Take care of “granddaddy”

Abbeville Institute founders Drs. Clyde Wilson and Don Livingston recently asked me to help out a gentleman who had contacted them regarding history curriculum suggestions for homeschoolers. We “eggheads … are limited to ‘higher education’ in our knowledge,” Wilson replied playfully, so he and Livingston passed on the request to me.

Interestingly, veteran homeschoolers sometimes even ask me for history suggestions. One would think that with the array of curricula available, trust-worthy material wouldn’t seem so difficult find. But as my last post explained, when it comes to history, conformity to the “secular theocratic” worldview is the rule, resistance is the exception. But the good stuff is there, I promise.

“History really is the granddaddy of all subjects,” Dr. Brion McClanahan aptly states, so however homeschoolers (or lifelong learners) tackle the vital discipline, it’s best approached with intentionality, inspiration, and innovation. Here’s a primer on my family’s eclectic but effective pedagogical approach to true history and some of the sources we use.

Don’t lean on normalcy bias

Last fall, my sons and I completed the 4-volume Story of the World, which served as our “official” curriculum for all these years. I was impressed with the author’s classical approach, as well as her breadth of knowledge.

I was even pleasantly surprised by her lessons on the War Between the States. Now, she’s certainly no unReconstructed radical, but it was fairly even-handed analysis for mainstream curriculum. However, some of the 20th-century lessons were appallingly progressive, which resulted in my leading many corrective discussions with the kids.

I’ve been around the block in my near 8 years of home education, with co-op history, finds from teacher-sharing boards and used-curriculum sales, mom suggestions, and anything and everything that presents itself. We’ve used countless supplementary materials like Liberty’s Kids, Drive Through History, and Crash Course, and even though there’s typically some valuable info to glean from popular sources, they all miss the big picture of the American story.

This was frustrating during my early years. But what initially seemed like a struggle has turned out to be blessing. I’ve come to realize that when packaged curriculum and other materials fall short, this is simply an opportunity to dig deeper, find alternative sources, and uncover truth together as a family. Lifelong learning is fun!

I say, don’t depend on the captive culture. Even though it may be convenient, it’s “diluted knowledge,” as educator Charlotte Mason would say. Rather, use it as a springboard for what she called “self-education” and for finding real truth and real history, of which there’s plenty. You just have to know where to look … and where not to.

Be suspect of popular academics

Beware of “the failings of [the] short-sighted and ideological historian,” advises Wilson in his review of White’s book. Hence, books not written by “career college professors” are often the best place to start.

“Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe,” commented futurist H.G. Wells, who just so happened to be a Fabian socialist, and a proponent of world government and Darwinian scientism. Elites like Wells and Huxley grasped the immense power of influencing people’s concepts of time and place through the written word. Unfortunately, they used their talents to perpetuate man-made progressive conceptions, not tap into godly ancient truths.

After all, the secular-theocrats aren’t concerned with the transcendence of the Logos, and the wisdom, virtue, and beauty that stems from seeking Him. Thus, they can never view history with humility, since they approach modernity (and their self-appointed stature within it) with so much misplaced pride. In other words, cultural imperialists will never admit we’re standing on the shoulders of giants.

“White has indeed identified many of the failings of academic historians of today who care not about the history that people actually lived but are eager to force artificial theories onto the experience of humanity,” notes Wilson. “It is to the non-professionals that we too often need to look to understand the past of our kind.”

Today’s specialized academics, says McClanahan, lack the ability to teach or write about “synthesis history” because they depend on “monographs” (read: race, class, gender, and other critical-theory obsessions). We must then look both to the growing ranks of quality amateur historians filling the void left by mediocre and ideologically driven niche “professionals” and to rigorous academics teaching real history outside of mainstream venues (since they’re often purposefully driven from university jobs by PC bullies, as Dr. Paul Gottfried explains).

Know your source

Abbeville and Reckonin‘ are two stellar blogs for finding such diverse authors who are doing the thankless yet extremely necessary work of pursuing true history. Wilson is a common thread at both sites, as he co-founded Abbeville and runs Reckonin’ with his daughter, Anne.

