NHEG EDGuide January 2017

1

Pamela Clark 

Page 08 

Trump's Billionaire Education Secretary 

Has Been Trying to Gut Public Schools for 

Years 

Page 24 

It’s a Great Time to Be a Homeschooler 

Page 33 

Kids Who Might Need Extra Help 

Page 53 

Developing the Character of a Nation’s 

Citizens 

NHEG PAGES 

Founder/ Executive Director of 

The New Heights Educational Group 

Resource and Literacy Center 

COVER: 

The trees and the ground are 

covered in fresh white snow. I can 

go out side and build a snowman 

or snowwoman. 

Chief Execuve & Project Director 

Pamela Clark 

Editor 

Bill Naugle 

Cover Designer 

Marina Klimi 

Proof Reader 

Jenni Schreiber 

2

Just 

Conversations with Curt 

New Heights Educational Group 10th 

Anniversary Celebration with Pamela Clark 

3

4

January 2017 

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers that are 

serving the NHEG. You are not only helping improve 

education, but you are helping make my dreams come 

true. I'm very passionate about education and making 

sure any families that need assistance receive it. Together 

we are making a difference. Let's continue to work 

together to undraw the lines others have drawn in 

education. We will make it fair and equal for 

everyone that is willing to work for it. 

Pamela Clark 

5

Ever Dream of having your own Radio Show ? 

New Heights Educational Group is a Resource and Literacy Center based in Defiance, 

Ohio. We share a concern with families having access to information for those 

with special needs, including Autism. 

We offer live internet radio shows to discuss various educational topics and we are 

looking for a VOLUNTEER to host a half-hour radio show. We would give the 

necessary training and the volunteer can choose the time of the show 

on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday. Anyone interested in applying 

please email us at NewHeightsEducation@yahoo.com or call 419-786- 

0247 for more info. You can learn more about us by visiting our website 

www.NewHeightsEducation.org 

Please support our library and 

satellite office at: 

gofundme.com/9z4paprw 

6

Exciting news: our new book titled, 

"Unraveling Reading" 

On Sale Now at amazon and kindle!!! 

7

Trump's Billionaire Education Secretary Has Been 

Trying to Gut Public Schools for Years 

Meet Betsy DeVos, the anti-union, pro-voucher surprise nominee. 

K R I S T I N A R I Z G A 

Last Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate billionaire 

activist and Republican fundraiser Betsy DeVos as his education secretary. The news came as a shock 

to the education world—DeVos' ideas for school reforms are even more radical than what Trump 

proposed on the campaign trail. 

Trump's signature education proposal calls for dedicating $20 billion in federal money to promote 

"school choice": market-driven education reforms that help families move away from what Trump has 

called "failing government schools" and instead choose private, religious, or charter schools. The 

movement for charter schools is bipartisan: Republicans and many centrist Democrats support it. But 

the DeVos family has been promoting a much more radical idea of choice—one that favors moving 

public funding to private and religious schools over charters. 

Education historian Diane Ravitch believes that—if confirmed by the Senate—DeVos will become the 

most radical, anti-public-school education secretary since the Office of Education was established in 

1867. "Never has anyone been appointed to lead in the past 150 years who was hostile to public 

education," Ravitch told Mother Jones. 

Here are the three most important things to know about Trump's education nominee: 

THE DEVOS FAMILY IS AMONG AMERICA'S MOST WEALTHY, CONSERVATIVE CLANS 

A daughter of privilege, DeVos is married to Richard (Dick) DeVos Jr., whose father, Richard Sr., cofounded 

the multilevel-marketing empire Amway and was Ahead of the 1980 elections, Ronald 

Reagan personally asked [Richard DeVos Sr.] to lead the GOP's national fundraising efforts. Short on 

cash and worth an estimated $5.1 billion. In 1992, Dick DeVos succeeded his father as the president 

and CEO of Amway and has been the face of the DeVos political dynasty. While the DeVoses aren't as 

well known as conservative philanthropists like the Koch brothers, they played a key role in building 

the modern conservative movement and pushing the Republican Party further to the right. 

Since 1970, the DeVoses have invested at least $200 million in various right-wing causes—think 

tanks, media outlets, political committees, and advocacy groups—as a 2014 Mother 

Jones investigation revealed. "There's not a Republican president or presidential candidate in the last 

50 years who hasn't known the DeVoses," Saul Anuzis, a former chairman of the Michigan Republican 

Party, told my former colleague Andy Kroll. 

As Kroll wrote in that 2014 piece: 

reeling from Jimmy Carter's election and the aftershocks of the Watergate scandal, the party needed all 

the help it could get. As the Republican National Committee's finance chairman, DeVos raised $46.5 

million ($132 million in today's dollars). At a party meeting in 1982, he called the recession that was 

spiking inflation and unemployment "beneficial" and "a cleansing tonic" for society. 

In the '80s and '90s, Betsy climbed the party ranks to become a Republican National 

Committeewoman, chair numerous US House and Senate campaigns in Michigan, lead statewide party 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not 

necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The New Heights Education Group. 

Continued Next Page 

8





Continued From Previous Page 

In 2003, she returned at the request of the Bush White House to 

dig the party out of $1.2 million in debt. 

As The New Yorker's Jane Mayer pointed out, the selection of DeVos as education secretary flies in 

the face of Trump's campaign promises to get rid of the Washington "donor class" that he's argued is 

rigging the American system. 

And here's a look at the DeVos family's giving tree: 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official 

policy or position of The New Heights Education Group. 


9





THE DEVOSES CREATED A ROAD MAP FOR 

CONSERVATIVES ON HOW TO BRING DOWN LABOR, INCLUDING TEACHERS UNIONS 

In 2007, coming off Dick's unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in their home state of Michigan, the 

DeVoses focused their advocacy and philanthropy on controversial legislation known as "right to 

work." These laws outlaw contracts that require all employees in unionized workplaces to pay dues for 

union representation. Back in 2007, such a proposal in a union-heavy state of Michigan was considered 

a "right-wing fantasy," but thanks to the DeVoses' aggressive strategy and funding, the bill became law 

by 2012. 

Right-to-work laws, now on the books in 26 states, have been a major blow to the labor movement— 

including teachers unions. Teachers in Michigan are no longer allowed to strike; when educators in 

Detroit protested earlier this year against growing class sizes, pay cuts, mold, roaches, and rodents in 

their classrooms, they had to use their sick days to make their point. (A month after the strike, Betsy 

DeVos wrote an op-ed in the Detroit News arguing that teachers shouldn't be allowed to stage sick-outs 

either.) 

Given her track record, there is very good reason to believe that DeVos would push to further erode the 

power of the teachers unions as education secretary. Randi Weingarten, the president of the American 

Federation of Teachers—the nation's second-largest teachers union—called DeVos "the most 

ideological, anti-public education nominee" in the past four decades. 

FOR DECADES, DEVOS PUSHED TO GUT PUBLIC SCHOOLS 


Michigan serves as one of the most prominent examples of what aggressive DeVos-style school choice 

policies look like on the ground, especially when it comes to the expansion of charter schools. About 

80 percent of state charter schools are run by for-profit management companies, a much higher share 

than anywhere else in the country, and with very little oversight from the state. And this year, the 

DeVoses were the biggest financial backers of the effort to oppose any new state oversight of charters. 

Detroit, in particular, provides a cautionary tale of how the proliferation of charter schools without 

sufficient regulations hurts student achievement. Detroit's public school test scores in math and reading 

on the National Assessment of Educational Progress have remained the worst among large cities since 

2009. In June, the New York Times published a scathing investigation of the city's school district, 

which has the second-biggest share of students in charters in America. (New Orleans is No. 1.) 

