The Home educators in Sweden have started two Petitions to help in their fight to be able to keep home educating their children.

One Petition is for those in Sweden the other (this link) is for those outside of Sweden:

Agatha Christie

Anti-Smacking Referendum ‘09

ALL THE INFORMATION

YOU NEED

…..and NO Copyright!

The VoteNO.org.nz website has all the information you need regarding the upcoming anti-smacking Referendum including
frequently asked questions,
quotes of interest,
summary of polls,
summary of media releases on this issue,
how to enroll,
background of the Referendum
even a cartoons page!

But there are also
FREE downloadable brochures and posters
(and banner adverts and sidebar adverts for your blogs and website). The brochures are even in other translations including Maori, Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, Chinese, and Hindi! Download them - photocopy – and distribute to family and friends!

So GET THE WORD OUT on what this Referendum is all about.

There’s no copyright – we won’t sue you for plagiarism! GO FOR YOUR LIFE!! But especially – encourage people to vote!

We can also make the videos available to show to your group including Simon Barnett, Referendum proposer Sheryl Savill and Maori Child Advocate Bev Adair – simply email us admin@familyfirst.org.nz for the files

There’s also a blog, we’re on Twitter, and a group of supporters have started a Facebook group

You may also see our Billboard campaign underway also.

IT’S ALL GO!

You may even like to financially support the VoteNO campaign!!

But at the end of the day, the Referendum is about you having the opportunity to have YOUR say! Help send a strong message to the politicians that they simply cannot ignore.

Have a great weekend

Bob McCoskrie
National Director

http://www.familyfirst.org.nz

For more information about these ratings check out the link above at Open Parachute..

KiwiSmithFamily is rated in the 101-150 blogs in New Zealand.
The Home Education Foundation and Family Integrity come in at 150-200.
These sections are in alphabetical order.

201 – 370 (Check out the link at the top of this post to see theses rates and more…)

“It seems that the same man who rushed to make a compromise deal with Helen Clark and Sue Bradford in 2007 is no longer interested in finding sensible solutions,” said Mr Baldock

On April 18th, 2007 John Key’s reported position was very clear when he said, “If Labour really believes that ‘light smacking for the purposes of correction’ will not be outlawed, then they need to explain that. But no matter how you read this bill in its present form it will be illegal to ‘lightly smack for the purposes of correction’.

Last week, after fudging on the question for more than 4 years, Sue Bradford herself finally admitted on National Radio that every parent who uses a light smack or any reasonable force for the purpose of correction was now a criminal in this country, regardless of whether they are eventually prosecuted or not!

John Key then went on to say, “The way to send a strong message on child abuse is to make the law clear and precise and then to police it strongly and vigilantly. This bill as it stands does the opposite. For me, a result that sees the criminalisation of parents for a light smack is simply not on the table.”

In May 2007 the whole nation was shocked by the news that John Key was willing to suddenly change the National party’s position on the anti-smacking law and strike a compromise deal with Helen Clark and Sue Bradford.

I recall John Key explaining his actions then on the basis that the Anti-smacking law was a bad law, but since the Government had the numbers to pass it anyway, he felt responsible to do what he could to minimise the harm the law could cause to parents and families all over the country.

Now that he has the power to amend the ‘bad law’ he seems to have completely changed his position and thinks his amendment has made it into a ‘good law’. In the email reply to my offer, Wayne Eagleson wrote, “As the Prime Minister has indicated publicly on a number of occasions, the government is of the view that the current law is working.”

Perhaps the Prime Minister would take the time to explain to Glenn Groves who was recently convicted of assaulting his 7 year old son for nothing more serious than shoving him in the back, how well his amendment to the ‘bad law’ is working.

My proposed amendments as outlined in the attached  correspondence (posted below)  would remove the criminalisation of good parents,” said Mr Baldock.

Ends

Contact
Larry Baldock
021864833

Proposal to withdraw the referendum

From: Larry Baldock
Sent: Wednesday, 17 June 2009 2:23 pm
To: Hon. John Key (MIN)
Cc: Hon. Bill English (MIN); Wayne Eagleson (MIN)
Subject: Proposal to withdraw the referendum.

The Prime Minister,
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
June 16, 2009.

Dear Prime Minister,
In the interests of saving our country most of the estimated $9 million to complete the referendum, Sheryl Savill, the petition proposer, and myself would withdraw the referendum, (as per Sec 22A (1) of the CIR Act 1993) in return for an agreement by yourself to amend the current sec 59 of the crimes Act in the following way.

