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How Should We View the World?

~ Lyndsay Lambert © February 2013 THSC REVIEW

A worldview is a way of viewing or interpreting all of reality. It is an interpretive framework through which or by which one makes sense of the data of life and the world. – Norman Geisler, William Watkins

It was 1988, the year that Pat Robertson, Jack Kemp, and Pete DuPont ran against George H.W. Bush for the Republican nomination for president. The moderates were out in force at our Republican county convention. However, there were more conservatives than moderates in attendance; I know this because my husband was elected by the convention to serve as convention chairman—over the moderates' choice of the man who had been elected county chairman. As you can imagine, it was a very tense convention—especially for me.

I was sitting in my seat, minding my own business, when somehow the woman in front of me figured out that I was Tim's wife. I was later to learn that she had served on the local school board in the past; it did not take me long to realize that she was from the other camp.

Read the rest of the article.

The Parallel Universe of Home Schooled Students

~ Steve Rose

When I found out there was no regulation enforcement of home schooling in Kansas, it seemed to me that the system should be trashed. But as I learned more, my attitude has changed.

As it is, nobody keeps track of what home schoolers are taught. Kansas does not even have a state statute regulating home schooling. Rather, home schooling is lumped in with non-accredited private schools.

Those schools function on the "honor" system.

Read the rest of Steve's article.

Around the Web

Time Management Ninja

Free Online Frog Dissection

Best Apps for Preschoolers

The Issue of Freedom and Liberty

The issue of freedom and liberty is often discussed during the Texas legislative sessions. It is discussed in relation to tax rates and how much of their own money taxpayers are able to keep. It has been discussed in regard to lawsuit reform and the desire for people to be protected from frivolous and harassing lawsuits. And, of course, it is also the point of discussion in regard to legislation designed to protect innocent human life.

Read the rest of the blog post.

Watching the Walls of Texas

~Alyssa Foster

A team of home schoolers form the youngest-ever lobbying group at the state capitol in Austin.

The Watchmen trudged through pouring rain on Jan. 8 to get to the first day of the 2013 legislative session at the Texas Capitol in Austin, but it was worth it. Paul Hastings, David Huber, Nathan Exley, Jeremy Newman, Trent Williams, and Ben Snodgrass, all aged 19-23, sat through a swearing-in ceremony, during which a young woman fainted, and a speech by Gov. Rick Perry to become the youngest registered lobbyists in Texas.

They're all recent home school graduates who have put college on hold to intern on behalf of the Texas Home School Coalition.

Read the rest of the article.

Events Around Texas

February 27, April 3, May 2 - THSC Capitol Days
February 28 - Home School Day at George Ranch
April 8 - Houston Children's Museum
March 20 - Bob Bullock Museum
April 20 - Texas State Home School Track and Field Championships
April 29-May 3 - WaterWorks Education Center

Put Legs on Good Citizenship

Teaching children good citizenship must be taught with "legs." They can book learn about good citizenship, but the name in itself calls for action.

Because of this fact, THSC has developed the Good Citizenship program where your students can log hours for working in Voter Registration, the Campaign Process, Political Party Process, and the Legislative Process, and even earn awards through this learning process.

At this time the THSC Watchmen are working hard in Austin, meeting with and educating legislators, poring over thousands of pages of legislation in an effort to guard against any wording that could chip away at home schooling freedoms in Texas. And your home schoolers can help, too!

There is a bill called HJR 45 authored by Representative Jonathan Stickland. The passage of this bill would confirm that home schools are protected from government regulation in the Texas Constitution.

Take Action:

1) Educate your students on HJR 45.
2) Have your students educate other home schoolers and home school groups on HJR 45 and which legislator to call in support of this bill.
3) Contact your legislator. Remember, it is your State Representative, not your U.S. Representative. Find out who to contact now.
4) Log student hours toward the Legislative Good Citizenship award.

Students who are active participants in the political process equals good citizenship success!

THSC Resources and Member Benefits

THSC 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!

Help Needed

THSC is looking for volunteer proofreaders/editors for e-Newsletter.

Do you read the newspaper, books or magazines with a red pen because mistakes drive you crazy?

If so, we need your help!

For more information, send an e-mail to en-manager@thsc.org.

John Branyan Comedy Show

Got Kids? Get John Branyan Comedy Show tickets! Committed to "comedy that won't leave a filthy residue," the John Branyan Comedy Show promises laugh-until-it-hurts, true-to-life humor the entire family will enjoy! Order your tickets today when registering for Texas' best and largest Home School Convention & Family Conference in The Woodlands, August 1-3.

Don't miss out on Early-Bird Registration discounts that end March 29. John Branyan Comedy Show tickets and other fun Convention Add-Ons like our Galveston Island field trip to Moody Gardens and Mom's Night Out Encouragement by Chocolate tickets sell out fast. Get yours today while supplies last.

Family Project – Gardening

Are you looking for a family project that will benefit the entire family?

• Learn more about the success of drought-tolerant, composting Keyhole Gardens.
• Check out these ideas on how your family can build your own Keyhole Garden:
• Sample 1
• Sample 2
• Enjoy the fruit of your labor—growing produce and making memories.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:11-12

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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 or any views expressed when clicking away from this newsletter. 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.