LisaKinVA Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I just learned that my brother's family is going to switch from Christian Liberty Academy to ATI this fall. And, they believe this is a "classical" education because the children will learn Latin and Greek. I've known families who have used these materials -- and they have wonderful families -- but I've been less than impressed with their actual education. These are the families I met whose daughters didn't need advanced math, because they were going to be caring for their families. These are the families I met whose college-age sons were working full time at McDonald's "waiting for God to direct their lives." These were the families whose children had wonderful hearts for God, but could not compete in the job market. I'm sorry... I'm sure there are wonderful familes who use ATI whose daughters take advanced math, whose sons can get a good job and care for a family... I'm just heartsick that my brother has chosen to go this direction. Just down... of course, I know they think we're way too worldly -- because my children have read the Greek Myths, and learned a little about the Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist religions during history studies. So, I'm sure we're dissapointing them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leah Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I can understand your disappointment. I have had first-hand experience with ATI...I think I am fine and know that God used the things I experienced for His glory in my life, but I did go through some sad and wacky things. I also have too many 30-something bitter friends who woke up one day and realized that they had no direction in life and are quite dissolusioned... If they only have young kids, I think the problems are minimal. If they have teens, there could be some great experiences and some tragic ones... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted June 24, 2008 Author Share Posted June 24, 2008 The children range from 16yo to a newborn expected sometime early to mid September.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Umm....just what is ATI? Feel like I have missed something. Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted June 24, 2008 Author Share Posted June 24, 2008 http://ati.iblp.org/ati/ It is a program developed by Bill Gothard (Basic Youth) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa at Home Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 when I saw their "poster" family was named The Adams Family. :biggrinjester: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebeccaC Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I know a family of 7 kids whose parents used /use ATI. I have known this family for 14 years now. The oldest son has a masters in Divinity from Trinity in IL and is on staff with a local mega church as the head pastor's assistant. He preached at the local mega church just a couple of Sunday's ago. His dw was also hsed using ATI and they plan on using it with their two kids. The dd from this family is working on a degree in business with Judson U also in IL. Next 2 sons have been to Bible college and work in missions or houses of prayer. Last 3 boys are still being hsed. So I don't think every family who uses ATI puts out kids without direction. I however do not feel that it is at all classical in nature. I have seen quite a bit of the curriculum in the 14 years that I have known this family. It might have a tad bit of a classical flavor but it is not classical. ATI headquarters is only about 40 minutes from my house and I have been there in the late 90s when I was toying with using ATI. There used to be a lot of folks around here using ATI and like with anything there were families whose kids thrive and families whose kids did not. Curriculum is just a tool, kids with out direction speaks more of family dynamics than of a certain curriculum IMHO. We would never use ATI due to the fact that it gets a bit too much in to the personal family life of those using it. If this is a second marriage they want to know why the first marriage failed and if there were not Biblical reasons for the divorce..... If you are not married you can not use the program. If the children are not your own you cannot use the program, Where you attend church, If you are born again, etc.... At least that was the way it was in the late 90s. Took one look at the application and threw it out. Smelled to high heaven of legalism and I said no thanks and dh said never ever over his dead body and since he was paying for it....... Than is not even going into the dress code and other things attached to ATI...... You really had to be a firm Godderite to use the stuff. Not all Godderite are legalistic but there sure is a high percent who are. All that written the kid who did the church shooting in CO this past year was hsed using ATI. That probably had nothing to do with it but it gives a wide spectrum of kids after they have used the program from the stellar mega church staffer to the McD's burger flipper to I hate all Christians to death.... Which brings me back to curriculum is a tool and family dynamics play a huge role in how kids turn out as does the personality of each child. Although I just can't resist this bit not all curriculum require you to attend brain washing seminars that was written by a guy who was never married or had kids or....... Still if it puts out stellar mega church staffers..... well, it can't be all bad..... I just prefer to do my own brainwashing....... Thank you very much ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebeccaC Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 when I saw their "poster" family was named The Adams Family. :biggrinjester: If you go to their headquarters every one looks the same. All the boys have on dress shirts with ties and the same haircut. All the girls ahev the same style of dresses, ect...... It is very cookie cutter and like I posted smells to high heaven like legalism with a tab bit of cultism thrown in :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leah Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Well, getting back to your original question, ATI doesn't fit my understanding of "classical" in any way. Even the Greek and Latin that was in the program way back when was minimal. Families who are dedicated to educating their children can and will still get it done, but there is a lot in the program to draw people away from basic academic skills if they don't truly value them. And to pick up on Rebecca's comments, the legalism that you can find there is so huge and overwhelming...I strongly remember the guilt I felt over stepping into the ocean in HI with my jumper hiked up to me knees...There were a bunch of us working for ATI in HI that week and 4 of us girls had hiked over to a cove to wade into the water. Some other staffers (all of us teens of course) happened upon us and rebuked us for being so compromising and defrauding the boys by having our jumpers pulled up to our knees and on and on...ugh! Then there was the time I got in trouble for throwing snowballs at another ATI event-good girls just don't do that you know. And the time we were told that we had to keep our shoes on at a park as bare feet were dangerous and a possible stumbling block... I will say that all of these situations and more occurred when teens or young adults were in charge of things and were really trying to do every thing they thought they should. There are adults who have more sense, but a lot of programs are run by young people. ETA-I know that the examples of legalism above are rather trivial, but these are the some humorous ones. Things go much, much deeper of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 ... with a tab bit of cultism thrown in :001_huh: What little I just read at the website sounds a bit cultish. Prayers for your brother and his family, Lisa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted June 25, 2008 Author Share Posted June 25, 2008 Thanks for the good... the bad... the ugly... of all of this. And the support. It came as a bit of a surprise as both my brother and his wife are graduates of LeTourneau (as is his wife), and has his Masters. I feel like one of the main reasons they may be moving this direction because it is "just" $600 a year per family. He also has some very strong leanings towards the Gothard teachings *all of them*. He's a very black & white man, separatist leanings, etc. -- and he comes by that naturally, as my mother (until the last year or two) was much like that as well. I'm hoping that as my dad reads more about it that he will be able to tactfully broach the subject (yes, my brother is seeking his counsel on the issue... ). Thank you again for the support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamagistra Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 And the time we were told that we had to keep our shoes on at a park as bare feet were dangerous and a possible stumbling block... :eek: :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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