Reporter Kate Zernike concluded that insufficiently regulated growth—including too many agencies 

that are allowed to open new charter schools—contributed to a system with "lots of choice, with no 

good choice": 




10






The unchecked growth of charters has created a glut of schools 

competing for some of the nation's poorest students, enticing them to enroll with cash bonuses, laptops, 

raffle tickets for iPads and bicycles. Leaders of charter and traditional schools alike say they are being 

cannibalized, fighting so hard over students and the limited public dollars that follow them that no one 

thrives. Michigan leapt at the promise of charter schools 23 years ago, betting big that choice and 

competition would improve public schools. It got competition, and chaos. 

Perhaps even more than her push for charter schools, Betsy DeVos is known as a fierce advocate for 

the expansion of vouchers. Until about 2000, using public funding to pay for private and religious 

schools was a fringe idea, but the DeVos family worked diligently to push it to the center of the 

Republican Party. Today, 13 states have active voucher programs, in addition to the District of 

Columbia. DeVos serves on the board of the American Federation for Children, a national group that 

has pushed for school vouchers even as their record for improving student achievement is mixed, at 

best. As Douglas Harris, an economist at Tulane University and director of the Education Research 

Alliance for New Orleans, wrote in a New York Times op-ed, "Students who participated in 

[Louisiana's] voucher program had declines in 

achievement tests scores of eight to 16 

percentile points. In Ohio, the results were also 

negative (though less so)." 

If Trump's voucher agenda moves forward, it 

is also possible that the federal government 

could send some Title 1 funding, a $15 billion 

program that exclusively funds low-income 

public schools, to high-income private and 

religious schools. If that becomes policy, 

DeVos—a billionaire who never sent her 

children to public schools—could oversee the 

erosion of one of the most important federal 

school programs created to serve America's 

most vulnerable kids. 

President-elect Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos in 

Bedminster, New Jersey, on November 19 Andy Katz/ 

AP 



11

With DeVos pick, school choice is likely Trump education 

President-elect Donald Trump has named Betsy DeVos as his choice for education 

secretary. DeVos, who has never worked in public education, is a prominent advocate 

of charter schools and school vouchers. What does this pick say about Donald Trump’s 

education agenda? John Yang discusses the appointment with Education Week’s Alyson 

Klein. 



12

Chad Stewart, former Disney animator and veteran home school dad, has been working in 

the feature animation world for 26 years. He began his career as an old fashioned handdrawing 

animator (flipping pages) and made the switch to digital/computer animation 

about 15 years ago. He is now an expert in both types of animation, which allows him to 

teach students about both aspects. This business has been a whole family venture 

involving not only Chad, but also his wife, Kayla and their children, who work to support 

and grow this company. Students from all over the United States and around the world 

are learning how to animate and draw through interactive, patient teaching and weekly 

feedback on their creations. Whether you are interested in a career in animation some day 

or just want to explore this animation art form, come join us for classes – we’d love to 

have you! Next session begins January 30th! 

13

Topics covered through the class: 

• The Principles of Animation 

• Hand Drawn animation 

• Computer Generated animation 

• Individual critiques of student work 

• Animation History 

Topics covered through the course: 

• Perspective 

• How to "See" 

• Texture 

• Line and Shape 

• Design 

• Light and Shadow 

• Silhouette 


• Weight and Balance 

• Basic human structure 

• Body language 

• Examining human walks and runs 

• Acng and Expression 

• Communicaon and the Face 

• Joint criques of student work 

• and much more 


• Character Expression 

• Shape and design 

• Personality 

• Gesture and moon 

• Structure: Skeletal and Muscular 

• Silhouee value 

• Creang a Character 

• and much more 

In the Animation Course Levels 1 & 2 the students are introduced to 

the concept of animation and physics, and applying that to animated 

motion and body mechanics. We learn how to do this through The 

Principles of Animation, ideas and concepts that were identified and 

written down by 2 of the original Disney Animators. Each week we 

will examine and explain one principle and then put it into practice 

as the student will have an assignment to create their own animation 

during the week (3-5 hours per week). Level 1 is required before Level 

2. Cost is $300 for the 12 week session. 

The Drawing Courses are aimed at introducing the different 

principles and techniques of drawing as an art form. The student 

will be introduced to the classic concepts of traditional drawing and 

how to use them to bring more life-like images to the page. These 

classes can be taken in any order. 

14

DATELINE: The Ohio Department of Education 

The Ohio Department of Education is announcing that students with 

disabilities who take the Alternate Assessment for Students with 

Signiicant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD), instead of the general Ohio 

State Tests, are exempt from the requirement that all 11th grade students 

participate in the ACT/SAT. This does not, however, prohibit a student 

with a signiicant cognitive disability from taking the ACT or SAT if the 

student and/or parent requests to participate in the test. 

The Ohio General Assembly passed Senate Bill 3 on Dec. 8, 2016, which 

provides for additional exemptions and requires the Department to 

provide guidance on test participation for certain student populations. 

(ORC 3301.0712). The Department will release additional guidance in the 

coming weeks. 

15

Completing and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the single most 

important action you can take to get money for college. 

The FAFSA is used by schools to put together your financial aid package, including grants, work-study, federal student 

loans, and even state and school financial aid. 

If you’re applying for financial aid for academic year 2017–18, you can now submit your FAFSA starting October 

1, 2016, using your 2015 income tax return. 

Be sure to submit the FAFSA every year you’re in college. 

Aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so know your deadlines and apply as early as you can to maximize 

your financial aid. 

For the most current information on this and other changes, be sure to visit studentaid.ed.gov. 

How to complete the FAFSA 

These three simple steps can make the process faster and easier. 

Step 1: Gather all the information you’ll need, including: 

· Your drivers’ license and Social Security number Your parents’ Social Security numbers and birthdates 

· Your family’s latest federal income tax returns W-2 forms 

· Bank statements Information on your family’s investments 

Step 2: Bookmark FAFSA.gov 

· Don’t fall for scams. The only site you should use to fill out and submit your application is FAFSA.gov. 

· There’s no charge for submitting the FAFSA. 

· This is where you get your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID; the user name and password give you access to the site. 

· The site also has the most up-to-date information on upcoming changes. 

Step 3: Submit your FAFSA 

· The easiest and fastest way is to file online with your FSA ID. Your application will be processed within 3-5 days. 

· You can mail in a paper application, but the processing time will take about 7-10 days. 

13 

16

NHEG’s Volunteer of the Month program recognizes the dedication and 

work of some of our most active volunteers. NHEG relies on volunteers to 

help with our education programs, our special events, public outreach, 

and other activities that help fulfill our mission of supporting literacy for 

children and adults by offering a range of educational support services. 

Contact us to learn more about volunteering. 

This month we recognize a special group of volunteers: those that have 

gone above and beyond what is needed in their everyday duties. NHEG is 

an all-volunteer organization. We have volunteers from all around the 

world! 

