Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

What the Obama Education Secretary Got Wrong About Homeschoolers
Sep 27th, 2016
CommentaryLINDSEY BURKE/DAILY SIGNAL
Categories: Contemporary Issues

Homeschooling has been growing in popularity in recent years, and now accounts for about 3.4 percent of the school-age population. That's more than double the percentage (1.7 percent) of homeschooling families in 1999.

That's great news for families who have chosen to give a customized, tailor-made education to their children, and for the millions of families across the country whose children are thriving as a result of choosing to homeschool.

Yet, in remarks Wednesday to reporters at a breakfast hosted by The Christian Science Monitor, Education Secretary John King--although he conceded that there are homeschooling families who are doing well--told the audience he worries that homeschooled students aren't "getting the range of options that are good for all kids." According to Politico:

King said he worries that 'students who are homeschooled are not getting kind of the rapid instructional experience they would get in school'--unless parents are "very intentional about it".

King said the school experience includes building relationships with peers, teachers and mentors--elements which are difficult to achieve in homeschooling, he said, unless parents focus on it.

King's statement that he is concerned that homeschooled students are not getting the "rapid instructional experience they would get in school" is problematic on several fronts.

First, it assumes homeschooled students are not in school. As Milton Friedman famously quipped in "Free to Choose," "not all 'schooling' is education and not all 'education' is schooling."

Many homeschooled students attend some of the most rigorous and intellectually challenging schooling there is. Many families pursue a rigorous classical curriculum. Others choose to homeschool because their children wanted more challenging options than their assigned public school provided.

Research suggests homeschooled students are better prepared for college. Colleges likes Hillsdale and Grove City have become renowned for their rigor and high proportion of homeschooled matriculates. Contrary to King's analysis, homeschooled students are in "school," and they're doing great.

Second, let's examine what King refers to as the "rapid instructional experience" students receive in the aggregate in K-12 education today.

According to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress, administered by the U.S. Department of Education, just one-third of all eighth-graders in public schools can read proficiently. Roughly two out of 10 students don't graduate high school at all. The United States ranks in the middle of the pack on international assessments such as the Program for International Student Assessment. In short: There is significant room for improvement in the traditional public education system.

Third, homeschooling families have amazing networks to ensure children build relationships with peers and mentors--another concerKing's.

Homeschooling co-ops and sports leagues are just a few examples. And homeschool networking is becoming more sophisticated.

Former quarterback Tim Tebow was able to play football as a homeschooled student in Florida because the state allows homeschooled students to play on public school sports teams. Tebow went on to become the first homeschooled student to win the coveted Heisman Trophy.

The ubiquity of the internet means parents who homeschool have a wide world of academic content available at their fingertips, including everything from online college prep courses to computer coding academies, as well as a means of connecting with other homeschooling families.

One of the catalysts behind the growth in homeschooling is a sense among many parents that public education is not meeting the needs of their children.

Recent federal efforts to establish national standards and tests through Common Core have heightened concerns among many parents that they no longer have a seat at the table when it comes to what is taught in their child's public school. And math and English language arts scholars have repeatedly voiced concerns that Common Core fails to prepare students for college.

Government education bureaucrats are right to worry about homeschooling--but not for the reasons King set forth. It is more likely they are worried that parents--whether empowered to homeschool or to select from the some 59 education choice programs now in place--will choose something other than a government education provider.

Let the Headlines Speak
Sep 27th, 2016
Daily NewsFrom the Internet
Categories: Today's Headlines

Sanhedrin Revives 2,000-Year-Old Blessing for Counting of Jubilee Year
Unbeknownst to all but a few witnesses, as Rosh Hashana ended eleven months ago, the nascent Sanhedrin concluded months of deliberation by ruling that certain conditions had been met requiring the Nation of Israel to begin counting the Jubilee cycle. Rabbi Avraham Dov Ben Shor recited the blessing and the 49-year cycle began again.  

Terror victim remembers Clinton's 'inhuman coldness'
We still wanted to talk to her, people came ready to tell her their story, she didn’t intend to hear, it looked she didn’t want to hear. With inhuman coldness she went out amongst us all and disappeared in one of the corridors leaving us shocked and disappointed."  

NATO is reviewing ‘nuclear playbook’ to deter ‘terrible attacks’ by Russia – Pentagon chief
Addressing US servicemen, missile units and B-52 crews at Minot Base, Defense Secretary Ash Carter stated that the US and its allies had not built any new nuclear weapons or delivery systems in the last 25 years – and said that American nuclear forces must be ready to engage in a possible nuclear confrontation with Russia.  

