Religious Families That Secular Homeschool?

[holyhelianthus]

Are we alone?

[EdnaMarie]

Well... we do not homeschool (DD#1 is only two and having gotten to know her, I have realized that she would probably really like the structure and social environment of school, although I'd hoped to homeschool) but if we did, we would have been an interfaith, religious family that did secular homeschooling and I look forward to hearing the replies. I hope you are not alone!

[annettemarie]

Well, yes and no.

Our faith is a part of our life, so I'm not sure how we would compartmentalize it. We don't use a faith-based canned curriculum, and I never would want to.

I'm really curious how a religious family would have a completely secular learning program. Could you tell me more what you mean?

[holyhelianthus]

I agree AM!

What I meant was religious families who do not teach school based around their faith or even with bits of it thrown in. Of course as we live our faith in our family we will have prayer and scripture and church and all that jazz but by secular homeschool I mean secular curriculum. Basically we have no desire to teach history from the Bible or other scripture (for us the Book of Mormon) or censor any science based on religious beliefs. As an example when we are teaching about the early American peoples we will teach it from a secular source and not from the Book of Mormon. Not to say we will never teach that but we have the "save it for Sunday" mentality I guess. Though we don't just live our faith on Sundays but everyday but maybe you get what I am getting at?

Did that make sense?

[UUMom]

Well...we are a heathen family that finds religion hugely interesting. We don't use reiglious currics, but we do find interesting info in some of them. Frankly, discussing various religions and learning about them is a huge part of our lives. Many of our friends are religious, and we've been able to experince a lot of interesting stuff.

[holyhelianthus]

Originally Posted by UUMom

Well...we are a heathen family that finds religion hugely interesting. We don't use reiglious currics, but we do find interesting info in some of them. Frankly, discussing various religions and learning about them is a huge part of our lives. Many of our friends are religious, and we've been able to experince a lot of interesting stuff.

Maybe I am off in my definition of secular curriculum but I don't see teaching about religion as the same or even close to teaching religion as fact and the foundation of the curriculum. We will still of course cover things like the founding of Islam and even it's tenants (I too find religion fascinating and important in world history) but we will try our darnedest to teach them subjectively.

[annettemarie]

Interesting... well, I do use a handwriting book that uses Bible verses (A Reason for Handwriting) but we're just as likely to do copywork using a little poem about fairies. We don't teach science from a religious point of view and I have no desire to use the Bible as a science text, but we do try to include a sense of wonder at God's creation. Since we really follow the liturgical year and base a lot of our celebrations on that, I guess we don't really fit the bill, but we're definitely not strictly religious homeschoolers. We're in no-man's land I guess.

UUMom, I can relate to what you're saying. I try really hard to foster conversation and respect about other belief systems. And religion plays such a huge part in history, literature, etc, that I'm not sure how we would learn without running into it. And running into it naturally leads to a dscussion of our own beliefs.

[holyhelianthus]

I see what you are saying, AM. Honestly it's not like I am covering my children's eyes and having them look away if any mention of religion comes up. Not at all. I am looking into Prima Latina which says it's Christian () and hey if I like it I'll use it! I also don't think copyworking scripture is any different than copyworking poems or other verses. but then again I am likely to use more than just *our* scripture.

As for reverence for all God's creations thinking on that made me think that maybe I am defining "homeschooling" differently. For us there is homeschooling which is using a curriculum and studying and it takes up a small amount of our day and then there is the rest of life. Homeschooling is a part of our live just like learning is a part of our life but I view homeschooling and learning as different ends of the same line if that makes sense. So we are always in learning mode but not always in homeschooling mode. When we are in homeschooling mode that's treated a bit differently.

Clear as mud?

[Callimom]

Are you looking for Christian families that homeschool from a secular perspective? I wasn't sure if you were equating religious with Christian in your title.

We're UU and the 7 UU principles are integrated into our goals for homeschooling and woven into our learning. It influences our choice of activities and often our choices of materials - but we would have likely chosen those activites and materials even if we weren't UU.

[holyhelianthus]

FWIW- the main reason in my asking is because all my religious friends (LDS and other Christian denominations) do religious homeschooling (namely history taught through the scriptures and science as well) and they look at me funny that we choose not to like it's just what you do if you are religious. I'm wondering- is it really? Or are there more religious folks out there interested in a more secular system? They also have the opinion that only Athiests teach secular (hence the whole "public schools are Atheist") which I strongly disagree with but still I am curious as to who all is out there and their insights.

[holyhelianthus]

Originally Posted by Karenwith4

Are you looking for Christian families that homeschool from a secular perspective? I wasn't sure if you were equating religious with Christian in your title.

We're UU and the 7 UU principles are integrated into our goals for homeschooling and woven into our learning. It influences our choice of activities and often our choices of materials - but we would have likely chosen those activites and materials even if we weren't UU.

Nope! Not just Christian. See my PP about secular education= Atheist and I will add her also non-religious (not just Christian).

