Catholic Home Schooling: A Handbook for Parents

by Mary Kay Clark

The Grand Matron of Catholic home schooling sets down all the reasons why to home school, successfully refutes all the reasons why not and gives 101 pointers on how to do it. Home schooling well may be the salvation of our entire society.

Genres: Education, Catholic, Parenting, Religion, Nonfiction

452 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1993

Reviews

[Katie Kolodzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written by one of the founders of the Seton Home Study program, and online Catholic homeschool program. I gather that it's much like a school-at-home program, which does not suit by desires, preferring a Charlotte Mason/Classical education for my children. Her view of what homeschool "looks like" in practical application is not applicable to what I expect to do in our home, but I still found some parts interesting & informative.

1. I will keep this on my shelf, as I liked the examples of how to incorporate Catholic family living into school time. She talked about family activities as well as group activities with other Catholic homeschoolers.

2. Discipline section - pretty irrelevant for a hs book IMO and I disagree with her rationale... good Bible verses, bad interpretations. Sounds like one of those awful child-trainers who think Jesus wants us to beat our kids into submission. yeah. don't think so, honey.

3. I really enjoyed reading the history of where Catholic schools went wrong & are now only slightly different than secular (gov't) schools.

4. I can't rightly agree with her declaration that everything we teach should be from a Catholic world view. Stories only about saints or specifically-Catholic activities in our everyday life. It seems very, very limiting. She suggests using Protestant-produced curriculum when Catholic version are not available, and I appreciate her "warning" that some Christian-based curriculums can, whether on purpose or not, have some tendencies toward anti-Catholic viewpoints, as many secular programs do, though the Protestant ones at least express absolute morality. I don't plan to use any curriculum for history or literature (where such slants would be clearly evident) so this doesn't apply to me, but I found it interesting.

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this off and on for many years...used innumerable times for years. Primary basis for our homeschooling, although we also drew from other resources as well. Even now I find myself unable to let this book go. It is highlighted throughout. Started to give it away last week but fortunately I checked it and found special places bookmarked with the holy cards of my paternal grandmother and uncle (both died 1994) and maternal great aunt (died 1972) as well as two others from my grade school days (dated 1966).

No doubt there are more modern resources out there which say things better or are organized more efficiently. I taught my children when there were still dinosaurs, i.e., before the Internet, but a little bit of my homeschool* heart is in this book.

*Even that word I now understand is becoming passé. And yet the older I get, the more I value the older things and ways...with just a dash of technology for efficiency.

[Heather]

This book seemed out-dated and overly militaristic in tone about Catholic homeschooling. I err on the side of conservative Catholic homeschooler, but the author's tone went way over the top. I finally put the book down (on our library's donation shelf) after she said public school children were not loved as much as homeschooled children. I really cannot picture how or why I would recommend this book to anyone else.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful! and essential actually.

[Kathleen Kirchner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good if dated.

[Myah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it and I feel like it's a necessary read for all Catholic parents (even if they don't want to homeschool, just for the perspective). Fantastic

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information and examples for home schooling parents and future home schooling parents. A bit outdated though. The author has a few strict discipline ideas that I did not care for. I am glad I read this book!

[rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a good resource to have around. I refer to it often when I have questions or doubts.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just starting. Reading as part of my discernment.

**UPDATE 03/08/11** Finished reading this (for now). Will pick it back up from time to time, I am sure.

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, definitely a good resource for homeschooling. Will have to invest in it if we decide to home school.

[Mcw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the nudge we needed to put us over on our new adventure in homeschooling.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

[Nana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seton