Federal Government Of Nigeria:Gives 84 Stockbrokers N22.6bn ...

Business News (Nigeria) ? The Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday 3, December 2012, announced a N22.6 billion debt relief on the margin loans debt of 84 stock brokers, to re-invigorate activity in the stock market, made sluggish by the global financial meltdown and the Nigerian banking crisis.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and minister of finance, who announced this in Abuja said it was done in accordance with Section 6(5) of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Act, and in line with the recommendations of the Kingsley Moghalu-led committee on the capital market.
Okonjo-Iweala also announced the elimination of stamp duties and value added tax (VAT) on stock market transaction fees.

Following the 2008/2009 global financial crisis and the banking crisis, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All Share Index (ASI) plummeted from a peak of about 66,000 points in March 2008 to less than 22,000 points by January 2009, wiping out over N8 trillion (or around 70 percent) of the total capitalisation of the stock exchange.
Since then, activity on the stock market has remained sluggish, even though there are some signs of recovery, with the index now at about 26,494 points, thanks to the efforts of the NSE and the SEC.
She said in furtherance of AMCON?s cleanup of the banking sector, it is necessary to wipe off the debt overhang in the capital market, as this is dampening market activity.
But the minister stated clearly that this debt relief would be accompanied with sanctions, to discourage excessive borrowing by capital market operators in future. The sanctions, according to her, include prohibition from services to AMCON, meaning that brokers benefiting from the relief would not be allowed to provide any professional services to AMCON for a period of not less than three years.
Another sanction, according to her, is that there must be greater disclosure by the brokers, which would require firms to reveal to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), any dealings in any security valued at a minimum of N25 million, executed in a single deal or multiple deals on the same day, on behalf of their clients.
There would also be a limit on Debt Financing which is part of their net capital requirement. Here, she said no broker that has received forbearance shall permit his aggregate indebtedness to exceed 100 percent of his net capital.
Another sanction, she said, is that details of the firms would be forwarded to the Credit Bureau Agency and a strict requirement that imposes separation of assets and control for brokerage services and/or future margin facilities through the use of custodians.
Also, the brokers will be prohibited from taking proprietary positions, or trading on their own account, for one year.
She stressed that for some other stock brokers who did not partake in any market infractions, including over-exposure to margin loans, and who managed their stock broking businesses well, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank plan to celebrate their good standing in due course.
AMCON had purchased the margin loans from banks for about N42.6 billion, but the underlying assets, or collateral are worth only N19.96 billion today.
The second measure is the elimination of stamp duties and VAT on stock market transaction fees.
Iweala explained that taxes on stock exchange transactions fees are as high as 12 percent (5 percent in VAT and up to 7 percent in stamp duties) ? much higher than in other jurisdictions, and these constitute a major disincentive to invest in the Nigerian capital market.
?I will like to announce that the Federal Government has consented to waive the 0.075 percent stamp duties payable on stock exchange transaction fees; and exempt from VAT, commissions: (a) earned on traded values of shares, (b) payable to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and (c) payable to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS); by including these commissions in the list of VAT-exempt goods and services.
She commended the Moghalu committee for its work, and also re-emphasised government?s renewed commitment to making Nigeria?s capital market one of the most vibrant in the World.
At the press briefing, the Coordinating minister also highlighted that the Federal Government has cash-backed N170 billion of the N300 billion released for the fourth quarter.
According to her, about N111 billion of that has gone straight into the accounts of MDAs as cash, and the balance of about N59 billion is going in through Authorisation to incur expenditure ?because those entities actually have to apply specifically to us to effect the release of their resources.
?As at the end of October, of the amount that we have cash-backed from the last three quarters, 71 percent has been utilised, leaving about 70 percent or so not utilised, we believe that by the end of November, this would have been fully utilised by the MDAs?, she explained.
She mentioned that the ministry has been careful to ensure that about N44 billion of this goes to works, because they have been charged to ensure that certain key roads are ready and made motorable for Christmas, so N44.7 billion has gone to the ministry.
The co-ordinating minister further assured that there should be no issue of fuel shortage due to non-payment of claims to marketers and that they were preparing to make payments now that the final verifications have been made.- Businessday

Source: http://naijabizcom.com/2012/12/federal-government-of-nigeriagives-84-stockbrokers-n22-6bn-debt-relief/

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Music: Preparation for the Great Critical Incident: First Aid Emergency

By J.W. Caesar

Hosea 4: 6 (KJV) My people perish from a lack of knowledge.

