Free Movie Study Guide, Expelled

Have you been "Expelled," yet? If you've seen the movie, and want to learn more, check out the free Expelled Study guide, http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/pdf/expelled_guide.pdf.

Free Webster's 1828 Dictionary, the Constitution, and the Establishment of Religion

Are you ever perplexed by old English words in the King James Version of the Bible? Would you like to know what America's founding fathers really meant, when they wrote the Constitution?

Now you can, with unlimited free word searches of the1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, http://1828.mshaffer.com/.

Examples to help us understand the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution:
"ESTAB'LISHING, ppr. Fixing; settling permanently; founding; ratifying; confirming; ordaining.
ESTAB'LISHMENT, n. The act of establishing, founding, ratifying or ordaining.
1. Settlement; fixed state.
2. Confirmation; ratification of what has been settled or made.
3. Settled regulation; form; ordinance; system of laws; constitution of government.
Bring in that establishment by which all men should be contained in duty.
4. Fixed or stated allowance for subsistence; income; salary.
His excellency--might gradually lessen your establishment.
5. That which is fixed or established; as a permanent military force, a fixed garrison, a local government, an agency, a factory, &c. The king has establishments to support, in the four quarters of the globe.
6. The episcopal form of religion, so called in England.
7. Settlement or final rest.
We set up our hopes and establishment here."
RESPECT'ING, ppr. Regarding; having regard to; relating to. This word, like concerning, has reference to a single word or to a sentence. In the sentence, "his conduct respecting us is commendable," respecting has reference to conduct. But when we say, "respecting a further appropriation of money, it is to be observed, that the resources of the country are inadequate," respecting has reference to the whole subsequent clause or sentence."
--Webster's 1828 Dictionary

We know that the Christian religion was practiced in our government, from the time that Franklin called for prayer in the Constitutional Convention. For more on prayer in government, see http://www.house.gov/forbes/prayer/prayerincongress.htm . They can pray, but kids in school can’t, hmm?

The meaning of the First Amendment seems clear: forbidding Congress from establishing a national religious denomination, modeled after the Church of England. (Note that in definition number 6, establishment was recognized to mean the Episcopal Church in England. How much clearer can this be?) Of course, the phrase "separation of church and state" isn't found in the constitution.

It seems clear; Congress can use money to support religion, as long as it doesn't establish a denomination as the only recognized church. The states may even establish a denomination, if the people wish! You could argue that evolutionism/pantheism has become the established state church, unfortunately. I doubt our founding fathers would approve.

Here's an explanation, regarding the constitutionality of the concept of the separation of church and state:
"The First Amendment to the Constitution plainly states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion ..." Since there can be no federal law on the subject, there appears to be no lawful basis for any element of the federal government – including the courts – to act in this area.

Moreover, the 10th Amendment to the Constitution plainly states that "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are
reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." This means that the power to make laws respecting an establishment of religion, having been explicitly withheld from the United States, is reserved to the states or to the people.

Taken together, therefore, the First and 10th Amendments reserve the power to address issues of religious establishment to the different states and their people."--On the establishment of religion: What the Constitution really says, Alan Keyes,
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34270

Homeschool/Education Freebie Round-UP

Over Easter vacation, we had time to explore some freebies to share with you. Enjoy!

Free sample math DVDS, http://www.mathtutordvd.com/public/department50.cfm

Free 1 year subscription to Home School Connection, http://www.usahomeschool.net

Can your kids add and subtract? Get free help, at http://kidsmemorywizard.com/Expert_Free_Help.html

Free keyboard demo at KinderBach, http://www.kinderbach.com/Demos/demos.htm

Free Reading Readiness kit, and more, from Joyce Herzog's Scaredy Cat Reading System, http://www.teach4mastery.com/free.html

Get a free 3-week trial of Tapestry of Grace (Ancient World), which includes information on creating your own Ancient Egypt lapbook, at http://www.tapestryofgrace.com/egypt

Get a full free lapbook project pack ebook (this quarter you get Amelia Earhart) at http://www.handsofachild.com/shop/Amelia-Earhart-Ebook-P898.aspx.

Free trial of interactive, digital Algebra 1 text, http://www.kineticbooks.com/support/algebratrialonline.php

Free K-12 Social Studies/History lesson plans, http://www.americanheritage.org

Free drawing lessons and ideas, http://barkercreek.com/lessons.php

Free samples of print, video, audio Latin, Greek, and more, http://www.classicalsubjects.com

Free publications about Distance Education http://www.detc.org/freePublications.html

Freebies from Gary North, Tips for affordable, self-funded college at http://www.garynorth.com/college--self-funded.pdf

Free demo of Talking Fingers software, http://www.talkingfingers.com/demo

Get a free monthly e-book, http://www.TheOldSchoolhouseStore.com (click on e-book tab)

Free Typical Course of Study from World Book http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum

Students for Life Youtube Video--When Is a Human Not a Human?

