PBS NewsHour Weekend; PBS NewsHour Weekend : KQED : April 22, 2018 5:30pm-6:01pm PDT

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>> Sreenivasan: ON THIS EDITION FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 22: ON EARTH DAY, THE FOCUS TURNS TO PLASTIC POLLUTION AS E.P.A. ADMINISTRATOR SCOTT PRUITT FACES NEW SCRUTINY. AND IN OUR SIGNATURE SEGMENT, A GROWING NUMBER OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TURN TO HOMESCHOOLING. NEXT ON PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND. "PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND" I MADE POSSIBLE BY: BERNARD AND IRE SCHWARTZ. THE CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY. SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM, III. NDR. P. ROY VAGELOSIANA T. VAGELOS. THE J.P.B. FOUNDATION. THE ANDERSON FAMILY FUND. ROSALIND P. WALTER BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG. CORPORATE FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA-- DESIGNING CUSTOMIZED INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP RETIREMENT PRODUCTS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE YOUROM RETIREMENTNY.

>> ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: D BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING, AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. FROM THE TISCH WNET STUDIOS AT LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK, HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreeniv THANKS FOR JOINING US. A MANHUNT IS UNDERWAY IN TENNESSEE TONIGHT AFTER A MASS SHOOTING AT A WAFFLE HOUSE RESTAURANT JUST OUTSIDE INKING MAY BE ARMED AND URGED RESIDENTS TO STAY INDOORS.

>> HE CLEARLY CAME ARMED WITH A LOT OF FIREPOWTENDING TO DEVASTATE THE SOUTH NASHVILLE AREA.

>> Sreenivasan: REINKING IS D WOUNDING AT LEAST SEVEN PEOPLE OTHERS AT THIS WAFFLE HOUSE RESTRANT IN ANTIOCH TENNESSE LESS THAN TEN MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASHVILLE. REINKING W ONLY PARTIALLY CLOTHED WHEN HE OPENED FIRE OUTSIDE THE RESTRANT, THEN ENTERED AND CONTINUED FIRING ACCORDING TO WITNESSES. JAMES SHAW, JR., A CUSMER INSIDE AT THE TIME TOLD REPORTERS HE RUSHED THE GUNMAN T WH SHOOTING STOPPED, WRESTLING AWAY THE AR-15 RIFLE. THIS AFTERNOON, THE U.S. SECRETD SERVICE HEY ARRESTED REINKING LAST JULY FOR BEING INSIDE A RESTRICTED AREAEAR THE WHITE HOUSE. THE F.B.I. REQUESTED HIS FIREARMS AUTHORIZATIONE REVOKED. NOSH AND SOUTH KOREA'S LEAD ARE ON THE VERGE OF THEIR FIRST EVER FACE TO FACE MEING, EXPECTED TO OCCUR IN THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE ON FRIDAY. NAD ON TWITTER, PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO IS EXPECTED TO HAVE HIS OWN SUMMIT WITH NORTH KOREA NEXT MONTH, CONTINUED TO RESPOND TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM PYONGYANG THAT IT WOULD CLOSE A NUCLEAR RESEARCH SITE AND STOP LAUNCHING LONG-RANGE MISSILES. IN A TWEET THIS MORNING MR. TRUMP INCORRECTLY STATED THATH NOREA HAS "AGREED TO DENUCLEARIZATION." THE PRESIDENT FOLLOWED UP WITH A CAUTIOUS TONE: "WE ARE A LONG WAY FROM CONCLUSION ON NORTH KOREA, MAYBE THINGS WILL WORK M OUT, ABE THEY WON'T - ONLY TIME WILL TELL..." IN WASHINGTON, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WERE ALSO CAUTIOUS ABOUT NORTH KOREA'S WILLINGNESS TO DISARM. KENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS CHAIR REPUBLICAN BOB CSPECULATED THAT NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG-UN MIGHT BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO LIBYAMMAR GADDAFI, WHO GAVE UP HIS NUCLEAR RAM IN 2003.

