Backroads

I've taken up making our own kimchi. I'm surprised at how pricey the good pepper flakes are getting.

Eh, I haven't thought it was supposed to objective in years. It's supposed to influence people.

Clandestine government organizations turn eyes toward Australia...

The holiday hams are dropping in prices around us, to the point of awfully good deals. However, husband and I aren't communicating, so now we have like 6 hams we got for less than 99 cents a pound.

On a side note, rewatched this last night. Still a solid movie.

I agree with you on that. Deep thinking, critical thinking, these are rather vague terms. When people complain "this and that doesn't teach critical thinking" I'm not sure how to respond. I could probably look up a list of strategies some blogger or professor put together and teach those, but I don't know how to guarantee that will result in the desired thinking, however that is defined. Most of these strategies, I find, tend to be very biased. I think deep/critical thinking is a concept that is more of a journey. You'll just have to develop it independently.

Say what you will about the evils of the internet, but it's created a golden age of "look it up yourself" education and it's wonderful.

Oh, now I'm sad I thought I suggested so! My intended point is that whatever educator be that parent or teacher would do well to keep an eye on struggling readers. I've heard from some homeschooling friends there is a certain degree of "wait and see" in various skills, but that best comes with a point when you have to say "Billy's had all the time to go at his own pace and he still can't read. Maybe we need to try a new tactic or look into a learning disability". Formal schooling, for good or for bad, does tend to be more rigid on a timeline. Though I have a theory anxious parents helped contribute this. This is my third year teaching kindergarten, and at the beginning of every year I have at least one concerned parent freaking out how their kid is behind because they can't read. Meanwhile I'm setting up alphabet and phonemic awareness lessons...

I don't have the numbers right now, but one of the big pushes for reading science right now is that there is a gap between the kids who very well could pick up reading on their own and those that need the letters and sounds taught. The latter number is concerningly huge. So while it might sound nice to expose kids and hope they're in the former group, it's not trusty. It's impossible to say why those teens can't read, but I feel a parent ought to know when one reading education plan isn't working. On the other end of the spectrum, today zi l has to assure a mother her kid was reading at an age-appropriate skill level, was passing all assessments of such, and no, is not at risk of having to repeat kindergarten.

I think my ideal would be to truly place the crux of public education at a community level (I don't know if that would be city or country or what, but I think we have too much overhead). Send whatever funding percentage we decided to decree to that level, maybe set a few must-have-to-be-a-productive-citizen standards at a higher level, and go from there.

In this case it seems to be double what other Utah students get for their own funding, which is I think is a big part of the balking, plus a fear it would be just a check they can spend on whatever. But my understanding is that's it'll be something what is potentially available if they can submit receipts for qualifying this, that, and whatsit. Funnily enough I know a homeschooler that is now against the bill when he learned it wouldn't be just pure homeschooling support to their own judgment. He has four kids they're homeschooling and was hoping he could use the money to keep either he or his wife home full-time (paycheck for homeschool style) and was disappointed it wouldn't work that way. In fairness, I see his point. He and wife try to have opposite shifts, but it's not perfect and they still spend a fair amount on childcare. Being able to have a parent home would be the biggest boon to their homeschool.

I saw a few arguments for just divvying up the educational funds and giving those to the family, but I see similar issues (plus I don't know if the economics would be what people would like.) I haven't been able to fully release myself from the idea that we need public education access at least on a community level, but I also think that's where the winds are blowing where it truly may become, not necessarily every man (student) for themselves, but the only way for education and growth to move forward if it's completely independent, if it means some get left behind. Kind of we are now or soon to be sowing what our society has reaped, for good or for bad.

Ooh, I like this point. Last I heard and understood, right now homeschoolers and private school families are not beholden to any particular federal requirements (hence the potential concern over IDEA) except for a "prove you're learning" portfolio or assessment. Your comment leaves me wondering what this portfolio will require. And, while everything is, here's access to funds, do what you will, for now, what will this become down the road?

