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December 20, 2021

Local home school pioneer Charles Nettles remembered for his love of people – Salisbury Post

WOODLEAF — Thanksgiving was always a significant creation for the Nettles domestic.

Charles Nettles liked feeding people today and for each Thanksgiving food he cooked two hams, two turkeys and four pans of stuffing.

“We commonly experienced about 50 people,” said Carol Smith, Nettles’ daughter.

The meals ended up open to family, pals and any individual lonely for the holiday break. Just after cramming much more than 30 individuals into their home, the spouse and children identified Thanksgiving would want to shift to their church.

Smith claimed her father beloved remaining with men and women, talking to them, hearing about their life, conversing about his young children and their achievements. They had a major spouse and children, way too. Nettles and his spouse Sarah experienced eight children.

“He was in all probability the most extroverted man or woman you’d at any time meet up with,” Smith claimed

Charles died on Monday at age 65 because of to problems from COVID-19.

He used 35 a long time working at Duke Energy’s McGuire Nuclear Station and his most the latest position was nuclear instrumentation supervisor. He was born in Tennessee and bounced from Florida to China Grove just after graduating from substantial university. Charles and Sarah settled in Woodleaf in 1993.

Notably, Charles was a nearby home faculty pioneer. He co-established the Rowan County Home Faculty Association and was an activist who lobbied the point out in the 1980s to generate the modern home college regulations that moved the approach from a gray region pursuit to a codified way for family members to teach their have young children in 1988.

In the course of the 2020-2021 university 12 months, there have been an approximated 3,379 residence faculty pupils in Rowan County.

The last time the Put up spoke with Charles was late July in 2020 for a story about how the pandemic influenced residence faculty family members. He informed the Publish he and Sarah determined to property college just before they experienced young children for the reason that they desired to impart their values to their children, expend a lot more time with them and have a adaptable schedule.

All those positive aspects are represented in the litany of childhood journeys the spouse and children took. Smith reported her father loved travel and excellent time. He wished to display the kids what he loved and she has visited 46 states as a end result.

In 2006, the family members took a vacation to Alaska, and they drove. Charles hated traveling, so street journeys ended up the conventional. He took three months off from perform, some thing Smith however does not understand, and they manufactured the trek all the way up as a result of Canada to arrive at the country’s disconnected and northern-most point out.

The household once took a tumble vacation to New England just to see the leaves alter.

“It was attractive,” Smith mentioned.

Charles’ beloved area was Yellowstone Countrywide Park and he frequented it virtually 10 moments.

Some of the excursions had been basic, other people were bigger affairs. Charles was always element oriented, arranging in advance with spreadsheets, lodging, distances and areas to consider some time off if matters did not rather go to strategy.

Smith stated the arranging was great for the reason that it designed the visits fear absolutely free. As soon as, the loved ones made the decision to see how lots of nationwide parks it could stop by in a row. They strike 26 in a month and a half, and did the junior ranger applications at all of them, besides for a single the place it was not available.

Some of these adventures ended up only probable due to the fact of household schooling. Regular faculties are in session for most of the drop, but for the Nettles relatives, school adopted them where ever they ended up.

“I did math homework at picnic tables and used rocks to maintain my papers down so the wind did not blow them away,” Smith reported.

She recalled astonishing a park ranger the moment with her knowledge about cryptobiotic soil. Realizing about the phenomenon of communal soil area organisms and viewing it in individual is something she characteristics to dwelling school and the family’s outings.

Charles did not oppose community universities, either. In his final job interview with the Submit, he famous he volunteered in general public universities.

Smith mentioned almost everything her dad did centered all around his faith. Any time they ended up touring, they would uncover church buildings to go to. The moment, they transformed plans so the youngsters could show up at Bible school though touring.

At Needmore Baptist Church in Woodleaf, Charles was officially a deacon and he was a chief in The Gideons Worldwide. At church, he did regardless of what necessary to be carried out, from the cemetery to the sanctuary.

