Pajama School Blog

Pajama School, Stories from the Life of a Homeschool Graduate

Articles to Instruct and Inspire!

by natalie

There are a number of great articles on-line that I read and reference repeatedly, so I thought I would compile a list and post it here. It’s pretty short now, but I’ll be adding to it as others come to mind.

Christianity and Culture by J. Gresham Machen – An insightful and thought-provoking essay on the false dichotomy between intellectualism and evangelism in the Church.

My First Shower Nearly Killed Me by Brett Harris – A poignant analogy that illustrates our tendency to capitulate to the low expectations society places on us in contrast to the “nearly 100% success rate [babies experience] in overcoming their big challenges.”

One Nation Over God by Doug Phillips – An excellent overview of the biblical foundations of government, including the importance of self-government and the role of civil government.

Schooled at Home by Rachel Starr Thomson – If I had to encapsulate the heart of homeschooling in one article, this is what I would say…except that Rachel already said it, so you can just read what she wrote!

Men Have Forgotten God by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn – Solzhenitsyn’s thoughts on the Russian Revolution are every bit as relevant today and in the context of America as they were when he wrote the article. Very insightful!

Why Am I Not Married? by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin – A hard-hitting exposé that brings to light what I believe are the foundational heart issues with which many young women are wrestling.

Interview with Little Crew Studios

by natalie

As I mentioned in my review of The Runner from Ravenshead, I had the opportunity to spend some time one afternoon with the cast and crew of Little Crew Studios (a.k.a. the Steege family). After watching the film and being blown away by the quality, I wanted to get a behind-the-scenes look at how five kids under the age of ten, guided my a mom and a dad, were able to pull off such an incredible feat!

Little Crew StudiosWhere did the idea for the storyline come from?

After starting with two others and eventually scrapping them, Joel said that they settled on a simple concept – an escape and pursuit theme. They built the story around the Old Testament Cities of Refuge that were a foreshadowing of what was to come with Christ.

How did you acquire the skills to produce the film?

When I asked this question, Joel interjected with a slight rewording, “You mean, ‘How are we acquiring the skills…?’” Their family saw this project very much as a learning experience, often stopping filming along the way to learn new skills that were needed in order to continue. What one might realistically expect to accomplish in six months took them two years because of this approach.

Amelia told how one of the drawbacks of the long time frame was that by the end of the filming they had almost outgrown their costumes! The kids took it all in stride, though, and obviously enjoyed the process very much. And in spite of their young ages, each one is becoming well-acquainted with the film industry and is learning skills that will serve them well the rest of their lives. Brendan was especially excited to share about his oversight of the mic, a very essential component in good filming!

The off-set time devoted to learning skills consisted of building a library of books dealing with every aspect of producing a film and studying them intently, participating in on-line classes, and getting insight from others in the field. One thing they realized and accepted is that they couldn’t do everything in one film. It was important for them to retain focus and do what they could do well. For example, in The Runner from Ravenshead,  a static camera is used almost exclusively due to the equipment limitations the Steege’s faced. They acknowledged this limitation and then worked with it to their full advantage.

How did the children prepare for their roles?

The Steege’s started out by giving their children a copy of the script, reading it together, and then working with them to memorize the lines. According to them, “It didn’t take.” Recording the lines in an audio format so that the kids could listen on their own and at night in bed proved to be a much more effective learning strategy. Most of the rehearsing was parent-directed, but even when they were playing sometimes they would be rehearsing lines or scenes with each other.

Lisa also mentioned that when she and her sister were growing up they memorized Scripture passages and put hand motions to them, then recited them in front of large groups of people. She carried on this practice with her own children so that they would get accustomed to memorizing and being able to recite things in front of an audience.

All of this training has proved very effective, because each of the young cast members did a fabulous job interacting during the interview and contributing valuable bits of information. 🙂 And their presence in front of the camera is superb as well!

The Runner from RavensheadHow long did it take to produce the film?

The filming was sporadic, as it was 100% dependent on the weather. Consistent lighting was a major consideration that affected filming hours as well. During the actual filming, 70% of the recorded audio had background noises – most notably due to the flight path right over the filming location. For this reason, the Steege’s opted to record all of the audio separately. As you might expect, it was a challenge to balance working too much on the film (which would burn everyone out) and taking breaks that were too long (which would result in loss of focus and memory).

What are some of the major deficiencies in the Christian film industry today? How did you seek to avoid those with The Runner from Ravenshead?

