Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Wednesday Shout-Out: Homeschooling Freethinkers



We're homeschoolers. This does not mean we're religious. I've nothing against religion in general, but we don't fit neatly into any one spiritual category. I'm a scientist by training with a solid background in evolutionary theory and biology so, needless to say, creationism is not a part of our belief system.

We're not the only secular homeschoolers out there. A good portion of homeschoolers do NOT stay out of traditional schools for religious reasons. However, many homeschooling materials are designed for conservative Christian families, and it can be difficult to tell whether or not you're ordering something that claims the earth is only six to ten thousand years old.

Enter Homeschooling Freethinkers. Now you don't have to guess what you're getting -- Homeschooling Freethinkers screens the resources for you. Books and materials are listed and tagged as secular or religious. Some materials aren't so clear-cut, so the website makes appropriate notes wherever applicable.

This is a huge time saver. I plan to visit this site often over the coming years. I don't want to spend hours of my time trying to figure out whether or not a chemistry curriculum is ever going to explain carbon dating. Conversely, a Christian homeschooler might want to avoid all texts that mention evolution. Homeschooling Freethinkers provides such information.

Excellent. Both religious and secular homeschoolers should have what they each feel they need to optimally educate their own, specific children. Choices are good things to have.

2 comments:

PeacefulSoraya said...

Awesome! My husband and I also want to homeschool. We are both scientists who happen to live in a very conservative state. We believe nature is number one! We are avid hikers as well, very active and wish to incorporate nature as much as possible in our child's life. You and your girls have truly been inspirational. Thank you entirely. Happy trails!

Patricia Ellis Herr, Alexandra Herr, and Sage Herr said...

Hi Soraya,

Thanks for writing! Homeschooling is a wonderful choice for us, though we are strongly considering an online high school for grades 9-12 (that's fodder for another post). You're right, nature is number one! It helps with, well, everything, including academic prowess. Getting outside on a regular basis helps the girls focus when it comes time to do the academic heavy lifting.

Have fun! If you happen to live in New Hampshire (which can be quite conservative depending on where you reside), then let us know!