>> HE SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH GADDAFI. GADDAFI'S DEAD MAN NOW BECAUSE HE GAVE UP HIS NUCLEAR WEAPONS. AND SO TO THINK THAT SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GO IN AND CHARM HIM OUT OF THAT IS NOT REALISTIC. IS THERE SOME PROGRESS THAT CAN? BE M I HOPE SO, BUT THAT'S A BIG HURDLE.

>> Sreenivasan: DEMOCRATIC SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN WASEF ALSO H ABOUT THE TALKS BUT NOT CONFIDENT NORTH KOREA WOULD KEEP ANY PROMISES IF A NUCLEAR DEAL IS MADE.

>> THE QUESTION IS WHETHER IT LASTS OR NOT. AND OF COURSE THE REPUTATION OF THE NORTH KOREANS HAS BEEN THAT PTHEY DON'T NECESSARILY K THEIR AGREEMENTS.

>> Sreenivasan: TODAY IS EARTH DAY, AN EVENT THAT BEGAN IN 1970 AND IS OFTEN CONSIDERETHE BEGINNING OF THE MODERN ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT. THIS YEAR THE ISSUE AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA IS PLASTIC. FROM GROCERY BAGS TO PLASTIC STRAWS TO TINY MICRO-BEADS IN EVERYTHING FROM SOAP TO MAKE-UP, THE EARTH IS SWAMPED IN PLASTIC, AND WILL REMAIN SO FORTI GENES TO COME. SO WHAT CAN BE DONE? JOINING ME NOW IS JENNA JAMBECK, ASSOCIATE OFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, WHO IS MARKING THIS EARTH DAY AT AEN CONF IN TEL AVIV. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. SO KIND OF PUT THIS IN THE PERSPECTIVE. WHAT IS THE SCALE OF OUR PLAST PROBLEM OR SITUATION?

>> IN 2017 WE WEREBLE TO ESTIMATE THE AMOUNT OF MIDST MANAGED AMUNT OF PLASTICS INTO THE WORLD, AND THAT IS ABOUT 8 MILLION MET TRI TONS OF PLASTIC ENTERING THE OCEAN EVERY YEAR.MP A OAD OF PLASTIC EVERY MINUTE GOING INTO THE OCEAN. VERY SIGNIFICANTni

>> Sresan: IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE KNOW ABOUT G PLASTIC THES US ANY KIND OF HOPE, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR PLASTIC TO IS DISSOLVE OR DEGRADE, AS IT SITS IN OUR

>> IT REALLY DOESN'T EVER BIODEGRADE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF. AND WHAT IT DOES INSTEAD ISME FR OVER TIME INTO SMALLER AND SMALLER PIECES. SO A P LARSTIC ITEM THEN ENDS UP AS MANY SMALL MICROPLASTIC ITEMS.

>> Sreenivasan: AND THESE MICROPLASTICS I'M ASSUMING THEY END UP INSIDE AQUATIC LIFE BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S FOOD?

>> CERTAINLY SOME OF THIS IS VERY MUCH LIKE FOOD THAT ANIMALS IN THE ECOSYSTEM EAT AND EVEN SOME OF THE SMALLER ITEMS LIKE THE MICROBEADS CAN BE SCOOURMD BY SMALLER ANIMALS IN OUR AREA LIKE ZOE PLANKTON.

>> Sreenivasan: WHAT IS THE IMPACT THAT YOU AND I CAN HE OR ANY HUMAN CAN HAVE THAT REDUCES THAT?

>> REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE, REU ACT COFFEE MUG, DON'T USE A STRAW, A RESABLE BAG, I KNOW WE'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE BUT RESEARCH SHOWS, COLLECTIVELY OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME THO CHOICES REALLY HAVE ANNAL IMPACT.

>> Sreenivasan: IS THE AGREEMENT AROUND THE PLANET? YOU SEE LOALIZE COMMUNITIES DECIDING TO BAN PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS OR CHARGE FOR THEM. HAS THE WORLD L ACCEPTED THAT ESPEALLY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES?

