Okay, how do you think I am going to come down on this one?
“The majority of home-schoolers self-identify as evangelical Christians,” said Ian Slatter, a spokesman for the Home School Legal Defense Association. “Most home-schoolers will definitely have a sort of creationist component to their home-school program.”
Those who don’t, however, often feel isolated and frustrated from trying to find a textbook that fits their beliefs.
Two of the best-selling biology textbooks stack the deck against evolution, said some science educators who reviewed sections of the books at the request of The Associated Press.
“I feel fairly strongly about this. These books are promulgating lies to kids,” said Jerry Coyne, an ecology and evolution professor at the University of Chicago.
The textbook publishers defend their books as well-rounded lessons on evolution and its shortcomings. One of the books doesn’t attempt to mask disdain for Darwin and evolutionary science.
“Those who do not believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God will find many points in this book puzzling,” says the introduction to “Biology: Third Edition” from Bob Jones University Press. “This book was not written for them.”
The textbook delivers a religious ultimatum to young readers and parents, warning in its “History of Life” chapter that a “Christian worldview … is the only correct view of reality; anyone who rejects it will not only fail to reach heaven but also fail to see the world as it truly is.“
Okay, here is the bit – homeschoolers are being given educational materials which deny evolution and teach that a Christian worldview is essential to heaven.
I don’t particularly believe in evolution, and you should suspect that I am open to Genesis 1 not exactly being about a scientific undertaking on how God created everything. Here is my thing:
When your children are taught not to think, not to explore, not to deal with the adverse arguments against their system of beliefs – you know, with something akin to evidence and not ‘You are going to hell if you believe such and such because the Bible told me so’ – then you are creating mindless zombies which will eventually turn against you. We are no longer in the 18th century. Educational materials not approved by Bob Jones are free to the public on the I-N-T-E-R-N-E-T.
For what it is worth, I want my children to learn about Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Atheism, Philosophy and varying sects of Christians. Not in a manner which is disrespectful to those other belief systems, but one which does set Christianity above them. I intend to use opportunities from their public school experience to teach them what I believe and how I overcome obstacles.
I can either teach them to believe that all Buddhists are going to hell, or I can teach them to understand Buddhism, do a little comparative religion exercise, and deal with Buddhism, work with a Buddhist, or even, dare I say it, talk to a Buddhist about beliefs. The same with Atheism. Baptists. Homosexuals.
I know a family in South Louisiana which homeschooled their 3 children. Very smart and bright children – I grew up with this family. But, the eldest cannot function in society, and as last I heard, still lives at home, in the same room he grew up in. His sisters live in mobile homes right behind mom and dad, married, with children, but again, still at home. They are isolated from the outside world, believing that everyone else is going to hell. Are the two connected? Maybe, maybe not. But the mentality which prevents out of fear children from learning about other things prevents these people from forming relationships and connections beyond their mailbox.
You know, I intend to teach them to THINK.
See the article here:
Top home-school texts dismiss Darwin, evolution – Yahoo! News.
Joel L. Watts holds a Masters of Arts from United Theological Seminary with a focus in literary and rhetorical criticism of the New Testament. His interests include exploring the role of mimesis in human civilization, specifically in the study of religion and media, as well as science fiction and the way in which it has allowed mythology to be explored in light of scientific discoveries of the past century. He is the author of Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark: Introduction and Commentary (Wipf and Stock, 2013) and a co-editor and contributor to From Fear to Faith: Stories of Hitting Spiritual Walls (Energion, 2013).
Website: → Unsettled Christianity
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Joel,
Last I heard, salvation came through Jesus Christ…not our belief in creationism or evolution. From your post, it sounds to me like the homeschool materials described in your post are
borderlineidolatrous in their treatment of creationism.I tend to agree, Craig.
Joel,
Last I heard, salvation came through Jesus Christ…not our belief in creationism or evolution. From your post, it sounds to me like the homeschool materials described in your post are
borderlineidolatrous in their treatment of creationism.I tend to agree, Craig.
I guess you and I are playing against types here.
I, who do accept evolution, come down strongly in favor of homeschooling. I’m sure we can all point to homeschooling failures, but it’s important not to ignore the kids screwed up and not taught to think in public schools, either. It all comes down to the parents; I think it’s important to teach kids to think long before having to simultaneously dispel them of wrong beliefs by their peers, whom they’re always going to be inclined to believe. Of course, I was homeschooled and am currently homeschooling the first school-age child of my own, so I have a particular perspective on this.
Here’s my post on this topic, from a somewhat libertarian perspective.
Steve, we aren’t that far off.
Actually, I am proponent of homeschooling and parent responsibility. My point here is that those parents who are homeschooling and decide to shield their children from every known adverse argument to their worldview are not being responsible.
I have my issues with public schooling. Now, if every teacher was like Bitsy…
Yeah, I have every intention of making my kids aware of various worldviews when they come of age to critically evaluate them.