There’s still a pervasive feeling of poor quality because most Christian films have a small operating budget. Without the funding, you’re not going to have as many professionals working on the project. In The Runner from Ravenshead, the Steege’s wanted the name of Jesus to be prevalent, but not over-the-top. Although Joel asserted that there is a place for all types of Christian films, they aim to make theirs engaging and meaningful without resorting to a preachy feel. People go to watch a movie for fun, not to hear a sermon. As a filmmaker, though, you want them to leave not only entertained, but also with a sense of hope and the idea of something bigger.

For some time now, I’ve felt like one of the hindrances to quality acting in independent Christian films is that acting is still not perceived by many Christians to be a legitimate career choice. While great strides have been made in many of the technical aspects of filmmaking, I’ve observed very little emphasis on acting. When I posited this to the Steege’s, Joel readily agreed. In fact, he said that at a recent film festival, one of the producers who spoke said that if he had a $50,000 budget, he would spend $40,000 of it to get one good actor!

What was the hardest part about the production?

Undoubtedly trying to do the project while simultaneously having to learn so much of the “nuts and bolts” of the field itself. Particularly with some of the technical aspects of filmmaking, there is a steep learning curve, making it hard to move forward until you’ve developed a better working knowledge. Harrison is one of the ones responsible for rendering and said that he felt like editing and piecing everything together was the most challenging part of the production.

What are some of the key things that you learned along the way?

Amelia expressed that she had learned a great deal about acting. Lisa added that all the kids learned a lot about how to be relaxed in front of the camera. There’s a lot of tension on the “hot seat” and it’s amazing how every one of the other kids can be reciting the lines effortlessly while the one in front of the camera flounders. Apparently this same phenomenon plagues even the most experienced actors and actresses! Clint Eastwood avoids using the term “action” altogether when the cameras start rolling because of the negative reaction it generates from those on set.

Brendan pointed out that he especially enjoyed learning how to do the mic. And Lisa said that endurance was a major emphasis, too, as they sometimes spent long hours working and re-working scenes to get them just right. Obviously there are frustrations and irritations along the way, but by-and-large working on this film project has been a wonderful adventure for the whole family. Addison concludes with, “We’ve got a long ways to learn!”

What advice do you have for other aspiring filmmakers?

Without hesitating, Joel exclaimed, “Go make a movie!” There’s nothing that beats hands-on learning. If you have the opportunity to work with a mentor, that would be great. A lot of learning the craft, though, involves trial and error. You have to know when to use the “tried-and-true” formulas and when to break them.

You also have to realize going into the project that it’s big. Good quality productions are hard without good quality people. Don’t expect to produce your best movie first. It takes time. After all, you’re trying to learn and replicate the quality that you see in films where people have devoted their entire lives to honing their skill in a particular area. So keep a learner’s attitude and be patient.

The Steege’s dream is to continue doing this long-term as a family. And if their productions keep getting better from here on out, I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

Review of The Runner from Ravenshead

by natalie

The Runner from RavensheadWhat do you get when you have five kids in one family? Over the years I’ve heard quips about parents raising their own basketball team. But Joel and Lisa Steege have something different in mind for their family. They are raising an all-star movie cast right in their back yard – literally! Their sixth child was born during production, so he didn’t make it onto the big screen of their first feature film production, The Runner from Ravenshead. You can be sure that it won’t be long, though, before he joins the ranks of cast member along with his older siblings! I had a chance to visit with the Steege family recently and interview them about their film. I’ll be sharing more about that later, but for now here’s a peek into this highly original adventure!

The number one thing that sets this film apart from the typical movie fare is that it is comprised of an all-children cast. The cute factor is a major bonus, but I was equally enthralled by the depth of the storyline, the scripting, the acting, the camera work, and the music. Several years ago, I read a commentary on the Christian film industry that highlighted the problematic approach of many Christian filmmakers who were utilizing film as a means of preaching. The commentator went on to make the point that film is a visual medium, and only those who rightly understand and harness it as such will be effective. That’s one thing that The Runner from Ravenshead does so well. The dialogue is sufficient to communicate its message with clarity, but the story largely unfolds before the eyes, not the ears, of the viewer. That said, the accompanying soundtrack, recorded live by the FILMharmonic© Orchestra of Prague, goes a long way toward conveying the tenor of the film and keeping the viewer on the edge of his seat!

The Runner from RavensheadFrom the website, “After a daring escape from Ravenshead Prison, Sam finds herself in worse trouble. Outrunning the relentless wardens seems impossible…she wonders how much longer her strength can hold
out. But help is on the way – kind of. Henry, janitor for the City of Refuge Guide Service, is unexpectedly thrust into the line of duty when all the trained guides are called out on other missions. As he sets out on his long-awaited first assignment, he gets more adventure than he bargained for. Will the enthusiastic but awkward amateur guide persuade Sam to trust him before it’s too late?”