Another Wilson project is Shotwell Publishing, which he operates with compatriot and author Paul C. Graham. You can sample the types of hard-hitting “Southern without apology” history books sold therein by signing up for Shotwell newsletter, which includes Wilson’s free ebook “Lies My Teacher Told Me.”

Yep, you can get “on the house” material written by this Emeritus Distinguished Professor of History of the University of South Carolina and editor of the “The Papers of John C. Calhoun.” Wilson’s not only the world’s foremost expert on the significant American statesman, but many (like me) say he’s the greatest living historian of the South. So, if Wilson gives his approval to an essay or book, you can bet it’ll be worth your money and effort.

“Car school” is easy and efficient

“Wish I had been homeschooled,” Livingston wrote me in an email. “How many hours were wasted in the state system I went to. Just the time going and returning home could have been put to better effect!”

Time is our most valuable commodity, so take every moment as a learning opportunity. Since my kids and I are always on the go, we make the most of our time in the minivan listening to audiobooks, from biographies or historical fiction through Audible or the public-library app Libby, or G.A. Henty’s spellbinding classics on Heirloom Audio.

For years, my sons have also been soaking in information from my two favorite podcasts, the all-history Brion McClanahan Show and the Tom Woods Show, covering history, economics, and current events. And with their dad, they boys listen to Jay Dyer, who uses history, philosophy, and theology to critique the media, government, and globalism, and Rebel Yell, the unReconstructed podcast from the gentlemen warriors over at Identity Dixie.

When a podcast is too intellectually challenging for them, I still think the content is fairly digestible if we pause to explain terms, answer questions, and reinforce ideas. Plus, it’s stunning how much knowledge children really do soak up through osmosis.

Read aloud as a family

I’ve always liked “reading history books written with the arc of a story,” messaged my friend John. “Historical fiction that entertains and delights and also serves as a touchstone for teaching history … [is] much more compelling than are textbooks.” Mason would call these “living books.”

It could be historical nonfiction like “The Battle of New Market” by William C. Davis or fiction like “Rifles for Watie” by Harold Keith; but both are “inspiring tales, well told,” so I devoured them right alongside my children. Reading aloud fosters conversation, queries, and further exploration, thus, I fully consider these experiences “history lessons.” The practice also models fluency, expands vocabulary, and increases story comprehension.

Due to the social-justice assault on modern children’s literature, I try to stick to older works when possible, but sometimes even they’re revised for today’s woke audiences or may even be out of print if deemed too offensive by PC publishers. You can sometimes score those gems on Thrift Books.

Of course, biographies are a superb way to discover the past. Read “Lee” by Douglas Southall Freeman and “Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson” by S.C. Gwynne, and then take a road trip to Lexington, Va., where both generals are buried. If your child has friends who are on the Hamilton or Lincoln bandwagons, dive into McClanahan’s “How Alexander Hamilton Screwed Up America” or Tom DiLorenzo’s “The Real Lincoln,” and then encourage him to incorporate these newfound facts in with his budding rhetorical skills when chatting with friends.

Or tackle a subject. Read “The Confederate Constitution of 1861” by Marshall DeRosa along with McClanahan’s “The Founding Fathers Guide to the Constitution,” Mike Maharrey’s “Constitution Owner’s Manual,” and Kevin Gutzman’s “The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution,” and there you have the makings of an unforgettable American constitutionalism course that will far surpass anything a mainstream curriculum has to offer.

The Politically Incorrect Guides (PIGs) are pithy works on big matters. They feature short chapters and eye-catching info boxes, making them doable for even younger homeschoolers with read-along guidance from a parent. Dr. Woods’ “PIG to American History” was our launch pad into this wonderful series of books and could certainly serve as either stand-alone lessons or a supplement to other curriculum.

McClanahan’s “PIG to Real American Heroes” and “Forgotten Conservatives in American History” (co-written with Wilson) are must-reads for students starved to hear something other than the constant bashing of their ancestors and demeaning of their heritage. It also makes for an interesting case study in contrasting past exemplars with today’s sorry excuses for “leaders.”

