Data-based research has consistently revealed favorable things related to the modern homeschool movement for about 25 years. Theoretical philosophical research, on the other hand, argues conflicting things about home-educating families and students. For example, professor Robin West recently published a controversial piece entitled “The [...]]]>

The Harms of Homeschooling?

Where Are the Premises?

by Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.

Context

Data-based research has consistently revealed favorable things related to the modern homeschool movement for about 25 years. Theoretical philosophical research, on the other hand, argues conflicting things about home-educating families and students. For example, professor Robin West recently published a controversial piece entitled “The Harms of Homeschooling”[1] that will be the main subject of this article. To set the stage for this discussion, a very brief summary of research on home education is important.

Repeated studies by many researchers and data provided by United States state departments of education show that home-educated students consistently score, on average, well above the public school average on standardized academic achievement tests.[2] To date, no research has found homeschool students to be doing worse, on average, than their counterparts in state-run schools.

Multiple studies by various researchers have found the home educated to be doing well in terms of their social, emotional, and psychological development.[3] Further, the limited research on the topic to date reveals that adults who were home educated are typically doing well on all measures considered, and they appear to be happy, on average, productive, and civically engaged members of their communities. No research has controverted these two general conclusions.

Finally, regarding empirical studies, this author is not aware of any research that has involved collected data and has shown that the practice of home-based education, homeschool parents, homeschool students, or adults who were home educated are harming, on average, one another, their neighbors, their communities, or their nations.

The purpose of this article is twofold, to show that the “harms of homeschooling” that West alleges basically have no foundation in research evidence and to note that West’s proposal for the state to control homeschool parents and their children is based on a worldview that it antithetical to one held by a significant portion of Americans.

Overview of West’s Article

West, in her piece, attempts to do two things. She begins by asserting that homeschooling that is not regulated more by the state is likely to harm children in several ways. She then moves on, from a particular but unspecified worldview, to propose government law and policies to control private homeschooling so that children and youth are less likely to be harmed. Her basic thesis and most of her ideas are not new. For example, Reich[4] has argued that the state must control home-based education to make sure that the students learn basic knowledge and skills, become psychologically autonomous, are not “ethically servile,” and become decent, civil, and respectful. Similarly, Yuracko[5] argued that the state must increase its control over home education to make sure children and youth are exposed to “liberal values” (p. 10) and to “… check rampant forms of sexism in homeschooling” (p. 11).

Seven Claims

Read the “seven claims” here: http://www.nheri.org/Latest/The-Harms-of-Homeschooling-Where-Are-the-Premises.html

Read what Brian Ray says about “West’s “Harms,” Solutions, and Worldview, and the Problem” here: http://www.nheri.org/Latest/The-Harms-of-Homeschooling-Where-Are-the-Premises.html

Read Brian Ray’s “Conclusions and Cautions” here: http://www.nheri.org/Latest/The-Harms-of-Homeschooling-Where-Are-the-Premises.html

Saturday Music aims to give children a musical foundation. It does this by offering affordable music lessons [...]]]>

http://www.saturdaymusic.org.nz/

Saturday Music Palmerston North

Saturday Music aims to give children a musical foundation. It does this by offering affordable music lessons to childen aged from 4 to 12 years. Pupils are taught in small groups by talented music teachers.

Tuition for children aged 7 and up is offered in the following instruments:

Violin
Cello
Recorder
Flute
Fife
Guitar
Keyboard
Drums
Clarinet
Saxophone
Trumpet
Cornet
Trombone

For younger children, aged from 4 to 6, we offer a Music Basics course.

These fun, interactive classes provide a thorough grounding in the fundamental skills of music making, before children start more formal tuition on their chosen instrument.

Saturday Music provides a low cost, affordable option for music lessons, as the classes are subsidised by the Ministry of Education.

An instrument hire service is also available. The following instruments are available for hire: flutes, clarinets, violins (all sizes), cellos (all sizes), cornets, trumpets and trombones. Saxophones may be available. Junior flutes are provided for students enrolled in the combined Recorder/Junior Flute classes, and percussion instruments are provided for students enrolled in the Music Basics classes. Pupils are expected to provide their own recorders, keyboards, guitars and drumsticks with practice pad.

The enrolment form can be downloaded here: Saturday Music Enrolment form 2010

The prospectus can be downloaded here: Saturday Music 2010 Prospectus

The instrument hire form can be downloaded here: Saturday Music 2010 Instrument Hire

This page provides information on the 2010 school terms and holidays for state and state-integrated primary, intermediate, secondary and composite schools. You can also find information about anniversary day holidays for 2010.

Friday 5 February (at the latest) Thursday [...]]]>

2010 school terms and holidays

FROM:

2010 term dates

Primary and intermediate schools

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 388 half-days in 2010.

Secondary and composite schools

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half-days in 2010.

