The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise from Seguin, Texas • Page 13

The Seguin Gazette Enterprise Wednesday, February 17,1988 Page IB Woman home schools her children By SANDRA COLE Staff Writer Five of the presidents of the United States have been home schooled, and many of the signers and framers of the U.S. Constitution also got their education at home. In fact, home schooling has been around much longer than the idea of public school. Home schooling has been a controversial subject but after a year of litigation in a case where home schoolers sued a school district, a precedent was set. And, for all intents and purposes, home schooling is legal.

Before the ruling, the choice of whether the home was a school was left up to individual school districts. However, for home schools to be considered legal there must be a set curriculum and the four basic subjects and citizenship must be taught. One Seguin couple that has chosen to home school their children are James and Wenoka Frayshur. Their sons, Derreck and Aaron, have been home schooled for four years. Wenoka notes that her husband had hinted to her that he would like the kids home schooled, but she never thought she had the patience to teach them.

When James served as a precinct judge, Wenoka worked with him and met a family with a 17-year-old daughter who had been home schooled. Wenoka remembers that to listen to the girl and see how knowledgeable she was helped her decide to home school. She notes that today she is not more patient and says when people find out she home schools that they think she likes to teach. "I don't but I feel that it is what I should do," she says. Wenoka notes that when she decided to home school she had to rethink her concept of education and realize that education is learning of how things come about.

Because the children have flexibility, they are able to go and do things with her. They have a hands on education. "They have a more realistic concept of what family life in reality is," said Wenoka. Wenoka believes God gave us the responsibility for education and it is the parents' responsibility to delegate it. The whole idea of the program is to teach the children how to live, she says.

The idea that you Just make up what you want to teach when home schooling is a common misconception, Wenoka says. A set curriculum is followed in the teaching and books like those used in public schools are used. In fact, the books are like the classroom books but are integrated with Christian beliefs. For example, the science books teach from a scientific point of view but acknowledge God as the creator of life. History books brings history to life.

The books have biographies and show famous missionaries, revivals and men of God who had an impact on history. Christopher Columbus is an example of such a man. He started out on missionary journeys before discovering America. For the first three years she home schooled, Wenoka used materials from the Christian Liberty Academy Satellites School (CLASS). At that time there were 8,000 children home schooled with their materials, now there are 22,000.

CLASS tests children and prescribes the curriculm for them. They also grade tests that the parents send. Wenoka sent in the tests and received a report card with the test grades. Wenoka notes that there are a vast amount of resources available to home schoolers. Visual aides and videos are available as well as other items.

This year, Wenoka has changed her curriculum in order to place more emphasis on math. However, she still teaches the required curriculum. The program she uses teaches learning by repetition. Grading is done by Wenoka but she has, in the past, taken material to a Christian school to be tested for formal records. Wenoka says an important factor of the program is that the children do not learn their social skills from peer groups because they are in a controlled atmosphere.

She notes that she believes in social interaction for her children, but in a controlled area. "It's not that I do not want my children to enjoy their childhood and not be a kid, but I do want them to grow up," she says. Before being home schooled, the children attended schools. Wenoka notes she appreciates the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) program, which was one of the pioneers in Christian education. In fact, ahe taught in ACE for serveral years and served as principal of a school for 18 months.

The only problem she sees with the program is that it does not work for all people. That is the beauty of home school, she adds. "With groups of kids you must have a system of control, but when the kids are at home and they are yoifr children, who better to work with them," she continues. For her children, Wenoka says the motivation system was not enough. She appreciates that program but notes that she knows better the needs of her children.

She also notes that she would rather have her kids go to school where the curriculum is God-centered and taught from an eternal prospective. "When we look at education, we should look at what will this do for me forever," says Wenoka. She notes that a lot of Christian schools are not sympathetic to- home schoolers and says she remembers when she was in the Christian school and felt the same way. She notes that the two have the same goals and that home schooling is just another step. They both know the parent has the responsibility to educate and the difference is the delegation of the duty.

