Latest posts from Home Education Foundation

Red Cross Book fair begins tomorrow at 10:00am

May 24, 2012 By Barbara Leave a Comment

Red Cross Book Sale

Barber Hall, Palmerston North, 25 May – 27 May

When:

Friday 25 May, 10:00am – 8:00pm

Saturday 26 May, 10:00am – 6:00pm

Sunday 27 May, 10:00am – 2:00pm

Where:

Barber Hall, Palmerston North

The countdown is on as the Palmerston North Red Cross Book Sale is almost ready to kick off for another year.

Over 60,000 books have been sorted and priced, along with records, games, puzzles, posters and music. And just in time, our ever popular knitting stall with those winter warmies.

Children’s books start at just 50 cents, and most books are still just $2, while our individually priced items are all priced to guarantee a bargain.

EFTPOS will also be available, and we’ve got extra tills this year to help get you back to work on time. Bigger and better this year, make sure you are there to grab a bargain. Bring your friends, family and neighbours along to stock up on good quality cheap books.

Please note the earlier start time: Friday the doors open at 10 am.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Smiths:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 22 May 2012: Life for Those Left Behind (Craig Smith’s Health) page 6 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

http://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

http://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Home School Heartbeat: Raising Real Men

May 23, 2012 By Barbara Leave a Comment

If your home is full of noise, energy, dirt, and adventure, you’ve probably got boys! So what do you do with them? Hal and Melanie Young say, raise real men! Parents of six boys and two girls, Hal and Melanie join Mike Smith to discuss how to encourage manliness and appreciate the virtues on your sons. Read more >>

Program Listing:

Click on a program title to listen online and read a transcript

5/21	What a Guy!
5/22	Aggressive Courage
5/23	Cultivating Manly Chivalry
5/24	Gotta Learn Somehow!
5/25	When a Man’s a Man…

Raising Real Men

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Smiths:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 22 May 2012: Life for Those Left Behind (Craig Smith’s Health) page 6 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

http://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

http://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

HSLDA: Poetry Contest Deadline Approaching

May 23, 2012 By Barbara Leave a Comment

Do you love to express yourself through poetry? We have a contest just for you! The HSLDA poetry contest is going on right now. You will need to hurry, but it’s not too late to enter! We will accept entries postmarked no later than Friday, June 1, 2012.

For contest details and entry form >>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Smiths:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 22 May 2012: Life for Those Left Behind (Craig Smith’s Health) page 6 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

http://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

http://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

How to Avoid the Worst Kind of Socialization

May 23, 2012 By Barbara Leave a Comment

Mike Smith
HSLDA President

While academic and teacher qualification objections to homeschooling are pretty much a thing of the past, the age-old question of “What about socialization?” continues to increase.

Just as we should be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within us, we should also have an answer to the socialization question. Read more >>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Smiths:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 22 May 2012: Life for Those Left Behind (Craig Smith’s Health) page 6 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

http://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

http://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

A Letter to the Subscribers of Keystone and TEACH Bulletin

May 22, 2012 By Barbara Leave a Comment

Dear Subscribers,

UPDATE ON THE HOME EDUCATION FOUNDATION

In July 2011 we wrote informing you of Craig’s brain tumour and saying that we wouldn’t be doing anything with the Home Education Foundation (“HEF”) for at least the remainder of 2011. Craig died on 30 September 2011 and we are now ready to give you an update on the status and direction of HEF. Thank you very much for your patience.

The Trustees of HEF made the following decisions at an AGM in January 2012:

Keystone

A. This will continue however it will change from being published four times a year to being published when time permits.

B. Subscriptions will be changed from expiring with a certain month to expiring after a certain number of issues. Your address label will change slightly to now indicate how many issues you still have to come.

C. New subscribers will sign up for a particular number of issues.

D. Craig was halfway through the July 2011 issue of Keystone when he died. Barbara will complete this and send it out as time is permitting.

E. After this another family will take over sourcing articles and putting Keystone together.

F. If you are not happy with this for your future Keystones please let Barbara know and she will send you a full refund of your remaining subscriptions.

TEACH Bulletin

A. This will no longer continue in published form.

B. Material which would previously have appeared in TEACH will now be put straight up on the website: http://hef.org.nz/teach/

C. Refunds on TEACH subscriptions will be posted out after we have finished fixing up all the end of year financial reports.

D. Thank you to everyone who said that HEF may keep the remainder of their subscriptions as a donation if we cease publication.

Books

The Home Education Foundation will continue to sell books and has some new books which will be advertised soon.

Trademe (fees added): http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=2366144

and

Sella (No added fees): http://www.sella.co.nz/store/4ym9qg/home-education-foundation/display-100

Enquiries from new home educators and those seeking curriculum or general advice

A. Barbara has to guard her time in order to home educate her own young ones, so,

B. These sorts of enquiries will be passed on to local support groups, or,

C. Anybody who would like us to advertise their availability to assist with such enquiries.

Difficult home educating cases

A. Barbara is available to help with difficult cases with the MoE, ERO, CYPs and the Police.

B. She has helped with a number already since Craig’s death and so far all have had a good outcome—even if just that the ERO has agreed to another review in three or six months

C. Craig was very good at this and while Barbara is on a very fast learning curve she has certainly benefited from helping Craig on various cases over so many years.

