homeschool ? Please help.

[Crankyshank]

That, in a nutshell, is my problem with religious-based schooling. A lack of understanding of the world around them. Not everyone comes out oblivious to other cultures, but oh my, the ones that do make my head explode.

You're going to have ignorance of other cultures no matter what type of education you have. I emerged from my Catholic school with an understanding of my surroundings and other cultures. Not only because I was taught about them in school, but because I am extremely well read and live in a cosmpolitan part of the country. Many of my ex-private school pals had the same experience. My husband and his siblings, who attended public school in NY and FL were significantly more sheltered because they have closed minded bigoted parents.

I have college educated people who think RI is part of Massachusetts. Their ignorance is because they are ignorant, not because they attended religious or public schools. I learned all about the basics of Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and ancient religions in my private school. My public school educated sister has no idea about any religions other than her own and she's extremely bright.

 

[JennyMominRI]

My husband is currently attending Regis University to complete his long-delayed Bachelor's. He's in a Eastern Religions class. More than one of his fellow students are not understanding there's no Jesus in Buddhism.

I had the same experience in my secular "Oh my goodness this school is gonna kill me" high school. Girl actually asked if there was a Jesus in Hinduism.

That, in a nutshell, is my problem with religious-based schooling. A lack of understanding of the world around them. Not everyone comes out oblivious to other cultures, but oh my, the ones that do make my head explode.

Brandie

I can't tell you how many college educated people have asked me about Jesus place in Judaism.... It's not relegated to religious based schooling.

 

[sha_lyn]

Crankyshank.... I really feel that depends on the religion

IE.... our niece on DH's side of the family. BIL is a member of a very fundamental Baptist church. DNi wanted to become a teacher. BIL would only pay her college tuition if she attended one of a few independent fundamental Baptist bible colleges. She went to college thinking that she would be able to be a certified teacher. However her teaching degree would only be recognized by private independent Baptist schools. She left that college and tried to attend a state college on her own. However she was not prepared for it, nor could she afford it. She had attended public school most of the time. There was a few yrs of private religious school in there, but she graduated from a public high school. Even with attending a PS, BIL was, for the most part, able to limit DNi education to what he felt fell inline with his religious beliefs.

 

[LadyShiva]

*sigh* I still don't like religious schooling for pure indoctrination sake. Doesn't matter which religion, I just don't like it. They aren't beholden to anyone to tell them their "facts" are correct or incorrect.

And for the record, hubby usually says very good things about his classes at Regis. I just took offense to the 20+ pages of information on Catholicism and the 2 paragraphs on everyone else who called themselves Christian. But bear in mind, hubby also went to public schools and didn't know who Martin Luther was or why he was so upset. *banging head on desk*

Poor schools and bad students are everywhere, I get it.

Brandie

 

[Crankyshank]

Sha Lyn, you're right. Southern Baptist Schools especially are a whole different ball game. I think that also has to do with where they live than what religion they follow. It's a lot harder to be oblivious here in the Boston/Providence area than it is to be in the Tampa area where DH spent the latter part of his public school education.

I'm not saying religious education is the ideal. I just don't want it to be painted with the same brush as those attending a strict southern baptist school in rural AR because status quo is entirely different for education across the board in both areas.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I see people partially homeschooling but having to turn to colleges, public schools, etc, to fulfill educational requirements, and that validates these feelings that religious-based homeschooling is lacking.

Does that make sense?

To me it doesn't b/c there are many folks who supplement their child's public school education b/c it is lacking.


Homeschooling is done by more than those who do so for religious reasons.

And locally, our Catholic High School does teach the AP coursework. They need to in order to remain competitive and to draw in students. If they graduated nothing but idiots, they would have a hard time justifying their high tuition and staying open.


I see homeschooling as parent directed education. I direct where, when, and how my child is educated.

Now some choose to direct their children to the public school or private school system. Once they do that, they have removed their freedom on when, where, and how their child is educated.

FTR, our public schools turn to the community colleges quite frequently as well.

So if doing so validates that homeschoolers find their own curriculum lacking, wouldn't it follow suit that it is validated that public schools find their own curriculum lacking as well?

 

[sha_lyn]

The turn in conversation reminds me of my recent research into history curriculum.
We've used Story of the World as our spine, and supplemented with a lot of research. We are about to finish up Vol1. I was beginning to get lazy and was hoping to find something that is more complete and yet as diverse. However most History text that are home school friendly are written from a Christian prospective. Many of them being from a creationism/new earth standpoint, and taking the position that conquering savages in the name of God is a noble thing etc.
While reading reviews on Amazon and other review sites, I realized that SOTW vol 2 is the book for us. Many Catholics were complaining that the book is too Protestant. Many Protestants were complaining that the book recognizes other religious as legitimate, taught the basic tenants of such religions etc.

