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Electives

We're not exactly sure who determines what are electives and what are "core" subjects, or why. Okay, maybe math is more useful than tracing your family tree because you can't balance your checkbook using scions and second cousins. But what about your family history, and the history of, say, Guam or Haiti? Is there something inherently better about reading "the classics" than learning Mandarin Chinese? Why are physics part of the main coursework for high school students, while robotics is optional?

Unfortunately, we aren't qualified to answer those questions, but we can defend electives on another level. Electives are essentially those subjects best suited to a student's personal interests, talents and abilities. In that sense, they're almost more important than core subjects, though we aren't going to make an argument that you should learn French before mastering English grammar (as long as you live in an English-speaking area, that is). We are arguing for advances beyond the necessary "standards," however, and for a broad curriculum that is child-specific.

Some electives are more important than others. Learning to manage one's money, how to interpret the Bible, and (these days) how to operate and understand computers are all more important than taking an acting class (though the acting class will be very important for some on a different level altogether). Technically, none of these are required courses, though for Christians particularly the first two are essential for a proper education. There are plenty of similarly important topics as well, though each family will need to prioritize.

There seems to be a move toward less specialized education. As our society becomes increasingly homogeneous, we spend less time focusing and more time absorbing "the big picture." We ignore either one at our own risk. We must have a larger framework in which to fit the smaller pieces, but take away the framework and you're left with relativity and chaos; the smaller pieces, and you have only an impersonal and meaningless ideology. Electives are a way to assert the need for both, and to have fun doing it.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.
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20 Exciting Plays for Medieval History Classes
by Dean Bowman
from Walch Publishing
for 7th-9th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
$25.00
All New Square Foot Gardening
by Mel Bartholomew
3rd edition from Cool Springs Press
for Adult
in Gardening (Location: SS-GAR)
$21.24
Backyard Homestead
by Carleen Madigan
from Storey Publishing
for Adult
in Self-Sufficiency (Location: SS-Self)
$16.11
Bankruptcy Of Our Nation
by Jerry Robinson
from New Leaf Press
for 10th-Adult
in Economics Resources (Location: ECON-REF)
$15.99 $8.00 (2 in stock)
Botanical Gardens - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Dot Barlowe
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$4.24
Common Weeds - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Stefen Bernath
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$5.09
Down & Dirty
by Ellen Zachos
1st edition from Storey Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR)
$16.96
Favorite Roses - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Ilil Arbel
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$5.09
Favorite Wildflowers - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Ilil Arbel
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$5.09
Floral Bouquets - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Charlene Tarbox
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$3.39
Flower Garden - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Ruth Soffer
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$4.24
Garden Flowers - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Stefen Bernath
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$5.09
Gardener
by Sarah Stewart & David Small
from Sunburst Book
Realistic fiction for Kindergarten-4th grade
1998 Caldecott Honor Book
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$8.49 $3.60 (1 in stock)
Give Me a Hand! History Skits 1942-1945
by Rebecca Locklear
for 8th-12th grade
in Theater, Drama & Film (Location: ELE-THEAT)
$10.20
God of the Garden
by Andrew Peterson
from B&H Books
for 10th-Adult
in Creating Culture (Location: XCU-CRE)
$15.29
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
by Laura Amy Schlitz
from Candlewick Press
for 5th-9th grade
2008 Newbery Medal Winner
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$11.04
Green Thumbs
by Laurie Carlson
from Chicago Review Press
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Gardening for Kids (Location: SS-GAR)
$14.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Homesteading
by Abigail R. Gehring
2nd edition from Skyhorse Publishing
for 9th-12th grade
in Self-Sufficiency (Location: SS-Self)
$23.76
How Not to Lose a Million Dollars
by Sheila Bair
from Albert Whitman & Company
for 6th-12th grade
$16.99
Interpretation of Dreams
by Sigmund Freud
from Basic Books
for 12th-Adult
in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
$13.59
Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick
First Edition from Scholastic Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
2008 Caldecott Medal winner
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$25.49
Language of Flowers
by Kate Greenaway
from Dover Publications
for all ages
in Poetry Anthologies (Location: POET-ANTH)
$6.95
Language of Flowers - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by John Green
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$3.39
Lifepac: American Literature - Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in American Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-AM)
$11.50
