Comments on: MACHE Conference – Homeschooling Expo http://www.homeschoolingnotes.com/conferences/mache-conference-homeschooling-expo/ Homeschooling Information for Older Children Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:00:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Rachel http://www.homeschoolingnotes.com/conferences/mache-conference-homeschooling-expo/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Rachel Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:00:23 +0000 http://www.homeschoolingnotes.com/?p=19#comment-13 I can understand your frustration with the MACHE conference. Even as a Christian home educator, I have had many issues with the very ultra-conservative views of some of the MACHE founders. Somehow I have come to accept them far more easily over the years and even appreciate the tremendous legislative work they have done to change the homeschooling landscape of MN. I don't usually attend any of the seminars (They still have one here and there that are very good, but most of them are very geared towards a theological bent that I don't share.), but I do attend the conference every few years because they have the largest attendance of vendors. MHA is inexpensive, but there really aren't that many vendors there, so MACHE is still the best place to go and comparison shop. The vendors at MACHE are decidedly Christian, but as a Christian, this doesn't bother me as long as I can get quality material. If you are having trouble with the conference itself, I would suggest purchasing a copy of The Well-Trained Mind and using the references for gathering materials. It is a phenomenal resource for homeschooling material and all materials are reviewed in a pretty unbiased way. The author is a Christian, but reviews materials from a very academic perspective, noting materials that may not be acceptable to those who do not wish to use Christian materials. As for the guards, last year, I believe some of the security people were actually contracted from the Civic Center where it was held, so they may not have been MACHE volunteers at all. I wish you well on your homeschooling journey. I can understand your frustration with the MACHE conference. Even as a Christian home educator, I have had many issues with the very ultra-conservative views of some of the MACHE founders. Somehow I have come to accept them far more easily over the years and even appreciate the tremendous legislative work they have done to change the homeschooling landscape of MN. I don’t usually attend any of the seminars (They still have one here and there that are very good, but most of them are very geared towards a theological bent that I don’t share.), but I do attend the conference every few years because they have the largest attendance of vendors.

MHA is inexpensive, but there really aren’t that many vendors there, so MACHE is still the best place to go and comparison shop. The vendors at MACHE are decidedly Christian, but as a Christian, this doesn’t bother me as long as I can get quality material. If you are having trouble with the conference itself, I would suggest purchasing a copy of The Well-Trained Mind and using the references for gathering materials. It is a phenomenal resource for homeschooling material and all materials are reviewed in a pretty unbiased way. The author is a Christian, but reviews materials from a very academic perspective, noting materials that may not be acceptable to those who do not wish to use Christian materials.

As for the guards, last year, I believe some of the security people were actually contracted from the Civic Center where it was held, so they may not have been MACHE volunteers at all. I wish you well on your homeschooling journey.

]]> By: Amy Leinen http://www.homeschoolingnotes.com/conferences/mache-conference-homeschooling-expo/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Amy Leinen Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:40:29 +0000 http://www.homeschoolingnotes.com/?p=19#comment-9 The MHA Conference is September 26 2009 and visiting exhibitors is usually free. Plus the cost to attend the one day conference is really low! The MHA Conference is September 26 2009 and visiting exhibitors is usually free. Plus the cost to attend the one day conference is really low!

]]> By: Cyndi http://www.homeschoolingnotes.com/conferences/mache-conference-homeschooling-expo/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Cyndi Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:46:26 +0000 http://www.homeschoolingnotes.com/?p=19#comment-2 Congratulations on your decision to homeschool your children! Congratulations on your decision to homeschool your children!

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