Dare to deep dive

As any parent knows, sometimes kids get obsessed with a topic. Currently, my boys are intrigued with everything WWI. So, we listened to all the podcast episodes from Woods’ WWI Week back in 2014 and are now learning even more from subsequent interviews with historian Hunt Tooley. When we wrap up, we’ll read aloud Richard J. Maybury’s “World War I: The Rest of the Story and How It Affects You Today.”

Why not use every tool in your educational tool belt to help discover history previously untapped by you and your child? It’s fun, plus, your student will never forget these learning experiences because he got to choose the adventure.

Maybury is a geopolitical analyst and author of the Uncle Eric Series, classics in anti-“therapeutic state” instruction. These history and economics books can be used independently or as supplements. “‘Whatever Happened to Justice?‘ is critical reading for all Americans,” asserts Ron Paul. If that endorsement doesn’t do it for you, check out Maybury on my friend Rachel’s podcast where the two discuss natural rights and common law.

An excellent primer for the tween-to-teen Uncle Eric books is the Tuttle Twins, which teaches free-market economics and liberty principles for late-elementary to middle-school-aged kids. My sons have read the entire series (and done the accompanying workbooks), giving them a more discriminating eye when studying history as a whole.

Nonconformist curriculum

We’re still using a history “backbone,” and this year we’ve chosen the self-taught Ron Paul Curriculum. Woods teaches the high school Western civ classes and shares instruction in the two-part government class with Dr. Gary North, who also teaches U.S. history. “In no high school course is the bias against liberty greater than in the American history course,” writes North. His goal is to train students “to consider what is officially impossible … to think, then dig deeper, then re-think.”

Eventually, our family will take all the courses at McClanahan Academy. His “US History to 1865” and “US History 1865 to Present” classes, however, are specifically tailored to homeschoolers and offer lesson plans and quizzes. If I haven’t already sold you on McClanahan, check out his amazing work at FreeHistoryCourse.com, or pick up his “Forgotten Founders” free e-book and audio book.

McClanahan is also affiliated with Liberty Classroom, where he, Woods, and a handful of other high-caliber scholars teach history and economics. This site is geared more toward adult-enrichment, but a mature high-schooler could handle it for sure. Plus, if your student has a question, he can ask it in real time during the monthly live sessions with faculty.

My new friend William Chad Newsom recently launched Christendom Curriculum. He describes his homeschool courses as “pro-West, anti-social justice, anti-multicultural, and anti-globalist.” In other words, it’s a bold alternative to the rah-rah-Lincoln-equality-liberal-democracy stuff common within “conservative” Protestant materials. It can be used as a full elementary-to-high-school curriculum or piecemeal.

Two other “resistance” history options are Michael Boldin’s Tenth Amendment Center and KrisAnne Hall’s Liberty First University. With all these alternatives, there is literally no excuse to fall prey to conformist curriculum.

“Values, meaning, context, perspective”

Our children are the inheritors of an approach to education when “our people did great things” … now being reared in a time “in desperate need for the type of men the South used to produce,” remarks writer Robert Hoyle. Let’s connect our kids with their noble roots and their place in the unfolding story of America.

This will train up well-rounded critical thinkers who are able to resist the “spirit of the age,” as writer CJay Engel describes it, not “manufactured and produced” youngsters who fancy themselves radical individualists, while they’re really “masses [who] live without distinction.”

Teaching logical history also nurtures children’s innate curiosity and encourages a healthy dose of status-quo skepticism, not cynicism. This will indeed make your student distinct. Not popular, but unfashionably free. Like Flannery O’Connor said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you odd.” Embrace it, rebel.

“The homeschooling children will be the aristocrats of the future,” Wilson remarked in an email. “They will be the only people with intelligence and character.”

Well, I’m not sure if that’s exactly the case, but I do believe homeschoolers do have an obligation to honor the past, teach the story of our heritage and heroes, and defend truth, no matter the cost. This is how you best care for “granddaddy” history and his grandchildren: our students, our hope.

Have any suggestions or advice yourself? Please explain in the comments. Also, be sure to check out my sidebar on choice essential-reading lists.

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Update November 2022: An indispensable and inexpensive book I’ve discovered since the publication of this essay is “American History for Home Schools, 1607 to 1885, With a Focus on Our Civil War,” written by 16 members of the Society of Independent Southern Historians, which itself also offers up a wealth of educational information.