>> THESE SOLUTIONS ARE LOCALLY BASE BUT AT THE SAME TIME YES, WE CAN ALL AROUND THE WORLD THAN WE DON'T PLASTIC IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, IN OUR OCEAN. THE U.N. HAS A CAMPAIGN AND FOLK AROUND THE WORLD CAN SORT OF ELATE THEIR COMMITMENTS THAT THEY'RE HAVING P WITH THIS YSUE. AND SO TMIGHT BE DIFFERENTLY, BUT EVERYONE CAN COMMIT TO DOING SOMETHING.

>> Sreenivasan: ARE THERE ANY TECHNOLOGIES TON RORS THAT MIGHT BE GOOSTUDENTS FOR -- SUBSTITUTES FOR

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT POLYMERSAT ILL BIODEGRADE, ACTUALLY BIODEGRADE BUT ALSO SERVE SOME OF THE NEEDS OF PLASTIC. YOU CAN THINK OF SOMETHING MORE LIKE PAPER. OF COURSE THESE THINGS STILL NEED TO BE MINAGED WITHUR WASTE STREAM BUT I DO THINK THAT THINKING ABOUT MANAGEABILITY PLASTICS ARE THINGS THAT COULD BE THOUGHT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> Sreenivasan: JENNA JAMBECK THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Sreenivasan: ON THIS EARTH DAY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS ALSO IN THE NEWS, NOT FOR THE SUCCESSES AN OF ITS CORE MISSION BUT FOR THE ACTIONS OF ITS LEADER SCOTT PRUITT. SCOTT PRUITT HAD AN APARTMENT C. WASHINGTON, FOR AN INCREDIBLY LOW $50 A DAY. THAT APARTMENT WAS OWNED BY A LOBBYIST'S WIFE. NOW THERE ARE RECOS SHOWING THAT THE LOBBYIST, J. STEVEN HART, MET WITH PRUITT LAST YEAR. BOTH THE E.P.A. AND HART'S FIRMN PREVIOUSLYD ANY MEETINGS DURING THE TIME PRUITT RENTED THE CONDO IN 2017, OR ANY TIME AFTER. THE FIRM NOW SAYS THE ING WAS "PERSONAL". BESIDES THAT POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, PRUITT'S CRITICS POINT TO EXCESSIVE SPENDING TRAVEL, FURNITURE, SECURITY AND PAY RAISES FOR AIDES, SOME NOW RESCINDED. THE E.P. CHIEF, WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY THE ELECTED OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL, CAME TO WASHINGTON PROMISING TO ROLL BACK REGULATIONS, CUT THE AGEN'S STAFF AND REPEAL OBAM ADMINISTRATION ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES. THE "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTS THIS WEEKEND THAT SOME OF THE BEHAVIORS PRUITT IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR NOW, WERE ALSO HAPPENING DURING HIS TIME IN PUBLIC OFFICE IN OKLAHOMA. JOINING ME NOW IS "NEW YORK TIMES" INVTIGATIVE REPORTER STEVE EDER. AND YOU AL REPORTED WITH HAROKU TABSUCI ON T STORY. TELL US WHAT YOU FOUND?

>> WE TRIED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF SCOTT PRUITT IN OKLAHOMA A HIS YEARS THERE, OUR REPORT ENDED UP CENTERED AROUNDIS ABILITY TO BLEND TO SOME EXTENT HIS RELATIONSHIPS HE HAD ON THE BUSINESS SDE WITH POLITICAL RELATIONSHIPS AND BROUGHT IT TO THE HOUSE DURING HIS YEARS IN THE STATE SETE AT HE HAD PURCHASED WITH A GROUP OF OTHER INVESTORS THROUG ELL COMPANY THAT WAS NEARER THE STATE HOUSE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, AND THE STATE CAPITAL. AND STARTED LOOKING AT THAT IT WAS A PURCHASE THAT MANY INVOLVED SBC NOW AT&T, THE TELECOM COMPANY.BL AND THRING OF THE LINES THAT'S GOING ON WITH IS SCOTT PRUITT OVER THE ARS AS IT RELATES TO ETHICAL PROBLEMS AND reSINESS AND POLITICS. >>ivasan: WHAT ABOUT THE THE TRANSACTION, NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE APARTMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.SI WHAT WAS THE ATION IN OKLAHOMA?

