, before our rights are seriously restricted. As it is, since there is no local law in place, many parents feel bullied into decisions they might otherwise feel strong enough to make...to vaccinate or not, to homeschool or not.
It was obvious as the hearing for this bill went on that there was no argument over the fact that parental rights are fundamental. Everyone on the committee agreed on that. The big question was ,"Why do we need this in NV law?".
1) We need it now, before it's too late
2) We need it to improve the atmosphere for parents who are diligently trying to make good decisions for their family but are in fear of their children being removed from their custody.
This law will make a change. It will make a change in how I, and others, advocate about educational options and school choice. It will make a change in parents feeling more confident in their decisions, which will lead to more parents making decisions, instead of being told what to do. I see a change in the future! For the positive!
And, if you're not a homeschooler, should you care about this bill? YES! YOU are still directing your child's education. YOU directed them into the local public school, or the charter school, or paid for the private school. Maybe you don't know you directed this choice, but do you want to understand this AFTER your right has been taken away?
Education is not the only area this bill will affirm for our parental rights...it is across the board, so yes, YOU should care about this bill!
I'm excited about it, so I had to share. If you want more info on it , feel free to look it up at the NV legislature website, follow it as it tries to become a law! Be part of if, simply by emailing the committee or showing up to testify.
Here's to keeping our freedom!
Elissa
You may ask, why is a homeschool advocacy organization introducing into the legislature a parents rights bill?!
As we advocate for homeschooling, one of the foundations of our cause is that parents have a God-given (natural) right to direct their child's care, including their education. This right, while being so obvious, wasn't mentioned in the Constitution, but it has been upheld repeatedly in US Supreme Court Cases.
Supreme Court justices can seriously impact OUR lives by changing their stance on an opinion, or by delivering a new outcome. Could this happen regarding education, YES! Then what do parents who want to direct their child's education have left to stand on? No court cases....then, it's not in the Constitution specifically, what's left? I know, God gave them to us! That argument is not going to work for every legislator, every judge, nor even for every parent.
We need something in our state law that affirms this belief NOW, before our rights are seriously restricted. As it is, since there is no local law in place, many parents feel bullied into decisions they might otherwise feel strong enough to make...to vaccinate or not, to homeschool or not.
It was obvious as the hearing for this bill went on that there was no argument over the fact that parental rights are fundamental. Everyone on the committee agreed on that. The big question was ,"Why do we need this in NV law?".
1) We need it now, before it's too late
2) We need it to improve the atmosphere for parents who are diligently trying to make good decisions for their family but are in fear of their children being removed from their custody.
This law will make a change. It will make a change in how I, and others, advocate about educational options and school choice. It will make a change in parents feeling more confident in their decisions, which will lead to more parents making decisions, instead of being told what to do. I see a change in the future! For the positive!
And, if you're not a homeschooler, should you care about this bill? YES! YOU are still directing your child's education. YOU directed them into the local public school, or the charter school, or paid for the private school. Maybe you don't know you directed this choice, but do you want to understand this AFTER your right has been taken away?
Education is not the only area this bill will affirm for our parental rights...it is across the board, so yes, YOU should care about this bill!
I'm excited about it, so I had to share. If you want more info on it , feel free to look it up at the NV legislature website, follow it as it tries to become a law! Be part of if, simply by emailing the committee or showing up to testify.
Here's to keeping our freedom!
Elissa
Monday, April 8, 2013
Welcome!
Welcome!
I am being encouraged to blog about all of my experiences, thoughts, visions for the future etc. What do I have to say that you might find interesting? All sorts of things about education! Specifically education in Nevada.
Who am I, that you should listen to? Noone. I'm a mom. First and foremost I'm a mom. But being a mom has brought all sorts of things into my life that I've had to become an expert on, or at least, become pretty knowledgeable about.
I love sharing all of my experiences, whether you have the same stances or not, we can all grow from learning from each other. So stay tuned in!
Elissa
I am being encouraged to blog about all of my experiences, thoughts, visions for the future etc. What do I have to say that you might find interesting? All sorts of things about education! Specifically education in Nevada.
Who am I, that you should listen to? Noone. I'm a mom. First and foremost I'm a mom. But being a mom has brought all sorts of things into my life that I've had to become an expert on, or at least, become pretty knowledgeable about.
I love sharing all of my experiences, whether you have the same stances or not, we can all grow from learning from each other. So stay tuned in!
Elissa
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