We harvested the garlic this week, opening up a bed for other things! It's my granddaughter (age almost 7) who pulled it all out and arranged it on the old shelf that I use for various purposes in the garden.
She chose to spend hours carefully stripping any messy leaves and placing them just so… and thinking her thoughts!
The shelf is across the sides of my compost bins, if you can't quite figure out what you're looking at here!
This week some men in our parish got together to formulate a plan for protecting the physical church and grounds. They also discussed what to say to the bishop if he considers shutting the church down again (although he was one of the better ones — our doors never closed and the other sacraments were available in a limited way).
This morning's news of arson at a cathedral in France prompted me to plant the idea in your heads, if you haven't already thought of it, of encouraging the men in your parish to think and talk about possible violence directed at the church.
bits & pieces
- The Hagia Sophia is about to become a mosque again, after decades as a museum. Here's a virtual tour. Here's why you should care.
- An important article in the Wall Street Journal (sorry for the paywall — I will quote some here) on The Ideological Corruption of Science, by Lawrence Krauss, theoretical physicist, is president of the Origins Project Foundation and author of “The Physics of Climate Change,” forthcoming in January.
In recent years, and especially since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, academic science leaders have adopted wholesale the language of dominance and oppression previously restricted to “cultural studies” journals to guide their disciplines, to censor dissenting views, to remove faculty from leadership positions if their research is claimed by opponents to support systemic oppression.
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When scientific and academic leaders give official imprimatur to unverified claims, or issue blanket condemnations of peer-reviewed research or whole fields that may be unpopular, it has ripple effects throughout the field. It can shut down discussion and result in self-censorship.
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Actual censorship is also occurring. A distinguished chemist in Canada argued in favor of merit-based science and against hiring practices that aim at equality of outcome if they result “in discrimination against the most meritorious candidates.” For that he was censured by his university provost, his published review article on research and education in organic synthesis was removed from the journal website, and two editors involved in accepting it were suspended.
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Whenever science has been corrupted by falling prey to ideology, scientific progress suffers. This was the case in Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union—and in the U.S. in the 19th century when racist views dominated biology, and during the McCarthy era, when prominent scientists like Robert Oppenheimer were ostracized for their political views. To stem the slide, scientific leaders, scientific societies and senior academic administrators must publicly stand up not only for free speech in science, but for quality, independent of political doctrine and divorced from the demands of political factions.
- David Clayton (my co-author, The Little Oratory — affiliate link), on Marxist Iconoclasm:
What began over 100 years ago as an intellectual exercise in our art departments, in which traditional representational art as an idea was discredited in favor of abstract art, has turned into all-out iconoclasm which aims to destroy all images that symbolize or uphold Western values as part of the mission of destroying Western civilization itself. By this, there is a clear logic to the destruction not only of the statues of Junipero Serra, Washington, and Jefferson, but also of statues of Abraham Lincoln, and even Frederick Douglass.
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[Opposing this logic] means building up the natural institutions of Western civilization, and especially the Church, the nation, and the family in a cultural war (and which includes as a vital part of this the erection statues in the town square). Images are a vital part in this cultural war….
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The domestic church is the starting point for our radical transformation of society.
- Interested in Charlotte Mason homeschooling? Follow Celeste Cruz on Instagram for some visual inspiration from a mom of many.
from the archives
Wondering about staying home but feeling guilty about the impact on your finances? I answered a question about that!
Thinking about homeschooling? Here are my education archives — take a stroll!
I’ve written in general about homeschooling and have lots of reading suggestions for you in those posts. Don’t miss this one with answers from Auntie Therese.
liturgical year
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Margaret says
I’m thinking I am going to use The Well Trained Mind approach for homeschooling my kinder and third grader this year- it seems fairly similar to Charlotte Mason. Any thoughts on it? For my third grader I think we will use Right Start Math- it is an expensive program, but she has really struggled with math and I’m hoping this will work for her.
Kelsey says
Hi Margaret! Obviously I am not Leila and maybe you don’t/shouldn’t care about a random stranger’s thoughts on homeschooling, but here’s my two cents…
The approach outlined in WTM is essentially pretty different from
CM – especially in the early years. There is much more emphasis on rote memorization and output. What both approaches do offer is a focus on the true, good and beautiful and a deep immersion in our cultural patrimony. These are good things, but in WTM the education is more highly “managed” by the parent. Charlotte Mason believed that children were not empty buckets to be filled, but persons with active minds that were capable of engaging with rich ideas and forming their own connections.
I used to teach in classical Catholic schools (where the approach was similar to WTM to some extent,) and am now personally a huge advocate of CM, but of course you should choose whatever resonates with you. And you can always adjust things over time.
Anamaria says
WTM has a lot in common with Charlotte Mason- a big emphasis on narration, not as memorization-heavy in the younger years as many classical curricula. I’ve heard it is overly ambitious for some families- we are a pretty academically ambitious family so I am not a good judge. I also have a respect for the mystery of learning within a child, and a trust that it is happening without lots of output
Right Start Math is great. If you can afford it, it’s really fantastic. Implementing ideas from. Montessori in the Home: the School Years is another option if the cost is prohibitive but would require a lot more work from you (along with playing games that require math, talking about fractions, telling time, etc.).
