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Christian Education Symposium   Diana Waring Conference Transcript November 19, 1998

This Page contains the interview transcript and message board follow up questions.

Douglas Schmitt (Douglas Schmitt of PrestonSpeed Publications) Thank you for coming this evening. Let us start with prayer.

Douglas Schmitt Almighty Father we pray that tonight's event would be pleasing to You and useful in accordance with Your sovereign will. We are grateful to be used of You and to serve You. Bless the efforts of your servants, Diana Waring and Mary Leggewie. Bless each person in attendance at this event. Make us ever grateful that in You we live and move and have our being. In Christ's Name we pray, AMEN!

Mary Leggewie Welcome to our conference with Diana Waring! Tonight's conference is using our formal chat program, and you will only see your name in the auditorium. I'll be interviewing Diana, and you'll be able to submit questions during the chat to be answered at the end, as time permits. We're glad you're here tonight!

Mary Diana, we're so happy you could join us tonight! Many of our regular folks have been looking forward to tonight as much as I have.

Diana Waring It's a delight to be with you all, Mary!

Mary Bill and Diana Waring have been married since 1979 and are parents of Isaac (17), Michael (15), and Melody (13) who have been homeschooled since birth.

Mary The Warings reside in South Dakota summer and winter, and on the homeschool convention trail during spring and fall. Diana studied music, drama and acquired a B.A. in French. These interests have found a fulfilling outlet in homeschooling her children as together they have performed a family storytelling concert, "Yankee Doodle Tells A Tale", from coast to coast. Diana loves ethnic cooking, meeting internationals, reading, and crocheting lace. Along with being a wife and mom, Diana has been a South Dakota Touring Artist, a featured speaker at dozens of homeschool conventions, a popular radio show guest, and a regular homeschool columnist at Best of the Christian Web. The Warings have a family homschool business, "Diana Waring - History Alive!", which produces books, tapes, videos, and history curriculum for the homeschool market. Their mission statement is "to encourage, equip, and educate families in an entertaining way."

Mary Again, welcome, Diana! Let's jump right into our interview! Diana, what do you consider the most important part of homeschooling?

Diana Relationships! Relationships between moms and dads, between parents and children, between brothers and sisters, and between all of us and God. All the rest will do us little good if the relationships are neglected. Education, character training, entrepreneurship all follow from these relationships!

Diana Have I made the point? <:o0>

Mary We regularly see on our bulletin boards that folks feel their families are much closer because of homeschooling, so I have to agree with you there!

Diana You can see well-educated people who have absolutely miserable, useless lives because their relationships are not right, and that is one thing homeschoolers can EXCEL in!!

Mary Yeah!!!

Mary Or do you have a different style of hs'ing while you're on the road?

Diana But usually we pick and choose VERY carefully!!! We do a lot more reading, geography, singing (a capella!)... on the road. It's hard to do chemistry in a moving van!

Mary I can just picture that!

Diana Maybe I should say "in a van that's moving!"

Mary We'll be talking a bit later about some of the tapes you've made, but our family loves listening to books on tape in the car!

Diana It really IS fun to do the "audio" portion of homeschooling in the car!

Mary How does one wear the hats of "mother," "wife," "teacher," "cook," "chauffeur,", "nurse," "counselor," "detective,"…

Diana First of all, give yourself some room to grow into all of these roles! Figure out what the true priorities are (i.e. wife and mother), then place each of the remaining roles in their order of mportance - my own suggestion would be teacher, followed by counselor, cook, and detective. Secondly, I needed to get help from both my husband and my children!

Mary I don't know, I think my kids would put cook at the top!

Diana They began to take over some of the roles I had been filling for the early days of our family...Like housemaid!!!...

Mary hee hee!

Diana My husband became the "sergeant-at-arms" - he set up the chore chart and made sure it was done!

Mary Do you ever find yourself questioning your sanity?

Mary hee hee

Diana Third, we need to make sure to have some time built into our own schedules for the things that refresh us! I HAD to have time to read. So, we had a "quiet time" each afternoon when the children were young. So I could recover and read!!! :o)

Mary That sounds great! I think a lot of moms, me included, tend to put ourselves last all day!

Diana I know... And being a servant is important. But we also have to be VERY realistic if we're in this for the long haul!!

Mary How important is it to have dads involved in homeschooling?

Diana Dads AND moms are so important...They add character into the adventure of homeschooling. Children need to know both mom and dad, and homeschooling provides a wonderful forum for this.

Mary What if Dad isn't sold on homeschooling?

