Column, November-December 1998

Home Education Magazine - November-December 1998 - Columns

Homeschooling Books - The Homeschool Source Book by Donn Reed

Lillian Jones

"It's kind of like going home!" That's how a friend fondly put it when I mentioned what fun I was having rereading Donn Reed's book. The Home School Source Book was The first books many of us read when beginning our homeschooling journeys, and it remains The finest resources today.
When Donn died, I probably wasn't the only homeschooler who was moved to tears by the news. His voice in print was so warm and intimate that we felt as if we knew him. When I told his wife, Jean, about a phone conversation I'd had with him, she pointed out there hadn't been a phone until sometime after Donn's death. The conversation had been by mail! Jean said it wasn't unusual for people to feel as if they had spoken to him. Such was the nature of the special character who authored and published The Home School Source Book under the publishing name of Brook Farm Books.
As it states on the cover, The Home School Source Book is "A comprehensive catalog & directory of learning materials that are challenging, constructive, and fun; with commentaries, notes, & essays about Liberal Arts education at home, from birth through adulthood." You'll find that this is a friendly and intimate book-enhanced by Donn's humor, cartoons, and quotes on education from the likes of Twain, Thoreau, Krishnamurti and others. Although Brook Farm Books carries most of the resources, some of the materials must be ordered from other sources. It's hard to imagine a publisher allowing the casual mix and unusual format of this book, but fortunately, Donn indulged himself in doing the book his way. There was no attempt to please any outside critic, and no attempt to be politically correct-that's much of the fun and value of this particular book.
Donn's outrageously irreverent pokes at some of the prevailing notions in home education are especially delicious. You can't get through this book without thinking and laughing and reacting. I find myself thoroughly enjoying his comments, even when I disagree. The obvious integrity and humor go a long way in gently carrying ideas all the way into the reader's mind, past all the normal guards. It stretches the mind and tickles the spirit.
Donn often offers a slightly different twist. Some thoughts on math for instance: "The important thing is to know when to stop. Let's consider carefully before we spend too much of our children's time trying to learn facts and gain skill which will probably have little or no use in life. If the study is easy, fun, or has a probable use, then carry on. If running headfirst into a brick wall would be more fun, force yourselves through Survival Mathematics (listed below), then go for a walk or read a book or shovel manure." He then goes on to retract his former endorsement of a popular drill-based math program that he's decided not to carry any longer, and to list a number of excellent math products you can buy from other sources.
It's obvious that principle comes before profit to the Reeds-the focus is on helping, rather selling. This generosity of candor makes the book especially useful in gathering contrasting data for balancing and forming your own opinions. What's more, it even includes ordering information for items Donn clearly dislikes.
There's plenty of sensitive wisdom throughout The Home School Source Book. Here's a typically thoughtful offering from the section on discipline: "Our kids always know that we expect only good behavior from them-not because of bribes or threats, but because we know they have no natural desire to break or cheat or steal. Children, like adults, want to do what is right. They want to be liked, loved, and respected. They want to respect themselves. Whenever one of our kids does something wrong or has made a mistake in judgement, we are quick to sympathize, to understand, and to forgive. Our expectation of good always includes the knowledge that mistakes will be made, and that they don't diminish the child's inherent goodness."
The book shares an intimate view of the Reeds' "school at home," but their school at home was largely a cozy and casual coming together in stimulating conversation and exploration. This is very different from the situations where people have sent their children off for the schools to raise, brought them home in desperation, and then suddenly tried to be "teachers" in the traditional school sense. The key was mutual respect.
They clearly had a lot of fun in finding their own way: "We never really figured out exactly what 'invited learning' does mean, but we decided we couldn't always wait to be invited. Sometimes we just crashed the party, and amazed ourselves with the structure and organization we could devise. 'Let's hope John Holt never sees this,' we'd say to each other. 'He'll stop selling our books.' But the kids became so interested in Alexander the Great or the Renaissance or Martin Luther and the papal bulls that they forgot all about Donald Duck. They learned psychology and economics and world history and geography and where Yellowstone National Park is. They even began inviting us to introduce more subjects, or help them with the ones they were on, and then we began feeling safe again. We always felt a little like renegades when we taught something without having been invited to do so."
The Reeds kept busier than many homeschoolers might find necessary, but it fit perfectly with who they were as a family. That inspiration to be true to oneself and ones children-to question authority of any kind-is The most valuable gifts of The Home School Source Book .
Much of the joy of this book is in browsing through the rich cornucopia of listings for both familiar and unusual resources for all ages. There are resource on education, math, cultural literacy, history, biography, geography, literature, science, current events, government, global awareness, free learning aids, philosophy and religion, parenting, business & economics, art & activities, music, languages, computers, television & movies, high school and college.
Jean Reed is working on a 3rd edition, adding new resources and some of her own commentary, but doesn't know when it might be finished. Meanwhile if there's anything you want beyond the current edition, you can contact her to order it. Jean explains "People request things not listed, and we can generally find them. We also offer our overseas customers the opportunity to request anything in print. We've sent Steven King & romance novels to Sicily, a specialized sailing guide to Pago Pago, and so on. As Donn said, 'We're not as efficient as computers, but we're a lot friendlier.' We do a lot of correspondence with newbies and others, and we take calls 9-5 EST Mon.-Thurs. and until 10PM Friday nights." Some prices might be higher now than those listed in the catalog, but Brook Farm Books will notify you if there's been an increase over $5.
The Home School Source Book is $20. In the U.S. add $2 postage: Brook Farm Books, Box 246, Bridgewater, ME 04735. In Canada add $3.50 postage: Brook Farm Books, Box 101, Glassville, NB E7L 4T4, Canada. Visa/MasterCard & American Express accepted. Phone/Fax (506) 375-4680, e-mail: bfbooks@nbnet.nb.ca
© 1998, Lillian Jones