Homepage
Archives
Email Me!
RSS FeedCarnival Of Homeschooling 126: End of the School Year? Or Is It? Posted
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
You will find this edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling posted at Walking Therein: Carnival Of Homeschooling 126: End of the School Year? Or Is It?.
This week we have a fun and informative carnival!
blessings!
Homeschoolers and Science: Creationism or Evolution?
Monday, April 14, 2008
In his article, Homeschoolers Who Don´t Learn Science Shouldn´t Receive a Diploma, Mr. Shives opens with a telling attitude about homeschooling: "There are many, many things I find dubious about the practice of parents homeschooling their children." He then proceeds to go on to prove he knows little about homeschooling and especially about the way children learn by saying, "I wonder how a mother or father who has not been educated as a teacher, who in many cases has not even been to college her/himself, can possibly provide their child with as good an education as students receive in our much-maligned public schools. And I can´t help but think that these homeschool students, of whom there are several million in the United States, are being robbed of a crucial formative experience by not attending school with other people their age and being forced to interact with a diverse group of peers."
I have to laugh out loud with his purely simple assessment of the totality of a child's "crucial formative experience", their learning experience, to "attending school with other people their age and being forced to interact with a diverse group of peers". The guy really needs to meet some homeschoolers, maybe read a few blogs. I don't have to force my children to do much, if anything. They interact well with others their own age and below and beyond. They love to learn. They are excited about life. They have learned this by being homeschooled, because, by its very nature, it nurtures a love for family, people and learning.
The entire rest of the article does not even address this 'concern' of his, so why does he say all of this? What could be so important for him to have to give this opinion about homeschoolers? Is he worried that we need to mix homeschoolers in with the other government-schooled kids as a giant science experiment to see what happens? No. I think the word "forced" is the tell-tale word here. He believes that homeschooled children should be forced to go to a government school and learn a government-based agenda. I think the word diverse is what he wants to force on homeschoolers. As in religious diversity.
Reading further into the article, you will find that he is worried that the fundamentalist Christian homeschoolers are not learning about evolution. He makes it abundantly clear that his definition of science, which only includes an evolutionary theory as the basis, must be forced on all those Creationists. Now, his article is entitled Homeschoolers Who Don´t Learn Science Shouldn´t Receive a Diploma, but, let's call it as it is, and just say that he would like the creationists to trade in their own religious beliefs for his of evolution.
He is so concerned that the Creationist definition of the creation of the earth is being taught to homeschooled children. He has been indoctrinated into the belief in the theory of Darwinism and evolution as the only way the earth was created, and he believes it as the truth. It is quite ironic that this is a concern of creationists about the government schools, isn't it? We are concerned about the fact that the Creation as told in the Bible has been taken out of science and the schools, along with prayer, morality and other God-given admonishments of truth and replaced with humanism, evolution, political-correctness and immorality.
He states, "Instead of evolutionary biology, which has been the keystone of the life sciences for over 150 years, homeschool students are taught creationism—that the God of the Bible personally created the universe more or less as described in the Book of Genesis. There are several varieties of creationism—Young Earth, Old Earth, Omphalosian, Neo—all thoroughly discredited. Increasingly, it is dressed in the pseudoscientific trappings of intelligent design. Whatever its proponents choose to call it, regardless of the intellectual contortions it performs to make the Biblical creation account plausible, it isn´t science and it should never be taught as such."
First of all, science, Creationism, etc. have been around for a lot longer than 150 years. So, if we want to go the route of teaching what has been around for the longest time, let's go with Creationism. The story of Adam and Eve, Creation, the snake, etc., have been passed down from generation to generation for six thousand years. Just because a government legislates something as what to teach does not always make it right or truth.
Secondly, to call it "pseudoscientific trappings", is purely his own conjecture. I can absolutely say the same thing about evolution. Just because evolution-proponents choose to dismiss discoveries that prove Creationism or ignore where evolutionary science has been refuted does not make evolution true.
The definition of pseudo-science is "a pretended or mistaken science," 1844, from pseudo- (q.v.) + science.
This is definitely one we as Creationists can apply to evolutionists, just as they apply to us. To me, that makes it opinion, based on our own experiences and knowledge.
Another definition of pseudoscience is "a system of theories, assumptions, and methods erroneously regarded as scientific."
In answer to his opinion that homeschoolers should have to learn his idea of science to receive a diploma, I say he is stepping into boundaries he does not have any knowledge of. He is making assumptions that Christian homeschoolers do not learn about evolution at all. Honestly, we teach our children about evolution. We teach our children in high school about evolution from an educational standpoint, not as truth overriding the Creator. We also watch public television, and when you do, you can't help but have to explain evolution to some degree. Matt and I sit there astonished at the absurd questions evolutionists have to things we just attribute to God as Creator, all-knowing. We wonder at God and His creation. We know to whom these wonders are attributed.
The question of college is one that I do not even need to speak to. The flood of colleges who want homeschoolers in their schools has been documented many times before. Homeschoolers are good students. They are serious students. Colleges know this. Colleges are accepting homeschooled students, period.
