Articles written by Sara Mcgrath

Where Knowledge Rules

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About me - Sara Mcgrath

I live near Seattle with my husband and three daughters. I spend time exploring the area, hiking and biking, gardening, keeping house, and playing with the kids and cats.

I've written for various websites including Suite101 and Examiner and also for print

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Education > Homeschooling Should parents without a degree teach homeschool?: 2 of 53
Teaching degrees prepare teachers to administer curricula to large groups of children. Homeschooling parents have no use for this type of preparation. Teachers employed by schools must follow a standard, officially-approved curriculum regardless of their educational background. Homeschooling parents can choose to present the... More..
Education > Homeschooling Top 10 things homeschooled children and parents get to do while everyone else is in school: 2 of 41
1. HOMESCHOOLERS GET TO SOCIALIZE! I always laugh whenever I encounter an argument against homeschooling based on children's need to socialize - As if you get to do that in school?! As a formerly schooled child, I distinctly remember my teacher saying, "You're not here to socialize!" While most kids are in school and their p... More..
Health & Fitness > Pediatrics Do childhood vaccinations help or hurt the development of a healthy immune system?: 1 of 18
Afraid to vaccinate your children? Afraid not to? Both? Educating Ourselves About Vaccines Both vaccines and the diseases they were created to suppress carry potentially disastrous and deadly risks. When we choose to vaccinate, as well as when we choose not to, we are making a decision that carries the risk of harm to our ch... More..
Style & Beauty > Fashion Trends & Styles Should belt-less pants, showing boxers or a whale tail, be banned?: 5 of 50
Hear the moral outcry: Raise the waistlines! No more unwanted exposure to elastic waistbands! The outlawing of low-cut pants would, presumably, protect the potentially offended from unwanted exposure to . . . hip bones? I grew up in a city where women could legally go shirtless. My mother and I often passed a woman in the ne... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Child Development Issues Why boys like "guns" and girls like "dolls": 2 of 20
The Nature of Girls and Boys "During about a quarter century," says Michael Gurian in The Wonder of Girls, "from about 1965 to about 1990, our society engaged in what is surely one of the most interesting social illusions in human history: that sex differences in neurology, temperament, psychology, biochemistry, and physiolo... More..
Arts & Humanities > European History The truth about Christopher Columbus: 2 of 18
What kind of man was Christopher Columbus and what really happened when he arrived in the Americas? According to his own log, his first impression of the inhabitants of North America was that they would make fine servants. He wrote: "With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want." He wrote this... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Children's stories: 48 of 395
THAT JESTER IS NO FOOL In a small, little-known country, King Clovis sat in the throne room of his small castle. "I'm bored," he said to the boy who trimmed his toenails. "I wish my court jester had not quit his job." "Perhaps you could place an ad for a new one, Sire," the boy said. "That's a fine idea!" Clovis said. Later ... More..
Style & Beauty > Hair Care Homemade remedies for an itchy scalp: 1 of 8
The simplest remedies are oftentimes the best. Coconut oil and olive oil both prevent, treat, and soothe an itchy scalp. They get to the source of the problem and treat it while moisturizing and providing soothing relief from the symptoms. Both coconut and olive oil contain antifungal properties which treat the most common c... More..
Style & Beauty > Hair Care Homemade shampoo and conditioner recipes: 2 of 15
Warm water alone removes ninety percent of the dirt collected in your hair. By "dirt," I refer to the dust, skin flakes, styling products, and environmental pollutants that collect in the protective oil (sebum) secreted by your hair follicles. Shampoos take care of the remaining buildup in your hair. The simplest hair washin... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Father's Day: 17 of 110
Memorial Day passed by The day you died I'm still reeling From the enormity of loss And then comes Father's Day I feel it again That loss Still so fresh Bittersweet I feel like crying Tears of gladness Enormous gladness for having you As my dad More..