Home schooling in view of John Calvin : a study in education and communion of saints /

This study explores the tension that has emerged around the rise of home schooling in a faith-community strongly committed to establishing and maintaining day schools in the tradition of John Calvin. It aims to identify and understand factors that contributed to this tension and to find ways to bridge, diffuse, reduce, or eliminate it. In line with Calvin, personal convictions, and the nature of the community, the study takes a Christian epistemological and axiological stance. Its premise is that the integrity of the commvmity is more important than the manner in which its children are taught. The study reviews relevant literature and several interviews. It considers both secular and Christian literature to understand communities, community breakdown, and community restoration. It also examines literature about the significance of home, school, and community relationships; the attraction of Reformed day schools; and the appeal of home schooling. Interviews were conducted with 4 home schooling couples and 2 focus groups. One focus group included local school representatives, and the other home schoolers and school representatives from an area with reputedly less tension on the issue. Interviews were designed for participants to give their perspectives on reasons for home schooling, the existing tension, and ways to resolve the issues. The study identifies the rise of home schooling in this particular context as the initial issue and the community's deficiency to properly deal with it as the chief cause for the rising tensions. However, I argue that, within the norms the community firmly believes in, home schooling need not jeopardize its integrity. I call for personal, social, and spiritual renewal to restore the covenant community in gratitude to God.

Indenture of Agreement for Sale of Land between Samuel Woodruff to Calvin and Ezekiel Cudney

Indenture of Agreement for Sale of Land between Samuel Woodruff of St. Catharines to Calvin and Ezekiel Cudney of the Township of Niagara regarding a footpath and parts of the lots 9 and 10 on the Welland River (78 acres), Oct. 30, 1883.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff regarding parts of Lots 9 and 10 in Willoughby and signed by Calvin Cudney and Ezekiel Cudney

Letter to S.D. Woodruff regarding parts of Lots 9 and 10 in Willoughby and signed by Calvin Cudney and Ezekiel Cudney (2 copies). Both of these copies are slightly burned on the edges. This does not affect the text, Dec. 20, 1884.

Indenture of Agreement for Sale of Land between Samuel Woodruff to Calvin and Ezekiel Cudney

Indenture of Agreement for Sale of Land between Samuel Woodruff of St. Catharines to Calvin and Ezekiel Cudney of the Township of Niagara. This is a copy of the previous document but there is an additional note on this document about an “agreement for cutting timber”. This is signed by S.D. Woodruff, Jan. 1885.

Letter to Mr. Woodruff from Calvin Cudney of Clifton

Letter to Mr. Woodruff from Calvin Cudney of Clifton saying that he has enclosed $35 in interest on the mortgage. The upper right hand corner of the letter has been torn away. This affects the text slightly, n.d.