Socialization of Our Children

By Apple 4 the Teacher
November 13, 2009

Homeschooling is defined by Preiss (1989) as “the educational alternative in which parents/guardians assume the primary responsibility for the education of their children.” This Digest will offer some background information on homeschooling and discuss conflicting viewpoints culled from research on the socialization of home-schooled children.

RAPIDLY ESCALATING NUMBERS

While a Department of Education study in 1990-91 concluded that between 250,000 and 300,000 school-age children were being educated at home, “USA Today” recently cited the Home School Legal Defense Association figures for 1994 as between 750,000 and 1 million–up from only 15,000 in the early ’80s (Thomas, 1994). What is the reason for this explosion?

Mayberry (1991) pinpoints the gradual development of the modern state and public education as arenas which attempt to legitimate themselves by embodying the ideologies of many different public segments. She argues that by considering other agencies of socialization (in this case, the church or the family) as arenas which embody ideologies in contradiction to those transmitted by state institutions, the “context surrounding parental choice to home educate gains clearer focus.” She stresses that “…the decision to home school (or seek other forms of privatized education) represents a political response by people who perceive a threat in the current organization and content of public education.” Thus, the homeschooling movement is directly linked to the State’s struggle to balance contradictory imperatives (Mayberry, 1991).

BACKGROUND AND PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES

For historical background on homeschooling in America, both Bliss (1989) and Aiex (1994) provide enlightening information. Preiss (1989) offers a concise treatment of the legal aspects of homeschooling.

With the tremendous growth in numbers of the home schooled, there has been a corresponding growth in the market for homeschooling information–indeed, there are now myriad newsletters and books aimed at parents who home school, as well as at least one scholarly newsletter, “Home School Researcher.” According to Preiss (1989), “In 1987, in one home-schooling catalog alone, over 300 suppliers of home-schooling materials are listed.” With the explosion in homeschooling during the past few years, one can only imagine how large the network of professional suppliers of materials is by now.

The granddaddy of all the providers of courses for home study is the venerable Calvert School of Baltimore, which, for many years, was almost the only institution which offered correspondence courses below college level. It was founded in 1906 and has enrolled, through the years, upwards of 360,000 students in its home instruction courses. It has, of course, been joined by other entities in the past decade.

WHY PARENTS HOME SCHOOL

Parents home school for a wide variety of reasons–for example, many parents still live in areas where schools are not readily available (a number of rural areas and some parts of Alaska come to mind), and many parents are anxious about the physical well being of their children in an increasingly more violent school setting. Still others simply feel that they can give their children a better education at home. According to Mayberry (1991), however, two groups of parents home school primarily for ideological reasons:

• deeply religious parents
• “New Age” parents.

Mayberry surveyed 1600 Oregon families who home schooled, receiving a 35% response rate to her questions. Their responses led her to conclude that the two groups cited perceived homeschooling as an activity that provided them a way to reproduce their “way-of-life” by controlling the content of their children’s education. She reports: “…the meanings and values embodied in public education were not the ones that these parents wanted articulated to their children” (Mayberry, 1991).

SOCIALIZATION OF CHILDREN

Does the research show any clear-cut advantages or disadvantages to homeschooling, in relation to the social and emotional development of children schooled at home? Does the home-schooled youngster do as well in measures of interpersonal skills and communication skills as the conventionally schooled child?

The stereotypical home-schooled child is often portrayed as being shy, passive, and lethargic because of his/her isolation from the normal socialization found in formal schooling. Critics further allege that the self-concept of the home-schooled child suffers from lack of exposure to a more conventional environment (Stough, 1992).

Another socialization-related accusation faced by home educators is that of overprotecting their children from the real world. If this is true, however, at least one researcher (Bliss, 1989) does not consider this to be a serious problem. She argues that “Protection during early, developmental years for purposes of nurturing and growth is evident in many arenas: plant, animal, and aquatic. Why should it be considered wrong or bad in the most vital arena, human development?”

Stough (1992),looking particularly at socialization, compared 30 home-schooling families and 32 conventionally schooling families, families with children 7-14 years of age. According to the findings, children who were schooled at home “gained the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to function in society…at a rate similar to that of conventionally schooled children.” The researcher found no difference in the self concept of children in the two groups. Stough maintains that “insofar as self concept is a reflector of socialization, it would appear that few home-schooled children are socially deprived, and that there may be sufficient evidence to indicate that some home-schooled children have a higher self concept than conventionally schooled children.”