Aditi Chopra 

Antonn Bryant 

Jeff Ermoian 

Divya Rani 

Bassey Arikpo 

Bill Naugle 

Briana Dincher 

Chelsea Tadesse 

Daniela Silva 

Enjoli Baker 

Frani Wyner 


Julia Doyle 

Jyoti Dave 

Jyoti Dave 

Kiyoko Green 

Luyang Du 

Maggie Spangler 

Mike Anderson 

Nisha Zachariah 

Sheila Wright 

Pam Unruh 

Priscilena Shearon 

Ranita Ashlock 

Roberta Perkins 

Sam Custer 

Sathiyan Sivakumaran 

Savleen Grewal 

Shannon Williamson 

Tanushree Tiwari 

Katie Gerken 

Vanh Vue 

Victoria Lowery 

17

1929 — 1968 

Dear Fellow Homeschooler, 

Greetings! My name is Sheri Lang, and I homeschooled my three children 

from kindergarten through twelfth grade. During that time we were 

fortunate to have access to a local artist who gave art lessons to children and 

adults. One daughter recently graduated from college with double majors in 

art and theology. Another daughter is currently studying biology with an art 

minor. Although not studying art at this time, my son also benefited from 

the art lessons. 

Unfortunately many families do not have access to such art lessons nearby, 

or they may find the lessons to be too expensive to provide for all of their 

children. With these needs in mind, my daughters have created an online art 

education program which teaches children and adults at a beginner or 

intermediate level. 

This program consists of wholesome, step by step instructional videos. The 

content is sequential, each lesson building upon previous lessons. It teaches 

all the necessary foundations of drawing to help bring your budding artists to 

a more advanced level. Advanced classes will specialize in drawing people 

and horses. Once they have completed the drawing course, they will have 

access to watercolor painting, stained glass, and other more specialized 

courses. The cost is $19 per month for the whole family, which is often less 

expensive than a single class for one person. 

Check NHEG http://w ww.NewHeightsEducation.org/courses-and-classes 

page frequently for updates about this great new class. 

18

Dial 347-934-0450 for Priscilena Shearon 

19

Evangelical Christian Credit Union 

Join ECCU and we'll pay for up to two years of 

your HSLDA membership.* 

Simply open a checking account with direct deposit, savings account with a 

$500 balance and/or credit card to get started.* 1 account = 1 year 

CHECKING 

Easy to manage checking 

accounts with online and 

mobile banking, bill pay, 

mobile deposits, and a 

naonwide branch & ATM 

network. 

SAVINGS 

Higher savings rates than 

naonal average plus free 

online banking & mobile 

app, free electronic 

transfers, and naonwide 

branch & ATM access. 

CREDIT CARD 

With the Visa Gold 

Everyday Cashback Credit 

Card earn 1.5% cash back 

on every purchase, no 

annual fee, no 

internaonal transacon 

membership. 2+ accounts 

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 

ECCU supports and celebrates the vibrant community of parents who have 

chosen to be their child’s primary educator. That’s why Home School Legal 

Defense Association (HSLDA) and ECCU are partnering and inviting you 

to join ECCU. Joining the ECCU family is easy and immediately 

rewarding because you can receive up to 2 years of HSLDA membership for 

free.* 

17 

20

Public Service Bulletin Board 

Up Coming Holidays 

January 1 New Years Day 

January 16 Martin Luther King 

January 20 Inaguration day 

2521

UNITED STATES HOME SCHOOL FAMILY-TO-FAMILY 

PROGRAM 

From NHEG Director Pamela Clark: 

“As a homeschool parent myself, I know the frustraons that come from wanng to provide your children a rich and versale 

educaon on a single income. Therefore, I’m pleased to announce New Heights Home School Family-to-Family Program, an 

effort that allows budget-conscious homeschool families the opportunity to travel for hands-on learning and work programs.” 

For many of us, a hotel is simply too expensive. “This collaboraon between homeschool families gives you and your children a 

place to stay as they expand their horizons and allows you to host other wonderful families, providing unique experiences and 

stories to share. 

We currently have 10 host families located in: 

Defiance, Ohio 

Modesto, California 

Northern California 

Bozeman, Montana 

Fairplay, Maryland 

Copper Canyon, Texas 

Conneccut 

Pembroke, Virginia 

Peterstown, West Virginia 

More to come… 

Interested? Please read our rules to see if the program fits your family. If so, please contact us to sign up. 

Basic Procedures & Requirements 

Vising families that parcipate in the program are also asked to be a host family; however, we realize this is not feasible for 

everyone. Rest assured, no one will be excluded! 

Host family: 

In order to ensure a good fit, you can choose to talk to the families/meet in a public place before taking them to your home. 

Provide safe, clean, cost-free place for family to stay. 

Provide references (so that all families feel secure). 

Please state whether you will offer meals during a student/family visit. 

Please state if you would like to be a guide to a vising family. 

Vising family: 

NO LIMITS, 

JUST GOALS! 

Please indicate if your children have special needs. This will allow your host family to provide you with needed special 

accommodaons. 

It is essenal that children respect other people, their homes and belongings. Please do not parcipate if your children have not 

yet learned this valuable skill. 

22

Do you have an empty building? 

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization seeking usable space or funding to operate a curricula library and 

administrative office. 

The New Heights Educational Group, Inc. promotes literacy for children and adults by offering a range of 

educational support services. Such services include: assisting families in the selection of schools; organization 

of educational activities; and acquisition of materials. 

We promote a healthy learning environment and enrichment programs for families of preschool and schoolage 

children, including children with special needs. 

It’s so important that we find a space for our library. Some of you may think that since we have a local public 

library that is enough. I do love public libraries and have spent hours utilizing their resources. 

So how is our library different? Our library contains curriculum for all ages of students. Anyone can come in 

and for a small fee take out curriculum for a week, month, or a year and its interchangeable. If you don’t like 

the curriculum you use simply bring it back and exchange for something else. We have books for every grade 

including college and resources for teachers/tutors. Our library serves all families but with special 

consideration for home and charter school families that need help on a small budget. We also have a private 

library that serves those being tutored. This is of great urgency; we have already turned away families this 

year that need these books. 

If you have a space in a commercial/industrial/business area or a residential property in Defiance County 

that you can donate to our organization, in return for a tax deductible certificate stating the value of the 

space, please contact us via our website www.NewHeightsEducation.org or email us 

at NewHeightsEducation@yahoo.com. We would love to discuss how you or your business will benefit from 

the donation program. 

Pamela Clark 

Executive Director 

419-786-0247 

Please contact us at 419-786-0247 or email us NewHeightsEducaon@yahoo.com 

or visit our website at www.NewHeightsEducaon.org 

This is a great way you can serve the 

community and this would be tax 

deducble. 

23

It’s a Great 

tIme to Be a 

HomescHooler 

Eric Smitherm 

Homeschoolers are a diverse bunch. Our teaching approaches and learning philosophies vary. Our 

politics run the gamut and our visions of education reform differ greatly. Yet, despite these contrasts, 

homeschoolers are remarkably similar. I recently asked a large, eclectic group of homeschooling 

parents why they chose this education option for their children. Key homeschooling features like 

"freedom," and "time," and "flexibility," and "individualization" were common drivers for all. 

Of course my first question was: "What about socialization?" 

When I first heard about homeschooling, it was 1998. I was a senior in college writing a research 

paper on education choice and the rising homeschooling movement, and became fascinated by this 

option. A college classmate of mine connected me with her family members who were 

homeschooling, and they invited me into their home to observe and ask questions. Of course my first 

question was: "What about socialization?" 

I remember the mom's calm and eloquent response, pointing out the obvious difference between 

being social and being socialized. She described their vibrant and engaging homeschooling networks, 

community involvement, and neighborhood activism. She explained that much of the socialization 

that happens in schools is not positive and can lead to malevolent behaviors, like cliques, and 

bullying, and unhealthy competition. Her homeschooled daughter graciously played her violin during 

my visit, and was one of the most curious, articulate, and polite young children I had ever met. I was 

hooked. 