Let us talk about careers, though. How many high school graduates actually attend, finish and receive a degree at college, then go into the field of study they received that degree in?
Now, how many of them are scientific careers requiring a belief in evolution?
How many careers require a belief in evolution?
We need people in this world to work at fast-food restaurants, check out our groceries and pick up our trash. We need police officers and highway men and furniture salesmen. Most people are not going to become molecular biologists. I am obviously not saying that homeschoolers aren't, but if you read his article, you would believe that homeschoolers are believing fairy dust and in no wise could pass a college science course. I see no facts presented to support this theory.
I believe this article was written based on the different opinions the author has heard about homeschoolers and tied it in with the same outrage most people have about homeschooling: they can't control it. It is good. It is working, and they can't get their hands into it. I don't believe he did his research about homeschooling. He even had to add and Edit into the article to correct the demographics of homeschoolers. I think his article is more about fundamentalist Christian homeschoolers not having their children indoctrinated into evolution as their government-schooled counterparts are.
So, to sum up this ideology, if the colleges only teach evolution or sciences based on evolutionary science, which is a flawed theory, then everyone must simply go along with it, in order to survive in this world. Homeschoolers must teach evolution as science in their homes in order for their students to receive a diploma. If they are not taught evolution as fact, a Christian could not survive in college based on that alone. The one factor Mr. Shives is missing, yet again, is the God factor. We fundamentalist Creationist Christians believe that with God all things are possible. Even in a world that is fooled by the religion of evolution.
If you would like to read this same article posing the question as to whether government-schooled children should receive a diploma without learning about Creationism as science, Deb did a fantastic job of putting it all together. Tia also made the excellent point that "Believing in God does not change HOW any of those things work. It only changes my perspective on WHY it works," in her take on it at Home Where They Belong.
blessings!
(2)Comments
Leave A Comment!
Permanent Link
Homeschool Conferences
Thursday, April 10, 2008
I was thinking about posting some homeschool conference information, and I was searching my Inbox, and I found a note from
THM Editor:
If you can squeeze it in your family budget, I'd really encourage you to attend a homeschool conference in your area. TOS will be at eight different ones this year. If you get a chance, stop by our booth and say hello!I hope you enjoy any time you get to spend at a homeschool conference! If you get to meet Paul and Gena, give them big hugs from the Dixons!
Whatever you do, wear your comfy shoes. Bring a bottle of water, a good pen, something to write on, and then one of those rolling carts or a handy tote bag. Just don't forget to pick up a little something special to take home for the kids. Whether it's a fun game, book, or gadget, it's sure to help the kids to look forward to the school year when you come home with something fun! They may need a little pick-me-up too.
- AFHE in Phoenix, AZ
- Valley Home Educators in Modesto, CA
- Southeast Homeschool Expo in Atlanta, GA
- GHEA in College Park, GA
- MASS Hope in Worcester, MA
- CHAP in Harrisburg, PA
- HEAV in Richmond, VA
- WATCH in Seattle, WA
Enjoy every minute!
PS - Click on your state or country to find a listing of homeschool conferences in your area!
blessings!
(2)Comments
Leave A Comment!
Permanent Link
Why Would I Homeschool?
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
We homeschoolers know that home education is the best for our children, and that socialization is not an issue, but many think that we parents are as obtuse as they think homeschooling is. The interesting thing about that is that most homeschool parents were schooled in a public or private school setting, and therefore have the knowledge of that type of education under their belts. For the vast majority, the same cannot be said for parents of public/private schooled children. Or, an even more interesting thing about it (read:ludicrous) is the adults who have such experience in education and opinions on homeschooling who have *no* children.
Many homeschoolers do believe homeschooling is the best life for all families and children. A lot of us see it as a mandate from God in His Word, where we are instructed as Believers to
However, this belief is personal, and most of us don't care if you send your children to public or private schools or not, in regards to our opinions of you personally. We know, from seeing both sides of the coin which is best, but we also know what God's Word says, and we truly do believe it is the authority of the parents to make that decision. In other words, we may disagree with the choice to not homeschool, but it does not mean we feel superior or that you are ruining your children, we just know what we know about homeschooling.Deuteronomy 6:6-7
"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
Part of the reason many have ridiculous opinions of homeschooling is because they either know no homeschool families personally or have known of a bad homeschool family whose children are hoodlums. I have not heard of someone whose pool of homeschool knowledge went further than those two reasons. As a matter of fact, almost twenty years ago, my mother had neighbors who homeschooled, and I distinctly recall her making comments about how all the kids did was played outside all day. I can laugh at that now.
The fact was that they weren't outside all day, and when they were, we had no idea what they were playing or even the ages of the children. And, did they get up at 7am and do workbooks until 10am? Or maybe they had read their assignments and drawn their pictures or maybe they were learning social skills relating to one another outside on the swing set. Regardless of what they were doing, we had no idea that all experience is learning, only because of our jaded knowledge of learning as deemed by the public school system! Funny; I had forgotten about that.
Fast forward to now, and I could come up with a million things our children not only do outside, but learn when they are outside! See how perspective changes with experience and a little understanding?