This echoes the findings of Taylor (1987). Using one of the best validated self-concept scales available, Taylor’s random sampling of home-schooled children (45,000) found that half of these children scored at or above the 91st percentile–47% higher than the average, conventionally schooled child. He concludes: “Since self concept is considered to be a basic dynamic of positive sociability, this answers the often heard skepticism suggesting that home schoolers are inferior in socialization” (Taylor, 1987).

From the findings of these two studies, it would appear that the concerns expressed by teachers, administrators, and legislators about socialization and homeschooling might be unfounded. Indeed, Bliss (1989) contends that it is in the formal educational system’s setting that children first experience negative socialization, conformity, and peer pressure. According to her, “This is a setting of large groups, segmented by age, with a variation of authority figures…the individual, with his/her developmental needs, becomes overpowered by the expectations and demand of others–equal in age and equally developmentally needy.”

Webb (1989), one of the few researchers who has examined aspects of the adult lives of wholly or partly home-educated people, found that all who had attempted higher education were successful and that their socialization was often better than that of their schooled peers.

MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED

At this point, more research on homeschooling is necessary–what we have is inconclusive about many of its aspects. Although more and deeper studies are certainly called for, the population to be studied is not readily accessible to researchers. And the types of research that can be done are still limited to case studies of families or to surveys of self- reports by participants.

Notably, the success or failure of the homeschooling experience depends inevitably on the success or failure of the family’s interpersonal relationships. Homeschooling is a complex issue and represents a tremendous commitment on the part of the parents–in most cases, the father must function as the sole breadwinner, and the mother must spend most of her time instructing her children.

For now, we will let Preiss (1989) have the last word. She says: “Because homeschooling contains so many diverse and changing factors, each family situation is unique. Yet there exists within the home-schooling community a sense of unity which transcends ideological, political, and religious concerns. That unity lies in the parents’ commitment to the education of their children, whose welfare is their primary concern.”

References

Source: Apples4theTeachers

Editor’s Note:  We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Soldier of the Week – Army National Guard Capt. Joel Arends

by Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
November 13, 2009

Editor’s Note:
Home State: South Dakota
Awarded: Bronze Star

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Then-1st Lt. Arends and his team of 30 soldiers operated in and around Baghdad from February 2004 to April 2005. They were responsible for catching a number of terrorists, including one carrying bomb-making materials, jidhadist propaganda and large sums of cash. The terrorist claimed to be a professor at a major university in the United States. They also captured one of Saddam Hussein’s personal bodyguards. Another time, Arends’ team rescued Iraqi civilians from burning vehicles when insurgents attacked a checkpoint near their patrol area. Members of the team rushed into the flames and pulled several Iraqi civilians out of burning vehicles and administered lifesaving medical treatment. For his efforts, Arends was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in March 2005. Arends is now a Captain in the Army Reserve.

Source: Our Military

Firefighter of the week – Battalion Chief Joseph R. Marchbanks Jr.

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
November 12, 2009

Someone To Brag About

Joseph Marchbanks Jr. was a Battalion Chief in a Harlem firehouse, but he preferred to be called a firefighter. A 22-year veteran, Chief Marchbanks garnered four promotions by the time he died at age 47, but “he wasn’t one to brag,” said his wife, Teresa.

Still, Chief Marchbanks had a lot to brag about.

A Bronx native, he qualified for the police force and the fire department in the same week, chose the latter, never looked back.

“He loved his job,” said his friend (and stickball teammate) Frank McDonagh.

Chief Marchbanks was justifiably proud of his daughter Lauren’s softball team, which he helped coach to a championship in Nanuet, N.Y., where the former city boy lived with his wife and children, Lauren, 14, and Ryan, 8).

At the firehouse, he organized study groups to help others pass tests for promotions. “He taught without you realizing you were learning,” said his friend and colleague, Lieutenant Kevin Guy.

Now Lieutenant Guy would like to do the bragging for him, more than willing to relate more stories about his friend.

“Anything for Joe, anything,” he said.

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 10, 2001.

Source: Legacy

Editor’ Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Hero of Service – U.S. Army Reservist Major Alan Kozlowski

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
Nov. 11, 2009

Editor’s Note: This is to honor all past, present and future Americans who fight and give their lives to defend this country on a daily basis.

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

 

SALAH AD-DIN PROVINCE, Just before the end of his deployment to Salah ad-Din province in Iraq, U.S. Army Reservist Major Alan Kozlowski had the pleasure of completing a project he and his team had been working on for months: A shipment of over 100 wheelchairs arrived in Tikrit and were distributed to medical facilities around the city.