If one of the measurements of a good movie in our family is the number of times we rewind in order to replay a funny line or scene, then The Runner from Ravenshead ranks right up there with the best of them! We were laughing hilariously at points, sitting in suspense at others, and empathizing with the depth of emotions Sam felt in her desperate attempt to gain freedom from her warden. Another thing I love about this film is that it doesn’t do your thinking for you. There are important truths woven throughout the plot, but there is plenty of room for each viewer to ponder the implications and personal application of the story.

In case you can’t tell yet, I really love this movie and highly recommend it for any family. It’s one that our family will be watching over and over again! The film is hot off the production lines and has just become available, so check out the trailer below, and then order your copy today! 🙂

A Question of Security

by natalie

A friend first introduced me to Rachel Starr Thomson’s website several years ago. I haven’t been able to keep up with all of her work, but Rachel is truly a gifted writer, an inspiring young woman, and a whole-hearted follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, and she’s a fellow homeschool grad! I have been blessed by our virtual acquaintance and perhaps someday we will be able to meet in person! In the meantime, I want to share with you an excerpt from one of Rachel’s books that I pray you will find challenging and encouraging.

A Question of Security
by Rachel Starr Thomson
Excerpted from Letters to a Samuel Generation

I can remember it very clearly. Laying in bed in the dark, cool hours of the morning, listening to a clock tick away the minutes and wishing that my wide eyes would go to sleep already. I remember staring up at the planks of the high, wooden ceiling and watching the desert breeze rustle the curtains.

Mostly I remember the questions running through my head…

What if? What if this happens… what if that?

Only a few days before, I had heard from the Lord, telling me to leave home and go to teach school in Michigan. Not a very scary prospect, really, but for me it was a little nerve-racking. I’d never lived away from home. I’d never taught school. The thing worrying me most was the prospect of leaving the ministry I’d been involved with and going to a place where I knew the spiritual climate was not going to be so intense. A place where there would be a lot of dangers, spiritually speaking.

What if?

This same stomach-churning worry had come around to bother me at various times throughout my life. When I was younger, I couldn’t call someone on the phone without feeling sick. I’m not sure what I was afraid of, but I was. The first day of school felt the same way. So did going to youth group in California, right after my family moved west. They were little things, but they all set off the same little warning bells in my head. Something here is not safe.

Safety and security are terribly important to us as human beings. I can’t remember being born, but I imagine a baby is asking the same question as it enters the world… Is this safe?

God built this instinct for safety into us for a reason. After all, if we didn’t have it, we might have run ourselves off of the face of the earth a long time ago, jumping off cliffs because, well, it looked like fun at the time.

At the same time, God gave us the will to deny that instinct for safety. He built other desires into us as well – desires for freedom, for growth, for new horizons. And that’s a good thing, because He very rarely allows us to live in safety for long. It takes a crazy sort of courage to follow in the steps of the Lord; the same sort of courage it takes for a soldier to go into battle. Even if that soldier is guaranteed victory in the end, as we Christians are, there are no promises that the journey to the end will be a smooth one.

Take the pioneer missionaries of ages past for an example. When Gladys Aylward began saving her shillings for a train ride to China, she was not thinking in terms of security. If she had asked God if it would be safe or not, the answer would have to have been no. The tiny Englishwoman knew she would be facing hunger, cold, exhaustion and hostility as she attempted to preach the gospel in a far northern province of China. She did not expect to face the guns and terror of Japanese soldiers as World War II spread its influence even to her remote corner of the world. Faced with some of life’s hardest decisions, the missionary became a spy, a relief worker, and a mother to more than 200 orphans. Today, her legacy of courage and faithfulness to God is an inspiration to thousands of people, not to mention the descendants of those who first heard the gospel from her lips. Was it worthwhile for her to follow the call of God? Yes. Was it safe? Well, no, not exactly.

Is it dangerous to follow the Lord’s leading? Oh, yes. But we must ask ourselves – is safety what we truly ought to seek? Did God send us into this world to build walls around ourselves, or to go out and face the enemy? Most of us, in theory, would agree with the second statement. So why, when the marching orders come, is it so hard for us to step out on faith?

For me, the answer came clearly that sleepless summer night. I wrestled with my questions until the realization finally hit me that God would be in Michigan, too. What then was I really worried about? I realized that night that I was putting my faith in the wrong thing – in circumstances, instead of in the Living God.

Therein lies our problem, I think. We measure safety by circumstances, instead of seeking it under the Shadow of His Wings – the only place we are truly safe.

