Is homeschooling right for my son? For our family, the answer was not as simple as you might think. My oldest son starts first grade next week. I am a full time Children’s pastor – and get to hear plenty of strong opinions on both sides of the issue. Many of our friends want us to join the Christian homeschooling movement. But I need to know what is right for my son?
To help decide, I’ve made this list of pros and cons. This is my homeshcooling verses public schooling list. In our town, we have an excellent public school system, a new Christian school and a strong homeschooling community. I’ve ruled out the private Christian school because of its price. I’d love to hear what you think about this list. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.
Christian Homeschooling Pros
- Christian Homeschooling Curriculum: The whole homeschooling program facilitates learning. It seems like Christian homeschooling can provide an excellent education. There is so much supporting material on the internet. Crosswalk.com provides online homeschooling resources. You might also like LifeWay’s homeschool resource page. I’ve started a list of home school curriculum
- Homeschooling would give us more family time. Kids spend so much time in public schools that they become strangers to their parents. Christian homeschooling would allow us to spend time with our son during these short years.
- Christian values are a part of Christian homeschooling curriculum. All parents must teach the Bible to their children. But homeschooling curriculum would add a whole new level of religious education.
- Christian homeschooling provides a high level of safety. Public schools can be dangerous both physically and emotionally for children. Peer interaction often tends toward bullying. Homeschooling would clearly protect my son.
Christian Homeschooling Cons
- Homeschooling would reduce my son’s opportunities to make friends outside of our church. He is a pastor’s kid and spends almost too much time with other Christian children.
- My son loves his school. After kindergarten, he couldn’t wait to go back for more. I’m sure he would love homeschooling but he definitely is a social guy.
- Christian homeschooling would reduce my contacts with unbelievers. As a Children’s pastor it seems like all I do is talk to other Christian parents. Getting involved in public school means getting involved with unchurched families.
- Homeschooling would not give my son experience dealing with with ‘worldly people.’ Dealing with mean people is a skill that kids must learn. Christian homeschooling would protect my son from these people. But only for a little while.
Is Christian Homeschooling The Answer?
After serious consideration, we think public school is right for our son. I know some of you will disagree with me. But several our Christian friends teach at our school. We also get involved. So, this will be a year-by-year decision. I’m sure we’ll be having these same talks next year.
What about you? Are you involved in Christian homeschooling?
Related posts:
{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
I have had exactly the same conversation with myself and God!!! My husband is the youth pastor at our church (part-time, small church). I have had the same lists of pros and cons you presented and have come to the same conclusion. We are going to take it year by year. I homeschooled my older 2 children for several years successfully. They are grown now. God took me from being anti-homeschooling to being very glad I decided to follow His lead after we ended up in Washington DC (terrible public schools!!). Anyway, now we are in small town America and our younger two are in 1st and 3rd grade and are doing very well. We’ll keep our eyes open to what is going on in school. We’ll stay involved. We’ll stay in prayer.
Please update and let us curious types know what you decided and how it went! Thanks and God bless.
Our family is praying and is considering christian school for our 4yr old daughter next year. Thank you all for the insight on many topics I did not consider. My husband and I want the Lord to use us and give us the wisdom we need in raising our children in His word. Homeschooling is another option for us to consider. If we were to homeschool can anyone share what would be the first step in doing so..do we have to register, buy books or other materials, are there certain rules to follow?
Thank you
I think state laws vary. Generally you need to file some paperwork with the local or state school board. You might try asking this one in our forum/help desk too.
Well, a lot has been said and I couldn’t even read all of them. I do not condemn anyone who chooses public schooling. That was originally my choice. When I went to the school to find out about K registration, I had a ‘dark’ feeling. Later the VP told a mutual friend of ours that the place was a spiritual war zone.
You will deal with some issues no matter what school they attend. My children (we’ve homeschooled now for 10 years) are not lacking in socialization (BTW, you have to think about who is socializing (training) your child-peers or a group of mixed ages, which is more like the “real” world.)
Homeschooled kids have more opportunities to pursue their God given talents and interests.
Any educator will tell you one-on-one instruction is more beneficial for a student.