>> WHEN PRUITT'S GROUP CAME IN THEY WERE ABLE TO BUY IT AT A 00,000 DISCOUNT. IT WAS A COMPLICATED SCALE. P AT&TSPECTIVE SAID THEY HAD AN APPRAISED VALUE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT PRUITT'S GROUP HAD, BUT ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER PRUITT'S GROUP SOLD THE HOME FOR BACK UP TO THE ORIGINAL PRICE AROUND $475,000. SO THE NUMBERS INHERE DID RAISE SOME QUESTIONS.

>> Sreenivasan: PEOPLE ARE GOING WATCH THIS A SAY WHY DOES THIS MATTER ABOUT A HOUSE HE HAD SOME STAKE IN YEARS AND YEARS AGO, WHAT ARE THE PATTERNS YOU ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH AND THE STUFF HE'S INVOLVED WITH TODAY?

>> TWO PARTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT. IT'S IMPORTANT UNDERSTAND WHETHER THE ISSUES IN017, 2018 STAND ALONE OR TREND BACK INT OKLAHOMOKLAHOMA. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. THE PERSON REGSTERED ON THE LLC WHO BOUGHT THE HOME, A SENI AIDE WORKING CLOSELY WITH PRUITT AT THE EPA, SEVERAL BUSINESS DEALINGS OVER THE YEARS WHERE THEY WERE INVOLVED AND THEN THE BANK THAT ENDED UP PROVIDING THE MORTGAGE ON THEPE PROY, THE PERSON WORKS AT THE EPA A WELL.

>> Sreenivasan: AT THE TIME THAT FACILITATED THIS TRANSACTION ARE PART OF THE EPA TODAY?

>> RIGHT. THERE WAS A LOT O CONNECTIVE TISSUE BETWEEN THESE FOLKS OVER THE YEARS.e

>> Svasan: SCOTT PRUITT SAYS I'M THE DEREGULATOR OF THE EPA, THESE ARE MY GOALS, HAS HEE EFFECTIVE? ON THE ONE HAND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY SADIS THIS ISTROUS, HE'S GOING TO ROLL BACK CLEAN AIRAN WATER STANDARDS, WHAT HAS

>> WHAT'S GOING ON, THEY'VE BEEN EFFECTIVE TO SOME EXTENT IN COMING OUT WITH A HIGH DEREGULATORY AGENDA, A LOT OF SPECIFICS THAT HAVE GONE ON OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, NOT QUITE YEAR AND A HALF YET, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THESE TYPES OF HEADLINES ON THE ETHICS FRONT AND THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE S ARISDENLY YOU ARE DEALING WITH A MYRIAD OF OTHER ISSUES THAT COULD DISTRACT FROMA T.

>> Sreenivasan: WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN FROM SCOTT PRUITT

>> THE PARTICULAR ISSUE WE WERE DISCUSSING WAS JUSTA SIMPLE REAL ESTATE DEAL AND NOTHING MORE TO IT. AND THAT THEY HOLD THEMSELVES TO A HIGH STANDARD.

>> Sreenivasan: THANK YOU, STEVE EDER OF THE NEW YORK TIMES THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANKS.

>> Sreenivasan: ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CHOICES A PARENT OR GUARDIAN MAKES IS WHERE TO SEND A CHD TO SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: AT THE ATLANTA HOME OF 19th CENTURY WRITER, JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS, BEST KNOWN FOR HIS UNCLE REMUS AFRICAN AMERICAI FOLKTALES, AKBOTEP IS KEEPING ALIVE THE ORAL TRADITION THAT INSPIRED CHANDLOOKS.

>> LISTEN TO THE WORDS AND HELP THEM GROW.

>> Reporter: THIS IS PART OF A HOMESCHOOLING SUPPORT NETWORGEIN COBB COUNTGIA, JUST OUTSIDE ATLANTA.

>> THIS IS NOT JUST ANY OLD HOUSE.

>> Reporter: IT WAS FOUNDED IN 2016 BY AMBER JOHNSTON, A BUSINESS OWNER, WIFE AND MOTHER OF FOUR. SHE WANTED TO FILL A NEED SHEDA SAW FOR HEHTERS AND FOR A BURGEONING DEMOGRAPHIC IN THE HOMESCHOOLING MOVEMENT-- AFRICAN AMERICS. JOHNSTON'S GROUP, WHICH BEGAN T WI FAMILIES LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, HAS GROWN TO 66 FAMILIES.