Leila M. Lawler says
My objections to WTM have to do with the intensity of it, which is odd coming from someone who loves Ambleside! But Ambleside is saying: “here’s the banquet, take what you like” whereas WTM is saying: “do all the academic things.” WTM is not “great books” so much as “elite education packaged for the home school” — but not every child is cut out to be a scholar, and not every potential scholar needs to be at the grindstone.
Interestingly, I read Susan Wise Bauer’s blog back in the day and saw that she herself was, first of all, relying on her mom to do a lot of the actual schooling, and second, in her own words, bribing the littles with M&Ms and videos so she could “Get it all done”.
I don’t think that all conduces to the overall building of an environment of peaceful learning (as peaceful as it’s possible to be when there are, you know, kids involved).
All that said, I am a big believer in doing what excites you and seems to fit your children and family. Try a year and see how it goes!
I am assuming you saw this post (super long-winded, sorry): http://likemotherlikedaughter.org/2012/09/ask-auntie-leila-some-homeschooling-talk/
Anamaria says
We definitely look at WTM as a “banquet,” taking what works for us 🙂
I have a 10 month old and a 2 year old and we have still managed without a TV (for bribes or otherwise), so I am definitely NOT doing all the things!
(Truthfully, we are in a co-op that uses RC History as its core, so we are committed to that, and use WTM as a resource for ideas on how to add science or substitute other books, or organize, etc)
Anamaria says
That image of her bribing with M&M’s and distracting little ones with TV… WOW. To my fellow overly ambitious sisters: DON’T DO IT.
Do great at what you do and then let them play! Teach chores! Go on a walk when the toddler is pulling out every single toy you own! Give the toddler her “work” if it helps!
Margaret says
Thank you all for your input- I do appreciate it, and I I agree it does look overly ambitious, and there is no way we’d get through it all. BUT my eldest has been in public school since kinder and, unfortunately, is no longer intrinsically motivated. After the disasters of her education in the spring, she needs some direction and rigor. I was particularly drawn to the history text, as I like the idea of using that study to generate a lot of the writing and reading I think is important to do, and both my kids are really excited for that study. My plan is to use their Ancient Civilizations history book/lessons twice a week, Math every day, reading every day, and grammar/spelling 1-2 times per week. We do lots outdoors, have a garden and chickens, so they do that stuff anyway, but over the last five months of COVID I’ve seen that they both need some more academic focus! I’m certainly not going to make myself nuts- as long as the kinder kid knows his numbers and has some basic reading skills, I will be happy!
Leila says
Sounds like good goals! Be sure to read my series on teaching writing (all the posts linked at the end of this one, the last): http://likemotherlikedaughter.org/2013/01/playing-writing/
Victoria says
The book I love is “For the Children’s Sake.” It’s not a curriculum, it’s a brief summary of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy. I’m working on reading it a second time and it’s such a gem.
Melissa Bradley Diskin says
Someone vandalized and burned my parents’ church building a few weeks ago. A huge shock, but at least they are already meeting virtually and so no one was hurt. It’s hard to look at pictures of it – tons of water damage, open to the sky.
Margaret, I agree with Kelsey — WTM is very different from any Charlotte Mason approach I have seen. But if you like the book lists of WTM, perhaps you could try using Ambleside Online’s (free) curriculum, using a WTM history book as a spine in various years to make sure you are covering everything you want to. Or Alveary has an amazing program with weekly and daily schedules, very helpful and well worth the cost ($200 I think, for all grade levels and with many extras). I am just beginning my homeschooling journey, but I find that both of these curricula are advanced and very fulfilling when compared to most other programs. My 9th grader is beginning AO year 7 — AO7 and up count for high school. We are adding our own math program and swapping out AO’s science for Alveary’s Physics course to simplify things for me. 🙂 Both AO and Alveary have helpful forums, too.
Good luck on your journey!
–Melissa D
Virginia says
This is basically what we’re doing for my little kids–using Ambleside book lists and Story of the World texts for history. We like them better than the Victorian era history texts Ambleside recommends and the story of the world activity books have nice corresponding geography activities.
Margaret says
Yes, great idea! I will definitely look at the Ambleside book lists to coordinate with the Story of the World. Thank you for the suggestion.
Logan says
I do that too and it’s way easier, especially with a million kids. I think in 5th I switch back. My only regret is not making it more local history and moving outwards. I’m wondering if cmec’s new program might be better for that. Anyone tried it out to compare?
Lisa says
You might be interested. St Joseph’s church (which is merged with the currently under construction St. Mary’s) in New Haven,CT was vandalized last Thursday. One was a satanic symbol. It’s cleaned up now. Continue prayers for the Dominicans there and the Church as a whole.
Angela Pea says
What a fabulous way to dry garlic!
Mary Anderson says
Auntie Leila, have you ever harvested garlic scapes? They are my new fav. Your garden is beautiful and I so appreciate your blog. Thank you!
Leila says
Yes! I have made garlic scape pesto (but not this year, alas) and cooked with them! They are awesome. Thank yo for your kind words!
Victoria says
I love how your granddaughter hung the garlic! Mine was harvested in May (longer growing season here) and I just tossed all of mine on a table on my front porch. It’s still dirty. *blush* *goes to retrieve it and store it properly*