Thank you Mr.s Wilson for all the encouragement you give to girls and women. I am reading your book ‘Building Her House’ and I would like to get a copy for my hope chest! It has been very encouraging for both my mom and me. We are really thankful for your example!

-Hannah

Our Classical Christian school began just over ten years ago as a supplemental program for home schooling families. We had hopes that it would become a full time day school but it just hasn’t happened yet. It has gone through some trying times. I would greatly appreciate it if you could hold up our school in prayer. Some of us are trying to fight off discouragement. Did your school ever go through difficult times and how did you persevere through it without wondering if it’s time to close the doors?

In the beginning I simply homeschooled. I was able to work around our daughter’s visual needs, but had a very difficult time working with her ADD. We decided to have her repeat 1st grade, and added special tutoring where she was weakest. We even did some neurological training to address the ADD, and it definietly helped. But we REALLY wanted her to attend a Christian school, hoping beyond hope.

Last year the Lord opened that door, and we had been knocking for years. Our local classical Christian school was actually willing to work with her, provided we attend to her visual needs (she uses specialized equipment in the classroom). It was a dream, and she thrived tremendously.

However, late last school year she began to have more vision trouble, and now the doctors are telling us that her vision will likely be completely gone in a year or two. No more Christian school, and no more homeschool — Braille is a whole different ballgame. So we’re looking down the road at public school (and keeping her in Christian school until the last second).

Honestly, if I weren’t so grateful just that our daughter is alive, that she loves the Lord intensely, and that the Lord created Braille, I would be in pieces. Knowing that she won’t always be able to have a Christian education is deeply troubling, and we’re drawing up really creative battle plans. But we don’t feel guilty either, because the Lord has given us tools specifically for our special daughter, and we know He expects us to use them. Our toolbox just looks different than most others’. We don’t want to insist on an education our daughter can’t manage, and neglect her heart and mind in the effort.

But in the meantime, we’ll keep dreaming that one day the church will be able to compete with the government and educate special needs children!

We have Asperger’s Syndrome (High Functioning Autism) in our family. I believe teaching at home is the very best option for kids on the spectrum. They need the quiet environment and need one-on-one tutoring. You can always search for support groups for social skills classes and arrange small gatherings with other children, too.

We use mostly Veritas Press classical materials (sometimes below the grade level they suggest), but our ASD doctor told us that Math U See is better than Saxon for kids on the spectrum.

Even in Christian schools children with ASD are often teased or often feel very lonely. Keeping them home until college can be the best thing for them!

Amy

When your kids were in their teens, when you lived on Harrison and Doug had those men’s meetings where Doug was hammering out the applications and ramifications of Reformed Theology, I always appreciated how you always made sure there was something on the kitchen counter for us, even if it was just a pitcher of water and glasses.

Teaching Literature, huh? If you were to recommend three stories written within the last thirty years for an American Literature class, What would you suggest?

The Lord has used y’all and the resources of Veritas and Logos to bless our family tremendously!

So, class size is not a subject you want to touch on here at this time, I can respect that. I will assume it is more complicated then I realized and I will pray I find wisdom in the sources here. Thank you all the same.

Go ACCS!!

Cheers,
Crystal

Crystal,
Your question on classroom size is a good one, but it depends on lots and lots of things. So, rather than jump into that discussion, I would rather defer to the folks there at your school who have the needed information. In other words, I’m staying out of that one!

Blessings,
Nancy