Our family is much closer than most, and I attribute that to being able to spend so much time together. Every time the children take a test, and I grade it, they have to call Dad and tell him how they did-good or bad. I love the closeness, the relationships that homeschool fosters.
My children have told me that field trips are much better when the group is smaller, than with our homschool group. It’s more personal and you learn more, can see better.
I, too, debated with sending my children to public school because they are to be a light to the world. But I know that God showed me they can be lights even when homeschooled. They are out in the world during the day. I get comments constantly that they are so friendly, they know how to talk with all ages of people and aren’t afraid to look adults in the eye when they talk with them.
Are my kids perfect? Not in the least!! There are many times when it would be so convenient to just send them away to school. But my time with them is short and I want to give them everything possible.
And I will agree with what one writer said: their character and spiritual development is far more important than book learning. I didn’t mean for this to be so long; just a lot of thoughts on this subject-the more I’ve studied, the more I have. In any case, be involved with your child’s education.
Hi Tony,
I really appreciate your site. It’s seems like you continually manage to get a discussion going on very important issues that I don’t see discussed very often elsewhere.
Many good points have been made in favor of homeschooling. I don’t need to repeat them. However one thing I’m concerned about is the idea that this is a year by year decision. As a former home schooler myself, I’ve seen over and over that if kids are not home schooled from the beginning it’s a lot more difficult, sometimes impossible, for them to adjust if their parents decide to home school later on. Homeschooling is not for everyone but for a lot of people the reason it doesn’t work is because their kids have already been too influenced by regular school and or don’t have a proper respect for their parents. I would suggest that you start with home school and if you are convicted you need to change later on then change later.
Also please bear in mind that you could have the best, most Christian, public school teacher in the world but he/she will still be unable to counteract the decided secularist point of view coming from the curriculum and administration/teacher’s union. Public school is actively being used to change the world view of our country, even in good rural schools. For that reason I believe that for a christian the only two options should be church school or home school.
Steve,
Thanks for the encouragement and the perspective on this issue.
I disagree that for a Christian the only two options are church school and homeschool. We can’t afford a private, Christian education and I don’t agree with homeschooling. I am a public school teacher, and I have conversations with my students about God and Jesus. I believe I show them Jesus daily. I have also never taught anything that I don’t believe in. They may not teach Creation in high schools, but how can we truly test what we believe if we never know any other points of view??
….and wow excellent points and oh so, so true! I have 4 blessings and your cooments are so helpful. i hope someone can start a blog of somekind that puts aside their experiences, their opions aside and just speaks the truth about such matters for God.
God bless!
KT,
You hit it right on the nail! =) Thank you for your God centered response!
Lets all be careful to not make our emotions/feelings concerning our childrens experiences or our own experiences a rule and or truth for all. Bring everything before the Lord in prayer and his perfect will for you will be shown. His will and ways are better then mans way or good intentions or mans traditions or what everyone else is doing or what even we’d like to do. God’s will above all others including our own needs to be followed in such descissions as these where there is no commandment to homeschool and where God is silent about.
God bless!
As a new reader, I am curious what you did last year, and if you are going to do the same this year?
I will be homeschooling my kindergartener this fall. But my reasons are a bit different than most. I have a BS in Elementary Ed. I have 7 years of classroom experience, as well as 8 years of corporate business experience.
I taught HS English at our local Christian school, and I am so glad I did. I learned that I don’t want my kids attending there; especially as teens. I observed that it is a breeding ground for rebellion.
I also don’t want to send my children to public school. I have all the concerns of worldly influences and curriculum that is not God-centered. Our schools are not that great, and as they get older, they have to ride the bus farther and farther.
My thoughts are that no one knows my child better than I do. No one cares more about what my child learns than I do. No one cares more about the end product than I do. And no one else is more excited to be there for all the sweet learning moments with my children during the day than I am. And I want to be sure my son loves to learn. That will benefit him more in the long run than social interactions.
The curriculum I chose for this year cost less than $200. I will supplement the curriculum with classic literature of my choosing from the public library.
