New Forum Issues

[TinaTx]

Amanda....

Well I guess I just love the new format too! I did understand that after abc teach wasn't going to have forums that you wanted something permanent. :wink: For that, I thank you very much!! You could have just as easily said *too bad, you are out of here*. I'm glad you did not.

Thanks for clearing up the public educators vs private home educators for us. :) Since the homeschooling forum had been with Sandy at abcteach for a long time, she had the opportunity from the inception to be so clearly informed as to *our beliefs,passions and customs*. I think we as home schoolers need to recognize that this same period of becoming acquainted is something we both will need. :)

Amanda, is it possible to not have to log in? Let them register, if not, then just leave it as guest. I have slowww dial up. I have no choice since I live in the rural areas. So I'm just looking for ways to *trim the fat* so to speak when it comes to getting where I need to be at in the shortest amount of *clicks*.

Also, do you pull some threads because they are controversial? or because you might feel they don't relate to a home school issue? I read your policies, and I feel we as home schoolers might be new to you perhaps and are a *different breed* so to speak, so I just want to be sure I completely understand. :)

I ask this question because as home schoolers so many topics besides *curriculum questions only,per se* affect us. I know at abc teach we talked about everything from potty training, rebellious teen agers, christian vs secular curriculum, chores at home to develop character training, No Child Left Behind Act, older children helping younger ones, home educators taking special classes to teach better, easy cooking recipes, juggling the household duties/wifely/motherly duties and everything in between.

Therefore, most of us don't view these topics as *separate* subjects apart from home schooling. In our opinion, they are part of our curriculum, part of learning about real life. The word *home* in schooling is the reason so many of us start home educating in the first place.

We don't like drawing a line between *living and learning*. We don't think of school only between *such and such hours*.

So I guess in a very,very nice way, I'm trying to say "Is it necessary to have off topic and homeschooling separate?*

Could we perhaps combine the off topic with homeschooling? We don't really have any *off topic*. If it affects life and our teaching the other children or taking care of our families, then its *on*. Such as pregnancy, felllowships and yes at divorce at times has come up. For me personally, it would be hard to decide which one to post under since one affects the other.

Lastly, we didn't have many threads pulled at abc teach. In the 2 1/2 years I was with abc teach we only had like 3 total. We can agree to disagree, and do at times. We like to hear controverting views and the passion/arguments/beliefs behind them. We too like to express the same way without the risk of thinking we need to *patch things up* KWIM? :) no matter how *passionate* the debate gets, it seems it always works it way back to the common glue that binds us, i.e. our comittment to better education by schooling among the love,security and warmth of home. That is after the thread has *enlightened* (I view it as such as opposed to piss some one off LOL) the whole group.

Please do not misunderstand me. I don't believe in being rude or name calling.....that is completely beneath me. However, a lot of our views as home schoolers are not main stream and this is bound to cause controversy. We would like to express those views in a thread that might at times be controversial/debated without feeling that we need to *walk a fine line* content wise. Again, I'm not speaking of downright rudeness, which of course is *catty* and shows a lack of education.

Could you please inform us a little more clearly as to what your objectives are regarding thread pulling?

Once again, thank you for taking so much of your time to do this. I know you are a teacher, and this is your summer! Your time off! LOL So thank you for *whipping us in shape* :D

Tina

[Amanda]

Tina,

You brought up a lot of issues... I'll see if I can answer as much as possible.

* No one has to log in. You can post as unregistered if you like, but it makes more sense to log in and use the features. After the problems with cookies are resolved, you shouldn't have to RE-login every time.

* As I said when the topic of moderating came up on atoz, I usually do not pull threads. Before the big controversies over the past 2 weeks, I NEVER pulled threads about disagreements. However, it turned out that some people were rude and it made sense to pull the whole thing and "agree to disagree" -- Some things do not need to be hashed and rehashed. Jimmie Lu asked me to remove the "under God" thread, and I initally relocated it, then removed it entirely after it was clear that it wasn't working.