In the book of Jeremiah, the long-suffering prophet records a story that graphically illustrates this same principle. At the time the story takes place, most of the Jewish people had been removed from their homeland and taken into captivity in Babylon. The population of Judah was now made up of a few farmers and poverty-stricken people who were not judged any kind of threat to the Babylonians. An Israelite named Gedaliah was appointed to govern them.

Before long, refugees from the captivity began to straggle back into Judah from their hiding places in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all of the surrounding countries. Included among them were soldiers who had been hiding in the fields, including a man named Johanan. Gedaliah was a good ruler, and the people of Israel slowly began to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives.

One day, Johanan approached Gedaliah with a rumor: that one of the soldiers, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, had been enlisted by the king of Ammon to assasinate the governor. Johanan offered to kill Ishmael first, but Gedaliah, believing that the rumor was false, refused to allow it.

Secure in his belief that Ishmael meant him no harm, Gedaliah and a number of other Israelites in Mizpah sat down to a friendly meal with the son of Nethaniah. When the time of fellowship was over, the treacherous Ishmael killed Gedaliah and all of the men that were with him. He and his fellows kidnapped a good number of Israelites and headed for Ammon.

It didn’t take the story long to reach the ears of Johanan, who rounded up a band of men and headed out after Ishmael. In a battle in the valley of Gibeon, Johanan rescued Ishmael’s captives and killed most of his men, although Ishmael himself escaped into the wilderness, eventually making it back to the land of the Ammonites.

All of this made the Jews realize just how precarious their position in their burned-out land was. There were very few of them, and their appointed governor, who had kept their conquerors happy, was dead. Their enemies, men like the king of Ammon, were on every side.

Frightened and shaken by Ammon’s nearly successful attempt to destroy them, the remnant of Israel approached the prophet Jeremiah with a request. “Inquire unto your God for us,” Johanan asked, “And we will do whatever he says.”

Jeremiah returned to them with the word of the Lord: “Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land. But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land neither obey the voice of the LORD your God, saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell: and now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; if ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there; then it shall come to pass, that the sword which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.” (Jer. 42:11-16)

It was a pronouncement that was hard for Johanan and the Israelites to accept. After all, telling them to stay in the land was a bit like telling Jews in the 20th century to stay in their ghettos while the Nazis closed in. The circumstances did not favour staying in Israel, certainly. Just over the border to the south, the land of Egypt beckoned.

The choice was clear: Put your trust in circumstances, or put it in God and obey.

Sadly, the Israelites had not yet learned the lesson that the captivity to Babylon was meant to teach them. Johanan became angry and accused Jeremiah of speaking falsely. “God has not said this to us,” they told him. “We are going to Egypt.”

Jeremiah went with them ; weeping all the way, I suspect. Egypt of that day had all the food and water the refugees would need; and a military to protect them. The government was friendly to them. It looked like a paradise.

Tragically, this “paradise” was nothing but a cruel mirage. For Egypt, too, was about to be judged – the sword of Babylon would fall across its pyramids just as surely as it fell on the wall of Jerusalem.

The Israelites of that day would have done well to remember the words of their father David, who, while he lived a life of dangers, tragedies, and triumphs, never forgot just where his safety lay: “My soul, wait thou only upon God: For my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in my God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:5-8)

If God is directing your feet in a new path, you are likely to be weighing this age-old question – Where is my safety, truly? The circumstances may look daunting, and Egypt is just over the border, only a few steps back from obedience. Whatever the decision facing you is, remember the lesson of Jeremiah and Johanan: of trust in circumstances, or trust in God. His word is true, and He never fails.

I remind you, with David: Trust in Him at all times, ye people. God is a refuge for us.

Selah.

Letters to a Samuel Generation is a collection of devotional essays written by Rachel Starr Thomson between the ages of 17 and 21. Each one encourages readers to become a “Samuel Generation” that knows God’s heart and mind, as the prophet Samuel was said to do. The text can be read online or ordered as a beautiful hardbound book from www.rachelstarrthomson.com/books/samuel-generation

About the Author
Rachel Starr Thomson is a writer, indie publisher, editor, and writing coach. She’s a homeschool graduate, a dweller in southern Canada, a lover of long walks, good books, hot tea, and rich fellowship, and a counter-cultural revolutionary who thinks we’d all be much better off if we pitched our television sets out the nearest window. Rachel’s published books include the Seventh World Trilogy, classic fantasy that readers have called “captivating” and “riveting storytelling”: Worlds Unseen, Burning Light, and The Advent. She’s also the author of Tales of the Heartily Homeschooled, Pieces of Grace (And What They Mean), Heart to Heart: Meeting With God in the Lord’s Prayer and Letters to a Samuel Generation.

Rachel can be found online at www.rachelstarrthomson.com, and she blogs about books, faith, and writing at www.rachelstarrthomson.com/inklings.

