What We Mean by “Secular and Inclusive”

In the world of homeschooling, the words secular and inclusive get thrown around a lot. But when you start looking closely, those words don’t always mean what you think they mean. You’ll find “secular” programs that still frame science through a religious lens. You’ll find “inclusive” resources that offer little more than a token picture book featuring a child of color. For families who don’t fit into the dominant mold—whether because of race, gender identity, neurodivergence, disability, or belief system—those labels can feel more like marketing than reality.

At Rabbit Hole Learning, we believe it’s time to go deeper. We don’t just check boxes. We build our curriculum around clear, thoughtful definitions of secular and inclusive—and those values show up in every lesson we create.

What “Secular” Really Means to Us

To us, secular doesn’t just mean “no Bible verses.” It means instruction grounded in evidence, reason, and curiosity. It means science that embraces evolution, the scientific method, and modern understandings of the universe—without framing them as “controversial” or offering religious counterpoints for “balance.”

We don’t believe in calling our science “faith-neutral.” That phrase might sound fair, but in practice, it often waters down real science to avoid offending religious sensibilities. We believe kids deserve better. They deserve clear explanations of how the natural world works, rooted in research and peer-reviewed knowledge—not softened by fear of pushback.

Being secular also means not hiding behind vague language. We name colonization. We name racism. We teach real history, not sanitized versions that ignore harm or glorify empire. That’s what it means to take secularism seriously.

What “Inclusive” Means in Practice

Inclusion isn’t just about adding a few diverse books. For us, inclusion means building a learning world where all children feel seen, valued, and empowered.

That starts with representation: our materials center BIPOC authors and illustrators, include neurodivergent voices, celebrate LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, and reflect a wide range of disabilities and lived experiences. But we go beyond representation, too. We design content that challenges harmful systems, teaches empathy, and normalizes difference—not as something to be tolerated, but as something to be honored.

Our lessons are designed so marginalized learners don’t just feel “included”—they feel at home. They aren’t forced to read books where kids like them are the sidekick, the stereotype, or the trauma plot. They get to be the center of the story, the explorer, the inventor, the joyful kid.

We’re also mindful of accessibility. We don’t assume all kids learn the same way. Our materials are flexible, multimodal, and intentionally designed to support twice-exceptional learners, kids with ADHD, autistic learners, and others who often get left behind in traditional systems.

Why These Definitions Matter

You can’t build an honest, joyful learning environment on fuzzy definitions. Too many homeschool resources call themselves secular while tiptoeing around religious influence. Too many claim to be inclusive while reinforcing the same old hierarchies and norms.

At Rabbit Hole Learning, we want families to know exactly what they’re getting. We’re not afraid to be bold about our values—because we know how much it matters. Whether you’re a queer family looking for curriculum that reflects your life, a parent of a neurodivergent child seeking meaningful accommodations, or someone who’s tired of resources that pretend slavery was just “a difficult time in history”—you deserve a learning space that doesn’t ask you to compromise.

That said, we’re not here to shame anyone for doing what works. Many families are just trying to cobble together an education that meets their children’s needs with the time, money, and energy they have. Some are using resources they wish were more inclusive because that’s what’s available, affordable, or familiar. We get it. We’ve been there.

Our goal isn’t to judge parents—it’s to raise the bar for curriculum creators. To build something better. Something that reflects the world as it truly is and welcomes every learner who walks through the door (or logs in from the kitchen table).

We’re here to build that space. One lesson at a time.

Ready to dig deeper down the rabbit hole?
Stick with us. We’re not just redefining secular and inclusive—we’re rebuilding them from the ground up.