Homeschool Conference - Day 2

I forgot to mention it yesterday, but this conference is put on each year by the NCHE - North Carolinians for Home Education. Did you know that there are over 32,000 homeschooling families in our state? There are close to 350 in Nash County alone.

Today we learned about 'Classical Conversations' - a classical curriculum for homeschoolers that includes weekly meetings (12 in the fall, 12 in the spring) with other families doing the same thing. There are groups that meet in Wilson, Knightdale, and Wake Forest. We've emailed the leader of the group in Wilson, but we're still waiting to see if there is an opening for Jonathan.

The Classical method includes a lot of memorization, but this helps lay a framework for learning later in life.

This morning we heard a keynote address from Chris Klicka about "the good, the bad, and the ugly" of homeschooling. Under "the bad" he talked about past legal battles for homeschooling. Under "the ugly" he talked about things that caused homes to split. Under "the good" he talked about the centrality of Christ and the Word in homeschooling and the kind of disciples Christ-centered homeschooling develops.

I also heard a very interesting talk on "Evolution: the enemy of truth and science", and went to a talent show where we watched lots of people play piano, do "lyrical dance" (yawn), and one set of siblings do a diablo routine (this was very cool).

Oh, if you are ever in WS, you should check out XIA Asian Fusion Cuisine - this little restaurant was fantastic.

Reporting again from the business lounge of the Salem Best Western Hotel in Winston Salem (on a really old and slow computer with a spacebar that sticks), JN.

PS. JC - we met some of your folks here - they seemed to be having a good time.