More Catholic Education

The Salvation Controversy
by James Akin

This is an excellent little book written by a man who converted to Catholicism. I highly recommend it for Catholics who talk to non-Catholic Christians and for any non-Catholic Christians who talk to Catholics (though the latter will have to be prepared for a book that teaches why the Church is correct). I'm only sorry I don't have time to give a better description.

Now It's Everywhere

It seems everywhere I look now, I see new support for homeschooling. I suppose it's a combination of looking for it more and actively seeking it out. Here's a link to that great journal I've mentioned before, First Things:

Homeschooling and the Christian Duty

It's a good response to those (none of whom have spoken to me) who argue parents who coose to homeschool their children are withdrawing from the world. Now that we're living in a little house in a neighborhood just as she describes (including a large number of older residents who complain about the "young set" down the street), I understand exactly how we could develop stronger relationships with our neighbors by being home all day. Since I work, it's not quite the same, but my mother-in-law has been out and about meeting people often.

I've Known It All Along

All those big corporations really are evil.

Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture
by Juliet B. Schor

This book has made me realize the evils of marketing and advertising are even worse than I had imagined (mostly because I try not to dwell on them). I was shocked to read about the studies showing negative impact of advertising on kids that are just being ignored by politicians and even educators. Josh and I didn't need any more evidence of the benefits of homeschooling, but this book provided more. Compulsory schooling is forcing our kids to attend schools that allow marketing agencies in (for a fee, of course) to insinuate themselves into kids' lives. And that doesn't even count programming like Channel One (which I'm sorry to say was in my high school though I only remember watching it a few times).

Josh and I aren't big into brands and don't even watch a lot of movies or TV, but reading this book has opened my eyes to some of the "advertising" we've allowed in without even realizing it (examples: the Oreo cookie game, Cheerios books, Elmo clothes, and all the clothes with brand names like Old Navy). I don't think we're going to get rid of them altogether (seriously, the Lightining McQueen toothpaste has changed toothbrushing in our home much for the better), but some things will find their way out the door never to return and much more will never make it home.

Especially if you are considering sending your kids to public schools (and perhaps even private or parochial ones), read this book (or one like it).

[Update: Apparently, there can be good in advertising.]

So Sad

I don't usually link to newspaper articles, but this one just broke my heart:

Prenatal Test Puts Down Syndrome in Hard Focus

Since Josh and I would never choose to abort a child, we recognize the possibility that our children may grow up in the world as a distinct minority, if we were to have a child with a disability. I worry about resources being diverted from treatments for conditions that often lead to abortions. It's already happening. The March of Dimes, for example, uses abortion as a way to decrease the incidence of birth defects. As if killing the child is a better way to address the problem than researching ways to treat a disease or providing support to enable a disabled child to reach his or her full potential.

I apologize if you're reading this after the article is no longer accessible.

The Importance of Gratitude

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
by Barry Schwartz

This book was another of Josh's finds. It's a fascinating look at why having more choices can actually make people more unhappy. It touched on everything from choosing a career to choosing a pair of jeans. (I've always had a problem myself with the toothpaste aisle. Why in the world do we need so many options?)

The first 10 chapters presented a convincing set of studies and reports that having too many options does indeed make an individual unhappy, and has contributed to increasing levels of depression and stress in American society. I thought it was interesting to see how religion, faith and family values can help people deal with this particular kind of stress by limiting options to those that are morally acceptable.

The best chapter, in my opinion, was the eleventh chapter. Here, Schwartz gives some concrete ways to decrease the disadvantages while still enjoying the benefits of all the choices we have today. The eleven steps he gives are all directly related to the evidence presented in the preceeding chapters, but I will try to sum it up in laymen's terms:

Take some time to consider what's important in life. Pay attention to those choices and don't worry about the others. Go with what's "good enough" more often than finding the absolute best. Once you've made a decision don't give yourself the option to go back and choose something else. Be thankful for what you have. Don't waste time and energy on regret. Be aware that whatever you choose, eventually it won't bring as much pleasure as it did at first. Keep expectations within reason. Don't concentrate so much on what others are doing or buying. Embrace limits and constraints that eliminate choices for us.

If you're interested in how these strategies can combat the depressing effect of too many choices, read the book. It's a pretty quick read.