Category Archives: Testimonies

School Choice is A Deception

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Veteran Home School Mother of 7 and Veteran of the Battle for Legal Homescooling Wrote On This Issue of Vouchers

This is a third in a series that covers the little booklet “Shekels to Shackles,” Today we cover the chapter written by Dr. Marlene Millan. She was one of the 7  promoters of home schooling in the days of Leeper.  Most people today don’t know that then there was a big promoter of homeschooling here trying to suggest a Virginia like system. He promoted it as freedom for homeschooling but in reality it would have created state oversight. MacMillan then saw through it and her words saved Texas from that fate.

LOTS OF CONFUSION – MAYBE PLANNED

Same thing happening today. People are very confused. They think that “school choice” will be more choice and that is not true in any sense of the word. Already federal law provides that homeschooled children have a right to programs like UIL, sports, or special education. This program — at best — will provide some money. Those are the shekels. They will end up as shackles. That is how it always always always works. Cesear’s coins have strings. That is why he gives them!

WHO IS PUSHING THIS AND WHY?

RINOs across the nation are pushing this. Conservative Christians, knowledgeable about education and politics almost universally are working against it. But most people are either greatly deceived or just want the money. And folks, IT IS ABOUT the money. There is not one single benefit beyond money. Not one. There is no more choice in the plan.

Anyone who suggests otherwise is trying to deceive you — or doesn’t know what they are talking about.

Now, I must admit, that in the short term, it will be a great boon to all the new private schools that need to open. Thank God for that. But watch out. Ceasar’s money has strings. Get ready.

NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT SENDING YOU YOUR TAX MONEY BACK

I’ve talked to some nice homeschool moms who think that the plan is to take the state budget, divide it by the number of children in the state and send each child’s share to the parents. Of course, nothing like that is under consideration. At All. There are 2 basic plans. One is the *grant vouchers*. This means that whoever applies, according to whatever rules, gets a little money. So, say that in existing budget the state spend about $10k on each student. Then, if they give $2K to some families, maybe $!K is kept for administration over the new plan, and the other $7K is kept by the state education system  – to do with as they please. As they please.

Now, for a poor family $2K is not enough to pay for a good private school. For a middle class family, $2K will be a relief. The typical homeschool family might spend it on curricula. Curricula companies will be happy. And of course, there must e accountability (the Democrats have been aMarxist curricula from the big houses that do an outstanding amount of business with eht State of Texas already.

WHY ARE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THIS IN TEXAS?  WHO ARE THEY — REALLY?

A friend came back with a full-throated, “That will never happen in Texas.” Well, she may be right that maybe the strong homeschool establishment in Texas might possibly avoid what is logically an inevitable outcome. However it is short-sighted in the extreme to suggest that this could never happen. And it is blind to what is happening in other states.

BTW, Texas is one of the biggest states for textbook sales, and they submit their order before other states; that is why Texas is so very important for the publishing houses, … why they stack committees with leftist teachers… And notice the push to have no textbooks….so parent won’t see content.

The other idea for a plan is the Educational Savings Plan. Of the two, I would favor this one, because the money stays with the family, rather than going through the bureaucracy first. However, notice that Arizona already has a plan and Christian conservatives, and at least  one high up educational administrator is unhappy about it. We will cover her chapter next week. In the meantime, get the book and read it.

If you doubt at all that this is not trickery,  that homeschoolers and private schools will get the short end of the stick, check out what the Texas legislature did last term. Here was the “school choice”  “voucher plan” that was agreed upon (and narrowly lost.) Only a very small amount was given only temporarily to a very few very poor families, while the state teachers’ unions got a great deal more above their existing budget.

So maybe you should find out actual facts before voting on this — or instructing your representatives. Wipe out of your eyes utopian homes and think logically.

A PLAN THAT IS HONEST AND WOULD ACTUALLY WORK — BUT IS UNLIKELY

Now a plan that I would really like, howevermuch I doubt it will happen, after shutting down all “public school” system and bureacracy, then take the state budget for education divided and sent to each family, who then would shop on the open and free market for what they thought was better education. Close the government school system down entirely. Depend upon free market for quality, effectiveness and efficiency. This could take us to the top, whereas we are at the bottom now. Did you not know that? Of the top 40 industrialized countries, our educational system is the worst — in terms of educational achievement. Although we spend the most, our students are the least well educated. Why continue going the wrong direction? Okay, if you want to share money with the poor; but then give them the freedom of choice also. Give everyone freedom of choice, instead of the past slavery to incompetence and corruption. Don’t give us more!

WHAT IS WORKING NOW — PLEASE GIVE US MORE OF THAT — NOT LESS

Why… the average home-maker is a better teacher than all the state certification, DEI, and sexual depredation in the world. Pleas please please, leave us with the choice to homeschool, to privately education by forming private school. This is choice. Government money, with its inevitable strings is not.

 

 

Vision Can Be Improved!

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:29 — 16.3MB)

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Vision can be improved! So can eyesight.

Both vision and eyesight can be improved? Did you think not? Did someone tell you otherwise?

Vision has to do with the brain. Eyesight has to do with the eyes. Both need to be working. Both can be improved.

Eye doctors do not do that. They, instead, sell glasses. So, they “correct” eyesight by putting on glasses. Often these glasses are the wrong prescription. People, especially children complain, and are told “well your eyes will adjust.” Well, sure enough their brain adjusts, and maybe their eyes adjust too. And then they need stronger glasses. Until the person is old and is sold surgery — that lasts only 7 years. STOP!

