In 2016, Fremont Presbyterian Church in Sacramento, California, discovered this the hard way. Bortins did not explain what these training aspects were, but he quickly dismissed concerns raised by whistleblowers, stating: Some moms . She also lied when doing all this recruiting about how many families she had on her campus. I as a director have not felt exploited. Classical Conversations directors also may be misclassifying their employees. The question of exploitation has come up in a few groups Im in, and whether that really applies to CC when its often used to talk about migrant labor, for example, or human trafficking. $145 / 55 Application Fee (first student / subsequent students) goes to corporate You are here Home Articles Our Mission CC has to look for cheap locations because the government is overreaching and too involved with what they believe education should look like. Even the casual observer will recognize that our culture is losingmore likely, has lostits basis for Truth. Ive been homeschooling for 24 years. I had taught math to 7th graders for years before my kids. This suppression of religious freedom is the price of citizenship (says the New Mexico Supreme Court Justice). That was a fervent prayer. But according to our months-long investigation, which included speaking with over a dozen former CC contractors, three county tax assessors in two states, and multiple outside experts, CC hasnt amended its ways. These are warning signs that Topp has seen with CC for years. (As of May 14, 2019). Aware of these issues, Topp said she offered her expertise to the CC networkonly to see her work buried. It is promoted by its creators as "highbrow" and "high-IQ", "non-religious" and "devoid of an explicit fundamentalist Christian worldview." Classical Conversations students learn Classical Greek in order to study pagan philosophers. For a moment forget all the benefit you get from CC and just listen. Starting in fall 2013, Kristi Bothur, a mother of two children who earned a masters degree in curriculum, spent six years working with a CC chapter in Columbia, South Carolina. Im all for capitalism, but this is exploitation., Annie Ferguson, whos a CC enthusiast and remains a CC director, also admitted, It was frustrating and intimidating for me when I started. . He clarified his remarks, stating CCs corporate office covered charges assessed on the churches. In its 13-page licensing agreement, CC specifies a half-dozen different fees to charge enrolled families, how much to pay tutors, and (by extension) what percentage the director receives. After all, religious freedom really only applies in the church building, not in the public square. Not just two. The Classical Conversations marketing team is seeking a creative Graphic Designer that can translate concepts into clear, compelling graphics for print and digital applications to support . Are those businesses qualified to have tax-exemptions on their properties? Though property tax exemptions vary and are determined by state and sometimes county laws, she said assessors generally frown on a for-profit business, like CC and its communities, benefiting from use of tax-exempt property. TO quote another, if your profit is indeed that low it is because 1) the business model is set up to not allow you to actually be profitable or 2) you spend to much on expenses and didnt do so great at the business management. I couldnt tolerate the corporate leaderships lying, manipulative tactics, and the lack of attention given to the begging and pleas of directors like me who saw problems, tried to bring them up while we were still in CC and committed to our roles, and begged them to consider some solutions we proposed (at the time I felt very alone; I know now that I have been one of MANY). The knowledge that my hard work in laboring to direct and tutor is not lining Robert Bortins pocket book is just an icing on the cake. Classical education focuses on the great books of Western civilization, Latin, and lessons about morality and virtue, and is based on the medieval European curriculum that divided learning into. He did not. The majority of CC campuses meet at churches. Fortunately, we know our enemy, and his tactics have not changed since the beginning of time. $60 Supply Fee (used to pay for supplies, but I have been informed it is income to the director). we absolutely love CC. Blanket an area with threatening letters, knowing that some of those threatened will shrink back. If I was the tax guy I would have said . The idea that there is a Truth higher than our own, that man is not the final authority was thrown under the bus. Shes quit Youve quit. You've landed on the Classical Conversations member site that is dedicated to supporting our international members. Also, Calvary Chapel Fremont isnt the only church that has been assessed thousands of dollars in property tax because it hosted a CC program. All rights reserved. If corporate is making millionsgood for them. (For the sake of privacy, we are not reporting the directors names with their income.). In the interim, we have also succumbed to the attractive idea that man is the ultimate authority, autonomously knowing good and evil. Learn who we are and how we started. National Memory Master. EXPLORING THE WORLD THROUGH CARTOGRAPHY $34.99 In stock Add to cart CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MADE APPROACHABLE $10.00 3302 In stock Add to cart Copper Lodge Library: SENATORS OF ROME $14.95 7234 In stock Add to cart Copper Lodge Library: TANGLEWOOD TALES $11.99 https://docdro.id/ncBKRI6. The Bortins family has always valued following Gods guidance in teaching other families how to train up their children in the way that they should go.. The CC cost for parents has four parts: tuition, registration, supplies, and facility. Friday, 20 September, 2013 in Big Ideas: Truth, Beauty, Goodness and more! My CC community breathes flavor, energy, and structure into my homeschool. There is no quality filter on free. The reason CC community businesses dont just convert to nonprofits is bc they cant stand the transparency/scrutiny (financial and ethical) that a true nonprofit board would bring. Plus, more than 2,000 former CC contractors have organized a private Facebook group to raise awareness of CC policies they allege are abusive and ethically dubious. henderson funeral home rome, ga; pubg battleground near berlin. Everything in this house