Cindyz Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) I came across this article today and thought some here may find it interesting. http://www.garynorth.com/public/7607.cfm I happen to think he's misinformed. Off the top of my head I can think of Ambleside online as a free curriculum designed by home school moms and there are long threads right here on this forum detailing other free home school curricula. Another thought that I had is that a lot of moms do develop curricula, however they have enough self confidence to charge for what they have created. :D It is time for the women who have successfully taken their children through the process to show others how to do it. No more "I'm just not equipped." No more "Woe, woe, woe -- poor helpless me." No more "But I'm so busy." No more "I've done my part with my kids. That's enough for anyone to do." They are all variations of this one: "Some man should do all this -- Khan or Robinson. It's just too much for me." No more excuses. Excuses do not win wars. Are you kidding me?? UPDATE on Post #81. Edited February 10, 2011 by Cindyz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 No, homeschool mothers lack the time. Who do you think is actually homeschooling these kids? Even Robinson did not do a lot of hands-on homeschooling - his program is a self education one more than anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 What a moron. Someone should send him a Rainbow Resource catalog. :lol: If he thinks ACE, BJ, and Abeka are the biggest 3 then he hasn't looked deep enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) Idiots abound. Edited February 9, 2011 by Parrothead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I saw this elsewhere today. What ignorance! At this moment, the only programs I'm using that weren't developed by homeschool moms are Horizons math and R&S grammar. Also, I may be home educating but as far as I know I am not at war with anyone. I can't help myself, let me list my favorite hs moms who write curriculum: Jessie Wise Susan Wise Bauer Jeannie Fulbright Ann Voskamp AmblesideOnline advisory board Marcia Somerville Marie Hazell Robin Sampson the author of Elemental Science Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 No, homeschool mothers lack the time. Who do you think is actually homeschooling these kids? Even Robinson did not do a lot of hands-on homeschooling - his program is a self education one more than anything. :iagree: I'm full of myself, lol. My time is limited though, and my time management skills are even more limited! Plus, I like to sleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I know zero homeschooling mothers with that little confidence. If they had that little confidence why would they be schooling their kids? Who in the heck has he been interviewing? moron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristinaBreece Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 No, homeschool mothers lack the time. Who do you think is actually homeschooling these kids? Even Robinson did not do a lot of hands-on homeschooling - his program is a self education one more than anything. Absolutely. After you've done lessons with your own children for the day, and taken care of your home & family, and possibly performed some manner of outside work as well, then have delivered all of the children to all of their required extra-curriculars.... Who has time to pull together an all-inclusive curriculum? And of those who may find the time, WHY wouldn't they want to be paid for their time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindyz Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 I saw this elsewhere today. What ignorance! At this moment, the only programs I'm using that weren't developed by homeschool moms are Horizons math and R&S grammar. Also, I may be home educating but as far as I know I am not at war with anyone. I can't help myself, let me list my favorite hs moms who write curriculum: Jessie Wise Susan Wise Bauer Jeannie Fulbright Ann Voskamp AmblesideOnline advisory board Marcia Somerville Marie Hazell Robin Sampson the author of Elemental Science Also Maria Miller's Math Mammoth. http://www.mathmammoth.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 *eyeroll* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Also Maria Miller's Math Mammoth. http://www.mathmammoth.com/ Does she homeschool her girls?? I didn't know that! We love Math Mammoth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jami Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) Add the authors of Classical Writing to the list too. Leigh Bortins of CC The author of Lively Latin is a homeschooling mother, yes? Sheesh. :glare: Edited February 9, 2011 by Jami Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindyz Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 Does she homeschool her girls?? I didn't know that! We love Math Mammoth. She describes herself as a homeschooler. :) http://www.mathmammoth.com/about.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 She describes herself as a homeschooler. :) http://www.mathmammoth.com/about.php Oh, that's awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 http://www.garynorth.com/public/department6.cfm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyB Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Almost everything I use happens to be written by women. Thank you, ladies! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jami Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I'm also surprised he lumped Rod and Staff with Abeka and BJ as an expensive curriculum. More expensive then free, sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfatherslily Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I'm a little bit confused about his point. He seems to be saying Homeschool moms aren't helping other homeschool moms. ("New home school mothers need guidance..." continued below) Homeschool moms should write curriculum for free. ("...Experienced home school mothers are in a position to deliver these materials for free.) There's hardly any free curriculum available. ("Yet there is only one K-12 mother-created home school curriculum on the Web that is free of charge or very cheap ($200 or less): Old Fashioned Education (free).") There's lots of free curriculum already available. ("There is so much free material online. It is there for the taking.") Obviously, he does not frequent these boards :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mynyel Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Maybe we should email him and link this thread... humph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 He needs to come live my life! Seriously, I have worked on a curriculum for teaching basic Christian Theology to children. It was centered around the Apostle's Creed. Homeschooling and 4-h do not leave me enough free time to spend copius amounts of time writing. I am on chapter 8. Well, SWB's curriculum just came out and it is really similar to what I had planned. So HALLELUJAH I am not going to continue the writing. GOD BLESS SWB for getting the job done. One less thing hanging over my head...the denomination can just buy it and stop calling me and wondering if I'm still interested in the project. I don't lack self-confidence and anyone who knows me, knows that the only area of self-confidence I struggle with is if I have to dress up my post-four baby, gravity has not been kind body to go meet dh's co-workers! This guy is making some rather HUGE assumptions. Obviously, he's never spent much time looking at a Rainbow Resource Catalog either. He has not spent enough hours walking in the shoes of a dedicated homeschooling parent. Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivka Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I've always hoped that some random guy who didn't know me would come along and tell me what I'm doing wrong and how I should be using my time. Thanks, Gary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Why does the name Gary North ring (a NOT good bell with me)? I looked at the website but can't find who he is, but something tells me I don't want to listen to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 If homeschool moms lack confidence because they use published curricula, public schools really, really lack confidence! If I weren't confident I could teach my daughter, do you really think I'd do it? Look, I develop curriculum professionally for early childhood music, and even in my ECED music classes, I start with what has been written already, and tweak, whether I wrote the lesson originally or not. And I suspect the parents of kids in my parent/child classes can't tell whether it was one of my units or one of someone else's, because no two people teach the same lesson the same way anyway. It's just plain more time-effective not to reinvent the wheel every lesson. My homeschooling is the same way. I don't have a single program where I do it 100% as written, but it's far more cost-effective for me to start out with someone else's work and then modify it to fit my child than to start from scratch. Oh, and Gary, the reason my curriculum isn't out there for free is simple-I like getting PAID for my work, thank you very much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabelen Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Not all private or public classroom teachers mentor other teachers or write curricula themselves... Some do, many don't! Is that also due to lack of self confidence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Maybe we should email him and link this thread... humph I emailed him, but did not link the thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyB Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I've always hoped that some random guy who didn't know me would come along and tell me what I'm doing wrong and how I should be using my time. Thanks, Gary! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I'm a little bit confused about his point. He seems to be saying Homeschool moms aren't helping other homeschool moms. ("New home school mothers need guidance..." continued below) Homeschool moms should write curriculum for free. ("...Experienced home school mothers are in a position to deliver these materials for free.) There's hardly any free curriculum available. ("Yet there is only one K-12 mother-created home school curriculum on the Web that is free of charge or very cheap ($200 or less): Old Fashioned Education (free).") There's lots of free curriculum already available. ("There is so much free material online. It is there for the taking.") Obviously, he does not frequent these boards :D And apparently he does not realise that, even if we wrote the curricula for free, it's not free to keep sites updated or to print and ship curricula. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristinaBreece Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I emailed him, but did not link the thread. Hehe. I linked it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) I'm sorry, I do not have time to develop yet another homeschooling curriculum when there are lots out there already, and give it away for free. Does he think we're all wealthy layabouts or something? People do tend to assume that homeschoolers are well-off, but shouldn't he know better? I mean, I have a job and a house and a church job and a couple hobbies and oh yeah, two kids to educate. I just can't see a need that I can fulfill in a reasonable way. Edited February 9, 2011 by dangermom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I'm sorry, I do not have time to develop yet another homeschooling curriculum when there are lots out there already, and give it away for free. Does he think we're all wealthy layabouts or something? People do tend to assume that homeschoolers are well-off, but shouldn't he know better? I mean, I have a job and a house and a church job and a couple hobbies and oh yeah, two kids to educate. And many of us are struggling with both the economy AND homeschooling AND homemaking AND health issues AND special needs/accelerated needs/extracurricular needs, etc.... Really, women are supposed to be supermoms, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) Yet there is only one K-12 mother-created home school curriculum on the Web that is free of charge or very cheap ($200 or less Why on earth should a mother give away her time and expertise to people outside her family? I understand that a few do, and I think they are incredibly kind and generous to the homeschooling community, but the expectation that because it's easy enough to create curriculum that mothers should not only do it, but also give it away is ridiculous. Edited February 9, 2011 by Crissy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Oh shoot, another hsing mother that HAS both sold and given away material: Donna Young (how could I possibly forget?!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I love that his web site tagline begins with 'wealth-building strategies' while he goes on to recommend that homeschooling mothers spend their own money to make CDs or host websites so they can give their product away for nothing. Idiot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 For goodness sake, where's the eye-roll icon when you need it? Because we teach our children at home, we somehow owe the homeschooling community a free all-in-one curriculum? My husband doesn't owe other software developers free software development tools just because he's an experienced developer. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I've always hoped that some random guy who didn't know me would come along and tell me what I'm doing wrong and how I should be using my time. Thanks, Gary! *snort!