or… 
New Battles in an Old Conflict
Educational battlegrounds, in our present-day public schools, stem from similar conflicts from our Colonial days. Originally, Massachusetts Puritans enforced Biblical teaching in support of a Calvinistic worldview. Eventually, these beliefs were challenged by Unitarian deism. Calvinists recognized the doctrine of the Trinity, but Unitarians rejected Biblical teaching in the interest of “reason”.
Thomas Paine, the author of “Common Sense” (the pamphlet known for swaying Colonial opinion in the interest of independence from Great Britain) also wrote a book titled, “The Age of Reason” which defends deism over Christianity, and appears to be equally influential.
The knowledge of this continuing battle is crucial to our decisions regarding the education of our children. We must be vigilant in our examination of ALL the teachings presented in our schools and evaluate their outcomes.
Choosing how to educate our children should be done knowledgably, not blindly.
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Samuel Blumenfeld has provided pages upon pages of information about the history of American schools. He teaches much about the philosophies found there. I recommend his work to those interested in this history.
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by Meg (homeschooling mom of 9)
MS, Exceptional Student Education (Univ. of W. Florida) emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis
MA, psychology (Grand Canyon University)
Bachelor of Arts (Northwest Nazarene University)
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For Parents who are Homeschooling, and whose interest is in making sure their children are adequately being taught to READ, we suggest they consider using Alpha-Phonics. It has been used successfully for over 37 years by tens of thousands of PARENTS to easily teach their children to become excellent readers. It is simple to teach, is always effective and inexpensive. YOU CAN DO IT !! Learn all about it below:
WEBSITE
In the year 1620 a group of Puritans set sail from Plymouth, England, on a venture for freedom in the New World.
Their first education law was passed in 1642. Heads of households were held responsible for teaching their dependents, apprentices and servants, who were all required to learn English.
Harvard was founded in this era, demanding the same academic rigor.
The Massachusetts educational goals became a standard for schools in other colonies, and many established their own colleges.
I learned this from Sam Blumenfeld, the author of
MS, Exceptional Student Education (Univ. of W. Florida) emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis
Who taught George Washington?
According to Cremin, of the 56 signers of the Declaration, 22 came from provincial colleges, 2 from an academy in Pennsylvania, and the rest represented “every conceivable combination of parental, church, apprenticeship, school, tutorial and self-education, including some who studied abroad.”
MS, Exceptional Student Education (Univ. of W. Florida) emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis
Fines levied on parents of truants?
Believe it or not, the first example of compulsory school attendance was in Württemberg, Germany in 1559.
Further still, Calvin’s model was used for the development of Puritan educational standards in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
I recently observed an Unstructured Learning experience. Two 6-year-olds were playing in a park, and this is what they figured out:
bottle.”
You can be sure that when the child makes a mistake, he is not unaware of the problem. You don’t need to tell him. Ask him. Let him help.
MS, Exceptional Student Education (Univ. of W. Florida) emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis
Amid the quaint illustrations of 12 little girls in two straight lines, and towering landmarks from around the world, are stories of adventure and excitement. Rhyming words draw the attention of the listening child. A series of books follow Madeline’s travels. Paris, London, Rome, and even America provide the landscapes for her fun and sometimes dangerous escapades.
By Meg (Homeschooling mom of 9)
WEBSITE
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.”
The ending of the tale is predictable.
WEBSITE
“Dianna and I are just beginning lesson 7. After going over lessons three and four Dianna was so excited that she could read that she hugged my neck and told me she loved me. She said, ‘Oh mommy, my wish is coming true. You and Daddy are teaching me to read.’ What else can I say?”
I marveled at the enthusiasm Peter and June showed when they received testimonials from parents. Many of these can be read on the Alpha-Phonics webpage.
Pointing at the sounds and moving from left to right across the page proved to be extremely beneficial. My daughter’s eyes were trained to track across the page from left to right. For a while, I would write an arrow at the top left corner of the page to indicate where to start and which direction to move the eyes. Soon this was no longer necessary.
I hope you will follow this ongoing blog story about Peter Watt, Samuel Blumenfeld (author of homeschooling books), and The Paradigm Company home business (which is into its thirty-seventh year of teaching young minds to read, write and figure).
Alpha-Phonics
The Alphabet Song!
Water on the Floor
Alpha-Phonics the Book on CD Rom
Blumenfeld Oral Reading Assessment Test
How To Tutor
How To Tutor Cursive Handwriting Workbook
