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Show Home Schools from front The fathers take over entirely when mom can't be there, and tend to handle the hardest subjects. And in the James Home, the hardest subjects come first. Mrs. James believes in getting at the subjects causing the greatest difficulty early in the morning, while the children are fresh and most interested'. "That used to be Continued page James, "when you simply cannot be with them monitoring their work. It's nice that they can get their books and do it themselves." "You can go at the speed the child is ready for," she added. "If my child is handling the material all right, we move right along. If she begins to have trouble, we can slow down." Both of these home school moms emphasized the freedoms home schools offer - especially when it comes to the child's progress and his learning capacity. Both home schools offer a curriculum as wide ranging as standard public school offerings. Science, language, phonics, writing, spelling, mathematics, reading, grammar, history are the subjects on the Foster's plan. The James classes include geography, music, arts and crafts and scripture study. Texts are ordered through the mail for the James household. Beka Books are Mrs. James' favorite supplier although she also relies heavily on the Christian Liberty Academy for workbooks and some other materials. The Fosters buy many of their texts at the American Heritage School in Pleasant Grove. She too uses mostly Beka Books. "I just get what I need where I can get them," notes math, now it's language," she said. "The whole experience has been terrific for my kids," says Mrs. Foster. "While I worry a little bit over the social experiences they may be missing, I remind myself that they're also missing the negatives too. And there's so much negative in school these days." This is the single drawback both home school mothers mentioned. What will happen to a child insulated at home for all the years that other children are spending with peers? Does the child absorb enough love from home to protect him from the social realities he or she will eventually have to deal with? "It depends on the child," asserts Mrs. Foster. "My oldest has his values set. He can handle it. He thinks for himself . He hasn't had any problems." The next younger boy is not emotionally ready for peer pressure. I don't know how he'll accept it." "I can tell you this," she says with a smile, "he would sometimes prefer school. Mother is much tougher on him than he thinks is necessary." That brings up another consideration of home schooling. Do the children get the quality of education they need, could they keep up if they were transplanted to public school? Both mothers gave an emphatic "Yes." "We have our childred tested every year with Stanford tests, and they test out two to three grade levels above their age level each time," says Mrs. James. "Plus, they all love to read. Our oldest boy has no trouble playing Scrabble, and he is only second grade age. I think they are way ahead of where they would be in the schools." Mrs. Foster adds, "At any given time I could show you what they've accomplished. In one year my second boy went through first, second and third grade science. He's learned to write cursive, reads on an eighth grade level. too." He's very Mrs. James says they used to pay to have each child's work accredited. An she says they had no trouble getting the validation each year. However, the process is expensive - $185 per child per year, and this family decided they couldn't afford it for all their four school-ag- e children this year. Mrs. Foster. Mrs. James showed the Citizen many of her books and her children's workbooks. The texts are bright and colorful, and the children's work seems to be above reproach. Mrs. Foster does not think private schools can be the answer for all parents who are frustrated with the progress of their children. "Private schools are good for some children," she says, "but they are costly. It can be as much as $75 a month. They have more time for work, and some children like my son Ted who suffered from dyslexia (a vision disability) need lots of concentrated effort. They have time for that with smaller classes." "I used to think private schools were better," muses Mrs. James. "But now I would put home schools above them." Both mothers agree that children learn much more quickly from their parents. And both mom and dad take a stint in the teaching. "My husband fills in where I can't," says Mrs. James. "As the boys get into math and history .he takes more and more responsibility. " one-on-o- "But if we were asked to, we could again," she states. Does the school district in this area demand accreditation? Jim Nelson, Alpine School District's director of pupil personnel, says no, but that doesn't mean home school instruction is acceptable to the district. "We don't give any credit towards graduation for home school instruction is acceptable to the district. "We don't give any credit towards graduation for home school instruction. I don't know if these people realize this." "We would prefer these children be in our schools," says Nelson. "We would hope that public school is still the place for children." Nelson said the district doesn't sanction any home "In one year my boy went through first, second and third grade 99 science. schools, but they don't take any steps to eradicate them either. "We don't feel comfortable with this at all, but the law requiring children to attend public school is very nebulous," Nelson said. School officials do not have the right to enter a home to compel a youngster to come to school against parental wishes. "We have a pretty stiff compulsory education law, but if a child goes to a private school or a home school, we have no right to force him to do anything else." Nelson says the district discontinued "counting noses" several years ago and at present has no way of knowing which children or how many stay at home rather than attend public school. He noted that the district can track down children who have been enrolled and withdrawn, and added that an attempt is always made to persuade the parents to leave the child in school. But he says that's as far as the district may go. "When a child is withdrawn, we ask the parents to ' write the Superintendent stating the reasons for withdrawal and requesting permission to do so. Then we invite them to participate with us every spring in our testing, so we can check their progress,"Nelson said. The two home school families interviewed said they hadn't had any problems