Louder with words...

There are a few blogs that I keep up with. Blogging 'Bout Boys is one that I just love. I have boys. I blog. Jennifer Fink and I are kindred spirits.
Today's blog was in regards to an article by Dylan Lovan in The Associated Press. Lovan's article, entitled "Top home-school texts dismiss Darwin, evolution", stated the obvious...to homeschoolers. However, to the general public, it simply stoked the fire under those who fear homeschoolers to be "those crazies who keep their kid away from the real world because Jesus tells them so." I know many families who homeschool. Some are quite dogmatic, while others are simply spiritual. Some have no relationship with any power or belief system. But we all share one thing...we homeschool because it's what we see as best for our children.

"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." The spokesman for [Biology: Third Edition] says that this was an editing error. Does he really believe that people will believe him? That does not even matter. People who are familiar with Bob Jones University Press will believe that statement. Take a look at their website and you'll know what the content is. That is their belief and why should they justify it? Many believers of Christ do not believe in evolution and dinosaurs. That believe should be respected. Just like those who do believe in evolution should be respected by those who do not.

As a homeschooling parent, I understand that there are many of us who are very dogmatic. As a person of mixed race, I understand that there are many people who are racist. As a parent who lets her children take their falls and hits without rushing over and swooping them up, I understand that there are helicopter parents who will hover and call out (even though they are texting and listening to their I-Pods while doing it - no lie - I saw a father do this today). There are so many different versions of life...how can anyone say their path is THE path?

The mom, Susan Mule, should have turned it around and used it as a teaching tool. The differences in publications could simply elaborate on how different everyone is...how different belief systems are and the products of those differences can manifest themselves in biology books!

I do agree with Jennifer Fink in that it was irresponsible for the spokesperson from HSLDA to say, "Most home-schoolers will definitely have a sort of creationist component to their home-school program", without even mentioning what other homeschoolers do...or that there are even different schools of homeschooling. We should all be forming a united front no matter if I believe in Jesus or the blue little guy who talks to me in the kitchen.

P.S. I couldn't help but notice that one last name was Wile and one was Coyne and kept thinking about cartoons...