According to Rod Dreher, the author of Crunchy Cons, they are conservatives, usually Christians, who uphold traditional Christian values, but adhere to certain beliefs that are popularly considered “lefty” such as pro-environment, pro-organics, and anti-capitalism.
Many of these folks are homeschoolers, or “hip homeschooling mamas” as the cover of Dreher’s new book claims. These folks take the concept of “pro-life” and expand it to every aspect of living. This includes eating organic foods free of pesticides and growth hormones, raising crops on healthy soil, supporting environmental awareness campaigns, parenting large families with 10+ children and more. Essentially, they are attempting to live life naturally, as God would have us live. Godly and groovy!
Although these characteristics may seem conflicting, it really makes sense that these two subcultures are beginning to mingle.
“It ain’t conservative just to buy more stuff,” he maintains. “What we need to conserve is the family and our faith, and the values that made this country great.”
So true. It’s time that “hip homeschooling mamas” take back the conservative movement that is unfortunately so often tied to wild-eyed materialism and lack of care for our fellow man. Environmental issues belong within a conservative Christian framework.
Take a moment to think about how you can integrate environmental awareness into your homeschool day. Teach your children how to recycle and minimize waste. There are so many learning opportunities ready to be explored.
The Highland’s Study Center’s Every Thought Captive is a wonderfully insightful publication. Consider a recent entry regarding the idolatry of the family.
When we get ourselves backwards and pursue as our primary goal the family-integrated thing, the homeschooling thing, the patriarchy thing, the breeding thing, the modesty/home-baked bread thing, or the “making sure our boys are tough warriors and not wimpy” thing, instead of God’s glory, idolatry is just around the corner. Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with any of these things I have just mentioned. But they are means, not ends.
Yikes. I think that some Christian homeschooling families tend to err on this side of the continuum. Some of us are so pro-family that we forget what a strong family is for in the first place. Every institution or lifestyle decision should be made to give glory to God and spread his love and truth. While a strong, God-fearing family is a great way to bring about these actions, it is not the only way, nor should it be considered the ultimate goal in life.
Many homeschool moms like myself take great pride in having kids that can recite Bible verses, the Preamble to the Constitution, and times tables galore. We are proud of our womanly daughters and our manly sons. We get a kick out of our large gardens and self-sufficiency.
Finding satisfaction in these qualities is fine, but when we miss the mark of what we should achieve through such characteristics…that’s when problems arise. These feelings often are coupled with judgment towards those who have not achieved the type of family life that you may have. I have seen homeschool families with fewer children looked down on by families with many. I have seen mother hens condescend younger mothers who have reluctantly entered the workforce to make ends meet. Even the children can become victims of this pride, when one family’s bedtime philosophy doesn’t match well with a strict, “rank and file”-style family.
By holding on to pride, we are taking what God meant for good and allowing Satan to turn it into something evil and destructive. Many of the things that homeschooling families hold dear are really just matters of preference and not God’s will. Do you really think God cares if our homeschoolers get up at the crack of dawn or sleep in until 10:00 to start their school work? Let’s not get so caught up in being different from the world and focus on being more like Christ. The rest is just legalism.
A strong family is a good thing. Let’s not forget what they are for.
I can’t tell you the amount of public school teachers I have met who have chosen to pull their own children out of the public school. After all, these folks, experiencing its failures day in and day out have the greatest incentive to homeschool.
These teachers recognize that a public school environment is not only not conducive to learning, but most often antagonistic. The article details a family’s unconventional learning techniques, such as a trip to the beach to dig up shells and fossils. Compare this peaceful scene to the classroom setting, full of screams, whines, and cursing.
For three months, Daynard has been homeschooling his children. He left his job as a Pinellas County teacher and pulled his sons out of public school because he found the environment chaotic, even threatening, he says.
A particularly interesting element of this picture is that dad is the teacher. This is usually not the case in homeschooling environments, as mom tends to be the one tending to the home while dad goes out and brings home the bacon. I’m sure there are homeschooling moms out there gasping at the thought of such a role reversal, I think that it can be good in some situations.
By reducing the student-teacher ratio to 3-1, this teacher dad is able to pay lots of attention to the unique needs of each child. As a result, his kids no longer feel pressured, left behind, or incapable of completing their work.
Kudos to this brave father, bucking trends and making sacrifices for the sake of his family.
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