Science by Design conferences – Only 15 days to go!

[Please pass this along to your local homeschooling networks]

Have you booked for the Science by Design conference yet? Only fifteen days
until the tour starts!

The Earlybird deadline for Auckland and Palmerston North is the 31 May so
book now and save a few $$$.

***Bookings: Email firelightevents@maxnet.co.nz , ph 09 29 3590 or book
online at www.learnex.co.nz and follow links to your area.

* Vendor & curriculum tables * Spot prizes * Freebies * Encouragement *
Upskilling * Networking with other Home Educators * Inspiration for yourself
and your teens… – all while listening to a fantastic International
speaker!

STOP PRESS – all conference attendees will receive a voucher to trial and
brand new curriculum written by Dr Wile!

Dr Jay Wile (www.drwile.com) is a very entertaining and engaging speaker so
even if you haven’t read his books or used his materials, you will benefit
greatly from what he has to say. Dr Wile who will be speaking from a
Christian perspective but anyone is welcome to attend.

*** Bookings: Email firelightevents@maxnet.co.nz , ph 09 29 3590 or book
online at www.learnex.co.nz and follow links to your area.

Tour Dates:

Palmerston North – Tuesday/Wednesday 7th & 8th June

Auckland – Friday/Saturday 10th & 11th June

Nelson – Sunday 12th (evening) & Monday 13th June

Christchurch – Tuesday 14th June (Christchurch is nearly full so don’t delay
or you may miss out)

The success of future tours depends on your support of this tour. So don’t
delay: book today!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me off list.

*** Bookings: Email firelightevents@maxnet.co.nz , ph 09 29 3590 or book
online at www.learnex.co.nz and follow links to your area.

Kind regards,
Erena

On behalf of “The Firelight Foundation” – www.firelightfoundation.co.nz

(The Firelight Foundation is the non profit wing of LearnEX Educational
Services Ltd – www.learnex.co.nz)

Here’s what Kiwis are saying about Dr Jay Wile:

Excellent, very interesting.

Could listen to him for hours.

Dynamic speaker!

Very informative.

He sure knows his stuff.

Brilliant…

Obviously passionate about his subject and able to communicate on a layman’s
level.

Some of the topics covered (will vary from centre to centre) include:

*”Creation versus Evolution: Religion versus Science or Religion versus Religion?”

*”The Bible: A Great Source of Modern Science” “Recent News in Creation Science” “Ask the Beasts”

*”Where are they Now? (Home Education graduates)”

* “The Earth: Fearfully & Wonderfully Made” “Ecohysteria”

and
“Be Open Minded but Don’t let your Brains Fall Out!”

Tell your contacts. Come along. See you there!

Palmerston North: Science by Design Conference, Jay Wile – Tuesday 7th (Evening) & Wednesday 8th June

Science by Design Conference, Jay Wile –  Tuesday 7th (Evening) & Wednesday 8th June
Palmerston North
REGISTER Below, early bird finishes 31st May. 

 

 

 

 

 

  • FREE! Elementary Science Course voucher.
  • GOODIE BAGS
  • SUPER SUPPER TUESDAY EVENING
  • SPOT PRIZES

Conference Programme

 

TUESDAY 7 June
6pm Venue Opens for registrations and resource viewing – 

Vendors: Tisa, HEF, Geneva Books, CES and LearnEX

7pm “Be Open Minded but Don’t Let Your Brain Fall Out” 

One of the most important steps in critical thinking is to look at all sides of an issue. It is very easy to get trapped by false ideas if you continue to look at an issue from only one side. At the same time, however, it can be uncomfortable (and sometimes dangerous) to read the viewpoints of those with whom we disagree. How does a Christian deal with this tension? Dr. Wile first discusses why it is so important to look at an issue from many different sides, and then he explains how to avoid the pitfalls that could result. Those who are interested in serious investigations of theological, scientific, or political issues should definitely hear this talk.

8pm Super Supper – vendor stalls open
8.30pm The Earth: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” 

How does a poisonous gas make it possible for life to exist on earth? Why should we be reminded of God’s love for us every time we look at a compass? Because from the interior structure of the earth to its atmosphere, our planet has been designed by God so that it is the perfect place for us to live. In this talk, Dr. Wile discussed the various design features scientists find in the earth that make it very clear the earth was not the result of chance. This talk is a great way to finish our evening by marvelling at the intricacies of creation!

WEDNESDAY 8 June
8.15am Venue Opens for registration and resource viewing
9am “Teaching Critical Thinking” 

One of the biggest failures of our public and private school systems is that they do not teach students how to think critically. In this seminar, Dr. Wile gives you specific suggestions as to how you can teach your child to think critically, regardless of the subject matter that the student is learning. You will learn how to help your student evaluate statements, look for hidden assumptions, find political/social agendas, and discover faulty logic. Although Dr. Wile’s area of interest is science, he will show you how critical thinking applies to all academic areas, as well as all facets of your life.

10.30am Morning Tea
11am “Ecohysteria” 

In this seminar, Dr. Wile discusses the facts related to the environmental debate that is currently raging in America. Because the hysteria related to global warming has become so rampant in the past few years, he spends most of his time on this hot-button issue. He discusses data related to global temperatures, climate models, glaciers, and polar bear populations to demonstrate that most of what you hear in regards to climate is simply not supported by science. In addition, he provides you with quotes from respected climatologists who are currently doing research in the field to show you that there is no scientific consensus on global warming. This is mostly due to our lack of understanding when it comes to very basic issues related to global climate. If you have been scared by what you have heard from the likes of Former Vice President Al Gore, you should definitely hear this talk!