Thank you for your prayers, support and patience over the past nine months. God has been gracious.

Yours sincerely,

The Trustees

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Smiths:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 22 May 2012: Life for Those Left Behind (Craig Smith’s Health) page 6 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

http://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

http://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

ADHD Drug Use In Kids Cause For Concern

May 21, 2012 By Barbara Leave a Comment

MEDIA RELEASE 21 May 2012

ADHD Drug Use In Kids Cause For Concern

Family First NZ is alarmed at the number of children being prescribed drugs for hyperactivity and says that better diagnosis with second opinions and treatment of underlying problems should be the highest priority.

“The prescriptions for ADHD drugs have almost doubled in the past decade to a rate where more than 1 in 10 of our children are bring given drugs for their behavior. But we may be just drugging kids up to mask the real issues of the effects of food additives, sleep deprivation, family breakdown and stress, lack of discipline, and under-stimulation for bright children,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“Doctors are under pressure for a quick fix when counselling, better diet, firm discipline and a decent sleep pattern would be better. We are aware of children being sent to doctors where the likelihood of a prognosis of ADHD is most likely. And teachers are putting pressure on pupils or their parents to seek the medication as funding for more expensive solutions are cut.”

“Research is showing that Ritalin use is only a ‘band aid’ and may actually be harmful in the long term. A Study published in American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Journal showed that children treated with Ritalin improved their behaviour in the short term but with no lasting effects,” says Mr McCoskrie.

A 2009 Australian report from the Therapeutic Goods Administration showed at least 30 children have had severe psychotic episodes and wanted to kill themselves. Serious reactions to ADHD drugs have doubled in three years, up to 827. But the report said that the true extent of the side effects was unknown, with many doctors and parents were believed to be under-reporting.

An influential 2007 US study from the University of Buffalo also suggested long-term use of the drugs could stunt children’s growth, and that the benefits of drugs had previously been exaggerated. And a Michigan State University study published in the Journal of Health Economics found that misdiagnosis can have long-lasting effects including headaches, dizziness, and high blood pressure. The NZ Ministry of Health expressed concerns in 2010 over links to heart, brain and psychiatric disorders.

“Some experts have said that rather than drugging children, perhaps we need to give parents a good dose of parenting. Maybe all we’re doing is drugging up naughty kids rather than dealing with the reasons why they’re naughty in the first place,” says Mr McCoskrie.

While acknowledging that there are genuine cases of ADHD requiring medication, Family First believes medication should be a last resort and that at least two doctors should be consulted before any child is prescribed stimulant drugs.

ENDS

For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

Bob McCoskrie – National Director

Mob. 027 55 555 42

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Smiths:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 25 March 2012: Life for Those Left Behind (Craig Smith’s Health) page 6 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

http://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

http://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Bigger class sizes announced

May 19, 2012 By Barbara Leave a Comment

JOHN HARTEVELT

ROSS GIBLIN

HEKIA PARATA: Teacher – student ratios in the mid-years of education would be increased.

The Government’s move to increase class sizes has sparked immediate controversy, with accusations it will have a ”severe impact” on the quality of primary school teaching.

Education Minister Hekia Parata this morning announced the schools funding formula would change, with the student ratios in the mid-years of education changed.

Instead of the existing range of anywhere between one to 23 up to one to 29, there would be a single ratio of one to 27.5, in a change that would save about $43m per year.

Parata said about 90 per cent of schools would either gain or have a net loss of less than one full time equivalent teacher as a result of the combined effect of the changes.

“These more consistent ratios will give schools greater certainty over their resourcing from year to year,” she said.

In the last 10 years, student numbers had grown by 2.52 per cent, but teacher numbers had grown 12.76 per cent over the same period.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/budget-2012/6930082/Bigger-class-sizes-announced

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Smiths:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 25 March 2012: Life for Those Left Behind (Craig Smith’s Health) page 6 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

http://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

http://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational:
http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Fonterra Science Roadshow

May 19, 2012 By Barbara Leave a Comment

A visit to the Fonterra Science Roadshow is an exciting and entertaining learning programme of live demonstrations and hands-on exhibits that broaden students knowledge of science and technology and the world around them.

Your visit to the Roadshow…

A school visit to the Roadshow lasts for 80 minutes and is divided into three sections:

Demonstration One — As each session begins your students may be joined by those from other schools (or home educators), depending on numbers. One of our two demonstrations is then presented to the entire group. This takes around 15 minutes.

Exhibit Interaction — Each of our exhibits is set up around the hall according to its theme. Your students will have approximately 50 minutes to explore each of the activites. To help them out, each exhibit has a context board which includes information about how to use the exhibit, the science behind it, and where such things occur in everyday life. A number of the exhibits also have student explainers — senior students from the host school, who are there to assist visiting students gain the most from their Roadshow experience.

Demonstration Two — The second of our two demonstrations is now presented, then your students return to home.