A Lasting Inheritance

by natalie

A while back now, I came across Amy Puetz’s website. Wow! What a wealth of information and resources! I especially love this collection of history resource links. Amy has channeled her love of history into numerous writing projects, including the book, Uncover Exciting History – Revealing America’s Christian Heritage in Short, Easy-to-Read Nuggets, which I recently read and enjoyed. (Amy has graciously set up a discount code for Pajama School blog readers so that you can receive a 20% discount when you order her book. Just enter the code: UEH when you checkout at her site!) Amy also has a heart for encouraging homeschool families, so I am pleased to post here today a special article she wrote to encourage homeschool moms.

A Lasting Inheritance
by Amy Puetz

“When I go to school, I’m overwhelmed,” an outgoing high school girl said to me one Sunday. “Usually I’m okay, but sometimes it just hits me how much garbage I see and hear every day.” I looked at her sympathetically. This conversation took place after church, when I welcomed a young lady who was visiting. She looked at least twenty years old, so I was surprised when she told me she was a junior in high school. Within a few moments of talking, this sweet girl had tears in her eyes as she shared the story of what life was like at school. Words like battleground and attacks kept coming up as she explained how her faith was undermined by her peers. She and I hit it off immediately, and I tried to encourage her to keep the faith.

How many people, including adults, could go through 7-8 hours of brain washing everyday for 12 years and come out unscathed? Put on top of all that the influences of peers who shape a student’s perspective of the world and of themselves. How my heart aches for these precious children who are thrown into a battle that they are not equipped to fight.

Many parents have chosen to homeschool their children rather than send them into the halls of ungodly schools. The blessings of homeschooling are many. Unfortunately, the blessings do not come easily, and as homeschool parents will testify, it is hard work. Most homeschools are taught by the mom, and there are days when she will be overwhelmed, frustrated, and irritable. Hang in there! Mothers are probably the most overworked, under-appreciated people in the world. With love and kindness, they cook, clean, organize, run errands, teach, advise, supervise, and juggle a hundred different jobs.

As a single gal, I love to watch my friends move into the role of motherhood. Seeing my friends struggle with the feeling of being overwhelmed, I’ve realized for the first time how difficult being a mother is. I want to take a few minutes to say “thank you” to all the wonderful mothers out there. You may be running low on energy and feeling inadequate, but I want you to know that what you are doing is important, and someday your children will appreciate the sacrifices you are making. I am so grateful to my mother, for the love and time she invested in my life. Your children will have the same kind of gratitude towards you someday, too. Please know that even if you are not getting the pats on the back that a “career” woman might get, God sees what you are doing, and the way you are giving yourself to your family. He will reward you with greater gifts than any human accolade.

May God bless you, dear mothers! You are impacting the world in ways you may never know. Please do not grow faint hearted. As a homeschool graduate I want to say “keep pressing on!” I’m so glad my mom didn’t give up when my sisters and I were far from angelic. When Mom was really stressed, we always knew it because she would wear a T-shirt that had a picture of a frazzled smiley face with large eyes, and the word “stressed” written under it in big letters. Children cannot comprehend the huge responsibility of parenting. Someday they will understand, but for now, please keep up the good work. You are important, and are fulfilling a meaningful job.

Although you know you are doing valuable work, there will be days when you must feel overwhelmed. It would be silly for me to offer some practical advice about how to overcome the feeling of inadequacy. I’ve never been there, but I do know that relying on God to fill in our deficiencies is critical. “Where God guides, He provides” is an old saying that rings true. Since God has led you on the journey of homeschooling, He will provide the strength and wisdom to get you through.

There are many blessings that result from a family’s faithfulness in teaching their children the ways of the Lord at home. Strong family bonds would be at the top of my list. When my family began homeschooling I was in the 8th grade, and we immediately began to experience a closeness that we had never known before. It was amazing to spend time with my sisters and mom.

During this time I discovered that my mom could be fun! One time while we were preparing to do a history lesson, we gathered around Mom on the couch. My older sister asked, “Mom, what are we going to study today?”

“We are going to study about Napoleon and his defeat at Waterloo,” she replied. We could not stay on task, and began to talk with each other before the class even began. To get our attention, Mom lifted her feet in the air and said, “Napoleon faced de feet!” Laughing, my sisters and I settled down to begin our lesson.

Homeschooling also offers a flexibility that adapts to difficult situations. During my last years of high school, I began experiencing severe health problems, which made study difficult. At times I could not even comprehend simple math problems that had always been easy before. Since we homeschooled, I was able to work at my own pace and rest when I needed a break.

