atheist secular homeschoolers
I've been reading around the blogosphere a bit this afternoon (HEY, I've been cleaning and THAT gets boring!) and I found myself reading some blogs that aren't exactly secular...if you know what I mean.
Here on my blog I tend to remind readers that homeschoolers are not all Christian and are not all teaching non-science.But...I'm feeling very discouraged right now.
It's true. Isn't it? Most homeschoolers are fundamental Christian and tend to skew science and history. It makes me sad and discouraged and annoyed and upset about all of those kids out there who are not getting genuine science or genuine history.
DAMN.
All of those people out there who are disparaging homeschool for the way people can hide in it and avoid learning real knowledge instead of of teaching other than a small world view are right.
People actually ignore, discount, or treat as mysterious the truly corrupt, unsavory, destructive parts of religion and the holy books in order to live in the saccharine, cloying falseness of the facade of religion. I honestly can't understand a preference like that.
Today my kids and I have been having conversations about how to parent. It is so clear to me that kids take what they have learned and pass it down to generations...how I would prefer to see more homeschoolers homeschooling in a secular way.
Do you have thoughts on the matter?
I would love to read your opinion.
I would love to read your opinion.
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Many years ago, before I even met my husband, all I'd heard about homeschooling was that a) it was American and b) it was for very religious people. Of course I know now this is not exactly the case but when my sister told some work colleagues I homeschool, she was immediately ask "oh, is she a Christian fundy then?" (when my sister answered no, the second question was "so a hippie then?", also a big no!).
ReplyDeleteI do think things are different here in Australia because religion isn't so in-ya-face (something I found very confronting when I visited the US but our current government is heading that way, URGH) and nearly all the people I have in my current home ed circles are secular. The home ed acquaintances who are more religious always keep it to themselves so there's never been, for me, any kind of discomfort based on religion. I know of quite a few Christian home ed groups around me and I've been told by secular acquaintances that there's no religious discussion, it's more people with similar beliefs getting together, just like the secular folk getting together (though they do activities for special feast days and such).
But yes, like you I do wish people would at least allow the children a choice in what path they wish to follow and encourage free thinking!
I miss the secular vibe of Australia so much.
DeleteI know that that may be changing a bit, but I hope that the people don't allow it!
Here in the US, as you said, SO SO in your face. UGH.
I feel so incredibly lucky to be living and homeschooling in our town in the MidWest US. We have a large and thriving secular homeschool group here as well as another group for the Christian flavor. The nice thing about our secular group is that it isn't only populated by atheists, but also by pagans, muslims, christians of different flavors, etc. what unifies us in our group is that we don't homeschool for religious reasons.
ReplyDeletehttp://archiedown.wordpress.com
I love it too, Marlis. Our homeschool group has Pagans, Wiccans, Quakers, Muslim, Mormon, Christians of many denominations, many atheist/agnostic, humanist, Jewish and all of us work together in a wonderful little community.
DeletePeaceful and productive and positive!
Nice to see you again!
I had to come browse your site to help my jaw unclench and my shoulders drop after an afternoon spent researching grade 6 curriculum. Oy! The GOD ness of it all. Your secular take and older children make you a unique blast of fresh air.
ReplyDeleteUUUUUUUUUGH!
DeleteI know...it is SO discouraging...but I'm so so glad to know that there ARE we secular folk out here playing for the side of REASON!!!
I'm MARRIED to someone who has religious beliefs that are nearly cult-like. It is SO frustrating and SO lonely at times. If I didn't have my freethinker's group, I don't know what I would do because there are times I want to pull my hair out with some of the stuff he believes. I hope all the time that with my presence and my kids being at least somewhat intelligent that the religion their father is trying to raise them in won't have a grip on them forever but it worries me. And I know that what drives his beliefs is FEAR. It's so stupid how afraid these people are of anything outside of their holy book.
ReplyDeleteI just found your site after doing some research about atheism. I have wondered recently how many people "out there" are homeschooling their children for reasons other than religious ones. There is a resurgence of homesteading and a return to making things again and with that seems to come homeschooling children.
ReplyDeleteThank you for who you are and what you represent. You are not alone!! There are many like you!!
Oh THANK YOU so much for commenting; I am so glad you did!
DeleteI do hope that some of the others come out too, don't you?!
You're not alone! I truly believe there are clusters of us hidden all over the place (even in Texas!). Keep your ears open and you might pick up on subtle hints that those around you are looking as much for you as you are for them.
ReplyDeleteWhere in Tx? I'm considering homeschool for my girl ( 8 yrs ) . I'm very introverted and she's very extroverted and thrives on social interaction. All of the groups around me are Christian based and I'd like to find a group that is secular!
DeleteI feel like Janeen, except that my husband won't try and argue with me because he knows he will lose every time. My greatest comfort comes from the women in my secular home school group, surprisingly here in the Mid-West. I have been here for a year, and spent the last 25 years on the west coast, where there is literally zero religious indoctrination. As soon as we moved to the Mid-West we felt isolated without a church community. So of course, off hubby went, and now he's kind of stuck. He loves having the social aspect and is a believer, as I am a skeptic/atheist. We have found balance in our quirky way of life, and again he knows how I feel, so there is no religious aspect of our homeschooling.
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog post on Facebook, and although I'm not an atheist (just very liberal in my religious views), I sympathize with you. I have found some great homeschooling friends, but they are religious. Thankfully not the judgmental kind. I would love to find a secular group to belong to. Although I have found secular homeschoolers, schedules/kids ages etc. conflicted.
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't mind my pointing out that my friend and I started home/school/life magazine because there was a dearth of resources for secular homeschoolers. It offers secular resources and it welcomes anyone into its readership, and you may enjoy the website and magazine. http://homeschoollifemag.com
I don't mind at all, Shelli. Thanks!
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