I feel like I have been offline for EVER, but the truth is, I have been online, just not on my blog!  I have missed you all, and hope your days are filled with fun, and with praise!

Did you all teach your kids about Christopher "Christ-bearer" Columbus this last week?  Maggie Hogan sure had some awesome info about him on her Crosswalk piece.  There is a really great article about him also right here.  You have to scroll down to the second half of the newsletter, but it's worth it!  You know, when I was in public school, the only thing I ever learned about Columbus was this little musical ditty: 

 "In fourteen-hundred-and-ninety-two, Columbus sailed the oceans blue.  He sailed and he sailed and he sailed and he sailed, to find this land for me and you!" 

Then we would color a "ditto" page of the Nina, Pinta and the Santa Maria.  That was it.  One redeeming factor was at least they didn't teach him as an evil leader who committed genocide---which is being taught all over the U.S. today.

I am SO glad we can homeschool so we can teach our kids real, true history!  But watch out, even in the homeschooling curriculum resources out there, there is a lot of bunk!  You have to be informed!  Start out with the real history, Creation history, and then go from there.  AND don't be sucked in by all the bells, whistles and media- immitating garbaje' out there!  At our homeschooling convention here this year, I was given a sample of something called the "Drive By History of the United States."  I was horrified.  Just because it has some "reputable names" with it, doesn't make it good.  Here is a guy dressed up as a patriot, driving through our honorable, even "sacred" historical sites, in a humvee---with the rock music blaring and giving us "sound bites" that are supposed to endear and inform our young children about the Christian Heritage of our country.  Sorry, it just makes me angry.  Why are you giving our kids fast food when it comes to information?  It's junk, junk information.  Give them something real, give them something that is respectable.  If you want to give them junk, then just send them to school and be done with it.

Sorry~I am a *bit* testy about this.  But with good reason.  Homeschool Mom and Dad, you don't have to do things the way the world does, to reach your children whether it is reaching them with historical information, or even reaching them for the Lord!  Do it His way, the honest, scholarly, calm, TRUTH way.  Get rid of the bells, whistles, special effects and nonsense.  Please don't mock the Lord, or the Founding Fathers.  Start appreciating what we have---before it's gone.

There are some great resources out there that will give you information with some respectability too----and there are several homeschooling magazines that have great things in them.  Of course TOS is near and dear to my heart, but it's just like anything else, you have to run it through the filter of God's word, it and anything anyone says.  Don't take my word for everything, pray about all you read and hear and the Lord will show you what is wheat and what is chaff!

Did you get your copy of the Fall issue of TOS magazine?   I can't wait to read the whole thing.  Some nice new features, like the homeschool alumni~ I am always so blessed by what homeschool graduates are up to.  And Jen Ig's column is GREAT as usual.  It's one you need to read to your kids!

How about your copy of TEACH?  Do you get that too?  I enjoy all the encouragment I find in there too.  There are so many Godly ladies out there who like to share what Christ is teaching them!  We can all learn so much from each other and be blessed. I have an article in there too....it's a bit different from what is usually in there, but it was something that was a real blessing to write, and is heavy on my heart. It is an interview I did with Dr. Catherine Millard of Christian Heritage Ministries.  It's in two parts.  Next issue will be part 2!  Let me know what you think of it, ok?  It goes hand in hand with my little speech (aka: tirade) up above.  This history of our country is fascinating and the hand of God has been all over it from day one.  Don't accept anything less than that!  If you want some really great, SOLID teaching on the History of the U.S., plus a lot of research on how it is being taken away from us, revised in books and historic sites, go to Dr. Millard's site.

Well, it's a pleasure to be here on HSB in the midst of some lovely, talented and humble ladies (and gentlemen.)  God Bless your day!

Nancy

©Nancy K. Baetz

Homeschooling Is Life! 2006

Related Tags: Christopher Columbus, Homeschooling Resources, U.S. History, History Curriculum, Christian Heritage Ministries, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, TEACH, Revisionist History, Home Education,