Delete the following sub clauses from the amended Sec 59,
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) or in any rule of common law justifies the use of force for the purpose of correction.
(3) Subsection (2) prevails over subsection (1),

In this way, the criminalisation of parents who use some reasonable force to correct and train their children would be removed, whilst the other clarifications in Subsection (1) of the permissible use of reasonable force would remain.
Your amendment emphasising the need for the police to use discretion could also remain.

I would be happy to discuss these proposals with your officials and act promptly to call off the referendum and save the hard-earned money of the taxpayers of New Zealand.

Yours sincerely,
Larry Baldock.

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On 18/06/09 11:45 AM, “Wayne Eagleson (MIN)” <Wayne.Eagleson@parliament.govt.nz> wrote:

Dear Larry,

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply on his behalf to your email regarding the s59 referendum.

As the Prime Minister has indicated publicly on a number of occasions, the government is of the view that the current law is working. On that basis, the Prime Minister does not support your proposed changes to the law.

With respect to the issue of the cost of the referendum, the Prime Minister said in the House yesterday that while he was concerned at having to spend $9 million, with a legal process having triggered the referendum it would be followed through on.

Thank you for writing to the Prime Minister on this issue.

Yours sincerely,
Wayne Eagleson
Chief of Staff
Office of the Prime Minister
Ph: 64 4 817-9365 or 64 21 709 067
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

Venue: Hornby Presbyterian Community Church, 27 Amyes Road, Hornby Christchurch

Friday night Registration, Curriculum sales & family tables for second hand resources will be open from 5.30pm

6pm                  Family fun – music, drama and laughs

6.45pm             Keynote session with Diana for the whole family; Unlocking the Mysteries of the Middle Ages

8.30pm The Ultimate Family supper (Sales tables will remain open until 9.30pm)

Saturday 8.30am  Registration

9am –    The Well-Kept Secret of a Biblical Education (this session has a Christian focus)

10.15    Am tea

10.30 -  Beyond Survival

12-1pm Lunch

1 pm     Workshop options (choose 1 out of 4)

1.  Diana and Bill – Making the most of teen years at home. Encouraging session for teens

2.  Barbara Smith – Avoiding Burnout. Strategies to identify and overcome burnout.

3.  Lennie Harrison – Early Reading and Writing Skills. A practical session aimed at 4-8yrs.

4.  Linda Gage – Character Training. Focussing on the heart and mind while they learn and grow.

2.15pm Workshop options (choose 1 out of 4)

1.  Bill Waring – The Homeschool Principal; an encouraging discussion time for Dads

2.  Barbara Smith and Ngaire Allan – Preparing for an ERO review; putting your best foot forward.

3.  Lennie Harrison – Meat for Teenagers (directed at parents only, and Christian content)

4.  Linda Gage – Time Management. Practical tips for balancing the house, the family, life and everything else.

3.30pm afternoon tea

3.45pm Final keynote session with Diana Actively ENGAGE Learning & Actually ENJOY Learning!

5.15 pm End of conference. Book stalls remain open until 6pm

*Please bring a contribution for morning/afternoon tea if you are attending on Saturday.

*Creche will be provided for children 3 and under only. A parent’s room with sound from the auditorium is available for mum’s with babies.

* No children’s programme will be available but quiet children over 12 are welcome to attend sessions.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Registration Details:

Names of those attending: Mum/Dad_________________________________________________________________

Children’s names and ages requiring a place in crèche on Saturday_________________________________________

Number of Adults and Children attending on Friday Evening: _____Adults ______Teens/Children

Number of Adults/Teens attending on Saturday: _____Adults _____Teens

Address:_______________________________________________________________________________________

Phone:________________________________  Email:_________________________________________________

Workshop Preferences: (to help us allocate rooms – you may change your mind on the day) Please rank your choices.

Session 1: Making the most of your teen years at home.  Number attending_____

_____Avoiding Burnout _____ Early Reading and Writing Skills. _____ Character Training.

Session 2: The Homeschool Principal (Dad attending? Yes/No)

_____ Preparing for an ERO review. _____ Meat for Teenagers _____Time Management.

We would like a table to sell used resources: Yes/No   (Table cost will be $5)

Cost: Early bird registration until August 21^st. Late Registration fees are in brackets. All fees cover the whole family.

Friday Evening $15 ($20)            Saturday only $30 ($35)              Friday and Saturday $35 ($40)

Post registration forms with payment (cheques made out to CHE) to 12 Egmont Place, Harewood, Christchurch

Internet banking: please deposit with your surname & “Conference” as a reference: A/C 03 0802 0162706 00

Living, Laughing and Learning Conference with Diana Waring

September 11^th and 12^th, 2009

Venue: Hornby Presbyterian Community Church, 27 Amyes Road, Hornby Christchurch

Curriuclum vendors and other resources will be available for sale during the conference.