>> I'M STILL SHOCKED ABOUT IT. IT REMINDS ME WHEN I WAS, LIKE, GROWING UP IN 0s, THERE WAS THIS CARTOON CALLED THUNDERCATS. AND WHEN THEY NEEDED TO BE CALLED TO ACTION, THEY WOULD SAY, "THUNDERCATS, THUNDERCATS, THUNDERCAT HO!" AND THIS LIGHT WOULD GO UP IN THE SKY AND THE OTHER THUNDERCATS WOULD SEE IT. THAT'S WHAT I FEEL LIKE. I FEEL LIKE I PUT A BEACON LIGHT UP IN THE SKY IN COBB COUNTY THINKING THAT A FEW SPRINKLES OF FAMILIES MIGHT SEE IT. AND I'VE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE RESPONSE.

>> Reporter: ACROSS THE NATION AS MANY AS 202,000 BLACK CHILDREN ARE BEING HOMESCHOOLED, UP FROM ABOUT 105,000 IN 2003. WHILE WHITE AMERICANS STILL MAKE A MAJORITY OF THE 1.7 MILLION HOMESCHOOLERS, THE PERCENTAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IS GROWING FAST. THEY CITE SOME OF TH REASONS FOR ABANDONING TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS THAT THE TYRGER HOMESCHOOLING COMMU DOES: NEGATIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS IESLUDING PEER RE, DISSATISFACTION WITH ACADEMICS, AND A DESIRE TO PROVIDE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

>> OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN NAME.N, HALLOWED BE TH

>> Reporter: BUT IT WASN'T JUST THE FAMILY'S FAITH THAT MADE THE JOHNSTON'S LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES. THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE SCHOOLS IN THEIR AREA. AND THERE WAS ANOTHER FACTOR THAT GE THEM PAUSE.

>> I STARTED REALIZING THAT MAYBE WE HADN'T COME AS FAR ALONG IN RACE RELATIONS IN THE COUNTRY AS I THOUGHT THAT WE HAD. THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE A LOT OF MESSED UP STUFF BREWING UNDERNEATH. AND I WAS FEELING VERY MUCH LIKE A MAMA BEAR. LIKE HEY, "I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING DOWN HERE," BUT I'M NOT WILLING TO SACRIFICE MY CHILD AS I TRY TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

>> Reporter: THAT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO AND JOHNSTON'S DAUGHTERS HAVE BEEN HOMESCHOOLED EVER SINCE.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IF YOU DON'T WORK FOR YOUROD YOU CAN'T GET ANY.

>> Reporter: THE DECISION TO HOME EDUCATE WAS STRENGTHENED I 2014 WHNSTON FOUND OUT SHE WAS HAVING THE FIRST OF HER TWO BOYS.LL D E WAS INITEXCITED.

>> AND MY VERY SECOUGHT WAS, GREAT, NOW I'M THE MOTHER OF AMERICA'S MOST HATED, AND WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH THAT. WHEN I LOOK AT MY LITTS, I JUST SEE BEAUTY. AND THE THOUGHT OF PUTTING THEM IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE ONE DAY THEY WOULD BE LOOKED POTENTIALLY AND VERY LIKELY AS BEING LESS-THAN, LESS SMART, LESS DESERVING, LESS SAFE.ST AND I EAR LESS, LESS, LESS, LESS, LESS.

>> Reporter: JOHNSTON ISN'T ALON CHERYL FIELDS-SMITH, A PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY R GEORGIA, HAS HEARD FROM A LOT OF PARENTS LIKE AMHNSTON. IN 2009 SHE PUBLISHED A STUDY ABOUT BLACK HOMESCHOOLERS. SHE FOUND THE VAST MAJORITY CITE PERCEPTIONS OF, OR EXPERIENCES WITH RACISM IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AS A REASON FOR HOMESCHOOLING.