2010 holidays

Schools must be closed in 2010 on Saturdays and Sundays, and on the following days:

• New Years Day – 1 January
• Day after New Years Day – 2 January
• Waitangi Day – 6 February (Saturday)
• Good Friday – 2 April
• Easter Monday – 5 April
• Day after Easter Monday – 6 April (Tuesday)
• Anzac Day – 25 April (Sunday)
• Queen’s Birthday – 7 June (Monday)
• Labour Day – 25 October (Monday)
• Christmas Day – 25 December
• Boxing Day – 26 December

And the relevant anniversary day holiday as listed below:

Anniversary day holidays 2010

Pete catches some Zs with Natialie after a night of firefighting near Bendigo.

Barbara flew off to Coghills Creek, Australia (near Ballarat, VIC) for 2 weeks at [...]]]>

The Smiths 2009

When I left Air New Zealand back in 1982, we really thought our days of flying off overseas were finished. This year surely laid that myth to rest.

Pete catches some Zs with Natialie after a night of firefighting near Bendigo.

Barbara flew off to Coghills Creek, Australia (near Ballarat, VIC) for 2 weeks at the beginning of February to get time with a new granddaughter, Natalie, born to Pete & Genevieve on 20 December 2008. While there, since the fruit trees were laden, Barbara and Sue de Deugd, Pete’s mum, worked overtime to preserve a lot rather than let it feed the soil and the birds. She was there during Black Saturday, those terrible fires in the state of Victoria which raged at each compass point from Ballarat. Pete participated as a volunteer fireman, even being caught in a burn-over at one stage, but without harm, praise God. He also rigged up a 2,000 litre firetruck for use on the farm if the flames came their way, which they never did.

We had a fortnightly Bible Study all year with a shared meal beforehand. Our group is composed of folks from South Africa, Holland, the USA, India and also NZ! The folks from India became Christians while they were living in the heart of anti-Christian land: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia! But there is a thriving underground church among the various ex-pats, and we constantly hear of other strong Christian churches living completely underground in Iran and China and other such places. Anyway, just as we were sitting down to breathe a sigh of relief after one of these Bible study evenings, I look up to see a woman who looked just like our daughter Genevieve. The man who followed her in looked just like her husband Pete, and he was holding a baby that looked just like the photos we’d seen of their baby Natalie. It couldn’t be, of course, since they were in Australia…so I sat there wondering who they could be while they laughed at my spaced-out expression.

Well, that was the only experience I’ve ever had of simply not being able to believe what my eyes were looking at. But the next two weeks with them were great, as we all got extended time together. Well, actually, Charmagne flew off to the USA two days after Pete & Genevieve arrived, so she missed out. However, she got to spend time with my sister Susan & Ron plus Dex in Atascadero, CA, and visit daily with my Mom, Charmagne’s Grandma. They even visited a colony of Elephant Seals, something I’ve never done, even though I lived there for 21 years.

Then Charmagne flew off to live and work with her brother Zach & Megan and little Cheyenh in Bradford, Illinois, near Peoria, for the next five months. Doing those home education conferences took them to several different states in the East, so that she’s now been to 41 of the 50 states. Charmagne also took time out to visit friends in Tennessee and attend the Calvin 500 conference in Boston, which marked the USA’s 4^th of July and also Reformer John Calvin’s 500^th birthday on 10 July. She was even invited, while still in NZ, to attend a large folk-dancing festival in Illinois as an instructor to show people the art of English Country Dance.

The highlight of being over there was the birth of Dusti Madeira Smith to Zach & Megan in the closing minutes of 3 July. We’ve just been blessed and thrilled with the zillions of photos and movies Zach & Megan send of these two, Cheyenh and Dusti…they are so cute! And we also get photos and movies from Australia featuring Natalie…this being grandparents just arrived with a boom for us!

Also in February or March a group of four men from the USA came and stayed with us briefly as they did a lightening tour of NZ, checking it out as a possible place to escape to. They were Christian home educators, some ex-Amish, who see God’s hand of judgement falling on the USA. Their whole church group, 10 or 12 families, have since decided to come here en masse, settling down south near Darfield, just outside of Christchurch.

Top: Megan, Zach & Cheyenh with new baby Dusti

Bottom: Charmagne with baby Dusti and Illinois soy beans as far as the eye can see. You’d strain your vision on all 4 directions dying to see a mountain, a hill, anything to break that endless horizon of soy beans.

In April, some 13 heads of households from all over the USA, also Christian home educators, came through NZ escorted by Geoff Botkin and his sons Isaac & David. Jeremiah and I helped drive and shepherd them around Auckland to Hamilton and to Tauranga. They flew down to Wellington, while we drove, and met up with them again there. Barbara especially did a tremendous amount of work organising venues and teams of people to host the visitors for brief speaking and meal engagements in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Christchurch. She was working with folks she knew plus with total strangers to cobble together a programme, coach people in how to do their parts, plus ring around in each location to rally people we knew to come along. It was practise for what was coming up.

Charmagne with, L to R: Mrs Victoria Botkin, Elizabeth Botkin, Lourdes Torres, Anna Sofia Botkin &  Mrs Carmen Torres.