Knowledge is power for survival when it comes to overcoming disasters. It is vital to get educated on how to survive in the event of a myriad disaster scenerios. Many people die or get injured because they did not adequately plan, prepare or mitigate for unseen emergencies. In order to win the war on disasters; American citizens must take disaster preparation seriously and strengthen themselves mentally, spiritually, and physically to overcome the challenges in the future.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency states on their website that there are actions that should be taken before, during, and after an event that are unique to each hazard. Each person or group should identify the hazards that have happened or could happen in their area and plan for the unique actions for each hazard. They further note that mitigation can be defined as actions to reduce loss of life and property by decreasing the impact of disasters.? What this means is??taking action now??before the next disaster?to reduce human and financial consequences later (analyzing risk, reducing risk, insuring against risk).? Effective mitigation requires that we all understand local risks, address the hard choices, and invest in long-term community well-being. Without these actions, people jeopardize their safety, financial security, and self-reliance and quality of life.

Building an emergency kit with first aid equipment and taking medical classes are best practices in mitigation that can assist in reducing risk and loss to families and the community.? It is important to analyze what type of hazards would affect the community during a disaster, as well the decision to shelter in place or evacuate to a safe location.? By following this risk analysis process, it would help clarify what type and size of container or bag to place first aid items inside, the quantity, what too and what not to pack, where to pack it, the environment, hazard scenario and number of people it can provide care too. Your first aid kit or emergency supplies should be designed around an all hazards approach that insures against the risk of not being able to treat or prevent hazards from overtaking you and your group. These hazards can cause temporary or permanent damage to the critical infrastructure of this nation. Therefore everyone should be a stakeholder in public safety and security of this nation. As a result, many are designing their first aid kits around temporary disaster events where there is a short recovery period, while others are preparing their kits for a total collapse of the system where medical resources will be hard to find.

Caution: for medical legal and health safety reasons-Disaster Preparers should think about:

1. Preparing physically, mentally, and spiritually now to adapt to changes caused by impact of disasters and?continuity of civil and infastructure recovery.
2. Familiarizing with their local, state and federal laws on the boundaries of giving care to humans, pets and livestock.
3. Getting prior training on how to use the items in the first aid kit.
4. Working as a trained and covenant group, not loner.
5. Trying to get written certification or medical authority to perform certain procedures.
6. Not going beyond their scope of practice or their medical certifications.
7. Abiding by the local laws of what is allowed in your first aid or medical kit.
8. (Personal, Force, Asset?Protection)Avoiding making themselves a target for thieves, murderers, drug addicts that use false emergency scenes or requests for help.

A first aid kit can be purchased at many stores, disaster preparedness organizations and online merchants. Medical supplies can also be purchased individually to build your own kit.? Some have also combined the two as one mitigation measure. Others have crafted their own replacement first aid products by improvising. They use tampons for bleeding, card board for splints, and other homemade items, or pet supplies for their kit?s inventory. The real issue is finding the right items and kit skin for your needs. There are many questionable claims to first kits such as the number of people that it can actually treat in an emergency, the quality, sterility and durability of items, the protective covering of the container or bag and excessive prices for minimal supplies. This is why it is vital to do a risk analysis and make appropriate mitigation decisions for your own needs from an all hazards approach.

