Homeschoolers Unite: Vote For Spunky
For a brief history of our relationship with Spunky, please reference this post.
If you are a homeschooler, listen up! SpunkyHomeschool is currently trailing Michael Bérubé and IvyGate by more than 200 votes for Best Educational Blog in the 2006 Wizbang Weblog Awards.
Here’s why you should care: (1) SpunkyHomeschool is the only homeschool blog in any award category, (2) IvyGate is self-described as an Ivy League College gossip and s*x blog (among other topics) and, (3) Michael Bérubé recently commented on the IvyGate blog saying, “The important thing is that IvyGate and I crush the homeschoolers.”
At the bare minimum let’s help SpunkyHomeschool avoid being “crushed” by these elitist, secular blogs and let them know that homeschoolers don’t “suck” as another polite commenter on the IvyGate blog recently said.
Here’s how to do it: (1) Vote everyday (end 11:59pm, Dec. 15th) for Spunky. (2) Vote once a day on every available computer (just don’t exceed the number of people in your family), (3) Get other homeschoolers and friends to vote.
In the words of Spunky (i.e. Mrs. Braun), let’s “help homeschooling and decency to shine in a depraved world.” Thank you in advance for your help.
+ Vote for Spunky +
December 9th, 2006 at 5:04 pm
I voted for Spunky on both of my family’s computers. I definitely wouldn’t want someone who thinks homeschoolers ’suck’ to win.
December 9th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
It is absolutely amazing how much the secular culture dislikes homeschoolers. Is it because we win many educational contests or because we go against the flow? We need to stick up for ourselves and for each other. Spunky definitely has my vote.
December 9th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
Thanks again,
By the way, here’s a summary of the Professor’s book “What’s Liberal about the Liberal Arts” taken from his webpage.
“What’s Liberal about the Liberal Arts? offers a definitive rebuttal to conservative activists’ most incendiary claims about American universities. In his analyses of faculty and students, critiques of ideologues left and right, and behind-the-scenes accounts of his own courses, Michael Berube makes a supple case for liberalism itself–for the cause of universal human rights, for free and unfettered inquiry, and for the classically liberal insistence that no single faction should attain dominance over all of a society’s civil institutions.”
I’m thankful that with help from the next generation of “Rebelutionaries” we can show him, that no single faction shall dominate the web or the university! I don’t know if we’ll win, but it will fun to watch the “elite” leaders squirm a little from “common folk” homeschoolers.
December 10th, 2006 at 10:15 am
You all really do have a chip on your shoulder. Look at the context: banter, irony, fun.
Meanwhile Spunky’s idea of fun is imagining some else’s discomfort.
December 10th, 2006 at 11:10 am
Thanks for letting us know about this! How exciting!
Hmm…maybe my computer is just acting up, but I’m clicking on the link called “Vote For Spunky,” and all I get is a list of links to the different educational blogs—no place to vote!
December 10th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
Berube’s got my vote! I hope the voting machines don’t get tampered with!
December 10th, 2006 at 9:26 pm
Wow, so, no sense of humour whatsoever, hmm? I mean, of course I agree Berube’s depraved, but at least he’s funny.
December 10th, 2006 at 10:33 pm
Depraved is the least of it.
December 11th, 2006 at 6:35 am
So there’s an entity “secular culture” that “dislikes” things? Wow.
December 11th, 2006 at 10:49 am
Lets Do It!
December 11th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
Go Spunky!
Some comment control may be necessary.
December 11th, 2006 at 1:30 pm
“Some comment control may be necessary.”
Essential, in fact, if you want to succeed in your war against irony.
December 11th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Word’s spreading!
December 11th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Just plain folks and their truthiness win every time.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:02 am
Come on guys we’re closing in on IvyGate! Keep the votes coming!
December 12th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
You’ve pwned IvyGate. We salute you.
December 12th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
Hurah!
Keep it up guys!
December 12th, 2006 at 3:21 pm
So far, so good. Passed IvyGate, now onward and upward as we pass the other blog.
IvyGate’s and the other blog’s allies: If you don’t know him already, Jesus Christ is the best person to know in the world.
Homeschoolers and allies: Remember, our goal in everything we do is to bring Glory to the one true living God, the God of the Bible, Jesus Christ the righteous. May we conduct this race with actions that glorify God. Now, lets get out there and win this race!