The collective wrong beliefs about homeschooling are called myths. Like the way you carry a baby in utero tells you the sex of that baby. Or that we only use 10% of our brains or that shaving legs causes hair to grow back thicker. These are unproven ideas, and as a matter of fact, the only reason people believe them as fact is because someone else said it. Kinda' like myths about homeschooling.
- I could not stand to be with my children all the time.
- My children and I won't have any friends.
- What about sports, band and other extra-curriculars?
- My children will not learn how to socialize with other people.
- Children cannot learn outside of a school setting.
- I do not know how to teach - I would need a college degree in education to homeschool my children.
- I don't want my children to be considered weird.
- We don't have a large enough family. Don't you have to have 10 kids to homeschool?
- Homeschooling would take too much of my time.
- Homeschooling is too expensive.
- Homeschooling is for religious fanatics and abusive parents
- I couldn't stand to never leave the house.
- I don't want to stay inside during school hours.
- There are so many things I don't know. I could not teach them everything.
- I could not teach science experiments at home.
- Homeschoolers don't get a diploma, they get a GED.
- Homeschoolers can't get into college.
- My children don't listen to me.
- My spouse and I both work.
- Homeschoolers have to be tested each year by the public schools.
- My child wants to go into the military.
- Homeschoolers never smile.
- I am too disorganized to homeschool.
- I couldn't teach my children at the same time.
I actually have had Christian parents tell me *in front of their children* that they could not stand to be home with their children all day. How very sad. Are children a blessing or a curse? The Bible tells us they are a Blessing, each and every one of them. He tells us that they are a heritage and a reward.
3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
So, maybe it's the parenting then or the influences of society, the public school system and children of families who do not serve the One True God. Whatever it is, 50% of the battle is in our minds and spirits, and it is high time to get it that God calls children a Blessing and even says that a man who has many children is happy. Happy, like blessed. I don't personally care if you choose to have one child or even none. I am reading the Bible. I am saying it says:
5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.Interestingly enough, the beginning of Psalm 127 says
1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
So, if you are a homeschooler, you may not need to read these links, but it will give you great encouragement to know other homeschoolers not only understand, but have the same passion about it that you do. If you are not a homeschooler, read them over so that you may hear the truth from someone who does have it on authority and not just an opinion they heard somewhere.
Common Homeschooling Myths Dispelled
NHEN: Dispelling The Myths About Homeschooling
By Christine Webb
Family Lobby.com: The Most Common Home-schooling Myths Exposed and Explained
ChildAdvocate.org: Myths About Home Schooling/Self-Directed Learning & Commonsense Answers © 2003 by Laurie A. Couture, M.Ed, LMHC
Lew Rockwell.com: Homeschooling and the Myth of Socialization
Family Education:Social Skills and Homeschooling: Myths and Facts
Associated Content: Homeschool Truth, Homeschool Myth, Homeschool Fact: Some Things You Hear About Homeschoolers Are True, Others Are False
If you have written a post about Homeschool Myths, feel free to link it in the comments.
blessings!
(6)Comments
Leave A Comment!
Permanent Link
Are You Home-Schooling?
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
What exactly does homeschooling mean? Does it mean at schooling at home all day? Or for the school hours the public school system sets? Does it mean out of public school and instead schooling at home? Is it a locational thing? Can a family homeschool on the road?
These are all things I have heard mentioned in homeschooling circles and spoken about myself. I don't know if there is a clear-cut answer in all cases. Some families homeschool very well traveling the states or the world, keeping their family strong and teaching their children as they go. For some families, that would be a monumental disaster.
I used to think I could homeschool our children whether we were home or not. In other words, there were times I had to be at the church to run the sound for this or that event or I had to run this meeting or host that dinner. I *needed* to organize the music and prepare the songs for Sunday Worship, prepare to sing specials, lead the teen worship team, lead children's worship.... the list went on and on. And I had to go to a Creative Memories meeting once a month and scrapbook at least once a month. All of this was time for our older children to learn with me, I told myself.
Not that they didn't learn. They did. Amanda learned how to work the sound board and PowerPoint. Amanda, Jocelyn and Rachel all were in any skits or music specials, major productions, solos; because I was usually involved in leadership of them. They were good learning experiences. But, was it homeschooling?
Amanda and Jocelyn, at 14 and 13 could set up an entire Creative Memories display and tear it down and pack it up to leave. Amanda was very well-versed in speaking to customers - strangers - about Creative Memories or homeschooling or children, whatever topic they struck up with her in conversation. I remember when she was 14 and Isaac was just 4 months old. Amanda was carrying him in the front carrier, and everyone thought he was her baby. She was amazed they would think that, but, she was a natural at taking care of him, because she had learned so much from her previously-born siblings. All of this, speaking to customers, knowing a trade, caring for children - it is all good learning experiences, but is it homeschooling?
Honestly, what is homeschooling? Is it staying home, baking bread, sewing all of your own clothes, milking the goats, gathering eggs, butchering chickens, having a home business, sitting at the table working on workbooks.... Is that homeschooling? Yes. And no. To some, it is. To some it is not.