 

[Crankyshank]

*sigh* I still don't like religious schooling for pure indoctrination sake. Doesn't matter which religion, I just don't like it. They aren't beholden to anyone to tell them their "facts" are correct or incorrect.

Statements like that are what bothers me. I really haven't been indoctrinated. I have had to learn the ins and outs of my religion sure, but I have also needed to learn the ins and outs of other religions- both in HS and in college. Public schools that don't have testing aren't exactly beholden to anyone regarding if their facts are correct or not. For example, I can open pretty much any history text book for any school regardless of religious affiliation and point some pretty major errors and glossing over in it.

If anything, i would say my religious education has prepared me a lot more for my major than a public school education would have. Because a knowledge of religion is essential in knowing history.

The Reformation is a big part of my thesis

 

[LadyShiva]

Sha Lyn, you're right. Southern Baptist Schools especially are a whole different ball game. I think that also has to do with where they live than what religion they follow. It's a lot harder to be oblivious here in the Boston/Providence area than it is to be in the Tampa area where DH spent the latter part of his public school education.

I'm not saying religious education is the ideal. I just don't want it to be painted with the same brush as those attending a strict southern baptist school in rural AR because status quo is entirely different for education across the board in both areas.

Hubby was raised Baptist, and probably Southern Baptist... I've made him pull out the Bible quite a few times in the early days of our marriage and prove something to me. *argh* He's gotten much better, and I haven't heard him utter "heretic" to himself in years...

He took to the beatings well, I'd say. Just kidding, of course!

The girl from my high school who couldn't figure out Hinduism was veeerrrrry Southern. She just couldn't figure out why I wasn't pledging a sorority at Ole Miss.

Brandie

 

[sha_lyn]

Sha Lyn, you're right. Southern Baptist Schools especially are a whole different ball game. I think that also has to do with where they live than what religion they follow. It's a lot harder to be oblivious here in the Boston/Providence area than it is to be in the Tampa area where DH spent the latter part of his public school education.

I'm not saying religious education is the ideal. I just don't want it to be painted with the same brush as those attending a strict southern baptist school in rural AR because status quo is entirely different for education across the board in both areas.

Actually I am not talking about Southern Baptist. I am talking about a group of Fundamental Independent Baptist in the Great Lakes area. BIL is in the metro Detroit area. The colleges he allows his children to attend are in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana etc.

 

[LadyShiva]

To me it doesn't b/c there are many folks who supplement their child's public school education b/c it is lacking.


Homeschooling is done by more than those who do so for religious reasons.

And locally, our Catholic High School does teach the AP coursework. They need to in order to remain competitive and to draw in students. If they graduated nothing but idiots, they would have a hard time justifying their high tuition and staying open.


I see homeschooling as parent directed education. I direct where, when, and how my child is educated.

Now some choose to direct their children to the public school or private school system. Once they do that, they have removed their freedom on when, where, and how their child is educated.

FTR, our public schools turn to the community colleges quite frequently as well.

So if doing so validates that homeschoolers find their own curriculum lacking, wouldn't it follow suit that it is validated that public schools find their own curriculum lacking as well?

Good points, thank you!

I still have other objections to religious-based gender discriminatory homeschooling, but other posters have previously addressed the coverage of lab-based science classes to my statisfaction.

Brandie

 

[Crankyshank]

The turn in conversation reminds me of my recent research into history curriculum.
We've used Story of the World as our spine, and supplemented with a lot of research. We are about to finish up Vol1. I was beginning to get lazy and was hoping to find something that is more complete and yet as diverse. However most History text that are home school friendly are written from a Christian prospective. Many of them being from a creationism/new earth standpoint, and taking the position that conquering savages in the name of God is a noble thing etc.
While reading reviews on Amazon and other review sites, I realized that SOTW vol 2 is the book for us. Many Catholics were complaining that the book is too Protestant. Many Protestants were complaining that the book recognizes other religious as legitimate, taught the basic tenants of such religions etc.

I have looked at SOTW 2 and I thought it was pretty good for a text book, but I'm not exactly a fan of historical textbooks. If you have access to Hayes' History of Western Civilization, I would highly recommend it. I used it in high school and in college.

Not sure how advanced readers your kids are, but if you want something that goes over Medieval and Renaissance, I recommend this book
http://www.amazon.com/World-Lit-Only-Fire-Renaissance/dp/0316545562

It's been incredibly useful for me.

 

[Crankyshank]

Actually I am not talking about Southern Baptist. I am talking about a group of Fundamental Independent Baptist in the Great Lakes area. BIL is in the metro Detroit area. The colleges he allows his children to attend are in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana etc.

I was using Southern Baptists as an example, not saying they are the only school that does that. Fundamentalists religious schools by their nature are pretty exlusionary for any education other than their particular religious beliefs. You're less likely to find that in Catholic, Quaker, or the more liberal Protestant schools.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Good points, thank you!