?Non exhaustive Example of items for Emergency First aid Survival Kit:

Airway Control Kit

_____ Pocket Mask kit

_____ Breathing Barrier with gloves kit

Diagnostic Instruments/Tools

_____ First aid booklet _____Trauma/Bandage scissors _____Protective Face masks

_____12 hour Cyalume Lightsticks _____Candles_____Straws

_____ Scissors, fine point_____ Splinter Forceps _____Nail clippers ____Tweezers

_____ Disposable Penlight or flashlight _____Head Lamp _____ Flashlight

_____Permanent Markers_____Pen _____Pencil_____Writing Paper Tablet _____

_____ Disposable Gloves_____ Splints_____Trash bags ______Ziploc bags

_____Duct Tape_____Clear tape____Painter?s tape____Scotch tape

_____Lockman tool_____Knife_____Razor_____ Box Cutter

_____Cable ties______Rope______String_____Plastic Wrap______Foil

______Belts______Straps____Batteries____Heavy protective gloves

Circulation/Bleeding Control Shock Kit

_____ Triangular Bandages(Cravats)______Rubber Latex gloves_______ Eye protection

______Military Field Dressing bandages______Abdominal bandages___Burn Kit

______ Large Absorbent pad dressings _____ Elastic Bandages

______Gauze Roll Bandages______ Adhesive Bandages

______ Tourniquets______ Gauze Pads, 4?x4?______ Gauze Pads, 2?x2?

______ Bandage tape_____ Disposable Rescue Blanket for shock

Sickcall /First Aid items

____Band Aids____Salt____Pepper____Sugar____Ammonia Inhalents

____Tongue depressors____Tempa-dots Thermometers____Eyewash kit____Eye drops

_____Eye pads_____KY-Jelly ____ Aspirin____Tylenol____Cough drops

_____Cold Med.Tablets_____Nasal spray_____Immodium Tablets ____Anaphalaxis kit

____Anti-biotic Ointment______Antifungal cream______Iodine wipes._____Betadine wipes.

_____Alcohol wipes._____Cleaning wipes. ______Anti-bacterial Soap solution

Alcohol Bottle. ____Hydrogen Peroxide Bottle. _____Hand cleaning solution Bottle.

_____Ice Pack______Heat Packs____Moleskin cover bandage

Medical Supplies and their Skins

Medical supplies for a first aid kit can be put inside of a various items that are all weather resistant, waterproof, durable, floatable, not previously had any toxic or corrosive materials stored inside of it, and clearly marked as a first aid or medical kit. Ziploc bags and plastic trash bags can give extra all weather protection and longetivity of items. The kit should also be easy to carry with straps or handles, have reasonable space or compartments for medical items, and easy to open or secure during an emergency. The size and type of first aid emergency kit may be based on varied factors such as the personal needs of the individual, group, or community, different hazards, ?medical training, number of sick and injured, terrain, response time, life cycle of disaster, use with vehicles, walking distance, evacuation, and weather.

Examples:

• Military Unfolding zippered Aid Bag M-3 & M-17
• Military Chest with handles
• Military Aid Station chest containers
• Military hard plastic or metal containers
• Nylon, Leather or Canvas Back Packs
• Luggage with wheels and handle
• Purse or designer bag
• Lunch box
• Square or rectangle storage containers
• Tupperware containers
• Plastic Ice Cream or used Food Containers
• Hunting vests
• Belt Pouches

A well-stocked and well maintained list of items in the first aid kit should be kept up to date at all times by rotating and replacing items.? A best practice for maintaining the mitigation investment of life saving equipment is doing inventory and preventative maintenance checks before and after using the kit. It can take place on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly cycle. ?The outside and inside of the emergency kit should be inspected for damage such as cracks, tears or holes. Mitigations measures such as health safety inspections for spoilage and expiration dates of items are important also.? However, some questions have been raised about keeping items regardless of expiration dates because of future scarcity of items during extreme disaster periods. These questions should be addressed by medical authorities who are expert in disasters and laws of the land. ?In any case, some items can lose their shelf life, sterility, durability, and may become toxic because of the hot storage temperatures. Another temperature issue is freezing. ?Solutions can freeze causing the containers to crack and break causing contamination of other items or damaging the first aid container.