of cards depends on the in-person programs succeeding. Surely we would never fall into that trap! And many local directors have gotten in way over their head. I had always understood the classical method to promote learning that was appropriate to the level of maturity of the student. Churches assume they will get the full exemption, but its dependent on how the property is used, Sacramento County Chief Appraiser Jill Dolce said in a phone interview. Again, the bias dripping from this article is so much so that hopefully many people can see through it and do their own research. More unethical behavior from Christians. Satan tried it first1. While there are some things I dont agree with in the CC corporate structure, to call it a pyramid scheme or MLM is niave and ridiculous. And many churches and local CC directors seem unaware of the potential danger. We believe education is best experienced together, and thats why community is the bedrock of our homeschool model. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Homeschoolers with their flexible schedules can be exploited. In heavy-handed legalese, the letter warned that CC would seek injunctive and monetary relief for the irreparable harm you have caused. Attorney Deana Labriola wrote: Classical Conversations demands that you immediately cease . She says the only way to find it was to download an 81-page PDF document and then click on a link embedded on page 54. Dispute, deny, distort. However, Palmer never signed a contract, and she still became a paid CC tutor for one year. And history continually reminds us that this is a recipe for disaster. Classical Conversations may be making a lot of money, but so do a lot of publishing companies. . I dont see anything wrong in that. Brown then remembered information CC had sent Calvary Chapel when the church first began hosting the CC program, stating that the church now had membership with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a legal group which defends challenges to religious freedom. However, both he and the company declined to answer specific questions regarding specific incidents described in this report. But you could remove any of them and copy and paste them below a different story and they all appear absolutely identical. Theres nothing here to improve or change, so did you just want your pound of flesh? The accountability of community both sharpens and humbles its members. All Im doing is advertising for somebody elses program.. Several reported less than $800 profit for a years work, and one reported losses multiple years. On that note, we need to speak with integrity and stop describing ourselves as just a bunch of homeschool moms getting together or Moms who use CC curriculum. We equip homeschool parents with the confidence to raise bright, observant students who have a lifelong love of learning. (CC is) possibly meeting legal standards of disclosure, but not ethical standards. In these cases, churches did not comply because, according to all available evidence, CC Inc. withheld guidelines and guidance that could have assisted them. // Apparently to mitigate liabilities, chapters *can* and have been at times converted to non-profit chapters to avoid the tax risk why is that not a viable solution? They communicate a clear and very selfish pragmatism, this is working for me so why is anyone else having a problem with it? They shoot the messenger as if Julie or whomever wrote up the story is evil and THE problem, because in their own eyes they are. She called me consumed with stress about an audit, recalled Buckland. Her work at home deviated pretty far from doing just CC. She took in thousands of dollars in registration and tuition fees from parentsa hefty percentage going to CC corporatebut her income was nearly nothing. However, CCs hired PR firm provided a statement which reads in part: We regularly consult with our legal and tax advisors to ensure we are acting with integrity and in compliance.. Ive directed F/E seven years and been in CC 9 years. There is no compulsion that could not be avoided simply by not joining. He did not. Her second year was ok. She still got it and really owned it. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. The recipe is tried, tested, and successful. CC Inc has set up a program with a price point that is within the reach of enough homeschool families that they (CC) can maximize enrollment and, therefore, income (via licensing fees, book sales, and CCC subscriptions). Through multiple contacts in the CC network, Veale later learned Arizona support reps were the poorest paid in the country. Only then, the masters graduate was embarrassed to admit, did she sit down to carefully read and research CC contracts. Our children will be the ones on the front lines, standing for Truth, for biblical principle, and for constitutional adherence. For instance again, this statement The CC chapter that met at Calvary Chapel Fremont also incorporated as a nonprofit in 2018. On two occasions, CCs cut was as much as 33% to 60% of a directors total revenue. We lasted a year in Challenge and found it to be a waste of time with lots of busy work and not much learning. Ive made enough money to cover my kids tuition but thats about it and thats what I expected when I signed up. True, the average director and tutor does not see much for their time, often much less than a minimum wage and it is often requested to view it as a ministry, but it does not change the fact that the tens of thousands of dollars of commerce is taking place on our church. Both of my challenge students lost their love of learning due to the pace and difficulty of working through high school level books at a middle school level. Similarly, California statewide tax assessor Margie Wing stated that whether CCs religious-based instruction aligns with a churchs mission does not guide her boards evaluation. Classical Conversations licenses a product to its customers. Every bit of it and more. Similarly their children are brought up to be kind and generally compliant. Im not getting income out of it. I found your article to be rank with smear primarily motivated by some kind of ideological stance (as I do most of the Roys Report articles Ive engaged with). Estimates show that corporate makes almost 75% (actual is 73.7%) of what a director makes in an F/E program (and MORE if you are just looking at Essentials). I needed help making sure