The New Hobbit Hole

[2Jedismom]

Ok, Now, Good night Corin!

[Corin Stormhands]

Ah, now we can rest. G'nite again...

[2Jedismom]

Whoohooo! I'm number one!!

[Corin Stormhands]

G'nite. I'm an hour ahead of you, so I'll go ahead and say good morning while I'm at it...

[Corin Stormhands]

I'm number one!!

You've always been number one with us 2JM.

[2Jedismom]

Why did the parent ask that? Is it a Christian home school academy?

[Corin Stormhands]

Yes, it is a Christian home school academy. My wife will be teaching American Lit and Writing to 10,11,&12 grades.

She's very good at teaching things from a Biblical world view. But she's not really tolerant of sheltering kids, especially at those ages. And the list she gave was "suggested" not mandatory.

I don't (and I don't think she does) have a problem with parents who don't want their kids to read certain things. I do have a problem if they can't give a reason for their objections. And, I think we've had these conversations here before, if we stick with just "Christian" authors, the pickin's are mighty slim, and even slimmer if we want quality too...

[Corin Stormhands]

OK, this time I'm really gone. G'nite. I'll see you folks tomorrow.

[HairOfTheDog]

That is only a fraction of the evidence I have seen that you are a square peg! That is why I love ya!

Good night Corin!

[2Jedismom]

Hmmm...well, if I sent my kid to a Christian school or co-op, I would expect the literature to be from a Christian world view. If the school claims to be a Christian institution and they don't stick to a Christian perspective, what's the point of sending them to a Christian school?

Many Christian parents are very sheltering of their kids and if your wife isn't tolerant of that, I fear she may be in for a shock! The parents are paying, I assume? If so, then they are the customer and your wife's tolerance or intolerance is irrelevent! They don't even have to explain or give the reasons for their objections!

From a purely business standpoint, the parent had the right to ask.

Don't hit me with anything!!! ;-)

[2Jedismom]

Jen's a lot like me, I think, except that she has a lot of self-confidence at an early age, and it took me years and years to realize I had anything worth saying.

Sometimes I blurt out more than I should, now. Hope that isn't the case with Corin just now! :-/

[HairOfTheDog]

If it were a theology class, I would completely agree...

If the class is American Literature though... shouldn't the kids read "American" literature that has been popular or noteworthy, by prominent authors regardless of whether the author or subject is "Christian"? I wouldn't advocate trashy completely amoral stuff, but I somehow doubt that is the case with Corin's wife.

Corin, what are some of the titles?

The important American authors may or may not have been Christian. Of course, if there are Christian perspectives on ideas in the book, those could be discussed in class...

[2Jedismom]

Mmm...yes, I see your point. But I'm a square peg and there are some pretty totally round pegs out there! LOL I guess it would have to be what specifically the customer was wanting to buy. If they are wanting to buy a totally Christian world view education (as is their right, more power to 'em), then they sure have the right to ask.

I personally think the entire question is moronic because the parent ought to make the final decision (Christian school or not) on what the child reads. If a parent called me up and said "Is this list approved?" I would say, "I don't know...have you approved it?" I mean, Corin's wife just suggested...it's up to the parent to approve. I think the parent had the right to ask because this is a business transaction, but parents like that just get on my last good nerve.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yes, the "Is this approved by Christians? Please think for me!" aspect to her question is pretty weak. She probably hasn't read any of the books, and doesn't know if she is supposed to like them or not.

[2Jedismom]

Exactly! The only thing that would keep me from shouting "What's wrong with you, you stupid cow?" is the fact that this is a business deal. The parent is the customer and Corin's wife is providing a service for a fee.

I have a friend that this all reminds me of. She homeschools too, and she uses a curriculum that is very good but also very very Christian based. I was using Calvert School at the time (first grade) and she was appalled that I would use a secular curriculum. She said "What if they slip something unchristian in on you and you teach it without knowing!" Just what you said, she was basically using her curriculum to think for her. She abdicated her own decision-making to a curriculum.

I don't abdicate my parenting to anyone. Not anyone or anything. My husband and I make the decisions about what is best for our children (with prayer and discussion) and many times people have balked at us...but we just plow on, doing what we think is best. And so far, it seems to be working! :-)

[2Jedismom]

[HairOfTheDog]

hehehehe - I think it is a shame that I can't hear you say "What is wrong with you, you stupid cow?"

Much funnier than your retrained position, from my vantage point.

[2Jedismom]

Hey, that same friend of mine came up to me and said "Oh, you should read this book!" It was called "Parenting is not for Cowards" and was obviously one of those psychobabble books that just happens to be aimed at Christian parents. I said "I don't need to read it, I'm not a coward and I'm not having any trouble parenting!"

You know, there's a time when you just gotta get up and do it and that's how we are with parenting. We could read about it...go to classes about it...all that stuff. But we don't. We just pray really hard (and I mean hard...sometimes I cry while I'm praying about my kids!) But by golly, when I get up off my knees, I've got to trust the Lord to answer my prayers and just do the best I can. Reading and taking courses and bible studies over it is just putting off doing it.

[2Jedismom]

[HairOfTheDog]

That is a great page of smilies! - I am gonna go back and make a note of some of those!