The wheelchairs, intended for general civilian use, had been difficult to come by, Kozlowski said. And it was harder still to get them delivered to Tikrit.

“You can’t just go online and order these things,” he said. “It took us about three months from inception to final delivery. There was a lot of coordinating.”

Working with non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in Baghdad, Kozlowski and his team coordinated the procurement and delivery of the much needed wheelchairs.

“It was a great project for us to pursue,” he said. “Just as we were leaving, 100 wheelchairs showed up.”

As commander of a Civil Affairs unit during the 2007-2008 deployment, Kozlowski led missions like this all the time.

Civil Affairs teams, Kozlowski said, “Are the folks who help the local population during a time of war… providing essential services once things have been destroyed.”

He described the work they did as “very multifaceted”. Soldiers on Civil Affairs teams must learn about the local culture and people so they can effectively partner with them on the reconstruction projects they lead, he said.

“That is the rewarding part of helping these folks out,” he said. “They’re stuck in the middle. We work to give them some relief.”

Rebuilding sewer lines and medical facilities were two of the major projects Kozlowski focused on during the deployment.

“What the army and the entire military [are] doing now is trying to go to a full spectrum operations structure of warfare. Not only do you have offense and defense but you also have stability operations. That’s a big part of Civil Affairs,” he said.

Kozlowski’s company of 32 soldiers was spread throughout the province, with teams of four or five soldiers based in the cities of Tikrit, Balad, Bayji, and Samarra. He credits his first sergeant, Command Sergeant Major Ray Pockett for helping him “build a cohesive unit that could work together,” he said.

Kozlowski was awarded a Bronze Star for his work during that deployment, both leading his unit and executing so many successful Civil Affairs projects, according to the award citation for the medal.

While he was proud of the “creativity and foresight” he and his unit used to do their jobs, he said he was humbled when he found out he was going to get a Bronze Star.

“I honestly thought that I was just doing my job,” he said.

Rather, Kozlowski named two men he had looked up to: Pockett and General David Petreaus.

Of Pockett he said, “I respect him as a great NCO and a great leader. He inspired me to look at the human element of organizations and make sure that people are taken care of.”

“As Civil Affairs we do it for the folks being effected out in Iraq and Afghanistan. But someone needs to do it for the people in the organization,” he said. “I admire [Pockett] and still talk to him.”

Kozlowski also looks up to Petreaus “as a great leader who recognized that there is more to war than being on the offense or being on the defense,” he said. “He understands the entire concept to include the human element…I truly admire Gen. Petreaus.”

Source: US Military

Medal of Honor Recipient – Captain Steven L. Bennett U.S. Air Force

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
November 11, 2009

Each week we at the Chronicle will be honoring one of these true heroes.

We will call it Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week.

We hope you will join with us to honor these true heroes. Who have given us the greatest sacrifice that one could give their life, to save their fellow soldiers?

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

This Week’s Hero: Captain Steven L. Bennett U.S. Air Force. 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Pacific Air Forces.

Place and date: Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam, 29 June 1972.

Entered service at: Lafayette, La.

Born: 22 April 1946, Palestine, Tex.

Citation:

Capt. Bennett was the pilot of a light aircraft flying an artillery adjustment mission along a heavily defended segment of route structure. A large concentration of enemy troops was massing for an attack on a friendly unit.

Capt. Bennett requested tactical air support but was advised that none was available. He also requested artillery support but this too was denied due to the close proximity of friendly troops to the target.

Capt. Bennett was determined to aid the endangered unit and elected to strafe the hostile positions. After 4 such passes, the enemy force began to retreat. Capt. Bennett continued the attack, but, as he completed his fifth strafing pass, his aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile, which severely damaged the left engine and the left main landing gear.

As fire spread in the left engine, Capt. Bennett realized that recovery at a friendly airfield was impossible. He instructed his observer to prepare for an ejection, but was informed by the observer that his parachute had been shredded by the force of the impacting missile.

Although Capt. Bennett had a good parachute, he knew that if he ejected, the observer would have no chance of survival. With complete disregard for his own life, Capt. Bennett elected to ditch the aircraft into the Gulf of Tonkin, even though he realized that a pilot of this type aircraft had never survived a ditching.

The ensuing impact upon the water caused the aircraft to cartwheel and severely damaged the front cockpit, making escape for Capt. Bennett impossible. The observer successfully made his way out of the aircraft and was rescued.

Capt. Bennett’s unparalleled concern for his companion, extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.

Source: US Military

Marine Corps Happy 234th Birthday!

