What Matters?


Book Description

Over the past decade, religious, secular, and spiritual distinctions have broken down, forcing scholars to rethink secularity and its relationship to society. Since classifying a person, activity, or experience as religious or otherwise is an important act of valuation, one that defines the characteristics of a group and its relation to others, scholars are struggling to recast these concepts in our increasingly ambiguous, pluralistic world. This collection considers religious and secular categories and what they mean to those who seek valuable, ethical lives. As they investigate how individuals and groups determine significance, set goals, and attribute meaning, contributors illustrate the ways in which religious, secular, and spiritual designations serve as markers of value. Reflecting on recent ethnographic and historical research, chapters explore contemporary psychical research and liberal American homeschooling; the work of nineteenth and early-twentieth-century American psychologists and French archaeologists; the role of contemporary humanitarian and volunteer organizations based in Europe and India; and the prevalence of highly mediated and spiritualized publics, from international psy-trance festivals to Ghanaian national political contexts. Contributors particularly focus on the role of ambivalence, attachment, and disaffection in the formation of religious, secular, and spiritual identities, resetting research on secular society and contemporary religious life while illuminating what matters in the lives of ordinary individuals.




Home Schooling


Book Description

From left to right on the political spectrum, there is at least one note of agreement: the nation's school system has not delivered universal quality education. Accordingly, debate has raged over how to rectify this situation. Should the government increase funding, encourage privatisation, some of both? Another option, though, has emerged and is seemingly gaining popularity -- home schooling. Citing both substandard education and displeasure with school environments and curricula, many parents have decided to teach their own children. Supporters say it is well within their rights to raise their children as they see fit and that at-home learning is superior to the public system. Detractors claim that home-schooled children are deprived of social interaction and the broad-based education provided by the system. Neither side wants to cede ground, making the issue of home schooling an integral part of a wider national debate on education. In this book, the specific topic of home schooling is presented from all relevant sides to give a complete picture of the present status of the issue and its potential for future resolution. Following this overview is a thorough and carefully selected bibliography of literature about home schooling from all viewpoints. Easy access to his important resource is then provided via author, title, and subject indexes.




Homeschooling 101


Book Description

Where to begin and how to continue. . . Homeschooling 101 will help potential and current homeschooling parents caught between a proverbial rock (the expectations of the world when it comes to education) and a hard place (honoring God through the raising and teaching of their children). Veteran homeschool couple Mark and Christine Field write from experience about why homeschooling is best for children and how to make the process a complete success at every step. Chapters include discussions on the uniqueness of each child, practical advice on teaching children of different ages at the same time, the centrality of the Bible in the education process, and approaches to teaching various subjects, and much more.




Teach Your Own


Book Description

The classic guide to teaching children at home for a new generation of homeschooling parents In 2019, there were more than two million children being homeschooled. That number doubled during the pandemic and is now likely to continue increasing as more parents worry that school might not be the best place for their children to learn and grow. Teach Your Own helped launch the homeschooling movement; now, its timeless and revolutionary message of recognizing the ways children come to understand the world has been updated for today’s environment. Parents and caregivers will discover how to navigate: Learning in a classroom versus learning in the world The difference between a learning difficulty (which we all experience every time we try to learn anything) and a learning disability. Schedules that achieve the homeschooling-work-life balance that you want as a family The relationship between learning and play Homeschooling and technology And much more. John Holt's warm understanding of children and his passionate belief in every child's ability to learn have made this book an essential resource for over forty years to homeschooling families.




The Healing Heart for Communities


Book Description

The Healing Heart provides powerful examples of the use of stories and storytelling in encouraging resiliency, empathy, respect, and healing. These engaging books contain stories, and narratives about the use of the stories in activities with different populations (children, teens, those with disabilities, seniors, inmates, etc.) or which address specific social or community problems (addictions, poverty, violence, racism, environmental degra-dation, homelessness, abuse). The books are a collective effort containing the expertise of more than 60 storytellers and health professionals who illustrate the power of story in moving others to commitment and action, in building self-esteem and mutual respect. The Healing Heart ~ Families focuses on families, dealing specifically with healing through story, health promotion, disease prevention, early childhood intervention, children with medical problems, adopting families, schools, sexual identities, grief, and spiritual healing. The Healing Heart ~ Communities focuses on community-building, with sections on youth, violence prevention, poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse and addiction, racism, elders, culture, environmental protection, homelessness, and community development. Allison Cox is a therapist and Prevention Specialist, in Tacoma, Washington, with 20 years experience as a professional storyteller, and is a founder of the Healing Story Alliance—part of the National Storytelling Network. David Albert is a storyteller, writer, and Senior Planner and Policy Analyst with the Washington State Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and a contributor to Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope (New Society, 2002).