Later in the year, all during the dead of winter, brightening up the place for us, the Fletcher family, one of the 13, came for a 3 month visit, staying mostly with Bart & Alison van der Wee out in the country near Fordell (near Wanganui). We all thoroughly enjoyed their visit, for we could discuss all manner of theology, home education, evangelism, growing in obedience to the Lord and godliness, plus the 13-year-old twins could play classical violin as well as fiddle up a storm of American or Irish folk tunes to get your toes a-tapping!

No sooner had that tour finished than Jeremiah and I had to go back to Auckland for our interview with the US Consulate to finalise arrangements for Jeremiah to immigrate to the USA. We’d started this process back in 2007 when I felt for a while (and I’m not completely free from this) that we should leave NZ because of the totalitarian character of central government, especially its declaration, against a clear and many-times-documented 80+% opposition of voters, that parents commit a criminal offense should they dare to correct their children using any degree of force (undefined) whatsoever. As long as Jeremiah immigrates to the USA, with me his natural born USA citizen adoptive parent as sponsor, before his 18^th birthday (coming up in April 2010), he has automatic claim to USA citizenship, becoming a dual national. The interview and the tons of form filling went well, greased by many hundreds of dollars in fees, and we got the lovely immigrant’s visa sticker in Jeremiah’s NZ passport…after he submitted to a series of immunizations.

Some time in August Alanson took a 6-day cruise to Apia in Samoa, courtesy of one of Her Majesty’s Navy ships, where he helped wire up a temporary tent village for some joint military exercise. The RNZAF flew him back after a few days. And Charmagne came back to us on 18 August.

Bill & Diana Waring started another tour of NZ mid September. Barbara again did an even more massive amount of work locating, training and coaching people over the phone to co-ordinate things in four NZ locations and seven in Australia, stretching through the end of October. This included the logistics of travel, timetables, costs, shifting resources from venue to venue, etc., etc. We Smiths and Warings spent hours travelling together, stuffed into a van with our gear all around us…just as we’ve done many times before. In this way we left Palmerston North for a gig in Hastings and next day headed off to Auckland.

On the way to the next venue on the following day, Barbara and the Warings dropped Jeremiah and I off at Auckland International airport. So started our 2 ½ weeks away, first in California with Susan, Ron, Dex and Mom. We also got to meet up with NZ-born evangelist Ray Comfort as he preached from his soap box in Huntington Beach. I used to watch him do the same in Christchurch when he was just getting started back in 1977. Then we had quite a time with Zach, Megan, Cheyenh & wee Dusti in Illinois, including a really pleasant and enjoyable evening out with Bob & Linda Schneider, Megan’s parents, and three of her siblings. We got to clear the garden, feed the horses, cart hay, catch a wee snake, build shelving in the pantry and see enough corn and soy beans to last a lifetime.

This trip included handing a sealed envelope from the US Consulate in Auckland to the Immigration people at Los Angeles Airport. They confirmed Jeremiah’s Immigration and citizenship status, so in Atascadero, CA, he applied for a US passport and in Peoria, IL, he applied for a US Social Security number.

Meanwhile, it was discovered that the cost of trans-Tasman shipping of the Waring Tour resources was such that the Warings suggested – and shouted – for Barbara to personally transport the stuff as baggage and meet them in Melbourne! So six days after Jeremiah & I returned from the USA, Barbara flew off to Australia. She usually does this via Christchurch so that she can spend a couple days with her Dad. She and the Warings all got to meet up with Pete, Genevieve and Natalie, and Barbara got to stay on some more, building and planting out a raised garden plot for them.

Granddad Craig making the acquaintance of granddaughter Dusti in Illinois.

I think it was the same day that Barbara got back from Australia that Jeremiah and I started doing a “salad run” with Roy Sandbrook. Up at 5am, meet at the Speirs Foods factory in Marton, load up with refrigerated salad and meat items and deliver them to supermarkets and such like in Feilding and Palmerston North, finishing up by 9am. Roy has loaned us one of his small refrigerated trucks, while he builds one for us to buy, and we do this six days a week. But Jeremiah pulled out of it – and out of almost all driving – soon afterwards.

Barbara built and planted the raised garden in the background at the de Deugd place in Coghills Creek, VIC. Genevieve is expecting again, due at the end of January 2010.

Eleven days after Barbara got back from Australia, we were driving up to Hamilton on Saturday 7 November for a steak Bar B Q and English Country dance with our good friends the Reymer and Bearsley families. Charmagne and Jedediah were all packed for flying off to Australia for a month-long stay with Pete, Genevieve & Natalie. We were also transporting Sam & Ash to Hamilton, so we had both vans, our old faithful workhorse, the white Toyota Hiace and the more comfortable and stylish Toyota Estima. Sam & Ash come for tea virtually every Thursday and have also occasionally tutored the children during the day. It was a beautiful, sunny day, little traffic, no wind. We’d stopped in Taihape and in Waiouru for lunch with snow-clad Mt Ruapehu in the background. Just south of Taumarunui, as we entered the straight road leading to the bowser at Owhango, Jeremiah (driving on his provisional license) left the road onto the grass verge on the left. Without waiting for the speed to decrease, correction was made to get back on the tar seal. The effect was over-correction, shooting back across both lanes into on-coming traffic, which was, in God’s merciful Providence, a ways off. Over-correction to get back into our lane caused the Hiace to roll onto its right side, then onto its top, then onto its left side, all the while with its nose pointing, and the whole vehicle sliding at speed, straight down the centre line.

