My main views on homeschooling are summarised in this post. I have helped many homeschoolers as a professional educator including loaning out school materials for their use and testing children. I am totally opposed to poor education and the majority of homeschooling by fundamentalist Christians is poor education for the reasons given below. As a professional teacher for 30 years (K-12 & adult) I had to fix up the kids who were homeschooled but their homeschooling had failed. I am not the only professional teacher who has had to do the same thing! Homeschooling works best when there are guidelines to follow that are set by professional educators and where the process is reviewed on a regular basis by professional educators. NSW, Australia has such a policy: http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/ & http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/
Note that ASSESSMENT & INSPECTIONS are MANDATORY!!!!!
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from http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/aussieed/homeschooling.htm
NSW BOARD OF STUDIESAll applicants seeking registration for Home Education must satisfy the Minimum Curriculum Requirements.
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Many states in the USA have NO standard for homeschooling whatsoever. THEREIN IS THE PROBLEM! If pseudo-science creationism can be taught as science in such homeschools then phrenology, blood letting, astrology, tarot card reading, etc etc etc can ALSO be taught as science.
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HOMESKOOL MORONS USING THE CRAP BELOW TO INDOCRINATE THEIR CHILDREN IS A FORM OF CHILD ABUSE.- Bob Jones University Press- Pensacola Christian College (A Beka Books)- Robinson Self-Teaching Home School CurriculumSome of the very worst material to place anywhere near a child!
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1. BOB JONES UNIVERSITY PRESS
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BJU Accreditation Through TRACS
Bob Jones University is a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) [PO Box 328, Forest, VA 24551; Telephone: 434.525.9539; email: i...@tracs.org] having been awarded Candidate status as a Category IV institution by the TRACS Accreditation Commission on April 6, 2005; this status is effective for a period of five years.
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This actually doesn't mean much. Bob Jones Uni is a fundamentalist creationist ratbag factory. I quote from their associated site .... http://www.itib.org/
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Testimony To An Infallable BibleThe church today is contending against an enemy-one cloaked in the guise of truth and relevance. Ecumenical alliances sound the siren song of unity, which in itself is desirable and biblical but frequently sacrifices biblical fidelity to reach that end. The emotionalism so prevalent in modern churches produces much heat but all too often neglects the light of God's Word. The secular world, with its seductive refrain of "tolerance" presents itself as compatible with biblical Christianity. The resurgence of Neo-Paganism and New Age ideologies promises greater peace and power, yet only echoes the age-old hollow promises Satan made to Eve. Now, more than ever, it is time to proclaim the profound differences between the counterfeits and the eternal truth of God's Word. This is what the International Testimony to an Infallible Bible (or "ITIB") is all about.The ITIB started a number of years ago when several men were having dinner together while attending Bible Conference at Bob Jones University. In the course of the conversation, someone mentioned how timely it would be to have a congress which Fundamentalists from around the world could attend to receive inspiration, instruction, encouragement, and fellowship. A committee was formed, and in June of 1976 the World Congress of Fundamentalists was held in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was intended to be a one-time affair;however, those who attended were so encouraged and blessed they requested that another such meeting be held.Since that date over sixteen congresses (whether global or regional in scope) have been sponsored by the ITIB. The global or World Congresses are held about every ten years, while regional congresses are held every year or two in different locations around the globe.The ITIB is co-chaired by Dr. Ian Paisley (member of the European Parliament; Pastor of Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church, Belfast, Northern Ireland) and Dr. Bob Jones III (President of Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina, USA). The ITIB Committee is comprised of both ministers and laymen who meet occasionally to help guide the direction of the ITIB. Encouraging fidelity to the Bible is their overriding concern forthe ITIB.It is amazing how far error, posing as truth, has advanced, taking control of so many churches and Christian institutions throughout the world. It is our prayer that the truth of biblical separation from all error, when understood and practiced by the pastors around the world, will reveal the dark and dangerous situation in which the church finds itself today.
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What ratbaggery!!!!!! There are many such "universities" in the USA and their "degrees" have no worth in Australia whatsoever!