Or is homeschooling more about what our life is *not* like?
Does it mean our children are not running with their friends at the mall or not in front of the television for 5 hours a day, but rather their minds must be at home? Not at the sitter's, not at the neighbor's, not in a classroom, not at extra-curriculars all day? No, that doesn't fit all homeschoolers either. And, frankly, since I don't want you judging what homeschooling is for my family, I won't worry about what it is for yours.
But, I will tell you what it is for us.
Homeschooling is about the heart. It is about keeping their hearts at home. It is about being at home where we can teach our children and stop teaching and discipline our children or stop teaching and pray with our children. This is all teaching to us. It is about keeping our children home to learn where children - all children - learn best: at Daddy's or Momma's feet. Period. I know some families don't get that opportunity. I am sorry for that. Children's hearts truly long to learn at the feet of their parents.
What does it mean to have your heart at home?
Why do we keep them home to school? Just to keep them away from the big bad public school system? To keep them away from bad influences? Or is it to keep their hearts at home? For each of those reasons, but mainly to keep their hearts at home. It does no good to keep them from things if their hearts long for those things. To keep their hearts focused on the family and home, rather than what their best bud has or the latest fashion or newest model toy or whatever they see and crave with their eyes is what we are striving for. Our children did learn so much when we were involved in outside activities, but we all paid the price for that learning. Their hearts belonged to their friends or the Awana teachers they helped and the status that gave them.
We keep our children home to give them a heart of wisdom and a vision for their future. Kids cannot get a vision for their future as adults if all they do is hang with the kids. They cannot get their family in their hearts if they are so busy hangin' with their friends. They cannot get a passion for home and responsibility if they are always online, gaming, leading with other adults or 'cruising'.
As Believers in the One True God, we are to keep our minds stayed upon Him. We are to bring every thought captive to Christ. We are to use our time and our possessions wisely. God ordained the family as the unit we learn in. The unit we grow in. Friends and clubs may have their place, but they cannot become the master and the family the servant. These exist to serve the needs of the family, not the other way around.
So, what does it mean to homeschool in the Dixon family? It means no matter where we learn we direct our children's hearts to home. We do not let their hearts become wrapped up in friendships and material things or even Christian groups. They have friends. Their friends do not come before their siblings. They have material things. We can watch and observe that these things do not become idols. They have interests of their own. These interests do not influence the family. What a disservice we would be doing to our children to give them an appetite for friends and other interests that they will have to set aside as adults to have a Godly marriage. How do I know that? Because we have already been down that path. Thank God He gave us mercy and showed us the error of our teachings before it was too late.
To us, this means that we are working toward a home that is loving and the focus of our days. It is the focus of our learning and responsibility. We do not have our hearts set on outside pressures. We cannot escape the presence of outside pressures, but we must strive to keep them in their proper places, and not at the expense of our family and keeping their hearts at home.
blessings!
(7)Comments
Leave A Comment!
Permanent Link
Is Homeschooling Too Expensive?
Monday, January 7, 2008
[EDIT: HT Dana: www.Homeschoolingnews.com is not a homeschooling news site. It is a parked website attempting to draw you in to clicking on advertising links. Look at the website he runs. But don't click the links...it will only encourage him.] Thanks Dana. I think this is a most relative and important topic, even if people who know nothing about it post moronic information! :) These are common mis-perceptions.
This is an old post and link, I know, but I believe these issues are still relevant to whether or not homeschooling is too expensive and for what reasons. I keep hearing we are in a recession or we are headed into a recession, and we were told that Christmas sales were going to be horrible, but they were really high.
We all make sacrifices as parents, and as homeschool families. But, do you feel the sacrifices you make are because homeschooling is so expensive? We have not had experience with the public school as parents. I cannot compare that education to ours. I can only look at all the additional activities and 'things' that our children would be involved in and see that their friends have and want them to the fact that I don't have to compete with that as homeschoolers.
I got this from the HomeSchoolBuzz site, entitled, How to finance Homeschool. It originally sounded like something that might have some good tips about financing books, resources, all of those wonderful projects that make homeschooling a fun learning experience. I thought Tips on frugality and acquiring homeschool supplies would be a great post.
Then, I read it. Follow the link from HomeSchoolBuzz and read the article. I agree with Gary that he wanted to show how HomeSchooling is being portrayed, but I was looking for a HomeSchool tips, and that is not what this article is about.
Here is what I think -
1. They said it "is far from the truth" that "homeschooling is cheap".
*I agree; that can be true. When we bought A Beka, it was a lot more than it is now. I thought I needed the Teacher's manuals, every reader, every workbook, curriculum... EVERYTHING. Yes, it probably would be $5,000+ per year, if we did that. That is why we homeschoool differently now.(I would think it would be more to have 5 children at ps/private! - plus daycare and eating out, because I have extra-curricular activities to run them to, etc.... and I will be too tired to cook, thus causing us to spend more money eating out?)
2. "you need to make sure that your children receives state-of-the-art education"
*I don't feel like my child needs "state of the art education". Do you?
