PrincipledMom™

Yes, I'll get to the upper grades too, but I wanted to talk a bit about the material in his Guide that will make you say, "Wow! I didn't know that was in there! That's very good to know." Well, maybe something close to that anyway.

"Some Questions Answered" (p. 80-83) gives helpful answers to common PA concerns in a nutshell. He briefly addresses questions like, "Why the emphasis on American history?" and,

"We need a prepackaged program to implement this," and, "Do I have to teach one of the seven principles all the time?"

"Part II: Education for the American Christian Home" (p. 85) is a practical synopsis of applying the Biblical Principal Approach to the home. Mr. Rose and his wife Barbara talk about their PA home, including almost any subject you'd want to see principles applied to. "Developing America's Christian Character,""The Seven Principles Illustrated in the Home" (good stuff) and"A Personal Application of This Approach in Training Children" (I LOVE thispart!) are the three subheadings here. The third part (beginning on p. 97) addresses PA thinking applied to everyday life:
discipline
money issues
voluntary consent and private property (aka sharing)
voluntary union
home government
a home constitution
Christian self-government
corporal punishment
manners
Sabbath
activities and free time
and more...

This will answer just about any question you have about what a PA home looks like. This whole part of the book will excite you because it shows PA, not in a classroom, but in a home. And it reveals how PA shapes your thinking and affects how your govern your family. I can really appreciate the practical insight because they aren't talking "pie in the sky" intellectual mumbo jumbo. They speak simply, from a humble heart, about how PA worked in their family. Now I can see how "How the Seed of Local Self-Government is Planted" (p. 95) can apply to my family. Right now. Today.

For me it's great to learn about these principles and how they apply to the world around me and to America. But to see how it applies to me and my little chicks brings PA to a whole new level for me. And that's what it's all about: bringing PA home to change my own world, so that I can go out from here and change the outside world.

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Okay, I got to the end of tape 1 early last week (still the intro to Rudiments), which is no small task, considering what a challenge it is to carve out time for it amid the music practice and school and housework and family time and church responsibilities. But I'm not complaining because it's been great. I'm gleaning so much from Ms. Smith. She is so full of the Principle Approach that it just comes out of her pores. I want to be like that one day. Here are some highlights. Again, not even the tip of the iceberg, but you can get an idea of what I'm learning (hopefully!).

We as individuals are responsible for the character of our republic because much is required of the individual. Self-government, independent reasoning and reasoning from God's word produce responsible and productive citizens.

My philosophy of government directs how I teach and what I teach, not the other way around. How I view government (who or what controls me) dictates how I will view education. What I am to teach is a proper concern but I must begin by determining my philosophy of government, for there lies the key to education.

Who or what controls me-->philosophy of government-->philosophy of education-->what I will teach.

Joshua 4:1-3 tells the Children of Israel to have an answer when their children ask about the memorials, "What mean ye?" They were to be quick to tell them about God's faithfulness and watch care over them. There is an appalling lack of appreciation of our Christian heritage in America today. We are to restore to our children their heritage as American Christians (no matter what our race may be. We are all Americans and can claim that heritage for ourselves.). Like the Jews and other ancient cultures, our heritage is rich in traditions, holidays and stories. I was thrilled to think about this idea. It is okay for me to teach my children about their heritage as American Christians. And more than that, it is my duty to do so, to restore those ideals that first brought the pilgrims to these shores.

One thing I really liked was when she spoke of her family. She said that when hard times came, they did not look to civil government for help, but they turned to the Lord. Their children were trained to seek Him to meet their needs and the mantra at their house became, "What prayers did God answer today?" WOW! That's inspiring to me. Training them up to fear the Lord and to trust Him--is there any greater legacy?

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If my life would have taken a different turn I might have been an archeologist. Researching ancient cultures and plotting grids; digging away in the hot sun; sifting, sorting and cataloging the days finds. It seems so rewarding to uncover new clues about the past. Or maybe I'd have been a treasure hunter, always searching for the next big find. That would definitely be an adventure!

I fancy myself a kind of treasure hunter. Tools in tow, I search long and hard, consulting my map (my Bible) to make sure I'm still on the right track. When I believe I'm in the right spot I drop everything and dig like mad, kicking up dirt and making a mess (cue the Indiana Jones music). I may have to search around a little but I keep digging sweating and digging sweating and..."clink!" What was that!? Eureka! Ahhhh, there's nothing sweeter!

I'm more of an "I can do that myself" kind of learner. I enjoy getting my hands dirty, seeking things out in a way that makes sense to me, which isn't always the way others would go. It may take me longer to "get it" from time to time, but the treasures I unearth in my excavation mean more to me than anything anyone else could give me. The satisfaction that comes with the process is so very satisfying.

