Congratulations JMU — FCS National Champs

While I don’t normally post about sports, the FCS championship win Saturday by James Madison University is worth celebrating, not just because it is a Valley school, but because it is my son’s alma mater.

Located in Harrisonburg in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, JMU’s fans reportedly filled three-fourths of the stadium in Frisco, Texas, part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Indeed, purple overwhelmed the stands.

JMU scored early in the game and led from then on. The score was much more lopsided until the closing minutes of the game when Youngstown got a touchdown to make it a closer 28-14 ending.

Congratulations, JMU! You’ve made your students, faculty, alumni, and Virginia proud.

Back in the homeschool classroom: Where it all began … blazing new trails

By Lynn R. Mitchell

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

As I read Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote this morning, my mind drifted back to the sixteen years we educated our children at home. Talk about going where there is no path and leaving a trail!

A tip of my hat to those homeschool pioneers who were there years before I joined up in 1990. I read books about their battles with school and state officials in various locations across the country, and was grateful for the tenaciousness and willingness of those faithful parents to basically lay it all on the line, plowing that path for those of us who followed. In Virginia, Delegate Rob Bell’s parents were pioneers in that movement, and local homeschool friends whose kids are now grown had been involved in the South Carolina movement.

Back in the homeschool classroom: ’50 reasons homeschooled kids love being homeschooled’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

I loved this article, “50 reasons homeschooled kids love being homeschooled,” by Kris Bales who wrote, “I asked the folks on my Facebook page to ask their kids why they liked being homeschooled and let me know what they said. I asked mine, too, and compiled the answers for you.  Some answers were heard a lot. Some were pretty unique. Some got my added commentary, and some stand alone. So, if you’ve ever wondered why homeschooled kids like being homeschooled, here are the results, in no particular order after the first two, of my really unscientific poll.”

Reading the list brought back lots of memories of the 16 years I spent schooling with my children so, after reading the list and nodding and smiling about various ones, I emailed both my kids with the link. I pointed out that my daughter would very much identify with #15: “Being able to do school with pets. Have you seen the recent studies that show that reading to dogs helps improve the proficiency of struggling readers?” Her kitty, Palmer, was often curled up beside her as she studied or read.

Bill Bolling appointed to JMU Board of Visitors

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced his latest round of appointments and a familiar name was one of them. Under the James Madison University Board of Visitors:

The Honorable William T. Bolling, of Mechanicsville, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for RCM&D and former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.

The Bollings’ son Kevin graduated from James Madison, and Bill and Jean Ann have been faithful supporters of the university and attend many football games throughout the season. My son graduated with the JMU Class of 2007. It’s good to have someone who will serve well in that position. Congratulations to the LG!

Other appointments from the Governor to Virginia’s college and university Boards of Visitors and higher education boards are: