A Survey in Catholic Home Education -

What Your Diocese Had to Say to the NCEA

Part 4

---

 As it appeared in the Summer/Fall 1995 issue of

The Catholic Family's Magnificat! Magazine

Copyright 1994. All Rights Reserved.

by Marianna Bartold

 Georgia, Atlanta - Q #9. There are groups throughout the diocese but they do not seem to have a formal organization. Q #10. Eventually those children will be returned to some type of formal school environment. We need to support the parent's fight to provide for the children's education (Bravo!) and share the resources we have through NCEA. (Would distribution of resources through the NCEA to homeschooling families necessarily be good?)

 

Idaho, Boise - Q #10. We have had many requests for homeschooling due to the unavailability of Catholic schools in our state. These requests are coming from Post-Vatican II parents who simply desire an appropriate Catholic education for their children. Unfortunately my own research has only determined that available programs (Mother Seton, Our Lady of Victory, Our Lady of the Rosary, etc.) are pre-Vatican II and use the Baltimore Catechism as a basis of instruction.

(Again, what is "pre-Vatican II"? Could it be, as this comment seems to imply, that use of the Baltimore Catechism defines one as pre-Vatican II? Additionally, "post-Vatican II" parents seem to be looked upon in a favorable light, opposed to those who are "pre-Vatican II". Once definitions to these terms are given, we may be able to ask "Why?")

Founders of these programs also insist that they are the "true" Catholic schools. (Actually, these curricula state they are "authentically Catholic" or "truly Catholic," the definition being "loyal to the Magisterium.") At the present time we have encouraged parents to utilize approved diocesan materials for religious education while working with public schools in academic areas. (What? Catholic parents are encouraged to seek the help of public schools?) However, I am convinced that an approved NCEA program would be well received in Idaho. (By whom? The Religious Ed. Dept. of the archdiocese or the home educating Catholics?)

 

Illinois, Belleville - Q #9. In response to this question, this diocese provided a list of four private homeschool providers in Illinois; American School, grades 9-12, in Chicago; Christian Liberty Academy, grades K-12, in Arlington Heights; Advanced Training Institute; and International Institute, grades K-12, in Park Ridge. (Please note that not one of these providers is Catholic. Perhaps the criteria for listing was that the homeschool providers had to be located in Illinois.)

 

Illinois, Chicago - Q #9. *D. Q #10. Our Lady of the Rosary, Bardstown, KY; Our Lady of Victory, Post Falls, ID; Seton Home School. Front royal, VA; Become Holy,, Twin Harte, CA; ("Become Holy" is not a curriculum provider; it was a lovely newsletter, now defunct.); Colby Academy, Napa, CA (new). (It's Kolbe Academy, as in St. Maximilian Kolbe.)

States are forming Catholic homeschooling networks. Beginning in November of 1994, the leadership of those networks will be meeting once a year to discuss Catholic home education issues. The November 1994 meeting will be held in Washington, D.C. Beginning November 1995, the annual meetings will be held in Chicago. (There was no mention that Cardinal Gagnon was to be present at the November 1994 meeting which he did, indeed, attend. Further, the First Roundtable meeting was held in April of '94.)

 

Illinois, Joliet - Q # 9. Enclosed is the entire file that I have on homeschooling (eight pages). (File was not included with the survey.) Our Lady of the Rosary, Kentucky; Seton Academy, VA; Our Lady of Victory, ID. Q #10. When we register children who are coming to us from a homeschool, we test them for readiness. Nine times out of ten, they do not qualify for the grades in which they want to register. (Research on home educated children shows they do well on such tests.)

 

Illinois, Peoria - Q #9. *D. Q # 10.. In response to this question, this diocese provided a two-page commentary in favor of homeschooling from a homeschooling parent. (This favorable report was not included with the survey responses.)

 

Illinois, Rockford - Q # 10. This office has received an increasing number of phone calls from parents stating that they are going to homeschool. They are looking for information on curriculum - both academic and religious.

 

Indiana, Ft. Wayne-South Bend - Q #9. *D. Q #10. Homeschooling has a very broad definition. One issue related to homeschooling is the lack of standards and ability of an organization to monitor. (Does this mean a Religious Ed. Dept. should monitor homeschoolers, or a homeschooling organization that would monitor itself? It is doubtful either would be advisable.) Homeschoolers belong to a variety of religious denominations and I don't see how a Catholic organization could exist. (Isn't this the some as saying that because there are other Christian schools that Catholic parochial schools could not be? Additionally, Catholic homeschool groups already exist and are still forming all over the U.S. as well as in other countries.)

 

Indiana, Indianapolis - Q # 10. It is on the increase. In some cases, we are dealing with less than stable parents. (It is so easy to judge, isn't it? So not only are many home educators "Pre-Vatican II," "Post-Vatican II," "conservative," "traditional," or "fundamental Catholic," but now some are "less than stable." By who's definition? Further, the encyclical letter On Christian Education states "...For the wise God would have failed to make sufficient provisions for children that had been born... if He had not given to those to whom He had entrusted the power and right to beget them, the power also and the right to educate them.") However, most are good people and are doing well. It's not for my children or me, but they're not the demons they're often made out to be. (I suppose this person meant well.)

 

Indiana, Lafayette - Q # 10. An explicit and implicit result of "schooling" is the process of socialization that takes place. For Catholic schools, the experience of being a part of community is characteristic for us. I have a real problem when parents opt out of both Catholic school and parish life to teach their children at home. (Do homeschooling parents really drop out of parish life? Do they attend Mass? Or is it possible they have moved to another parish?) Where there are "poor" public schools (poor in quality; not a reference to economics) - not positively affecting children, and no availability of Catholic schools, there can be a real need for homeschooling. If parish life is also poor, where do parents go? ("...in places where widespread unbelief or invasive secularism makes real religious growth practically impossible, 'the church of the home' remains the one place where children and young people can receive an authentic catechesis." Pope John Paul II's Catechesis Tradendae )

 

 

Click here to read Part 5 of 9, survey results

from Davenport, Iowa to Louisville, Kentucky