God has me on a journey to explore and to lead my little explorers right behind me. I must show them the ropes, where the pitfalls are and where the true Treasure can be found. And for me to do that I must own it. And to own it I must get it for myself.Now, that's not to say I don't appreciate help from time to time. I'm not stupid! It's just that I need someone to kind of point me the general direction and say, "It's that way." I'm so glad that God planted the idea of the Principle Approach in Ms. Slater and Ms. Hall. I am forever indebted to them for blazing the way before me and leaving a trail for me to follow.

Well, I'm off on another exciting dig in Rudiments-land. Wish me well!

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In T&L, Rosalie Slater discusses every link on the chain of Christianity (beginning on p. 158) and she goes into detail about civilizations all along the Chain of Christianity. The CoC demonstrates God's Providential history through the lives of men on Earth's stage. That means as you plan your studies each year you find things along that Chain to highlight. My kids learn something from every era, in different cultures and countries, in history every year. Yes, we appreciate and study the Pilgrims and Founding Fathers, but we also view the whole of history as "Christ, His Story," which began long before the idea of America was ever planted by God in the hearts of His children.

And you can't talk about America without discussing what's going on outside our borders. Every country in the world has touched our shores. Immigrants came here for a better life and we have to recognize their contributions as well. And life doesn't happen in a vacuum. You must discuss what's happening at a certain time in history all over the world to get a complete picture. Look at different cultures along with your history studies. No need to feel isolationist. It's not exclusively American history. It's America's Christian History. And we must again make ourselves aware of the sacrifices made and the reason for America being here in the first place. We must emphasize it because our parents and grandparents have fallen asleep and our true history has been taken away from us. It is with humility and a contrite heart that we ask God's forgiveness for our ignorance and that we take up the cause to restore America's true heritage. How do we know our full purpose if we don't know where we came from? You don't have to be born here to claim it. Being American is in your heart, not in your bloodline.

Some people struggle with the idea of American Christian history. What about other countries? That seems arrogant or slighting to other countries. I have to say I don't see it that way at all. God set this nation here for a purpose, to be an example of the fullest expression of a nation founded on Biblical Principles. We are here to be a beacon to to the nations, to shine God's light and take His principles to a dark world. I don't see anything to get offended about. Take this example to the world. Show them that Hid Word really is true, that His principles work because you have seen them at work here. Tell them about Providence and how He used geography to keep a nation until it's proper time. Tell them how God is using you, the 10th link on the Chain of Christianity, to further the Gospel and if there were no America you would not be here to tell them the Good News.And it's your curriculum. Do what you like and what you think God is telling you to do. Focus any country any time. It's the Principles that are important.

The more my children see God's Providence in the whole of history, from creation to them as individuals, the more faith they will have that God is also performing His Providential care over them. He isn't just a God of the Bible or a God of antiquity. He moves through the lives of fallible men and women throughout time to further the Gospel and He will use them too. In my opinion it doesn't get any more missions-minded and world-focused than that. Glory be to God!

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I was doing my Rudiments class last night and found some WONDERFUL (shock!) information in T&L. Those of you who have been around for a while know all about this, I'm sure, but I'll share anyway.

1. She has listed in there the seven principles (starting on p. 111) and shows how to expand them through the grades. I know this book is about teaching ACH but it was so neat to see it in such detail. The first link, Individuality, (p. 113) detailed even the links in the chain of Christianity so you can highlight that Principle throughout the year in each link. And she broke it down to primary, elementary, jr. and sr. high, so you can just go by her detailed list. I'm sure that must be where Mr. Rose got his chart on the same topic. It's so great to have this for planning lessons.
2. She also gives the keys to expanding the principles (beginning on p. 137), which gives even more help. I loved her discussion about geography (p.142-157) in the key to God's Principle of Individuality. It was so insightful. I know it will help tremendously in my preparation.
   I saw so many things last night that I recognized from the NP lessons. It just strengthened my courage to do my own lessons. If they can get their ideas from the Red Books, so can I. I am thankful they showed me how to do that.
3. Her discussion on "How Can the Same Principle be Taught in Every Grade?" (p. 108-110) is also insightful.
4. This is the way I come to learn things with PA. I keep looking and looking and reading and reading and eventually it starts to make sense. The Holy Spirit helps me apply what I'm learning to what I'm doing. So I get a lot of "revelation" and "aha!" moments just flipping pages and seeing things I never knew were there.

I am enjoying my Rudiments course so much. I will update the next part of Lesson one soon.

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