Monday, October 9th, is Columbus Day. Ideas for activities can be found at EnchantedLearning.com. Please be aware that, in keeping with the current trend, you will find enjoyable activities as well as links to criticism of the man and the holiday. Since this page is for younger students, you – as the parent – may need to preview the content.

Another website is helpful in educating students on Columbus’s methods of navigation. Click on the graphic to visit this site, which has interesting facts on the navigational methods of the time.

When a Texas judge clarified that parents could educate their children at home in the Leeper v. Arlington ISD decision, he also named several required courses of study—and one of these was good citizenship. THSC has developed a hands-on program to help Texas home schoolers meet that requirement while they work to protect their freedoms. A certificate will be awarded to each student who participates with at least forty hours (40) of volunteer work in any combination from the following areas: Voter Registration, Political Party Process, Campaign Process, and Legislative Process.

This fall, there will be many opportunities for students to work toward earning those certificates, particularly in two of the areas of participation: Voter Registration and Campaign Process, as Election Day is coming soon, this year on November 7th.

In these days before the election, it is important to remember that home schooling will only stay legal as long as we have representatives who support it. It is important for home schoolers, and those who are like-minded, to register to vote and to participate in the choosing of elected officials. The deadline to register is October 10th. It is also important to work in the campaigns of candidates who support our freedoms. (THSCPAC has endorsed many such candidates.)

THSC invites students to participate in its Good Citizenship Program by registering like-minded voters and working for home-school friendly candidates. They can receive recognition for their efforts while fulfilling this portion of their curriculum. So, involve your child in voter registration and campaign participation this fall!

The THSC Association Store is rearranging resources and clearing our shelves!

While supplies last, take 25% off the price of the following items that have sold through THSC Association. We will no longer be selling these helpful books and the video set, so now is your chance to buy them at significant savings!

Books:
Before Five in a Row
Electing America’s Leaders
Guide to Teaching Texas with Children’s Literature
Home Educated and Now Adults
Home Schooling on the Threshold
The How & Why of Home Schooling
Old-fashioned Courtship & How it Works Today
Strengths of Their Own
To Train Up a Child
When Homeschooling Gets Tough!
Video Set:
Dads: Men in the Gap

The clearance discount applies only to the items listed above. Remember, this discount will be available only as long as supplies last. When they’re gone, it’s over.

This discount is not available in the online store. To take advantage of this sale, call (888) 200-4903.

Don’t miss the opportunity to send your leaders to the Retreat! Show appreciation For Your Support Group Leaders! Read about ways to show them you know how hard they work on your behalf.

Send your leaders for a relaxing, inspirational weekend at the beautiful T Bar M Resort and Conference Center outside of New Braunfels on October 27-29, 2006, for the annual THSC Leadership Retreat.

Send leaders for a time of community, fellowship, and rejuvenation! THSC will encourage each leader’s spirit—and renew the vision for groups as well—by providing quality leadership training.

THSC Association is pleased to bring to your attention a great benefit for our members! Global Learning Strategies offers a $25 discount on the $249 price of its helpful College in a Box. This kit includes everything your student will need to develop college level study skills and begin earning college credit from home! (Click on the graphic for complete details.)

It is now easier than ever to join THSC Association; there are many different payment options! Become a member today and become eligible to take advantage of this great discount and many other benefits as well!

WebCommentary.com offers a platform for discussion of current issues. Contributing author Tom Barrett submitted an article that his wife had written in 2004, which chronicles her journey to home schooling. Excerpts follow:

“Why We Homeschool - My journey to understanding
By Ana Barrett

“When my daughter Sarah was born, I was overwhelmed. Here was a little person who needed me 24 hours a day for everything. I had to teach her to hold things, to roll over, to eat. I even had to teach her how to sit down after she learned to stand up and got stuck. Through this process I discovered it was exciting to teach my baby!

“As Sarah grew older my dear husband Tom said, 'We need to homeschool Sarah.' I said 'What!? I can't do that! I can't teach her how to read! Why are you asking me to do something so hard? I'm a product of the public school system, and I turned out fine. Why can't she go to school just like I did?' At this point Tom left me to myself so that I could mull over why he wanted this for Sarah. I on the other hand needed to know what this would mean for me.”

Click on the link below to read the letter that THSC Association president Tim Lambert wrote in response to harassment by school officials after parents notified the school in writing of the withdrawal of their child to homeschool.