Roger Lewis, yes music is a unique skill. Yes, it requires outside instruction once the kids got past the first 8 notes. But an outside instructor was not required to teach them to drive a stick shift, cooking skills, sewing, algebra, history, cursive, entrepreneurship, giving service, scouting skills (even the girls), gardening, photography, typewriter/keyboard skills, doing research, using their imagination, etc. Yes, I did buy a lot of music books, a recorder for each child including a tiny one and an oversized one), we own a very nice piano, a $900 clarinet, two guitars, one violin (a very nice one, too), harmonicas, trumpet, flute but what good did it have to have them in the home if no one knows how to use them? Yes, outside instruction is needed. Oh, and I taught them how to handle tools, build simple things from wood, showed them how to fix a toilet, run the washing machine and dryer, shoot a bow among other things. Today music is a big part of their life. They love listening to it. :-)
EAugust 6, 2016
A couple of thoughts. I think homeschooling is an option that can be positive for some families and hats off to you who are doing it because you felt guided by the Spirit to do so. I wanted to point out that it has been well over 100 years since church leaders have discouraged members from using public schools. More recent statements have encouraged attendance and support of public schools. I don't think we should be taking statements from leaders in the mid 19th century, given during a time whose conditions no longer exist, and treating them as if they are necessarily the final word on public education.
My other thought; I have four children who have all attended public schools, the youngest is now 12 and will be starting 7th grade. I have never seen any curriculum that I feel contradicts gospel principles. When I recently went with my 7th grader to pick up his class schedule and tour the school, I saw messages everywhere encouraging kindness, respect for others, work, persistence, etc. He is taking classes in English, math, science, music, foreign language, computer science, and PE. He has the opportunity to learn from and enjoy people who have different backgrounds and beliefs from us. Those are all positives to me.
roger lewisAugust 5, 2016
Those of you who are homeschooling are probably tired of the "socialization" issue and should be. I seen children "socialized" by eighth graders (et.al) and it's not a pretty picture. A question - I am the editor of a series of musical instruction books and slide presentations. Why are home school parents willing to teach math, history, foreign languages, etc and apparently reluctant to teach music at home? Given the enormous quantities of research establishing the benefits, I wonder why there isn't more home school interest in learning music at home. I know that the students are often sent to private music teachers but is the perception that music is such a unique skill that it requires an outside teacher?
Stephanie ReadAugust 3, 2016
Mike J, Socialization is a common misconception. When people hear "home school" they think we sit at home and never leave, never socialize. I would love to invite you to consider that we spend more time in the "real world" than public schooled students. My children socialize with all ages, elderly, young children, as well as their peers. My friends kids won't even play with kids unless they are their same age. My kids will play with anyone, any age. They are very social and I don't have to correct the negative social skills that they might pick up at school like potty words, teasing, pop culture... We learn social skills from adults, not from a room full of other 6 year olds. So I dare say my children are far more socialized by our choice of homeschooling than if they were in public school.
Also, when is the next article being published? and how do we find out?
Vicky GodleyAugust 1, 2016
I have always homeschooled my children because that was the direction of the Spirit whenever I prayed about it. I did a calculation yesterday for a sister and realized I have been homeschooling for over 20 of my motherhood years. In my state I apply as a private school so I can teach my kids from the Church manuals without repercussions from the state. So many in my ward have praised my husband and I for this choice, yet are not willing to make the sacrifice themselves. Oh how I wish they would listen to the Spirit and take his guidance. I fear Satan has a strong hand in the public school system, especially with Common Core.
Ray CongerJuly 31, 2016
I would be interested to read an article that does a compare and contrast of these Academy Schools with each of the three following: (1) Early American schools at the US Founding, (2) Jacksonian Era and (3) Reconstruction Era schools. I would be very interested to see how each of these compared and contrasted to the Utah Academies described above.
Sandy ReddishJuly 30, 2016
I homeschool my children as well and we are starting a home school cooperative. This allows me to get help teaching my children and helps them develop homeschool friends. There are excellent resources for LDS families homeschooling. We love Latter Day Learning and also use Dianne Jensen's Family centered education. Also as a professional that works with children if you have more than one child you have socialization. So many schools feel pressure to teach to the test that children really don't socialize much at school. It is frightening to read about all of the negative influences trying to get into the schools. We never thought we could homeschool but Heavenly Father provided a way and the means.