Diana Dads are often so busy with their jobs that they don't see how they can be involved. But as we dialogue with our husbands, and share with them the areas we could really use their help in, such as Bible, science, etc. It may help them catch the vision. If Dad isn't sold on homeschooling - give him some books to read. Introduce him to some homeschooled children. Pray until he is CONVINCED!

Diana My husband was a public school teacher and it took him a few years to get excited. But now, it's the greatest adventure of our lives!

Mary I enjoyed reading your advice in your book to PRAY! Often it’s the only solution!

Diana Amen!!! Prayer really does change things.

Mary You speak at a lot of homeschool conventions, what are some of the trends you are seeing?

Diana Lots and lots of new homeschoolers. Unfortunately, however, one of the trends I see that most concerns me is that of folks who decide to homeschool without understanding what homeschooling is all about. I've seen people buy textbooks or an educational CD, and hand it to their children to study all by themselves. And they consider it homeschooling because it happens at home! It often backfires and the parents end up putting their children back into public schools…

Mary That's so true! There is a wide range of what I'd consider homeschooling!

Diana without ever realizing that they never really experienced the blessings and benefits of homeschooling! The way to resolve this is to LEARN more about it!!! Read some of the great books that are out there, ask questions, go to conventions, support group meetings.

Mary And at the same time, that actually harms the image of the homeschooler...the folks in public schools see the failures!

Diana Absolutely, Mary! Keep asking questions, keep reading. This is our CAREER - we need to learn what we're doing!!!

Mary What are your thoughts on the increase in government school programs for homeschooling and charter schools?

Diana Follow the money...That's what we've taught our children to look for--Who benefits from these programs? And who really CARES about our children? Hmmm. It would seem that the government schools benefit financially. And that is probably the BIGGEST reason that these
programs are out there! No one else has the welfare of my children as their greatest concern, except for me! I've seen friends who've put their children in these programs for an hour...then three hours...then all day...then all week...

Mary I have to say I agree fully! And it's sure scary to see the government system after our kids at earlier and earlier ages!

Diana And the benefits of homeschooling are completely wiped out!

Diana It's important that we not be naïve and ask the hard questions behind these programs! Again, "follow the money!" There's also the question of who influences our children, but that's a whole 'nother question!

Mary We are really seeing an increase in these programs here in CA. As John Taylor Gatto said recently at a conference I attended, It's the seduction of the homeschooler!

Diana Well said! And very, VERY sad. You know, we are an instant society. We want everything easy. Instant homeschooling...easy education for our kids...

Mary He even went so far as to outline the 3 stages of seduction! first-let them have everything with no strings, 2nd-a few strings, and 3rd...many strings!

Diana But you won't end up with a masterpiece that way!

Mary That's so well put!

Mary Have you got a simple answer to the old socialization question that seems to be the first question we get when we begin homeschooling?

Diana Yes!

Mary Shoot!

Diana We are the BEST socializers of our children. If by socialization we mean kindness, thoughtfulness, patience, courtesy... However, if we mean "being influenced by the peer groups"... then, our children are not socialized!

Diana Yeah! Or, conforming to the trend of the age... nope, not socialized!

Mary Boy, isn't that the truth!

Diana It's amazing to me...how many people say "Oh, Diana, your children are SO nice!"

Diana But they are unwilling to spend the time that it takes to "socialize" your own children!!!!

Mary I know what you mean! I cringe when hear people tell me "but I could never spend all day with my kids!" So sad!

Diana Amen!

Mary Can you share any ideas how to put fun back into homeschooling when you're feeling burned out, and how to avoid burnout?

Diana First - take a deep breath and relax!

Mary I'm breathing!

Diana Second, get on your knees and ask God for the encouragement you need! Third, read a funny book out loud to your kids! And call it school!!

Mary Sounds great!

Diana Finally, start reading some good books about how to homeschool (like *Beyond Survival*), that will help you to make some good, new decisions.

Diana We need to have a long-term vision here!

Diana Because it allows us to take the time to do this right! Marathon running, not sprints! Set a pace, keep it enjoyable for all...

Mary Yes, I feel strongly that you have to have a "long haul" mentality. Going year to year would be painful!

Mary How can we effectively teach our children subjects that we're not good at?

Diana Oooh, good question!!!

