GVS & Secular Homeschooling Families

How can secular families provide their children with an education aligned with their values? Global Village School can help.

Homeschooling is traditionally seen as something that conservative – mostly Christian – families do. Global Village School is a secular homeschooling program. We understand that secular families are interested in teaching their children lessons about ethics and responsibility without basing it all on religious doctrine. Global Village will be the official “school of record,” maintaining student files, providing written evaluations, issuing official transcripts, and providing diplomas upon graduation. We will provide secular curriculum (regular or customized) and individualized teacher support. Families can also choose to purchase curriculum only, or to work with Global Village teachers on selected courses. Some secular families may wish to have us develop a customized curriculum for them, and then work with it on their own. You are free to work with an entirely secular curriculum or you can blend in as much study of spiritual traditions as you like. Families can also use our learning styles profile, whether or not they wish to enroll.

 

Global Village School (GVS) and Secular Humanists share similar values and principles:

At GVS we are interested in peace, compassion, justice, sustainability, community, integrity, appreciation of diversity, caring for the Earth and our fellow beings, creativity, and living an authentic and meaningful life. We offer secular curriculum that encourages the development of thoughtful human beings, and when we explore religion we do it in a non-dogmatic way.

Like Secular Humanists, we encourage critical thinking and value intellect and science. Our curriculum encourages an appreciation of open, pluralistic societies while offering service learning opportunities where students can learn and do something about injustice.

It is from this approach that Global Village courses such as Planetary Stewardship, Literature of Diversity, The History of Civil Rights in the U.S., Peace and Diversity Studies Survey, and Reflections on Peacemaking have emerged.

 

How our program works:

Global Village families choose between structured text and online curriculum; fully customized curriculum based on their individual interests, needs, and learning styles; or – for those who are already experienced homeschoolers – using their own curriculum. Core subjects such as English, History, Math, and Science often contain peace, diversity, social justice and environmental themes. We also offer courses focused on peace and diversity issues and a variety of other classes that address current issues in the world and provide students with role models and examples of peaceful social change. GVS teachers assist each student individually and provide feedback, support, and documentation.

Students can earn elective credit for many different kinds of life experiences, such as travel, participating in cultural events, performing in community theater productions, pursuing a career in athletics or the film industry, or starting their own business. Global Village youth engage in a wide range of activities, including: studying anatomy, massage, and alternative medicine, working on political campaigns, studying science at local national parks and wilderness areas, volunteering at a botanical garden, writing novels and screenplays, publishing alternative newspapers, learning their tribal language and traditions, and operating home recording studios. In addition, many Global Village students get a head start on college by enrolling in community college courses while they continue working towards their high school diplomas.

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To learn more about our secular homeschooling approach:

Please take your time and explore our site. Feel free to contact us with any questions or ideas that may come to mind. We look forward to partnering with you as we continue in our mission of educating for a better world, one person at a time.