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Summary of Articles at Spiritual Sounding Board
Note: Many of these articles have comments from people who have been using Classical Conversations. Sometimes the comments are more important than the actual article (especially on Spiritual Sounding Board because Julie Anne uses her articles to invite conversation.) This page will be updated as new articles are published.
June 20, 2018, Julie Anne posts, Classical Conversations #1 – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Classical Conversations is a supplemental program program that benefits many homeschool families worldwide; however, there are some disturbing problems including: mishandled child-to-child sexual abuse cases, being silenced for asking critical questions, misuse of Matthew 18, rigid atmosphere, and bullying behavior. She invites SSB readers to share their stories – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
June 21, 2018, Julie Anne posts, Classical Conversations #2 – What Led You to Join a Classical Conversation Homeschool Community?: Classical Conversations is a worldwide business with homeschool families meeting in community in all 50 states and 22 different foreign countries. Readers are invited to share their personal stories, both positive and negative.
July 3, 2018, Julie Anne posts, Classical Conversations #3: Leaders Delete Comments and Block Commenters Who Don’t Toe the Line: Classical Conversations leaders try to control their narrative by utilizing the popular “no-talk” rules that is prevalent in high-controlling groups. This is a way of manipulating people and coercing them to not discuss anything negative or ask questions that might put CC in a bad light. Many examples are given.
July 5, 2018, Julie Anne posts, Classical Conversations #4: A CC Veteran Gives Advice to New People Considering Classical Conversations: Many important questions should be asked before considering making Classical Conversations a part of your homeschool. A CC veteran shares what she has learned from experience and encourages others to ask questions before joining a CC community and participating in their programs.
July 17, 2018, Julie Anne posts, Classical Conversations #5: Leaders Threaten to Use Legal Force to Silence a Concerned Parent: Homeschool mom, and previous Classical Conversations tutor, shares her story and concerns about how Classical Conversations leadership, via an attorney, attempted to force her to silence by using legal threats.
July 23, 2018, Julie Anne posts, Classical Conversations #6: Rigid Rules and Legal Tax Concerns
September 5, 2018, Julie Anne posts, Classical Conversations #7: Business or a Non-Profit; Cult or a Christian Homeschool Group
December 18, 2018, Julie Anne posts, Classical Conversations #8: Personal Story and Financial Nightmare
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Key Source Links: Blog Articles and News Reports
April 6, 2017 Sallie Borrink posts, Classical Conversations Negatives and Why We Didn’t Join: Classical Conversations can be a positive experience for kids if their learning style fits the program format. For others it can be disastrous. Rigidity, perfection, performing, and cost, are just some of the reasons Sallie shares as reasons that Classical Conversations would not be a good fit for their family.
Classical Conversations Curriculum Reviews: The HomeschoolMom blog gives a description of the programs Classical Conversations offers for K4-12th grade. Others who use Classical Conversations post their own reviews, include both pros and cons of the Classical Conversations programs.
June 10, 2015, Melissa posts, Why CC is on probation for our family Weaknesses in the organizational structure of CC leadership are described in detail. Issues such as “ministry or business”, accessibility to corporate leadership, and contract specifics for Directors are presented. A link on how to start your own classical community is included in one of the updates.
February 2015, Gentle Christian Mothers Community Public Forum Classical Conversations Concerns: Many topics of concern are posted here including: censorship, tuition and fees, corporate structure, tutor qualifications, ministry vs. business, misuse of Matthew 18, IC vs. Employee classification for Directors and Tutors, non-profit status, where tuition money really goes, and school vs. tutoring service/curriculum company.
July 22, 2014 Well Trained Mind Forum Classical Conversations – Employee or Independent Contractor Participants in this forum mention that their concerns about misclassification and some of their questions are dismissed by Directors and upper level Classical Conversations leaders/employees.
May 7, 2014, Karen B. Nelson posts, The Buzz About Classical Conversations: A public school teacher, home educator, private tutor, and homeschool co-op leader explains that classical education as a method is NOT the same thing as Classical Conversations. She lists some of the concerns that participating families sweep to the side and she also lists many reasons why families have left the program.
December 4, 2013, Christy Duffy does a followup post, CC: verify, then trust: Christy continues to receive emails from other parents who have had negative experiences with their local Classical Conversations group or CC corporate. She urges parents to look carefully and do their homework to make sure the tutor they are paying for is qualified to administer the CC program you choose to place your child in.
June 18, 2013, Julie posts, Classical Conversations – Our Homeschool Year in Review: Julie shares what she loves and does not love about the program and how she will continue to use some of the classical Conversations products at home. Commenters share their reasons for choosing not to return to CC as well.
March 2013, HomeSchoolReviews.com: Forum commenters share about their experiences with Classical Conversations.
June 20, 2011, Kimberly posts, Classical Conversations — My Way: After adding up the cost of tuition for two children to attend weekly classes, this family decided that $1,600 was out of their budget for a supplemental program that is not a full curriculum. They decided to purchase some of the materials and do it their own way — at home.
March 9, 2011, Christy Duffy posts, To CC or not to CC: Homeschooling mom, Christy Duffy, reviews Classical Conversations and explains why CC didn’t work for her family. Not all tutors are equal after only three days of training, and pleas to remedy the situation went unanswered by the CC state director.
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