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Show Tuesday, May 7, 1996 THE DAILY HERALD, Provo, Uteh — Page B7 Home schooling growing popularin Utah By MARCO LEAVITT tunities to progress at their own Associated Press Writer rate. He also wants to ensure his are taught values. KEARNS — Stacie Parker children “To love the Lord is the most doesn’t play on the swings with the important one,” Parker said. “To otherfifth graders, but she can hear be a good friend. Thingslike that. them. Their laughter drifts over the Basic Christian values.” fence that separates the Parker back “It's importantto learn curricuyard from Beehive Elementary. lum and religion. They go togethStacie, whois schooled by her parents, waits until the laughter setting the ground rules,” Ruzicka said. “They must teach them to read and write and geography and history and they don't have time for that.” Like the Parkers and most other home schoolers, Ruzicka also favors phonics, a system of learning to read by letter combinations. New- er methods are based on learning The idea that there is no differ- words by context and association. ence between religion and academics is common among home schoolers, said Colleen McDannell, an associate professor of his- “The home schoolers I know use phonics because it works,”said Ruzicka. Christians in general may be attracted to the technique studied 20 to 30 home schools in Texas. “They don’t hate the world,” she meeting anyoneoutside her neighborhood or church is difficult “T have a few friends,” she said. The number ofparents in Utah like the Parkers who choose to home school their children appears to be growing, althoughthe state keeps no figures. And dissatisfaction with the McDannell’s research subjects often used the Bible as a textbook to teach everything from grammar to science. But she points out that even public school curriculums are influenced by someone'sreligion, and she believes conservative Christian tiome schoolersare justified in wanting to control their children’s environment. The Parkers, who are Mormons, read scripture together every morning, but for school have math textbooks and other books from the library. One of them, “The Children’s Atlas of Civilizations,” has a section on human evolution. “We got a good laugh out of id Laurie Parker, who went abead and read the section to her children. “I think it’s important for them to know what people think, and about evolution.” She doesn’t feelshe is trying to isolate her children, but simply many unfamiliar words, she added McDannell hasanother theory. “Christians see in the world that there is a pattern and an order because God made it a certain he said. “Phonics basically saythere is a pattern.” A commoncriticism of home schooling is that the children miss many socialization opportunities. But the National Home Education Research Center's Ray disputes that, saying socialization occurs tory at the University of Utah who because textslike the Bible have so said. “They are trying to teach their children how to be good Christians. herparents, but acknowledgesthat It’s all integrated topethien” public school system and concern about declining moral and religious values are amongthe chiefcatalysts. The Utah Home Education Association has about 6,300 people on its mailing list, and yearly additions to the database have swelled by 20 to 30 percent over the last couple of years, says board member Coke Newell. There also are a numberofother support organizations like You Teach and the LDS Home Educators Association The National Home Education Research Center puts the number of Utah's home-schooled kids at between 3,500 and 4,500, but president Brian Ray admits