Monday, December 28, 2009

Controversial Monday: Homeschooling

Last week Deacon and I were at Target, getting stuff for his birthday party.


The cashier asked him if the Star Wars plates were for his birthday. He proudly said that they were and that he was turning six. The conversation went on with her gushing over how old he was and how fun his birthday would be. Then she asked if he went to Kindergarten and how he liked that. This was his reply:


"Well, it is pretty good because I don't go to school. I do school at home, but it is the best because my mom usually forgets and so we won't have school for like 2WEEKS at a time!"



Great. Thanks.



I said something about him only being in Kindergarten, so school didn't require a lot of time. I also refrained from discussing with her how as a 6 year old he doesn't realize that we are actually doing "school" when we really are - he only thinks we are just playing.



I think we are doing ok.

Here is a quote from Martin Luther. Do you think he is right?

"I am much afraid that schools will prove to be great gates of hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where they Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not increasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt."- Martin Luther

We believe in homeschooling, but I have never thought about it that strongly before- just always thought of it as something that was right for our family.

So, tell me- what do you think?

9 comments:

Elise said...

If all Christian influence is removed from public schools, they truly will become tools of the devil. I'm not a fan of any philosophy that suggests that the best way to be Christian is to run and hide in a corner and keep your Christianity all to yourself. Not that all homeschooling has to be that way, but it is a danger.

Rachel said...

AMEN!!! I've never read that quote before, but it's true, especially in this day and age.

Some would use the argument that we need to send our kids to public schools to be "salt and light" but we disagree, unless they've first been raised to truly accept their faith as their own and know how to defend it. I don't think this is possible until a "child" is old enough not to be swayed by peer pressure and in most cases, I think that doesn't happen until they are legally adults. I certainly know that was the situation for me and it didn't lead to a positive adulthood until I went through many struggles.

Been there said...

I am of the opinion that soldiers should only be sent into hostile territory when they are sufficiently trained and experienced to have a strong chance of success.

You don't send send basic training recruits to do a SEAL team's job. I'm not saying you have to shelter them at home every day for their whole lives, but you do have to limit their exposure and bring them along until they can handle it.

As someone who attened both home and public schools, a lot of "Christian" students simply were not sufficiently grounded and trained to be sent into the meat-grinder of high school. And a lot of them didn't make it.

Lesley said...

I completely agree with Rachel and "been there said." We started kindergarten home schooling this year and although it can be challenging and requires some sacrifice, I know it is the right thing for our family.

I've heard the argument from friends that there needs to be Christians in the public schools so they can be witnesses but as the others said, I don't believe that a five year old can be sent into that environment and be ready to do that until they have had the chance to develop and grow their faith first. They need to be grounded in the truth at home and not be placed in an environment where they are taught things that are contrary to God's word when their faith is still so young.

I don't think you have to keep your kids at home every day all day (we do lots of fun things outside the home) but I like what was said about limiting their exposure to certain things and helping them learn how to respond to the world in grace and truth.

Just my thoughts -- I know not everyone agrees. Oh and I love that quote. Think I'll be writing that one down... :)

peter said...

Every educational method has benefits and problems. Homeschooling is not inherently "safer" for your child. It merely exchanges one set of issues to be dealt with for another, which may or may not be more manageable for you.

There's a portion of the homeschooling movement that has a really messed up view of the home and of Christian interaction with the world. I don't want my daughter exposed to that any more than I want her learning how to put a condom on a banana.

As I heard a smart guy put it once, you have to choose your Caanan. Homeschooling might be the right choice, but it's not a free pass.

Unknown said...

As a former homeschooler and now a public school teacher...I have seen a lot. I have walked into classrooms which make me think "I could send my kid here" but I have also walked into classrooms that make me say "no way am I sending my kids to that school/class.As I teach kids my heart hurts for them, I can try to help them improve in reading and math (I am a Title I teacher, yet I can't tell them about the only thing that will actually make a difference in their lives. So I pray for them- many come from broken families, etc- and I am hoping that in some small way I am making a difference. I agree with the comments about kids needing a solid foundation 1st- some kids can be "salt and light" but it doesn't always work.

gma pam said...

I like that quote.
It is not only that the public schools do not teach from the Bible, that they do not teach a Biblical world view- of course they don't. It is that how can you ever make up for that lost time? If your child is in school, away from you and your influence, you are missing teachable moments, and it will be so much harder to teach them what you should after a long day at school. Homeschooling is hard, but it is alot harder to try to teach them what they need to know in "leftover" time. We must teach our kids the word of God and it should be our highest priority.

If you are truly teaching your child to love and serve God, He will lead you and your family to honor Him where and how he wants you to.

The Three 22nds said...

If you can get your child to a place where the Scriptures reign supreme in their own lives, then they are probably ready to be a light in the world. My boys are not there yet :) Deacon is easily influenced and swayed by culture and still is trying to figure out the whole "God thing".

Homeschooling does have problems, as does Private school and public school. We have seen that already in the circles that we have been/are in. However, at least this way I can keep closer tabs on things. Obviously, homeschooling is not an option at all or a good option in all cases- which I guess for Christian parents just means that they need to be extra diligent in the times they do have with their kids to teach them well.

Besides all of that, I am reading "Bringing Up Boys" by Dobson right now, and he is confirming my suspicians that my boys are not ready for the classroom (or the classroom is not ready for them!)

peter said...

It shouldn't need pointing out, but many kids thrive in public or private schools and manage to do so without denying the faith. So it would seem that some parents are able to raise their kids right without being around them all day.

In most cases, kids whose parents are diligent enough and value education enough to homeschool them would do just fine in most public or private schools. There are individual situations like what Julie mentioned that tip the scale to one option over the others for certain families, but none of them are inherently better than the others in all circumstances.