Alanson telling the ref and his team mates all about it…just before a double tackle by the other side broke his collar bone.

Alanson, already nursing a broken collarbone from playing rugby league with the RNZAF, found himself sitting on what used to be a side door window with the tar seal ripping his rear end away. It took his pants but left all his skin. He also got various cuts to his feet and hands plus a cut at the back of his head and a big graze near the right kidney. Jeremiah’s right collar bone got broken by the seat belt and his right shoulder was burned by the heat of the tar seal and glass ripping off his sweatshirt’s shoulder but leaving his skin pretty much intact. Jedediah got a wee graze on one elbow and two fingertips. Something hit the top of my head making two slices, one requiring 8 stitches and the other needing 2. And my left index finger took a whack turning it black and blue and swelling, but not so much as a scuff mark. There were only us four in this van.

The front window of the van, being now vertical and without glass, was like a handy five foot high door through which three of us stepped out, and Alanson got out the back “door”. I looked like a crash victim with the red stuff running freely over my bald head and down my face. Alanson got me to the side of the road, and we both sat down, he holding my wound. I really had next to no pain and was just thinking what a hassle this was all going to be. Barbara and the rest were checking on us and shifting our gear off the road. A motorist stopped and was very helpful with providing shade, a first aid kit and talking to me “to keep me awake.” I was feeling fine, but in answer to his questions, I got to explain a lot about home education! Two farmers in the paddocks came running, the male directing traffic and the female, a nurse as well as a dirt farmer, got straight onto my injuries. The next person to come into my view identified himself as a doctor, probed us four in a professional manner, pronounced us A-OK and took off. Then came the rescue firemen who assisted the farmer/nurse in assessing us all and in cleaning me up a bit. Police turned up and gave ol’ Jeremiah the third degree…they were nice about it and advised him of the possible legal scenarios coming up. When St Johns arrived, there wasn’t much for them to do but load us into the Ambulance and take us to Taumarunui Hospital.

“OK, Lord, you’ve got our attention. What is it You would have us to learn from all of this?” There have been a number of issues highlighted for us as a result, and each of us is working on at least one project, some personal, others corporate. The van was a write-off, and we’ve decided not to replace it.

The Bearsleys and Reymers rescued us from Taumarunui and took Charmagne and Jed to Auckland airport Monday. We still had our BarBQ Sunday, but the dance was scratched, and the rest of us drove home Sunday. Jed (not quite 12) was a bit scared of new things as a result, but Pete coached him along in Australia to where he was driving a big articulated, front loading caterpillar and using an assortment of power tools to build a new addition to their house. He, but especially Charmagne, did so much work during the four weeks there, Pete and Genevieve want her back ASAP. Charmagne spent more of this year 2009 overseas than she did in NZ.

Alanson seems to be more of a semi-professional sportsman than an avionics technician, for he went from playing rugby league all the time to playing softball and scored another three weeks off work while travelling, courtesy of RNZAF, to Auckland and then to Sydney in December. Nice one. He is also off to Antarctica in January for a month, mostly to help unload supply ships.

This year has also been exceptional for the increased number of phone calls from folks asking about home education. The tenor of the calls is much more serious, more committed, for most of the folks have already obtained the exemption form and just need help filling it in. And we’ve had a lot more enquiries about home education from folks in the USA and South Africa planning on shifting here.

I’ve already talked a lot about some of us. Jeremiah is looking seriously at joining the NZ Police force and has had quite a bit of contact with them in various ways over the year. He’s booked to fly off to stay with Zach & Megan in Illinois, working for Rainbow Resource Centre helping with the home education convention crews with Zach, from March til August 2010. Jedediah has been on the back burner most of the year, but is not only taking over lawn mowing, he’s developing a clientele for lawn mowing services in the immediate neighbourhood. He’s a hands-on, give-me-the-tools, let-me-build-it, kind of guy. Kaitlyn turned 9 in October and is progressing in her reading and maths a lot faster, even passing Jedediah. Grace, aged 4, is talking all the time using quite a vocabulary and is so incredibly active she would be diagnosed ADHD double plus for sure, if at some kind of institution, and drugged into conformity.

Charmagne’s latest creation for Reformation Day, 31 October….we celebrate  Martin Luther’s starting of the Protestant Reformation on that day, rather than Halloween.

