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Accidental Ambassadors

~ Amber Ferguson

Once upon an ordinary homeschooling day, our home school accidentally became an American embassy. My family became ambassadors. Even more surprising, it was to Germany, a nation where homeschooling is basically considered a crime against the state; it is a serious offense.

I removed my children from a wonderful, private Christian school when my daughter was thirteen and my son was nine. We had needed that money, but I had always secretly wanted to homeschool them anyway.

Ironically, shortly before we began our home schooling life, I talked my best friend into transferring her children from public school to our private school. My friend's mother never liked me again. A German national who moved to the United States after she married a military man, she was a huge fan of public school systems. When we started homeschooling, she grew concerned that her daughter would follow in my footsteps and start homeschooling as well.

Read the rest of the article.

The Spirit of Texas

Join the Fight

As Christmas and the end of the year draw near, my family begins to ask me what I want for Christmas. I struggle with that because I am not really a gift kind of person. I do not think about that a lot. Being forced to contemplate that question, I realized what I really want is freedom for home school families in Texas and protection of the fundamental right of parents to direct the care, control, and upbringing of their children.

Thinking about the battles we have had over those issues in the last two and a half decades here in Texas, I was reminded of a book by a ranching family about their West Texas pioneer forbearers who settled this great state. The book is called The Spirit of Texas and I highly recommend it, but I was reminded of it because of this description, "Texas! Not just a majestic place, but a magnificent people, an attitude and a way of life, an undeniable Spirit!"

Keep reading Tim's Spirit of Texas blog post, and watch this video where Eulalia Meeks tells her story of being bullied by public school officials.

Around the Web

Make Figgy Pudding

The Christmas Story

Christmas Around the World

Home Schooled Former Egg Farmer Elected To Represent
'All Options' on Ohio Board of Ed

~Victor Skinner, EAGnews.org

ROCK CREEK, Ohio - After stinging election defeats for the education reform movement in Idaho, Indiana, Michigan and other states, a lot of supporters are left searching for an inspiring story to rejuvenate their spirits.

Meet Sarah Fowler.

The 24-year-old former egg farmer was home schooled her entire life by her parents in rural northeast Ohio. The humble girl-next-door recognized the state's education system needed a different kind of leadership and mounted an amazing last-minute, 92-day campaign for a vacant seat on the state board of education.

Fowler won by a landslide, defeating a union-endorsed candidate by a wide margin. She will join a growing majority on the Ohio State Board of Education committed to the principles of school choice and traditional classroom instruction.

"As far as I know, I would be the first person, in Ohio anyway, to sit on the board ... that has been home educated," Fowler told EAGnews.

Read the rest of the article.

Patrick Henry Scholarship

THSC is pleased to continue offering scholarships of $1,000-$3,000 for Texas home schoolers who plan to attend Patrick Henry College as freshmen in the fall. Please go to our website to view the application. Applications are to be postmarked by February 5, 2013.

Feel free to call George Clay at 540-338-8777 if you have specific questions.

A Home Schooler's Perspective
Home Schooling Offers Unexpected Benefits

~ Esther Brincat, The Henderson Press

I have never stepped foot in a public school.

I have never had school lockers, cafeteria food, or five hours of boredom.

I also have never had the "high school experience." No cheering for school football teams for me. I was home schooled my entire childhood. I had the experience of learning things on my own and taking my time with things.

I planted tomatoes with my mom, science experiments in our kitchen, learned math using dry pinto beans, and had Geography Bingo! The best part is that I had the pleasure of learning these things with my siblings. Some parents tend to believe that homeschooling shuns the child from social activity, when that is in fact far from the truth.

I have had wonderful opportunities because I am homeschooled.

Keep reading.

Meet Jeremy Newman

This coming spring our Director of Public Policy, Paul Hastings, will be leading a group of five young men to the Texas Capitol for 140 days. These young men are all home school graduates, and Texas legislators will view them as the manifestation of what home schooling has to offer.

This team will be working directly with state representatives, state senators, and their staff. They will testify in committees about home schooling, track and write bills, analyze legislation, draft amendments, debate with staffers, and meet and work with other conservative organizations, all the while fighting for the right of parents to direct the care, control, and upbringing of their children.

We want to welcome Jeremy Newman. Jeremy is a 2011 home schooling graduate. Jeremy's love for politics and the law comes from a deep-rooted desire to be productive and impactful in everything he does. He attended the Republican State Conventions in 2008 and 2012 and competed in NCFCA Speech and Debate. Jeremy stated he is thrilled and excited at the prospect of being a part of the fight for Christian principles and for the rights and sovereignty of his own generation and all those who come after.

Check out the THSC PAC website for current Texas, National, International, and Legislative news.

Events Around Texas

Now through December 31 - San Antonio Botanical Gardens
Now through December 30 - Dallas Arboretum
January 13, 2013 - Home School Geography Bee

THSC Resources and Member Benefits

REVIEW Magazine
Check out the electronic version of the THSC REVIEW Magazine.
Sign up for our free print edition of the THSC REVIEW.

This magazine has encouraging articles written by those who have been there/done that to help you in this great adventure of home schooling!

THSC Beginner Packet
Have you decided to home school you children halfway through the school year because of problems with the public school system or just simply because you feel it is the right time and the best choice for your children? Or do you know someone else who has?

THSC's Beginner Packet is the perfect item to add to your Christmas list. It includes the 2012-2013 Handbook and three audio CDs to answer your questions and to encourage and equip you.

Order now!

A Merry Heart Doeth Good

While gardening on a beautiful spring afternoon, a young mother overheard a conversation between two of her boys. They were discussing going to Heaven. It went something like this:

"See that rainbow, Cam. It's a reminder that God's not going to flood the earth again. He'll just take us with him to Heaven before he blows it all up with fire."

"Dude, I don't think I'm going to like Heaven very much."

"What!! Are you kidding?"

"I heard there's no food there."

"Where did you hear that?"

"Dude, seriously?? Have you not heard? Jesus had his LAST supper!"

~ A Home School Mom

Do you have a funny, home school-related anecdote you'd like to share? We'd love to publish it
(limit 750 characters)! Please include your name and where you live, then Tell Us YOUR Story.

Advent Focus

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

Start a gratitude journal with your children.

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The articles in this newsletter reflect the freedom of home educators in Texas to choose from a wide variety of home school philosophies and teaching methods. Opinions and attitudes expressed in articles do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the Texas Home School Coalition. THSC does not endorse or advocate any one method or philosophy. The board encourages each home educator to seek God's will in determining what is best for him, his school, and his students.

Publication of advertisements does not signify endorsement of items or services offered.