Another blessing is the spiritual growth that a family enjoys. A homeschool family does not have to deal with the negative influences that are so prevalent in traditional schools, and they are free to spend more time growing spiritually. Character development and Bible study can easily become part of the daily curriculum. This course of study will have a lasting impact on students and determine their path through life.

Homeschooling is hard, which is why I personally want to encourage you to stay the course. As a homeschool graduate, I’m so thankful that my parents taught me at home. The education I received at the feet of my parents has given me a stronger relationship with God and my family. It has also provided the foundation on which to build a meaningful life. Your experiences will be different from mine, but God will always be the same. When a family homeschools, they are making an investment that will be a lasting inheritance to their children–and, in a bigger scope, to the world.

© 2010 Amy Puetz, www.AmyPuetz.com

Amy Puetz (pronounced Pitts) is a homeschool graduate, a self-taught historian, and a servant of Jesus Christ. History has been a passion for her since childhood. Years of in-depth study (both in modern and old sources) have equipped her to write history-related books. Amy Puetz is the author of Uncover Exciting History: Revealing America’s Christian Heritage in Short, Easy-to-Read Nuggets and Countdown to Christmas: Memory Making Stories and Activities for Every Day from December 1st to the 25th. As a columnist for Home School Enrichment Magazine she shares stories about historical events from a Christian worldview. She especially loves to dig for little-known stories that show God’s providential hand. Because of a chronic illness (fibromyalgia) that limits what she can do, the Lord led her to start an online business which she can do from home.

Rethinking College

by natalie

Several weeks ago, I penned the beginnings of an article encouraging young people to rethink college. I sent the draft of those thoughts to my friend and Marketing Manager, Jana Kornfeld, who set to work with fervency to transform the message of my heart into a masterpiece! I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to her for bringing this to completion, and we both hope and pray that God will disseminate it widely and use it to encourage graduates this year and in years to come to think carefully about their path following graduation.

You may read the article below, or download it as a PDF from this link. Please feel free to share it with others!

Homeschool Graduate Encourages Other Grads to Rethink College

When Natalie Wickham graduated from high school, she wrestled with the question of whether or not to attend college. She had been homeschooled for nine years of her education, but the prevailing expectation was that she would pursue further schooling from some accredited institution. However, rather than follow some pre-designed plan just because everyone around her did, Wickham decided to keep her options open and trust God to provide the educational experiences and opportunities she needed.

Since graduating in 1999, Wickham has had uncountable experiences and opportunities that she never would have gained through a traditional college education. This included earning her National Certification as a Teacher of Music, and launching her own thriving private music studio. Despite having never even taken the ACT, let alone pursued a college degree, Wickham’s expertise and hands-on experience landed her in front of a graduate class at a local university. There she discovered that years of classroom lectures and hours spent studying for tests hadn’t prepared these students for the real world of teaching and running a studio. Real life has prepared Wickham far better than a traditional education ever could have. Wickham’s latest trailblazing has led her to publish Pajama School, a book that highlights her life and inspires other students to continue to challenge the status quo and trust God with the future beyond graduation.

Wickham is one example of a homeschool graduate who successfully followed the road less-traveled. While new doors to higher education are opening all the time, there is still considerable pressure on high school graduates to view college as the key to unlocking a successful future. Nothing could be further from the truth! Exorbitant tuition costs siphon thousands of dollars and instead serve to plague students for years after graduating. Propaganda-driven classes program the next generation to be minions of the state. Detrimental social environments perpetuate adolescent irresponsibility rather than equip students to be financially savvy, independent thinkers who can positively impact the culture. More and more high school graduates are looking for alternatives to the failing system that traditional higher education has become.

Cash In, Debt Out

Exorbitant tuition costs that plague students for years after graduating has become stunningly common. Many students are never even able to get a job in their chosen field.

In her well-researched book, The Case Against College, Caroline Bird reports, “We concluded that in strictly financial terms, college is the dumbest investment a young man can make.”1 Her chapters dealing with the cost of college tuition outline in great detail how they arrived at this conclusion. After interviewing hundreds of students at schools across the country, she writes, “Many . . . told us frankly that while college is a pleasant place to be – and beats working – it would not be worth it if they had to pay for it themselves.” 2 A recent survey asked thousands of students at hundreds of colleges if they would go to their school again. About 40% said they were not likely to enroll.

This trend was highlighted by the recent ABC News story, “Is College Worth the Price of Admission?” The promise that a college degree will guarantee a better paying job has proved to be a lie for many college graduates. “The bachelor’s degree is America’s most overrated product,” says Marty Nemko, PH.D., an education consultant and career counselor. “When your parents had a bachelor’s degree it was a big deal . . . today it’s like a hunting license for a job.”