The plan is to say “No” in 2010 to everything that doesn’t have an immediate connection with the children, home education and the church. 2009 was a killer as far as political developments in NZ and world-wide and even in our church, with massive issues being endlessly deliberated upon by elders and Presbyteries, the implications of which will be stretching far into 2010. What we get so excited about is that the Lord is doing some house cleaning in the church, and He is showing us all on the world stage what power-hungry, deceptive, meglomaniacs people in positions of power become when they decide they are not accountable to God as the highest, ultimate authority, when they decide they can do whatever they like, whatever they can get away with, using lies, calling good evil and evil good, to get their way. This climate change hoax is a classic example, and the ones behind it hardly try to hide their deceptiveness anymore. The battle lines between God’s divine requirements and mankind’s pragmatic, self-gratifying experiments are being ever more clearly drawn. As we are told in Psalm 2:

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD has them in derision. Then He will speak to them in His wrath, and terrify them in His fury, saying, “I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill.”… Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, with trembling kiss His feet, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way…Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

May each of us be found throughout this coming 2010 doing just that: serving the LORD with fear and getting blessed out of our boots as a consequence of doing what is merely our duty to do.

Craig & Barbara Smith & Family, 4 Tawa St., Palmerston North 4414, New Zealand, craig@hef.org.nz, www.homeschoolblogger.com/KiwiSmithFamily.

We’d love to hear [...]]]>

The Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration

Includes an Annual Writing Contest for Young People and a Published Anthology

A Note to The Grannie Annie Family: Connie McIntyre of Thumbprint Press and Fran Hamilton of Portico Books, publishers of books for children, conceived of The Grannie Annie in the summer of 2005 and committed to sponsoring it through its infancy. Over the past four years, young people from across the country, and the adults who support and nurture them, have voted with their stories and words of appreciation — We love The Grannie Annie!

In response to your enthusiasm for The Grannie Annie, and in order to facilitate its growth, we are making plans to seek additional funding and broaden our internal organization. You may notice some small changes in our website as this process moves forward. However, we do not expect any changes in your Grannie Annie experience — it will remain rich and rewarding, as usual!

Welcome to The Grannie Annie

Grannie Annie is full of stories. Just ask her! She’ll tell you about her immigrant grandparents coming to America by boat. She’ll tell you about her parents rolling up their living room rug and inviting the neighbors over to dance, and about riding in a one-horse sleigh, churning butter in a washing machine, and surviving fires, floods, and blizzards.

Who are the storykeepers in your family? Just ask them! They’ll tell you stories about “the old days” that are so amazing you’ll want to write them down. Ask about your grandparents and great-grandparents. Ask about their daily lives, their adventures, their joys, and their sorrows. Take notes!

You are invited to follow The Grannie Annie Official Guidelines and enter a story from a past generation of your family. Your story can be humorous, tragic, or inspirational. It can be a story of courage, adventure, or anything you find interesting about your family’s past.

The Grannie Annie Mission

The mission of The Grannie Annie is to celebrate family stories, foster an interest in history, and nurture the writing skills of young people. The Grannie Annie encourages people around the world to interview family members to discover stories from their family’s history. When the stories are brought to life in written form, they can be shared with others and preserved for future generations.

There’s even more: Behind each family story lie experiences familiar to people in different centuries and on different continents. These simple, and very personal, family stories can help writers and readers to forge a bond with people in today’s world whose lives may seem very different from their own — and move the world one step closer to peace.

Submission Categories

Entries will be considered in two categories: U.S. grades 4-5 and 6-8. If you are a homeschool or international student between the ages of 9 and 14, your work will be considered in the category that corresponds with your age.

Submission Fee

There is no fee for submitting your work.

Deadline

The annual submission deadline for Grannie Annie is February 1. Mailed entries must be postmarked on or before this date. E-mailed entries must be sent on or before this date.

Honoring the Authors and Artists

Read more here: http://www.booksfromtheheart.com/grannieannie/

Announcement of Contest Results

Read more here: http://www.booksfromtheheart.com/grannieannie/

How to Purchase the Books

Read more here: http://www.booksfromtheheart.com/grannieannie/

Writing Assistance

Read more here: http://www.booksfromtheheart.com/grannieannie/

Guidelines for Entry

Be sure to follow The Grannie Annie Official Guidelines so that your story will be eligible for Grannie Annie.

Contest Entry Form

The Grannie Annie Official Entry Form must accompany your story and/or illustration.

Submission Information For Teachers

Teachers who are submitting their students’ entries must complete and enclose one copy of The Grannie Annie Teacher Submission Form in addition to their students’ Official Entry Forms. The information provided on this form will facilitate communication regarding students’ submissions and recognition.

The Grannie Annie in the Classroom and Beyond

We offer a variety of resources to enhance your Grannie Annie experience, complement your curriculum, and utilize the wealth of information in this collection of amazing family stories:

Read more here: http://www.booksfromtheheart.com/grannieannie/

The Story Behind The Grannie Annie

Read more here: http://www.booksfromtheheart.com/grannieannie/

Please feel free to contact The  Grannie Annie  Family with questions, compliments, or suggestions:

Hello@TheGrannieAnnie.org

As most people count their blessings and prepare to enjoy Christmas with family, many [...]]]>

Quote from HSLDA article:

“We had hoped that the appeals court would return Dominic to his family. Since they are not, we believe it is critical all freedom-loving people respond to this outrageous decision.”

