reason #567 why we homeschool

Our family is obviously very patriotic with Tim serving 19+ years in the Navy and my family tree sporting a number of patriots going all the way back to several members in Virginia's House of Burgesses in the 1600's. We expect the children to love their country, respect the flag, and be good citizens. My children are not taught garbage like this:


The theory that Americans are better than everybody else is endorsed by an overwhelming majority of U.S. voters and approximately 100 percent of all U.S. politicians, although there is less and less evidence to support it.

Obama was asked during the 2008 presidential campaign whether he believed in American exceptionalism. He said, “I believe in American exceptionalism just as I suspect the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.” Newt Gingrich’s gloss: “In other words, everything we cherish about America, our president thinks is not so very special, not so very different from any other country. ... No longer, in the left’s view, are we the Americans of the frontier, the sturdy, independent farmers.”
Michael Kinsley, Politico


Instead, my children read stories about American Exceptionism from their Faith and Freedom readers (a reprinted Catholic series from the 1950's which emphasize family life, prayer, and being good Americans). Yes, some of it is hokey on occasion, but they learn stories of America's founding, the Saints, and what it means to be a good Catholic in a series that gradually increases in difficulty.

One commenter summed up what American Exceptionalism means quite well:

we do believe that America is a superior country because of our freedoms and form of government, and the productivity and innovation that those freedoms allow. If somebody from another country becomes a citizen and works in pursuit of their goals and dreams, they become one of us as well.


This week, the United States of America has been given another chance to turn away from  the lure of socialism (fair, but equally miserable outcomes) back to the promise of liberty and equal opportunity. Let us reject the notion that America is "just another country" and teach our children what a blessing and privilege it is to be American citizens.