Dr. Seuss taught us that "a person's a person no matter how small." Some people may ask, when is a human not a human?

No, I'm not talking in riddles. Students for Life of America (SFLA) has released a new video, recorded at the Feminist Majority Foundation's annual Women's Leadership Conference. The conference was held at the National Education Association (NEA) on March 9. In the speech, abortionist Tiller admits to performing abortions the day before delivery.

"As a pro-life teacher, I can say this illustrates why I am no longer a member of the NEA," said a West Virginia teacher. "The NEA should not be involved in this issue; here they are hosting this controversial abortionist and his slideshow of babies he has aborted. There is no way any of my money will ever be used to advance the radical pro-abortion agenda of Planned Parenthood and the NEA."--Marla Mercer, a West Virginia teacher and former member of the NEA, as reported by http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/mar/08031901.html

Go here, to view Tiller at National Education Association: http://youtube.com/watch?v=wpr_sN04j_0 . Does this video show child murder or a woman's right to choose? A blob of tissue or a human being with brain waves and a heartbeat who happens to have a handicap?

With the truth on video, we can no longer pretend this isn't happening in America.

Celebrate President's Day With Free Original Source Documents

Happy President's Day!
Many people celebrate President's Day with shopping. If you would like to spend some time reading about American Presidents, try these free downloads:

Speeches and Letters of Abraham Lincoln, 1832-1865, http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14721
Read the papers of George Washington here, http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/index.html
Madison's Papers, http://www.virginia.edu/pjm/
Papers of Thomas Jefferson, http://www.princeton.edu/~tjpapers
Last, but not least, visit POTUS (President of the United States), http://www.potus.com.

Special Needs, Homeschooling On a Shoestring and Roe I.Q. Test

Families homeschool children with all kinds of special needs. One of the wonderful benefits of homeschooling is that it offers the chance for a customized curriculum, as well as more normal social opportunities for kids that don’t quite “fit the mold” in school. However, who is this mythical “normal” child? I am increasingly convinced that every child, every person, has special needs, some are just a bit more specialized than others. Our youngest child is medically fragile, with low vision and some serious health challenges. By networking with other homeschoolers who face similar challenges, I’ve been able to find the best resources to help her, and inexpensively tailor her education to what works best for her.

Check out http://www.nathhan.com/ for homeschool magazine discounts as well as a discounted Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) membership. Nathhan’s $25 membership fee is well worth it, as it also includes access to an abundance of free and discounted resources and materials for homeschooling with special needs.

Find hundreds of homeschool freebies and specific resources in the resource guide in our book, Homeschooling on a Shoestring. I understand the new reprint of Homeschooling on a Shoestring just came out today on Amazon and Barnes and Noble (or contact your favorite local bookstore), so we’re really excited about that!

I just took the Roe v. Wade I.Q. test, and I was surprised to discover what I didn't know about Roe v. Wade and how it has affected our country. You may be surprised too. To take the IQ Test, just go to http://www.roeiqtest.com/. Please let me know how you do.

"Revenge of Democracy" Unit Study: New Year, 2008

"My mother always said democracy is the best revenge."--Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, new head of Pakistan Peoples Party and son of the assasinated Benazir Bhutto.

I pray for democracy and freedom in 2008 throughout the middle east, and the world. For all people--not just Americans--"are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights..." (Declaration of Independence, in Congress, July 4, 1776.)

If we wish to understand current events, we must study the past. Here's an economical way to do it: study original sources, such as the inaugural addresses of American Presidents, at http://www.gopusa.com/presidents . Continue a study of the presidents at http://www.americanpresidents.org/ , with free lesson plans and videos, or study other documents at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/index.html . Presidential speeches and original documents would make a great unit study.

"For myself, I ask only, in the words of an ancient leader: "Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?"--LBJ, quoting II Chronicles 1:10 at his inaugural address

Who said this--George W. Bush?:
"Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity..."--Nope--It was FDR, in his D-Day prayer broadcast, June 6, 1944 . Yes, we won that war—and it was fought in the name of religion. Read it here: http://www.interviewwithgod.com/FDR_prayer/transcript.htm

May America again bless God.