Saint Augustine Classical Academy: January 2011

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Still on vacation!

It's been a long stretch, but we're almost done. My husband's vacation time was for mid-January, so we're enjoying our time together now. We will be gearing back up on February 7th. I cannot wait to get started again!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Important Information for Homeschooling Families

Please read and forward to your friends and family!

http://www.nheld.com/Editorialtaxbreaks.htm

Excerpt:

Freedom for homeschooling parents, however, may become a thing of the past, a relic, perhaps never to be unearthed again, if Congress adopts tax credits for homeschoolers. Parents might well enjoy such tax credits for the moment, but that momentary enjoyment will be short-lived when they come to realize the dire consequences that may occur after accepting such a federal bribe.   What could happen? Well, imagine this scenario:

1.            Congress adopts tax credits for homeschoolers.
2.            Homeschoolers accept the tax credits.
3.            Congress now has Constitutional authority over homeschooling.
4.            The IRS Secretary adopts “regulations” to determine the definition of a “homeschool”, and to determine what courses, curricula, textbooks, timeframe, and method a parent can use in order to “qualify” for the tax credits.
5.            The IRS audits your homeschool course, curricula, textbooks, timeframe, and method used.
6.            The federal definition of the term “homeschool” conflicts with the State definition of “homeschool”. The Supremacy clause of the Constitution now applies, rendering the State definition of “homeschool” null and void. Parents must now comply with the federal definition of “homeschool”. The authority of state legislatures to regulate education within their state is usurped.
7.            Parents who do not comply with the federal definition of “homeschool” may be in violation of the federal law.
8.            Congress, the President, or the federal Education Department establish new laws or regulations dealing with violations of the federal “homeschool” law.
9.            Parents are found to be neglectful of their children for violating the federal “homeschool” law.
10.        Congress adopts new legislation establishing a federal Department of Child Protective Services.
11.        The new federal Child Protective Services agency adopts new rules and regulations defining neglect and abuse, and hire new employees with investigative powers, and powers to remove the child from the home.

Is any of the above really too farfetched to be beyond reality?

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Learn Something New Every Day

So, even though we are on vacation and we are (as seen in the post below) having a lot of fun with non-academic activities, I think it's important to keep some structure in the day.

A while back, I ran across a nice deal on a big white board and snapped one up for our schoolroom. For the past week or so, after the kids have gone to bed, I've taken a few minutes to put up some interesting facts about the next day. I include the date and day, anything special about the day in the eyes of the Church, the feast day, the readings for the day, the Mysteries of the Rosary for the day, and an historical fact.

For example, here is today's board:

At some point during the day, I go over the information with Henry. We look up the saint whose feast day it is and I give Henry a summary of his or her life. We read our Bible readings. We talk about the Mysteries. Finally, I try to find some interesting pictures concerning the historical fact online for Henry to look at.

After today's "lesson," Henry has decided that he wants to be an astronaut. In fact, he wants all of us (including little Jane) to be astronauts. He requested a coloring page of the space shuttle as his activity for today and is completing it even as I type.