RightBooks4Kids Weekly Roundup Vo.12

Almost October, an essay worth your time, and the news of the week

The calendar turns to October on Sunday. The first day of that almost perfect month always makes me think of Anne Shirley and her fondness for Fall. I remember the quote,

“October was a beautiful month at Green Gables, when the birches in the hollow turned as golden as sunshine & maples behind the orchard were royal crimson, while the fields sunned themselves in aftermaths.”

A gentle reminder: if you haven’t introduced your children to Anne, Diana, Gilbert, Matthew, and Marilla….please do so. You won’t regret it.

(painting by John B. MacCallum)

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I’ve been thinking a lot about what my occupation as a homeschool mother can afford for my children. I’m not delusional - I stay fully aware that one of my kids could choose a path for their life that my husband and I wish they would not. Homeschooling isn’t a magic ticket to perfection. We all know that.

With that being said, I take some solace in knowing that the constant character training, exposure to continual conversation with adults, the regular tradition of church involvement, and the feast of quality literature do provide a very strong foundation, which hopefully cultivates a sturdy and wise spirit inside the souls of my girls. I am grateful for that…. especially when I see what is becoming common in the lives of our young people, both inside and outside of the educational spaces in our country. Rampant violence in schools, depression in teenagers at an all-time high, plummeting educational scores, general apathy, and a loosening of basic expectations for dress, speech, and respect for others (we’ve touched on so many of these issues in previous posts.) It’s startling, really.

I suppose I’m mentioning it again because I believe we have a real opportunity to give our children an “out” from the dangerous trends we are seeing. No, not everyone has the ability to homeschool, but everyone has the ability to look into it. To talk with friends and family and see if it might be a possibility. To think unconventionally about options and consider sacrifices. In my 10 years of homeschooling, I’ve met families from all socio-economic backgrounds. I’ve met single parents who make it work. I’ve met full-time workers who manage to do it. It can be done and yet our culture tries to bat away the idea as only reserved for the privileged. It’s not. If what we are seeing play out in schools isn’t enough to at least consider another way, what would it have to take? If you have ever had that small voice inside you say, Maybe, we could do it?!” pursue that. Start here.

You won’t regret it, not for a day.

Now, let’s get into the book/education news from the past week, shall we?

Trans student beats a girl at Portland school

In a widely circulated video online, a male who identifies as trans and dresses like a girl, viciously beats a young girl, and students stand around taping and watching. It took place recently in an Oregon MIDDLE school (Tigard-Tualatin school district) and my question is, where are the teachers? How long has this been happening? What are the repercussions? And the VERY basic one: Why are we letting boys dress and act like girls?

I won’t be posting the video here because it literally makes me feel sick, but if you are so inclined, you can easily find it. You’ll also find many others just like it because this isn’t isolated or rare.

The ALA bites the dust in yet another state

The South Carolina State Library has announced that they are ending their membership with the American Library Association, following on the heels of other states doing the same. I mean, when you elect a Marxist president to your association who not only doesn’t back down but makes it clear she wants to profoundly impact the institutions that your children walk in every day…. there are consequences.

Here’s to hoping more states continue this trend.

Freedom in Education

A new organization has popped up that I think will be valuable and important and I wanted to share it with you. “Freedom In Education” exists to promote freedom in learning and help parents as we raise the next generation. Their goal is to come alongside us as we strive to bring up virtuous children. Future adults who will have a solid sense of our country’s founding principles, be civically engaged, and work to maintain our self-governing foundation. Part of this will be exposing corruption and evil inside classrooms all over the U.S. and providing alternatives, all while supporting you, the parent, in the educational choices for your family. Check them out and learn more about this endeavor. It’s surely needed.

An essay worth reading

It’s long but worth every moment you spend with it. An essay that brings together the topics of C.S. Lewis, parenting worries, education, and morality. Kaitlyn DeYoung pushes us to think more deeply about our use of technology and how it impacts us. Read it in one sitting or break it into bite-sized chunks. You will be better for it.

That’s it for this week, friends.

Stay in the fight,

Rachel