even those rough numbers aren’t firm. But if the exact dimensions of home-schooling in Utah are fuzzy, the reasons for its growth are not: Uee with the mainstream erative is widespread. “The numberone reason,| sup- pose, is people's dissatisfaction with the governmentor the public education system,” said Newell Stacie’s father, Ken Parker, a former UHEApresident, believes his kids get a better education with more personalattention and oppor- does not trust anyone else to instruct them onsensitive matters like evolution. Or, apparently, Americanhistory. “There is a lot of debunking of the Founding Fathers.” she said. “So and so had a mistress. | don’t believe they did.” Gayle Ruzicka,president of the conservative Eagle Forum, schools her children at homeandisn’t happy with trends in public education. “Sex education, Goals 2000, outcome-based education, character education — they're the type of classes that discuss values without both at home andat public schools. The difference. he said, citing numerous studies, is that students at public schools pick up the habits of their peers, while homeschooled kids pattern themselves after their parents. “Some people believe that home schoolers want to isolate their children, period. They want to provide them with good social contacts, guided social interactions,” Ray said. Theimage of homeschoolers as isolationists, hiding their children from the world, originally made Laurie Parker skeptical about home schooling. That was in 1977, shortly after Utah lawmen gunned down John Singer, a home schooler who had defied a judge's contempt order. Singer had ignored other court orders to bring his kids to public school after educators determined the education providedhis children at home was inadequate In the aftermath of the Singer shooting, the state of Utah abolished mandatory monitoring of home schools, a decision that bothers Nancy Valdez, supervisor of pupil services for the Salt Lake City School District ‘AP Photo Kellie Parker, 12, shares the kitchen table with her two-year-old sister Natalie while working on her spelling in their Kearns home. in the liv- ing room, mother Laurie Parker instructs her children Matt, 6, and Christie, 9. right, as daughter Stac' ie, 11, works on her math by herself at left. The numberof families in Utah choosing to home schoo!their children appears to be growing. Now, state law requires only that home-schooling parents register their children with their local schooldistricts. Valdez, who says that 110 chil dren are registered in her district and suspects over 200 are being kept at home without being registered,is not allowed toenter any of the homesortest the children. When parents register, they promise to provide their children with the same number of study hours as offered in public school, but the state has no way of know- Honor Roll Johnson, Kelsey Jones, Julie Katzoff James Kendall, Melissa Mocleary, Scott Murray, Crystal Petty, Jessica Phillips, John Robert. Andrew Rudolph, Chelsey Savio, Joseph Shurtz, Elizabeth Simmons. Ashlee Skousen, Tyler Smith, Steven Southwick, Amanda Spears, Amanda Brittinee Adams. Robert Arthur, Amber Bagby, Scott Bartlett, Trina Bateman, Dian- na Bell, Jane Bergeson, Natalie Clark, Ryan Clark. Carl Cranney, Megan Davidson, Felicia Featherstone, Jennifer Fitts, Jerame Hafen. Chnistophr Hale, Januari Hill, Christine Houston, Joanne Johnson, Cindy King, Nickole Lamb, Fernanda Lima, James Loomis, Thomas Macdonald, Charles Martin, Connne Mayberry, Christine Mcbeth, William Mecleary, Nathan Nye, Traci Okawa, Bryce Ou, Alberta Poon, Jared orBe)Ba (et: eR LPR Helt. Heather Heppler, Natalie Hill, Melissa Homer, Jonathan Jacobs, Kara