Sandy Baum, an Economics professor, admits that a degree won’t make graduates the additional million that colleges promise. But she does insist that “on average people benefit much more from going to college.” However, statistics don’t back that up. Students in the bottom 40% of their high school class (students that colleges are working hard to recruit) have very low chances of ever graduating, even if given 8 ½ years, according to Nemko. The kids who are successful, on the other hand, are the ones who would have been successful whether they went to college or not, because they have the drive, perseverance, and hands-on skills to succeed.

Personal finance guru Suzu Orman agrees. “It’s smarter to acquire specific marketable skills . . . I would much rather see a student graduate knowing that they can go out there, get a job, and not be crushed under the burden of a prestigious degree.”

Perhaps if it were only exorbitant costs, the traditional educational establishment could be forgiven enough to be tolerated. But instead, there are ominous warnings that it wants students to check in their brains at the door along with their bills.

No Thinking Allowed

Lauren Bleser, an elementary teacher from upstate New York who has experienced teaching in public, private, and homeschool settings alike, points out that even the National Education Association (NEA) agrees that education cannot be neutral and that ideas do have consequences. In her recent article “A Teacher Learns the Truth About Education,” Bleser sums up the modern educational agenda with a quote from Joyce Elmer Morgan, former editor of the Journal of the National Education Association.

Morgan says, “In the struggle to establish an adequate world government, the teacher can do much to prepare the hearts and minds of children for global understanding and cooperation. At the very top of all the agencies which will assure the coming of world government must stand the school, the teacher, and the organized profession.”

Worldview does count. The old cliché that “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world” rings hauntingly true in Morgan’s statement. But college students are not infants, and they are not prone to be lulled to sleep by relativistic, socialistic ideas, are they?

Perhaps more than we might think.

In a recent controversial book, “Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America’s Youth,” college graduate Ben Shapiro reveals the liberal agenda college students are expected to adopt if they want to be considered tolerant and academic. Professors with liberal agendas seek to champion tolerance for all – except for those with a conservative worldview. As Phyllis Schlafly notes, “the radicals of the 1960s have become tenured professors.” Situational ethics and groupthink pervade not only the classroom but also infiltrate the dorms, until all the world seems to think, act, and speak in exactly the same way. Josh Sterling, a senior at Cornell University, said, “When 1% of the campus is conservative and the other 99% who care are incredibly liberal, you’re going to get something approaching a socialist state.”

Even some avowed liberal professors have grown so disgusted with the lack of critical thinking and work ethic of students that they have decided to leave the job they love. As one such professor, who asked to be called John Smith, explained, “Intellectual sparring . . . about ideas – among students and faculty – has been replaced by one-sided, partisan drivel . . . my partisan colleagues . . . do not hear the other side, so it is easy to demonize the other side. Their students are listening, and sadly think of conservatism in its many forms as horrific. Worse still, they now conflate liberal passion and advocacy with justice, and by default, analytic rigor and reason. They do not weigh evidence, or take note of pro, cons, costs or benefits. Doing so would be to admit that there are merits to positions they do not hold.”

The question begs to be asked, why pay thousands of dollars to hear only one side of the story?

A Social Wasteland

One of the long-supposed benefits of going to college is simply for the social experience. Thousands have made lifelong friends – and found lifelong partners – at universities all over the world. But it has become increasingly obvious that college is more likely not only a fake – but also dangerous – social environment for students. Statistics show that both drug and alcohol abuse on campus has gone on a rampant increase in the last few years – with some drug increases up to 343%. According to a 2008 survey in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, violence on college campuses is also on the rise. 45% of students report that they have been the victim of some form of violence, whether physical, sexual, or emotional.

It would appear that being surrounded by peers is more likely to perpetuate a culture of irresponsible adolescence than prepare young adults for the rigors of the real world. In his article, Professor Smith describes higher education at many liberal arts colleges as a “puffy sofa nestled with down pillows” for scores of students. He observes that not only do students want it easy in class, they want to be comfy and passive beyond the classroom as well. “Student life” largely serves to debilitate the notion of a genuine, deliberative, academic community. Rather than fuel cerebral discussions with activities for the mind, resident advisors and their adult supervisors plan activities that redefine anti-intellectualism. There is Sensitivity Day, Tolerance Day, Wear [insert color here] Day, and a host of other events that are aimed at ‘inspiring.’ Dorm life is supposed to be cool, fun and engaging . . . my students are brutally honest – they tell me with candor and without shame that their peers think of college as a four year cruise without a destination.”

While there is nothing wrong with a little fun, it is not and should not be the purpose of a college education. Neither is it worthy of piling up student debts to earn nothing in return.