She notes that it is a sacrifice on one hand and an advantage on the other to home school but that she feels it is her duty to home school. Wenoka keeps informed about the National Education Association and what is going on in the school system and what kids are being taught. She is constantly educating herself about the school systems. When presented with the thought that her children are missing out by not participating in extra-curricular activities like band or sports, Wenoka reminds herself that they are making memories of their own. She notes that as parents she and her husband do what they feel is right for their children and that their children understand it and do not hold grudges.

Seguin man shares pearl buying story REHEARSALS HAVE BEGUN for the Miss Seguin Pageant of Royalty coming up March 12. Here, contestants vying for this year's crown go through dance steps for the opening number with (left) Lisa Santiago-Tyler, the reigning Miss Seguin, and Demetrius Patterson, choreographers. Seven girls will compete for the title of Miss Seguin 1988. (Staff photo) Editor's Note: On Jan. 13, the Gazette-Enterprise published an article written by Cliff Wright of Seguin about his recent travels to the Orient.

Wright has written five more articles about his trip and between today and March 2, the G-E will publish those articles. The following article was first published in the Big Sandy Hawkins Journal and is reprinted here with their permission. First free day in Hong Kong. What to buy first. We had been to Stanley yesterday, and looked at all the cheap stuff.

We were after bigger game. Kathy and Al decided to go for pearls, rots of ruck. I don't know a pearl from a glass bead. All day we looked at English woolens while the temperature rose into the 90s. I lost my appetite when the prices we heard would make Botany 500s seem like rags.

I never had much sense for finer things, probably because I had never had any. At any rate one of the salesmen succeeded in insulting my trousers because they had a touch of synthetics in them. That's why I bought them in the first place. It gave them a little sheen. My upper lip never got stiff enough to wear all wool that scratched.

Any way when we returned to the hotel, sans purchases, I met Kay in the lobby and arranged for her to go with Story tells of one year's labor on Capote Farm Editor's Note: The following article was submitted to the Gazette- Enterprise by Sarah Small of Seguin. She found the newspaper clipping pasted inside a book given to her. The Capote Farm What one year's work can do in Texas. The largest and most complete farm in Texas. Seguin, Texas January 20,1880 Editors San Antonio Express As intimated in my last, Capote Farm will be the text of this letter.

It's Early History Is not very clear, except that one Jose de Labaum, a Frenchman, before the Texas Revolution, received from the Spanish or Mexican Government a grant of 6 leagues on the west side of the Guadalupe River, having upon it a high hill known as "The Capote," and which gave its name to the grant. Later it was purchased by Mr. Michael Erskine, who, and his heirs held possession of it till a little over a year ago, when the greater portion of it was purchased by Maj. Alexander Moore, an ex-Army officer, said purchase comprising 20,097 acres, fronting on the Guadalupe River on the north, and running back ten miles, taking Capote Hill. It is situated in Guadalupe County, fifteen miles southeast of Seguin, and ten miles from Kingsbury, a station on the Sunset Railroad.

Maj. Moore took possession of the farm on the tenth day of November 1878, and consequently has had but one season's experience. What One Intelligent Labor Can Do When Maj. Moore began operations there were about 300 or 400 acres in cultivation, a few dilipidated houses with the fences in even worse condition, and everything wearing appearance of decay usually found about farms cultivated by renters. Now, there is a two-story, well-built frame house, surrounded by a beautiful live oak grove, which is the resident of the owner; there are some five or six neat cottages for families; a general mess house and sleeping quarters for laborers without families and the coming year there will be built 5 more family cottages.

Mr. Thomas D. Johnson and myself arrived shortly after dinner, and found the Major making the rounds of the farm with Mr. A.W. Gifford, of the Texas Sun.

We therefore followed in their wake. First, the field was entered through a good substantial gate, and before us, spread out as a picture done in bright green color of growing green, was a field of 1,300 acres. Here were growing wheat, rye, barley, oats and alfalfa, or California clover. In the rear of the field was a gang of men working on a ditch which drains a number of springs near the Capote, and said ditch is over 3 miles in length. It is 3 feet wide at the bottom and averages over three and a half feet in depth.