Friday evening 6-9pm: An evening for the whole family with music, drama, singing and comedy courtesy of your homeschooling friends; a race through the Middle Ages with Diana and the Ultimate Family supper.

Unlocking the Mysteries of the Middle Ages
Join Diana for a whirlwind tour through one thousand years of colorful characters and world changing events. Beginning with the fall of Rome and continuing all the way up to Gutenberg’s printing press. Seat belt use suggested–you’re going to move fast!

Saturday 9am – 5.30pm

A variety of encouraging and practical sessions with Diana and other experienced home educators.

9am The Well-Kept Secret of a Biblical Education (Specifically for Christian families)
How much have the prevailing culture and our own school experiences influenced our views on education, even in homeschooling?  This powerful message will provide you with a foundational and scriptural framework for understanding education — the content and the means — from a Biblical perspective.

10.30am Beyond Survival (General Audience)
A transparent description of the beginning days in her homeschooling, including the struggles and failures she experienced as she unsuccessfully tried to create school at home. Learn how she went from “barely surviving” to finding great joy on the journey with her children. Diana brings experience with her own children for over twenty years, as well as insights gleaned from homeschooling families around the world.

4pm Actively ENGAGE Learning & Actually ENJOY Learning! (General Audience)
“How do I get my kids to finish their school work?”  The deeper question is actually, “How do I get my kids to be self-motivated?”  We will look at specific ways to encourage and assist our children in developing ownership of their education.  We must learn the critical difference between controlling and directing; pushing and releasing; coercing and facilitating.  It is the master teacher who says, “I can not teach you how to do it, but I can help you learn to do it.”

Workshops will include:

Diana and Bill                Making the most of teen years at home. Encouraging session for teens

Bill Waring                    The Homeschool Principal; an encouraging discussion time for Dads

Barbara Smith              Avoiding Burnout. Strategies to identify and overcome burnout.

Barbara & Ngaire Allan   Preparing for an ERO review; putting your best foot forward.

Lennie Harrison            Early Reading and Writing Skills. A practical session aimed at 4-8yrs.

Meat for Teenagers (directed at parents only, and Christian content)

Linda Gage                    Character Training. Focussing on the heart while they learn and grow.

Time Management. Practical tips for balancing the house, the family, life and everything else.

See the Insert for your registration form and plan to join us for a wonderful weekend of encouragement.

Go to  http://www.dianadownunder.com for more on Diana’s teaching and resources as well as registration details for all her Downunder conferences. A very informative website developed by Chareen Rushworth. (Cantabrian now in Melbourne)

Queries: gagetribe@xtra.co.nz or ngaire.allan@paradise.net.nz

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Sponsors:

Grace Green – Creative Memories consultant Website: http://www.mycmsite.co.nz/gracegreen
06 878 0058 Helping people organise and display their photographs.

To become a sponsor of this event please email Barbara at DianaWaringPN@hef.org.nz or phone (06)357-4399

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Living Learning and Laughing Conference
Australia / New Zealand 2009 htttp://www.dianadownunder.com

]]> http://hef.org.nz/2009/living-laughing-and-learning-conference-with-diana-waring-september-11th-and-12th-2009-christchurch/feed/ 0 http://hef.org.nz/2009/diana-waring-is-coming-to-auckland/ http://hef.org.nz/2009/diana-waring-is-coming-to-auckland/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:43:51 +0000 admin http://hef.org.nz/?p=4590 http://www.aheconference.org.nz/

Diana Waring is coming to Auckland!

Home educated children can enter

Parents can sign as the teacher

—– Original Message —–
From: Oliver Raman <mailto:Oliver@24zoom.com>

Dear Principal/ Administrator

I have just sent in the order for 30 high spec A100

Fujifilm Digital Cameras. They are silver in colour and

feature:-

• 10  Megapixels
• 3x  Optical Zoom
• Face Detection with Auto red-eye removal
• High ISO1600
• SD/SDHC Memory Card Compatible
  

These cameras will come with a memory card & a

camera bag. These are just some of the prizes for

students and schools who enter the

New Zealand Schools Photographic Competition
Further details are available at http://www.nzschoolsvisualarts.co.nz

Please note the closing date is the 31 July 2009.

Good luck with your schools entries.

Oliver C. Raman

Chairman – New Zealand Schools Visual Arts Charitable Trust
Reg. No. CC22970 07 846 0380 oliver@24zoom.com
021 1901 695 http://www.nzschoolsvisualarts.co.nz