Later, I went on to graduate school in education policy at Harvard and became more committed to the 

ideas of education choice and innovation and alternatives to school. Now, as a homeschooling mom 

to four, never-been-schooled children, I combine policy and practice on a daily basis, watching the 

extraordinary ways in which my children learn without school. 


24

It’s a Great 

tIme to Be a 

HomescHooler 

Eric Smitherm 

According to new data released this month by the U.S. Department of Education, the number of 

homeschooled children has doubled since 1999 to 1.8 million children in 2012, or 3.4 percent of the 

overall school-age population. (As a comparison, about 4.5 million children are enrolled in U.S. K-12 

private schools.) According to the DOE data, the geographic distribution of today's homeschooling 

population is evenly split, with about one-third each in rural, urban, and suburban areas. "Concern 

about schools' environments" remains a top driver for homeschooling families, with 9 in 10 survey 

respondents indicating it was an important reason in their decision to homeschool. 

Homeschooling networks are diverse, active, and far-reaching. 

A lot has changed for homeschooling and education choice since the late-90s. Homeschooling has 

become much more mainstream. There are numerous resources for homeschooling families, including 

community-based, self-directed learning centers scattered across the country. Education choice is in 

high demand and family empowerment grows. With President-elect Trump’s appointment of Betsy 

DeVos as Secretary of Education, the umbrella of education choice promises to widen for more 

families. As The New York Times reports: "Ms. DeVos will probably be a boon to the relatively small, 

growing population of families that home-school their children." 

While I still get asked that knee-jerk question about socialization that I so naïvely asked years ago, I 

find it happens less often. Many people know homeschoolers, and some have even considered the 

approach themselves. Homeschooling networks are diverse, active, and far-reaching, connecting 

homeschoolers to each other and their community's resources in myriad ways. Organizations and 

businesses, museums and libraries, nature centers and community colleges recognize homeschooling's 

popular rise and offer classes and resources to meet different needs and interests. Free, online learning 

resources like MIT’s OpenCourseWare, HarvardX, Khan Academy, Coursera, Duolingo, and many 

more allow for easy, on-demand access to a range of topics and subjects. Facilitating learning and 

pursuing knowledge has never been easier or more accessible. 

It's a great time to be a homeschooler! 


25

We’re Looking 

(Are you the perfect candidate?) 

We are considering bringing an assessor(s) to work 

within our organization to provide online 

assessments through our website. Each year families 

could visit our site and set up an assessment time to 

have these completed virtually or meet in person, 

depending on the assessor. We would create an 

online profile for each assessor and share posters and 

flyers with the public. NHEG would receive 20% of 

each referral. 

If you are interested in partnering with the New 

Heights Educational Group, please share a resume, 

three references, an email addresses, and proof that 

you are a licensed/ certified teacher holding a valid 

Ohio teaching certificate (excluding the non-tax 

certificate issued under Ohio Revised Code 

3301.071). A brief biography with a picture would 

also be appreciated. 

We will choose from the list of responses. 

Happy winter solstice! 

· Leonard Cohen - "Winter Lady" (1967) 

· Yes - "South Side of the Sky" (1971) 

· Galaxie 500 - "Snowstorm" (1989) 

· Belle & Sebastian - "Fox in the Snow" (1996) 

· Modest Mouse - "The Cold Part" (2000) 

· Arcade Fire - "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" (2004) 

· Fleet Foxes - "White Winter Hymnal" (2008) 

Top 7 songs about 

winter by Music 

Timers Fans 

26

Gluten-Free Fried Chicken 

1 quart buttermilk 

1 tablespoon paprika 

2 teaspoons garlic powder 

2 teaspoons onion powder 

Kosher salt and cracked black pepper 

560 grams all-purpose gluten-free 

flour mix 

1 tablespoon smoked paprika 

2 chicken breasts, each cut in half 

2 chicken thighs 

2 chicken legs 

2 chicken wings 

1/2 cup canola oil (or vegetable oil) 

Directions 

1.Preparing to cook: Heat the oven to 450 

degrees F. Lay down a piece of parchment 

paper on a baking sheet. 

2.Making the batter: Whisk together the 

buttermilk, paprika, garlic power, and onion 

powder. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and 

stir. 

3.Making the flour: Whisk together a pinch 

each of salt and pepper, flour mix, and smoked 

paprika. 

4.Dipping the chicken: Set a large cast-iron 

skillet on medium-high heat. As the pan is 

heating, line up the chicken, the bowl of batter, 

and the spiced flour. Pour the oil into the hot 

pan. 

5.Frying the chicken: When the oil has reached 

375 degrees F, dip a piece of chicken in the 

batter. Shake off any excess liquid. Dip the 

chicken in the flour and coat it entirely. Place 

the chicken in the hot oil. Repeat with all the 

pieces of chicken. 

(Don't overcrowd the pan. You can always do 

this in two batches.) 

6.Flip the chicken pieces when the bottoms are 

nicely browned. When both sides are browned, 

put the chicken pieces onto the prepared 

baking sheet. 

7.Finishing the chicken: When all the chicken 

has been browned and laid on the baking sheet, 

put the baking sheet in the oven. Cook the 

chicken until the legs have reached an 

internal temperature of 185 degrees F and 

the breasts measure 155 degrees F. 

26 

27

Turkey Casserole 

Ingredients 

· 1/2 pound sliced baby portobello mushrooms 

· 2 shallots, chopped 

· 2 teaspoons olive oil 

· 2 cups cubed peeled butternut squash 

· 1 cup chopped sweet red pepper 

· 1/2 cup sliced fennel bulb 

· 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided 

· 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 

· 1/2 cup 2% milk 

· 3 cups cubed cooked turkey breast 

· 2 tablespoons sherry or additional reduced-sodium 

chicken broth 

· 1 teaspoon rubbed sage 

· 1/2 teaspoon salt 

· 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 

· 1/4 teaspoon pepper 

· 10 sheets phyllo dough (14x9-inch size) 

Refrigerated butter-flavored spray 

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 1 hour Bake: 10 min. 

MAKES: 6 servings 

Directions 

1. In a large skillet, saute mushrooms and shallots in oil until tender. Add the squash, red pepper 

and fennel; saute 5 minutes longer. Add 1/4 cup broth. Cover and cook over medium-low heat 

until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. 

2. Sprinkle flour over vegetables; cook and stir for 1 minute. Gradually add milk and remaining 

broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the turkey, sherry 

and seasonings; heat through. Transfer to a 2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. 

3. Stack all 10 phyllo sheets. Roll up, starting with a long side; cut into 1/2-in. strips. Place strips 

in a large bowl and toss to separate; spritz with butter-flavored spray. Arrange over turkey 

mixture; spritz again. Bake, uncovered, at 425° for 10 -15 minutes or until golden 

brown.Yield: 6 servings. 

28

Kids recipes: Sunny Side Up Tostada 

Servings 2 

· 1 package (10 3/8 ounces) of Lean 

Cuisine® Favorites Santa Fe-Style 

Rice & Beans 

· 2 Large eggs 

· 2 Whole wheat torllas 

· Hot sauce 

1. Featuring Lean Cuisine® 

Favorites Santa Fe-Style Rice & 

Beans 

2. Prepare rice & beans according 

to package direcons. 

3. Cook eggs sunny-side-up. 

4. Bake torllas on baking sheet at 

400° F for a few minutes on 

each side unl crispy. 

5. Spoon rice & beans onto 

torllas. 

6. Top each with an egg and hot 

sauce. 

