Spunky Homeschool

I would like to thank all the readers and commenters who have made Spunky Homeschool a true joy for me. You’ve challenged, encouraged, and inspired me every day. I hope I’ve done the same for you. But all good things must come to an end sometime. (Assuming you thought Spunky Homeschool as a good thing.) And today is the day for me to leave Spunky Homeschool behind and move on to new opportunities.

Thanks again for making the last two years so much fun!

Blessings,
Spunky

P.S. No, I’m not dying, getting a divorce, or God forbid putting my children in public school!

 

UPDATE: Thank you for all the kind and gracious comments. I’m humbled to know that this effort has truly meant so much. For those who felt comfortable enough telling me that the aburptness of the decision was "unfair" and has caused them to lose some respect for me I say thank you as well. I have and always will have great respect for all readers and commenters and appreciate honest feedback good and bad.

Here’s a brief explanation as best as I can give one.

I talk very little about my personal life on this blog. That has always been intentional. Unlike other blogs I’m not the subject of the blog that bears my nickname. Education and family life in the world are the subject. I’m just one of God’s messengers among many others to spead the Word of Truth. When one writes a book you know when the last page is approaching. Blogs of this sort don’t have an ending, the discussion will continue long after me. And it should. Perhaps that’s why this may seem more abrupt and sudden. There will never be an end until Jesus returns, thus no time to leave will ever seem appropriate. But know that the decision was made in obedience to the Lord not from malice or disrespect toward anyone.

Please accept as I have, that at times it’s necessary to end one activity and move on in order to continue to walk with the Lord and in His ways.

That’s all. There isn’t a reason for leaving, but a calling to go forward. What that is will unfold as I obey and take the first step in leaving this behind. Is that being secretive? No. It’s telling the truth as I always do. If there were more to tell I would tell it. You deserve that from me.

 

One final announcement,
Talk about making it tough to leave, I’ve just been informed that I’m a finalist in the Weblog Awards 2006, for Best Education Blog. I’m humbled to be in the same category with Joanne Jacobs and Education Wonks, two blogs that I read before I began my own and would highly recommend to you. Thank you for your nomination, if you would like to vote here’s the place.  ( This award allows you to vote every day until Dec. 15.) 

Many thanks again for making this blog what it is. I am truly humbled that my daily writings have impacted so many. More than I could have ever imagined and in so many places.

Many thank again for making this blog what it is. I am truly humbled that my daily writings have impacted so many. More than I could have ever imagined and in so many places. Thank you and God bless you all.

I will continue to comment on various blogs as time permits. I enjoy reading the posts of various bloggers and their thoughts and opinions inspire and encourage me greatly.

 

News from the Internet,
A Florida dad, John Daynard, has decided to give up his job teaching art in the public schools to teach his own children at home,

He left his job as a Pinellas County teacher and pulled his sons out of public school because he found the environment chaotic, even threatening, he says. In his short stint as a Pinellas County elementary teacher, Daynard says he saw a student take off her clothes and streak, another slam a student against a wall. If he intervened, he was chastised for not following policy, he says. But he also failed to follow the credo of teachers everywhere: Don't whine. Deal.

His wife now works the night shift so he can homeschool their two children. (HT: Izzy)

Thankfully, they live in the United States where they are allowed to homeschool. Germany just said “no” to a homeschooling family. It is so very sad and it makes my previous post Schools for the 21st Century even more important to read and think about. (HT: Dewey's Treehouse)

And while you ponder schools of the 21st century what do you think about gender-neutral schools? How are schools supposed to handle children who are not sure if they are boys or girls? The New York Times is looking at Supporting Boys or Girls When the Line Isn't Clear.

At the Park Day School in Oakland, teachers are taught a gender-neutral vocabulary and are urged to line up students by sneaker color rather than by gender. “We are careful not to create a situation where students are being boxed in,” said Tom Little, the school's director. “We allow them to move back and forth until something feels right.”

A society segregated by color, that's so much more appropriate. “I have a dream, that one day children will not be judged by the color of their sneakers, but the content of their character.” If these were my kids, the whole school wouldn't feel right to me. (My humble apologies to Martin Luther King.)

News from my e-mail,
Judy Aron, a frequent commenter here a Spunky Homeschool has informed me that she has started her own blog, Consent of the Governed. She's a wonderful homeschool advocate and a great addition to the blogosphere. Welcome Judy!

Blogger Shannon Entin emailed letting me know that she will be on BlogTalkRadio Tuesday evening at 10 pm ET discussing homeschooling. It's a call in show, so if you're available she'd love to hear from you. (My children are at orchestra until 10 so I'm not sure if I'll get to listen or not.)

News from my mailbox,
Blogger and homeschool dad Steve Sensenig's new CD, Christmas Solitude, arrived this weekend. It is absolutely beautiful. Our whole family enjoyed listening to the familiar songs of Christmas played in Steve's warm and inspiring style.

Ann Voskamp sent me a copy of her book, The Glorious Coming. It is a great Advent devotional leading up to Christmas Day. We're a few days late, but we plan to start our Jesse Tree today.

A heartfelt thanks to Steve and Ann for their unsolicited generosity.

Related Tags: home school, homeschool, homeschooling, education, parenting, New York Times, public school