By Stacey *Mamasid * D.
November 10, 2009

Semper Fi! Today is the Marine Corps Birthday 2009, a day we remember because my husband served as a proud Marine in Vietnam. Tomorrow is Veterans’ Day so it only seems appropriate to celebrate the USMC birthday today.

November 10 marks the 234th birthday of the Marine Corps. Thank you to the soldiers who served and the families who shared them. Also thank you to the soldiers currently serving and risking their lives everyday. For those who survived battle like my husband, welcome home.

Although my husband and some of his brothers were rendered disabled in the war, you can tell a Marine a mile away. The straight back, proud face and noble attitude is present in all of them to the end.

Ronald Reagan, at one of his few brighter moments, once said, “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But the Marines don’t have that problem.”

Will you celebrate the Marine Corps birthday 2009 with your favorite soldiers? If you don’t have “one of your own”, please take quiet time to appreciate these brave people who serve us everyday. Happy Birthday USMC!

Please take a few minutes to watch the Commandant of the Marine Corps., General James T. Conway, deliver the 234th Marine Corps birthday message, “Carrying On A Legacy of Valor”.

Source: Gather

Honoring our Veterans and Their Families Across America

By Paul Vallely
MG US Army (Ret)
November 10, 2009

The 11th of November is remembered as the day when the First World War officially ended, with the signing of the Armistice by the Germans – on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year 1918; certainly a whole lot of 11s to make this significant day difficult to forget.

Initially, the day was commemorated as Armistice Day, as proclaimed by the President of the United States Woodrow Wilson in 1919, a year after the historic day.

As other wars since the First World War came and went, it became apparent that there are other veterans that need to be remembered other than those who served in World War I that ended on Armistice Day.

It was a shoe store owner from Emporia, Kansas, Al King, who came up with the idea to expand the reach of Armistice Day to include all American veterans, regardless of which war they fought in. President Dwight Eisenhower signed this inclusion into a law on May 26, 1954, and on November 8 that same year, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day.

On Veterans Day weekend, one might want to commemorate the sacrifices of our beloved American our beloved “Heroes” by taking time to enrich our knowledge on the lives that they lead and the challenges that they face. We love and cherish them so for their sacrifices and their service across the globe.

I will be joining Wayne Newton and John Dawson in Phoenix this week to celebrate and honor our Veterans. My wife, Muffin, daughter Dana and I celebrate our SON, Scott, on this day whom we lost in Special Forces in April 2004.

I would like to tell you a little bit about my son, who I am very proud, love and miss to very much. Which I title:

A True American Hero

Private First Class Scott Paul Vallely was an Infantryman assigned to Company D, Support Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he was attending the Special Forces Preparation Course.

On March 13, 1975, Scott came into the world on an unusually snowy day at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, California . He grew up and graduated from high school in Lafayette, California. Scott was an outstanding athlete in many sports, and ultimately received a football scholarship to Colorado State University. After college, he began a career in the media field, then made the decision to join the United States Army and to serve his country.

He entered the Army in October 2003 and completed Infantry Advance Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 2004. He was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Airborne) where he attended the Basic Airborne Course.

His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge and the Rifle Marksmanship Badge.

Not only was Scott a loving grandson, son and brother, but a true friend to everyone he met. He is at peace and we thank God for watching over him and all of us.

PSALM 91

We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods.

This I declare, that he alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. For he rescues you from every trap and protects you from the fatal plague. He will shield you with his wings! They will shelter you. His faithful promises are your armor. Now you don’t need to be afraid of the dark any more, nor fear the dangers of the day; nor dread the plagues of darkness, nor disasters in the morning.

Though a thousand fall at my side, though ten thousand are dying around me, the evil will not touch me. I will see how the wicked are punished, but I will not share it. For Jehovah is my refuge! I choose the God above all gods to shelter me. How then can evil overtake me or any plague come near? For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will steady you with their hands to keep you from stumbling against the rocks on the trail. You can safely meet a lion or step on poisonous snakes, yes, even trample them beneath your feet!

For the Lord says, “Because he loves me, I will rescue him; I will make him great because he trusts in my name. When he calls on me, I will answer; I will be with him in trouble and rescue him and honor him. I will satisfy him with a full life and give him my salvation.”

God be with them ALL. Rest easy………

Published by Stand Up America

Source: Soldiers Memorial Fund

Marine Corps Happy 234th Birthday! Message

School Kids Honor Veterans at Winterville Service

By Allison Floyd  
Nov. 10, 2009

WINTERVILLE – Veterans don’t always want to share their stories about the horrors of war, retired Marines Corps officer Ray Fairman told a crowd gathered Saturday to honor America’s heroes. And when they do open up about what they saw on the battlefield or in the operating room, it’s to other veterans or military doctors.