KimJuly 29, 2016
It is exciting to see the Church Education System begin to return to this inspired system. It will be a process, but at least they're beginning. Here is the announcement by Elder Kim B. Clark, current Church Commissioner of Education:
https://video.byui.edu/media/Kim+B.+Clark+%E2%80%9CCESA+The+Lord%E2%80%99s+Educational+System+for+His+Church%E2%80%9D/0_xl0zwja3/21751142
Susan AdneyJuly 29, 2016
"1988" should possilby be changed to read 1888..... President Taylor died in Kaysville in July of 1887. The new prophet, Wilford Woodruff took up the gauntlet. He made the announcement in the 1988 April General Conference that the Church would be officially organizing schools
mary jane fritzenJuly 28, 2016
Is teaching Biblical literature permitted in public schools?
In the 1930's elementary schools, we learned the 23rd Psalm as well as the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
Teaching Relief Society to members in an assisted living center this week, I chose to supplement the Howard W. Hunter manual with "The Lord is My Shepherd, a Portfolio of 19 Illustrations of the 23rd Psalm by the Celebrated American Artist, Ernest Norling." Each phrase of the Pslam is accompanied by an illustration in the large formatted portfolio. I invited the class members to recite it with me. It was familiar to us. I commented, "It was not against the Constitution to teach the 23rd Psalm in public schools when I was a child, and it is not against the Constitution now."
This is important to consider and learn from our study of the history of education.
CraigJuly 27, 2016
When can we expect the next article?
Esther WilliamsJuly 27, 2016
Interesting to see that the Saints struggled with this in the 1800's. I sure wish there were more church schools especially living in California. There was a typo. In the paragraph about Wilford Woodruff, it mentioned him talking in conference in 1998. I think you meant 1888.
Mike JJuly 27, 2016
I'm anxious to read part 2. We are now homeschooling all of our kids because of the unacceptable conditions in the public schools. I'm amazed how few members of the church even care about this. The challenges primarily center around limited social activity with other kids their age. Sunday association isn't quite enough.
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Teresa DavisSeptember 18, 2016
Roger Lewis, yes music is a unique skill. Yes, it requires outside instruction once the kids got past the first 8 notes. But an outside instructor was not required to teach them to drive a stick shift, cooking skills, sewing, algebra, history, cursive, entrepreneurship, giving service, scouting skills (even the girls), gardening, photography, typewriter/keyboard skills, doing research, using their imagination, etc. Yes, I did buy a lot of music books, a recorder for each child including a tiny one and an oversized one), we own a very nice piano, a $900 clarinet, two guitars, one violin (a very nice one, too), harmonicas, trumpet, flute but what good did it have to have them in the home if no one knows how to use them? Yes, outside instruction is needed. Oh, and I taught them how to handle tools, build simple things from wood, showed them how to fix a toilet, run the washing machine and dryer, shoot a bow among other things. Today music is a big part of their life. They love listening to it. :-)
EAugust 6, 2016
A couple of thoughts. I think homeschooling is an option that can be positive for some families and hats off to you who are doing it because you felt guided by the Spirit to do so. I wanted to point out that it has been well over 100 years since church leaders have discouraged members from using public schools. More recent statements have encouraged attendance and support of public schools. I don't think we should be taking statements from leaders in the mid 19th century, given during a time whose conditions no longer exist, and treating them as if they are necessarily the final word on public education. My other thought; I have four children who have all attended public schools, the youngest is now 12 and will be starting 7th grade. I have never seen any curriculum that I feel contradicts gospel principles. When I recently went with my 7th grader to pick up his class schedule and tour the school, I saw messages everywhere encouraging kindness, respect for others, work, persistence, etc. He is taking classes in English, math, science, music, foreign language, computer science, and PE. He has the opportunity to learn from and enjoy people who have different backgrounds and beliefs from us. Those are all positives to me.
roger lewisAugust 5, 2016
Those of you who are homeschooling are probably tired of the "socialization" issue and should be. I seen children "socialized" by eighth graders (et.al) and it's not a pretty picture. A question - I am the editor of a series of musical instruction books and slide presentations. Why are home school parents willing to teach math, history, foreign languages, etc and apparently reluctant to teach music at home? Given the enormous quantities of research establishing the benefits, I wonder why there isn't more home school interest in learning music at home. I know that the students are often sent to private music teachers but is the perception that music is such a unique skill that it requires an outside teacher?