* I want to be clear that I encourage people to state their beliefs. However, if you have beliefs and you voice them, there is always someone out there who will not agree with you. Don't let that upset you. Look at it as an opportunity to share your convictions with someone else. The key is mutual respect. If one person becomes rude, the whole thread gets out of hand.

* I don't pull threads because they aren't on-topic, or whatever, in fact, I usually leave people alone to just DISCUSS. I don't read everything word for word. If someone contacts me about something, then I look into it further. I have a lot of other things to do with the site, and I usually do not spend so much time on the forums. After things get rolling, I will just be stopping in to make sure things are A-OK.

* Use the forum however you like. If you don't think it's "off topic," don't post here. My thoughts are that the "homeschooling" category is more related to teaching and curriculum. "Off-topic" could be about anything not related to that. However, it's your forum... USE IT however YOU want. It's not for me.

* Lastly, don't let the details get in the way of the big picture. Use the forum to your benefit.

[Amanda]

P.S. I split this issue from the "missing our old thing" topic just so it would be easier to read! :)

[Jackie]

I think Tina voiced things VERY well (like always!). I find the many different catagories driving me crazy, but am sure I'll get use to it. I am another who consider just about EVERYTHING related to my homeschooling in one way or another!

[becky]

I'm a dummy who can't absorb things quickly, but I'm liking how things are separate. To me, it's sensible. Homeschooling and all related specifics are one thing, then there's 'everything else'. I bet other newcomers to homeschooling appreciate that separation, too.

[TinaTx]

Thanks Amanda for clearing that up :)

I also ask these questions because another home schooler here on atoz and myself will be conducting meetings as leaders in our area for newbies and *oldies* LOL

This next month I have invited local home schooling groups along with local business men/women to attend an evening at a local conference center. We expect over 200 people. Our guest speaker will be the president of the Texas state wide group.The need has arose to direct others to an area/forum since I have so many that constantly email me questions off line regarding curriculum, exactly what is home schooling, laws, learning modalities,etc, etc. :shock:

In the past I have been reluctant to direct them to a forum although I get ask the question *where do you go?,etc* since I'm not sure if their views will be accepted without criticism or subject to *screening*. Presently, I know of two such boards that I will not direct them too because the moderators do *switch around threads* and place them on topics/subjects they feel are appropriate.

The webmaster on one constantly intervenes with a *get back on topic* comment Grrrrr. :roll: I feel like I'm *playing baseball* with an umpire standing there! :lol: :lol: He just lurks and the only time he intervenes is to *correct* some one instead of *join in*.

Yes, some newbies feel like certain things are separate because like any new teacher feels, they too feel overwhelmed.

However, the longer one home schools they realize that learning is part of life, not a job that we go to and then have a separate life apart from. We don't keep those issues separate. Most newbies are interested in *curriculum only* questions or need confidence/assurance that they are doing a good job. After that, when they realize their child/ren are flourishing, they look around and see that so many things that come up in life that affects teaching our children. Most what to include those real life experience that are lessons in themselves into daily learning.I too didn't realize that i had those same type of thoughts when I started :wink: because it was hard enough *learning how to teach* more than one child and on different levels much less worry about whats *coming down the road*. :)

Yes, I feel very comfortable here, and no I don't get caught up in details or the layout of the forum. No, I don't need any more people to chat with. LOL :lol: :lol: However, I always like meeting *new friends*. I just want to be sure that I am a gracious guest, and understand your objectives before I invite my *buddies* over. Some *hosts* have dogmatic ways of the way a forum needs to operate, others are more relaxed. Of course it goes without saying that no one likes rude comments.

Ok.....blah, blah, blah........I like to *talk*. :roll: :lol:

Thank you again for the time and work you have dedicated here! It doesn't go without notice!

Blessings
TinaTx