Why I Love CLE Reading as an Orthodox Christian

It might surprise some people to know that, even though I am an Orthodox Christian, one of my favorite curriculum products is Christian Light Education (CLE) Reading. Even though it is from a Mennonite publisher (and since there isn't yet an Orthodox Christian alternative) both myself and my kids love it!

I will preface this by saying that I did not come from a "so-called" fundamentalist Protestant home. When I became Orthodox, I didn't experience any sort of "freedom" to experience or expose myself to things that had made me feel "guilty" in such an upbringing. I think this is an important distinction because I have noticed a difference in how people approach Orthodox Christianity, education, and media decisions depending on their background.

With that said, one of the reasons I love CLE Reading is because it fills in gaps left by dying communities. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for what is available as far as community goes, since it could be far worse. However, CLE Reading transports children to a world where almost everyone farms, everyone is close with their grandparents and neighbors, everyone is modest and wholesome, everyone goes to the town school, and almost everyone is helping each other to follow the commandments of Christ. While there are no icons or specifically Orthodox features in the books, when all is said and done my children will come away from CLE Reading with years of stories about what it means not to lie in different situations, how not to be selfish in different situations, how to be a good friend in different situations, and so on. No, there is not top-of-the-line literature in these books, but as a parent trying to find my way in a sea of options, I do find the one thing most needful: encouraging my children in a life of purity, childlike innocence, and a clear understanding of how to live out Christ's commandments.

When all is said an done, if we don't have time to read Charlotte's Web, but do have time to read a simple story about a child apologizing to his mother for stealing an extra cookie and feeling the relief of confession and forgiveness, we are probably better off. Even as I write this, I am realizing that I have been feeling the pressure to have more time to expose my son to "better literature" feeling an invisible peer pressure to drop CLE Reading in exchange for something more sophisticated. I probably shouldn't. (And I am hoping to have more time to read more actual literature to my youngest once my oldest son is mostly online for high school next year.)

There are time constraints in life and homeschooling, and priorities have to be set. If we spend an hour on average on Orthodox Morning time, then instrument practice, meals together, other subjects, playing outside, field trips, co-op activities, Church, etc. the day goes by! I am not downplaying classic literature and we do read novels together as well, but rather drawing a focus to priorities. There are weeks and seasons when we have trouble prioritizing reading a novel out loud together, but I still know in general my kids are growing in maturity as Christians from spiritual reading and the practical help in understanding the commandments of Christ that CLE gives, and that is why I love CLE Reading.