CalifmomHomeschools: current events

On February 10, 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act's first phase goes into effect.

What areas of our homeschooling life with this new law impact?

cost of books (they are not exempt)
our library's selection (Books are not exempt, even those already on library shelves. My children read 4-6 300+ page books a week, each. )
our support of entrepreneurs (We buy handmade when possible, but the costs of testing for small-time producers exceeds profits in many, if not all cases.)
our commitment to the environment (Goods not meeting the new law's requirements must be dumped, not donated, not given away free, not sold. Dumped. In our already overflowing landfills.)
our commitment to buying used before new (Thrift stores are not exempt from liability, and many plan to stop offering children's goods for sale.)
access to reasonably priced school supplies (All products intended for children under 12 must be tested, including school supplies, craft supplies, and the like.)

I understand that congress wanted to quell the public's fear of lead contamination from imported goods, but this is RIDICULOUS.

Library books? Really?

Ugghh!!!!

In this economy? Making it impossible for even more people to earn a living? Really?

The blogosphere is also buzzing with information and calls to action. I thought it was important to get the word out to the homeschooling community. So, please:

Email this article to a friend.
Post it on Facebook.
Share a link to it on your own blog.

Here is the post for those of you who would like something set up already:

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

I recently learned about a new website for Literature, US History, and Poetry. It’s called Shmoop. Written mostly by Masters and PhD students and Stanford and UC Berkeley, the content is topnotch.

While my kids are on the younger end of the target audience, Bug was more than happy to check out the site and give me some feedback. Here’s what he had to say:

This is Bug, homeschooler extraordinaire. My mom asked me to review the website, Shmoop.

I chose to look at US History section, since that’s what I’m usually interested in, but they also have Poetry and Literature.

My favorite part of the website would be the “Why should I care?” feature. I chose to look at the California Gold Rush.

To embellish a little more, Shmoop’s site is broken into three categories, Literature, US History, and Poetry. Content is continuing to be added as the site is still in beta, but there’s plenty there to get you started.

For example, we used Shmoop on Martin Luther King Day to watch MLK’s full speech. (Something I’m ashamed to admit I’d never done.) It’s just that easy to integrate Shmoop into your day, whether you homeschool or not.

I could go on and on about the coolness of Shmoop, about it’s educational value, and ease of use. Seriously, check it out. It’ll make your book reports bounce, hold your hand while you take that history test, and make you sound smart at parties. Probably. I mean, you do have to be able to read and remember this stuff. Shmoop isn’t your mom!