Court Upholds State-Sponsored “Kidnapping” of Homeschooled Boy

As most people count their blessings and prepare to enjoy Christmas with family, many others face serious struggles. Among these is the Swedish family of Annie and Christer Johansson whose only child, 7-year-old Dominic Johansson, was “kidnapped” by Swedish authorities in June of this year as the family was on a plane leaving the country for a new life and home in India. Annie Johansson is from India where her entire family lives.

Your Help Needed

Please contact Swedish officials on behalf of the Johansson family. We also ask that you keep the Johansson family in your prayers during this incredible trial they are facing.

Contact Information

The social workers
sofi.rosenqvist@gotland.se
caroline.palmqvist@gotland.se

The social workers’ supervisors
kristina.djerf@gotland.se
marika.gardell@gotland.se

National officials

Prime Minister of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt
Telephone: +46 8 405 10 00
Mailing Address: Rosenbad 4, SE-103 33 Stockholm

Minister Maria Larsson
Ministry for Elderly Care and Public Health, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs
Telephone +46 8 405 10 00
Fax +46 8 723 11 91
Mail Address: Fredsgatan 8; SE-103 33 Stockholm

To email the officials above visit the webpage: http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/2052

Local politicians and government leaders
Brittmarie.Fagerlund@lansstyrelsen.se
gustaf.hoffstedt@gotland.se
eva.nypelius@gotland.se
lars.thomsson@gotland.se
lena.celion@gotland.se
gotlands.kommun@gotland.se

Indian Ambassador to Sweden
ambassador@indianembassy.se

Australia Contact details:

See below

New Zealand Contact details:

See below

The Johanssons’ lives suddenly changed, and a nightmare ensued as police officers took Dominic off the plane at the orders of local social workers. They didn’t have a warrant, and they didn’t charge the Johanssons with any crime. Their reasoning? Dominic had been homeschooled, and the authorities wanted to make sure he was receiving an education.

After some testing by Swedish authorities, it was discovered that Dominic was only slightly behind in some subjects, but that he had been making academic progress. The family had been refused school materials by their local school when they had asked for them last year. As a homeschooling family, the Johanssons lean towards unschooling, profess the Christian faith, and try to live close to nature. Mr. and Mrs. Johannson had made plans to move to India to work with several orphanages to help them to live simply and economically. Although their lifestyle is out of the ordinary to Swedish officials, nothing in their approach to family life justified such a radical state intervention. In addition to living simply, the Johanssons exercised their legal rights to opt out of vaccinations for their son as well as only taking him to the doctor when he was sick, also reasons cited by the court to allow Swedish social services to retain custody of Dominic.

Swedish press has reported that senior police officials in Sweden have criticized local police and social workers for their sensational actions. Press reports also suggest that the local social services may be caught in a trap of their own making. They must continue with their course of action or otherwise admit that they have disgracefully ruined a family and traumatized a child. Some Swedish newspapers also report that the pride and stereotyping exhibited by social workers in this case imply they are out to get this family. According to letters obtained by HSLDA, the most recent decision of the local social workers is that they will not be allowing Annie and Christer to visit with Dominic until after New Year’s Day. And then they will be permitted one-hour visits every fifth week.

Mr. Johansson expressed deep concern about the state of his wife. “Annie cannot even talk right now. We are in total shock. We had hoped the court would return our son. We have been and remain willing to cooperate with social services, but they keep telling us we are not capable of caring for our son. This is not true. We have taken care of Dominic. While we may do things differently than most Swedes, we have not broken any laws and we have not harmed our son. We decided as a family that we wanted to move to India where we could be near my wife’s family. But the government has taken over my family, and now we are living in a nightmare. I fear for the life of my wife under this torture and for the well being of my son who has only been allowed to see his parents for a few hours since he was taken. The government is alienating my son from me, and I am powerless to do anything.”

The Swedish press has reported that the court admits the family has taken care of Dominic as they thought best, but insists the government’s plan is better.

In its opinion the court noted that Dominic had some untreated cavities and had not been vaccinated. The court also said that because Dominic had not been in school he had been “socially isolated.” This, the court said, demonstrated that the parents were not aware of the impact their decision to homeschool would have on Dominic’s future development and opportunities. Social workers and the court have mentioned the psychiatric condition of Mr. and Mrs. Johansson. However, Mr. Johansson vehemently denies any such mental problems.

“I have had a mental check with a psychiatrist who has given me a clean bill of health,” says Christer Johansson. “My poor wife, on the other hand, has been absolutely traumatized by this kidnapping. She is in a deep depression and has been hospitalized on several occasions. Is it any wonder? Our only child has been stolen from us and we have only been permitted to see him a few times since he was taken.”