It is intended not only to drain and make available some 700 or 800 acres of very rich land, but will also be used for irrigating purposes. At the South end of the field were 3 breaking plows at work just finishing this year's breaking of new ground. Each plow had attached 7 yokes of large oxen, and the plow was run ten inches deep. In the field there were 3 teams harrowing, with 3 horses in each team; 2 rollers, and two-horse grain drills, while two men were sowing oats broadcast. By the time we had made the round of this field, we had traveled 8 miles.

This field comprises the actual fanning, or rather grain raising, that will be done this season, but it is the intention, which will, probably, be accompanied by another year, to get from 1,800 to 2,000 acres under cultivation. Capote farm is not a specialty experiment of some monomaniac theorist to carry out some pet scheme, as impossible of realization as the climbing over the moon with a stepladder, but is a complete farm in all its appointments, carried on according to well-established practical principals, and in a grand scale. The following may give an idea of the undertaking: There are now forty miles of fence all built in the last 14 months. The entire farm is enclosed, and there are numerous cross or section fences, making field pastures one of which has 12,000 acres farms, lots, etc. The corral is a hollow square of sheds and stall of about 5 acres in extent, in the center of which is a watering trough, filled by a wind-mill.

The Stock The stock is one of the leading features of the Capote farm. There are about 150 horses, 131 of which are fine brood mares, selected personally from some of the finest stock farms in the United States. They are used for breeding first-class draught and carriage houses that will command a price in any market. There are 106 large work oxen for heavy breaking, and other work for which they are peculiarly adapted. In the rear on the south of Capote, is the stock ranch, having 2,800 head of cattle.

There are also twenty-nine head of short-horn and Devonshire bulls and calves and the raising of improved stock will be a specialty in this department. The hog ranch is also located in the southern portion of the farm, and has on it now over 6,000 head of fine Berkshire hogs, for whose special benefit there will be planted this season fifteen acres of Jerusalem artichokes. The goat ranch comprises 12 bodied Angora bucks, and some 600 nannies. Besides the above is a large poultry house, with several breeds of chickens, ducks, turkeys and peafowls. Wbe Dees the Work It becomes necceasary to have a large force of labor to carry on such an enterprise, and on Capote farm are employed on an average about 75 men the year round.

Everything is done with military precision at the tap of the bell, and every department has its overseer or foreman, and the whole under the supervision of Mr. Van Dyke, under the eye and immediate direction of the proprietor, Maj. A. Moore. Thus, it is seen, there is no conflict of authority and no confusion; the stock men have nothing to do with the goats, or the hog men with the brood, mares or chickens.

The farm hands do not undertake to plant or graft fruit trees or grape vines, but each man is held to his trade. On this farm is employed all the modern farm machinery found to be adpated to the soil and climate. There are 15 or 20 16-inch sulky plows, harrows, cultivators, self- dropping corn planters, corn busker and sheller, thresher and a portable 18-horse steam engine, which is used for grinding corn, barley and rye for feed which is mixed with cut straw, threshing, and at present is running the saw mill, but will soon be replaced here by a stationary engine. The saw mill is used to cut timber for home use, and will be employed to convert the black walnut into lumber for shipment east, of which is estimated that there is over 3,000,000 feet on the farm. The blacksmith shop employs two skilled men, the time of one being taken up in sharpening plows and keeping tools in order.

Besides the regular field crops, a regular gardener is employed for the raising of all kinds of vegetables for the table use of the proprietor of the house and his large force of laborers; also a fine orchard of all kinds of fruit and vineyard is being planted this spring. All this has been done in 14 months, and they the driest ever known in Texas. What state can show a similar achievement? As may be inferred, the man who has the "nerve" and executive ability to carry on such an enterprise, is a man of liberal ideas, and of a hospitable, genial nature and Capote farm is seldom without vistors and guests. Major Moore is a man of about 45 years of age, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches in height, heavy built and weighs about 175 to 190 pounds, and his face is stamped with great force of character and decision; his words are few and emphatic and are law about the Capote farm. Accepting his invitation we became guests for the night and enjoyed a good night's sleep after our long and fatiguing ride.

