Don't Drive Today's Streets without Yesterday's Road Maps!!

When we started this home school venture we were certain (funny how we’re so “certain” about things when God has some totally different plan in store, isn’t it?) that we would home school through 6^th grade and then put our kids in school starting in Junior High.  Nothing too extreme here…  Of course, several things have caused us to question that plan in recent years, the first being the prompting of the Holy Spirit to seriously consider keeping our kids home straight through high school, Him bringing across our path many families who have done or are doing just that and are so inspirational and calming (I no longer fret about calculus or chemistry), realizing that the private school we really like costs $14,000 per year which we priced ourselves out of 2 or 3 kids ago (much like amusement parks and summer camps…), and continuing to be impressed by the accomplishments of home school graduates and thinking just maybe there is something to this  “keep them home where they belong” idea (TOS magazine’s motto!).

My latest nominee for the Home School Hall of Fame is Daniel Mills, who founded Salem Ridge Press Salem Ridge Press just 2 years out of high school, guided by the “what we read matters” principle of Philippians 4:8:

“Whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8)."  

Having read old books in his high school career that made a particular impact on him, he created Salem Ridge as an honest to goodness family business “dedicated to bringing back quality children’s books of the 1800’s and early 1900’s for a new generation of readers. We strive to republish books that are well-written, interesting and wholesome.” 

Here at the Princess Anne Lane Country Day School (our home school - I even had pencils made up!), we really enjoy read-alouds and especially historical fiction that transports us to another time and place, all right from our cozy couch.  This is a great way to bring history alive for your whole family.  I get a big kick out of seeing what even our little ones have learned from studying His-story this way.  Salem Ridge offers a number of such quality books and we were blessed recently to receive three of them to try out at home. 

Mary Jane – Her Book, by Clara Ingram Judson, originally published in 1918, is a great one for younger children as it tells of the simple, wholesome, old-fashioned adventures of a 5 year old girl just doing daily life things with her family, which is precisely what a 5 year old girl should be doing.  And the language is so rich that your listeners/readers will also receive the added bonus of strengthened literacy, vocabulary and language processing skills (these are all high on my radar since we’ve got a daughter with dyslexia).

Glaucia:  The Greek Slave, by Emma Leslie, orig. published 1874, is for a slightly older audience, and tells the compelling story of a young, pagan, Greek slave girl’s journey to Christianity, weaving in accounts of the newly emerging church in Rome.  There are footnotes in this book with definitions of words today’s readers might not be familiar with (which gives our son a break from getting up to “look it up” in the dictionary!) and the Victorian English was a particular plus for my husband who loves the kids to read and hear God’s word in the King James version. 

The American Twins of the Revolution, by Lucy Fitch Perkins, orig. published 1926, is based on a true story, and tells the most exciting and suspenseful story of twins Sally and Roger Priestly in revolutionary America.  By Providence, these plucky kids are called on to assist their General father and mother in ensuring the safe delivery of a much needed parcel full of gold to the beleaguered and underpaid troops of General George Washington.  This is very timely for our family as we are studying American history this year in Classical Conversations and at home.  No spoilers here – you’ll have to read it for yourself to find out if they succeed!!

I love what the Salem Ridge Press  website says:  “What we take into our minds is a major factor in forming our ideas and character.”  The faculty and staff of the PACDS couldn’t agree more and thus are pleased to recommend the products of this fine company.