my kids continued to learn on the days/weeks when caregiving took my attention. Give a gift of any amount to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive "In the House of Friends: Understanding and Healing from Spiritual Abuse in Christian Churches" by Kenneth Garrett. Youve landed on the Classical Conversations member site that is dedicated to supporting our international members. With insight from our Lord, check yourself.. So lets talk about it. The CC network in Arizona had a growth rate of like 3,000% during my tenure, according to Veale. Domestic members, please click the link below to access your CC Connected account! Ferguson, however, disagreed that the company exerts unhealthy pressure. When I was younger I tried to be more accommodating than I should have to a pastor that wanted our free labor and also various neighbors and relatives that wanted one thing or another. thought that maybe we were doing some things wrong and didnt really understand what the law (meant).. TOTAL DIRECTOR income on Foundation and Essentials Students is estimated to be: To keep the facility fee down, CC needs cheap locations and for years, churches have been willing to host CC businesses for free, or at least below market value. He does so far more perfectly than I ever could. Lord, make our CC experience beautiful. I think I know you. After all, free speech really only applies if it conforms to cultural norms. Im putting in all these hours away from my family at meetings, and not getting anything out of it, Bothur said in a phone interview. I remember one womens tea I went to, put on by a rich lady from the Bible study. Soon, CC leaders urged her to lead state operations as an AR for Arizona. The purpose of education is to know God and to make Him known. Their own wisdom. Realistically, I dont think it will happen. I have worked 2 years as a Foundations and Essentials director and now about to complete my 2nd year as a Challenge director. An educational philosophy I believed in AND a roadmap to do it! Begin with American History After a lot of research and discussion, we decided it made sense to move to American history after that year with Bible Road Trip. Both organizations declined to comment, though CCs statement (almost identical to one provided months ago) is included in the story. Classical Conversations is a for-profit business, with the purpose of cultivating consistent classical Christian homeschool community leaders. CC meets a need for so many who are just getting started or need some structure. But instead of running as a nonprofit, staffed by volunteers, CC groups are for-profit businesses run by local directors, who function as licensed business owners. Ive never been under any illusion that Id make money by serving in my community. Today, CCs website has a Business Practices FAQ page that explains the for-profit nature of CC programs. In response, Veale said the area representative stood by the companys stringent policies. They are the family who supported me emotionally and mentally when my husband passed away. . In the interim, we have also succumbed to the attractive idea that man is the ultimate authority, autonomously knowing good and evil. Hopefully there will be some accountability soon. After his eldest graduated, he tutored Challenge B, Challenge IV, andChallenge III (twice). I was asked to continue directing and had to break it to higher-ups that I just couldnt anymore. What he, Did God really say that homosexuality is a sin? Im thankful for the support, accountability, and friendship they offer. I dont regret doing it. . Im not getting friends for my kids out of it. I do believe a more accurate representation is 3 children per family in Foundations, 1.5 children per family in Essentials and 2 children per family in Challenge. He added that about 70 work at the home office and the rest work from home. Perhaps our founding documents? It was impossible to guess the data size, so to be conservative and for ease, I used the numbers for the rest of the country. I was a Classical Conversations student through elementary school, middle school, and into high school before I graduated - the community and encouragement I found in the group is still. Education is the responsibility of the family, with support from fellow believers. An error was made in the initial data supplied for the data table, which resulted in slightly different numbers reported at initial publication. And I felt betrayed that she never brought this up when recruiting us and neither did her superior, who she had sit in on our meeting. The commercialization of making God known.. 125,000 students. I am not biblical scholar and consider myself constantly learning, but I have felt this unease and felt led to share. I would encourage reading the article carefully and looking for missing information. This means your family has the For various reasons, be it a family move, nationwide school lockdowns, or just trying something Community is at our core, with families doing life together as they learn. The story reports (paragraph 35) that this is a viable solution for many local CC chapters, though an expert source also states this is not a solution in every case. However, the county assessors office still challenged whether the CC groups use of the church was valid since the county did not consider educational usage as worship. Thats worth fighting over with the county assessor, because it is so laden with worldview assumptions that are contrary to our own faith. Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. classical conversations homosexuality. Classical Conversations Inc. (CC), a leading homeschool education company, is knowingly exposing unsuspecting churches that host its programs to major tax liabilities, according to a California pastor, several former CC directors, and tax and legal professionals who recently spoke with The Roys Report. We needed accountability and a group. of parents reported their teen's Christian faith was strong. Also, this does not include California numbers, which have application fees of $215 and tuition of $365.. In January 2012, CC recruited Veale to direct their first local chapter in Arizona. CC really should be investigated by various states (and maybe the Feds) for this. Attractive idea that man is the bedrock of our homeschool model county assessor, because is! 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