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2. A BEKA BOOKS
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http://chronicle.com/weekly/v52/i29/29a04001.htm
From the issue dated March 24, 2006
A College That's Strictly Different
Secretive Pensacola Christian controls student life with tough regulations and unwritten rules
By THOMAS BARTLETT Pensacola, Fla
....Pensacola Christian College prides itself on being different, not just from secular colleges, but from fellow Christian ones, too......Lisa Morris was walking to class with her boyfriend last October when something happened. At first Ms. Morris, a sophomore music major, is reluctant to divulge the details. Eventually, however, the truth comes out: He patted her behind.Someone who witnessed the incident reported Ms. Morris and her boyfriend. At Pensacola any physical contact between members of the opposite sex is forbidden. (Members of the same sex may touch, although the college condemns homosexuality.) The forbidden contact includes shaking hands and definitely includes patting behinds. Both students were expelled.....Even couples who are not talking or touching can be reprimanded. Sabrina Poirier, a student at Pensacola who withdrew in 1997, was disciplined for what is known on the campus as "optical intercourse" - staring too intently into the eyes of a member of the opposite sex. This is also referred to as "making eye babies." While the rule does not appear in written form, most students interviewed for this article were familiar with the concept.
.....
There are plenty of other ways to run afoul of the rules. Last spring Timothy Dow was caught playing the video game Halo 2. Such games are banned by the college. Movies are also forbidden, including those rated G. Music is restricted to classical or approved Christian ("contemporary Christian" artists are deemed too worldly). Students are allowed to watch television news at 6 o'clock, but that's it. The TVs are controlled by college employees, who flip a switch to black out the commercials, lest students see anything inappropriate.In the library, books and magazines are censored. One student says she saw a pair of black-marker boxer shorts on a photograph of Michelangelo's David. Any books that students wish to read that are not in the library must first be approved by administrators. Those containing references to "magic," for instance, are normally rejected. The rule book specifically prohibits"fleshly magazines and books."
......Along with the college, Mr. Horton founded A Beka Books, acknowledged as the largest Christian-textbook company in the world. A Beka sells textbooks to more than 10,000 Christian schools across the country, offering a complete curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grade. It has also won a big share of the lucrative home-school market.
The company brings in about $70-million in annual revenue and is valued at $280-million, according to Dun & Bradstreet. A sizable chunk of that revenue goes to support the college, which does not come close to breaking even on its own. According to its 2003 tax filing, the university collected $20-million in tuition and fees and $3-million from contributions. The filing attributes $15-million in income to "royalties," presumably from A Beka.In the mid-90s, A Beka paid nearly $50-million in back taxes after the Internal Revenue Service ruled that it should have been classified as a for-profit entity. The college itself remains nonprofit.Revenue from A Beka helps keep costs extremely low. Students pay $6,000 a year for tuition, room, and board. That's about a third or a quarter of what most other Christian colleges cost. When asked what other colleges they considered, Pensacola students often mention Bob Jones, Cedarville University, Northland Baptist Bible College, and Abilene Christian University. Cost is usually cited as the deciding factor.
Just as the textbook company helps support the college, the college helps support the textbook company. Many of Pensacola's students work for A Beka, operating binding equipment, packing books into boxes, loading those boxes onto forklifts. Some students complain about the working conditions; others say it's a good deal. For women, A Beka is usually the only employment option because they are not allowed to hold off-campus jobs. Or leave the campus alone, for that matter.In the world of Christian colleges, Pensacola is an oddity. It is not a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. It has little to do with other institutions. Several administrators at other Christian colleges declined to discuss Pensacola on the record for fear of seeming critical. One said he did not know enough to speak knowledgeably becausePensacola keeps mostly to itself.While not wanting to criticize Pensacola, Carl A. Ruby, vice president for student life at Cedarville, in Ohio, emphasizes that his university doesn't take the "bad-kid approach" to discipline. "On major issues of Christian doctrine, we are probably always on the same page," he writes in an e-mail message. "In terms of living out our faith on a daily basis, significantdifferences emerge."....Creationism is taught in science courses.....Several previously unaccredited Christian colleges, like Bob Jones, have recently become candidates for accreditation. Pensacola, however, has shown no interest in outside approval of any kind. Nor does it advertise its unaccredited status. A search of the Web site turns up no mention of accreditation. It is not mentioned in the college's viewbook either, whichdedicates four pages to sports activities and two to campus facilities.....