* :lol::lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) Clearly the man is woefully ignorant. He deserves pity. Edited February 9, 2011 by justamouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfatherslily Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 You know, it's possible that he just doesn't see the "underground" work of us homeschooling moms. Maybe he doesn't realize that we are there for each other. We share resources, encourage, support. We develop co-ops to share teaching skills. We can tell each other about curricula has worked for us. We can tell about the all-encompassing costly materials, about the free downloads of 100 year old books, and about the advantages of each. What we lack at the beginning is confidence. More curricula is not the answer. We respond with exactly what has been passed on for three decades - assurance. Confidence. If mothers who have taught these courses to their children do not have the courage, dedication, and vision to post their assignments online, then what will their daughters do? If they want their daughters to home school the grandchildren, why would they expect their daughters to have greater competence, dedication, courage, and vision than they do? If these mothers have not instilled confidence, courage, dedication, and vision in their daughters, then there is a major problem with home schooling. These mothers have passed this on. That is why homeschooling is still going strong. That is why I am a second-generation homeschooler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Wow, what a doofus! He didn't even bother to google much before he started pontificating about homeschoolers and their woeful lack of free curriculum. I hope he bothers to post a retraction, but I doubt it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Oh shoot, another hsing mother that HAS both sold and given away material: Donna Young (how could I possibly forget?!) Really, how could you forget her? :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 And many of us are struggling with both the economy AND homeschooling AND homemaking AND health issues AND special needs/accelerated needs/extracurricular needs, etc.... Really, women are supposed to be supermoms, eh? Exactly. I really really appreciate all the wonderful amazing women who have made their stuff available for free-and I can think of some--but I think he has no idea what most of us do. That's not "excuses," that's just how things are. And I agree that he doesn't know about our 'underground' sharing. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Peach Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Hmmmm...I wonder what he'd say about public/private school teachers? After all, do they lack confidence and is that the reason that they use packaged curriculum? :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristinannie Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 First of all, my time goes to teaching and raising my kids and keeping my household running. I don't have time to create a free online program for other people to use! Second of all, this comment: If necessary, a mother could let Khan do the hard lifting in math and science. Yet there is no such mother-designed curriculum. REALLY MADE ME MAD. I was a Chemistry major and a Bio minor. I don't need any man to do the hard lifting in math and science. That is such a generalization about women. Thirdly, I think this man has too much self confidence. He seems to know (with obviously very little research) exactly how to homeschool and feels obligated to enlighten the rest of us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) Why does the name Gary North ring (a NOT good bell with me)? I looked at the website but can't find who he is, but something tells me I don't want to listen to him. He's a "Christian Reconstructionist" (a.k.a. theonomist) and writes/speaks in a vein similar to Gary DeMar, Greg Bahnsen and others who have taught and elaborated on the political and theological ideas of Rousas J. Rushdoony. He obviously has no clues at all about homeschooling moms or curriculum! Edited February 9, 2011 by ScoutTN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWOB Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 What a loser. Seriously, did this guy even Google anything before writing this piece of rubbish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RanchGirl Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) *eyeroll* :iagree: If this man is intending to attach himself to the homeschool movement, I hope he takes a few courses in logic and persuasive writing first. His solution is in need of a problem, he contradicts himself multiple times, and his conclusions are patently ridiculous. Edited February 9, 2011 by RanchGirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Poorly written and poorly researched. Frankly, I found it a passive/aggressive sexist slap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 "why would they expect their daughters to have greater competence, dedication, courage, and vision than they do" Well, maybe we think we're giving our daughters a better education than ps gave us? Dunno, just a thought. :rolleyes: I think this guy has dialect problems. No woman could have written this article because they know "I can't" very frequently means "Naff off! I have enough to do already. I'm BUSY you know! And you OUGHT to know!" And I just love the "heavy lifting" idea. As if women all suck at the great and noble maths and sciences. As if learning to write is an easy, peasy, wimpy sort of thing that matters less. What a twat. "They are all variations of this one: "Some man should do all this -- Khan or Robinson. It's just too much for me." " Actually, I think they are all variations of "if you are so **** lazy that you can't research for yourself, you shouldn't be homeschooling anyway." My pontificating for the morning... :tongue_smilie: Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paintedlady Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Let's not neglect homeschooling dads--Steve Demme of MUS, Christopher Perrin of Latin for Children, Andrew Pudewa of IEW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I e-mailed and linked. I also explained that I was linking him to a forum based on TWTM, written by a homeschool pioneer and her daughter that also is a home school educator. That in fact TWTM is a book that gives you step by step instructions on how to home educate. I learnt more in my first 2 hours of research into home schooling than he found in his article. I remember it was only last July. I bet he spent about 30 min researching and now thinks he is an expert! Nicole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Wow! I have yet to meet a HS mom who lacks self confidence (online or irl).:001_huh: It takes a certain amount just to jump in the water. btw - MOST of my curricula is written by women. The blogs I visit to gain wisdom and inspiration (for free :tongue_smilie:) were written by women. This forum is dominated by confident women. I just put together my own program for next year...yep, I'm THAT confident.:tongue_smilie: That poor poor man...and his poor poor email box.:auto: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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