What is the purpose of this site? 

This site is a space for resources, ideas, and discussion that supports homeschooling the humanities for all ages.

What are the humanities?

I like the definition from the Stanford Humanities Center:

The humanities can be described as the study of how people process and document the human experience. Since humans have been able, we have used philosophy, literature, religion, art, music, history and language to understand and record our world. These modes of expression have become some of the subjects that traditionally fall under the humanities umbrella. Knowledge of these records of human experience gives us the opportunity to feel a sense of connection to those who have come before us, as well as to our contemporaries.

Why should I homeschool the humanities? 

Anyone who is educating is already using the humanities to do it. Educating itself is a form of humanities because we wouldn’t educate one another if we weren’t concerned with the sharing of knowledge, a central feature of the human experience.

However, it is my opinion that framing the humanities as a central focus in our educational endeavors takes it from the margins (the connections surrounding what we are directly teaching and learning) and puts it front and center. That’s what this site aims to do.

Do I have to be a homeschooler to use this site? 

There are resources here that would be helpful for bringing the humanities into any educational setting. If you are a teacher, parent, after school program coordinator, etc. and you find discussions of teaching the humanities in engaging, effective ways, you’re welcome, too!

Is this site religious? 

While the study of religion is certainly a branch of the humanities, this site is secular. That means that any discussion of religion is done through an educational lens. We don’t promote any specific religion, and we explore religious texts as we would any other piece of literature, art, etc.

We also promote a science- and evidence-based approach to understanding the world.

What does the “with humanity” part mean? 

I came to homeschooling because a traditional education didn’t fit my own child’s learning style. In addition, I have spent over a decade in classroom settings, and I have come to the conclusion that people learn best when their own unique needs and challenges are being met with individual attention. Educating “with humanity” means to educate with the individual learner’s needs and abilities in mind. As educators, our goal should be to meet people where they are and walk with them on the journey to where they want to go.

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