One-sided political commentary and derogatory remarks would have been more accurate. Discussion was a poor word choice. What I'm referring to are brief asides during class which have a loose connection to what is being studied. The comments are not supported with detailed facts, and they are not fully explained to students who don't follow the news. Those students who do follow the news may well have arrived at a different conclusion. It should not be presumed everyone in the class has the same opinion. The derogatory remarks about the candidates AND their supporters are made by the students AND the teacher. The teacher is supposed to moderate the students, who moderates the teacher? In many ways little comments here and there are worse than bold speeches because they don't seem bad enough to make a stand against. Yet small derogatory comments over many, many months add up. Students who disagree are put in a position over and over whether or not to go against the flow of the other students AND the teacher. For students who do not know enough to make an informed decision, the decision is well on its way to being made for them as these one-sided comments settle in their minds. My daughter actually agreed with the first comments she brought to me. She did, however, disagree with how they were presented in class and wondered how students who did disagree must be feeling. In contrast to her experience in this class, my daughter has a class with another provider in which she has enjoyed the sharing of different perspectives. She has learned not to make presumptions about beliefs because some of the students have opinions different from what she would have expected. She has also enjoyed trying to ascertain the teacher's stance. Thus far, she hasn't been able to. The teacher has neutrally guided and moderated. The students have respectfully discussed. What a gift and what a lesson in what is possible.

I think my use of the term "discussion" was a misleading one. Discussions would bother me far, far less. This is the history/rhetoric realm; discussions are expected.

(X post) It makes perfect sense. Thank you. I agree with you! That said, I am already in the process of following the order you have outlined and will continue to do so as far as needed. I'm seriously considering withdrawing my daughter from the class she is currently in and am concerned about taking more classes through the Academy, thus my question about the experience others are having in their classes. Thanks, again!

It makes perfect sense. Thank you. I agree with you! That said, I am already in the process of following the order you have outlined and will continue to do so as far as needed. I'm seriously considering withdrawing my daughter from the class she is currently in and am concerned about taking more classes through the Academy, thus my question about the experience others are having in their classes. Thanks, again!

Given that discussions of the presidential elections are forbidden on the boards, I was surprised to find out they are happening in at least one Well-Trained Mind Academy Class. Perhaps I was mistaken in presuming they would be forbidden in the classes. The political fervor will only intensify as 2016 progresses, so as I make plans for next semester and the fall, I'm curious to know if these discussions will be allowed and encouraged in all the classes. If so, I'll know to make alternate plans. Anyone else care to share if political discussions are taking place in your teen's WTM Academy class? Feel free to PM me. It would be helpful to know if this is an anomaly.

Given that discussions of the presidential elections are forbidden on the boards, I was surprised to find out they are happening in at least one Well-Trained Mind Academy Class. Perhaps I was mistaken in presuming they would be forbidden in the classes. The political fervor will only intensify as 2016 progresses, so as I make plans for next semester and the fall, I'm curious to know if these discussions will be allowed and encouraged in all the classes. If so, I'll know to make alternate plans. Anyone else care to share if political discussions are taking place in your teen's WTM Academy class? Feel free to PM me. It would be helpful to know if this is an anomaly.

:laugh: You gals are a riot!

:smilielol5: :smilielol5: :smilielol5:

I'm not sure what the reality is either. My dd hears so many complaints from brick and mortar high school students about how they are deprived of social lives and sleep, yet they all have considerable online social media presence, are up on all the current movies and TV shows, find time to date, etc.... I see kids from all levels being accepted into various colleges, graduating, getting jobs, and moving on with their lives. Sometimes I wonder what drives all the drama... Is it mainly just surrounding the most elite schools? Are the rest of us safe to just tune out the apocalyptic warnings? :zombiechase:

Lisa, I'd love to hear an update, if you'd care to share. :)

There are several of us with onlies. :) My dh and I put a high priority on finding a group of peers for our daughter. We took many drastic measures, including moving. Don't be afraid to look beyond the homeschool community for friendships.

I'm a CM fan, but I don't think there is a universal best speed for obtaining the optimal enjoyment or benefit from a book. My daughter just read Crime and Punishment in three days. She's been talking about it in such a way that I can tell it's one of those books that will steep in her mind and seep into her soul for days, weeks, months, and years... The speed in which she read it was almost like watching a starved soul. I wouldn't dream of depriving her of such nourishment...

I think it was our latest too. I thought she would sleep all day! We didn't start Christmas morning until 10:30! (She had been up half the night reading Crime and Punishment, which she :001_wub: .)

I agree. They are very welcoming in the book a week thread. I pop in only on rare occasions, yet always feel right at home. OP, I read Don Quixote on the Book a Year (or two) plan. ;) For whatever reason I enjoy it best in small bursts. (True confession: I'm still not finished. :blushing: Maybe not wanting it to end? In my defense, I have read many books during the time spans in between DQ bursts.... Trying to redeem myself, lest I be banned from the book a week thread for pushing the time frame limits a bit too far.... :ph34r: :laugh: ) Seriously though, the book a week thread is full of splendid fun and encouragement no matter what you are reading or how quickly. Highly recommended. I think reading should be approached with an open attitude of finding what works for you. Gather ideas from various sources, but make the final plan unique to you. That might quite possibly be the only way the plan will actually work. Don Quixote doesn't draw you in? Don't read it! Life's too short and there are too many other worthy books calling your name...

Thanks! These times are closer to what I would expect.

Interesting. I guess that might be part of the draw of DE...less work than some high schools... Some of my dd's high school classes require 10+ hours a week of non busywork. Obviously 7 classes at 10 hours a week would be too much. That's when knowing the student is especially important. Which classes need to be intense and which ones can be much less so. I do see the value in the intense classes she has and am grateful for them. I may be coming from a very different perspective, though. When I arrived at university we were told to block off 40 hours a week ASAP for studies. Maybe that's why some of the reports of how little time people are spending on DE classes is rather surprising to me.

I'm a little confused. Did earning 30ish hours of college credit in high school not involve intensity and consumption of time? Have college courses really changed that much? I remember college being very intense and time consuming... Maybe that's changed...

:001_wub:

:001_wub:

By what measure is it too much? How many Great Books do your children read and process each semester? Are the Great Books a priority for you? I think before we can say something is way, way too much, we need to make sure we aren't confusing our own goals with the goals of the person trying to sort things out. Maybe the English/Literature is just fine. Maybe it's something else that needs to give.

Thanks!

Hello again. I don't see the Spoken Rhetoric class listed. Is it not being offered during the spring semester? Will it be offered during the summer or next fall?

Excellent! That was fast!

Would it be possible for the questions to be asked and answered here? I think many of us have similar questions and the answers would be beneficial to many.

I am curious about the course as well. I also agree about the name. I was surprised to see a WTM course named "Basic" anything. Definitely recommend a name change.