Next morning we took a seat in the Major's spring wagon and rode out to his goat ranch, five miles. The party consisted of Mr. Gifford, the Major and your humble servant, Hans Mickle, and just as we were leaving the house, Flynn, one of the Major's faithful retainers, from the Emerald Isle, walked out with a double-barrel shotgun and killed a fine greyhound. The supposition of "Giff" and myself was that our host, knowing we had spent much of our time recently on the Rio Grande, presumed we had acquired a taste for the national dish of Mexico, and that he had therefore ordered for dinner, mess of tamales for the special benefit of his Bohemian guests. We highly appreciated the honor, but were somewhat humiliated to learn that the dog was killed, not for the purpose of making tamales, but because be had been caught with a dead chicken.

I relate this incident as a warning to newspaper men and the public generally, that the standing order at the Capote farm, is to kill any dog, no matter of what breed, that is caught molesting the poultry. After the dinner the Major and "Giff" drove over to Kingsbury and took the train to San Antonio, while Mr. Johnson and myself returned to Seguin, well pleased with our visit to the largest and most complete farm in the state, if not in the south. me the next afternoon on her afternoon off, knowing full well her judgement was better than mine. About three the next day we met, and set off in a taxi to buy them out.

Perhaps they were forewarned, because I never detected any diminishing of the goods they offered for my American dollars. I bought gifts for everyone I could think of, and of course, I had hardly reached home when I thought of others. Strange how kin and friends just happen to run across you right after you get home. Now we had arrived at the apex of the day, Rio Pearl Company. We went up a flight of stairs, and entered a room where the showcases faced padded stools for the customers, and across the room sat a salesperson with looks of anticipation on his face, and why not? Everyone climbing the stairs had made money to spend for a product they had hardly ever seen and could not say for sure was genuine.

I was seated across from this lady, and Kay sat across the room because of the lack of space near the showcase. After asking me what I wanted to see, and finding how little I knew about that, the lady laid out a very nice looking string on a little six or seven lines of grooves across its face, to hold each pearl in place. I was not sure these were what I wanted, so I motioned for Kay to come to my rescue. She took one look and whispered in my ear, "river pearls," not good. Now you know as much about pearls as I do.

River pearls are not good. Apparently fresh water is for drinking. The next try the lady made also was found lacking. They were "white pearls." Now, you must know white pearls are inferior to pink pearls. The lady was determined to please, so she dipped into the boxes that contained the pink ones.

Kay was not happy, she wanted the best for her friend. Try again, this time the lady scored. Now you are getting somewhere, blush pink. That is the best of the lot. Now for a clasp.

The first card was rejected before I got a look at it. They were all silver. Not commensurate with the quality of the pearls. The next card brought a curl of the lip, and a summary rejection, they were planted. Now you are getting there, these are 14K solid.

I selected one and received a nod, a smile and an applause because the ones I liked had a Chinese good luck emblem worked into it. The center pearl was in diameter and they graduated out to SVtmm on the ends, well and good. Now the fun began. How much? A mere $905. A bargain for sure.

I looked at Kay, that pretty head was in a definite negative motion. A rapid exchange in Chinese followed by a repeat in English for my benefit it all added up to no way. The next time I caught up, they were around 1600. Impasse, call the manager. He arrived with his loose leaf coat book with a better offer, $336, take it or leave it.

That pretty head waj nodding and an angelic smile waj spread from ear to ear. We did it. Now, for some Ralph Lauren shirts, you know the ones with full pedigrees and prices to match. How many, well, try three extra large. No problem, $12 please.

Each? Ob no, that's for all. Once again I caught a glimpse of the pretty smile. Now it's getting late. Better not keep my expert out too late. She might up the savings with what ahe charged me for her time..