CORONAL HOLE TURNS TOWARD EARTH
A large coronal hole is turning toward Earth, and it is spewing a stream of high-speed solar wind. NOAA forecasters expect the stream to reach our planet on Sept. 28-29 with a 50% chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms when it arrives.  

Michael Moore Says Trump ‘Won’ The Debate
Michael Moore appeared frustrated on Twitter following the presidential debate, saying Trump “won,” and “we all lost.” The 62-year-old film maker warned “pro-Hillary gloaters” against celebrating over how Hillary Clinton did in the debate against the Republican presidential nominee and insisted nothing she did changed things.  

Swarm Of Small Quakes Shake Salton Sea Area
Numerous aftershocks are expected over the next few days after a swarm of small earthquakes struck the Salton Sea area in Imperial County Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The quakes ranged from magnitude 1.4 to the 4.3-magnitude quake during the swarm that began at 4:03 a.m., according to a Southern California Seismic Network report written by Jennifer Andrews of the Caltech Seismological Laboratory.  

Southern Japan jolted by 5.7 magnitude earthquake
In Japan, an earthquake of 5.7 magnitude struck southern Okinawa island and a chain of neighbouring islands on Monday. But no tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of any damage or injury.  

METEOR SMASHES INTO AUSTRALIA: People left terrified as space rock causes houses to SHAKE
People in the area said the impact caused houses to tremble, with police confirming that they had received several calls in what many had thought was initially an earthquake. However, Geoscience Australia has stated that there was no quake, with weather forecasters Higgins Storm Chasing saying that “it looks like a meteorite has impacted somewhere offshore”.  

Washington Monument closed indefinitely over elevator’s ‘reliability issues’
Officials with the National Park Service made the announcement Monday, saying that the elevator has “ongoing reliability issues” and that they are not able to determine the cause of the problems. “As a result, we have made the difficult decision not to reopen the Washington Monument until we can modernize the elevator control system,” according to the Park Service announcement.  

Saudis, Iran dash hopes for OPEC oil deal in Algeria
Saudi Arabia and Iran on Tuesday dashed hopes that OPEC oil producers could clinch an output-limiting deal in Algeria this week as sources...said the differences between the kingdom and Tehran remained too wide. "This is a consultative meeting ... We will consult with everyone else, we will hear the views, we will hear the secretariat of OPEC and also hear from consumers," Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters.  

Saudi women file petition to end male guardianship system
A petition signed by more than 14,000 Saudi women calling for an end to the country's male guardianship system is being handed to the government. Women must have the consent of a male guardian to travel abroad, and often need permission to work or study. Support for the first large-scale campaign on the issue grew online in response to a trending Twitter hashtag.  

Syria conflict: Obama 'deeply concerned' about Aleppo
US President Barack Obama has expressed "deep concern" about the situation in rebel-held parts of Aleppo, amid an assault by Syrian government forces. Medics in the city are struggling to cope with the huge number of casualties caused by the most sustained and intense aerial bombardment in years. Supplies of medicine and blood are running low, as a three-week siege by the army begins to have an impact.  

Colombia peace deal: Historic agreement is signed
The Colombian government and left-wing Farc rebels have signed a historic agreement that formally brings an end to 52 years of armed conflict. The rebel leader Timoleon Jimenez, known as Timochenko, apologised to "all the victims of the conflict" and was greeted by cheers and applause. He said: "I would like to ask for forgiveness for all the pain that we have caused during this war."  

Michael Fallon: UK will oppose plans for EU army
The UK will oppose any attempts to create an EU army because it could "undermine" the role of Nato, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has said. Nato "must remain the cornerstone of our defence and the defence of Europe", he said, ahead of informal talks with EU defence ministers in Bratislava. Sir Michael said the UK was not alone in opposing a common EU defence policy.  

After historic gas deal with Jordan, Israel looking to build Cyprus, Greece pipeline
After signing a massive gas deal with Jordan, Israel is now looking to lay a pipeline to Cyprus and Greece, so Israeli gas can be exported there and to other European countries, National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Minister Yuval Steinitz said Tuesday. Steinitz made the remarks while speaking to reporters before the weekly cabinet meeting...  

Massive typhoon envelops all of Taiwan, will hit Chinese mainland next
The storm, which was packing maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour as of Monday evening eastern time, was poised to make landfall along Taiwan's east-central coast on mid-to-late afternoon Tuesday, local time. This makes it a Category 3-equivalent storm.  