3. Your child will need to "compete with regular school goers"
*I also hope my children NEVER "compete with "regular" school-goers". Don't they understand the principles behind why most of us homeschool?
Many people I know homeschool for reasons of faith. We do not want our children bombarded with humanist teaching or seeing and hearing all of the graphic garbage so prevalent in most public schools. We also agree with homeschoolers who do not homeschool for reasons of faith: we can teach our children as good or better. We are tired of being told what our children need by failing educational systems. Besides, most homeschooled children come out academically better than the "regular" school-goers".
4. Another expense: "Up-to-date textbooks...."
*I guess that depends on how they have been made up-to-date. Some would consider up-to-date as making them politically correct. Almost all of the up-to-date textbooks include info on homosexual marriage and things like too much personal information about Clinton in the White House. They include ideas that are humanist in nature and many are anti-Christian. No, I will stick with the really old books - the ones that Thomas Jefferson read or wrote and the Classics.
5. "...and Course materials."
*We are studying goats for some of the year. We can cover science, history, geography, Bible, literature. So many subjects we can add to our study as we go. We paid $100 for two goats. It was another $50 to breed them, feed. I spent about $100 on supplies to notebook and do Heart of Wisdom year 2. We will be using library books instead of buying all of them. I paid fifty cents for many of the old books we have when the library bought all of their "up-to-date" books. We have accumulated many books and posters over the past 3-4 years. For now we are using Saxon Math, which is not consumable, so we pass it down. But, for 5-6 children? I still think it is less to homeschool them. And I won't have to fill up the gas tank as often or buy the trendy clothes... I know, I already covered that...
6. Computing Equipment, lighting, specially-designed furniture?
*If our children decide to turn computing, lighting or designing furniture into an area of expertise to educate them in, then I will worry about it. Otherwise, I thought the lighting and furniture info was a little silly.
7. Additional cost for tutoring.
*I hope I trained a couple of our older children well enough to tutor - and for free, if necessary. However, since I believe children do learn what they need to, and I am not concerned about where they "should be", I probably won't need to do that.
8. Ok, correction of #7: they are talking about higher math or science - or subjects "that cannot be handled by parents".
*I plan to train our children to think - and read - and act like mature adults by the time they are doing higher math/science, so they will be able to read a problem, solution, etc. and gain knowledge in that manner. Will they need help? Maybe. but, not a tutor to help with one or 2 concepts or problems.
9. Ohhhhh..... yes, and "another important factor" to "take into consideration" is that"homeschooling costs may effective triple. The need for having one of the parents tied to the house and fully dedicated to providing education deprives the family of a second earning member. "
*I am not tied down. Or deprived. If I were working for another man to tell me when and how I could care for my family, then I would be tied down AND deprived - of the life God has for me and our family. We need to learn to live with what we have, not worry about making money to buy what we don't need, sending our children to public schools because of it.
10. "The average homeschooling teacher is usually a lady with a college degree. This means that she can easily bring home a pay of $35,000 or more."
*Money is relative. Usually, you spend just within your budget anyway. i.e.: The more you make, the more you spend. And, can we please stop reducing all decisions down to money? Most homeschool families are willing to make sacrifices, including another income. My husband works 2 jobs while I care for our children. If I sit and think of all the money I could make, I would have to include all of the expenses I would also incur. I have found they usually balance each other out, and I would be sacrificing my children for nothing but a few extras.
11. "It is also interesting to note that most families that have more than 2 children do not opt for homeschooling at all."
*Do I even have to address that? Ha. I am really confused by that statement. I am not under the impression that all families have 8 children or even five children, but many do. A lot of them have more than two children. Had they said three, it would have been a little more credible.
12. The 3rd paragraph, to me, was not consistent with our family frugality at all. Ever. Obviously family size wouldn't apply here. Neither does the co-op-type schooling they describe.
So, all that said... What are your tips for How to Finance Homeschool? Had they just told me to hold a garage sale or a bake sale to finance our homeschooling costs this year, I think it would have been better advice than what was written....
There are so many home businesses that homeschool families can enjoy and incorporate into educating children in the REAL WORLD, while leading them in the LORD.
blessings!
I believe the LORD gave you those Littles to train for His service, and He will not only equip you, but He will sustain you as you choose to do His will in your family. Read His Word... He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He loves you -and your family. Trust in Him; He can do it.
(9)Comments
Leave A Comment!
Permanent Link
They Own Your Children, You Know
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
I get news alerts about homeschooling, public schools, etc. via email. Sometimes Gena emails links she sees. She emailed the link last week to the story in the news about the mass immunization call in MD. The title of the email was, "Ever-Increasing Government" and her comment was, "they own your children, you know." Re: to this email were then renamed, "I would be furious".
At this and on further discussion on addressing the thought, "they own your children, you know," I disagreed. Not that the gov't doesn't think they own your children, but that they really are not "taking" the children, but rather, the parents are systematically giving up control of their children.
