Today I met with my advisor and then went through the registration process. It is quite exciting to get to the last step where the lady in the cashier's office hands you the total bill for the semester. :) It all went smoothly and it will be fun to have new classes and new things to learn.
Before starting the Master's in Global Leadership I was supposed to have 9 credits of undergraduate religion or theology courses. I only had 6, so one of my classes next semester is actually an undergrad class called Christianity in a Pluralistic World. This class looks at the major religions around the world and how we as Christians can respond. I think it will be good to learn a little bit more about some of the major religions like Buddhism and Hinduism. This class will be online.
My other class is Intro to Missiology which will be on Thursday nights on campus. Here is the description from the DBU website on this class: "An introductory study of the theory and practice of Christian missions, examining the challenge of adapting how the gospel is best communicated to specific cross-cultural situations. The course is designed to orient students to the challenges of giving a coherent cross-cultural witness to the gospel, but will be of special interest to prospective missionaries, and those who anticipate a ministry in a multi-cultural context. The course will include the biblical foundation for missions." So, basically Missions 101!
In a way, I have gotten tired of driving to campus and was hoping to take all online classes but this will be good. It has been helpful to go to the library before class, and to be able to take my payment to the cashier's office in person. It will be good to hopefully have a bit of a break with only 2 classes, and really be able to soak up everything that I need to as I prepare for what God has next for me.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Learning from Home: Continued Thoughts on the Quiverful Movement
Back in September, I wrote a blog concerning the Biblical role of women, in opposition to several things I have been reading about a movement know as Quiverful. This movement came to my attention because of a woman from my hometown in Nebraska named Vyckie who used to be a part of this movement. She has recently gotten more media attention through several TV interviews she has done.
In her description of the Quiverful movement, and also through the reporters’ descriptions as they interviewed her, homeschooling is often listed as one of the major aspects of the movement along with having many children, giving birth at home, dressing conservatively, and wives submitting to their husbands. I was homeschooled myself, and I want to draw a distinction between the “typical” homeschooling family, and this Quiverful movement.
The Quiverful movement, from my reading and understanding, supports homeschooling to shelter children from the “evils” of public school and the many, many negative influences of people outside the movement. In the interview, the oldest daughter of Vyckie said of their families’ escape from Quiverful, “School for me is the best thing ever, I love learning and to be able to have that freedom, have friends, have a life.” (http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/In_Depth_Motherhood_Movement_nov_06_200) To me, this implies that there is a bondage in homeschooling that restricts a love of learning.
There is a sheltering aspect to homeschooling, but not in the way that Quiverful describes. My parents chose to homeschool my siblings and me because they wanted to be actively involved in our education, but they did not keep us away from having friends and being involved in other activities. We were involved in many different activities with our church, and also participated in a local 4-H group. Many of my friends (but not all of them) were homeschooled, and they were also involved in other activities outside of their homes. One of the most common myths is that homeschoolers are not socialized, but it is the families like those in the Quiverful movement who give homeschooling a bad name. Homeschooling encourages students to be excited about learning, and many homeschoolers, just like public schoolers, are successful college students who continue to love learning.
Homeschooling is one of several options for the education of children. I think each option has plenty of pros and cons, and it should be up to each individual family to look at the needs of their children and their family situation. Having been homeschooled, though, I want to stand up against the broad statements that I have heard coming out of the Quiverful movement and say that they need to be careful before applying their claims to all of homeschooling.
In her description of the Quiverful movement, and also through the reporters’ descriptions as they interviewed her, homeschooling is often listed as one of the major aspects of the movement along with having many children, giving birth at home, dressing conservatively, and wives submitting to their husbands. I was homeschooled myself, and I want to draw a distinction between the “typical” homeschooling family, and this Quiverful movement.
The Quiverful movement, from my reading and understanding, supports homeschooling to shelter children from the “evils” of public school and the many, many negative influences of people outside the movement. In the interview, the oldest daughter of Vyckie said of their families’ escape from Quiverful, “School for me is the best thing ever, I love learning and to be able to have that freedom, have friends, have a life.” (http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/In_Depth_Motherhood_Movement_nov_06_200) To me, this implies that there is a bondage in homeschooling that restricts a love of learning.
There is a sheltering aspect to homeschooling, but not in the way that Quiverful describes. My parents chose to homeschool my siblings and me because they wanted to be actively involved in our education, but they did not keep us away from having friends and being involved in other activities. We were involved in many different activities with our church, and also participated in a local 4-H group. Many of my friends (but not all of them) were homeschooled, and they were also involved in other activities outside of their homes. One of the most common myths is that homeschoolers are not socialized, but it is the families like those in the Quiverful movement who give homeschooling a bad name. Homeschooling encourages students to be excited about learning, and many homeschoolers, just like public schoolers, are successful college students who continue to love learning.
Homeschooling is one of several options for the education of children. I think each option has plenty of pros and cons, and it should be up to each individual family to look at the needs of their children and their family situation. Having been homeschooled, though, I want to stand up against the broad statements that I have heard coming out of the Quiverful movement and say that they need to be careful before applying their claims to all of homeschooling.
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