Lack of accreditation has been a problem for Amy Brown, too. She graduated from Pensacola in 2003 with a degree in early-childhood education. But because the college is not accredited, she cannot teach in public schools, she says. She had no idea what accreditation was before enrolling at Pensacola. "I never tried to transfer," she writes in an e-mail message,"because I had friends that did and ended up with all of their credits as electives," meaning that they had to retake required courses.Mr. Ghobrial, the student from Egypt who doesn't mind the rules, wants to attend dental school. His first choice, West Virginia University, has already said it would not consider his application, because Pensacola is not accredited. "I'm hoping they change their minds," he says.Many Christian colleges do accept Pensacola's credits, as do some secular institutions. Several former students say they have had no difficulty transferring credits or applying for jobs. But others have. And as more states crack down on degrees from unaccredited colleges, it may get even tougher for Pensacola graduates.....
http://chronicle.com
Section: StudentsVolume 52, Issue 29, Page A40
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> ROBINSON SELF-TEACHING HOME SCHOOL CURRICULUM
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- TOTALLY dependent upon good literacy skills to begin with.
- Lock-step without any deviation from the program.
- 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica used - outdated and too complicated for younger readers
- 1913 Webster's Dictionary used - outdated and too complicated for younger readers
- Science texts instead of hands on experimentation and disvcovery learning.
- Original King James Version of the Bible - outdated and language too complicated for any child of any age
-Phonics only without the addition of whole language approach, etc.
- Claims to be "self-teaching" but pupils require interaction with at least one other person - a teacher.
This "box:" is the lazy person's way of homeschooling and not worth the money you will outlay for it.
Visit the utter shite at http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/view/rc/s31p45.htm
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Fundamentalism & homeschooling - "Little Ones To Him Belong" from"THE FUNDAMENTALS OF EXTREMISM - The Christian Right in America"Edited by Kimberly Blaker New Boston Books, Inc. Michigan 2003
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LITTLE ONES TO HIM BELONGby Bobbie Kirkhart
p. 48 ff
Our goal is not to make the schools better. . . . the goal is to hamper them, so they cannot grow. . . . Our goal as God-fearing, uncompromised . .. Christians is to shut down the public schools . . . step by step, school by school, district by district.
Robert Thoburne in The Children Trap.....fundamentalist responses are largely divided into attempts to control their own children's education, and attempts to control all children's education.....Still, the typical home schooling parent is white, Protestant, with above-average income and education. When only one reason for home schooling is elicited, the most common reason for the decision is the importance home schooling parents put in religious education. One might expect virtually all home schooling parents include in their reasoning they believe they can provide a better education. Interestingly, in a 1999 survey, although this was the most popular reason cited, it was included by slightly fewer than half of the parents. This is in spite of more than one answer being allowed. Religion was a close second at thirty-eight percent, and undoubtedly overlapped the fifteen percent who chose character building and the twelve percent who objected to what the school teaches.
While home schooling parents' education is usually above the average, in only ten states are parents required to have a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma to home school. It has been found that almost nineteen percent of home schooling parents did not finish high school. There is no question home schooled children may do well academically. Homeschooling proponents point to the large percentage of spelling bee and geography champions who have been home schooled. Unfettered by curriculum mandates, those parents whose ambition for their children lies in these subjects have a huge advantage in home schooling. It is more difficult to make sense of the "average," however. Proponents point to relatively high percentiles on SAT and ACT scores, and on various "norming" tests. Indeed, they are impressive, but they reflect a selfselected minority of home-schooled students.....Among educators and child development specialists, the biggest concern with home schooling is the lack of social experience, both inside and outside the classroom. Many home schoolers form collectives for providing enrichment activities, such as field trips, and enter their children in such things as group dance class or group sports. But the interaction provided is structured and controlled, lacking the diversity the child will face in the workforce and without even the limited freedom of speech and association present in the high school hallway.Many home schooling parents see this as an advantage. But if it is an advantage, it is not one an adult can maintain and still enjoy the full mobility, cultural opportunity, and freedom our society has to offer.