He was also greatly included with 4-H for decades as a volunteer. Lately, he was educating well known lessons on electrical energy and robotics.

Charles developed indicators at the start off of the month and commenced to strengthen, but the Tuesday ahead of very last he had chest pains following waking up.

Smith claimed various folks in the loved ones experienced contracted the illness and recovered. It appeared like Charles was on the mend as perfectly, but his problem deteriorated.

Smith said 8 decades back Charles suffered a stroke and the odds of him recovering had been incredibly low.

“The kind of stroke he had killed individuals or left them in wheelchairs,” Smith explained.

The odds of him returning to function ended up nonexistent, but 6 months afterwards Charles was back to function.

“He was a living wonder,” Smith mentioned.

She claimed in all places Charles went he designed persons smile, and she desires people today to recall how a lot he cared about folks.

Many days each and every week, Charles would meet up with Smith’s grandfather for espresso at a community fuel station. They went in the morning, at times immediately after church, and it turned a tradition. Just one of Charles’ sons, John, commenced heading as properly. On Friday, for the initial time given that Charles passed, they obtained espresso yet again.

December 15, 2021

Carroll ISD Rejects Option for Home Schoolers to Participate in Sports and Other UIL Events

Austin, TX, 17 hours ago — Carroll Independent School District, the majority of which lies in Southlake in North Texas, declined to welcome home-educated students to participate in University Interscholastic League (UIL) events.

The board vote on Monday, December 13, was 4-3, with the three newest members expressing more support for welcoming home schoolers and voting against the motion.

Assistant superintendent Gordon Butler presented four options to the board: 1) full implementation next academic year; 2) open some extracurriculars in spring 2022; 3) open middle school participation in 2022-23 as a pilot program; 4) do not participate.

In the regular legislative session, House Bill 547 passed with sponsors and votes from members of both parties. It allows home school students to participate in UIL activities, but the school district must first opt-in.

So far, 21 school districts across the state have opted in. They include small districts like Fate and Meridian to large districts like Weatherford and Abilene. However, Carroll ISD, which promotes itself as a leading school district that “fosters excellence,” will not join this group.

Southlake resident Elizabeth Huffman educates her three children at home and spoke at the meeting in favor of allowing home school participation. She was frustrated by the outcome.

“It is an uphill battle we have to fight. I thought through COVID maybe we had overcome some of these stereotypes, but apparently not. Carroll chose not to be forward thinking and set the standard of excellence,” Huffman told The Texan.

“The objections [at the meeting] seemed to be about academic rigor not the legislative right to participate,” she said. “Personally, I have three students who can read and write Latin, and my freshman has a 94 average in her dual credit Spanish class at Dallas Baptist University.”

According to the bill’s provisions, before being allowed to participate in UIL events, a home school student would have to score at or above grade level on a nationally-normed achievement test every two years, Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) president Tim Lambert said in an interview with The Texan.

In order for a public school student to participate in UIL events, he or she must show advancement one of two ways, either through successful completion of course work or by passing the Texas STAAR tests.

Carroll ISD school board member Todd Carlton stated that “the ongoing academic rigors [of Carroll] are as high as any in the nation.”

“It is difficult to tell the rigor of home schools,” he said, adding that Carroll students earn the privilege of UIL participation by “enduring the academic rigors.”

“What about C-students who barely passed but can throw the ball?” Huffman mused about the implication by Carlton that all Carroll students are thriving academically.

CISD board member Hannah Smith also pushed back, asking Carlton what the consequences of his concerns were. “So what? You believe it is unfair? The legislature already balanced those concerns,” she said.

Nationally, home-schooled students score 15 to 30 percentile points above the average public school student, according to the National Home Education Research Institute.

Colleges, like Amherst, often welcome home-schooled students as “innovative thinkers with a lot to bring to the table,” NBC News reported.