The kit should work as expected: treat injuries and save life when you need it and cause no harm when it is not needed. It is vital to verify that the items consisting within the kit still function as expected, including the batteries in the medical equipment. The first aid kit should be stored in a place that is of the right temperature for medical supplies, in a safe location, away from pests, where no damage can occur, can be accessible to adults, but not to children or pets that can be poisoned and injured.

In summary, disasters can happen at anytime and anyplace. The consequences of not preparing for them may be immeasurable. To minimize this risk, it is vital to mitigate these impacts by building an emergency first aid kit based on analyzing, reducing, and insuring against future risks. It would be wise to assemble an emergency first aid kit that is adaptable and maintainable for your needs, take first aid classes, get familiarized with medical ? legal laws, learn how to take protective measures in emergency situations, and establish mutual-aid and covenant partnerships well in advance of an emergency situation. All of these steps help reduce the impact of hazards associated with future events and improve the chances of winning the war over disasters.? Americans, must remember that everyone is a stakeholder in public safety, God given freedoms, continuity of civil government,?and protecting the critical infastructure and key resources of this nation.

References:

1. KJV
2. ?http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation

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Euro zone factory prices nearly flatline in October

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Euro zone factory prices barely rose in October, echoing the slowing pace in consumer inflation, although the European Central Bank is expected to wait a little longer before cutting interest rates to help the slumping economy.

Prices at factory gates in the 17 countries using the euro rose 0.1 percent in October from September, the EU's statistics office Eurostat said on Tuesday, just above the 0.0 percent level expected by economists polled by Reuters.

The producer price index was up 2.6 percent in October compared to the same month a year ago.

Consumer inflation in the euro zone, which has been well above the ECB's target of just below 2 percent for more than a year, fell sharply in November to 2.2 percent.

That cooling in inflation pressures suggests ECB policymakers have room to help the euro zone's economy that slipped into recession in the third quarter of this year, by lowering the cost of borrowing for families and businesses.

ECB policymakers kept rates at a record low of 0.75 percent in November and are expected to keep rates unchanged again this week, but expectations are rising of a rate cut early next year.

"We do not expect a rate change on Thursday, although the decision is unlikely to be unanimous and some Governing Council members will probably favor a 25 basis point cut," said Mario Valli, chief euro zone economist at UniCredit.

The ECB sees current monetary policy as "very accommodative" but the bank has also shifted its language, playing down hopes for an economic recovery any time soon, while many economists see the recession continuing in 2013.

The ECB will likely take heart from the October producer prices that show a 0.2 percent fall in energy costs compared to September, the first fall since June.

High oil prices at a time of recession have made life harder for companies trying to keep down costs.

Brent crude traded around $110 a barrel on Tuesday, down from prices near $120 a barrel in August, as weak manufacturing data in Europe and the United States pointed to weaker demand for oil. Still, tensions between Iran and the West over Tehran's nuclear ambitions have persisted and driven crude higher despite weak global demand for energy.

For further details of Eurostat data click on: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/eurostat/home/

(Reporting by Robin Emmott; editing by Rex Merrifield)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/euro-zone-factory-prices-nearly-flatline-october-101107860--business.html

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Video: "Fiscal cliff" negotiations continue (cbsnews)

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Redskins run over Giants

Washington (6-6) racks up 207 rushing yards in 17-16 win over NFC East leader

Nick Wass / AP

Washington receiver Pierre Garcon looks for running room against the Giants defense.

updated 11:41 p.m. ET Dec. 3, 2012

LANDOVER, Md. - Robert Griffin III went down, the ball popped out, and the Washington Redskins scored a touchdown.

Look out, New York Giants and the rest of the NFC East. If the rookie quarterback keeps getting those kinds of breaks, it'll be hard to keep him out of the title hunt for years to come.

As it is, RG3 has the Redskins within a game of first place, leading a fourth-quarter rally in a 17-16 Monday night victory over the Giants, giving Washington a three-game winning streak in which it has dispatched division rivals - Philadelphia, Dallas and now New York - one by one.

