christian support groups, vs. none
[email protected]
Hi everyone!
We have finally decided to make the big move back to our rural roots.
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of homeschoolers in the area we are headed. I've
been doing some research and making some calls and have found 1 Christian
support group in the area which has about 45 families involved. We are not
Christian homeschoolers. Well, we go to church with my parents sometimes, but
would not put myself in the same league as those hsing for religious reasons.
Anyways, I'm hoping to perhaps find some more like-minded hsers, but if not
I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Christian groups? I'm sure each
one is different and I guess I'll find out how "strict" they are about
membership policies etc when we get there. Just looking for other people's
experiences.
Thanks,
Amanda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
We have finally decided to make the big move back to our rural roots.
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of homeschoolers in the area we are headed. I've
been doing some research and making some calls and have found 1 Christian
support group in the area which has about 45 families involved. We are not
Christian homeschoolers. Well, we go to church with my parents sometimes, but
would not put myself in the same league as those hsing for religious reasons.
Anyways, I'm hoping to perhaps find some more like-minded hsers, but if not
I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Christian groups? I'm sure each
one is different and I guess I'll find out how "strict" they are about
membership policies etc when we get there. Just looking for other people's
experiences.
Thanks,
Amanda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Angela
I've done a few activities with a Christian group before and while (as a
whole) they welcomed me and were friendly and didn't inquire as to my faith
( although I think they assumed I held the same beliefs as them), I still
felt like I didn't fit because my ideas were so different from the majority
of the group. (And I'm not much of a group person anyways.)
They spent time discussing their home schooling problems and curriculum and
I felt like I had nothing to add to the conversation most of the time. When
I did add my two cents worth from an unschooling perspective, *I* felt like
I they thought I was off my rocker or that only people with precocious kids
could unschool. It couldn't work for them. Their kids just aren't that
motivated. yada yada yada. They were respectful of my choice though.
One example: Someone was looking for a math curriculum that had teaching
time in it for a second grader. I replied that time was one of those things
that kids pick up easily from asking ...what time is it? so often. It
isn't necessary to have it covered in a curriculum. Her response....I don't
have time to answer "what time is it" all day long. I am too busy teaching
the kids. It needs to be covered in the curriculum so he will learn it. I
just felt so out of place that it wasn't a comfortable place for me by my
own choice.
That said, my unschooling talk did influence one person who at least "tried
unschooling" for a little while. I am afraid she didn't quite grasp the
concept completely though and eventually gave up and sent her kids to public
school. :0( Later on I found out that another person who participated in
that group (but didn't go to the same church, like everyone else) is a very
laid back homeschooler who basically teaches with games. I just hadn't
really talked with her much at the group events.
It is certainly possible to meet other people in a Christian group who are
more laid back in their approach to home schooling. Maybe your kids will
hit it off and you will be able to keep the conversation on anything *but*
religion. I'd give it a try if it were my only choice.
I hope you enjoy living in the country again. :0)
Angela
game-enthusiast@...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
whole) they welcomed me and were friendly and didn't inquire as to my faith
( although I think they assumed I held the same beliefs as them), I still
felt like I didn't fit because my ideas were so different from the majority
of the group. (And I'm not much of a group person anyways.)
They spent time discussing their home schooling problems and curriculum and
I felt like I had nothing to add to the conversation most of the time. When
I did add my two cents worth from an unschooling perspective, *I* felt like
I they thought I was off my rocker or that only people with precocious kids
could unschool. It couldn't work for them. Their kids just aren't that
motivated. yada yada yada. They were respectful of my choice though.
One example: Someone was looking for a math curriculum that had teaching
time in it for a second grader. I replied that time was one of those things
that kids pick up easily from asking ...what time is it? so often. It
isn't necessary to have it covered in a curriculum. Her response....I don't
have time to answer "what time is it" all day long. I am too busy teaching
the kids. It needs to be covered in the curriculum so he will learn it. I
just felt so out of place that it wasn't a comfortable place for me by my
own choice.
That said, my unschooling talk did influence one person who at least "tried
unschooling" for a little while. I am afraid she didn't quite grasp the
concept completely though and eventually gave up and sent her kids to public
school. :0( Later on I found out that another person who participated in
that group (but didn't go to the same church, like everyone else) is a very
laid back homeschooler who basically teaches with games. I just hadn't
really talked with her much at the group events.
It is certainly possible to meet other people in a Christian group who are
more laid back in their approach to home schooling. Maybe your kids will
hit it off and you will be able to keep the conversation on anything *but*
religion. I'd give it a try if it were my only choice.
I hope you enjoy living in the country again. :0)
Angela
game-enthusiast@...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/4/04 6:02:33 PM, Mattamandab@... writes:
<< I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Christian groups? I'm sure
each
one is different and I guess I'll find out how "strict" they are about
membership policies etc when we get there. >>
The buzzword to use when you inquire would be "statement of faith." If you
wonder what those might be like, just go to google.com and put in homeschool
group statement of faith.
