Reasons Not To Enroll

We encourage all prospective families to carefully consider if CCHSA would be a good fit for their family. Why?

Admittedly, this educational model is not for everyone. Many parents and students will benefit from this particular approach to classical education, while it may not be the best fit for others. Being like-minded and working toward a common educational goal is crucial. A list of reasons not to enroll in CCHSA follows to spare families the disappointment of unfulfilled expectations.

If you can identify with any of the following statements, it may be prudent to reconsider your participation in CCHSA. However, if you agree with our reasoning, CCHSA may be a tool God desires to use to facilitate your homeschooling endeavor.

“I just don’t have time to homeschool.”

CCHSA is not a traditional private school. Participation does not eliminate parental teaching and supervisory responsibilities.

“I have definite opinions about which curriculum is best for my child.”

Classroom situations require students to be on the same page. This requires us to use the same curriculum in most areas. Your child will not have time to complete CCHSA assignments and assignments from additional curriculum (except those essential subjects not covered in CCHSA, such as spelling, math, and upper-level science).

Also, though we love parental input when evaluating the curriculum, the final decision rests with the administration. Sometimes a parent may agree wholeheartedly with our choices for Humanities but disagree with our choice for grammar, for example. In this case, you need to decide if your disagreement is something you can live with. There is room for flexibility, but discussions must be had with our Academic team to ensure the most cohesive classroom experience possible.

“I oppose the use of secular books and texts.”
We believe in using the best textbooks available. Sometimes those are Christian, and sometimes they are not. We will still teach from a Biblical perspective.

“I feel strongly that ______ is the best educational method.”
We follow a classical homeschool approach, but you will see Charlotte Mason, unit study, and even some delight-directed elements in our assignments and class activities.
Our closest match is the ideas and educational goals in The Well Trained Mind, By Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer.

“I want a program that requires relatively little reading.”
Maybe you don’t like to read, or you find it difficult to read out loud, or your child hates to read. Maybe you prefer another method for learning. Whatever your reason for preferring a program that requires relatively little reading, you need to know that if you decide to enroll in CCHSA, you and your child will be required to read (and research) a lot. That said, dyslexic kids can get auditory books or be read to, and homework assignments can be modified with the teacher’s input.

“I don’t want my child to read about other religions or belief systems or read anything that focuses on hard things, like war, death, or loss. I want them to only focus on the Truth and never present false ideas or arguments.”

We believe that, in the supportive environment of their home, with their parent’s help, and in CCHSA classes, children should be made aware of false beliefs and foolish ideas and learn that life is not always easy. They should then be carefully instructed about why the ideas are false, foolish, or wrong, and they should be taught how to respond to such ideas. In addition, we desire to teach children to respect other people, groups, and cultures.

“I don’t want my child to hear or read about ideas other than those I’ve taught them.”
You are convinced that a quality curriculum shows no hesitation regarding the truth – any and all truth. But our program is not limited solely to a study of Scripture. And though our view of history is based on a solid, mission-minded, evangelical Christian interpretation of Scripture, we recognize that most history (at least most history that comes to us from outside the pages of Scripture) is far too open to conflicting interpretations to be presented in absolute terms.

We cannot possibly know “for sure” what happened – and we refuse to speak as if we can. We do seek to give a fair representation of “both sides” of any issues concerning which we are in some doubt or believe a discussion of alternative views would be helpful.

We take the same approach in the area of science.

“I want my child protected from any and all profanities and unwholesome characters.”
Our deepest desire to raise up children who will be “approved unto God, workmen who do not need to be ashamed.” In addition, CCHSA has no interest in promoting any unbiblical practices.

Having said these things, however, our prayerful study of Scripture has led us to believe that, in general, a book should be judged more by the value it offers than by what it avoids. Some books are so important to the development of ideas in history that they are worth our time, even if there are potentially offensive elements, characters or unchristian ideas.

That is why we do not pre-read the literature we offer with the idea of searching for offensive content and then either informing you of what we discovered or guaranteeing to you that we offer only books that have no offensive content. Rather, we search for books that carry exceptional value.

If you normally find yourself able to read around an occasional use of offensive language in an otherwise outstanding work, you should do just fine with the literature selections at CCHSA. On the other hand, if this would overwhelm you, we understand.

At the same time, we do not seek materials with offensive material just to challenge the students, make them question their belief systems or attack family values!

“I want to shield my children as much as possible from contact with the world and the world system, and I want a curriculum that avoids broader societal concerns, issues or comparisons to current events.”

We believe that our broad goals in education as in all life must never be merely defensive in nature. Rather, we must be ready at all times to engage the culture with grace and humility. That is why we seek to prepare students to become ambassadors for Christ in and to the world.