Jacobs, Alison Jeffs, Faith Jensen, James Jones. Jacob Judd, Jackie Kerecman, Bran Koralewski, Matthew Larson, Hillary Lewis. Kristen Lowe, Rebecca Lunt, Lisa 1991-1995 IST PLACE Martin, Tyler Mason, Julie Maughan PARADE OF Courtney Michaels, Lindsay Minck, Mike Nyman. Julie Parker, Angela Peterson Katie Peterson, Jason Pledger, Dacia Pow ell, SharylannPrisbrey, Ashley Radebaugh. asl OR Wa) Stewart, Brittney Strong, Melissa Thorne. Pratt, Natalie Randall, Lindsey Reynolds Linda Reay. Kevin Rieske, Amanda Roper, Whitney Reynolds, Kimberlee Rowley, Jeffrey Rowley. Ruthann Shurtleff, Micah Whiting, Devin Williams. Secily Saunders, Daniel Schaverhamer, Smith, Stephanie Smith, Allan Stewart Honor rol: Aaron Adamson, Lara Lee Bagby, Emi Matthew Sederberg, Aaron Sommerfeldt, Scott Spencer, Jenifer Swindle, Joy Waka- 377-9809 Erin Thom, Spencer White, Claire Wilkins, Matthew Wood. HOMES HOME IMPROVEMENT 800-432-5888 Cameron, Chelsea Chynoweth, Elizabeth Clyde, Nancy Cooper, Kristi Cowden, Rebecca Cranney, Heather Cukale, Jodee Dahl, Laura Dickson, Mayra Escamilla, Cody Fehiberg. Lincoln Fielding, Robie Garr, Fabiola Gonzalez, Karley en: wood, Camilla Henderson, Curtis Henrie, Susan Holder, Ruth Horsley, Ruth Howe, Lindsay Huffman, Anna Jacobson. Janina Mayor's Centennial Ball Jensen. Amanda Jones, Marie Josephson, Lindsey Killpack, Amanda Larsen. Kelsey 1896 -1996 Larsen, Whitney Lewis, Thomas Marrott, Kenneth Matthews, Amy Miller, Jenny Muhlestein, Kellynn Nelson, Kayla Nielsen. Linda Olsen, Stephen Olsen, Tra cy Page. Justin Perry, Cameron Peterson, Nicole Pinegar, Rachel Prigmore. Ralph, Ricks, Jill David Reid, Brady Rich, Elyse Kathryn Riding, Jeffrey Schill Tiffany Schung. Douglas Sievers, Andrew Taylor, Jeffrey Tichy, Karalee Tobler, Jas: mine Wakamatsu, Patrick Webb, Krista Whiting, Melanie Wnght 8th Grade High honor roll: Joshua Anderson, Steven Anderson. Camilla Baker, Jonathan Bianchi, Derek Pee ae Sea . Boogaard, Melissa Bradley, Ryan Brady, Alison Bryant, Glen Buss, Courtney Chnis- tiansen, Rebekah Clark, Jessica Gutierrez, Justin Holdaway, Gary Huntiagton, Keist Jackson, Daniel Johnson, Marian Johnson, Ke Johnston, Amy Kamoe, Stacey Ker. Heather Larsen, Jennifer Lloyd. Heidi Loomis, Tiffany Martin, Michelle Memas: ter, Michael Mequay, Clayton Merkley Mckenzie Moody, Janessa Murray, Danie! Owen, Lon Palfreyman, slitzi Peay, Lindsay Peterson, Jason Samuelian, Jennifer Samuelian, Jessica Schiffman. Shelley jarla Sowards, Derek Angela Spann. Laura Spencer, Daniel Sperry. Tami Stevens, Jasher Sutton, Anita Taylor, Cam- mie Taylor, Steven Taylor, Benjamin Tichy. Krista Turner, Joe! Vandegralf, Ashley Wakefield, Landon Watts, David Whiting. Friday, May 17, 1996 6:50 pm Old Historic Courthouse Provo, Utah An evening of Dining and Dancing Carriage Rides Black tic and/or period dress invited Jessica Williamson, Kathryn Wilson. Honor Eric Adams, Michael Adams, Sarah Barley, Russell Belt, Brandon Carter, Daniel Clement, Candice Cook, Natalie Coon, Jonathan Cox, Spencer Davis, Lynley Dowdle, Ashley Fairbanks, Trevor Feller, Nathaniel Foster, Michae! Frahm, Janel Graham, Line Greenhalgh, Annalora Gubler, Lindsay Hale, Kyle Jensen, Brooke Johanson, Kellan Johason, Jacob Lewis, Jeffrey Maas, Stephanie Manley. Sherri Man2 Tickets are $15.00 cach, available during business howre at Movor's Olice 551 Wet Conter Street Eacegy Department 251 Weet 800 Nocth Limited Seating For more snlormation call 345-7589 \|\\ WORK Stephame Walton, Kevin White, Scott ly Bakke, Austin Beckham, Cory Belnap. Daniel Blair, Sarah Broadbent, Sean ing if the parents are complying Most parents do a good job. Valdez says, but some don’t “The law is so vague.” Valdez said. “It