A former Swedish social worker who spoke with HSLDA anonymously severely criticized how current social workers are treating the Johanssons.

“This case is an absolute outrage,” the former social worker said. “From the taking of the child off a plane by uniformed police officers to the absurd visitation schedule and now the complete cessation of visits. The social workers in this case are letting their pride interfere with the best interests of this little boy. In Sweden the socialist mindset of the government is that it knows what’s best for kids—better than their own parents. And in the case where a family, like the Johanssons, may do things that are different, the government intervenes.”

The court opinion also noted that Dominic had not been to the normal child care facilities and to school.

The social worker continued, “What is normal? In whose opinion? Why should the government get to make this decision? The boy is being taken care of and not being harmed. The family had decided to move to India where the mother is from. What is wrong with this?”

Now that attempts to renew contact with local social workers have been rebuffed, the Johanssons are feeling especially frustrated.

“We had hoped to have a meeting with the local board to provide new information,” says Christer Johansson. “But since our hearing before an appeals judge a few weeks ago they have told us that we can no longer see our son. They have said that the visits are traumatic for him. Is it any wonder? The poor boy has been kidnapped from his parents and is being forced to live with other people. No wonder it’s hard for him after the visits with us. He wants to come home but is being held against his will and our will by the government.”.

Roger Kiska, an Alliance Defense Fund attorney based in Europe, noted that this kind of behavior was shocking but sadly not without precedent. Kiska has been following the case and has sent several letters expressing concern over the incident.

“What you have here is a socialist country trying to create a cookie cutter kid,” Kiska said. “This family is a little different from the average Swedish family. There are so few homeschoolers in the country that this, along with their issues, has caused the social services agency to take the child in order to coerce changes from the family. Unfortunately,  in Europe this kind of thing happens too often where social workers take a child and then just keep him. The parents in these cases are really powerless since the system is so one-sided.”

Michael Donnelly, director of international affairs for HSLDA, expressed indignation at the court decision.

We had hoped that the appeals court would return Dominic to his family. Since they are not, we believe it is critical all freedom-loving people respond to this outrageous decision.”

Donnelly continued, “HSLDA is gravely concerned about this case as it represents what can happen to other families who might wish to homeschool their children. Furthermore, in response to inquiries from HSLDA, Swedish authorities have cited the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to explain and defend their actions. If the U.S. were to ever ratify this treaty, then state-sponsored kidnapping could occur here. Every homeschooler would be at risk. Such treatment of families and children is inhumane and inconsistent with a reasonable understanding of basic human rights. Therefore, we are asking our members to contact Swedish officials asking them to return Dominic Johansson to his family.”

Keep an eye on the HSLDA website:

http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/Sweden/200912220.asp

For those in Australia and New Zealand:

Please use the emails and website addresses for the Swedish people to email and send letters to.

We can also send emails to the Swedish  Consulates in Australia and New Zealand

New Zealand contact details:

http://www.swedenabroad.com/Page____21473.aspx

Australia Contact details:

http://www.swedenabroad.com/Consulates____21464.aspx

Previous posts:

http://hef.org.nz/2009/sweden-the-govt-is-trying-to-make-home-schooling-illegal/

http://hef.org.nz/2009/homeschooling-illegal-in-sweden-facts-of-new-suggested-school-law/

http://hef.org.nz/2009/home-schooled-boy-snatched-from-plane-in-sweden/

http://hef.org.nz/2009/home-schooling-in-sweden/

http://hef.org.nz/2009/stop-beating-on-sweden%E2%80%99s-parents/

http://hef.org.nz/2009/calls-needed-to-reunite-homeschool-family/

They presented a 10,000+ signature petition to Parliament on 25 November, with the main thrust being,  “government should not commit to signing anything at Copenhagen as it would bring excessive hardship to NZ families, and no measurable benefit to the climate.”

Their excellent [...]]]>

Some highly motivated sheep and beef farmers, farming off the East Coast of the North Island,  recently organized to expose “Climategate” here !

They presented a 10,000+ signature petition to Parliament on 25 November, with the main thrust being,  “government should not commit to signing anything at Copenhagen as it would bring excessive hardship to NZ families, and no measurable benefit to the climate.”

Their excellent website is   www.climaterealists.org.nz

On the website is the petition presented to Parliament, plus there are pages of facts, costs, articles, downloads, contributions, & various other pertinent links.

Please sign up for the “Climate Realists‘ Newsletter” on the homepage of the website !

By Caroline Olsson

Translation: Ruby Harrold-Claesson, Lawyer, President of the NCHR

This article was previously published on the Swedish Internet Site, Newsmill.se – 2009-12-03 http://www.newsmill.se/artikel/2009/12/03/sluta-sla-pa-sveriges-foraldrar Swedish authorities and legal institutions have a negative attitude towards parenthood, which is not good for the relationship between children and parents. Many children need more time [...]]]>

Stop beating on Sweden’s parents!