29

We have a huge collection of data regarding various disabilities and how to manage the 

education of your kids with various disabilities ranging from Autism and ADHD to 

Prader-Willi Syndrome. We have hands-on experience in dealing with kids from 

various backgrounds. If you have any questions or information to contribute, 

please contact us. 

Autism spectrum disorder 

ADHD 

ALS 

Bipolar disease 

Cancer 

Celiac disease 

Cerebral palsy 

COPD 

Cystic fibrosis 

Down syndrome 

Driver education 

Dyslexia 

Disabled persons 

Fragile X syndrome 

Hearing loss 

Irlen syndrome 

Neural tube defect 

Paralysis 

Phenylketonuria 

Prader-Willi syndrome 

Rett syndrome 

Sickle cell disease 

Spina bifida 

Spinal deformity 

Stroke 

Tay-Sachs disease 

30

31 31

Help us Reach Our Fund-raising Goals 

Please collect the following items and share with NHEG to help us reach 

our fundraising goals. 

TerraCycle 

Outsmart Waste 

Cell Phone Brigade® E-Waste Brigade® Inkjet Brigade® Laptop Brigade® 

DONATE YOUR OLD CAR, BOAT OR RV Make a Car Donation | Make a Difference 

Call 1-800-240-0160 and a friendly car donation specialist will schedule your 

pick-up appointment. 

A public charity 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization 

32

Mary L. Gavin, MD 

Isn't every kid special? We think so. But what do we mean when we say "kids with special 

needs"? This means any kid who might need extra help because of a medical, emotional, 

or learning problem. These kids have special needs because they might need medicine, 

therapy, or extra help in school — stuff other kids don't typically need or only need once 

in a while. 

Maybe you know of kids in your school who need a wheelchair or use braces when they 

walk. Those kids have special needs. They not only need the equipment that helps them 

get around, but they might need to have ramps or elevators available. They also might 

need to ride a special bus to school — one that lifts them up into the bus so they don't 

have to get up the steps. 

Kids who have illnesses, such as epilepsy or diabetes, would have special needs, too. 

They might need medicine or other help as they go about their day. Kids 

with sight problems might use special apps, tablets, or computers to read. Those 

with hearing or speech problems would have special needs, too. A kid who has hearing 

trouble might need hearing aids to hear and speech therapy, too, since it can be hard to 

say words correctly when you can't hear very well. 

Kids with learning problems often have special needs. Kids with Down syndrome might go 

to a regular school and might even be in your class. But they have special needs when it 

comes to learning, so an aide (someone to help) might come with them to class. 

You might be able to spot a few kids with special needs, but you probably don't notice all 

of them. A kid could have a problem that isn't noticeable unless you know the person 

well. For example, someone could have trouble with anxiety (worry), but you wouldn't 

know it unless the kid told you about it. Privately, their parents, teachers, and 

counselors may be working to help them worry less. 

What's Life Like for a Kid With Special Needs? 

Life can be extra-challenging for a kid with special needs. It might be harder to do 

everyday stuff — like learning to read or, if a person has physical handicaps, just getting 

around school or the mall. The good news is that parents, doctors, nurses, therapists, 

teachers, and others can help. The goal is to help kids be as independent as 

possible.Other kids also can be a big help. How? By being a friend. Kids who need a 

wheelchair or have other health problems want friends just like you do. But meeting 

people and making friends can be tough. Some kids might tease them or make fun of 

them. Be sure to tell a teacher if you see someone being bullied or teased. That's a very 

lonely feeling. 

Continued On Next Page 

33

Mary L. Gavin, MD 


Also try to be helpful if you know someone with special needs. Ask if they 

would like help with carrying their books or opening a door. Ask them to join 

you and your friends at lunch. It's important not to be "overly helpful" when 

no help is needed. Why? Because just like you, kids with special needs like to 

be as independent as they can be. 

Being friendly to kids with special needs is one of the best ways to be helpful. 

As you get to know them, they may help you understand what it's like to be in 

their shoes. And you'll be helping fill a very special need, one that everybody 

has — the need for good friends. 

34

Charlotte McGuire 

CHARLOTTE McGuire 

35

Help homeschooling families 

harmed by fires and tornados 

The Home School Foundation (HSF), HSLDA's charitable arm, is reaching out to 

homeschooling families in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee who have lost 

school supplies, valuables and even homes in the recent tornados and wildfires. We need 

your help to best assist them! 

Earlier this year, when massive flooding affected thousands of families in Louisiana, we helped 

43 homeschooling families replace their destroyed curriculum and school materials. One 

family we helped shared just how significant this support was: 

We just wanted you to know how much your grant has meant to us. We have been waiting 

on FEMA since August to 'give' us money to rebuild our home with no recourse. As a result, 

we are paying for the rebuilding of our home out of our own pocket, so your grant to replace 

our schoolbooks was a huge blessing. We cannot thank you enough! 

—the Truesdell family 

This kind of help is possible because of caring, generous friends like you! 

Your gift enables us to help homeschooling families affected by these recent 

disasters. 

Thank you! 

36

ART RESOURCES 

SPECIAL NEEDS 

MATH RESOURCES 

READING RESOURCES 

MUSIC RESOURCES 

HISTORY RESOURCES 

NHEG website membership is only $25 per year. That comes to $2.09 per month. $2.09 a 

month will open the doors to many resources for the parent and student, either home 

schooled, charter schooled, or public schooled. We have built up a wonderful library of 

resources and have the ability to help students and families get the materials they need to 

succeed in their endeavors. One of our goals is to help remove as many roadblocks as 

possible to allow our students to show their capabilities. 

37

38

As a parent you work hard to provide a beer life for your child(ren). We work hard to 

make sure that you have the knowledge and resources you need to educate your 

child. This organizaon is the first of its kind. We are building gateways and resources 

to empower you and your child(ren) to achieve your goals and dreams. We believe that 

parents should be the caretakers of their children not a school or educaonal system. 

We work with the enre family unit and provide fill-in-the-gap type learning when 

reaching students. We have seen incredible advancements with students that 

parcipate in our program. Students being tutored normally jump 2 years in a 9-month 

period. The most we have seen is 3- and 4-year advancements with a science and math 

student that suffered from seizures when younger. This was accomplished in a lile 

over a year’s me. We have worked with students from all backgrounds and 

disabilies/special needs. If you really want to make a change and stop the cycle of bad 

grades, depression and students that are about to give up, we can help. We have 

helped many families and have seen amazing changes. 

NO LIMITS, JUST GOALS! 

WE BELIEVE, DO YOU? 

39

Colleges of Distinction's Diana Biffl just published a great new article on the CLT! Read it 

here: http://collegesofdistinction.com/resource/new-kind-college-entrance-exam/. 

40

NHEG has the opportunity to win some classroom supplies. 

Please vote for us! 

https://www.educents.com/wishlist/index/index/wishlist_id/26794/ 

This is our referral link. http://www.educents.com/signup-bonus.html?r=270976 

We will receive $10.00 in Edubucks credit once someone uses this URL to create an account and 

make a purchase of $25 or more on our site. 

Help us save even more on educational products! 

41

NHEG Organizational Chart 

January 28, 2017 

42

Please Check It Out: 

The website link below has a drop down list. Customer can choose our name from the list for a 

portion of their purchase being donated to us. 

http://www.123contactform.com/form-1237983/Bonus-Bucks-Registration-Form 

You will find your organization listed under the drop down box. 

Missed a show? Check out past shows here: 

http://www.newheightseducation.org/education-talk-radio-nheg 

http://www.newheightseducation.org/kathy-woodring.html 

As they explore a new topic on education every week. . . 