Unfortunately, Christians - parents and grandparents, pastors and churches, have already rolled over in their understanding of what is best for children. As I looked through the cbd homeschool catalog last night ... trying to avoid being upset by the many absurd 'Christianized' worldly ideas, I could not stand it any longer when I found the book whose description said:
"no longer little girls, but not yet adolescents, young women between the ages of 8 and 12 now have their own fun-filled guide to ... from family and friends to guys and God."
Did you catch that? I about came unglued. YOUNG WOMEN?? HUH? This is a Christian author saying our eight and twelve-year-old girls are no longer little girls. They are now young women. Well, maybe in her world. Maybe in *the* world, but not our world. I don't think we have a clear understanding as homeschool parents just how deep into the public mindset most Christian parents are. I think we think they think like us a lot of times because they are Christians, and they don't.
It is no longer about keeping the ps out of control or taking control, it is about parents who have for many years chosen to give their children fully to the system. The whole shebang...the way the world dresses, dates, immunizes, teaches about sexuality, homosexuality, and the list goes on and on. I am not saying everyone should believe as I do... nor do I think everyone does. I just think that parents who grew up in the system who want their children in the system, be it for sports, academics, socialization, to be in clubs, to have friends, to be popular... whatever their reason... to be a light to a dark world.... I think they have been in it so long, they are now propagating it, and it is kind of like blaming the devil for everything to blame the pss in many cases.
A lot of times the christian parents have given up rights without considering consequences, and then the lawyers and those of us who have been telling them all along have to pick up the banner and fight for their children when they have not. There is something wrong with perspective here. The GOV knows what their goals are. The christian parents have not a clue... they are just going with the flow, calling us (homeschoolers) high-n-mighty.
Sorry for the rant. I think I am still upset about some moronic author assuming any 8yo child is ready to be a young woman and discuss guys. Hannie is going to be 8 next month, and she doesn't even want to help Eric clean off the porch. Gimme a break.
This book, which I do not at all recommend is Between: A Girl's Guide To Life by Vicki Courtney - and also... for "Teens" TeenVirtue2: A Teen's Guide To Relationships. I just don't think Christian parents today get it. They want the smart, sexy, popular kids who handle relationships and jobs and cars and cell phones who will still go to church on Sunday morning. They want the football star that everyone is cheering for. I don't know if that is ok. I do know that it is a worldly desire and the same one that says that an eight year-old little girl is no longer a little girl, but a young woman ready to talk about guys. God help us, The Church.
I'm not saying don't be proud of your children, but, c'mon. This is a testimony to the direction of the world that the church is steeped in. As Christians, we must be aware. We must wake up.
blessings!
Jacque
(9)Comments
Leave A Comment!
Permanent Link
What Exactly Is A Christian Homeschool Mom?
Monday, November 19, 2007
There are a lot of ideas about homeschooling and homeschool families and especially homeschool moms that are completely unfounded and almost pure opinion. If you are a homeschool mom, you know what I mean. If you are a Christian homeschool mom, perhaps you are unaware that we, as a whole, are viewed as 'holier than thou' women by many of our fellow moms and even fellow believers.
I was recently told in a comment a common belief about homeschoolers:
(mockingly) "But do you teach them about God? Yes? But do you teach them modesty and to only ever wear skirts and keep their hair long and never to tweeze, shave, color, or otherwise enhance her beauty? You do? But do you homeschool them? You do? But what curriculum do you use? Oh, do you UNschool them? NO ONE can live up to the impossibly high standards they (us homeschool moms) seem to have set. Of course, they claim to be imperfect, but do they really see themselves that way? Or are they just a teensy bit more godly than the rest of us?"
I contend that we know that we are not perfect. We struggle with our health, with finances, with loss, with our attitudes. We are not who a lot of people think we are. I have lived with this type of opinion for as long as I can remember. And, it is ok with me now. I am not yet content with who I am, because I am still working on it, but I am content to be a homeschool mom of 8. I am content to have people stare and ask stupid questions like, "Are those kids all yours?" "Are you done now?" "How do you do it?" "I couldn't stand to be home with my kids all day - and I only have 2!" Ok, maybe they aren't stupid questions, just stupidly asked. Tactlessly asked.
I know I am not sitting at home, waiting hand and foot endlessly 'like a doormat' or someone who stays home because 'I am not smart enough to do anything else' ... yeah, *you* try to organize and run this household, hehehh.
People act like it's ok to offend homeschoolers and large families, but, by golly, don't offend someone who doesn't want more children. Don't project your opinions on them. That is judgmental. And, don't force your beliefs on them, though they may do that to you. People also act like you must be rolling in the dough and have absolutely no other problems because your children will sit and be well-behaved in a restaurant and, well, you must be rich to afford all of those children. Or, you just do not understand about the real world. I mean, how could you? You don't shop and get gas and drive in the real world... Like we just fell off of the first spaceship back from Mars.
I know homeschool moms. We are all normal people. We have broken lives and great lives. We have children who are terribly sweet and don't back-talk, and we have children who shun our ideals. We have great health, and we have family who live with illness and even die from it. We are people. We may think differently. We may have to defend our ideals and reasons we homeschool, but we are human beings.