Diana First - why aren't you good at it? If it's because you didn't really learn it in school, then, GOOD NEWS, you can learn it right along with your children!!! Like history, for instance! Second, if it's beyond you (like music...) See about finding a good teacher for that subject for your children Third - allow your children to discover things for themselves... Like my son, Michael, has been learning to oil paint - on his own, without help from me (no help here!), and without the benefit of a
teacher...because we haven't found one yet! Fourth, try a correspondence course! Lots of possibilities - the best answer... is to pray and ask the Lord to show you the best for your children!

Mary There ya go again on prayer! Way to go!!! History seems to be your specialty, so let's chat a bit about it! What do you consider to be the most significant aspects of history?

Diana Tee Hee! Well, dear, that's what has made the difference in my life! For me, learning history while discovering what God was doing in Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Church, and the whole thing come together in a life-changing way! As I saw God's perfect timing, His perfect plan, His faithfulness to His people, it really caused me to see how we can trust Him completely... even in 1998!!! It also is very important to have the "big picture" of history to understand the
basic overview of history. Because if we only know bits and pieces, it really won't make a lot of sense to us. As we begin to see the flow of history, we will begin to understand WHY people did what they did, how God worked in the nations, what the impact of actions can be, etc.

Diana Can you tell I feel passionately about history??? <:o)>

Mary So that Christian World view is imperative to understand the big picture!

Diana Absolutely!

Mary How do children's learning styles impact the study of history?

Diana We all learn in such different ways. Some by reading a book, others by listening to music, still others by working with their hands, and and some who learn best by putting on a play! When we realize that history is such a wonderfully rich area of study and that we can free our children to learn about it in diverse ways (rather than just handing them a textbook and expecting them to answer the questions at the end of the book...)

Mary Do you feel one can effectively study history without the use of textbooks?

Diana THEN our children can truly benefit from this area of learning styles applied to the study of history.

Diana Oh, Mary, don't get me started!!!

Douglas Schmitt {Open Web site for Diana Waring www.Dianawaring.com } Guests are able to click around inside Diana’s Web site while viewing the conference.

Diana I think that textbooks for history...

Mary hee hee...I'm not a fan of textbooks!

Diana Are like drinking a cup of coffee with no water - only the freeze-dried pieces!

Diana All the GOOD stuff has been taken out!!!

Mary ooohhh...great analogy!

Mary Oh, my kids will be delighted!

Diana When I started teaching my own children world history, we kept learning such incredible things concerning Bible stories and the civilizations of antiquity. When I would tell people some of these stories at conventions, their reaction was usually, "Wow! Can you come home with me and teach my children?" The answer to that was to create these products to help folks teach their own children!!!

Mary Tell us how your world history curriculum (*Ancient Civilizations & The Bible*, *Romans, Reformers, Revolutionaries*, etc.) compares to the other world history curriculums available for homeschoolers.

Diana The emphasis in my world history curriculum is on looking for God's hand in history - both in Bible times, and in the Church. The second emphasis is on seeing the FLOW of history rather than just hopping around from American history to Renaissance to Egypt.

Diana This includes, in *Ancient Civ*, studying Israel, Assyria, Babylon... Persia, and the Hellenistic Period, as WELL as studying Egypt, Greece, Rome. The curriculum is also set up to be used by families with different ages of children...

Mary What age range are your tapes targeting?

Diana Since we studied history this way in our own family, we learned that it a lot more interesting and a LOT more fun to have everyone learning about the same time period, though on their own levels. Since utilizing the knowledge about different learning styles makes such a BIG difference in how well material is learned.

Mary Especially since most of us have more than one child!

Diana and retained.. we set up our curriculum to cycle through the four learning styles in each and every chapter. That way, every student can learn the material in ways that work best for them, as well as being exposed to all of the other learning styles!

Mary That does sound very interesting! You have a new video about homeschooling. Would you tell us a about it? How does it differ from your audiocassette?

Diana Starting homeschooling can be an overwhelming experience. I know, I've been there! So, when we had folks ask if we could create a video for new homeschoolers and support groups, we said "Ok!" It was filmed before an audience of brand new tmbling, scared homeschoolers in a neighboring town. By the time we finished the four lectures, they were smiling, encouraged, and ready to go!!!

Mary We will be answering questions submitted by the audience in a moment, feel free to submit a question at any time.

Mary That must be very satisfying!

Diana It is our prayer that these videos will go a long way toward helping folks feel like they CAN do this!

Diana It is, Mary!

Mary I think that 90% of the battle is the decision to begin! The rest is easy!

Diana Tee Hee!

Mary How can a parent find out where you'll be speaking?

Diana For me, the decision was easy...the battle was getting up every morning! For my schedule, check my Web site - we have a spot to announce where we're going to be!