43

1 New Year's Day 

2 Run up the Flagpole and See if Anyone 

Salutes Day 

3 Fruitcake Toss Day 

4 Trivia Day 

5 National Bird Day 

6 Cuddle Up Day 

7 Old Rock Day 

8 Bubble Bath Day 

8 Male Watcher's Day 

9 Play God Day 

10 Peculiar People Day 

11 Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend's 

12 National Pharmacist Day 

13 Make Your Dream Come True Day 

14 Dress Up Your Pet Day 

15 National Hat Day 

16 Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday 

17 Ditch New Years Resolutions Day 

18 Thesaurus Day 

19 National Popcorn Day 

20 Penguin Awareness Day 

21 National Hugging Day 

22 National Blonde Brownie Day 

23 National Pie Day 

24 Compliment Day 

25 Opposite Day 

26 Spouse's Day 

27 Chocolate Cake Day 

28 Chinese New Years 

29 National Puzzle Day 

30 National Inane Answering Message Day 

31 Inspire Your Heart with Art Day 

Month: 

National Bath Safety 

Month 

National Blood 

Donor Month 

National Braille 

Literacy Month 

National Hobby 

Month 

Hot Tea Month 

National Oatmeal 

Month 

National Soup Month 

Week Celebrations: 

2nd Week 

Letter Writing Week 

44

Reviews for 

‘Unraveling Reading’ 

I learned a lot, and I was so glad that 

I read it. We often forget that the 

student’s whole body contributes to 

their learning, and the brain exercises 

are such simple things that can make a 

huge difference! I think it provides a 

lot of easy to follow strategies for a 

variety of readers and learners to 

follow without shying away from 

technical terms. Also, I like that it 

provides insight into the way students 

learn and think, and that it reminds the 

reader to encourage and be positive 

when teaching. It’s important to not 

only know strategies but the rationale 

behind them. I think the opportunity 

to link to videos demonstrating the 

strategies would enhance and take 

advantage of its e-book format. As a 

writing instructor, there are things that 

I could share with my adult students 

who may have struggled with reading 

in high school or have re-entered 

college after some time away and are 

struggling with college-level texts. 

I’m also much more aware of learning 

disabilities that students in my class 

are struggling with or may not even 

realize that they have. I’ve read a bit 

about the cognitive science approach 

to literature (why we read fiction, how 

fiction affects our brain); so many 

parts of this book were right up my 

alley. 

Sheila Wright 

Unraveling Reading: 

I grew up attending public school, where my classmates 

and I would sit through the same lessons, use the same 

books, and be educated in the same, cookie-cutter way. 

However, there was a select group of students who 

would be removed from our classroom each day after the 

pledge and morning announcements. These were the 

students who weren't built to be taught in a traditional 

classroom, and special contract teachers were brought in to 

work with them each day, one-on-one and in small groups, 

in a different location. They came to be known as the 

"Speech kids," and even though we saw them each 

morning, played with them on the playground, and even 

hung out with them playing sports after school in our small 

town, they were segregated from their peers throughout the 

school day when learning was taking place. It made me sad 

for them; I felt like they stood out, that other kids our age 

labeled them unfairly. 

Unraveling Reading made me realize that these "Speech 

kids" were more than likely just as smart as we were. They 

were being taught the same material we were, only in a way 

that suited them. I grew up believing that there was just one 

style of learning, and if you couldn't grasp that style, you 

were isolated from your friends and classmates as 

punishment. My hopes are that, by publishing Unraveling 

Reading, there will be less of that segregation, and more 

celebration of student uniqueness and individuality! Having 

a chance to read this book really made me aware that there 

are several types of learning styles, and even though I am 

not an educator by profession, I was still able to take away 

some tips for working with people regarding the different 

styles. I believe this could be useful when teaching a coworker 

a task, a friend, or even maybe when working with 

my own children with their life skills. 

Great job Daniela! You've definitely spread the word on the 

endless possibilities of education. 


45

46

esoLutions 

How Are Yours Going? ? ? 

47

Are you sharing our newest monthly Magazine and would like to be 

added to our Magazine mailing list………. 

Drop us an Email to: Newsletter@NewHeightsEducation.org 

48

Book ad 

49

7th Annual 2017 PR World Awards 

Welcome and Introduction 

The annual PR World Awards® is a premier recognition program that culminates with a Red-Carpet Awards Gala each year. This award 

program consists of the following sections: 

· Public Relations Awards 

· PR Agency of the Year Awards 

· Marketing Awards 

· Corporate Communications Awards 

· Investor Relations Awards 

· Business Development Awards 

Organizations of any size and industry and PR agencies from all over the world can participate. Read the How To Submit tips first. This 

will help you plan your submissions. 

We have been entered into the contest! Keep your fingers crossed! 

50

January 2017 Crossword 

51

Developing the Character of a Nation’s Citizens 

By David Lantz 

There’s a lot of talk these days about what it means to be an American. The more diverse we become, 

the more difficulty it seems we have in answering this question. But whatever that answer might be, we 

should expect that, at its core, being an American means that we share some national sense of who we 

are – what moral virtues do we all aspire to, what ideals do we most cherish? The question is: “How do 

we instill in our citizens moral qualities and ideals our nation holds dear?” 

In the American experience, I believe this question is answered as follows: 

The moral character of Americans is shaped through what we believe, read and experience. These three 

things mold who we are and hold most dear. 

I’d like to spend the next few paragraphs unpacking this idea, and how we have attempted to determine 

what it is our citizens will read and experience in the formation of the American character and what we 

believe. 

George Washington’s Call for a Nation Built on Private Morality 

History records that when George Washington was sworn in as President of the United States, he was 

very aware of the precedent he was setting for the new nation of America. Scholars have found in 

his First Inaugural Addressan American application of Moses’s warning in Deuteronomy chapter 28, 

in which Moses laid out the blessings God would bestow on Israel if they followed his commands, and the 

curses that would befall them if they failed to do so. Washington said: 

No People can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs 

of men more than the People of the United States. …These reflections, arising out of the present 

crisis, have forced themselves too strongly on my mind to be suppressed. … Since we ought to be 

no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that 

disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained: … I behold the 

surest pledges … that the foundations of our National policy will be laid in the pure and immutable 

principles of private morality; and the pre-eminence of a free Government, be exemplified by all 

the attributes which can win the affections of its Citizens, and command the respect of the world. 

How would the young country promote “private morality”? The founders saw the need to provide for a 

system of public education. In passing The Land Ordinance of 1785, they established a means for funding 

public education. Section 16 in each township was reserved for the maintenance of public schools. In 

1836, William McGuffey published what came to be called the McGuffey Eclectic Reader. It was the 

nation’s first common textbook, and sold over 120 million copies. John Westerhoff III, in his book 

“McGuffey and His Readers,” wrote : 

When we investigate the content of McGuffey’s Readers, three dominant images of God emerge. 

God is creator, preserver, and governor. 


52




For over a century, the public schools of the United States used the McGuffey Reader to instill the 

“private morality” Washington had called for during his first inaugural address. But beginning in the 

1920s, a movement arose to remove free market economics and Christianity from what was taught to our 

young people. In 1934, Willard E. Givens issued this statement in a report titled “Education for the New 

America” during the Proceedings of the 72nd Annual Meeting of the National Education Association: 

“A dying laissez-faire must be completely destroyed and all of us, including the owners, must be subjected 

to a large amount of social control. A large section of our discussion group, accepting the conclusions of 

distinguished students, maintain that in our fragile, interdependent society, the credit agencies, the basic 

industries, and utilities cannot be centrally planned and operated under private ownership. 

