One of my critics recently posted a review on a website that was less than warm and fuzzy. She clearly has a personal vendetta, but it definitely made me reflect. Her overall complaint was that I have a media-focused, entertainment based approach to learning. I thought this was quite hilarious and it compelled me to write this post. While her review was a poorly demonstrated version of how I am against some types of homeschoolers, it did more to show her own lack of concern over student engagement than anything.
One of her biggest complaints was that I rely heavily on Minecraft. I appreciate her dropping this in there, as adding Minecraft to anything is sure to boost hits online. Do I use a lot of Minecraft in our homeschooling? Yes, but the message was clearly missed on this critic. I use Minecraft precisely because that is where my student's engagement is high. I'd hope that every homeschooling parent would take a look at their student's interest and hand tailor the curriculum to reach that perfect level of engagement where the student doesn't want to walk away from the lessons, even when they're finished. This isn't a fault, it's quality homeschooling. If you disagree with Minecraft, that's ok by me- I support and write for any homeschooler that is interested in a better academic experience for their child. In your house, that might be through cooking, gardening, travel, reading the great books or some other family centered activity. Whatever your adventure, take the concept of my descriptions of how to use Minecraft and spin it for your family to meet your needs.
Her second biggest complaint is that I favor movies over literature. I'm pretty sure she's gotten me confused with some other person, or perhaps the one time I posted a link to Teach with Movies she took that to mean all we do is watch movies. I'm laughing over here while writing, though my son is definitely not. He's pretty insulted at the notion that he doesn't do "real" work. He's finished more than 60 books this school year. Real books, including classics like A Tale of Two Cities and popular topics like Ender's Game. Did we see the movie of Ender's Game? Yes. Did he write a lengthy compare and contrast essay about the differences in the book and the movie? Yes. By the way, he far and above preferred the book.
Then we come to the root of her complaint, that I am anti-religion. I'd really like to put this one to rest, since it seems to be where people focus when they read the first ten pages of my book. I am not anti-religion. I am not against homeschoolers who are religious. I wrote my book to help support and encourage the small percentage of an already small population of homeschoolers who are not homeschooling for religious purposes. This is a huge distinction that perhaps I haven't made clear or the critics haven't stayed reading long enough to discover. I support all types of homeschooling- from those who are free spirited unschoolers to those who school at home, to those who are homeschooling for religious purposes, to those who are Classical or eclectic or Charlotte Mason or some little dabble of each. Whatever your reason or purpose for homeschooling, it's still homeschooling at the core and I support your endeavors.
My intention in writing the book, was to support my fellow homeschoolers who live in an area where every park group requires a statement of faith, where every co-op is part of a church group. Any reader who stayed with the book past the first few pages would note that I give credit to homeschoolers for religious purposes who have built up homeschooling and made it possible to homeschool legally in all fifty states. Because I am not homeschooling for religious purposes doesn't mean I can't appreciate your family's decision. If you are of a different faith, or of no faith, or simply don't want to be a part of a group that by definition is exclusive, that's also a family decision.
Academic Homeschooling is about reminding you that you are not alone if you forego the statement of faith and that if you keep looking, you'll discover others just like you. Isn't that the real beauty of homeschooling? That we can step back, encourage our kids to flourish and grow without a box and follow whatever path fits our family's needs best?
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