December 12th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
Yay for Spunky!!!
December 12th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
By thy way, no confusion intended, I am Sparky, NOT Spunky.
December 12th, 2006 at 8:38 pm
Great to see home-schooling, of whatever stripe, get some press and some props.
You do realize that Michael is kidding, though, don’t you?
There are a lot of people who would be more likely to listen to your experience and message if you didn’t lump them all together as “elitists” (however that is supposed to be a description of a bunch of intellectually curious teachers, artists, parents, carpenters, and certainly not very “powerful” folk)
I’m sure you have experienced this kind of dismissive attitude yourselves. It’s not productive and it’s not fair.
Good luck in the awards and in your work!
Thadd
December 13th, 2006 at 9:32 am
I don’t know, Increase; ressentiment’s a hell of a drug.
December 13th, 2006 at 9:59 am
[...] Remember to vote on the 2006 Weblog Awards. Don’t forget HolyMama! Homeschoolers may want to read this over at the Rebelution. [...]
December 13th, 2006 at 10:03 am
“May we conduct this race with actions that glorify God. Now, lets get out there and win this race! ”
~Sparky
Very, very true.
December 13th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
Spunky has pulled ahead of IvyGate, and now it just has to pass Berube. GO SPUNKY! I cast my vote…can’t wait to see the results!
December 13th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Don’t you realize that by trashng those sites on your blog that you aren’t any better than they are?
December 13th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Jack: We appreciate the correction. It is all too easy to get carried away in a competitive race like this one. Both to you, and the others who have commented along the same theme, thank you for the reminder. We hold no grudge against either of Spunky’s opponents, despite our disagreement and disapproval of much of what they write.
At the same time, however, I don’t believe that identifying either of Spunky’s opponents as secular or elitist—I assume you’re familiar with both blogs—and calling fellow homeschoolers to avoid being crushed by them as quite the same thing as saying that they suck or that we should beat the cr*p out of them. We don’t desire to do either of those things.
Again, thank you, Jack and others. May God bless you!
December 13th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Hey Alex Jordan Harris: lemme ask you a question. If Michael Berube makes a joke about crushin’ some homeschoolers in a meaningless contest, and you guys take it seriously and get all frothy, calling him a ’secular elite,’ insinuating he’s depraved, saying his blog is ‘less-than-commendable,’ and all the while you mean every word, which side looks do you think looks like the nice guys?
December 14th, 2006 at 3:26 am
I hope to help clear up some confusion, for the sake of those who are not familiar with a few of the Christian terms presented:
“Depraved world” Refers to the Christian belief that everyone is born depraved, without Christ. The term is used in reference to those who do not know God as their personal Savior — not out of spite, but out of love and an eagerness for them to accept God’s gift of salvation. We count ourselves to be just as depraved, save for the grace of God. Therefore the phrase “depraved world” was not used to condemn, but to state a fact based on the Christian’s beliefs.
“Secular” is also used to refer to something that is not Christian. I do not understand any offense taken, since Berube himself makes it clear in his blog that he does not believe in God.
“Elite” is used in a practical fashion to indicate that someone of higher class (i.e. a professor) is against someone who, well, is usually considered a lower form of education (homeschoolers like me). Again, stating a fact…if anything, it should be taken as a compliment. =D
“less-than-commendable” Does not mean that his blog is not witty, funny, and educational…I personally see it as all three. (His last post especially had me laughing. =D) However, the “educational” part of it is not in line with what would encourage the lives of Christians, and that is why reading it is not recommended.
I would like to echo others that we really want to glorify God here, and we might — in fact we’ll probably — make some mistakes while we’re at it. (We’re human too, you know! =P) So I ask that you would forgive us of our mistakes that we make and that you would excuse our Christian lingo that could easily be misunderstood.
December 14th, 2006 at 6:17 am
Thanks for clearing up the confusion. Maybe I can help you with your confusion, too!