Stephanie ReadAugust 3, 2016
Mike J, Socialization is a common misconception. When people hear "home school" they think we sit at home and never leave, never socialize. I would love to invite you to consider that we spend more time in the "real world" than public schooled students. My children socialize with all ages, elderly, young children, as well as their peers. My friends kids won't even play with kids unless they are their same age. My kids will play with anyone, any age. They are very social and I don't have to correct the negative social skills that they might pick up at school like potty words, teasing, pop culture... We learn social skills from adults, not from a room full of other 6 year olds. So I dare say my children are far more socialized by our choice of homeschooling than if they were in public school. Also, when is the next article being published? and how do we find out?
Vicky GodleyAugust 1, 2016
I have always homeschooled my children because that was the direction of the Spirit whenever I prayed about it. I did a calculation yesterday for a sister and realized I have been homeschooling for over 20 of my motherhood years. In my state I apply as a private school so I can teach my kids from the Church manuals without repercussions from the state. So many in my ward have praised my husband and I for this choice, yet are not willing to make the sacrifice themselves. Oh how I wish they would listen to the Spirit and take his guidance. I fear Satan has a strong hand in the public school system, especially with Common Core.
Ray CongerJuly 31, 2016
I would be interested to read an article that does a compare and contrast of these Academy Schools with each of the three following: (1) Early American schools at the US Founding, (2) Jacksonian Era and (3) Reconstruction Era schools. I would be very interested to see how each of these compared and contrasted to the Utah Academies described above.
Sandy ReddishJuly 30, 2016
I homeschool my children as well and we are starting a home school cooperative. This allows me to get help teaching my children and helps them develop homeschool friends. There are excellent resources for LDS families homeschooling. We love Latter Day Learning and also use Dianne Jensen's Family centered education. Also as a professional that works with children if you have more than one child you have socialization. So many schools feel pressure to teach to the test that children really don't socialize much at school. It is frightening to read about all of the negative influences trying to get into the schools. We never thought we could homeschool but Heavenly Father provided a way and the means.
KimJuly 29, 2016
It is exciting to see the Church Education System begin to return to this inspired system. It will be a process, but at least they're beginning. Here is the announcement by Elder Kim B. Clark, current Church Commissioner of Education: https://video.byui.edu/media/Kim+B.+Clark+%E2%80%9CCESA+The+Lord%E2%80%99s+Educational+System+for+His+Church%E2%80%9D/0_xl0zwja3/21751142
Susan AdneyJuly 29, 2016
"1988" should possilby be changed to read 1888..... President Taylor died in Kaysville in July of 1887. The new prophet, Wilford Woodruff took up the gauntlet. He made the announcement in the 1988 April General Conference that the Church would be officially organizing schools
mary jane fritzenJuly 28, 2016
Is teaching Biblical literature permitted in public schools? In the 1930's elementary schools, we learned the 23rd Psalm as well as the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Teaching Relief Society to members in an assisted living center this week, I chose to supplement the Howard W. Hunter manual with "The Lord is My Shepherd, a Portfolio of 19 Illustrations of the 23rd Psalm by the Celebrated American Artist, Ernest Norling." Each phrase of the Pslam is accompanied by an illustration in the large formatted portfolio. I invited the class members to recite it with me. It was familiar to us. I commented, "It was not against the Constitution to teach the 23rd Psalm in public schools when I was a child, and it is not against the Constitution now." This is important to consider and learn from our study of the history of education.
CraigJuly 27, 2016
When can we expect the next article?
Esther WilliamsJuly 27, 2016
Interesting to see that the Saints struggled with this in the 1800's. I sure wish there were more church schools especially living in California. There was a typo. In the paragraph about Wilford Woodruff, it mentioned him talking in conference in 1998. I think you meant 1888.
Mike JJuly 27, 2016
I'm anxious to read part 2. We are now homeschooling all of our kids because of the unacceptable conditions in the public schools. I'm amazed how few members of the church even care about this. The challenges primarily center around limited social activity with other kids their age. Sunday association isn't quite enough.
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