Clinton, Trump clash in fiery first debate
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump bickered and traded insults in a fiery US presidential debate Monday, as they aggressively pitched their case to tens of millions of American voters.  

After New York Attack, Congress Wants TSA to Secure Amtrak, Buses
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is one of those federal agencies that tends to inspire intense reactions among the traveling public. It’s a bureaucracy that interacts with millions of passengers each day, requiring their shoes, jackets, laptops—and time.  

What A Commodity Trading Legend Is Buying Ahead Of The Next Crisis
When a commodity trading guru like Dwight Anderson, founder of the iconic Ospraie Management, has something to say on the market outlook, people tend to listen, especially when he’s consigning the last great commodity bull run to the dustbin of history and buying gold and farmland for the next crisis.  

Walmart apologizes for refusing to make police officer’s cake
Walmart is apologizing for refusing to make a police officer’s retirement cake last week after an employee told the cop’s daughter that her “thin blue line” cake design might be considered racist.  

Venezuelan children fainting in school because they are hungry
Klaireth Díaz is a 1st-grade teacher at Elías Toro School, one of the biggest public schools in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Last year, she says, attendance was painfully low. Every day, of a class of 30 children at least 10 would be absent.  

Jubilee is Counted in the Land for First Time in 2,000 Years
Sep 27th, 2016
Daily NewsBreaking Israeli News
Categories: The Nation Of Israel

Amidst the shofar blasts, this Rosh Hashana will include a mitzvah (Biblical commandment) that hasn’t been performed by the Jews in almost 2,000 years: counting the Jubilee. It is a simple mitzvah, reciting just a few lines, but performing this mitzvah is a declaration that the prophesied return of the Jews to Israel has been fulfilled, thereby establishing a basis for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple.

Unbeknownst to all but a few witnesses, as Rosh Hashana ended eleven months ago, the nascent Sanhedrin concluded months of deliberation by ruling that certain conditions had been met requiring the Nation of Israel to begin counting the Jubilee cycle. Rabbi Avraham Dov Ben Shor recited the blessing and the 49-year cycle began again.

When Rosh Hashana – the Jewish New Year – ends next Tuesday evening, it will be time for Jews to count the second year of the Jubilee cycle. The blessing and the count are as follows:

.ברוך אתה יי אלוהינו מלך העולם אשר קידשנו במיצותיו וצונו על ספירת שמיטים ויובלות

Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-olam, Asher Kidshanu B’Mitsvotav, V’Tsivanu Al Sfirat Shemittim v’Yovalot.

Blessed art thou, Ruler of the Universe, who sanctifies us in his commandments, and has commanded us to count the sabbaticals and the Jubilees.

.השנה הזאת היא השנה השניה ליובל הראשון והשנה השניה לשמיטה ראשונה ביובל הראשון

Hashana HaZot Hee Hashanna Hasnia La’Yovel Harishon v’Hashanna Hashnia LaShmitta Rishon Bayovel Harishon.

This year is the second year of the first Jubilee, and the second year for the first sabbatical in the first Jubilee.

Specific conditions outlined in Jewish law had to be considered by the Sanhedrin before reinstating this mitzvah. Unlike most Torah commandments being observed today which are incumbent on an individual, the Jubilee is a national mitzvah. Its observance is dependant upon most of Israel being in the land of Israel.

To begin counting the Jubilee last year, the Sanhedrin, as a bet din (rabbinic court), ruled that the Jews have returned to inherit the land as a nation, and not just as individuals. This requires at least 600,000 Jews, equal to the number of Israelites that returned to Israel from Egypt under Joshua.

Rabbi Hillel Weiss, spokesman for the Sanhedrin, explained to Breaking Israel News, “The Sanhedrin ruled that we are now clearly in the prophesied third inheritance of the land, the first being by Joshua, the second after the Babylonian exile.

“There are 5 mitzvot connected to the Jubilee: counting the Jubilee, letting free slaves, returning land, blowing the shofar, and forgiving debts,” Rabbi Weiss explained. “We have reinstituted one: the counting of the Jubilee.”

Rabbi Weiss added that blowing the shofar, performed on Yom Kippur, has not yet been reinstituted as part of the mitzvah of Jubilee, but if an individual feels so inclined, he can do so without a blessing.

