Homeschooling, Daytime Curfew, Civic Involvement Stuff

What a great title that is, huh?

The meeting's been set. I've talked with the Police Chief, my Hubby, the Leader of the Homeschoolers, my Mom's Group Ladies, and my Homeschooling Neighbor. It's interesting to hear so many views on one topic. Through it all, I've been trying to gather my thoughts about what I've been ask to speak on... "What Homeschoolers Are."

I'm not there to debate the law. I'm not there to debate our Civil Liberties. I'm there to give the Police Department a Positive Image of What Homeschoolers Are. So, I think I'll notify the Local Homeschooling Group, and ask for a little input from them (why they decided to homeschool, what their day is like, and how they forsee the Curfew affecting their daily routine). Then, I'll compile that data into an outline / notecards and plan to speak for 3-5 minutes.

My neighbor lady is also planning to attend. She's going to speak a bit too, on the same topic. She and I have talked together some and plan to talk some more so that when we speak to the Police, we compliment eachother.

I want to avoid having a pile of Homeschoolers attacking the Police... the Police are just trying to do their job. I also want to give the Police a positive impression of what Homeschoolers can be, as opposed to a bunch of fanatical, anti-government nuts.

I hope I'm doing this thing right. Being involved in the solution has got to be better than sitting back and complaining or fighting.

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On another note, I:

• took the kitten in for her final shot,
• had playgroup this morning,
• was given the Gift of a Nap this afternoon,
• baked A LOT (2 loaves bread, new cookie recipe, banana bread muffins, and 16 rolls),
• went on a mile-and-a-half walk,
• had a delicious (simple) dinner of bread, cheese, and meat with juice,
• and finally had a two-hour heart-to-heart with my friend Amy.

All-in-all, I feel like it was a VERY productive day!

Small Town Politics

This is what I'm Pondering today...

The Short Story
After attending three City Council Meeting (in the past three weeks) the Chief of Police approached me about participating in some Police Meetings on Implementing a new law in the city. I don't know if I should.

The Long Story
Two weeks ago Frank and I went to a City Council meeting, just to see what there was to see.

Turns out, there was a fury of debate going on about a proposed Daytime Curfew Ordinance. There were a lot of Homeschooling families there opposing it because they feel it infringes on Civil Liberties and also, it has the potential to inconvenience them and their children. After trying (unsuccessfully) to find the local Homeschooling group (through people and internet searches), I met them for the first time at a City Council Meeting - kinda funny, I think.

In any case, last night, the Ordinance passed the City Council (by a 7-1 vote). After wards, the Police Chief ask me if someone from the Homeschooling group would like to participate in the meetings within the Police Department, as they determine how to implement this new law. I was excited, saying I didn't know, but I thought that, yes, the Homeschoolers would want to be involved. I gave him my contact information. Boy. Was I wrong! I thought the Homeschoolers would lynch me for suggesting it! They were in-your-face-mad because "the Police Chief doesn't care what we think!"

Now. I must admit that I am VERY new to politics, but I want to believe the best of people. Passing the law may not have been what I or the Homeschoolers wanted, but it's a law now. So, wouldn't it be helpful to be involved as the proceed with implementing it?

Tom wants me to "stay out of it", fearing reprecussions against me or our property and potential ostrecizing from the local Homeschooling group. I think that being a part of the solution is good, but I also remember more that one occassion when my Mom was run off the road after taking firm stands at City Council Meetings (in Victorville, California, then population about 15,000). So, I know that there may be truth in what Tom says.

As I mentioned before, for the first time - in.my.life - I can see how I could be involved, for good, in Civic things.

It's just so bewildering to me. Particiapte with the Police and risk being Ostricized. Don't participate, and wonder what I might have been able to do to help. Also, there's just a raw curiosity in me to know how things like this (the City and Police Meetings) work.

Ever since moving to Wyoming, I do move more cautiously, because this is "a small town" and things work "differently" here than in a big city. Everyone knows everyone. So, I try to be less bold and definat and more patient and understanding.

Right now though, I'm just not sure which way to go with this. I mean, if the Homeschoolers did get upset with me, and not allow us to participate, then we probably don't want to associate with them anyway.

I do know that the Homeschoolers are talking with the Home Schoolers Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) about pursuing this Ordinance in a Court of Law. So, they are working on correcting the problem themselves, but, in the meantime, this is a Law in our town now, and being involved in how it is implemented seems better than just fighting it.

Thanks for listening to me ramble. I just don't know what I should do (participate, fight, sit-down-and-shut-up). You're input and insights would be appreciated!

Censorship in America

So. You need to read this post by my friend, Celise. Then, check out the article she's talking about.

Go read. Now.

Did you read it?

Wow!

I just.can’t.believe that this stuff is still going on in our Country!

I mean, it was on the list of the twenty approved books. They were told, in writing, of her intent, their were permission slips signed by parents and still she gets fired over it! Wow! Sad.

Hillary’s Picture

In her what, sixteen or so years in the public eye (at least that I’ve been aware of), Tuesday MSN’s home page had the first picture of Hillary that I can remember liking. It seems natural. Her hair seems tame. I like the background. I just kinda liked the picture.

During Monica Lewinsky, I remember thinking that the only reason Hillary would have stayed with Bill would have been for political / power reasons. I also remember, about the same time, that she might one day be our first Lady President. Now, here we have her in the running.

To be quite honest, I’m not happy about this Presidential election. It’s the first time when I haven’t been excited to go to the polls and vote for my candidate. I’m just not sure I like what any of them have to say. Is this related to the fact that the State of the Union seems so poor? It must be very difficult to campaign for the presidency of a Nation that is in such turmoil.

I just think it must be tough for all the candidates. I also know that only one candidate has caught my eye, and he dropped out of the race a while back. So, I sit and wait to see if there will be some sort of a “Dream Ticket” or just what. I truly wonder what the next few years will be like. I also tend to doubt there will be any sort of “magical turn-around” as the result of this Presidency. The troubles of our Country have been a long-time coming, and they can’t be fixed quickly by just one Presidency.