Douglas Schmitt {Back to Diana’s Web site on the top frame of the chat window}

Mary Great! Most of us here are very proficient at the Web! Your Web site is linked in our Information Pages too!

Diana Thank you!

Mary Let's get to some of the questions we've been gathering! Diana, Good!

MaryJane {question presented} How do we persuade reluctant relatives of the value of homeschooling for our previously public schooled children?

Diana Hmmm. Good question! The best, BEST way I know to convince folks is for them to meet older students who've been homeschooled! But, in my own story, my mom HATED homeschooling
for the first nine years! Thought I was destroying her grandchildren!!! But, she finally discovered that the reason her grandkids were so great was because they had been homeschooled! The proof is in the pudding... Though, unfortunately, it takes time to get the pudding!

Beverly {question presented} What made you think about doing all those books and tapes? from Rachel age 11

Diana Good question, Rachel! The *History Alive! Through Music* came about because I loved American folk music, and I loved American history! And one day I wondered what kinds of stories there were behind the folk songs I loved and, voila, out came these products!!!

Mary Dessie has proposed a question about programs...Dessie can you submit that question again if you're still here to help us understand which programs you're asking about?

Diana It was lots of fun to do!!

Beverly {question presented} What happens when your kids don't want to study that day? from Katie age 8

Mary Oh, I love that question, Katie!

Diana Yes, Katie, that's a real whopper! Some days we study any way! Some days we take a hike!

Diana Some days we go back to sleep! It all depends on the reasons WHY they don't want to do school!!!

Mary Last call for questions!

MaryJane {question presented} Would you comment on Cornerstone Curriculum's, World Views series for the high school years?

Diana I really appreciate David Quine's work in this World View series! It requires, however, a lot of understanding about history, the Bible, etc. in going in to the program. Many folks are using my world history curriculum AND using David's afterwards or concurrently.

MaryJane {question presented} Do you feel that your materials would be a good preparation for that series?

Diana It focuses mainly on the worldviews and philosophies while mine focuses mainly on the history, geography. We both look at art and music.

Diana Absolutely! David and I see things from a very similar perspective - his stuff is more advanced!

Tammy {question presented} How did you get all the information for your book Ancient Civilizations and the Bible? from Andrew age 9

Diana Ah, good question, Andrew! I read lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of books! And I talked to lots and lots and lots and lots of people who taught me things I didn't know!

Beverly {question presented} Who are your heroes in History? from Katie age 8

Diana Some of my favorites are: King Josiah, Esther, George Mueller, Hudson Taylor, Gladys Aylward...

Mary My my, I see that my kids aren't the only homeschooling night owls!

Beverly {question presented} What is your favorite time period in History? from Rachel age 11

Diana Hmmm... William Wallace...

Diana Ah! I really like it all! But if I were forced to choose a particular time, I really REALLY like the Middle Ages!

Mary Me too! Well folks...

Mary Thank you, everyone for joining us tonight! We'll be putting tonight's transcript in our Web site the first week of December so that we'll be able to refer to it, and even continue discussing topics and ideas that were presented tonight.

Mary See our General Homeschooling Message Board for information about it. Diana will be checking this message board and answering further questions.

Mary One last question has just been proposed, so we'll end on this one...

Beverly {question presented} Did you get stuck in any time period in history ? from Rachel 11 & Katie 8

Diana Actually, for years I was stuck in the kings and queens of England. But the problem was that I didn't really understand where they fit into the rest of world history! That's why knowing the FLOW of history really helps out!

Mary Diana, thank you so much for joining us tonight! It's been a real pleasure to visit with you!

Diana Thanks, Mary, it's been a real treasure!

Mary May God Bless you and your family Diana, as you continue
your work!

Diana Treasure... pleasure...

Diana Thanks!

Mary For those of you who would like to visit amongst yourselves about tonight's conference, feel free to move to our Homeschool Chat room. Click on the Site Map to change rooms. There will be no chats next week, have a blessed Thanksgiving! Thank you for joining us, and God Bless you and your families! Good night.

AFTER THOUGHTS: Question & Answer from the message board

SKIP asked: How would you describe for someone the meaning of the term"Christian Worldview"?

Diana: The term "worldview" means what a person believes about:

origin of humanity/universe
God/god/gods
the purpose of mankind
the meaning or lack of meaning in history
the value of the individual

Therefore, a Christian worldview refers to a Biblically based, Judeo-Christian view of these points:

God created the universe, and created man and woman. God is the infinite personal Creator, Savior, Redeemer. The purpose of man is to know, serve, and obey God in relationship and to enjoy His presence forever. History is all about the plans of God in human history - and man's response to God. The value of the individual is priceless - God sent His only Son to redeem (or purchase) us.

