Time
Time marches on and soon our children are up and gone. How real this truth was becoming to me when my son reached the 9th grade. The time that we can spend with our children when they're in public school is so limited. Home schooling, on the other hand, allows us to spend time and lots of it with our children while they are growing. The time we give away to schools can never be regained. The time we give to our children, however, will pay huge dividends in the end. Education
Who is going to decide what our children learn, the state or the parents of the children? The minds and hearts of our children and who will have guardianship of them are at the heart of the education debate in our country. Do we, the parents, have the right to choose what and how our children learn, or is it the responsibility of the state to see that the children learn? We have come to the point in this country where the only way a parent can stipulate what their children learn is for them to teach the children themselves. Learning Styles
Who knows the learning styles and desires of a child’s heart better than the parents? Who has been given the responsibility or teaching our children? We have, because we know our children better than anyone else in the world and that knowledge actually makes us the best teachers they could possibly have. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 commands us that we are to instruct our children. We have already taught them everything they have learned up to the point of school, so why should our teaching stop there? Schools are designed to be productive learning places for very few students. Curriculum
At home, children can be allowed to learn about the things that interest them. If astronomy suddenly becomes the love of my child’s life this week, she may study it to her heart’s content. But more importantly, God and His principles may also be taught if the children are kept at home. He becomes an integral part of all their subjects, especially science and history, so that the mind is saturated with His truth. Socialization This is the buzzword for those who would like to crush the home school movement. But who says hanging out only with those of your own age is the best way to get socialization in the first place? Home school children have the opportunity to learn how to be social in a multitude of situations, not just one. They learn to interact with people who are in all age ranges. This is the real and world, not a fabricated one. Opportunity Children who are home schooled have so many opportunities to participate in activities that would be impossible for others. My oldest daughter recently participated in a weeklong government class at our state capital. She toured the capitol building and met with several of our elected officials. She participated in the legislative process by writing and introducing her own bill in a mock legislature. It was a wonderful learning experience for both of us. We have been on many field trips that were fun and educational, such as an analytical laboratory, a museum on a farm, the traveling Vietnam wall, etc. Since the size of our group is small when we go, we have the opportunity to ask lots of questions and get lots of attention from the presenters. The heart and future of this country lies with the children we are raising up today. They are the future leaders, the ones who will make the policies and laws of the future. If we wish for this country to continue to be a Christian Nation, we must raise up Christian leaders who have a biblical worldview. The easiest way to accomplish this is to shelter them from the humanistic teachings of the world by training them at home. Our children need not only general studies, but also training to fear (or respect) the Lord in order to bring wisdom and knowledge. Footnotes (1) Ferris, Mike. "A Dangerous Path". CHOIS Connection Magazine (Christian Homeschoolers of Idaho State) Winter 2006: Page 17.
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