Vision is not the same as Eyesight

Vision/eyesight is extremely important. Obviously, it underlies academic performance, but also it is foundational to lots of other things including spatial awareness/coordination and social ability and behavior and ability to focus! Until now just about no one was working scientifically on that.

Resources

And more and more Americans are having eye problems — largely because of the over-use of screens.

I just heard a great podcast by Dave Asprey with guest Dr. Bryce Applebaum https://daveasprey.com/1240-bryce-appelbaum/ that got me excited. So, I sat down with you, like an informal chat, and tried to convey what I know.

Meier Schnieder was blind, exercised till he could see, and started sharing his intuitive methods with others. He now teaches courses in person and on line. https://self-healing.org/ He had a couple of books, too.

Here is a link to the old sunning and palming exercises, altho I do not know the folks behind these sites at all. Looks like this is called the “Bates Method.”
https://integraleyesight.com/batesmethod/palming-and-sunning/
https://batesvisioneducation.org/using-sunshine-to-improve-eyesight/
https://naturallyclearvision.com/the-practice-of-palming/
https://healingtheeye.com/Articles/Sunning_is_beneficial.html

Easy things to do

First principals:
Get outside, do not stay indoors on your computer all the time! Strictly limit screen time for children. Make your screens warm, with as little blue light as possible. Even adults should stop using a screen 2 hours before bedtime or use strong blue blockers like Tru dark glasses. https://truedark.com/ (Cheap substitutes won’t be as good but will likely do some good.)

Look far away. Take breaks from working your eyes at least every hour.

Exercise your eyes: 1) Look close and far away
2) Look all around
3) Use your peripheral vision
4) Rest your eyes by covering your eyes with your warm palms and enjoying darkness for a while.

I think you will notice that your eyesight is improving with just a few trials. But keep on! Take hope and motivation by this fact, now established: that vision and eyesight can be improved — a great deal. Maybe in the future no one will wear glasses!

First Things that a Mama Lioness Does

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Last Time: Engage as  Mama Bear

Last time we talked a little bit about being a mama bear – holding other people accountable. Today, I am going to talk about my perspective that arises from 2 generations of failure, even with prodigious ability, to get government school officials to follow the law. I also recognize the work of Katy Marshall (Texas Scorecard) and her Exposed podcast, that discusses the dark side of Texas public schools. Trouble is, Texas is not somehow different than any other state. Maybe it is much better! They may have larger school districts — or not. They may have more conservative politicians – or not. They may have citizen who are more willing to speak out because they think the system is more conservative — probably.

Rabbit Trail: Isn’t it Odd?

Isn’t it odd, actually, how all our local school districts, in whatever state seem to be facing the same very strange problem of porn in school at the same time. Isn’t strange how, after FBI fingerprints being put in as a precaution back in 2007, and public outing of sex offenders’ locations online, that we still have so much sexual abuse of children? Isn’t it passing strange that when parents come to school board meetings, that across the country, they are treated as if they were criminal offender? And not just in one location or another.   Okay, but moving on.

Exposed : Dark Side of What is Going on in Government Schools

It happens that recent episodes  of Exposed have focused on alleged abuse in Prosper ISD. What needs to be understood in context is that Prosper is an reasonably affluent part of Dallas Fort Worth metroplex, fast growing, and not unusual. Some small towns might suffer less, but they are under the same ultimate management. Similarly, one thinks of Texas as a “red” state — but we have already discussed the false dichotomy of thinking that that means that governance is more conservative or just. Go back about 3 episodes for that.

Season 6 Episode 2 – The Other Cheek

Season 6 Episode 3 – The Spreading Rot

THIS TIME: MY THOUGHTS ON MOST IMPORTANT TO DO

This time on Overcoming Learning Problems, I will share with you my maybe surprising conclusions about what is more important for a mother to do today. More conservative and more radically change oriented. Think Susanna Wesley! Change the world. And you will find it jolly well matches your personality, too, I imagine. You will be, should be surprised that I think so, but I do. My reflections today, after more fights with school officials than I wish to recall.

DEEPER APPRECIATION, MORE PURCHASING, MORE SHARING

Knowing this, I expect you will find a deeper appreciation of what we are doing here at GSB: Overcoming Learning Problems. Our perspective will save your child from the abuse and academic degradation that you WILL find in government schools. Our perspective might save you the $87,000 one of our interviewees say that they charge families. It should save most home-schoolers a lot of grief, anxiety, and bewilderment. What I put out here, for free, is very valuable. Please make use of it, get more, and tell your friends.

A Child Raises Someone From the Dead – Eye witness account

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This is a rerun of our interview with Simon Okwayo in summer 2009. If you heard last week’s episode, you know what he is up to today! This says a lot about what children can do. This should dramatically increase your faith. Especially for your children.

Dr. Apostle Simon Okwayo, Healing Evangelistic Ministries Foundation, pastorokwayo@yahoo.com

Children were held to a much higher standard in the past. When people graduated from the 8th grade,they knew a lot. Then, they went to work or college. This was true in the Revolutionary War period. John Quincy Adams was given an Congressional appointment to be the interpreter for the ambassadorial mission to the court of Catherine the Great at 14 years old. Why? Because he had mastered several languages and already had experience of being the secretary to his father as an ambassador to France during the war for Independence. Look forward to what young people are doing these days to prepare to serve their community and country.