… Hence, they will join in creating a swift nationwide campaign of adult education which will support 

President Roosevelt in taking these over and operating them at full capacity as a unified national 

system in the interests of all of the people.” 

Another participant in this movement was Norman Woelfel, a PhD candidate who studied under Dr. 

George Counts (part of a national commission to redesign the teaching of social studies in the US) and 

Dr. John Dewey (creator of the Dewey Decimal system). In 1934, Woelfel published his doctoral 

dissertation in book form. His book, called “Molders of the American Mind,” was a review of 17 

prominent educators of that day. Near the end of his book, Woelfel concluded: 

The things of highest value for individual experience and for ethical standards in modern America will not, 

however, be found out so long as intellectual leaders maintain sensitivity over the supernatural 

significance of Christian mythology or a sentimental personal attachment to the character of 

Jesus. (Emphasis added. Woelfel, Norman.Molders of the American Mind: A Critical Review of the Social 

Attitudes of Seventeen Leaders in American Education. (Columbia University Press: New York), 

1934, pp. 205, 229.) 

Today, except in some home school and church school programs, the McGuffey Readers are no longer 

used. Space does not permit the tracking of how efforts by progressive educationalists led to the removal 

of Christianity’s influence in public education. 

Suffice it to say that by the middle of the 20th century, schools switched to readers like “Dick and 

Jane which no longer taught the Bible stories. Test scores began to drop, along with a moral 

decline of our youth and a rising crime rate.” 

As a result, in 2016, like the Israelites of old, America has witnessed the rise of a new generation that, in 

the words of Judges 2:10, “grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel.” 


53



Reviving Washington’s Call for Private Morality 

As a college freshman at Butler University in 1975, I took my one and only Bible course. It was a survey 

of the Old Testament. The instructor had us read “The Source” by James Michener. After reading that 

book, I fell in love with the idea of using historical fiction to bring the Bible alive for modern readers. As a 

young father, I looked for age appropriate books to read to my children. Books like The High King by 

Lloyd Alexander, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, and The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth 

Speare. And, I know I’m not the only person to have done so. 

It is this belief in the importance of literature as a means of character education that has led me on a 

twenty year journey to write my own novel and develop a comparative history curriculum intended to help 

the reader apply precepts of the Bible to a modern age. This two minute video introduces the idea 

behind Clash of the Superpowers, a curriculum built around the events of 600 BC, as I envisioned 

how Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel would have set about the creation of a “brotherhood of the scroll” to 

preserve God’s word in a foreign land. 

Call A Nation to Prayer 


Clash of the Superpowers is designed around my novel, Brotherhood of the Scroll. The prophet 

Daniel plays a prominent role in that novel. At one point in the later part of his ministry, Daniel sought 

God’s mercy on behalf of Jerusalem and the temple. In Daniel 9:8-11, we read: 

We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, LORD, because we 

have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have 

rebelled against him, we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us through 

his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey 

you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, 

have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. 

Daniel was mindful of the words Moses had written regarding the blessings and the curses in 

Deuteronomy 28. Likewise, George Washington was mindful of not only the words of Moses, but also 

Daniel’s prayer. Today, America faces anarchy in the streets. The word of God is the solution, but 

increasingly, secular society is seeking to silence the message of Christ. The solution to the moral crisis 

we face will not be found in any action of own. Instead, it must begin with prayer. 

Like the Prophet Daniel, George Washington, and now Franklin Graham, this is our time to humble 

ourselves, repent of our sins, and beseech the Lord to heal our land. 

Prayer 

The nurturing of private morality 

Christians using the tools of cultural expression such as books and movies to share the Gospel of Christ. 

All are needed, now, if we are to develop the character of our nation’s citizens. 

54

MISSING 

MISSING 

55

We received permission from Hillsdale College in Michigan 

to share their courses on our website. Each link offers a 

group of classes. 

Some of the non-credit courses being offered: 

Course Catalog 

· An Introducon to C.S. Lewis: Wrings and Significance 

· Winston Churchill and Statesmanship 

· The Federalist Papers 

· A Proper Understanding of K-12 Educaon: Theory and Pracce 

· The Presidency and the Constuon 

· Great Books 102: Renaissance to Modern 

· Constuon 101: The Meaning & History of the Constuon 

· Great Books 101: Ancient to Medieval 

· Economics 101: The Principles of Free Market Economics 

· History 102: American Heritage, From Colonial Selement to the Reagan Revoluon 

· History 101: Western Heritage, From the Book of Genesis to John Locke 

· Other Lectures and Programs 

· Hillsdale Dialogues: A Survey of Great Books, Great Men, and Great Ideas 

Kirby Center Lectures Archive 

Hillsdale College on YouTube 

56

The Only Radio Station you will ever NEED! 

NHEG RADIO 

NHEG Radio….Quality Radio….Informative Radio 

Hi Victoria, 

Great job this week! Your voice was loud enough and again I did not hear any 

back-ground noise. In my opinion, teen dating abuse needs to be 

discussed more often because dating generally starts during the 

teen years and they need to be more aware of what is 

acceptable and not acceptable. 

Sincerely, 

Shannon 

57

Be Part of History! 

58

Founded on December 29, 2012 

Products 

Handmade cards 

Company Overview 

Send us addresses of any child that may need a card. 

General Information 

Kindcards22@gmail.com for cards and to send a message or write us 

on here. 

Mission 

To promote hope! 

CONTACT INFO 

@KindCardsForSickKidsAndSoldiers 

kindcards22@gmail.com 

STORY 

59

December 17, 2016 

New Heights is an amazing place to 

volunteer and work. I've been volunteering 

for about 3-5 years now and I think that 

Pamela Clark does an amazing job at 

providing volunteers with meaningful and 

impactful work with room for personal growth. I love working here and I 

love working with all the individuals who share New Height's vision. I would 

definitely recommend it as a place for volunteers to find their own passions 

and enhance their skills. 

60

Bassey Arikpo 

11/19/16 

Video Editor/Designer 

Sun (Crystal) Xin ` Ranita Ashlock 

11/21/16 12/12/16 

Software/Prog. Develop Hr Coordinator 

Luyang Du 

11/27/16 

Program and Software Developer 

Help building Interactive Courses for students 

Help with the free version of Lifter LMS 

Bringing/Creating the services online that reaching more 

people 

Creating Apps 

Creating software for assessments/testing 

Antonn Bryant 

11/29/16 

Proofreader/Editor 

Jeff Ermoian 

12/1/16 

Graphic Artist/Photographer 

Design and Refine Logo art 

Website Support 

Divya Rani 

Frani Wyner 

12/5/16 12/10/16 

HR Coordinator 

Photographer 

Yanni Zack 

12/11/16 

Assistant Virtual Development Director 

Teaching and Education Department 

And assist with research 

61

By Corey Whelan 

You might assume the small children counting change at the grocery store register or hightailing it into 

the library at 12 p.m. on a Thursday are off from school for some unknown holiday or exotic teacher 

preparation ritual. Despite the preponderance of kids of all ages out there on the street, this may not be 

the case. The hoards of youngsters standing in line at museums and attending pottery classes , or 

accompanying their parents to yoga or jazz ballet during weekday hours, may actually be among the 1.5 

million children currently estimated as being homeschooled in the U.S. 

The U.S. Dept. of Education’s most recent statistics show a slow, yet steady climb in the number of 

children whose parents eschew both the public school system and expensive, private schools, opting to 

take matters into their own hands and educate their kids on their own. 

