Science from a Christian perspective....

[Whitneyz]

I noticed that quite a few Classical, Christian based schools/homeschool programs don't use Apologia for their science. Why is that? Why would a Christian go with a secular program? Is Apologia flawed?

Thx,
Whitney

[Jane in NC]

Science does not necessarily conflict with religion. Some assume that all Christians embrace a young earth philosophy--not true. Further, many Christians believe in evolution.

The question is not whether Apologia is flawed as whether it is sufficiently deep for many of us who seek rigor in our students' educations. Granted, Apologia seems to work well for some. I have never met a curriculum that satisfies all. If Apologia works for your family, I accept that. We prefer other texts or methods (Conceptual Physics, Campbell's Biology, Chemistry at the CC).

By the way, even some who agree with the Apologia philosophy are turned off by its wordiness.

Jane

[Whitneyz]

Thank you ..... you answered some of my questions.

[WishboneDawn]

Seconding Jane.

Apologia doesn't offer a Christian perspective. It offers a creationist or ID (not sure which honestly) perspective. It's best not to confuse the two as many Christians, probably most worldwide and outside of the US at the very least, have no issue with evolution.

[Barb B]

Well, I Apologia science is deep enough but - you need to take 2 years in each course to get deep enough: bio and adv. bio, chem and adv chem and the same with physics. Not enough years in high school unless you do both in one year which some do.

Barb

[Whitneyz]

.

[CynthiaOK]

I think that some Christian schools opt for other programs from Christian publishers (BJU, ABeka). From my experience, these other publishers offer more depth but are best "taught". Apologia works well in the home because it is more "self-taught". But, like Barb said, being locked into doing 2 years to get a "complete" course isn't something I'm interested in doing.

IMO by the time a student is taking high school science, he/she should be familiar with the evolution/creation/ID issues. We've used secular materials very successfully without feeling compromised in our beliefs.

[FloridaLisa]

I'll simply address your question as to whether Apologia is "flawed." I don't consider it flawed and we've used it successfully in our home and outside classes. My oldest did Apologia biology and then went on to do very well in AP biology in 10th grade. He did Apologia chemistry in 9th grade and then went on to Chem I last semester at our local university. I'll continue using this model for my other kids -- Apologia to lay a late middle school, early high school foundation and then AP or college classes to continue to the sequence in late high school.

HTH,
Lisa