Griffin completed 13 of 21 passes for 163 yards and ran five times for 72 yards, breaking Cam Newton's NFL record for yards rushing by a rookie quarterback.

His top target again was Pierre Garcon, who had eight receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown, showing no signs of the painful toe injury that forced him to miss six of the season's first nine games.

Alfred Morris ran for 124 yards on 22 carries, becoming the second Redskins rookie to run for 1,000 yards. Reggie Brooks had 1,063 in 1993.

Washington also ended a 10-game home losing streak in Monday night games, with Griffin again showing his knack for winning on a big stage.

The Redskins (6-6) appeared out of the running at 3-6 a month ago, but Washington is proving it can never be counted out when Griffin is on the field.

With the Giants (7-5) losing three of four and the Cowboys (6-6) also at .500, the division is up for grabs.

Eli Manning completed 20 of 33 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown for the Giants, who had won 26 in a row on the road when holding a halftime lead. They were ahead 13-10 at the break Monday against the Redskins, but they failed to finish the job for the first time since blowing a 21-0 halftime lead in a 24-21 loss to Tennessee in 2006.

Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 103 yards on 24 carries, and Victor Cruz had five catches for 104 yards for the Giants, who were uncharacteristically penalty-prone, getting flagged nine times for 73 yards.

The Giants moved the ball well all game, but the drives produced three field goals by Lawrence Tynes and only one touchdown - Manning's 4-yard pass to Martellus Bennett late in the first half.

The game's final score was Griffin's 8-yard pass to Garcon early in the fourth quarter, but the Redskins' first touchdown was one of the evening's crazy moments.

On second-and-2 from the New York 28, Griffin ran to his left and was being tackled by Stevie Brown after what would have been a 12-yard gain.

But as Griffin fell with his back to the ground, the football popped out, and went right on the fly to Washington receiver Joshua Morgan 3 yards farther upfield. Morgan then ran 13 yards for the score.

Another fumble by the Redskins - this one by Morris in the third quarter - was recovered by the Giants and set off mayhem. New York defensive tackle Linval Joseph yanked at Redskins center Will Montgomery's leg. Montgomery kicked at Joseph in response, and Joseph stomped at Montgomery. Joseph and a Redskins player were whistled for offsetting unnecessary roughness penalties.

Giants safety Tyler Sash left in the first half with a hamstring injury and eventually was ruled out for the game, and New York right tackle Sean Locklear was carted off with an injury in the fourth quarter.

Redskins linebacker London Fletcher and left tackle Trent Williams, who were limited in practice by injuries Friday and Saturday, both started. The 37-year-old Fletcher extended his consecutive games streak to 236 - every game in his 15-year NFL career.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Redskins run over Giants

??Robert Griffin III threw for one touchdown and had a fumble turn into another score, and the Washington Redskins pulled within one game of the NFC East lead with a 17-16 win over the New York Giants on Monday night.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50065380/ns/sports-nfl/

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Small Touches That Create the Perfect Patio Home Remodel ...

Many patios have all the important features such as furniture, nice flooring and even spectacular views. However, you may find that these beautiful patios are rarely used by friends and family members. In order to get the most use from a patio, it is important that the outdoor space has some special touches to create an inviting and welcoming environment. Here are a few great suggestions:

Sometimes even the most attractive patio furniture can be uncomfortable. Invest in some patio cushions that will create cozy seats that are inviting and encourage people to sit for a while and enjoy the outdoor space to the fullest.

Without proper illumination of your outdoor space, you wont get the chance to enjoy it after sunset. Add in some small lights or even a few casual tropical torches to extend the fun well into the night.

It is important to protect your patio from very hot or very rainy days to extend its use. A sun shade, awning, or arbor can work to block out sun or rain. Fans or even space heaters can deal with fluctuating temperatures throughout the year.

These small touches will help you to create a perfect patio of your own.