As a mere Catholic (I mean no insult when I say I do not know whether this counts as ‘Christianity’ to an American Evangelical Christian - which I’m assuming you are), this ‘depraved world’ term makes sense to me in terms of sin, in that we are all sinners. I suppose we’re on the same page here, just looking at different words. In my world, one of the worst sins is pride (yours too, I’m sure!). So when I read “Let’s help homeschooling and decency to shine in a depraved world,” I see it as just a little prideful. No litotes - I do mean that’s it’s only a little prideful.
““Secular” is also used to refer to something that is not Christian. I do not understand any offense taken, since Berube himself makes it clear in his blog that he does not believe in God.”
I’m wondering - can you account for my simultaneous Catholicism and political secularism? Secular means ‘worldly,’ or contingent, something that takes place in time as opposed to eternity. ‘Not-Christian’ doesn’t really capture its full meaning.
““Elite” is used in a practical fashion to indicate that someone of higher class (i.e. a professor) is against someone who, well, is usually considered a lower form of education (homeschoolers like me). Again, stating a fact…if anything, it should be taken as a compliment. =D”
It’s not meant as a complement. It’s a term loaded with resentment. Furthermore, there’s no dichotomy between the university and homeschoolers - one does not receive a university education at home. Berube doesn’t represent the ‘elite’ part of the thing you claim to be the ‘lower’ part of. As such, the term is an insult.
““less-than-commendable” Does not mean that his blog is not witty, funny, and educational…I personally see it as all three. (His last post especially had me laughing. =D) However, the “educational” part of it is not in line with what would encourage the lives of Christians, and that is why reading it is not recommended.”
‘Commendable’ means deserving of praise - and you’re praising it as funny (and I agree). So you’re… commending it, but not recommending it, which is fair, but the way you’ve put it, it’s a little confusing.
“I would like to echo others that we really want to glorify God here, and we might — in fact we’ll probably — make some mistakes while we’re at it. (We’re human too, you know! =P) So I ask that you would forgive us of our mistakes that we make and that you would excuse our Christian lingo that could easily be misunderstood.”
I asked my parish priest, and he told me that God doesn’t care who wins the blog award.
December 14th, 2006 at 9:28 am
Ghandi: You seem to be taking this much more seriously than either we, Spunky or Michael Bérubé are taking it, and I need to ask you to stop. Mr. Bérubé has read our blog and comments, we have communicated our respects to him on his blog, particularly appreciating his devotion to his son Jamie, and he responded in similar gracious fashion. There exists no ill-will, misunderstanding or resentment on either side, so I see no reason to continue to argue about it. Thanks for understanding.
December 14th, 2006 at 9:41 am
Spunky’s in the lead!!! 3555 to 3554. Great job everyone!
December 14th, 2006 at 9:43 am
“I need to ask you to stop”
Fair enough: this is the last you’ll hear from me.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:28 am
She’s leading! Keep it up guys!
(note: this has made rounds in the Teen Pact sphere as well)
December 14th, 2006 at 11:15 am
Spunky is behind by about 34. Keep voting!
December 14th, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Spunky is now behind by over 80.
I was very encouraged to see her in the lead earlier! Once our 24 hours is up, if we keep voting we can shoot her an extre 200+ in the lead! But only if we vote.
December 14th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
I think many people do not understand us homeschoolers. Everyone thinks I am stupid or genius when I tell them I am homeschooled. No one realizes that I am a normal person.
December 15th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
Lets all give a hearfelt cry of joy for Nan M, whose self-evaluation we would all do well to emulate.
December 15th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Michael Berube will win. He’s so crafty!
December 16th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
Well, it appears that both Berube and Spunky’s supportes engaged in some illegal tactics.
This means that the high-achieving and test-blazing denizens of Ivy Gate were the only true winners, the ones who did not engage in cheating. Christian values indeed! I don’t think that cheating is sanctioned in the Bible.
December 17th, 2006 at 7:16 am
Congratulations; we’ve successfully achieved our goal
December 19th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
I am sad to hear about the cheating going on in the website contest, especially for Spunky. It goes to show that people sin whether they are Christians or not (if those who cheated were Christians). We are not perfect. The only difference between Christians and the world is that Christ has saved the Christians. He did not do so because they were better, and even when saved they have to fight against sin and temptation. I am not excusing the cheaters’ sins, but I do not think we should says that all Christian values have gone down the drain. We need to pray for those who have done this, that God might convict them to repent of their sin.