Homeschooling History QUESTION from Helen Gilmour March 30, 2000 What would you think of Hilaire Belloc's books as resources for home schoolers? Interesting, easy to read, certainly written from a Catholic view point. They are not 'scholarly' - no references, for example; but he seems to have had an empathy with the people and times he wrote about. Best wishes
Helen Gilmour
ANSWER by Mrs. Suzanne Fortin, B.A. on April 2, 2000 Dear Miss Gilmour
Unfortunately, I have not had the pleasure of reading a great deal of Hillaire Belloc’s writings—only the chapter on Arianism in The Great Heresies. I found his worldview thoroughly Catholic, but his approach to history is a bit abstract and conceptual. It reminded me of the kind of material I read when I was in college. Personally, I think that a student would need fair grasp of Church History before undertaking this kind of material. It would be the kind of work suitable for young adults (I hesitate to say “childrenâ€) who really enjoy history. For those who are less motivated, I would use references that concentrate more on the people and events, and which present history in a dramatized form. I think Warren Carroll’s books are good examples. They’re very scholarly, but he hones in on the people who made history, and makes it more personal. Of course, this all depends on the child’s personal interests, abilities and knowledge. These must be taken into considering what material to work with.
Thank you for your question.
God Bless, Suzanne Fortin
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