Use Accessories To Add Color To Your Outdoor Living Area If you want to add the brilliant colors that are typically associated with summer time to your outdoor living area, there are numerous accessories that can help you achieve your goal.? Chair cushions, pillows and umbrellas can provide an instant color enhancement to your outdoor space.

Be as vivacious as you want to with the color of outdoor chair cushions you choose. Colors such as vibrant red, brilliant orange, bright yellow and bold greens and blues will liven up your outdoor space. Be sure to choose cushions that are mold, mildew and fade resistant as well as durable enough to withstand weather related elements.

One of the most visually appealing outdoor accessories you can include on your patio or deck is a table umbrella. Lively patterns add a festive, vacation-like atmosphere to your outdoor living area.

Decorative pillows are an ideal way to add some of your unique personality to your outdoor decor. Pillows are relatively inexpensive and are available in a huge variety of colors, styles, patterns, motifs and textures. Just the simple addition of a few fun festive outdoor accessories can transform your ordinary outdoor space into a lively living and entertaining space.

Whatever you need to make your outdoor spaces come to life, you will find a great selection at DirectBuy.? Best of all, you can save on every purchase with prices that do not include the hidden retail markup youre used to. Discover the savings at DirectBuy.

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Source: http://www.creativeprofessional.net/home-improvement-reviews/small-touches-that-create-the-perfect-patio

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When I Write about Homeschooling?

Just over a year ago, I almost stopped blogging. I received such negativity in response to a blog post I had written that blogging ceased to be fun. I very nearly quit, and was only able to enjoy blogging again by changing my approach to handling comment threads. What was the post I wrote that generated such a response??It was a post in I wrote about my struggles to overcome the the serious socialization problems I faced as a result of having been homeschooled.?

Something else happened after that post, though. While homeschool advocates denied my experience, I also received emails from other young people who had been homeschooled. They thanked me for giving voice to their experiences. They thanked me for letting them know they weren?t the only ones with these experiences. They thanked me for speaking out.?Still, it was a long time after that first post before I dared to criticize homeschooling on this blog again. The response I had gotten on that post was too triggering for me to dare repeating too soon. I still don?t write about homeschooling very often, in large part because of this.?

When I write about homeschooling, I am often accused of assuming that all homeschoolers are conservative Christians, of thinking all homeschoolers isolate and indoctrinate, of painting all homeschoolers with one brush and not realizing that they are a diverse lot, and of wanting to see homeschooling banned. I do not understand this. This happened again after last week?s post on homeschooling, so I went back and reread everything I have written on homeschooling, wondering if I wasn?t being nuanced or clear enough. To be honest, doing this left me only more confused. Allow me to quote myself.?

From that original post on socialization:

Am I arguing that no one should ever homeschool? Not necessarily. I don?t know every situation, and every family is different. I would not presume to speak for every family. What I?am?arguing is that parents who homeschool need to take the socialization question seriously rather than laughing it off. They need to be aware of the potential socialization problems their children may face and take steps to mitigate them. Most of all, homeschool parents need to understand what socialization is and why it is important, and they need to be fully aware of what they are doing when they remove their children from the public schools.

From my main homeschooling page:

Homeschoolers are a diverse lot. Some homeschool for religious reasons, others for secular reasons. Some homeschooled children have a good deal of social interaction, others very little. Some get a first rate education, others suffer from educational neglect. Some use curricula and workbooks, others ?unschool.? Some see homeschooling as a temporary option, others see it as a lifestyle.

The ?Christian homeschool movement? is made up of those who homeschool in order to ensure that their children will hold specific religious beliefs and in the hope that their offspring will change America?s future direction. These homeschoolers use religious textbooks and limit their interaction to other like-minded families. Some educate well while others don?t, but all tend to see homeschooling as a requirement rather than an option.

?

While most of my criticism is aimed toward the Christian homeschool movement and the way focuses on isolating (aka ?sheltering?) and indoctrinating (aka ?teaching God?s truth?), I also have some critiques of homeschooling in general. I want my daughter to have teachers who are trained in their subject matter and in how to teach, I want her to have the same socialization experience as other children, and I see involvement in our local schools as part of my civic duty.