Mary Ochranek has lived in Southlake for 21 years. Her 19-year-old daughter, who was homeschooled, now attends TCU with a full tuition scholarship.

“She entered TCU with 42 credits and now has two majors, music and psychology. And through her experiences she has found many students at college who aren’t ready to be there,” she told The Texan.

School districts were not given much guidance by UIL about what to require of home school students so they must develop their own policies, Butler said during his presentation to the school board.

He said that the “no pass, no play” requirement would apply to home school students as it does to public school students, adding that the home school families he met with were very collegial and willing to adjust to meet the standard. However, the coaches were more reticent, especially about missteps on required paperwork.

Huffman said they are willing to submit to an academic evaluation by a private tutor or show their syllabus and quarterly reports for the work completed in their home education setting.

Another concern raised by Carroll ISD school board member Michelle Moore was that allowing even a pilot program for UIL involvement would “open the door” and “could have unintended consequences.”

Board president Eric Lannen raised similar concerns about large numbers in the future and possible funding issues.

Recently elected board member Andrew Yeager pointed out that home school families already pay property taxes in Carroll ISD. “It’s not like they receive a rebate for homeschooling,” he said.

So far, 33 states have adopted similar measures about home school participation in UIL, Lambert said, and none have reported these problems. “This fear is just not founded on a basis in fact,” he added.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about three percent of families home schooled their children before COVID-19, but that has grown to over 12 percent now.

Huffman, who was part of focus groups about home school participation in Carroll ISD, said six families attended the meetings she participated in and that would represent 23 children. She speculated that not every student will choose the same activity to participate in so it may add one student per UIL event.

Huffman said her son would like to try out for baseball and her youngest daughter enjoys softball. But other families might choose fine arts or debate.

Her children have played Dragon sports as children and would like to continue as they grow older. “We cheer for the Dragons, support the Carroll Education Foundation, and of course pay our tax dollars, which we are happy to do. But I don’t feel like they are supporting us.”

“If you look at the history of the UIL, it was started in 1913 as a debating society and was open to all white students in Texas to give them an opportunity to become better citizens,” Lambert explained. It wasn’t integrated until the late 1960s.

Lambert believes the UIL should return to its purpose of being a program for all Texas students to help make them well-rounded citizens.

“Most of the comments [at the board meeting] had nothing to do with UIL or its purpose. I heard so much ignorance and little desire to learn more about home schooling,” Ochranek said. “I really wish the discussion had been about implementation and inclusion.”

December 6, 2021

Parent-teacher ties vital to home schooling during lockdown

A recent research has emphasised the importance of the relationship between parents and teachers during the lockdown to provide academic assistance to the students as well as practical and emotional support.

The findings of the study were published in the journal ‘Educational Review’.

With schools closed from March 2020 until the end of the academic year and again from January 2021, pupils were taught online. This put an expectation on parents to shoulder some of the responsibility in ensuring pupils were engaged in their learning and to try and minimise some of the disadvantages faced by pupils from lower-income families who may not have had access to the same learning equipment or facilities as others.

Academics from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) led a team of researchers who surveyed 271 primary school teachers from across the country during June and July 2000 and also carried out follow-up interviews with a smaller cohort in April this year to compare the second round of school closures from January 2021.

Participants worked in schools with differing levels of pupil premiums, with funding provided by the Government to schools based on the number of pupils in a school deemed to be at an economic or social disadvantage. Lower pupil premium schools had fewer children considered to be at a disadvantage, while higher pupil premium schools had more.

Also Read: Pre-schools reopen but home tutors stay with students

The vast majority (84 per cent) of teachers felt some pupils had been disadvantaged by school closures due to their home circumstances.

The study highlighted the broad range of support that primary teachers gave to children and their parents during the pandemic, not only academically, but also practically and emotionally. Teachers kept in touch with parents more regularly, either through online calls or home visits, and as a result felt they gained a greater understanding of children’s home lives, which helped build trust.