The Art of Conscious Parenting


Book Description

A new approach to creating, rediscovering, and renewing the intimate bonds between parents and children • Explains the importance of bonding with your child in utero and the physical and mental preparation needed even before conception • Shows how “green parenting”--breast-feeding, contact with nature, and low-tech creativity--can enhance your child’s life • The Art of Conscious Parenting won the 2010 Gold Nautilus Award for the best Parenting/Childcare book. The Nautilus Awards recognize books that promote spiritual growth, conscious living and positive social change, while at the same time stimulating the “imagination” and offer the reader “new possibilities” for a better life and a better world. Our first days and months of life are critical in forming the attitudes we bring into adulthood and in structuring the very roots of our personality. Simple bonding techniques--long forgotten in our modern world but stemming from the age-old customs of indigenous peoples--are at the core of a new model of conscious parenting that can produce happy and well-adjusted children. These practices also help parents experience an increased joy and intimacy both with their child and with each other. Based on obstetric and psychological evidence, Jeffrey and Dalit Fine reveal how bonding begins in utero and that the physical and mental preparation of both the father and mother, even before conception, sets the tone for the future well-being of the child. They show how sustained physical contact and simple ways of consciously interacting with your infant--eye contact with the newborn, baby-wearing instead of stroller use, and co-sleeping--have an observable positive effect. They also show that the “green parenting” practices of breast-feeding, contact with nature, and simple low-tech creative play not only provide a more hands-on and intimate approach to parenting but also are more economical and environmentally sustainable. From in-utero bonding through the challenges and joys of consciously interacting with your growing child, this book will help parents rediscover and apply the natural art of conscious parenting.




My Mother Wears Combat Boots


Book Description

Punk, politics, and parenting: a guide for moms (and dads) who want it all.




The West Virginia Homesteader


Book Description

Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of America's Mountain State with “The West Virginia Homesteader”—your comprehensive guide to building a self-sufficient life in West Virginia's enchanting wilderness. This resource is more than just a manual; it is an invitation to embrace a way of living that harmonizes with nature’s rhythms and the state's unique culture. In this guide, you’ll be introduced to the essence of West Virginian self-sufficiency, uncovering how the state’s lush landscapes and resilient spirit provide the perfect backdrop for your homesteading dreams. Delve deep into the local climate, geography, and the compelling reasons behind choosing a life of independence and resourcefulness. Navigate the legal intricacies of homesteading with ease, through focused chapters on laws, rights, local regulations, and essential zoning considerations. Explore chapters dedicated to choosing your ideal homestead, where you’ll learn what to consider in land selection and be equipped with practical steps for acquiring the perfect patch of paradise. Design your homestead with intention, as chapters on planning reveal how to establish harmony with the ecosystem and ensure your infrastructure is resilient against the elements. Discover the secrets to creating a cozy West Virginian-adapted home, utilizing local materials and learning insulation tactics to combat the chilly months. Water and energy are the lifeblood of any homestead, and you'll uncover innovative solutions for collection, purification, and off-grid power options including solar, wind, and hydro power, guaranteeing a sustainable way of life whatever the conditions. Transform the land with your own hands, employing farming techniques adapted to the state's microclimates. Chapters on vegetable gardening, fruit trees, and berry bushes share knowledge on cultivating bountiful harvests, pest control, and storage for year-round abundance. The guide further delves into the rearing of livestock, home dairying, cheesemaking, beekeeping, and the rich heritage of hunting and fishing, offering insight into sustainable practices that allow you to live in sync with the earth. West Virginian homesteading isn't just about the essentials; it's also about the soul. Immerse yourself in traditional crafts, natural remedies, and sumptuous recipes tied to the local terroir. Build a life entwined with community, where cooperation, education, and celebrations are an integral part of everyday existence. Designed to support both the seasoned homesteader and the curious newcomer, “The West Virginia Homesteader” is more than simply a guide—it’s the key to unlocking the door to a life steeped in the beauty and vigor of rural West Virginia. Unlock the power of living a life connected to the land, and join a community valuing sustainability, self-reliance, and the trappings of a simpler time. Dare to transform your vision into reality with “The West Virginia Homesteader”—where every turn furthers your journey towards a life crafted by your own hands, under West Virginia's boundless skies.




How to Dropout of School and Start Unschooling


Book Description

Teachers lie and manipulate. Listen to them, and your life will suck. Their system will fail you and you'll feel disillusioned and betrayed. Fortunately, we do have a way out of all the scams and games in life. Unschooling can save us, so read this book to find out how to dropout of the system and unschool yourself to the life of your dreams. 34 pages.