From a post last spring:

Because I see drawbacks to homeschooling and intend to send my children to public school, I am often painted as ?anti-homeschooling.? But I don?t really see myself like that. In fact, I have never ruled out the possibility of homeschooling at some point in the future. After all, if public schooling somehow goes horrifically wrong for my young daughter, I will look at what other educational options were available ? private school, charter school, homeschool.

?

As I raise my children I will continue to see homeschooling as an option, but only as one option among many and as an option that, like any option, has drawbacks and pitfalls alongside its pluses. And if that makes me ?anti-homeschooling,? I will wear the label proudly.

And from my post last week:

Note that Jones is discussing and referring to what I generally call ?the Christian homeschool movement.? There are families who pull a child out, generally for a few years at most, because she?s being bullied, or because he?s having behavioral issues, or because they?re bright and are being held back educationally, but these are not the homeschoolers Jones is talking about, and they?re not the ones I am generally talking about when I talk about homeschooling either. Jones is talking about the Christians, generally evangelicals, fundamentalists, or conservative Catholics, who pull their children out in an effort to teach them ?God?s truth? away from ?the influences of the world.?

My post on socialization wasn?t actually the first thing I?d written about homeschooling. In one early post?on homeschooling I wrote this:

Am I saying that homeschooling is, then, wrong, or that no one should homeschool? No, not at all! I?ve seen many families where homeschooling is an absolutely wonderful thing, with happy, healthy, well-adjusted children. What I?am?saying is that homeschooling facilitates abuse by giving parents the ability to isolate their children and control their education in highly problematic ways.?Homeschoolers need to be willing to admit this problem and address it rather than simply seeing any critique of homeschooling as a monumental threat.

After some push back in the comments on this post, I wrote?a followup post:

I am not calling for making homeschooling illegal, both because that is impractical in today?s political climate and because I have seen families who do do it well. I would, however, make four points: First, we need to be aware that homeschooling is perfectly suited to be a cover for abuse. Second, we need to discuss realistic ways to regulate homeschooling in order to ensure that every child gets the education he or she deserves. Third, I think that even in families who do not abuse homeschooling, children can grow up feeling different from their peers in unpleasant ways. And fourth, I think we need to return the focus to the public schools rather than abandoning them.

Sometime later I wrote a post in which I said the following:

I don?t have a problem with homeschooling. I am perfectly aware that homeschooling can work well for many families, and that homeschooling can be freeing and can open new avenues to learning. I think every family should decide for itself what educational option is best for it, and that homeschooling is a perfectly valid option.

I DO have a problem with homeschooling being used to isolate children from other points of view (aka ?shelter?), or to mis-educate children by only giving them one side of every argument (aka ?teach God?s truth?). I have a problem with parents using homeschooling to control their children and?stifle?them. I have a problem with homeschoolers? frequent objections to regulation of any sort (the government regulates public schools and private schools to make sure children meet basic educational requirements, and homeschoolers shouldn?t be exempt). I have a problem with the idea that homeschooling is some sort of perfect panacea that has no problems, risks, or drawbacks. I also have a problem with the idea that public schools are evil or completely broken, and that homeschooling is the best option for everyone, rather than just one of an array of educational options available to a given family.

I am honestly baffled that criticizing homeschooling brings on the response it does.?It?s like my words go through some sort of filter and end up shredded.

The reality is that I have never advocated banning homeschooling. Further, I am and always have been completely aware that there are a variety of different types of homeschoolers. It?s just that I personally think that being homeschooled did me more harm than good, I see homeschooling as a mixed bag in terms of outcome, and I have some fundamental concerns about how it affects the role of civic institutions in our society. As a result, I feel very strongly about placing my children in public school. But there is a difference between criticizing something and wanting to ban it, and a difference between not wanting to participate in something and wanting to prohibit other people from doing it.

This really shouldn?t be that complicated.

Source: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/lovejoyfeminism/2012/12/when-i-writ-about-homeschooling.html

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