Many gave examples of ways they supported families through other means, such as organising collaborations with charities to provide breakfasts for children, whose families were struggling to afford food, making up food hampers, and even providing loans. Some teachers provided specific sessions for parents to guide them through some of the teaching materials, or to boost their confidence.

Lead author Dr Sara Spear, Head of the School of Management at ARU, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic was a difficult and stressful time for many people, and for some families, it caused or exacerbated socio-economic difficulties. Our results showed that parental participation in schooling in middle-income families was predominantly impeded by parents’ work responsibilities, with one or both parents likely to be working, and long hours and high-pressured jobs leaving little time for supporting children’s home learning.”

“This was exacerbated in the second closure period, with more parents working, and increased expectations for children’s learning. Only the richest families had access to resources, such as private tuition and intensive private schooling that alleviated these pressures,” she added.

“It was clear from our research that a closer relationship between teachers and parents meant a greater understanding of the difficulties faced by some parents, and as a result teachers went above and beyond to try and make sure no child was left behind. Teachers are hopeful that this stronger relationship will lead to better engagement in future, with things like parents’ evenings being held online to encourage better attendance,” she stated.

“In the event of future school closures, schools should consult with parents when determining any requirements for learning at home, to ensure that this is inclusive for the families in their community. Schools should pay particular attention to access to technology, and consider parents’ ability and capacity to participate in schooling,” she concluded.

Also Read: What working parents gained during covid

December 5, 2021

Relationship between parent-teacher important for home schooling during lockdown

ANI |
Updated: Dec 04, 2021 22:46 IST

Cambridge [UK], December 4 (ANI): The importance of the relationship between parents and teachers during the lockdown to provide academic assistance to the students as well as practical and emotional support has been emphasised upon in a recent study.
The findings of the study were published in the journal ‘Educational Review’.
With schools closed from March 2020 until the end of the academic year and again from January 2021, pupils were taught online. This put an expectation on parents to shoulder some of the responsibility in ensuring pupils were engaged in their learning and to try and minimise some of the disadvantages faced by pupils from lower-income families who may not have had access to the same learning equipment or facilities as others.
Academics from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) led a team of researchers who surveyed 271 primary school teachers from across the country during June and July 2000 and also carried out follow-up interviews with a smaller cohort in April this year to compare the second round of school closures from January 2021.
Participants worked in schools with differing levels of pupil premiums, with funding provided by the Government to schools based on the number of pupils in a school deemed to be at an economic or social disadvantage. Lower pupil premium schools had fewer children considered to be at a disadvantage, while higher pupil premium schools had more.
The vast majority (84 per cent) of teachers felt some pupils had been disadvantaged by school closures due to their home circumstances.

The researchers found that all teachers provided resources for parents to use at home, either created by them or using other sources. However, while pupils from schools with a lower pupil premium number were significantly better able to access all resources than those from schools with higher pupil premium numbers, middle-income families struggled to find the time to engage with homeschooling, with many working from home in white-collar professions during the pandemic.
The study highlighted the broad range of support that primary teachers gave to children and their parents during the pandemic, not only academically, but also practically and emotionally. Teachers kept in touch with parents more regularly, either through online calls or home visits, and as a result felt they gained a greater understanding of children’s home lives, which helped build trust.
Many gave examples of ways they supported families through other means, such as organising collaborations with charities to provide breakfasts for children, whose families were struggling to afford food, making up food hampers, and even providing loans. Some teachers provided specific sessions for parents to guide them through some of the teaching materials, or to boost their confidence.
Lead author Dr Sara Spear, Head of the School of Management at ARU, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic was a difficult and stressful time for many people, and for some families, it caused or exacerbated socio-economic difficulties. Our results showed that parental participation in schooling in middle-income families was predominantly impeded by parents’ work responsibilities, with one or both parents likely to be working, and long hours and high-pressured jobs leaving little time for supporting children’s home learning.”
“This was exacerbated in the second closure period, with more parents working, and increased expectations for children’s learning. Only the richest families had access to resources, such as private tuition and intensive private schooling that alleviated these pressures,” she added.
“It was clear from our research that a closer relationship between teachers and parents meant a greater understanding of the difficulties faced by some parents, and as a result teachers went above and beyond to try and make sure no child was left behind. Teachers are hopeful that this stronger relationship will lead to better engagement in future, with things like parents’ evenings being held online to encourage better attendance,” she stated.
“In the event of future school closures, schools should consult with parents when determining any requirements for learning at home, to ensure that this is inclusive for the families in their community. Schools should pay particular attention to access to technology, and consider parents’ ability and capacity to participate in schooling,” she concluded. (ANI)