I must say, though, that a lot of the criticism (not yours) of homeschooling that focuses on parents sheltering their kids strikes me as absurd: of course it’s sheltering. Sheltering is integral to what good parents do — parents don’t allow them to be assaulted by more than they’re ready for. The question really is about how well parents evaluate what they’re ready for and how they should go about preparing them. Laying a foundation is crucial.
(I’m sure you probably agree with this — pardon me for the tangent.)
I completely agree, Steve.
I want to shelter my youngins from lots of things, just not, well, thinking. You are right, it comes down to evaluation and preparation.
One thing that gets me about homeschool criticism is the ‘lack of socialization.’ But, I reckon that is another tangent.
I guess you and I are playing against types here.
I, who do accept evolution, come down strongly in favor of homeschooling. I’m sure we can all point to homeschooling failures, but it’s important not to ignore the kids screwed up and not taught to think in public schools, either. It all comes down to the parents; I think it’s important to teach kids to think long before having to simultaneously dispel them of wrong beliefs by their peers, whom they’re always going to be inclined to believe. Of course, I was homeschooled and am currently homeschooling the first school-age child of my own, so I have a particular perspective on this.
Here’s my post on this topic, from a somewhat libertarian perspective.
Steve, we aren’t that far off.
Actually, I am proponent of homeschooling and parent responsibility. My point here is that those parents who are homeschooling and decide to shield their children from every known adverse argument to their worldview are not being responsible.
I have my issues with public schooling. Now, if every teacher was like Bitsy…
Yeah, I have every intention of making my kids aware of various worldviews when they come of age to critically evaluate them.
I must say, though, that a lot of the criticism (not yours) of homeschooling that focuses on parents sheltering their kids strikes me as absurd: of course it’s sheltering. Sheltering is integral to what good parents do — parents don’t allow them to be assaulted by more than they’re ready for. The question really is about how well parents evaluate what they’re ready for and how they should go about preparing them. Laying a foundation is crucial.
(I’m sure you probably agree with this — pardon me for the tangent.)
I completely agree, Steve.
I want to shelter my youngins from lots of things, just not, well, thinking. You are right, it comes down to evaluation and preparation.
One thing that gets me about homeschool criticism is the ‘lack of socialization.’ But, I reckon that is another tangent.
As a teacher, I have seen the best and worst of homeschooling when the kids were put back into a school situation. It can be a fabulous experience. It can be a disaster. But as Steve mentioned, I could say the same thing about any student who comes to me from another school too.
Bob Jones books are NOT decent textbooks. Even if they were written devoid of the Christian Worldview (which is all the rage not only with them but in many, many Christian educational settings), they are not written clearly, consistently or even on grade level. That Christian Worldview is the basis on which they are sold however. If I were ever told I had to use one as primary material in a course, I’d quit. If I was told it was my text and was able to use my discretion, they’d stay locked away.
Bitsy, I completely agree with everything you said.
I will state that my children have been both homeschooled and now public schooled.
As a teacher, I have seen the best and worst of homeschooling when the kids were put back into a school situation. It can be a fabulous experience. It can be a disaster. But as Steve mentioned, I could say the same thing about any student who comes to me from another school too.
Bob Jones books are NOT decent textbooks. Even if they were written devoid of the Christian Worldview (which is all the rage not only with them but in many, many Christian educational settings), they are not written clearly, consistently or even on grade level. That Christian Worldview is the basis on which they are sold however. If I were ever told I had to use one as primary material in a course, I’d quit. If I was told it was my text and was able to use my discretion, they’d stay locked away.
Bitsy, I completely agree with everything you said.
I will state that my children have been both homeschooled and now public schooled.
Both of my parents are teachers, my father in a public school and my mother in a private Catholic school. They’re both very much against homeschooling, because the kids they’ve seen come to them after being homeschooled have been WAY behind their peers.
Having said that, most of my friends homeschool and do well with it.
However … many of them don’t learn to criticize their arguments and develop counter-points. In some cases, they’ve been taught what they should have for opinions, but not why or how to form their own.
That really isn’t serving the kids well.
Both of my parents are teachers, my father in a public school and my mother in a private Catholic school. They’re both very much against homeschooling, because the kids they’ve seen come to them after being homeschooled have been WAY behind their peers.
Having said that, most of my friends homeschool and do well with it.
However … many of them don’t learn to criticize their arguments and develop counter-points. In some cases, they’ve been taught what they should have for opinions, but not why or how to form their own.
That really isn’t serving the kids well.