with the school district at all. "They don't even know about my children," says Mrs. James. "They've never been put on a roll of any kind." "Nobody has ever said anything to me," said Mrs. Foster. "I get more questions from people in the neighborhood than from anywhere else," continues Mrs. James. "They're all curious - interested in how I cope." She maintains that Utah never did fully accept the Public Education law. Even at the time of its passage for families to teach within the home if they desired. Nelson is concerned over problems he says he sees coming our of home schooling. "One is that the law indicates children will be taught by a professional person, taught the same number of days and the same number of hours, with a very similar curriculum to that of the public school. This is very hard to check with home and schools," he said. , "Another problem," says Nelson, "is that you can't take children out of society and then put them back at 17 and expect them to be able to function. You get a lot of problems! The lack of social contact hurts them and ' they suffer." now we can't really do anything about it, "Right though," admits Nelson. "We can call parents and suggest the testing, that's all." Nelson says neighbors call the district often and question why these children are outside playing when everybody is in school. "I tell those neighbors we'll try and check on it. That's all we can do." "What we usually do is refer them to the Division of Family Services for neglect and child abuse. If a child isn't properly educated, that's a kind of neglect," he said. Serving Hospital Survey County Name of the New American Fork Hospital American M u ' Fork Hospital Board of Trustees is considering the name of the American Fork Hospital when they changing move into the new facility and they would like to have comV Dates Set Sign-u- p mwm mmmm Mmwm . 1 ., fli Pletunt Lessons At Pool Dates: Subscription The UN $7.50 (ear Press is sent out Free OUR -5 16 STAFF Post Office IS b) mail. Second U.S.P.S. No. TO SERVE PLEASED lean Footer American Fort Editor Lehi Edrtor totti Crow Editors Pleasant -11 want to change the name of the Hospital? YesD Societi Editor class YOU NoD 75eV7tM 7St7K Cordon 7M4CK Suggestions for new name. Ford Anderson MartA Maker 7547KJ Kristea Sftetei AdvRtuei blwacer lew Spjffws Prodactiw Handier Mont Cat CireulitiM Nanaier Demo Sharp Place of Registration: Do you NoD 30U00) tenant MaMlEttRandaNNnM p.m. a.m. want the name to remain American Fork Hospital? YesD $14 two rears one Palifasherhett Dates and Time: Do you Grove Revievr. Dentate is paid at Lehi May 2 May 9, munity input. a For Swimming I press 3Trcc H . Main. Mhi. I'uh MM The Lehi Fin Press is published ewer, Ttiuridij tr NeMi, Inc., arhicli aho publishes the Americai fort Crtiree mo the 7St7Kl 7StV7MI Lehi Community Pool 145 S. 400 E. Mail to: Lehi, Utah says the So Cost: t $15 - one 4, v- - - . t I. , 1 I I I 1 mm k r-- a T B Peterson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Peterson, proudly Lehi Stock Show last Saturday for his championship at he the won the displays trophy CHAMPIONSHIP BEE- F- David beef. Club Holds Stock Show Champion hog was won by Rayan Trapp and he was given a trophy which was given by Bill Lewis. Fitting and Showmanship trophy for beef was won by Darin Clark and he received a trophy from Morris Clark. Champion fat lamb was shown by Sharon Lewis and was awarded a trophy given by Byron Memmott. Champion ram lamb was exhibited by Brandon Lewis and he won a trophy from the F.F.A. Top horse shown at halter was won by Wade Berry and he won a trophy from the Lehi Riding Club. The Lehi Riding stock show, which was held at the Lehi Rodeo Arena, named several Club-sponsor- local youths as winners. Both F.F.A. Club members members and exhibited their livestock in preparation for the Utah State Junior Livestock Show, which will be held at Spanish Fork, April 27, through May 4--H 2. the different classes were the following: David Peterson, Champion Beef. He received a trophy sponsored by the Dale Harris family. Winning STSTTHELOf ji i i s s nicT person (per session) $12.50 per person for 2 people , of the same immediate family (per session) $10 per person for 3 or more people of the same immediate family (per session) one session is 15 lessons. xtf.- 1 Mark J. Howard, Administrator American Fork Hospital 350 East 300 North Qi . American Fork, Utah 84003 That Anderson Action . . . S iV) VETERAN'S nF PKORD ' I CKK JownUlMeY- - Contact nearest VA office (check your phone book) or I local veterans group. Mother's Bay Special Zoto's Foamvaye I or $25.00 3 MARY LEE ASAY $22.50 Good from Diet facts & fallacies . UBn a Now DIET CENTER is stored as tat. Women need approximately 46 grams of protein a day and men need 56 grams, which is about 7 ounces. If the majority of your calories is derived from protein, your body will use what it needs and the rest will be converted to fat. This fat cannot be reconverted into protein. i Lively These nutritional tips brought to you by excess it Feel So 0 Did you know you could gain weight by eating too much protein? It's true. Like other foods, if you eat more than your body needs, the VA. , . ftrih 'ft Lessons will begin on June 1. Lesson times will be 9, 10 and 11 a.m. with our Mother-To- t class beginning at 11:45. Please pay for lessons at time of registration. Reg. 756-383- ml Zoto's CENTER Am. Fork ' If you ate a steak, use would only you probably three to four ounces as protein; the excess nitrogen ce found in protein foods would be excreted and the rest of the protein would break down into fat. Losing weight is so much more than counting calories. Diet Center will teach you how to count nutrients, for the most effective way to lose excess fat and maintain good health. May 4 -- May 9 Treat Mother To A Professional Perm in a Friendly Atmosphere E&aiye IHIfflfiip (Dare 20 S. Center American Fork - For appointment call 753-761- 7 Vorn Anderson, Assistant Manager If he's not hiking, he's playing tennis, swimming, gardening or enjoying his active family. But if you really want to see Vern in action, just ask him for help with a Timeway Loan. The knowledgeable, friendly way he'll spring into action is just one of the reasons he makes such a great Assistant Manager. Need quick action on any loan? Ask Vern. Then stand back and watch him go to work! For savings checking borrowing any banking need, ask Vern, Kathern, Valerie, Scott, Carole or Sharlene. Anyone at - Rfs! Security Slcto Bcft!t of American Fork 650 E. State Road MimK--r FDIC Headtvup people putting you ahead. |