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by magstphil

Maybe I am off in my definition of secular curriculum but I don't see teaching about religion as the same or even close to teaching religion as fact and the foundation of the curriculum. We will still of course cover things like the founding of Islam and even it's tenants (I too find religion fascinating and important in world history) but we will try our darnedest to teach them subjectively.

When we have grammar questions, we always turn to Rod & Staff books for answers. (Gpt a couple cheap at a yard sale). I wouldn't use a creationist curric to answer questions about science, but I often use 'reilgious' stuff-- like Rod & Staff grammar resources. We are athiests through and through, but i wouldn't discount a good source (or story) because it mentioned a god.

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by magstphil

FWIW- the main reason in my asking is because all my religious friends (LDS and other Christian denominations) do religious homeschooling (namely history taught through the scriptures and science as well) and they look at me funny that we choose not to like it's just what you do if you are religious. I'm wondering- is it really? Or are there more religious folks out there interested in a more secular system? They also have the opinion that only Athiests teach secular (hence the whole "public schools are Atheist") which I strongly disagree with but still I am curious as to who all is out there and their insights.

We live in New England and this stuff isn't hard core as it might be in other states. We've also lived in CA, so Ive never had to face this sort of thing.

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Interesting... well, I do use a handwriting book that uses Bible verses (A Reason for Handwriting) but we're just as likely to do copywork using a little poem about fairies. We don't teach science from a religious point of view and I have no desire to use the Bible as a science text, but we do try to include a sense of wonder at God's creation. Since we really follow the liturgical year and base a lot of our celebrations on that, I guess we don't really fit the bill, but we're definitely not strictly religious homeschoolers. We're in no-man's land I guess.

UUMom, I can relate to what you're saying. I try really hard to foster conversation and respect about other belief systems. And religion plays such a huge part in history, literature, etc, that I'm not sure how we would learn without running into it. And running into it naturally leads to a dscussion of our own beliefs.

I agree, AM. There's no way one could, imo. We are very secure in our (non) beliefs that we go anywhere, do anything, read anything and it's not the least bit threatening.

I totally respect the good people I know who are religious. My kids might say things like "How can people believe this??!!" at the dinner table, but they respect others enough to know we don't have all the answers and every single person is entitled to their heartfelt beliefs. They would never question or ridicule the sincere beliefs of anyone unless the person started being rude (you're going to hell! etc) and/or evangelizing to them when asked not to. Which no one ever has.

[holyhelianthus]

Originally Posted by UUMom

We live in New England and this stuff isn't hard core as it might be in other states. We've also lived in CA, so Ive never had to face this sort of thing.

I am in Southern California. Granted I am in a red part of Southern California and the only families I know who homeschool do it for religious reasons.

[holyhelianthus]

Originally Posted by UUMom

When we have grammar questions, we always turn to Rod & Staff books for answers. (Gpt a couple cheap at a yard sale). I wouldn't use a creationist curric to answer questions about science, but I often use 'reilgious' stuff-- like Rod & Staff grammar resources. We are athiests through and through, but i wouldn't discount a good source (or story) because it mentioned a god.

Neither would I (see my PP about Prima Latina). Like I said I'm not saying we shield our kid's eyes and run in the other direction when religion comes up. I am just asking if anyone else who is religious doesn't do a religious based curriculum.

[Whistler]

Christian and Unschooling here. So far most people see this as an oxymoron. I don't. But the Christians seem to PHREAK out at the thought of not using a curriculum and letting my daughter lead.

[emmsmama]

I'm a secular homeschooler

[EdnaMarie]

Originally Posted by magstphil

I agree AM!

What I meant was religious families who do not teach school based around their faith or even with bits of it thrown in. Of course as we live our faith in our family we will have prayer and scripture and church and all that jazz but by secular homeschool I mean secular curriculum. Basically we have no desire to teach history from the Bible or other scripture (for us the Book of Mormon) or censor any science based on religious beliefs. As an example when we are teaching about the early American peoples we will teach it from a secular source and not from the Book of Mormon. Not to say we will never teach that but we have the "save it for Sunday" mentality I guess. Though we don't just live our faith on Sundays but everyday but maybe you get what I am getting at?

Did that make sense?

Makes sense to me. Like, you let scientists write the science books, historians write the history books, and take the Bible for what it is- a book about how to live, not necessarily The Encyclopaedia That Contains the Literal Truth About Everything, and you believe that the proper inverse of "The Bible Is Truth" is NOT "Everything Else Is a (Dangerous) Lie." Like that?

Even if we cannot homeschool due to my child's temperament you are certainly not alone in the overall attitude towards education.

[ABand3]

Magstphil - I know what you're saying. We are a religious (christian) family, using secular curriculm and belong to a secular homeschool group. My beliefs are very different from many I've run into and heard about who are christian homeschoolers here. So when secular hs folks find out I go to church, and people who know I go to church but am not a bible literalist, it doesn't seem to fit.