Product Description

"Hahn and Hasson provide strong arguments backed with solid documentation to reassure the timid and convince even doubters that the best place to educate their children in a Catholic culture today is at home". Donna Steichen, Author, Ungodly Rage.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #390802 in Books
• Published on: 1996-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Customer Reviews

A Light and Easy Read
This book gives the Catholic homeschooling community a light and easy read describing the thoughts and methods of two homeschooling mothers. I did not feel, however, given the title, that the book had a clear, original focus.

In 1996, Catholic homeschoolers already had two strong books - Catholic Home Schooling: A Guidebook for Parents by Mary Kay Clark and Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum by Laura Berquist. The Hahn/Hasson book didn't add anything new to understanding *Catholic* home schooling. It is more of an opinion piece on what methods and resources they like and don't like. Most homeschoolers can get that information from support groups, email, and friends.

Another challenge I had was the lack of acknowledgement of long-standing Catholic home schooling proponents and programs already on the scene for twenty years and more. For new homeschoolers reading this book, Hahn and Hasson may appear to be trailblazers, which they are not. The dismissive and negative attitude toward those trailblazers with different methods and idealogies (especially full-service curriculum providers)was a bit embarassing. I found the ommision of Catholic home schooling history in America to be a distraction.

Finally, the long list of resources, while helpful, had many Protestant materials which were constantly being defended in the text of the book. Each family has to pick and choose what is best. But one has the feeling while reading the book that these mothers have a hard time with those who believe that only Catholic materials should be used in a Catholic education. Perhaps some have given the authors a hard time on this topic.

I am not sorry I read the book, but I am sorry I bought it. I haven't picked it up since 1996. But I lend it to anyone who askes. Something may strike a chord with them.

It made my wife a believer
This book is outstanding. My two sisters have been home-schooling their kids for the last five years, but my wife didn't think it was possible for her to consider it. My older sister told me to get her this book. So I did. After reading it last summer, she got the materials together to begin teaching our oldest daughter in September. Here it is, six months later, and my wife says it is the best choice she's ever made. Thank you Mrs. Hahn and Mrs Hasson.

This book does promote a traditional Catholic education
Looking at the sad state of many Catholic schools today (which have produced many "cafeteria" Catholics) this book is a welcome alternative to paying thousands of dollars to watch your children lose their Roman Catholic identity in your parish school. Mrs. Hahn and Mrs. Hasson have produced a large, though by no means exhaustive, body of work that deals with the hows and whys of homescholing with a Catholic flavor. The chapter on "What about socialization?" was wonderful, as was the chapter written just for dads. Though they do recommend some Protestant resources, they print the caveat that some of these sources, in the latter grades, become anti-Catholic. They DO mention the traditional Catholic correspondence-type schools like Seton and Our Lady of the Rosary. I see no problem with using non-Catholic sources to homeschool, as long as the material is checked by the parent for any anti-Catholic bias. The question and answer format of the book was very helpful when I had specific questions and didn't want to read a whole chapter. This book and Laura Berquist's "Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum" should be on the shelves of every Catholic homeschooler.