But the men and women who fought in Europe and the Pacific, Korea and Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan to preserve American freedom should tell their stories to their families, Fairman said.

That’s the only way the next generation will understand why we have our traditions and what they mean, he said.

“We’ve done so much to our history, rewritten our history,” Fairman said. Decoration Day (originally held to honor Union soldiers) became Memorial Day in honor of all fallen soldiers. Armistice Day (celebrating the end of WWI) has become Veterans Day, which is celebrated this Wednesday.

“If the youth of today don’t become the leaders of tomorrow, this country will fade away. We can’t pick up at 50, 60, 70 years old and carry on these traditions,” he said.

About 175 people turned out to Pittard Park for the fourth annual Thanks for Our Freedom ceremony and barbecue.

This year, instead of inviting a guest speaker, organizers asked school children from Clarke, Madison, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties to come to the service and say a few words.

Most thanked the veterans in the crowd for the freedom they enjoy; many thanked specific service members – fathers who fought in Vietnam, grandfathers who fought in Korea or WWII, brothers currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Kentavious Patman, at the event with his twin sister, Shuntavious, thanked their father, who is an orthodontist in the United States, but currently is deployed with the Army Reserves to Afghanistan as a medic.

Both Kentavious and Shuntavious, students at Coile Middle School, aspire to some sort of medical profession because of the example set by their father, Kentrell Patman, Kentavious said.

While the twins thought of their father, other kids and teens at the ceremony marveled that they’ll never know the vast majority of the veterans who fought for them.

“You do this incredibly important duty for people you don’t even know,” said Lizzy Reese, who was crowned Junior Miss Marigold at this year’s Winterville Marigold Festival.

Miss Marigold Grace Williamson agreed.

“It’s hard for me to picture myself packing up and leaving my family to serve a country of strangers,” she said.

Before settling in for a tangible thank you – free lunch – Fairman again encouraged veterans to talk and the next generation to listen.

“Do we pass on our history and stories? Do we pass on what it really means to be an American?” Fairman asked. A veteran of Vietnam and Desert Storm, he finds it easier to talk to other veterans or law officers than to share with loved ones, he said.

“If I isolate my family, if I don’t pass on what’s happened to me, my experience dies with me.”

Source: On Line Athens

 

Editor’s Note: Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, November 08, 2009.

Cody McClain, a junior from Oglethorpe County High School, speaks to veterans and their families at the Veteran’s Appreciation Day celebration Saturday at Pittard Park in Winterville. Photo by Kelly Wegal.

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Celebrate Veterans Day

By Military.com
Nov. 11, 2009

Veterans Day is a great time to educate your children about the history of this holiday and the sacrifice and dedication of our U.S. veterans. So, how do you celebrate this holiday in a creative and constructive way with your children?

 

How to Teach Kids about Veterans Day

Here are a few ideas, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs and EducationWorld.com:

1. Teach your children about the history of Veterans Day by having them create a time line of events leading to the observance of the holiday.

2. Have your kids write short articles or essays of how veterans are honored around the world. And if you know any veterans locally, propose that your kids interview them about what it’s like to serve in the U.S. military.

3. Research how American veterans were treated after they returned from various military conflicts, ranging from the French and Indian War to the Persian Gulf War. Ask your children to compare and contrast their findings. Also compare and contrast how women and minorities who served in those conflicts were treated.

4. Have children draw a picture of Veterans Day, and what this holiday means to them. Military children can draw a picture of a parent who is currently deployed, or a relative who has served.

5. Make a thank you card for veterans. Children can give this card to veterans that they know or to veterans who are listed through the local VA medical facility.

6. Ask your children’s teacher to invite veterans to their classroom. Veterans can discuss what it’s like to serve in the military, and how important it is to observe this holiday.

7. Have your kids make a colorful and fun poster with the names and pictures of relatives who are veterans.

There are a variety of ways to celebrate Veterans Day with your children. And teaching children about the significance of this holiday will help give them a deep appreciation of our nation’s service members and veterans.

 

Veterans Day Teacher Resource Guide

With Veterans Day less than 45 days away, the time is right for planning classroom activities. The Veterans Day Teacher Resource Guide contains information to help students gain an understanding of the origins of Veterans Day and why America celebrates it each November 11. It includes suggestions for a Veterans Day ceremony and classroom activities for both younger and older students. Download a copy of the Resource Guide or Veterans Day poster.

 

Source: US Military

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