It has been exactly one complete Jubilee cycle since the Six-Day War and the unification of Jerusalem. Had the Jubilee cycle not been interrupted 2,000 years ago by the Diaspora, the first year of the ongoing Jubilee cycle would have been in 1967, the year Jerusalem was unified, and again last year, when the Sanhedrin reinstituted the Jubilee. The next Jubilee will be declared in 2065, 48 years from now.

To signify the reinstitution of the Jubilee, and also to commemorate the Jubilee of Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin has issued a medallion. One side is engraved with an image of Solomon’s Temple, flanked by two shofars, symbolizing the Jubilee. The other side shows a lit seven-branched menorah, two cherubim, and a Hebrew inscription stating that the third inheritance of the land of Israel by the Jews has officially been declared. The Sanhedrin is selling the medallion and setting aside the proceeds for use in the Third Temple.
“Sale of this medallion will serve as the basis for the mitzvah of the half-shekel, which was collected from every Jewish male,” Rabbi Hillel Weiss explained. “As such, the money will go towards acquiring animals, grain, oil and wine, for sacrificial purposes. It will also be used for building and maintaining the temple.”

The rabbi specified that the medallion does not fulfill the requirements outlined in the Torah for the half-shekel, and should not be considered sacred, but all of the funds will be reserved by the Sanhedrin for Temple use.

How is the Godless West Working Out?
Sep 27th, 2016
CommentaryDENNIS PRAGER/DENNISPRAGER.COM
Categories: Contemporary Issues

There are many recent developments in the godless West. To name a few:

-The Supreme Court of Italy last week ruled that public masturbation is legal (except in front of minors).

-The New York City Council voted in May that public urination is not a criminal act.

-The San Francisco City Council decided, by one vote, to continue the city's ban on public nudity -- not, of course, on the grounds of "decency" but on the grounds of public health. 

Since that can easily be resolved by use of a towel on public benches and chairs, it is only a matter of time, probably a couple of years, before people will be permitted to walk around naked in San Francisco.

-A few weeks ago, teachers in Charlotte, North Carolina, were instructed not to refer to their elementary school students as "boys and girls" but as "students" and "scholars." The reasoning is presumably for inclusivity -- there may be a student who has no gender identity -- and that adults should not impose a gender identity on young people.

-In a New York Times op-ed column, a professor of philosophy noted his shock at learning that most young Americans do not believe that moral truths exist. They are incapable of asserting that anything, including killing for fun, is wrong beyond personal opinion.

These are all inevitable consequences of the death of belief in God and Judeo-Christian values, and of the Bible as society's primary moral reference work.

The West has been in moral decline since World War I, the calamity that led to World War II and the death of national identity and Christianity in most of Europe.

There has always been one exception: the United States. But now that is ending. The seeds of America's decline have been sown since the beginning of the 20th century, and they came to fruition with the post-World War II generation, the baby boomers.

Radical and aggressive secularism and atheism have replaced religion in virtually every school and throughout American public life.

We have gone from President Abraham Lincoln reading the Bible every day to Alaska Airlines feeling forced to stop passing out prayer cards with meals. In a hundred years, we've gone from near-total biblical literacy to near-total biblical illiteracy. 

One wonders whether half of America's college seniors could correctly identify Cain and Abel, or whether more than 1 in 10 Americans could cite the Ten Commandments. 

We have gone from President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaiming the need to save "Christian civilization" in World War II speeches to a virtual ban on American presidents mentioning the word "Christianity." And, as is widely noted, Americans are no longer supposed to wish strangers "merry Christmas," and they must refer to a Christmas party as a "holiday party."

Similarly, the European Union constitution never mentions Christianity, despite the fact that it was Christianity that formed Europe.

The prices that we Americans and Europeans are paying for creating the first godless societies in recorded history amount to civilizational suicide. Boys and girls are not to be referred to as boys and girls; Western elites dismiss national identity as protofascism; the belief that moral truth exists has been destroyed and replaced by feelings and opinions; fewer people are marrying; and more people live alone than at any time in American history.

Western European countries have become empty, soulless places. They are pretty and appear materially secure (for now), but they stand for almost nothing (except "multiculturalism" and "tolerance"). They have replaced a Jewish population that overwhelmingly wanted to assimilate with a Muslim population that does not want to. 

And nearly all European countries are headed to Greece-like insolvency as fewer and fewer workers pay enough in taxes to support those who collect welfare, and as tensions with their Muslim inhabitants increase.

But the good news is that now, beginning with Italy and New York, citizens can watch each other masturbate or urinate in public.

There is no way to prove that God exists. But what is provable is what happens when societies stop believing in God: They commit suicide.