Kevin Legal Advice

Home Schooling Basics

 

Do certain subjects require specific hours of attention while teaching my kid at home? With Home school concepts parents have the benefit of enhancing and complementing the traditional ways of teaching, with better ones aided by technology.

Lots of educational software and teaching packages are available which help develop a curriculum for such type of studies. One such useful means is the internet, which has plenty of educational resources like encyclopedias and museums, online dictionaries, libraries, etc.

  

Depending on state to state home schooling law, the following may be applicable:

  

1. School officials may inquire about the qualifications of the parents’ teaching their child; however its not really necessary that parents who instruct their children have any particular qualification.   Parents who are high school graduates or lesser can instruct their child, if they have a sound mind and the capability to do so.

  

2. Students in the elementary level should be taught: English, including, spelling, reading and writing; math, science, civics, history, geography, health and physiology, music, physical education and art as basic subjects.

  

3. High school level children are to be taught the following: English that includes language, speech, literature and composition. Science should include biology and chemistry. Geography, social studies, economics, world history and history of the U.S.A. are a part of the curriculum.  Mathematics would include geometry, algebra and statistics; music, art, physiology and health, physical and safety education are also to be taught.

  

4.  At times school officials might enquire about the subjects that the child should study, demand the length of home school year, as well as provide subject wise instructions.

 

It is they who determine instruction hours for each subject, yet the method of teaching should depend on each parent’s individual style.

  

Home schooling parents can evaluate and determine the hours of instruction based on their individual style, they need not imitate the public school, rather it’s more important to match and equal it keeping in mind the systematic approach and efficiency levels.

  

While home schooling, the parent has to gauge the child’s intellectual needs.  The subjects do not actually require particular hours of teaching, even though each subject needs a specific time, so that whatever is taught is easier for the child to grab.

  

Also, keeping schedules is not a significant factor in home schooling, since understanding of time and usage are different from that of a normal school.

  

5. School officials should recognize and classify instructional materials, which might help determine the child’s grade or level and the subject.  The right to demand should not be misused or try to affect the style of teaching, in which subjects are handled.

  

If a child has difficulty with a particular subject, for instance in reading, then the parent should allot longer hours for reading, emphasizing on that subject so that the child finds it easier.

  

A parent may shorten the time spent on that subject which the child willingly and easily learns and grasps. Extra hours should then be allocated for subjects which the child finds difficult, this system can effectively asses the child’s development.

  

During home schooling, a child can take the time to learn and understand each subject at their own speed, and capacity.  Also, the parent can find creative ways so that teaching is fun and learning interesting.

  

Few helpful and efficient teaching materials that are not tangible, such as community service, visits to parks, travel and museums, etc. will provide significant learning skills and knowledge aside from those who learn through books.

  

6.  School officials and parents should reach an agreement about a system of assessment or evaluation for the child; either periodic reports or standardized testing, on the child’s dated samples of work and progress.

 

Asses your child’s learning ability and style so that:

  

1. Awareness about the approach to be used or how to be better equipped in teaching them. Some parents have a wrong notion that their kids should learn the way they had. For example, if the parents are visual learners, they expect their children to be the same. Remember, that children are different as individuals; with distinct learning styles as compared to their siblings and even parents. You can effectively teach your child, as soon as you learn and comprehend the child’s individual style.

  

2. You should be prepared to chalk out a curriculum for home schooling. Unfamiliarity with your child’s learning style, might lead you to select a curriculum that can is not an effective tool to bring out the best in your child.

 

3. One has to identify and understand their child’s educational needs better. Most parents get upset and discouraged when their children fail to effectively communicate.  If you try to understand your child’s learning styles, you might be able to help your child to understand themselves better. This enables them to interact and correspond better with their elders as well as friends.

  

A proper understanding of the children’s their capabilities and learning styles will enable you to understand how many hours they have to put in for each subject. Home schooling does not necessitate strict hours of teaching for your child in any subject.  Everything depends on progresses of your child; if he can do math in lesser time than allotted to him in the curriculum then good. If the child needs to spend more time in reading, then he should be doing exactly that.

  