This seems to be filling up my newsfeed, and I'm trying to wrap my head around just what my feelings are. Here's the current bill. In essence, a scholarship/voucher fund for those who want to pay for homeschooling or private schools. My thoughts pro on the bill: Education truly is the parents responsibility and I can't argue with them having a choice in what that looks like. While I doubt the money offered is enough to help the truly destitute attend private school, it sure would be helpful to those who are just poor enough for the option of private school to be a proper struggle. While the scholarship for homeschooling seemed shockingly high, it is my understanding that homeschool expenses are going to be heavily limited scrutinized, so it's just not the worry it could be. Plus there's a connected teacher raise, and I wouldn't say no to that. My thoughts con on the bill: My big one is that it's so limited. Why should one family get to take advantage but not another family? The truly destitute and unaware are likely not going to have the know-how or means to apply for the bill, so likely the money is to go to the people in, ironically, less need. And while this may sound better and whataboutist, but how is this going to help those that don't have access to private schools? My mixed thought: IDEA. Under this bill, the private schools are not required to adhere to IDEA even with receiving the public money. I'm conflicted. Part of me says, that's my tax money, you better follow federal law. Then again, with being okay with the rest of the bill, why be picky about this when my tax money is potentially going to religious schools? I also figure, parents of students with learning disabilities can shop around for a school that will accept and doing a solid job of working with their kid, or simply return to their protected right under public school. Any areas where I am woefully wrong?

I once saw a study I've never been able to find since about the psychological benefit for children of keeping food in the home. You could be eating out for all meals all the time and yet it would still be reassuring to the kid to be able to see food in the home. As for 72-hour kits, I suppose 3 days is 3 days, but it amazes me how many people don't in fact have three days' worth of random food lying about.

Not just converts. I think of all the young ones getting out of their parents' homes.

We live in one of the armpits of Utah yet the city council wants to think us fancy.

Now it would be a service project.

My in-laws found a grand deal on some very nice wheat grinders and gave them to everyone for Christmas. I now realize I need to up my wheat storage. Bought some flour today and was even surprised at its price. I think I pondered this elsewhere on the forums, but I'm concerned about those who within a day are suddenly panicked for food. I feel secure having meat in the freezer and a bunch of piles of canned veggies and whatnot. On eggs, my town refuses to allow chickens (though I know where several rebel chicken keepers are). It's depressing and a bit worrisome. My daughter has a friend who lives across the street from the city boundary who happily keeps all sorts of livestock, so perhaps I can go beg that family if worse comes to worse on eggs. I like and use eggs enough that so far I'm willing to forego other stuff in order to buy eggs, but it's getting ridiculous. In another month or so it'll be time for seed starting. Perhaps I'll get serious about that and canning this year.

I think the high focus on social education is truly a sign of breakdown of family and community and hopes of putting all this on someone else. I'll be frank: I've even seen this from conservative families, just not focused on the more "woke" stuff. They're simply under the impression they don't have to handle this and that and their taxes will handle it. It leads to a huge argument of what's okay and what's not and further breakdown

To continue Ancient Bumped Thread, and giving respect to @Ironhold's medical needs, I do have to wonder about some of the hygiene already in place that affects the ability to wear garments. I totally get and appreciate difficulty when you've tried everything. But, in specifics to women, it seems a lot of girls don't have the best hygiene and then tend to blame it on the garment. Such examples such as not drying out "down there" properly and the trend of a full shave in such area, which is generally not recommended if one has a tendency to infections. Combine these with fashionably tight clothing (including certain garment styles) and it's no wonder some are suffering.

... with all respect given to the sacredness nature of the garment, I can't help but imagine the porch pirates' faces.

When I went virtual, it was such a load off my shoulders from what truly did feel like babysitting. Virtual teaching has its own challenges (now I feel like I'm babysitting adults on occasion), and I feel a lot happier. I think we've sunk so low into the need for schools to handle everything I don't think society can worm its way back out. Elsewhere there was a discussion about the possible benefits of 4-day school weeks. Some of those perks were more planning/prep time for teachers (which has evidence in its favor). Of course, someone came screaming about the people who couldn't care for their children on that fifth day. You seem like a jerk if you say "not my problem, the local economy and community will figure it out".

So while I respect homeschooling and everything, it seems to be extremely independent. How would homeschoolers respond to people who aren't able to homeschool if we did drop truancy laws? (Probably an unfair judgment, but most homeschoolers I know are quite wealthy)

I think getting back to some good competition might be the way to go. Truly make it the community's responsibility. The noble goal of reaching all students hasn't done so much.