12.30pm Lunch
1.30pm “What are they doing now?”  

Dr. Wile became involved in homeschooling because while he was teaching at the university level, his best students were homeschool graduates. Since then, he has expected homeschoolers to become the true leaders of their generation. To investigate whether or not his expectation is coming true, Dr. Wile tracked down several homeschooled students who are now adults and learned what they are doing. In this talk, Dr. Wile tells you what he learned. You will be amazed at what these young adults are doing and how they have already impacted the world. If you are wondering whether or not homeschool graduates can make a difference in the real world, you should definitely listen to this talk!

3pm Afternoon Tea
3.30pm “The Bible: A Great Source of Modern Science” 

In this lecture, Dr. Wile examines many of the rules and regulations found in the Old Testament and demonstrates how these rules are in perfect agreement with our most modern scientific knowledge. Dr. Wile shows how the rules regarding circumcision are based on medical knowledge that has only been uncovered within the last 30 years. He shows that the Bible knew about germs long before people know of them and that the Bible was the first document to contain modern ideas of sanitation. This lecture makes it clear that the Bible was NOT authored by men!

5.00pm Vendor stalls open for browsing
5.30pm Conference concludes

palmy map

 

 

Conference Details

Tuesday 7th (evening) & Wednesday 8th June, 2011

Reformed Church, 541 Ruahine Street,

Palmerston North

Contact & registrations: elliotts@xnet.co.nz

Phone (06) 323 3499

[Pleave a message if necessary. Email contact is preferred.]

Click HERE for a conference brochure

Click HERE for a registration form

Home schooling highlights shortfalls in Taiwan’s education system

Home schooling highlights shortfalls in Taiwan’s education system
Home-schoolers enjoy their group activity provided by U Theatre.

On a sunny day in May, while most students were in school, 50 children and their parents were drumming and practicing martial arts with the renowned Taiwanese performance group U Theatre in Taipei. These children are home-schooled.

Two youngsters just back from several months in Cambodia are among them. Travel has been an important part of the education of this girl in the fourth grade and her brother in the second.

Their mother and teacher, Michelle Kao, is behind their unusual educational experience. Before her first child was born, Kao already made up her mind to teach her children herself, with a curriculum that includes travel. Since her daughter was 5, the family has made extended stays in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand, spending at least a month in each place.

The children learn about the history, geography, society, language and currency of the country, matching learning directly with their experience, Kao said. They were even tasked with budgeting expenditure during their travels.

The siblings have also attended elementary schools in Taiwan, at their own request. “But after completing the trial period they decided they liked home schooling better,” Kao said.

“I am not saying school education is bad. It’s just that I wanted to give my children the opportunity to learn things differently, and to do and see things I missed out on,” she said. “I saw in them potential that can never be developed in Taiwan’s education system.”

While planning her children’s instruction, Kao felt like she was in school herself. She recalled her elementary school days, when teachers labeled her “gentle and quiet,” but her mind was full of questions about the importance of grades. But tests are what school is all about in Taiwan.

Dorota Wernik, an educator from Poland, had learned about Taiwan’s exam-driven, spoon-feeding education before settling down here in 2000. “There were too many examinations, but no inspiration for independent thinking,” she said.

Read more here:

http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=164889&ctNode=427

 

Appeal for “Kidnapped” Swedish Homeschooler Draws Supporters

 

As the now-infamous case of Swedish homeschooler Domenic Johansson (at left, with his parents) — seized by authorities because of homeschooling almost two years ago — continues to drag on through the judicial system, a group of the family’s supporters turned out at an appeal in Stockholm on May 11 to express their hope that the family would be reunited soon.

The story of the Johansson tragedy has caused an international uproar, attracting the involvement of numerous prominent human-rights groups in Sweden and around the world. At least hundreds of thousands of homeschooling activists, particularly in America, have been outraged by the case. And now, some Swedes are taking an interest too.

First, some background: After years of battling the social services over not sending Domenic to pre-school and not giving him the government’s “recommended” — though technically optional — vaccines, the family decided to move to India, the mother’s homeland. But right before their plane was set to take off, authorities abducted the boy. He’s been in state custody ever since.

The original reason for ripping the family apart was homeschooling, which is technically legal in Sweden until a new law banning it goes into effect later this year. But social services later complained that Domenic had not received all his vaccines and that he had two baby-teeth cavities the family was planning to treat in India.

The battle to reunite the family has been going on ever since. And on May 11, a high-level appeals court was supposed to review the case. Protesters supporting the family arrived with signs — some of the activists were relatively cheerful, others were obviously on the verge of crying — in what a spokesperson for the court referred to as unusual.

Read more here:

Appeal for “Kidnapped” Swedish Homeschooler Draws Supporters

 

Domenic Johansson: LVU case Wednesday

The LVU case is coming up in Kammarrätten next Wednesday, May 11th. The time for the hearing is 10 o´clock and it might take the whole day. A silent and peaceful protest is planned to take place outside the courthouse for an hour or two maybe, so if you have time, please join. You don´t need any placade or anything, but if you want to make one, please contact http://www.facebook.com/kelley.bee#!/profile.php?id=741294053

The address is: Kammarrätten, Birger Jarls Torg 5, Stockholm