I think this article is a great one for every family to write…yes, every family. Because we all school our children. Some of us choose to teach academics at home and some choose to let a public or private institution help, but we all educate and really DISCIPLE our kids (and probably a handful of other kids).
So with that in mind, here is why we choose to home school our children rather than put them in a public or private school for academic work. Keep in mind, I’ve taught in all three environments so I feel like have truly seen all of those options up close.
First the education is better. The big buzz words in public schools are INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION and PARENTAL PARTICIPATION. Home school is both and to the nth degree. My eldest child, an energetic and very curious boy, is eager to learn as long as he gets to explore himself. He’s not one to sit and do seatwork for very long. I employ short lessons and gentle learning especially in the area of writing for him. My second child, a girl, loves seatwork and hand crafts. She also loves to explore but would rather you just told her what she should look for so she knows the expectations. My youngest child, also a boy, but one who has played with his sister a lot and is quite a mimic, will pretty much go along with whatever you want him to do AS LONG AS HE CAN DO IT HIMSELF. And that’s just this year—they all change and grow, interests change and abilities increase all the time. I love to tailor the teaching to each child. Best of all I know exactly where each child is in any given subject area…though they do ask questions or make statements from time to time that cause me to wonder where they learned thus and so.
Secondly the socialization is better. Yes, I did say it’s better at home. My children learn to connect and work with their FAMILY MEMBERS. It’s a novel concept, but who do we usually keep in touch with, spend holidays with, have to work together on matters of life and death with—family. Do my kids enjoy playing with other kids their age (and not their age) in the neighborhood, at church or in the activities we in which choose to participate? Yes, they do, but I am much better able to observe them working and playing with their friends and address issues of character right in the situation. I make no claim that my children are perfect in social situations, but I will say that they consistently hear the same admonitions from their parents and sometimes a few other trusted adults.
Next there’s the issue of a matter even more important than teaching academics… teaching CHARACTER. If a child is a genius but doesn’t know how to work hard, persevere, treat others with respect, and on and on, will he do well? No, he probably won’t. This is the issue that our public schools (especially in our pluralistic society where everything is relative to what’s politically correct and what is currently popular) cannot address in an effective way. Parents are charged many times in the Bible (Deuteronomy 6 is a good passage.) to train and teach their own children. It is our God-given privilege and responsibility, and although others can help, my husband and I will stand and give account one day for how well we accomplished this. (Thank the Lord there’s grace!) It’s the reason that parents must strive to have superb character….because we have to teach our children and usually that teaching is through how we act, not what we say. Kids have to spend time with you and connect with you to teach character.
Finally, the biggest reason we choose to home school is because we want our children to have a Biblical worldview. The Bible indicates that our chief goals are to glorify God (point others to him) and to give our lives for His sake—whatever that may look like. This is a very difficult goal to achieve in our current culture that is almost anti-Christian. My children must learn to live according to the absolute truth of the Bible, not the relative wishful thinking of the current American polls. My children must learn to be tolerant (respect others who have different views, but not necessarily agree with them) of many who are completely intolerant of their views. My children must point to one exclusive way to be saved—Jesus Christ—in a world that has decided that all roads lead to God. The stakes are great and getting greater and I’m thankful every day that God promises me His strength and wisdom and grace for the asking in this huge task.
I know there include lots of little reason we home school too. For example: I don’t want to lose my kids’ best hours during the day to someone who doesn’t love them and have their best interests at heart as much as I do. And--I enjoy being with my children and seeing them get that “ah ha” light in their eyes or listen to them ask a great question or explain a great truth and know that I helped them learn that. And-- I really don’t want to have the school district dictate my schedule. Thanks, I can decide what we need to do myself. And lastly, I think the government being less involved in life in general is a great thing.
So, go ahead, talk to your spouse…write down why you school your kids the way you do. Be intentional…children are too precious to just let things be the way they are because everyone else is doing it. Teach them to think, to love and to live for something more than themselves. You’ll have accomplished much—in fact, you will have accomplished the most important thing. God bless you as you work.
No comments:
Post a Comment