Ann at Choosing Home sums up my thoughts EXACTLY. Especially this:

Each reader brings his/her own history to the page, which causes each to read the words very differently. Which means a writer, one who sets themselves in the position of a teacher, such as the Pearls, must write with great care:

“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” James 3:1

Thus, a writer must go to great measures to painstakingly and repeatedly clarify their teachings —for s/he knows not the history and glasses with which the reader may be reading the words…and how their words may be applied.And I offer that for a significant sector of readers the writings of Michael and Debi Pearl fail to clearly offer consistently helpful, Biblical, parenting direction.

As a Mama who read Pearl’s and attempted to implement their teachings, I suggest:
1. Their writings lack clarity.
2. Their writings create sufficient confusion to potentially lead well-meaning, loving parents into abusive discipline.
3. Their writings belittle those who do not subscribe to their paradigm which may cause a parent to doubt any of their own, personal misgivings with Pearl teaching…which is, again, potentially dangerous.

I have found this to be true with anything I've ever read by the Pearls. The standard response seems to be, "Oh well what they MEANT was....." My response to that? Then they should have SAID WHAT THEY MEANT. Another common response is, "Well, you just need to use common sense." My response? What about the parents who either 1) lack common sense, 2) have been told that what the Pearls teach is the Biblical way and trumps "common sense," since after all, common sense is "worldly," or 3) both.

I have been approached to become an affiliate of The Old Schoolhouse magazine and have a banner on my site.  I'm not advocating a boycott of them or homeschoolblogger, however, until TOS stops defending the Pearls and begins examining the concerns, I will NOT be affiliating myself with them.  (I do think the call for a boycott is dumb, but I personally am not comfortable doing business with them in any way.)

I applaud Ann for speaking out, and I thank her for vocalizing my thoughts.

  
Listening To: S's sound asleep breathing :-)
Supper Plans: BBQ chicken in the crock pot
Current Project: 1st day back to school after spring break