Some groups require the statement be signed by any family participating.
Others only require it for the officers. Some call themselves "inclusive" and
the fact that that there's a statement of faith required for officers or
organizers isn't openly discussed.
If they say they're "not a statement of faith group," that would mean they
wouldn't mind you being there even though you might not be exactly their kind of
Christian. (Depending what other impurities your life has, you might still
be welcome, I mean.)
Maybe you'll find another group anyway and it won't matter.
Sandra
<< I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Christian groups? I'm sure
each
one is different and I guess I'll find out how "strict" they are about
membership policies etc when we get there. >>
The buzzword to use when you inquire would be "statement of faith." If you
wonder what those might be like, just go to google.com and put in homeschool
group statement of faith.
Some groups require the statement be signed by any family participating.
Others only require it for the officers. Some call themselves "inclusive" and
the fact that that there's a statement of faith required for officers or
organizers isn't openly discussed.
If they say they're "not a statement of faith group," that would mean they
wouldn't mind you being there even though you might not be exactly their kind of
Christian. (Depending what other impurities your life has, you might still
be welcome, I mean.)
Maybe you'll find another group anyway and it won't matter.
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/5/2004 12:00:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:
Maybe you'll find another group anyway and it won't matter.<<<<
Or MAKE your own group. Yahoogroups are free and easy to establish. Then
"advertise" in your area. Make it inclusive or secular or unschoolers only or
whatever you're comfortable with. You'd be surprised who will come out of the
woodwork!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
SandraDodd@... writes:
Maybe you'll find another group anyway and it won't matter.<<<<
Or MAKE your own group. Yahoogroups are free and easy to establish. Then
"advertise" in your area. Make it inclusive or secular or unschoolers only or
whatever you're comfortable with. You'd be surprised who will come out of the
woodwork!
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/4/04 6:58:37 PM, game-enthusiast@... writes:
<< Her response....I don't
have time to answer "what time is it" all day long. I am too busy teaching
the kids. >>
In a court of parenting, that should put into question her suitability to be
a homeschooling mom. I mean if I were the judge. <g>
If she had time to tell them what time it was all day long, in no time they
wouldn't have to ask anymore, and she wouldn't have to EVER teach if she'd just
have time to answer questions all day long!
Sandra
<< Her response....I don't
have time to answer "what time is it" all day long. I am too busy teaching
the kids. >>
In a court of parenting, that should put into question her suitability to be
a homeschooling mom. I mean if I were the judge. <g>
If she had time to tell them what time it was all day long, in no time they
wouldn't have to ask anymore, and she wouldn't have to EVER teach if she'd just
have time to answer questions all day long!
Sandra
Angela
Sandra wrote:
Sandra wrote:
understand that logic at all. I wonder if she thought about it after she
left.
Angela
game-enthusiast@...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>In a court of parenting, that should put into question her suitability tobe
>a homeschooling mom. I mean if I were the judge. <g>LOL!
Sandra wrote:
> If she had time to tell them what time it was all day long, in no timethey
> wouldn't have to ask anymore, and she wouldn't have to EVER teach ifshe'd just
> have time to answer questions all day long!I was flabbergasted. ;0) I just stood there looking confused. I didn't
understand that logic at all. I wonder if she thought about it after she
left.
Angela
game-enthusiast@...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Christina Morrissey
If it's the only homeschooling support group in the area, odds are that you
may find yourself a match in the group. However, it will take some time,
considerable restraint, and diplomacy to determine who the like-minded
families are. You may not want to or feel comfortable enough to speak up
publicly about your methods and philosophies, but will rather hold
one-on-one chit chats on the side as you get to know the individual parents
during the various activities. In the meantime though, you and your
children will make friends and acquaintances of all kinds. The kids in
particular usually don't care what brand of homeschooling a family is
using! It's worth at least a try. Be prepared for the prayer before and
end of every meeting though....and prepare the kids.
--Christina
<< I've been doing some research and making some calls and have found 1
Christian
may find yourself a match in the group. However, it will take some time,
considerable restraint, and diplomacy to determine who the like-minded
families are. You may not want to or feel comfortable enough to speak up
publicly about your methods and philosophies, but will rather hold
one-on-one chit chats on the side as you get to know the individual parents
during the various activities. In the meantime though, you and your
children will make friends and acquaintances of all kinds. The kids in
particular usually don't care what brand of homeschooling a family is
using! It's worth at least a try. Be prepared for the prayer before and
end of every meeting though....and prepare the kids.
--Christina
<< I've been doing some research and making some calls and have found 1
Christian
>support group in the area which has about 45 families involved. Just
>looking for other people's
>experiences.>>
>Thanks,
>Amanda
>