>> THE RESEARCH SHOWS US THAT WE HAVE DISCIPLINE DISPROPORTIONALITY, WHERE BLACK SLES ARE SUSPENDED TWO TI MORE THAN THEIR OTHER COUNTERPARTS. SO, THAT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT. I THINK THAT'S RACISM. I THINK THAT THAT'S PREJUDICE AND ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE'RE C MAKING ABOLDREN.

>> Reporter: JUDY SARDEN, WHO LIVES JUST OUTSIDE OF ATLANTA, KNOWS THESE KINDS OF ASSUMPTIONS ALL TOO WELL. SARDEN AND HER HUSBAND, AN ARCHITECT, BOTH WENT TO PUBLICS. SCHO SHE WAS AN ATTORNEY MAKING SIX S FIGURES WH DECIDED TO QUIT HER JOB TO TEACH HER TWO KIDS, 10-YEAR-OLD AIDAN AND NINE-YEAR -OLD HALEY.

>> KIND OF HARD TO IMAGINE THAT PERSON QUITTING THEIR CORPORATE JOB AND GOING HOME TO WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: IT WAS 2012. SARDEN SAYS THEN FOUR YEAR OLDA AIDAN HAUGH YEAR WITH ONE TEACHER IN HIS MONTESSORI CLASS.

>> MY SON WAS READING AT THE TIME. HE WAS YOUNG, BUT HE WAS READING. AND THE OTHER TEACHERS HAD PUSHED HIM, ANYTHING HE SHOWED ANEDPTITUDE FOR, THEY HAD PU HIM,ND HELPED HIM TO DEVELOP IT IN A WAY THAT HE ENJOYED IT. BUT THIS TEACHER, WHO HAD COME FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DIDN'T. AND I BEGGED HER TO, YOU KNOW. I SENT HER BOOKS TO SCHOOL THAT HE WAS READING, AND ASKED HER TO ENCOURAGE HIM, AND HAVE HIM READ TO HER, AND SHE NEVER DID. THERE WAS NO EXPECTATION THAT HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO READ. AND, I COULD SEE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THE WRITING ON THE WALL. I COULD SEE WHERE WE WERE GOING WITH HIS EDUCATION. WITH HIM REGRESSING THE WAY HE DID THAT ONE YEAR, IT WAS DRASTIC, AND IT WASIN HEARTBRE

>> Reporter: KEEPING HER KIDS HOME, SARDEN SAYS, SHE IS ABLE TO SHAPE THEIR CURRICULUM. THAT INCLUDES HISTORY LESSONS THEY WON'T GET IN PUBLIC SCHOOLD ENDING ON WHAT STATE YOU'RE IN YOU LEARN ABOUT AFRICAN ENSLAVEMENT IN THE AMERICAS OR YOU DON'T LEARN ABOUT IT AT ALL.LL AND BASITHAT IS THE HINDORY THAT ALL KIDS, BLACK WHITE, LEARN ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: WITH HER KIDS SHE TEACHES A DIFFERENT WAY.

>> SO WE DON'T JUST LEARN ABOUT THE GREEK AND ROMAN EMPIRES. WE LEARN ABOUT THE AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS, WE LEARN ABOUT WHAT'S G WE GET TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON PRETTY MUCH ON EVERY CONTINENT THROUGHOUT HISTORY. SO THAT BY THE TIME WE GET TO MODERN TIMES, AND WEO AFRICAN ENSLAVEMENT IN THE OERICAS, WE'VE STUDIED FO FIVE THOUSAND YEARS OF WORLD HISTORY, BUT ESPECIALLY AFRICAN HISTORY. SO THAFOR MY CHILDREN, THEIR HISTORY DIDN'T JUST START 300 ICYEARS AGO HERE IN THE AM, THEIR HISTORY STARTED BACK IN AFRICA.

>> WE GO HARD ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, AND CULTURE, AND AGAIN THAT'S A REFLECTION OU WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW, YOU KNOW. I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT AFRICA, I THOUGHT AFCA WAS A COUNTRY, YOU KNOW.