Rethinking College

In spite of all the negative trends, a growing number of young people are growing frustrated enough with the way things are to blaze a different trail. Those leading the charge are often young people already accustomed to challenging the status quo – homeschool graduates.

Jana Kornfeld, Marketing Manager for Natalie Wickham’s book Pajama School, can testify to a similar dissatisfaction with the traditional options available to homeschool graduates that Wickham experienced. Kornfeld also determined to trust God to show her an alternative path. She discovered an organization called CollegePlus!, a coaching program which assists students in earning their degrees via accelerated distance learning methods. “It was an answer to every prayer I’d ever prayed as far as continuing my education went. I would not only be able to save time and money, but I would be able to remain at home and stay involved with my family, church, and community ministries,” says Kornfeld. For under $10,000, she was able to earn her fully accredited four-year degree in just 14 months and 14 days.

Brittany Barden can attest to the vital assistance of CollegePlus! with similar results. Barden earned 120 credits toward her fully accredited BA entirely through credit-by-examination alone – in just 10 months. Neither did she become a mole under a pile of textbooks to accomplish this seemingly impossible feat. While she studied and took tests, Barden found time to run her mom’s business, coordinate a local Bible Bee Competition, help advise political campaigns, and serve her family. “It was absolutely crazy, but proof that you can live a full life while completing a college degree in record time!” Barden declares.

All three of these graduates present proof that education is about more than just simply going with the flow. It’s trusting God with our futures and being willing to blaze a different trail. For graduates like Wickham, Kornfeld, Barden, and countless others, it has been more than worth it. For others willing to take the challenge, new and exciting opportunities await!

Copyright © 2010 Natalie Wickham

Generation Impact

by natalie

generation impact

It is with a great deal of excitement that I announce the launch of a new project that has been in the works for many months. My friend, Grace Williamson, has entertained a vision for some time of starting an organization that would feature the work of homeschool graduates. Her desire is to encourage young people to impact our generation for Christ. Thus was borne: Generation Impact.

With the artistic skills of Molly Williamson, and the web design prowess of Haley Williamson, the Generation Impact website is constructed as an on-line magazine that includes “an interview with a homeschool student or graduate who is using his or her life to impact our generation for Christ; a movie, music, or book review; polls; and thought-provoking articles by various authors.”

In this inaugural issue of Generation Impact, you’ll find an inspiring article about the life of Daniel and its application to our lives, a review of the movie Homeschool Dropouts, a poll about whether you would homeschool your children, and an interview with yours truly (Grace did a marvelous job of sifting through my ramblings from our in-person interview to put this together. There’s a reason I prefer writing over speaking! :-)).

I hope you’ll visit the website, grab a banner for your website or blog, and check out the Generation Impact Facebook Page to support Grace in this exciting new endeavor that is sure to be a blessing to many young people and their families!

Pajama School to be Auctioned Off at Parental Rights Ambassador Dinner

by natalie

Mount Vernon

ParentalRights.org is hosting an Ambassador Dinner and Silent Auction tomorrow (Tuesday, April 20) at the magnificent Mount Vernon estate – one of my favorite places! Sadly, it’s a bit too far for me to travel for the occasion, but I am pleased to announce that they will be auctioning off an autographed copy of Pajama School (along with a number of other fabulous items!) and the proceeds will go to support the tireless efforts of ParentalRights.org to see the passage of a Parental Rights Amendment.

As I stated in the description of the book for the occasion, “The stories contained within Pajama School highlight over and over the benefits to children and society as a whole when parents have the unfettered freedom to raise and educate their children – a message that I think will inspire and encourage supporters of the Parental Rights Amendment to keep fighting for victory!” I am pleased to be contributing my book for such a worthy cause!

A Tribute to Proverbs 31 Women

by natalie

A couple weeks ago, [homeschool grad] Nathaniel Darnell posted a wonderful tribute to all the “P31” women who imbue their homes with grace and peace. I was reminded of it recently when talking with a teary homeschool mom who questioned her role in society and her impact on the world. I found his observations both encouraging and inspiring, and think that every homeschool mother and young woman would do well to read it! We are constantly bombarded with the feminism of our culture and the images of high-achieving career women, so it is important for us to be reminded of the blessed role of a godly woman who is whole-heartedly serving her family.

An Anonymous Valentine

by natalie

Our family received a beautiful anonymous letter for Valentine’s Day. Of course, being the insatiably curious person that I am, I had to investigate the matter and did eventually identify the unnamed benefactor! Nevertheless, the letter contained a short poem that has been etched in my mind for the past couple weeks. With a little bit of searching, I discovered that the words are actually from a lesser-known hymn. I hope that this encourages your heart as it has mine!

God has not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain;
But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.