Texas Home Schooling Coalition State Convention 2004 State Homeschool Convention and Family Conference Set for August 12-14 at The Woodlands
Texas Home Schooling Coalition’s 2004 Convention and Family Conference
Houston, TX (PRWEB) August 3, 2004 -- The national home schooling movement –
which was validated in Texas a decade ago, when the Texas Supreme Court
unanimously affirmed the right of parents to school their children at home, with
only minimal state input and interference – has come of age in Texas. To
celebrate a decade of freedom and quality education, the Texas Home School
Coalition will be hosting a convention serving the needs of both experienced
home schoolers and parents who are still considering this “third option,”
according to THSC President, Tim Lambert. “This convention will offer important
new information for even the most “involved” home schooling parents, as well as
providing a useful primer for parents who are becoming increasingly dissatisfied
with existing public and private school options,” he explained.
“Home
education continues to grow by leaps and bounds not only in Texas, but also all
over the country,” according to Mr. Lambert. “Many estimate that the number of
home schooling families is increasing by 15 percent per year. Nationally, some
put the number of home educators at around one million. In Texas, there are over
100,000 families home educating. As more and more people make the ultimate
choice in education, the advocates for this educational alternative
multiply.”
“Home schooling is quickly becoming the “third alternative”
among today’s education choices,” Tim said, “and though academically rigorous,
home schooling often remains confused with the “Little House on the Prairie”
image. In Texas,” he pointed out, “as in much of the nation, home school
enrollment already exceeds the number of students in charger schools. Home
schooling has proved especially enticing for both black and Hispanic minority
parents, who are home schooling in droves.”
After a free-to-the-public
introductory session on August 12, the THSC State Homeschool Convention and
Family Conference will be held August 13 and 14 at The Woodlands Waterway
Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in the community of The Woodlands, to the
northwest of Houston. The Convention and Family Conference will feature two days
of family fun and educational workshops, meeting the needs of new home
schoolers, families with special needs children, and home school leaders.
In addition to the educational programming, the Convention will feature
an exhibit and trade show, with more than 70 exhibitor offering a wide variety
of home school products, services and ideas. This trade show will serve parents
who need books and materials for their home schools, as well as providing
innovative new ideas for experienced home schooling parents.
Outstanding
workshops at the convention will cover topics, which include:
• Navigating the System – a guide for parents of special
needs kids, presented by Doug and Patsy Arnold
• Surviving
After Home Schooling – a panel of homeschool graduates discuss how they have
survived, and thrived, since graduating from home school
•
When Child Protective Services Knocks at Your Door – a practical guide to home
schooling parents’ legal rights (and risks), by THSC President Tim
Lambert
• Creative Writing, The Lost Art – a guide to
teaching creativity, presented by Rosie Watson
• What Every
Texas Home Schooler Needs to Know about the Law – another critical, practical
guide for home schooling parents, presented by THSC President Tim
Lambert
• Surviving and Thriving – practical tips for new
home schooling parents, presented by Doug and Patsy Arnold
• A keynote workshop by home school dad Chris Davis,
entitled: Are We Filling a Bucket or Lighting a Fire?
Special guest
speakers at the convention will include:
• John
Erickson, author of Hank the Cow Dog, who will be sharing some of Hank's
stories, including songs, with attendees at the Dessert Fellowships on Friday
and Saturday nights
• Eric and Joyce Burges of the
National Black Home Educators Resource Association
• Chris
Davis, a homeschool dad of 3 boys, and owner of The Elijah Company, which serves
home school parents across the country
• Jessica Hulcy, a
prolific author and creator of KONOS curriculum, homeschool Mom of 22 years, and
former public school teacher
About the Texas Home Schooling Coalition’s
2004 Convention and Family Conference:
Date: August 12-14, 2004
Where:
Marriott Waterford on I45 right beside The Woodlands Mall
For more
information: http://thsc.org/convention/default.asp or call
806-744-4441
http://www.thsc.org/convention
For more information on
this Sneak Preview, or to arrange interviews with leaders of the Texas Home
Schooling Coalition, contact Jube Dankworth, Net Media Consultants at
713-937-7107 or by e-mail at: e-mail protected from spam
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Contact:
Christi Snow, 806.744.4441 e-mail protected from spam
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/8/prweb144878.htm