>> Reporter: RETIRED AIR FORCE VETERAN SHEVA QUINN LIVES IN RURAL BYRON, GEORGIA. SHE HAS BEEN HOMESCHOOLING HER TWO DAUGHTERS, SEVEN-YEAR-OLD ZARIAH AND SIX-YEAR-OLD ANIAHE FOR ST FOUR YEARS.

>> SO SIX TIMES FIVE IS WHAT?

>> 30.

>> Reporter: LIKE JUDY SARDEN, QUINN EMPHASIZES AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, AND HAS ADDED A PERSONAL TOUCH, TRACING HER FAMILY'S D.N.A. TO GHANA. AND SHE'S DOING IT ON HER OWN AS A SINGLE MOTHER.

>> BEING A SINE PARENT IS NOT SY ON NOBODY. I MEAN, I'M NOT GOING TO LIE. E DAY STARTS AT 3:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, I'VBEEN UP SINCE IN00 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING, GETTING BREAKFAST GETTING LUNCH ON, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO EAT OUT EVERY DAY, LIKE WHO DOES THAT, RIGH SO YOU HAVE TO BE MORE ENGAGED WITH YOUR FAMILY.CH

>> HOMLING CAN BE COSTLY. LIKE PRIVATE SCHOOL FAMILIES, HOMESCHOOLERS STILL MUST PAY THE LOCAL TAXETHAT PAY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EVEN THOUGH THEIR KIDS ARE NOT ENROLLED. THE COST OF EDUCATIOL CONTENT CAN RUN INTO THE HUNDREDS. AND FUNDS FOR TEACHINGTSOOLS LIKE TABND THESE PROGRAMMABLE ROBOTS COME DIRECTLY OUT OF PARENTS' POCKETS. BUT WITH ACCESS TO LOW COST OR FREE ONLINE LESSONS, QUINN SAYS BEING A HOMESCHOOLING SINGLE MOM IS POSSIBLE. A COMBINATION OF HER AIR FORCE PENSION, A JOB TEACHING A FEW ONLINE CLASSES, AND FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM HER EX- HUSBAND ALLOWS QUINN TO STAY AT HOME.

>> GRANNY IS A NOUN.

>> Reporter: SHE DECIDED TO HOMESCHOOL WHEN TEACHERS REFUSED HER REQUEST TO GIVE HER THEN FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ADVANCED READING MATERIAL. THE DECISION WAS VERY MUCH GROUNDED IN HER FAMILY HISTORY.

>> I COME FROM A FAMILY OF ILLITERACY AND I WANTED MY KIDS Y KNOW HOW TO READ WELL. AND THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE THING OF IT BEHIND ME WHEL I SAY THE SCWOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, PUSH THEM. YOU KNOW, I'M LIKE, I KNOW THEYM CAN E, I KNOW THEY CAN DO BETTER, BUT WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO THIS, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYMORE. " AND I'M L"NO." WHY SHE CAN'T PRACTICE HER SIGHT WORDS OVER THE WEEKEND, OR WHY WE CAN'T READ THESE BOOKS, OR YOU KNOW, WHY WE HAVE TO JUST STOP AT THIS LEVEL? AND WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THEWE TEACHERS JUS NOT WORKING WITH ME AND TRYING TO HELP ME MOVE MY CHILDREN FORWARD, I WAS LIKE THIS IS NOT GOING TorWORK.

>> Rr: PROFESSOR FIELDS- SMITH POINTS TO STUDIES SUGGTING SHEVA QUINN'S EXPERIENCE IS NOT UNIQUE. AFRICAN AMERICAN PARENTS CAN FACE MORE RESISTANCE FROM SCHOOLS THAN WHITE PARENTS WHEN ADVOCATING FOR THEIR CN.

>> A LOT OF HOMESCHOOLERS HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES IN SCHOOLS WHERE THE PARENTS HAVE TRIED TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AND THEY'VE EXPERIENCED MARGINALIZATION, AND THEIRHILD HAS EXPERIENCED JUST NOT BEING ABLE TO BE THEMSELVES. THEY'RE PAINTED ASBL TRAKERS.

