Secular Homeschooling Without Religion
Many people don’t realize that there are so many non-religious homeschoolers. The stereotypical picture of a Christian homeschool family doesn’t reflect the reality of homeschooling for many families. Non-religious homeschoolers exist, whether they’re atheist, agnostic or just plain avoiding the issue.
Secular Homeschool Support Groups
Meeting local secular homeschoolers can prove to be a challenge. Many larger cities have secular homeschool support groups. Sometimes the term “Inclusive” is used in lieu of “secular.” An inclusive homeschool group would welcome all religions, however, and some secular homeschooling families prefer to keep social interactions non-religious.
Families who strive for non-religious homeschooling friends may search long and hard to find the environment that meets their needs. It may be wise to take advantage of one of homeschooling’s greatest gifts – the ability to befriend people of diverse backgrounds and age groups. Focus on the needs and interests of the children and build social relationships around common interests, not homeschooling status. Scouting groups and hobby clubs allow children to form social relationships with people based upon a common interest.
Non Religious Homeschool Curriculum
Finding curriculum without religious dogma may be tricky. The majority of homeschool curriculum publishers are Christian. Secular homeschoolers who want to avoid the dumbed-down curricula available to public schools can opt for a nontraditional approach to education, whether it’s the Charlotte Mason method, the Thomas Jefferson Method, Unschooling or Radical Unschooling.
Non Christian Homeschool Programs
Public school districts often offer homeschooling programs and many state sponsored online academies present a secular curriculum. Before enrolling in a state-sponsored homeschool program, families should be sure to check out their state’s homeschooling regulations and make a conscious decision whether or not it’s “worth it” to join forces with the school district. In these programs, students are often technically enrolled in public school and can be removed from homeschooling at the whim of the district.