doesn’t give us much to go on unless we can prove the child is being neglected.” For Newell, any testing or monitoring of home-schooled kids would lead to abuses by the regulators. “The problem with safeguards andstandardsof any sort,” he said, “is that they are always devised by oup for another group.” Brigham Young University Museurn of Art curators have gathered the works of 30 of Utah's most renowned painters of this century for a free exhibition that commemorates the Centennial of Utah's statehood Called “This Piace Utah, 1896-1996: A Legacy of Landscape Painting,” the exhibition pieces are on display at the BYU Museum of Art in the Marian Adelaide Morris Cannon Gallery Curators Herman du Toit and Dawn Pheysey report that the exhibition pieces were carefully selected from more than 40 collections, including the holdings of the LDS Church Museum of Church History and Art. They call the exhibit “a feast of some of the State’s most representative and finest painters of the past 100 years The show opened Fr.day, coinci with the inauguration of Merrill Bateman as president of BYU and the i2|st annual graduation of BYU students. Exhibit hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. with extended hours Mondays and Thursdays until 9 p.m. The exhibit will remain open until June8. Among the artists whose works are displayed are Aibert Bierstadt. LeConte Stewart Wulf Barsh, J. Taylor Harward, Maynard Dixon, Al Rounds, Lee Greene Richards, Henri Moser. Williari Keith and Frank Mableby “This Place Utah’ is as diverse as its landscape,” du Toit explained. “Art will range from formal, academic pieces to visionary artists who display evocative symbolism. Most of the art is represented by classical painting from artists who were renowned throughoutthe state.” United Way VolunteerCenter 374-8108 Canyon View Junior High has waring, Cameron Mernill, Richard Millar matsu, Tyler Warmer, Jennie Whiting. Honor roll: releasedits honorroll for the third Steven Nyman, Eric Olson, Shawn Sara Adams, Kelly Auxier, Jonathan Ormond, Ryan Osorio, Shaunell Petersen, term. Michael Porter, Kevin Radebaugh Black, Maithew Bradley, Douglas Brere7th Grade ton, Justin Busath, Nathan Call, S. Jonathan Raynes, Kristin Reese. Gina RichHigh honor roll: Amber Allbee, Anne Armstrong,Scott man, Michael Sackett, Amanda Stubbs, Cherrington, Andrea Cle Kimball Taylor, Carrie Tobler, Jenilee Clement, Nicole Collard, Rebe Barton, Kendra Bennett, Robert Blake. Topham, Amy Tregaskis, Amy Wamick, Kimberly Copeland, Melissa Datlin, Adler Scott Brown, Melissa Bushnell, Bran Buss. Marylyno Butler, Austin Cameron, Brian Watson, Heather Watters, Brooke Dillman, Brett Dowdle, Sonya Embiey David Card, Daniela Cisternas, Kelley Lindsay Ernst, Nieca Faggioli, Kendra Watts, Tyler Whittaker, Robert Zandi Cobb, Molly Crawford, Sean Dahlin, Emi Forsgren, Paige Forsgren, Joshua Freeman, %th Grade ly Degering, Felicia Dyal, Jenae Farley, Rebecca Glazier, Nephi Hardman, Michael High honor roll: Abby Jane Gedicks, Jennifer Gilbert, Randy Griffiths, Brandon Hale, Braydon Hall, Logan Hart, Heather Harward, Brittany Hatch, Emly Anne Hayes, Amber ackson, Erin Jackson, Amy James, Sarah highlights Utah artists er,” said Parker's wife, Laurie. dies and classes are out before climbing an old wooden sawhorse and going over the fence with her sisters, Christie, 9, and Kellie, 12. They are headed for the school's basketball court where the girls round up whoever they can find and make teams. Sometimes there isn’t anyone. Stacie tikes being home with Free exhibit Shoncdera By The Daily Herald woe ANuSkiv Honorary Chairpersons: Mr. & Mrs. Stephen R. Cov ‘S) a om AO) ES +4 Sale Wen Seas a Veelily |