Secular homeschooling is an educational environment that does not include faith-based or religious elements. This is not to say children cannot learn about religion as part of their studies. Rather, lessons are taught through the lens of logic and reason rather than following any religious doctrine.
Some subjects aren’t taught with any religious foundation at all. For example, math and chemistry are typically secular by nature. Those seeking the best secular homeschool science curriculum will find plenty of choices.
To better understand what secular homeschooling is, it is essential to understand what faith-based education looks like.
There is a false belief that faith-based education rejects science, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, the person responsible for the Big Bang theory was a Catholic priest and astronomer. This may seem like a walking contradiction, but many religious high schools and universities continue to rank among the top educational institutions.
Faith-based education seeks to blend faith with learning. Typically, the religion of choice is taught as a separate subject. However, that faith can make its way into other areas of instruction. A literature class may focus on a book with religious themes or history classes may be taught through the lens of a particular religion’s experience during that time.
Lastly, morality is a ubiquitous feature of faith-based education. Children are taught to comply with the ethical codes of their religion and how to incorporate them into everyday life. Many religious institutions also favor ethical discussions framed in a religious context and may encourage community service and giving back to those in need.
Many types of homeschool programs use a secular approach. Secular education provides an environment where children can learn free from pre-existing ideas. There is a heavy emphasis on critical thinking and inquiry-based learning in these programs. This is where students ask challenging questions rather than accepting the status quo of the faith’s belief system.
The curriculum is carefully chosen to avoid any religious undertones. History is taught from several points of view, and each religion is viewed as a neutral force. Similarly, the literature selection is vast, from modern science fiction novels to classics.
Religion classes may still be incorporated into a secular curriculum. Eighty-five percent of people on Earth associate themselves with a religion. Therefore, having a base-level understanding of each of the different religions helps create a well-rounded student. The key is not to promote one religion over the others to ensure the student holds no biases towards a particular faith.
With this balanced understanding of the world, students are prepared for a globalized world. As our societies increasingly intermingle, having a broad-based education without religion helps students accept people for who they are, no matter their faith.
Proponents of faith-based education like to point to their strong sense of morals as a key benefit of a religious education. In reality, it is up to parents, especially in a homeschool environment, to foster a sense of morals and ethics in their children.
Children often learn through imitation. Ultimately, a parent’s example will determine a child’s sense of right and wrong. Introducing them to the virtues of community service and paying it forward are two excellent techniques. Parents who want to adopt a common core homeschool curriculum will find both secular and faith-based options for all of Home Science Tools’ curricula. A little homework examining the materials will help parents decide which system is right for their child!