AMEN! RT @PolycarpTCOJC: Homeschoolers Not Taught Evolution #tcot #atheism #god- http://tinyurl.com/y9grj9z
I was one of those children who was taught creationism as part of my homeschooling. I was practically nursed on AiG “Creation” magazines, Michael Denton, Philip Johnson, etc. All these folks espoused a literal six-day Creation and an approximately 6,000 year old earth. When I was a bit older (maybe eight) I read Hugh Ross’ Creation and Time a long-earth creationist view of the world with long “days.” I’ve read Watchman Nee’s Mystery of Creation, which outlines an opinion which is, um, literalistic and long-earth.
My parents basically said to me, Here’s what we believe. All secular institutions teach the opposite. Go study.
My homeschooling years gave me the best start I can imagine anyone having for an inner-city sixth grade classroom, 7-9th grade at a highly liberal elite school, and later three years of small town American high school.
Telling a kid that you disagree with the entire world, and then letting the kid study the questions, is one of the best things you can do for him. Definitely doesn’t produce the kind of mushy thinking all too common in public schools.
Amen, Mitchell. This is exactly my point.
And a neccessary one. I’ve met a few homeschoolers who have been mistaught in a dogmatic fashion and have trouble thinking through things. That, of course, is something that also happens in public school too . . .
I was one of those children who was taught creationism as part of my homeschooling. I was practically nursed on AiG “Creation” magazines, Michael Denton, Philip Johnson, etc. All these folks espoused a literal six-day Creation and an approximately 6,000 year old earth. When I was a bit older (maybe eight) I read Hugh Ross’ Creation and Time a long-earth creationist view of the world with long “days.” I’ve read Watchman Nee’s Mystery of Creation, which outlines an opinion which is, um, literalistic and long-earth.
My parents basically said to me, Here’s what we believe. All secular institutions teach the opposite. Go study.
My homeschooling years gave me the best start I can imagine anyone having for an inner-city sixth grade classroom, 7-9th grade at a highly liberal elite school, and later three years of small town American high school.
Telling a kid that you disagree with the entire world, and then letting the kid study the questions, is one of the best things you can do for him. Definitely doesn’t produce the kind of mushy thinking all too common in public schools.
Amen, Mitchell. This is exactly my point.
And a neccessary one. I’ve met a few homeschoolers who have been mistaught in a dogmatic fashion and have trouble thinking through things. That, of course, is something that also happens in public school too . . .
By the way, I forgot to end that literature parade by mentioning that I’ve been permitted to read evolutionist literature too. That’s all.
Maybe that’s why, Mitchell, you are a good blogger. You view both sides without fear. Like Steve. And others.
If God is a God of truth, there’s no need to hide from whatever the truth might turn out to be. And who is this Steve you speak of? (I fear that as soon as you say who he is, I’m going to feel stupid because I already know about the guy.)
It’s the other guy commenting who is homeschooling now, who has a different view on Genesis One, etc…
Maybe it’s me, but I think preparation for the real wold includes problem solving. Fortunately, I had wonderful public school teaches throughout my time there, and they taught me more than reading, writing, and mathematics. Of course, this could be why I am generally biased in my appreciate for teachers, seeing them as the king makers.
Oh! From Undeception. An excellent read.
I did six years of public school, and I had some incredible teachers, and when I look back on my homeschooling and charter schooling and magnet schooling and small-town public schooling and just going to a local college instead of my senior year of high school; I just don’t know how to sort it all out and call one thing “better” or “worse.” I suppose it all depends on a variety of things, especially the state of the parents, the child, and the local school systems.
By the way, I forgot to end that literature parade by mentioning that I’ve been permitted to read evolutionist literature too. That’s all.
Maybe that’s why, Mitchell, you are a good blogger. You view both sides without fear. Like Steve. And others.
If God is a God of truth, there’s no need to hide from whatever the truth might turn out to be. And who is this Steve you speak of? (I fear that as soon as you say who he is, I’m going to feel stupid because I already know about the guy.)
It’s the other guy commenting who is homeschooling now, who has a different view on Genesis One, etc…
Maybe it’s me, but I think preparation for the real wold includes problem solving. Fortunately, I had wonderful public school teaches throughout my time there, and they taught me more than reading, writing, and mathematics. Of course, this could be why I am generally biased in my appreciate for teachers, seeing them as the king makers.
Oh! From Undeception. An excellent read.
I did six years of public school, and I had some incredible teachers, and when I look back on my homeschooling and charter schooling and magnet schooling and small-town public schooling and just going to a local college instead of my senior year of high school; I just don’t know how to sort it all out and call one thing “better” or “worse.” I suppose it all depends on a variety of things, especially the state of the parents, the child, and the local school systems.
[...] was, earlier today, reading Joel’s thoughts on homeschooling and evolution. He handled the issue much more fairly than many liberals, some of [...]
what will it take to get people to accept evolution as an actual science? does god have to come down and tell you?
Actually, Francine, God has come down, but they didn’t listen to him then.
what will it take to get people to accept evolution as an actual science? does god have to come down and tell you?
Actually, Francine, God has come down, but they didn’t listen to him then.