Estate Planning Basics And The Law
Having a plan that determines how your assets are used during your life and after your death is a critical process that requires expert legal advice. Estate planning can help you decide how your assets are distributed. You may need to set aside resources for your long-term care. Plus, you might need to appoint someone to manage your estate in the event that you lose your own ability to do so. You may decide that a portion of your estate should be given to certain charitable organizations. Each of these circumstances can be included in an estate plan with the help of a lawyer.
Benefits Of Planning Your Estate
Without an estate plan, your assets can be distributed in a way that’s contrary to your wishes. When you die, a number of important legal issues regarding your assets emerge. The manner in which your estate is divided amongst your heirs, how taxes are handled, donations to charities and transfers of property are only a few of the many concerns an estate plan can address.
With the help of an experienced estate planning lawyer, you can ensure that your assets will be used according to your wishes. Your plan can distribute assets from your estate to your beneficiaries quickly and seamlessly. Your lawyer can help you determine an executor of your estate in the event of your death. An estate plan can minimize the taxes owed by your estate by giving the allowable maximum to various beneficiaries. If you’re a business owner, you can make sure your business operates uninterrupted by detailing plans of succession and distribution of income.
Potential Pitfalls Of Poor Planning
Millions of people fail to plan how their assets are divided when they die. As a result, their estate often ends up in probate. This is a process that’s best avoided whenever possible. In probate, a court examines a will (if one exists) and divides a person’s assets accordingly. When a will doesn’t exist, the court decides how best to allocate the assets from an estate. The entire process is time-intensive and expensive. You can avoid having your assets end up in probate by hiring an estate planning lawyer to set up trusts and other arrangements.
Using The Law To Protect Your Assets
The law stipulates how your assets can be divided after you die. With the help of an experienced attorney, you can leverage the law to protect your assets. A lawyer can help you ensure your estate isn’t vulnerable to a long and costly probate process. He can help you minimize the tax liability your estate will suffer upon your death. The sale and distribution of tangible assets can be detailed according to your preferences. By planning your estate with the advice of a qualified attorney, you can be confident that your affairs will be in order when you die. Not planning your estate well in advance can lead to an excessive and time costing adventure for your loved ones.

A power of attorney is a legal document. You use it to give someone the power to act for you. You are the principal. He is your agent. The person acting for you is also known as your “attorney-in-fact.”
Two types of powers of attorney are the general power of attorney and the special power of attorney.
A special power of attorney is used to give another person authority to do one single thing.
A general power of attorney is not limited to a specific purpose. If you want someone to be able to act on your behalf while you are out of the country then the general one is what you need.
Now let’s say you are going to Afghanistan, on active duty. You want to give your wife power to do just about anything while you are gone.
Here’s a how a general power of attorney for that purpose might look:
General Power of Attorney
I, Andy Rasmussen, do hereby grant my wife, Jesica Rasmussen, a general power of attorney to perform any action on my behalf and to sign my name to any documents needed to accomplish said actions until I return home.
Signature & Date
A notary seal is not required but if you are leaving the country for military service you might want to dress it up a bit and include a notary section. Then sign the power in front of a notary just so your wife doesn’t have any trouble with it while you are gone.
Now let’s say you are caring for your invalid mother. She’s not mentally incompetent…yet. But, she does want you to take care of her affairs and pay her bills. A general power of attorney is what is called for. Here’s how it might look.
General Power of Attorney
I, Sally Smith, do hereby grant my daughter Louisa Lewis, a general power of attorney to handle any and all of my affairs, to include personal, business and other.
Signature & Date
Once again, given the circumstances it would be best to have a notary section on this one and to get it properly notarized.
Durable Power of Attorney
Let’s say Louisa in the above example is worried about her mother becoming mentally incapacitated. In that case Louisa might have to go to court to get the right to manage her mother’s affairs.
What’s called for is a “durable power of attorney.” It’s still a general power of attorney but in this case we’ll make it durable so it continues even if her mother becomes mentally disabled. Here’s how it might look:
I, Sally Smith, do hereby grant my daughter Louisa Lewis, a general power of attorney to handle any and all of my affairs, to include personal, business and other. This power of attorney shall continue and survive even if I become disabled whether mentally disabled or physically disabled.
Signature & Date
For sure you would want to have this one notarized and it would be best that you had it drafted by or at least approved by an attorney who works primarily in the area of estate planning.
It is common to see some very comprehensive (10-20 page) General Durable Powers of Attorney. The reasoning behind these very thorough documents is that some financial institutions are very reluctant to rely upon broad, sweeping statements that a principal has granted ALL authority to their agent to do WHATEVER they would be able to do.
Some institutions or people who are dealing with an agent want to see very specific language that pertains to the actual transaction that they are carrying out on behalf of the principal. This just raises the comfort level of some people when dealing with an agent.
Also, in some states there is no penalty for not honoring a power of attorney. If someone chooses not to deal with an agent because they have their doubts about the power of attorney there’s no penalty for refusing to honor the power of attorney. At that point, one would have to establish a guardianship/conservatorship (which, of course, is not a very desirable outcome).
Conclusion
A general power of attorney can be a very simple document. However, since they can be used so broadly, it is best that they be given more care and attention than a simple special power of attorney. When dealing with the aged or infirm you should consider a durable power of attorney. Have an attorney draft it or at least review it.
Acknowledgment
The information on durable powers of attorney was written with the assistance of attorney J. RobRoy Platt of Lehi, Utah. Mr. Platt’s law practice focuses on estate planning issues.
Disclaimer
This article is intended to inform about powers of attorney. Please seek legal advice in your state of residence if your power of attorney involves any matter of consequence.