Lifepac: American Literature - Book 2
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in American Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-AM)
$11.50
Lifepac: American Literature - Book 3
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in American Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-AM)
$11.50
Lifepac: American Literature - Book 4
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in American Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-AM)
$11.50
Lifepac: American Literature - Book 5
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in American Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-AM)
$11.50
Lifepac: American Literature - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in American Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-AM)
$74.25
Lifepac: Art - Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 7th-12th grade
in AOP Art & Drawing (Location: ELEDRA-AOP)
$11.50
Lifepac: Art - Boxed Set
LIFEPAC Electives
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 4th-12th grade
in AOP Art & Drawing (Location: ELEDRA-AOP)
$108.00
Lifepac: British Literature - Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$11.50
Lifepac: British Literature - Book 2
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$11.50
Lifepac: British Literature - Book 3
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$11.50
Lifepac: British Literature - Book 4
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$11.50 $5.00 (2 in stock)
Lifepac: British Literature - Book 5
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$11.50 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: British Literature - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 10th-12th grade
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$74.25
Lifepac: Consumer Math - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Consumer & Career Math (Location: MATR-CON)
$69.00
Lifepac: Essentials of Communication - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$74.25
Lifepac: Health - Boxed Set
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$74.25
Lifepac: Health Quest - Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 6th-8th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$11.50
Lifepac: Health Quest - Book 2
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 6th-8th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$11.50 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Health Quest - Book 3
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 6th-8th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$11.50 $5.00 (2 in stock)
Lifepac: Health Quest - Book 4
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 6th-8th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$11.50 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Lifepac: Health Quest - Book 5
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 6th-8th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$11.50 $5.00 (2 in stock)
Lifepac: High School Health - Book 1
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$11.50
Lifepac: High School Health - Book 2
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$11.50
Lifepac: High School Health - Book 3
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$11.50
Lifepac: High School Health - Book 4
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$11.50
Lifepac: High School Health - Book 5
from Alpha Omega Publications
for 9th-12th grade
in AOP Lifepacs: Health (Location: CLE-LIFEPAC)
$11.50
Little House Cookbook
by Barbara Walker
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-8th grade
in Little House Materials (Location: LIR-LHM)
$14.99
Man's Search for Meaning - Young Readers edition
by Viktor E. Frankl; foreword by John Boyne
from Beacon Press
for 6th-12th grade
in Holocaust (Location: HISW-20WW2H)
$10.19
Money Matters for Kids
by Larry Burkett
from Moody Press
for Adult
$11.04
Money Matters for Teens
by Larry Burkett
from Moody Press
for 7th-12th grade
$11.04 $2.40 (16 in stock)
Money Matters for Teens - Workbook (Ages 11-14)
by Larry Burkett
from Moody Press
for 5th-8th grade
$12.74 $7.60 (1 in stock)
Money Matters for Teens - Workbook (Ages 15-18)
by Larry Burkett
from Moody Press
for 7th-12th grade
$15.29 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Performing Literature - Teacher & Student Book
by Diana Smith
from Bob Jones University Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Clearance: Art & Music (Location: ZCLE-ART)
$68.00
Personal Finance Packet
by Curt & Jenny Bumcrot
from Basic Skills
for 9th-Adult
$20.40 $10.40 (1 in stock)
Redoute Flowers - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Charlene Tarbox
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$3.39
Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett, illustrated by Tasha Tudor
from HarperCollins
Realistic Fiction for 4th-9th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$16.99
St. George and the DragonS Drama Skits
by Rebecca Locklear
for 6th-Adult
in Theater, Drama & Film (Location: ELE-THEAT)
$21.25
Student's Guide to Psychology
by Daniel N. Robinson
1st edition from Intercollegiate Studies Institute
for 9th-12th grade
$8.00
Tropical Flowers of the World - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Lynda E. Chandler
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Flowers & Plants Coloring Books (Location: COL-BOT)
$4.24
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Neal
from Chronicle Books
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Nature Study & Journaling (Location: NAT-GEN)
$9.99
Walt Disney
History's All-Stars
by Marie Hammontree
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Biography for 3rd-6th grade
in Clearance: Biographies (Location: ZCLE-BIO)
$4.89
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