By Mimi Rothschild The longer range goal of developing in each student a Christlike character does not intend to Terri and Joe and Johnny will all be exactly alike in 10 or 15 years, anymore than they are like now. A Christlike character is not a fix to mold into which each developing personality is to [...]

The Starfish Country Home School aspires to be the best school in northern Thailand. The school will accept needy children without regard to their religious affiliation and national or ethnic origin and will provide them a quality education that emphasizes communication skills in Thai and English, technology, mathematics, visual and performing arts, international cultures and developing respect and compassion for others. The Starfish Country Home School Foundation will provide a safe and secure modern residence and personal guidance for all of its students as they mature. Those children that can achieve the required academic excellence will remain at the school until they are ready to attend university and will be further supported at university. The education will always be free, diversified and directed to meet the needs, interests and abilities of the individual student.

Happy Holidays - the 2007 SCHSF Annual Letter is now posted here (http://www.schsf.org/newsletters/SCHSF_2007_Annual_Letter.pdf).

The Starfish Country Home School will provide a quality education and living environment for all of its students so that they can lead happy and productive lives. Academic excellence, individual creativity, personal responsibility and concern for others and for the environment are our goals.

Here is a group photo taken May 8th, 2006 at the Starfish Country Home School near Maetang in Chiangmai province, Thailand. Subsequently, some of the children moved to the new Starfish Home in the city of Chiangmai.

At dawn an old man was walking along the beach, where thousands of starfish were stranded and lay dying because of the low tide. The man saw a little boy throwing them back into the sea. Thinking himself very wise, he said to the boy, Why are you doing that? It won’t make any difference. The boy bent down, picked up a starfish, threw it back into the sea and said, It makes a difference to this one. Modified from a parable by Loren Eisley

Iceman may have accidentally drank water containing one of the mosses and used another to wrap food.

Thank you, faithful readers, for patiently waiting with us for our new website.  Bad news, it’s still not ready.  Good news, it is awfully close — close enough, in fact, that we can share a taste of it with you.  The temporary link is http://parentalrights.easycgi.com/.  Feel free to click on it and take a look [...]

To help her family slow down and savor the small pleasures in life, December/January 2009 Mom of the Month Anne Petersen schedules a weekly "pioneer night."

Spell out joy with this festive holiday decorations on this holiday card; another great holiday craft from FamilyFun.com.

Is a government that ignores the sentiment of its people what the Founding Fathers had in mind?

-by Mimi Rothschild When you go to cut your Christmas tree, send the kids around to gather up a good sack of pine cones as well. Use them for some fun, hands-on lessons. Make a pine cone bird feeder.  This is a satisfyingly messy project. Before you begin, do some research with your students to determine what [...]

Turn heads on the slopes - or anywhere else!

This game involves lots of pats on the back and laughs, so it's perfect for family gatherings.

Here's a creative, festive spin on Christmas stockings and the Advent calender; another great Christmas craft from FamilyFun.com.

Even if the temperature where you live never drops below freezing, you can still have a row of frosty icicles -- inside, no less!

Change is coming.  No, I’m not talking about Barack Obama or John McCain (and aren’t you glad!).  I’m talking about big changes in the works here at ParentalRights.org. With Election Day tomorrow, voters across the country will choose not only a president, but the 111th Congress.  Once that happens, we will get to know the new [...]

Watching Out for Her Little Ones Belgium and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Winter is finally upon us, ushering in the joys of the holidays and, at least for most of the country, the arrival of cold weather. As the temperature falls and the days get shorter, Moms and Dads brace themselves for [...]

People who are very comfortable around each other can play a guffaw-inducing game with a couple of long-handled wooden spoons.

Turn ordinary tights into dandy draft-blocking creatures; another great craft from FamilyFun.com.

Here's a fun way to make gift giving tons of fun; a great craft from FamilyFun.com.

Here's an easy no-sew fleece pillow that you can make as a perfect gift, a great idea from FamilyFun.com.

Share the warmth of the holidays by recycling thrift shop wool sweaters into sweet wreath ornaments.

When it's cold outside, casseroles are a convenient and comforting choice. Here are {dozens of recipes} to please any palate.

Mini phyllo shells, ready-made and smartly ornamental, are the secret here. Simply fill them with this delectable sour-cream-and-taco-seasoning-mix dip, and garnish.