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Hernando Today

Proud To Be A Homeschool Educator

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 27, 2008

This is in response to the letter written by Superintendent Wayne Alexander's friend from Pasco County (notice he didn't put that in his letter of Aug. 22.), entitled "Homeschoolers At Distinct Disadvantage." What a bunch of hooey.

Sorry, Mike, but as a previous member of the educational group here in Hernando, also with language arts as my major, your little article left a lot to be desired. You seem to have misinterpreted many of the things said by the "small" group of us (only 30 parents instead of the several thousand who could have been there).

We are here to teach our children to their strengths, work on what they need and not play a political game with the powers that be. What you have done is misrepresent yourself. Your article seems to come from Hernando County, when indeed you are now, and have been for a while, in Pasco County. Wonderful for you that you believe so highly in the studies you quote, but nowhere do I see the FPEA or HSLDL numbers noted on how well our children have done, or that so many of them have actually finished high school and junior college at the same time. Some have taken other roads, and you are bashing our concerns. Are you even a parent?

We are not in complete denial - far from it. We do know there are some areas we need help - any person with a head on their shoulders knows that - and there are other people we can turn to, other places to learn and gather information, including teachers, study groups, Toastmasters, our churches, art and music teachers, math teachers, language and sports coaches for us to work with.

Many of our tutors are teachers, so we do not feel that "public school teachers are basically incompetent" - your words, not mine. The school system is overcrowded, and for so many of us, it is not teaching the values we want taught, especially for those of us with ESE children. But, at no time, do we "down" other teachers. The system may be amiss, but there are many wonderful teachers out there, and I am glad to say that many of the hundreds of fine homeschool educators fit in that category, as well.

Thanks, Mr. Alexander, for your offer to meet with us, but your good buddy Mike is doing you and us a disservice with what he sent as a letter to the editor.

Carol Lawhorne

Brooksville

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