May 4, 2006, has been declared the National Day of Prayer. If you wish to see how you can participate with others in observances of this day, click on the graphic above for the official Texas website for this event. On the site, you will find names of coordinators for local events and ideas about ways in which your family may participate. God is faithful!

The following is excerpted from the website pressroom:

MILLIONS TO UNITE IN PRAYER ACROSS AMERICA TO "HONOR GOD"

"President George W. Bush and all 50 governors will proclaim 55th annual National Day of Prayer.

“This year's theme is ‘America, Honor God’ and is based on 1 Samuel 2:30 NIV – ‘Those who honor me, I will honor.’ National Day of Prayer Chairman Shirley Dobson, wife of Focus on the Family founder and chairman Dr. James Dobson, said, ‘At a time when so many principles found in Scripture have been rejected by society, it's all the more vital that God's people stand firmly in defense of the precepts He's laid out in His Word. As we wage this cultural battle, however, none of our efforts are assured success without consistent, fervent prayer for God's intervention.’”

Stock your bookshelves with curriculum items from the many quality exhibitors at the THSC State Convention & Family Conference August 17-19, 2006, in The Woodlands!

THSC invites you to shop till you drop in the carpeted Exhibit Hall filled with excellent exhibitors at the 2006 THSC State Convention and Family Conference, August 17-19, 2006, in The Woodlands (north of Houston)! A Beka, Alpha Omega, Lamplighter, PACES and Lifetime Books & Gifts are only a few of the many, exceptional exhibitors who will meet you in the Exhibit Hall with just what you need to get your 2006-2007 school year started. Click on the picture above for a current list of exhibitors.

Be inspired by the following speakers—you will not want to miss them!

Sally Clarkson – Whole Heart Ministries
Norm Wakefield – Spirit of Elijah Ministries
John Erickson, Author of Hank the Cowdog
Little Bear Wheeler – Mantle Ministries
Doug and Patsy Arnold - Texas’ Special Kids
Mary James – Smoothing the Way
Tim and Lyndsay Lambert - Texas Home School Coalition
Diana Johnson – Home-Designed Schooling
Dr. Jobe Martin – Biblical Discipleship Ministries

Put your feet up after an uplifting day of shopping and workshops by merely riding the elevator up to your luxurious accommodations at the Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, offered to Convention attendees for the special rate of $110/night. (Reservations must be made by July 26, 2006. Offer is good while space is available.)

You will be glad you did not miss this inspiring event!

With just a little more than two weeks until Mother’s Day, May 14th, have you thought about what to do for the mother in your life for her special day? Home school moms like to feel appreciated for what they do. THSC encourages you to bless your lady with the THSC Mother’s Day Bundle for only $24, which includes the following:

Home School T-shirt ($12+ value)
Most home schoolers resist school uniforms, but the THSC T-shirt can be worn as a badge of honor with some Texas home schooler pride as well.

A Survivor's Guide to Home Schooling ($12 value)
Does your mother ever seem tired or discouraged? This fun book is a quick read and is packed with ideas and encouragement.

THSC Book Bag ($5 value)
Order a T-shirt and A Survivor’s Guide and get the THSC Book Bag FREE! At the end of the school year, Mom will be thinking about the future. For home educators, this will often involve book fairs and conventions. Wouldn’t the THSC Book Bag come in handy? Choose either red or blue—mom’s favorite between the two.

ARCH (Apostolate of Roman Catholic Homeschoolers) (click on graphic for information) will hold the 16th Annual Catholic Homeschool Curriculum Fair April 28- 29, 2006 at:

University of St. Thomas 3800 Montrose Jerabeck Athletic Center (on West Main Street between Graustark and Yoakum) Houston, Texas 77006.

(Maps of UST and Houston may be accessed from the link below.)

Along with other speakers such as Laura Berquist and Ginny Seuffert, THSC’s Tim Lambert will be speaking from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m. on Friday and Saturday on "What Every Texas Home Schooler Needs to Know."

Indiana Parents, Critics Disagree on Need for Oversight

In an article posted April 5, 2006, on FortWayne.com, the author tells of consideration and rejection of legislation that would require more regulation and oversight of Indiana home educators. The following are excerpts from the article, in which National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) president, Brian Ray, is also quoted.

“During the 2006 legislative session, Sen. Tim Skinner, D-Terre Haute, proposed studying whether home-school ‘guidelines’ were needed. The resolution died without getting a vote or even a hearing, which could be because of the political influence of home- school groups in the state, Kunzman said. Skinner could not be reached for comment.

“State education officials, home-school organizations such as the Indiana Association of Home Educators and researchers such as Kunzman said no major movement to toughen home-school rules has been launched in recent years.

“Jim Snyder, an Allen County resident whose children are home-schooled, doesn’t think it’s needed anyway.

“‘Home-schoolers who live in the state with the least restrictions do better,’ Snyder said. ‘The parent has more time to spend with the child instead of jumping through the hoops of the government.’”

The following paragraphs are excerpted from an article that was published April 3, 2006, at ClaytonNewsDaily.com. Jeffery Whitfield tells Georgia home school mom Wilma Johnson’s story about how she realized that she wanted her daughters to be homeschooled and why. She also shares, through Whitfield’s article, about their lives since starting on that journey.

A family’s efforts for homeschooling in Clayton

“Wilma Johnson was considering her daughters’ education one day when she had an epiphany: She wanted all five of her daughters to receive their education from homeschooling.

“Her daughters, Eva, 20, Kathryn, 18, Faith, 18, Marcilla, 16, and Lilah, 15, and her niece, 19-year-old Judy since have all received home school instruction. They spend more than four hours on weekdays studying subjects such as English, social studies, science, math, foreign languages and electives using a Christian curriculum from a Texas-based group that has a 180-day school year.

“After she graduates, likely this spring, Faith plans to attend Clayton State University or Albany State University and ultimately pursue a career in nursing.

”Johnson’s other daughters, Eva and Kathryn, already attend college at Clark Atlanta University and Toccoa Falls College, respectively.

”She took her daughters out of school because Johnson wanted to be more instrumental in their academic careers.”

After allegations that proved unfounded, a Sherman CPS worker proceeded to make home schooling an issue in her investigation of a THSC Association family. See the letter of response from the Association by following the link below.