>> Reporter: AND BEING ABLE TO BE YOURSELF AND EMBRACE BLACK CULTURE, SAYS AMBER JOHNSTON, IM PART OF WHAT HESCHOOLING GROUP IS ALL ABOUT.>> OMETIMES, DOGGONE IT, WE JUST WANT TO GO TO ALVIN AILEY AND PUT ON SOME NINA SIMONE AND COME HOME AND JUST TALK ABOUT STUFF. AND THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABLE TO DO. SO IT'S NOT AGAINST ANYONE AS MUCH AS IT IS A SUPPORT. AND I REALLY SEE IT AS A MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM FOR OUR KIDS.

>> Reporter: BUT NOT EVERYONE SEES IT THAT WAY, SHE SAYS. ON SOCIAL MEDIA SHE'S RECEIVED SOME PAINFUL COMMENTS, PARTICULARLY FROM THOSE OUTSIDE HER BLACK COMMUNITY.

>> "YOU'RE BASICALLY TEACHING RACISM TO YOUR KIDS," OR, "YOUR GROUP IS AN EXAMPLE OF REVERSE KNCISM." AND SO, I WISH, YO, THAT I COULD SOMETIMES SAY I WISH YOU CACOULD WALK IN MY SHOES, E I KNOW YOU'RE A PASSIONATE MOTHERAND I KNOW THAT IF YOUR LITTLE GIRL WAS HEARTBROKEN, YOU WOULD START ANY U ND OF GROUP ULD TO HELP HER. E>> Sreenivasan: WATCH TH NEWSHOUR'S JEFFREY BROWN INTERVIEW AUTHORS AT T ANGELES TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS. VISIT pbs.org/newshour.

>> Sreenivasan: AT LEAST 57 PEOPLE, INCLUDING FIVE CHILDREN, ARE DEAD AND MORE THAN A HUNDRED OTHER PEOPLE ARE INJURED TODAY AFTER A SUICIDE BOMBING IN THE AFGHAN CAPITAL OF KABUL. R THE COUNTRY'S OCTOBERERING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. THE BOMBING IS ONE OF SEVERAL RECENT ATTACKS ON VOTER REGISTRATION CENTERS IN AFGHANISTAN. IN SYRIA, THE GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED NEW MILITARY ATTACKS TODAY, STEPPING UP EFFORTS TO DRIVE OUT THE LAST REMAINING ISIS FHTERS NEAR THE CAPITAL CITY OF DAMASCUS. STATE-RUN TELEVISION SHOWED GOVERNMENT FORCES ATTACKING DISTRICTS OF THE CITY STILL HELD BY THE ISLAMIC STATE, USING WARPLANES, HELICOPTERS, AND ARTILLERY. ON FRIDAY, THE MILITAN AGREED TO ABANDON THE AREAS, BUT REPORTEDLY DID NOT SURRENDER TO GOVERNMENT TROOPS OR AGREE TOO RELOCATEHER ISIS-HELD AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS SAY ATHA LEAST 25 PEOPL DIED IN CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE AND PROTESTERS IN NICARAGUA THIS WEEK. STUDENTS, WORKERS, AND RETIREES TOOK TO THE STREETS ON WEDNESDAY FOLLOWING THE GOVERNMENT'S D ANNOUNCEMENT OF INCREASECOME AND PAYROLL TAXES AND REDUCED PENSIONS IN ORDER TO SHTHE UP COUNTRY'S SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM. YSSTERDAY, FOLLOWING FOUR OF PROTESTS, NICARAGUAN DEESIDENT DANIEL ORTEGA SAID HE WAS READY TO RECONTHE UNPOPULAR REFORMS. HIS ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AFTER VIDEO WENT VIRAL OF A JOUR ALIST BEING SH KILLED WHILE COVERING THE PROTESTS ON FACEBOOK LIVE.

>> reenivasan: TOMORROW ON THE NEWSHOUR, FIVE YEARS AFTER A TRAGIC FIRE AT A BANGLADESH GARMENT FACTOR, WHAT'S CHANGED FOR THOSE WHO MAKE OUR CLOTHES? THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND. I'M HARI SREENIVASAN. THANKS FOR WATCHING. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. Captioning sponsored by WNET roaptioned by Media Access at WGBH access.wgbh.org

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