Thursday, June 26, 2014

Why I Believe It Matters



I've talked about my personal journey; how I arrived where I currently am.  It is how I arrived and what I endured that drives me to build the National Alliance of Secular Homeschoolers (N.A.S.H.).

We are entering our 6th year of  homeschooling.  I homeschool my soon-to-be 13 year old daughter who we fondly call Punky.  She is entering the 7th grade.  Our reasons for homeschooling are similar to many families, yet, as with all families, varied and personal.  Our journey over the last five years has been filled with some 'hits' and a lot of 'misses', yet we move forward because we still believe it is the right choice for us.  Over the course of these years, I have scoured through books and the internet looking for help, answers, resources, and anything else that even pertained to omeschooling.  Sorting through all that information on homeschooling, especially in the beginning, can feel a bit like climbing a very large mountain.  Weeding through all that to find what fits is challenging and made more so when one is looking for secular materials and resources, including real life connections.

When I first began homeschooling, everyone I met was a religious homeschooler; specifically a Christian homeschooler.  I don’t think I was even cognizant of the term Secular homeschooler.  I knew of course that public school steered clear of, or was legally required to anyway, religious instruction, curriculum, etc.  I wanted that in our homeschooling experience and so I avoided using religious curriculum.  I graduated from a religious private school and I still remember show skewed the history and science books were. 
 
Other than searching for non-religious homeschooling supplies, curriculum (the struggle to find history and science that was taught from a secular view point was the hardest), resources, I didn’t think there was any ‘secular’ support for homeschoolers.  Or at least, I didn’t think I’d ever meet anyone like that.  For the first part of our homeschooling year we fluttered and faltered in and around the Christian groups.  I did not like having to sign Statements of Faith.  We found one group whose SoF was their declaration of beliefs and by signing you were agreeing to not advocate against it.  I settled for that.  It was the best I could find where we live and we did meet some great people in that group – some that I’m still friends with today.  However, it ultimately didn’t work out and neither did my attempts to establish an ‘inclusive’ group.  The good thing that came from that though was finding that some secular homeschoolers who had moved to our area heard of me and that group and while many of the religious homeschoolers found me ‘distasteful’ and referred to me as a heathen or an atheist (I might qualify for the first, but not the latter), these new to the area secular homeschoolers were drawn to the ‘least religious’ thing in town and therefore…me!  It was this group of folks who formed the Secular homeschool group that I joined after leaving behind the inclusive group.


Monday, June 23, 2014

Book NOW for the 2014 Inaugural N.A.S.H. Conference and Save!

  Inappropriate Homeschooler Blog Readers Save $$

Book before July 1st!

  When you register use coupon code:  IHBlog2014



 I am the keynote speaker at this conference and this is your chance to have your voice heard as the foundation of N.A.S.H. is created in the planning and executive sessions during the weekend!  There will also be an adult only cocktail reception on Friday evening (additional cost) hosted by The Inappropriate Homeschooler!

Electronic Brochure:


Book your hotel at Crown Plaza Atlanta Airport and receive:

Discounted room rate of $71 per night (Reg. $120. Must book by July 31, 2014 for discounted rate.)
Complimentary boxed lunches on Friday and Saturday (a $36 value)
Thursday's Meet and Greet Dinner (a $26 value)
Saturday's Pizza Party (a $20 value)

Optional: Cook-to-order Breakfast Buffet
(includes a family of four) hotel rate goes up to $119.

Conference attendees not staying at the Crowne Plaza will receive complimentary boxed lunches on Friday and Saturday.


Can't wait to meet you in Atlanta!

~Mari B.

Homeschooling in the Headlines

http://nationalallianceofsecularhomeschoolers.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/homeschooling-in-the-headlines-homeschoolers-need-not-apply/