Have you heard of The Old Homeschoolhouse Minute-To-Minute e-newsletter? The MTM newsletter that I just found in my inbox, that reveals that "Yes, A chronically ill mom can homeschool." The answers and encouragement for this mom come from homeschool moms who are battling and homeschooling with auto immune disease, disabling depression, very long bouts with pneumonia and numerous lung/sinus ailments, chronic headaches, pain, and muscle fatigue, and the list goes on.
We are real people. We band together to encourage each other, yes, of course. That does not mean we think we are better than anyone. And, I think everyone pretty much thinks they are doing the right thing... or at least the best thing. I mean, who would intentionally do the worst thing for their family and children?
Ok, well, that's food for thought. I'm sure everyone has an opinion on this, because, we all have opinions on everything, don't we? Go on over to Home Where They Belong and join in on the discussion. My Keep Their Hearts post is the topic, but the commenting has moved to Deb's post and Tia posted it on The Front Porch, so there are homeschool moms commenting on this topic there too.
blessings!
Jacque
(8)Comments
Leave A Comment!
Permanent Link
Super Mom, Er, -Grouch
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
A few weeks back, Deb W. wrote Am I a Saint or am I Insane?, and Deb T. wrote "I don't know how you do it!" I can't tell how many times in 14 years I have heard, "I don't know how you do it," and, "I could never do that." I can even remember, of the people I knew well, who it was that said it. I remember when Amanda was about 5, Jocelyn was 4, and Rachel was a newborn, and I told one friend, after she said "how patient of a Mom I was": "That's because you aren't home with me all day!" Matt calls me SuperMom and jokes about my hidden t-shirt with the big S on my chest. Haha. Sometimes he calls me that, and other times, not so much. I am glad that most people don't see my bad days, but it doesn't mean I am always the Happy Homeschool Mom. I mean, can you all attest to that in your own lives? I have always hated it when someone addresses those 2 ominous subjects: "How do you do it?" and anything about patience. Why? Because some days are like yesterday. Some days I don't read my Bible, and it shows. Some days I am still in my pj's at 7pm when Matt gets home from his 2nd job..."um, yes, I thought I'd get ready for bed early, dear..." Ahem. Or, some days I want to I don't know how I do it either. Amanda is going to be 18 this month. 18. This is her 'last year' of formal education. Almost a graduate. Did I say 18? Where did all of that time go? And, what did we do? In the middle of all we are presently doing, it all seems a blur. Have I really taught her the obligatory 12 years? Have I taught her all she needs to know? What have I taught her that I'd like to take back? What do I have yet to teach her? And what about the next 7 ? I look at this almost-adult, and I see her holding Little Lucy, this precious little 6 month old, and I wonder... how did we get here? What year is it anyway? If I stop and look at her and listen to who she is, I can see that God has done a great work in her, inspite of me. Then, snap! back to reality: "Isaac, you do not retaliate when Caleb jumps on top of you, son." This is life. Homeschooling is life. Have I taught everything I could have? Of course not. And of course I have. Our children are always learning. Whether I have taught it or not, they learned it. Whether I have taught it properly or not they have learned it. They are learning it. I am learning it. This is why it is important to me and important to Matt to keep them home. Life is learning, as designed by the Creator. I wrote, in my Saturday Psalm & Praise last week that I just needed simple. Simplicity. I think I make things way too hard sometimes. I want to do it all, teach it all, learn it all. I want to teach, blog, have a farm, be a Godly woman, have a daily Bible study and pray with each child, be a super wife, get those weeds in that garden pulled, pick the rest of the veggies and can them. The list goes on and on... I want to get everything done everyday. I am constantly feeling unaccomplished. Then, God reminds me through a blog essay one of the girls wrote or when Eric stands up and offers his chair to a sister. Isaac comes to me out-of-the-blue with a big hug and an "I love you Mom, you did a great job!!" or Hannah tells me that she typed up her blog description all by herself as Jocelyn told it to her. I am amazed at what God has accomplished through me - through our children - through our family. That is my passion. Not to be accomplished, but to allow Him to accomplish through me. Whenever anyone says to me, "Wow... how do you do it?" I say, "I don't. He does." Or, they say, "You have such wonderful children, are they always this well-behaved?", and I change the subject - no, not really. I say, well, most of the time, but, we are still learning." Every moment is a lesson disguised as an experience. My Grandmother, who does not know the Lord as her Saviour, tells me, "Boy, you've got your hands full; I don't know how you do it." (She had 2 boys) I do have my hands full; full of love, hope, and the future. I don't know how I do it either, because I don't know how to do it. If it weren't for Him, I wouldn't do it at all. I would more than likely succumb to the status quo. Lamenting all the work in the garden, around the house, the animal pens needing to be built - AND homeschool subjects "musts", I said to the girls the other day, "You know, if I put you all in public school, stuck the Littles in a daycare and Lucy in the Ergo on my back - or in her jumpy in front of a video... I could have a clean house and a weeded garden." A look of,"yeah, right, Mom, public school, daycare - as if." "I could even blog." I got a raised eyebrow and a, "You do blog." "But, I could blog uninterrupted - and during the day!" And, yet, all of that is so miniscule compared to the Living Learning Moments I get to see in my children's lives. Lucy, "Seeing" things for the first time. I can tell she now knows who is who; Caleb, smiling at me everytime he hugs Lucy and saying, "gin, gin"(gentle), because he knows it and remembered it... a myriad of moments I get to experience with these precious children I am a steward of. A steward of. Am I a good steward or a bad one? Let me encourage you, whether you have Littles who are not yet in school, school-age children, high schoolers... whatever age child you have: do keep them home with you. Don't entertain the idea that your life will be better - or they will get the education they need - away from you. They will get the education they need at your side. Whether it's just 1 or a whole bunch- they will learn what God has for them learning with you. How do I know this? Because God said so. Do not give up the privilege and responsibility to teach them everything so lightly. Life is life. Life is learning. It is what God gives us. It is what He gives our children. Sometimes it is discouraging. Sometimes, you want to scream. Sometimes people say, "How do you do it, and you want to say, "Hmmmm... I don't know. I really don't," but, you don't have to know. All you have to do is trust the One who does know. Deuteronomy 6:20-25 And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers. And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us. Blessings! -Jacque lock let my children go outside and play all day (them, not me), as long as they stay out of the fridge, leave the videos on the shelves and quit bugging me for a snack. Yup, that's me, SuperGrouch. Paint me a great big S on my chest, and scribble a BIG Capital G on there, too!