I still have other objections to religious-based gender discriminatory homeschooling, but other posters have previously addressed the coverage of lab-based science classes to my statisfaction.

Brandie

I guess I don't understand how the 2 relate.

Can you elaborate??

(As far as I can tell, I would assume the high school does proper labs. How else would the kids be ready for any AP science exam???)


oops--didn't mean to rhyme!


ETA: Who mentioned "gender homeschooling"??

 

[LadyShiva]

The turn in conversation reminds me of my recent research into history curriculum.
We've used Story of the World as our spine, and supplemented with a lot of research. We are about to finish up Vol1. I was beginning to get lazy and was hoping to find something that is more complete and yet as diverse. However most History text that are home school friendly are written from a Christian prospective. Many of them being from a creationism/new earth standpoint, and taking the position that conquering savages in the name of God is a noble thing etc.
While reading reviews on Amazon and other review sites, I realized that SOTW vol 2 is the book for us. Many Catholics were complaining that the book is too Protestant. Many Protestants were complaining that the book recognizes other religious as legitimate, taught the basic tenants of such religions etc.

I have a really, really good US History series if you want them. They are narrative in style, and were the easiest to consume (as in, read voraciously). It is a 2 book series (when I got them, that is). You want me to rummage around and find the authors? They were my college books, but the language isn't dry or hoity-toity. They are backpack size, too.

Brandie

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have a really, really good US History series if you want them. They are narrative in style, and were the easiest to consume (as in, read voraciously). It is a 2 book series (when I got them, that is). You want me to rummage around and find the authors? They were my college books, but the language isn't dry or hoity-toity. They are backpack size, too.

Brandie

I would be interested. SOTW is narrative.

I'm not sure the ages of her children. Mine are elementary. We have SOTW volume 1---it is for 1st-4th grade.

It follows suit with classical education and is written by Susan Wise-Bauer who also wrote Well Trained Mind with her mother.

Based on your postings, I think you might appreciate what she has to say.

 

[LadyShiva]

I guess I don't understand how the 2 relate.

Can you elaborate??

(As far as I can tell, I would assume the high school does proper labs. How else would the kids be ready for any AP science exam???)


oops--didn't mean to rhyme!


ETA: Who mentioned "gender homeschooling"??

*chuckle*

As in there is a small subset of homeschooling practiced by Amish and the cults in Utah, CO, etc, that perform this version of discrimination under the umbrella of "homeschooling." Some posters believe religious tolerance should be practiced with these "schools" and I personally believe their parents should be taken to jail.

My initial concern in this thread was feeling that homeschooling (which I had originally seen as not being interactive, due to being book-based, with a single teacher, or being correspondence-based) was not capable of teaching at the high school level. Several posters have mentioned suggestions for how their families have addressed those concerns by utilizing science kits, or community colleges, or partnerships with other brick and mortar institutions.

Brandie

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

*chuckle*

As in there is a small subset of homeschooling practiced by Amish and the cults in Utah, CO, etc, that perform this version of discrimination under the umbrella of "homeschooling." Some posters believe religious tolerance should be practiced with these "schools" and I personally believe their parents should be taken to jail.

My initial concern in this thread was feeling that homeschooling (which I had originally seen as not being interactive, due to being book-based, with a single teacher, or being correspondence-based) was not capable of teaching at the high school level. Several posters have mentioned suggestions for how their families have addressed those concerns by utilizing science kits, or community colleges, or partnerships with other brick and mortar institutions.

Brandie

Understood.

We are not at high school yet, but my jaw drops every year I go to convention and see the astronomical amount of resources available for K-12. It makes my head spin every single year I attend.

 

[LadyShiva]

I would be interested. SOTW is narrative.

I'm not sure the ages of her children. Mine are elementary. We have SOTW volume 1---it is for 1st-4th grade.

It follows suit with classical education and is written by Susan Wise-Bauer who also wrote Well Trained Mind with her mother.

Based on your postings, I think you might appreciate what she has to say.

Danke for the book pointer! I'm struggling with fact that my mother moved all over the US to put me in the best schools, and parental worry that my kid won't have the same education I had. Bear in mind kiddo is 2 and already counts to 20 in Spanish (among all the other amazing things she does), so I'm probably worrying without reason.

She has a -blast- at her NAECP day care, and they seem to have a great balance of fun and teaching. She can continue at that day care when she goes to pre-school, but.... Two of the children there she has known the entire time she's been to day care, so seeing them every day is fun for her.

Oh, and I called a little while ago and she was having a bubble party at day care. She's got to be in toddler heaven.

Brandie

 

[LadyShiva]

Understood.

We are not at high school yet, but my jaw drops every year I go to convention and see the astronomical amount of resources available for K-12. It makes my head spin every single year I attend.

Where are the conventions held? Do you have a URL you can pass me?

Thanks in advance!
Brandie