The reasons for this phenomena vary and may be linked to ideology or geographic region. While the 

ranks of homeschooling families were once comprised primarily of parents citing religious reasons for 

their choice, the familial demographics of those opting out of formalized education has become wildly 

diverse and currently includes every stereotypical parental prototype imaginable. 

Why homeschool? 

“I realized early on that my daughter was a fidgeter,” says one Vermont mother whose child was 

diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and who asked to remain anonymous. “I saw so much 

of myself in her at that age. My inability to sit still absolutely interfered with my desire to excel in school. 

Watching her struggle made me remember how frustrated I felt, having to sit, unmoving, in a classroom. 

In those days, ADD was only something you did with numbers and not a diagnosis. When my daughter 

started having the same types of issues, it occurred to me that her school environment was holding her 

back in the same way it held me back. Rather than take the school system on, I decided to homeschool 

my daughter so she could move around freely without feeling shame and learn at her own pace. 


62



So far, so good. She excels at math and is able to comprehend challenging concepts as long as they are 

presented in small doses.” She is not alone in her frustration with how the educational system handles 

atypical learning styles or learning disabilities. A Dept. of Education survey cites 73 percent of 

homeschooling parents as being dissatisfied with the academic instruction available in local schools. 

Learning styles can be a significant factor in a parent’s decision to homeschool their child, but is not the 

only one. Kids, particularly those growing up in urban areas, may find the regular school schedule chafing 

up against their burgeoning interests in theater, dance or art. Some parents who opt to homeschool their 

children do so in an attempt to alleviate scheduling issues between traditional class time and time spent 

pursuing their children’s specialized talents. Advocates of homeschooling cite this as an admirable 

choice, but others argue that it is not in the best interests of the child. 

Why not homeschool? 

Teaching styles vary widely among parents who homeschool their kids. Some follow standard school 

curriculum, utilizing text books and following a schedule that includes math and English, while others opt 

to unschool, meaning that no curriculum whatsoever is utilized and each day is different from the next. 

Unschooling may be earmarked by a variety of trips and learning experiences and can be highly creative 

and child-led. But for some, these freewheeling unschooling days may instead be parent-led, pushing 

children to concentrate their efforts on interests of note for the adult rather than the child, or on religious 

ideology. 

Arguably, an asset of attending regular school is the opportunity it affords kids to be exposed to a wide 

variety of subjects, not just those currently of interest, as well as a diverse group of people. While not all 

schools are created equal, the ability they give children to socialize with others is a big plus. 

Recognizing the need for socialization, parents who homeschool typically attempt to create a social 

network for their children by organizing field trips and by joining homeschooling networks or groups. 

However, rarely do they encompass disparate types of people. Within urban areas, these groups may be 

ethnically diverse, yet similar socio-economically. In rural regions, the groups may be religion-focused or 

comprised of people sharing other common ideologies. Either way, it is a rare 


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homeschooling parent who will include children who do not get along easily with their own. This can limit 

their child’s social experiences and make it harder for them to learn things like compromise or conflict 

resolution. 

Can homeschooling make or break a child’s future? 

Adults who were homeschooled often reference extreme social awkwardness as an obstacle they 

experienced upon entering college or the workforce. Others, whose teaching was steeped in religious 

ideology, note astonishment and even anger towards their parents because they were shielded from 

scientific learning and had no knowledge of subjects like evolution, the big bang theory or even the 

existence of dinosaurs. Some adults, however, upon looking back at their homeschooling days, express 

gratitude to their parents for letting them focus on career-boosting skills and teaching them the benefit of 

learning in the world as well as in the classroom. 

Individuals vary as much as homeschooling styles do and, just like traditional school, it will work for some 

but not for others. It is clear the one constant that can make or break this situation for any child is their 

parent’s flexibility and willingness for the child’s needs to come before their own, allowing for course 

corrections that might or might not include the addition of traditional schooling. This will prove to be just 

as important of a desire for their child to achieve and thrive not only as an individual, but as a member of 

society. 

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Heather Bowen 

A Teachers 

Who Has Time to Homeschool During 

the Holidays? 

You! Here’s how… 

The holidays are crazy, crazy with a capital C, to say the least. With so much going on 

around the house, preparing meals, arranging travel, and planning gift giving, 

homeschooling tends to get lost in the mix. 

The convenience of Time4Learning’s online curriculum allows us to bring the learning 

on the go. Whether you have travel plans or not Time4Learning is accessible 

anywhere! Time4Learning also give us the ability to take a break from the computer 

and allows me to add some creativity into my children’s education for a change while 

never putting learning on hold! For example, the holidays are a great excuse to bake 

some warm, delicious treats. Coincidently, baking is much more than having your 

treats taste good (which is very important) but also allows my kids to learn about: 

Math: Need to double a recipe? Have your child double all the measurements within 

the recipe. 

Science: Cause and effect? How in the world, do all these soupy ingredients mixed 

together, make a solid, crisp delicious cookie? (I’m personally still trying to figure this 

one out) 

Literacy and communication: How not following directions or missing a step can do a 

total 360 to your baked goods! 

There are so many different ways for my children to learn outside of the standard 

textbooks and curricula all thanks to Time4Learning’s flexible curriculum. With 

Time4learning, there are no strict schedules, which makes homeschooling possible 

during the holidays. Ahh!, the beauty of homeschooling, learning anywhere at 

anytime! When incorporating education into an everyday lifestyle, my children tend to 

forget they’re actually learning! 

Turning your holiday planning into a learning experience will not only have your 

children acquire new skills but will also give your family the chance to spend the 

holidays making memories with the ones you love the most! 

Katie, Time4Learning Homeschooler, Mother of 2 

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Interested in Volunteering? 

hp://www.volunteermatch.org/ 

search/org100190.jsp 

or 

hp://www.chrisanvolunteering.org/ 

org/new-heights-educaonal-groupinc.jsp#fq=content_type:opportunity&f 

q=org_nid:433070 

Contact our HR Department 

at HR@NewHeightsEducaon.org 

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Sent Daniela Silva flowers to 

thank her for the gift of the book. 

Here are the pictures of her and 

her husband. 

Daniela Silva and 

her husband 

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A great organization and 

one of our newest partners 

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Volunteer positions that need filled: 

New Teachers and Tutors 

Teaching Assistant/Substitute 

Class and Radio Monitors 

Radio Host Assistant 

Magazine Editor Assistant 

Photographer/ Artist 

Graphic Designers 

Communications Director/ 

Secretarial 

Fundraising Campaign Manager 

Partnership Builder/Assistant 

Book Agent 

HR Coordinators 

Virtual Development Directors 

Internet Radio Hosts 

Logo Design and Branding 

LMS Assistant/Classroom Building 

More opportunities can be found 

here: 

www.volunteermatch.org/ 

look for us. 

71

Kathy Bergman has stepped down as a 

member of the board. Her full time job 

needs her un-divided attention at this 

time. Kathy has been a valuable and 

long time member of the board. Kathy 

has vowed to return and we are looking 

forward to the day. 

Welcome to Pam Unruh, our 

newest board member was 

elected to the board at its 

yearly meeting on December 

14th, 2016. Pam will be a 

new voice and will offer new 

ideas and perspectives. 

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Our New Year’s Wish for you; 

When you are lonely, we wish you 

Love; 

When you are down, we wish you 

Joy; 

When you are troubled, we wish you 

Peace; 

When you are empty, we wish you 

Hope; 

May you be surrounded by 

Happiness, Peace and Joy; 

Happy New Year to all our NHEG 

family and friends !!! 

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NHEG EDGuide January 2017

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