Educators point out peer interaction is a valuable and necessary component of a good academic lesson plan. Class discussion, oral reports, and cooperative learning assignments such as small group projects are important segments of the modern classroom day. Most teachers consider them vital to a total educational experience. Some of the reasons this is true may in fact be among fundamentalists' objections to public education. Peer interaction increases creativity and critical thinking skills. It is a teacher's job to tell the students what is required, so students may meet the expectations. But when one is trying to please fellow students, there is no clear line, no "this is the answer they want" to seek. In class discussion, students have some social protection if they want to question the authority of the teacher's statement or the instructional materials. This is a practice good teachers encourage, as it forces the student to look critically at the issues and take ownership of his or her own ideas.....Typical fundamentalist home schooling parents have taken their children out of school as much to protect them from learning which they consider harmful, as to instill religious values. This greatly decreases what the parent needs to know. Certainly, in the field of biology, the debate is well known. Without evolution, any real understanding of DNA is not important. Teaching it in depth might lead the child to conclude the evolutionists are right.The typical public high school literature class includes work encouraging students to think beyond the cliché, and to question traditional values. This is not as much to get students to change their values, but so that they will know why they hold them. To the fundamentalist, all values are prescribed in the Bible, as explained by some earthly authority.Questioning them is sacrilege. Neither William Shakespeare nor Toni Morrison fit in this scheme. Literature can go as far as oversimplified interpretations of Milton and Blake.
Ancient history must be shaped to conform to Biblical accounts, and merican history is distorted into an account of a struggle to establish and maintain a Christian religion. Any serious study of ancient India or of America's Founding Fathers calls these standards into question. Indeed, many fundamentalists claim the Founding Fathers were Christian, in spite of a clear record that the majority of the most prominent were not.Other social sciences have to include the concepts homosexuality is a sin, anti-social behavior is inspired by Satan, and people who have not heard the word of Jesus are culturally deficient. This, then, excludes much of the traditional teaching of the courses that might call the entire belief system into question. Therefore, fundamentalist children are left with very primitive concepts of biology and physics, with-if the parent can teach it-some chemistry, though much organic chemistry is suspect.Mathematics does present a real problem. Though its applications are often considered sinful, it is not philosophically excluded from the fundamentalist curriculum. New math, where children are taught to use critical thinking skills, rather than just the mechanics, is typically avoided.However, at the higher levels, the math is beyond most parents' abilities. Health class, of course, excludes any in-depth study of the human reproductive system and certainly of birth control. It may also well omit common psychological issues, such as depression.Finally, Bible study is important to the fundamentalist curriculum, but study here may be a misnomer. The fundamentalists' assertion they take the Bible literally, without need for interpretation, belies the internal contradictions within the collection. So, even Bible study, in addition to lacking any critical analysis, is inadequate in significant detail.
Fundamentalists teach the story of Jesus' resurrection as history. Yet, they cannot teach the contradictory events and time lines of the various versions without adding explanations that defy both logic and Biblical scholarship.It is no surprise fundamentalists are less likely than the general population to obtain a college education. Sociologists Alfred Darnell and Darren Sherkat reveal fundamentalists were found to "have significantly lower educational attainment in 1973 and 1982" than others. They are also less likely to take college preparatory classes and have lower educationalaspirations.190Fundamentalists are also often opposed to colleges, because they see Christians lose their faith with higher education. By not obtaining a higher education, fundamentalists never learn to think critically about religion, politics, and social issues. This leads to mental stagnation in many areas, and therefore, such problems cannot be resolved.
Welcome to the FUNDAMENTALIST FUNHOUSE!