December 4, 2021

Parent-teacher relationship vital to home schooling during lockdown

ANI |
Updated: Dec 03, 2021 12:04 IST

Cambridge [UK], December 3 (ANI): A recent research has emphasised the importance of the relationship between parents and teachers during the lockdown to provide academic assistance to the students as well as practical and emotional support.
The findings of the study were published in the journal ‘Educational Review’.
With schools closed from March 2020 until the end of the academic year and again from January 2021, pupils were taught online. This put an expectation on parents to shoulder some of the responsibility in ensuring pupils were engaged in their learning and to try and minimise some of the disadvantages faced by pupils from lower-income families who may not have had access to the same learning equipment or facilities as others.
Academics from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) led a team of researchers who surveyed 271 primary school teachers from across the country during June and July 2000 and also carried out follow-up interviews with a smaller cohort in April this year to compare the second round of school closures from January 2021.
Participants worked in schools with differing levels of pupil premiums, with funding provided by the Government to schools based on the number of pupils in a school deemed to be at an economic or social disadvantage. Lower pupil premium schools had fewer children considered to be at a disadvantage, while higher pupil premium schools had more.
The vast majority (84 per cent) of teachers felt some pupils had been disadvantaged by school closures due to their home circumstances.

December 2, 2021

Reader grateful for home school education

Letter to the editor

Dec. 1, 2021

To the editor:

Harvard Law School’s Professor Elizabeth Bartholet has been a major opponent of homeschool education lately. In an interview with the Harvard Gazette last year, Bartholet outlandishly claimed that homeschoolers are “socially awkward” and “in danger of maltreatment.”

Bartholet gives absolutely no statistical evidence to support her conclusions. Surely someone as highly educated as an Ivy League university professor has the ability to cite studies to reinforce their claims. In my opinion, Bartholet’s lack thereof is suggestive of her failure to find any such evidence.

Bartholet also makes allegations that are simply untrue. For instance, she said in an article for the Arizona Law Review that we have zero evidence that homeschoolers are successful. A study released this year by two of Bartholet’s colleagues at Harvard, Brendan Case and Ying Chen present very different findings. The scholars’ results showed not only that homeschooled students are on a higher level as other students academically, but that they actually have thirty-percent advantage over their peers in terms of social and financial success. With more than 12,000 students participating in this 11-year study, Case and Chen present much more statistical evidence than Bartholet. According to the Business Insider, sixty-nine percent of homeschooling graduates finish high school, meanwhile only fifty-nine percent of other students do so.

The stereotypes Professor Bartholet pushes on homeschooled students like me are false and grossly unfair. We are not socially awkward or ignorant in any way. The skills needed for our non-traditional learning actually enhance our social aptitude and entrepreneurial spirit. For these reasons, it is not surprising that studies are putting us at the top of our generation in terms of achievement. Recently, institutions of higher education have come this realization. At this point, many colleges and universities across the nation (including Harvard) have begun strategic enrollment practices of homeschooling graduates.

Unjust allegations have been, and will continue to be brought against homeschoolers, but these unfounded claims will never speak as loud as the overwhelming evidence in our favor. I will always be proud of my education, and forever thankful to my family for making it possible.