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       #Post#: 19743--------------------------------------------------
       10 Septemeber 2020 - About Time
       By: Jack Date: September 10, 2020, 4:03 pm
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       I'm sure it comes as no shock to anyone that I've lost most of
       my enthusiasm for running this forum and for writing spanking
       stories.
       To put that in perspective, this forum opened (well, the
       forumotion version of it) in Jan '09 - more than 11 1/2 years
       ago.  I had actually started making plans, writing stories, and
       working on the web page months before that, so it's probably
       close to twelve years now.  During that time, many things have
       changed - not least of which is that I went from 43 to 55, and
       from an active, healthy middle aged man, to someone older,
       heavier, less healthy, and tired.  That's not to mention the
       fact that my mom's health has deteriorated and she needs more
       help from me.  Just as important, we are currently living
       through a nightmare and sometimes it's hard to just let go and
       relax.
       All this is not to say that I'm planning to close the forum or
       anything.  I have been thinking (on and off) for over a year now
       about closing down the BransomTx site.  It looks like I haven't
       posted a new story there in... over three years.  At this point,
       I do have a few plans that I'll be announcing soon, and I have
       hopes that at least America will pause in it's slide into a
       fascist dictatorship in a couple of months, and my feelings
       might change then, so I'm going to keep it open a bit longer.
       I have to say that some spanking have been happening, but I'm no
       longer living in a house full of energetic adolescents and
       younger.  I said this before, even years ago - as interesting as
       it might be for you to read the spanking stories, it has become
       less and less interesting for me to write them.  Part of that is
       because I developed patterns and methods of dealing with things,
       so I could try to keep my treatment of the different boys
       reality equal.  The problem is, that reduces a lot of novelty in
       writing it, almost to the point where it feels like I could just
       cut and paste it all.
       Also, while 'some' corporal punishment has been happening,
       almost all of it has just been with Curtis and Connor and their
       nephews/cousins.  Of my older kids, six of them are between 14
       and 17, and the rest are adults.  I had a couple of situations
       with Craig that required straightening out, and I think one each
       with two or three of the older boys, and that's been about it.
       None of them were especially memorable or made good stories.
       And, because of the reigning situation over the last six months,
       we really haven't even met any new friends - almost none.
       This is the first week back at school.  After a lot of thought
       and argument, I am keeping my kids at home.  They are doing
       online learning, which not only keeps them safer (thus me, and
       helps me deal with my mom, who is in three different high risk
       groups), but it helps take some of the burden off the schools
       and families who don't have any options.  And believe me, this
       is NOT something I wanted to do (and is part of the pressure on
       me, since it makes it VERY hard to have any alone time anymore).
       I also kind of have a new business.  As you can imagine, the
       Family Place has been closed pretty much since this all started.
       I was contacted about six weeks ago by the Strouse family.
       They don't feel their kids are mature enough to be left home
       alone to do online learning, but they don't want to send them to
       school either.  They talked to me about what I was doing, but I
       don't even want to have my own kids here every day, I sure
       didn't want to have theirs over as well (even though Sean
       Strouse is as spankable now as an adolescent as he was when I
       first met him).
       After some thought and discussion with others, I came up with an
       idea, which I floated out there, and found a surprising amount
       of support to it.
       My original plan was to use Camp Jackson, but it's on the other
       side of the lake, and it would require more than an hours travel
       each day in total, as well as really needing to buy some
       passenger vans or a big bus.  While the Camp would have been
       preferable in most other ways, we finally went with the Family
       Center.
       I am not running a school.  What I am running is a supervised
       learning center, where kids can take their online classes in a
       socially distanced, supervised location, which allows them to
       have some contact with their friends, be served a healthy meal
       and snacks, have some guided physical activity, some leisure
       activity, have access to some tutoring, and be under the eyes of
       a supervisor when called for.
       I am currently acting as the ad hoc principal.   These are
       almost all kids who are family friends, so they know the
       situation, and no one has pushed things to far (yet).  This is
       not a free service, and I was able to hire a couple of teachers
       who didn't want to work in the current situation in Texas, and a
       couple of my kids who've finished college but not yet found jobs
       are also helping with tutoring and supervision.  Some of them
       went through the steps to be certified proctors for online
       testing.
       There is a lot more to go into, but I just don't feel like doing
       it right now.  it things work out, I'll try to do more
       individual updates on what's going on with everyone, but for now
       - I hope that, if anyone is still reading, this at least filled
       in a few blanks for you.
       #Post#: 19747--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 10 Septemeber 2020 - About Time
       By: Leti Date: September 10, 2020, 9:46 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Thanks for the update Jack !
       Hugs
       Leti
       #Post#: 19748--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 10 Septemeber 2020 - About Time
       By: Zyngaru Date: September 10, 2020, 9:51 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Yes, I read the WHOLE thing.  Hahaha.