By Caroline Olsson

Translation: Ruby Harrold-Claesson, Lawyer, President of the NCHR

This article was previously published on the Swedish Internet Site, Newsmill.se – 2009-12-03

http://www.newsmill.se/artikel/2009/12/03/sluta-sla-pa-sveriges-foraldrar
Swedish authorities and legal institutions have a negative attitude towards parenthood, which is not good for the relationship between children and parents. Many children need more time with their parents to feel safe. Now the government intends be even stricter with school attendance, and even prevent parents who want to take care of their children’s schooling, so-called Home-schooling. They are also negative to children’s absence from school for travel with their families, and in general they announce “tougher measures” which will not help the confused children.

Children need their parents as life-coaches, but there is so little time in today’s stressful society. Children need a solid relationship with an adult to find their identity, and develop their personalities in a natural way.
Swedish society does not respect parenthood. Parents are seen as some sort of service to the school system, which will ensure the provision of children who are rested, fed, have done their homework and are interested in going to school.

I am sure that very many of the problems of today’s society, have arisen precisely because time for children and parents to be together has shrunk. This has happened gradually, and perhaps imperceptibly. We have given priority to other things, and now we need to wake up and see that too many children are suffering.

Those in power do not see this connection, so now they want to legislate more stringent attendance at school and even “tougher measures”. They want to prevent parents who have the opportunity to take responsibility for their children’s schooling, so-called Home-schooling, by requiring “special reasons”. It will also be more difficult to get time off from school for example to travel with the family. They have not tried to find out how very many children suffer today in the schools, due to bullying, harassment, and the like. Politicians talk about the “right to education”, as if there are no problems in the schools. Many children and young people are experiencing the “right” to attend school and social interaction, which the politicians are talking about, rather like a prison and a torment. A very large proportion of children today are exhibiting anxiety about going to school.

Politicians say: “We must have schools, because we have had them since the 1800s.” Usually it would not be so modern for you to say that something is from the 1800s. We are living in a completely different society now. Back then they wanted to increase public knowledge. But now the level of education of most adults is much higher than primary school, so now there is no reason to force all children to go to school, if the parents have other options.

The Government’s new Education Act Bill sends out a very serious message to all the parents in this country. We are now being prohibited from giving our children a better alternative to going to school. Parents are simply not allowed to judge what is good for their own children.

Sweden needs a new approach to parenthood. We need to see parents as experts on their children. The solution is not to pull children away from their parents even more, but to support children and parents, to make use of all the time they can get to spend together.

Sweden is selling out the immense power that parents’ responsibility for their children represents. This is a disaster. We cannot afford to do without it. It is upon that power that a society rests. If you who are in power continue to display this negative attitude, you will undermine the whole society. You cannot replace parenting by doubling the number of school nurses and counsellors. Parenthood cannot be substituted at all. Your animosity towards parents will only cost countless extra billions.

Guest Speakers: Craig and Barbara Smith

Other workshops on offer include: Looking at Tertiary in the Waikato with input from Waikato University, Wintech and Vision College; A parents panel; A presentation from homeschool graduates; Teaching Reading and Maths; Home Educating [...]]]>

Sat 6 March 2010

Home Education Conference in Hamilton

Guest Speakers: Craig and Barbara Smith

Other workshops on offer include: Looking at Tertiary in the Waikato with input from Waikato University, Wintech and Vision College; A parents panel; A presentation from homeschool graduates; Teaching Reading and Maths; Home Educating Large Families. There will be vendors available.

Venue: Hamilton South Baptist Church, Ohaupo Rd, Hamilton

Contact: Margaret, Phone: 07 843 5656

Programme: TBA

Cost: TBA

Copenhagen conference, in session right now (Thursday 10 Dec 2009 NZ time), is planning to set up a type of world government that will heavily control economics in the name of (the total fraud called) global warming.

“Climategate” is the fraud of global warming that was only recently exposed, [...]]]>

The video clips below are an absolute must.

Copenhagen conference, in session right now (Thursday 10 Dec 2009 NZ time), is planning to set up a type of world government that will heavily control economics in the name of (the total fraud called) global warming.

“Climategate” is the fraud of global warming that was only recently exposed, but which has hardly been mentioned in NZ…it is huge in the USA and UK.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KiwiSmithFamily/World%2BViews%2Bin%2BFocus/

Craig & Barbara Smith

Home Education Foundation

Ph. +64 6 357-4399

craig@hef.org.nz

Lord Monckton Returns to Alex Jones TV To Talk About The Scientific Fraud Taking Place At Copenhagen
Alex Jones of Infowars.com welcomes back to the show Lord Christopher Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, British politician, business consultant, policy adviser, writer, columnist, inventor and adviser to Margaret Thatcher’s policy unit in the 1980s. Monckton is a vociferous critic of the climate scam gang. He reports from the summit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZW-BF70TsI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHSjCulvb_o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6bXxC1d_rE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V22Eda8qwXY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0gyFXKvvFs