Good question!

Mary Asked: Do you give age recommendations for your products? My children are 4, 6 and 9, and they love the Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder. What else do you have that they might enjoy?

Also, in the question about your heroes, you mention Gladys Aylward? Who is that...do I have the spelling wrong?

Diana: Dear Mary,

I am so glad your children enjoy *Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder*! It was such fun to create the music in the studio... and I think it shows in the end result.

We also have *America: 1750-1890* covering well-known early American folk songs, and *Westward Ho!* which covers the songs of the westward expansion (cowboys, Oregon Trail, California gold rush and more).

Many families have told me how much they have enjoyed listening to my audio tape, *The Hilarious Homeschool*, because of all of the jokes I tell! :o) Actually, the point of the tape is to teach principles of godly humor in the family - humor that builds up rather than tearing down. Lots of humor, lots of fun.

As to Gladys Aylward, she was the "little woman" who went to China from England in the 1930's... A parlourmaid turned down by the China Inland Mission because she was too old and not smart enough, Gladys determined to obey God's call in her life regardless. Her story was told in the movie "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" with Ingrid Bergman (though it is not completely true to her life). Fascinating woman... and devoted follower of God.

Thanks for asking!

RACHEL Asked: Dear Mrs. Waring, I have been taking notes from your tape series called "History Via the Scenic Route". I'm almost done and I LOVE it. I can hardly wait to move on to Vol 1 of "What in the World's Going on Here?" My question is --- why would a humanist even bother studying history? (especially since some hold that life is impersonal/meaningless) Thank you, Rachel, age 11

Diana: Dear Rachel, That is a VERY good question!

The answer may be hard to understand, but I'll try to make it simple. When someone wants to convince someone else of the truth of their worldview (or opinion, or whatever), they will take a FACT of history and tell it in such a way as to try to make it mean what they want it to.

Hmmm. Let me try again. When a secular humanist who believes that life is meaningless, absurd, relative, etc. looks at history, they don't LOOK for the meaning of history. Instead, they look at tragedies, and greed, and power struggles as evidence that life is pointless. They purposely strive to AVOID seeing any meaning in history because that is part of their worldview (that history doesn't mean anything.)

I admit that you have to work pretty hard to find no meaning in
history... :o) However, when you have completely discounted God,
when you believe we are a product of chance and time, when you see
misery all around and think it's a cosmic joke... Well, it's probably a
good idea to pray for those folks!

Mary Jane Asked: Diana, In the chat, we discussed the possibility of working through your
curriculum in the elementary years and moving into Cornerstone's curriculum in the high school years. We currently have Konos but are feeling unsuccessful and would like to switch to your material at
semester break. Could you please give some more specific suggestions on which materials to start with of some sort of order in which to work through them. I have read many differing opinions. Some say, "start with the Old Testament", some say, "follow the textbook pattern", some say, "just read some good books" ( we are reading the Little House series, right now). I have three girls a 1st grader who is still working on learning to read, and a 3rd and 4th grader who work at or above 4th
grade level. It is my intention to teach the dreaded "state history" next year, so that I can teach at least two of them at the same time.

Anyway, if you would give me some feedback, I would very much
appreciate it. Thank you.

Diana: Dear Mary Jane, I think your plan is a good one. Cornerstone Curriculum's *Worldviews
of the Western World* are excellent for upper highschool students, and my materials provide the foundation in history, Bible, geography,etc., to be able to fully enter into them.

As to where to start - Good Question! There are many possible starting places, but if you are interested in using my materials, I would suggest starting at the beginning with *Ancient Civilizations & The Bible* (along with the tape series, *What In The World's Going On Here - Volume One). There will be material beyond your children, but much that is useful right now.

I am planning to put out a new book in the spring that might be very beneficial to your family - *A "Digging Deeper" Elementary Activity Book for Ancient Civilizations & The Bible*. It will have activities, stories, reading lists, games, puzzles, and more, appropriate for K-6.

We realized that there were many families who wanted to study this time frame, but because their children were young, they didn't feel like *Ancient Civ* would work for them. We're hoping to bridge the gap, so that even young children can begin to see the faithfulness of God in history! :o)

Feel free to e-mail me if you would like more specific information, ordering, etc. - Diana@Dianawaring.com

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