(11)Comments
Leave A Comment!
Permanent Link
From Sea To Shining Sea ~ Bring Them Home
Monday, October 22, 2007
I was made aware of a petition that has been started in light of the National Educational Association's 2007-2008 Resolutions. In their resolutions, they have taken a bold stand against homeschooling:
"The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs based on parental choice cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience. When home schooling occurs, students enrolled must meet all state curricular requirements, including the taking and passing of assessments to ensure adequate academic progress. Home schooling should be limited to the children of the immediate family, with all expenses being borne by the parents/guardians. Instruction should be by persons who are licensed by the appropriate state education licensure agency, and a curriculum approved by the state department of education should be used.
The Association also believes that home-schooled students should not participate in any extracurricular activities in the public schools. The Association further believes that local public school systems should have the authority to determine grade placement and/or credits earned toward graduation for students entering or re-entering the public school setting from a home school setting."
It really gets my goat (and I love my goats!) that the NEA thinks our children should have to commit to every statute, rule and test set forth by the state, but they should NOT benefit from participating in the state-funded (read:MY tax dollars-and yours-at work) sports and extra-curricular activities. Did you notice that? "with all expenses being borne by the parents/guardians"?? And they say that WE have issues? They say WE don't understand the dilemma in the public school system? How about trying to understand that homeschoolers bear all of our own expenses, and all the while we support their failing system and class parties and godless teachings already?
Who are they trying to kid? Let alone all of the new LAWS they are coming up with, from sea-to-shining sea - California to Maine. They are passing laws based on morality, claiming they are anti-discriminatory, and I wonder how far of a stretch is will be for them, as these politically-correct California laws are passed in other states, to institute them into their policies that we homeschoolers must follow?? To legislate morality into our own homes. If they have banned "Mom and Dad" as well as "husband and wife" from public school textbooks, will that go for homeschool texts too? Are you willing to let that happen?
What in the world are these teachers, bureaucrats, etc. afraid of? That we will continue to do a better job at raising up intelligent, caring, law-abiding, patriotic leaders and citizens of this country than the public school systems do? How about the fact that we actually teach reading, writing and arithmetic as core subjects, instead of political correctness? That should be something to strive for, not something to be afraid of.
From the Petition site :
Statistics have shown that homeschooled students do exceptionally well. They excel (and win) spelling bees, score high on tests like the SAT, and go on to be accepted into many colleges. One Source:http://www.chec.org/Legislative/News/HomeschoolingStatistics/Index.html
I would encourage you to take a moment to tell the NEA that homeschooling is a real option that does produce wonderfully rounded and educated members of society. This is an issue that affects you personally. A lot of times, these things slide in under the radar, and are already law before we know it. If you love your homeschool freedoms, don't sit too cozy in them just yet.
Homeschoolers also find benefits in co-op classes contrary to the NEA belief that students should only be instructed by their immediate families.
Have you heard about the Convention on The Rights of The Child? Hillary Clinton is a big fan. You want to talk about taking away all the parental rights? You want to talk about outlawing homeschooling? I have images of Hitler's Youth and the Khmer Rouge 9, 10, 11 yo kids turning in their parents... if the NEA has their way, we are not too far away.
These are not scare tactics... history has been proven to repeat itself. I mean, girls in boys' bathrooms and vice-versa to "match your gender identity"?? Sounds like Sodom and Gomorrah to me. And you know what happened there.
God help us.
Blessings!
Jacque
Read comments on this post at Home Where They Belong.
(2)Comments
Leave A Comment!
Permanent Link
Page 1 of 5
Last Page | Next Page