       As for the learning center.  This was an idea I had back when
       this whole Covid thing started and they closed schools for
       E-Learning.
       The very first thing our State Government said, when they saw so
       many schools staying closed and using e-learning at home, was
       that it is illegal to group the kids together with a
       proctor/tutor or supervisor.  That would constitute being a
       homeschool and it is illegal in Indiana to homeschool other
       peoples children.  You can homeschool your own, just not have
       other children schooling with your children.
       From what you say you are planning/doing in Texas is illegal
       here in Indiana.  Here you can't even have your neighbors
       children do their E-Learning with your children in your house,
       let alone gather lots of children together in one location to
       e-learn.
       Now the contradiction to that is:  One of my sisters runs a
       daycare.  She's had her own licensed daycare for at least the
       last 20 years.  It is legal for her to have her school aged kids
       do their e-learning at her daycare.  But it is illegal for my
       other sister to have her grandkids do their e-learning at her
       house on a daily basis.
       Basically what it sounds like our Indiana government is trying
       to do, is stopping individual learning centers from springing up
       where kids can go to do their e-learning together with other
       kids, in a safe, distance separated and adult supervised
       location.
       I'm sure you have already checked to make sure what you are
       planning is legal in Texas?
       Here the government is even considering enforcing a dress code
       for e-learning.  They are having too many children doing their
       e-learning classes in their PJ's laying in bed.  I have a
       niece-in-law who teaches an e-learning class of 57 children in
       Illinois and she has that problem with the kids laying in bed
       half asleep as they do their class.
       #Post#: 19751--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 10 Septemeber 2020 - About Time
       By: db105 Date: September 11, 2020, 5:37 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Hi, Jack. I'm still reading. Of course, you must do what is
       right for you. Hobbies can't be duties. Who knows, maybe in a
       year or two your circumstances or your motivation may be
       different. If you'll allow me a piece of advice, don't let
       current politics get you down or condition your well-being. In
       the meantime, even if it's not the same as when you were active
       here, I still enjoy reading the BOTD. I wish you and your family
       the best.
       #Post#: 19752--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 10 Septemeber 2020 - About Time
       By: David M. Katz Date: September 11, 2020, 3:38 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       So, what happens if someone gets sent to the "principal?"  Like
       we really have to guess.   ::)
       #Post#: 19755--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 10 Septemeber 2020 - About Time
       By: Jack Date: September 11, 2020, 4:54 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Zyngaru link=topic=1992.msg19748#msg19748
       date=1599792718]
       I'm sure you have already checked to make sure what you are
       planning is legal in Texas?
       [/quote]
       Texas only has three requirements for homeschooling: That it
       must be 'bona fide', that it has to be visual (text books or
       monitor, not all lecture), and it must include five basic
       subjects - reading, grammar, spelling, mathematics, and
       citizenship.
       We are actually using a state approved online learning that
       easily transfers back to Texas public schools, so it's not a
       problem.
       #Post#: 19757--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 10 Septemeber 2020 - About Time
       By: kalico Date: September 11, 2020, 5:29 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Happy to hear all is still well with you and yours and I pray it
       keeps going that way.
       I really like what y'all have come up with for schooling and
       mine are in something like that with ex teachers and I'm loving
       it so far and might continue if it it keeps going the way it has
       been.
       Thanks for the update and I still check in every day
       Stay safe and healthy
       Hugs kal
       #Post#: 19759--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 10 Septemeber 2020 - About Time
       By: Zyngaru Date: September 11, 2020, 5:57 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Jack link=topic=1992.msg19755#msg19755
       date=1599861282]
       [quote author=Zyngaru link=topic=1992.msg19748#msg19748
       date=1599792718]
       I'm sure you have already checked to make sure what you are
       planning is legal in Texas?
       [/quote]
       Texas only has three requirements for homeschooling: That it
       must be 'bona fide', that it has to be visual (text books or
       monitor, not all lecture), and it must include five basic
       subjects - reading, grammar, spelling, mathematics, and
       citizenship.
       We are actually using a state approved online learning that
       easily transfers back to Texas public schools, so it's not a
       problem.
       [/quote]
       Glad to hear all is okay there.
       I'm thinking Indiana is just trying to protect teachers jobs,
       because if parents find out they can send their kids to a small
       center and they can do there normal e-learning with their
       regular school teacher over the computer, then why send them
       back to the regular school, after this is over?  That's the only
       reason I can come up with for their rule about no schooling
       children together from different households.
       #Post#: 19778--------------------------------------------------
       Re: 10 Septemeber 2020 - About Time
       By: Surfer Date: September 14, 2020, 1:17 am
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       Thanks for the update Jack! Please keep the web site. I still
       look at your work there from time to time. And the updates here,
       when you're able to post them.
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