The following resources are excerpts from the “Parenting and Education” section of my new book. Pick up the “Freethought Resource Guide” for more educational songs, movies, and dozens of books for parents, teachers, children and young adults!
Humanist Family Values
1) People should be free to choose their own family structure without fear of discriminations, whether they be nuclear family, single parent, extended family, married, or unmarried.
2) People should be able to marry across any racial, religious, or creedal divide. People of the same sex should also be able to marry.
3) All marriages, regardless of their structure, should be based on the equality of each partner.
4) Family members should be free from all forms of mental, physical, and sexual abuse, including marital rape.
5) Children have a right to the full love, care, and attention of their caregivers.
6) Adoption or custody decisions should be made in the interests of the children’s welfare, not on some religious or social test.
7) Children have the right to proper medical care and caregivers do not have the right to withhold treatment or impose bizarre treatments in accordance with their religious beliefs.
8) Children have the right to an education free from indoctrination and with as little regard to the financial circumstances of the caregivers as possible.
9) People must be free to choose the birth control methods best suited to their needs and sexual health, without being subjected to outside interference.
10) In a world of rapid change, we must not become bogged down in stale formulas from the past as to how families should be constituted. (Cooke, 2006, p. 262)
Affirmation of Humanism for Kids
1) Be the best person you can be.
2) Hurting people is wrong, and helping people is good.
3) Be nice and fair to everyone, including people who are different from you.
4) Be kind and careful with animals.
5) Take care of the Earth.
6) The arts are important for sharing how we feel and for developing talents
7) Get all the facts. Test claims against reality, and don’t jump to conclusions.
8) Science is the best way to find out about stuff and it makes our world better.
9) Everything that exists follows natural laws and is not magical. (Cooke, 2006, p. 22)
Atheist Parenting Tips
Internet Sites
Parents & Teachers
“All children are atheists— they have no idea of God” (d’Holbach, 2007, p. 26).
-Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron d’Holbach (1723-1789)
Atheist Parent
Atheist Parents.org
Contains a forum, common questions, book reviews, interviews, and more.
Atheist Questions & Answers: For Parents & Children
British Humanist Association Resources for Parents & Teachers
humanism.org.uk/education/parents
humanism.org.uk/education/teachers
Charlie’s Playhouse: Evolution for Kids
Offers toys and games that help children learn about evolution.
Children’s Healthcare Is a Legal Duty (CHILD), Inc
“A membership organization founded in 1983 to protect children from harmful religious and cultural practices, especially religion-based medical neglect.”
Box 2604
Sioux City, IA 51106
Phone: 1.712.948.3500
Email: admin@childrenshealthcare.org
The Continuum of Humanist Education
Humanism for Schools
Humanistic Parenting: Helping to Raise the Next Generation of Ethical, Compassionate & Responsible Adults
Kids Without God: You’re Not the Only One
Run by the American Humanist Association, this site is great for kids, teens, and parents. It is a great place to connect, learn, and ask questions.
Kochhar Humanist Education Center
americanhumanist.org/What_We_Do/Education_Center
National Science Teachers Association: Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12
“The largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.”
This organization puts out a list of their favorite science books for young readers.
Open Culture: The Best Free Cultural & Educational Media on the Web
Highly recommended simply for links to over 450 online courses. Also a great source for free audio books, textbooks, language lessons, and ebooks. Has a variety of free films as well.
Parenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion
Parenting Science: Evidence-Based Information for the Thinking Parent
Contains Dale McGowan’s blog “The Meming of Life: On Secular Parenting and Other Natural Wonders.”
Religious Child Maltreatment: Religion Can Bring Children Great Comfort. It Can Also Turn Their Lives Into a Living Hell.
religiouschildmaltreatment.com
Religious Tolerance: Section on Children’s Books
religioustolerance.org/reledchil.htm
Secular Homeschool
atheistview.com/secular_homeschool.htm
The Secular Homeschool Community
The Secular Parent: Parenting for the 21st Century
Teach Them Science: Science Education Matters
Has the stated goal of “furthering science education and encouraging discussion about science education.”
Schools
Center for Inquiry
centerforinquiry.net/education
Coursera: Take the World’s Best Courses, Online, for Free
An exceptional effort by Stanford University Professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller to make education available to anyone who is willing and dedicated.
European Humanist Professionals: Association of Humanist Educators, Counsellors & Leader
Hivos: Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation
P.O. Box 85565
2508 CG The Hague,
Netherlands
Phone: 31.0.70.376 5500
Fax: 31.0.70.362.46.00
E-mail: info@hivos.nl
The Humanist Institute: We Explore Humanist Values & Train Future Leaders
International Humanist & Ethical Youth Organisation
Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society & Culture: Trinity College
Trinity College
300 Summit St.
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 1.860.297.2381
Fax: 1.860.297.5125
Email: isssc@trincoll.edu
trincoll.edu/Academics/centers/isssc/Pages/default.aspx
New College of the Humanities
27 Old Gloucester St.
London, UK WC1N 3AX
Phone: 0800.955.0212
Email: info@nchum.org
University of Humanism (Universiteit Voor Humanistiek)
Postbus 797
3500 AT Utrecht,
Netherlands
Phone: 030.239.01.00
Fax: 030.234.07.38
Email: info@uvh.nl
Students
Atheism Central for Secondary Schools: Help & General Support for Atheists Students Attending Religious Studies Courses in Secondary Schools in the United Kingdom
Atheist, Agnostic, & Freethinker Scholarships
collegescholarships.org/scholarships/atheist.htm
Skeptic’s Dictionary for Kids #1
Student Organizations
Secular Student Alliance: Mobilizing Students for a New Enlightenment
PO Box 2371
Columbus, OH 43216
Phone: 1.614.441.9588
Fax: 1.877.842.9474
Email: ssa@secularstudents.org
For over 140 affiliates visit:
Center for Inquiry on Campus
Dozens of affiliates in the US and Canada:
Summer Camps
Camp Inquiry
Phone: 1.716.636.4869 ext. 408
Email: lsponeybarger@atlanticbb.net
Camp Quest: Summer Camp Beyond Belief
PO Box 2552
Columbus, OH 43216
Phone: 1.614.441.9534
Scouting for All: Committed to Scouting, Open to Diversity
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