Other pros: Besides saving $2000 by not choosing the Christian school, I don’t have to buy special school clothes for my little guy. We will be involved in the homeschool group. My son will never have a problem being anti-social. He loves to visit with all the elderly people in our neighborhood, and often invites them unabashadly to our church. We will be able to plan many relevant field trips, and his little sister will not miss him all day long.
Those are just my thoughts. I don’t have a problem with people choosing other options, since no two situations are the same.
I know this thread started quite awhile ago, but I just came across it this morning. I thought I’d share the fruit of homeschooling. There are lots of “opinions”, but real life speaks for itself. The oldest of our 4 children is 14. We pulled her out of the school system after 2nd grade. We attend a church in a rural setting (appro. 350-400 people) with “good” public schools in the area. We have some homeschoolers in our church, some Christian schooled children, but the majority is public school children. Every summer the Jr. High leads a Back Yard Bible Club in an area neighborhood. The Jr. Highers are supposed to lead songs, tell a story and then just play with and get to know the neighborhood kids and tell them about Jesus and the salvation He brings. I showed up early on the last day, and sat in the car waiting to pick up my daughter (then 13). This is what I saw: Most of the neighorhood kids were playing by themselves. ALL of the public school kids were huddled up together. My daughter (the only homeschooler in the group) and the 3 Christian schooled kids were either talking with or playing on the playground with the kids. My daughter was sitting in the grass talking with a little girl. I saw my daughter get up and grab her Bible, then return to the little girl she was talking to, then another Christian schooled girl joined my daughter in talking to this little girl. I got out of my car and walked past the huddled public schooled kids (kids I love and have taught in SS). As I walked past, I said, “Why don’t you guys go talk to some of the kids?” One person spoke up and said, “I don’t know what to say to them.” I encouraged them to talk to them about the lesson that was shared, but no one moved. I continued on and talked to one of the leaders, until we were interrupted by the little girl that my daughter was talking to. She was beaming and said, “God loves me and I just asked Him to be my Savior!”
Later I talked to my daughter about the events as I saw them. She said, “Mom, it was like that every day. The public schooled kids care too much about what their friends think of them. They don’t reach out.”
In that moment every doubt about homeschooling I ever had flew away. Years of hearing from a Christian neighbor how my daughter should be in the public school to be a witness…I won’t even get into what her 14 year old “Christian” daughter is like. If we, and our children are prepared to be a witness, God will give us and them opportunities, but we can have all the opportunities in the world and not move on them if our hearts are not ready.
At first when my daughter was in elementary school it was harder to tell the difference between the homeschoolers, and public schooled kids, but now as the fruit is maturing (going into highschool) it is evident. In our experience, homeschoolers are less peer dependant, community focused, and interact well people of every age. Yes, I do know there are exceptions! A sick peach tree can still give a few healthy looking peaches, and a healthy peach tree can give a few sickly peaches, but what kind of tree do you want your kids growing on?
One last note: Often people are remarking how accomplished my daugher is musically. This is no accident. She has the time to work hard on both the harp and the piano. This past year she was actually invited by a public school in the area to come play the harp for a large event in which many teachers, children and parents attended! Talk about God creating opportunities for a ready heart!
I think this decision comes down to balance.
There are benefits to both homeschooling and public school.
The question is do the benefits outweigh the negatives (there are negatives to both homeschooling and public school and Christian schools too).
Are you willing to do what you need to do as a parent to help counteract and balance out the negatives. i.e. Public school – talk with your kids and about what they are learning and help them to work through what they’ve learned and how it fits into a Christian worldview, being active in your child’s learning experience and in their classroom when you get a chance or when you need to, etc. Home School – provide opportunities for group interactions, get them involved in extracurricular activities, etc.
I don’t think that it’s accurate to say that either or is a more Godly choice. It’s about what you as parent are comfortable with.
There are some great Godly teachers in public schools, there are also many positive and beneficial experiences that take place in a public school.
I believe that there is a lot of propaganda and misinformation about public schools out there. Just like there is a lot of propaganda and misinformation about homeschooling out there.
Be balanced!
One more thing…
How much better of a witness would it be if all of the great homeschooled kids there are were in public school? My public schooled friend once told me “If all the homeschooled kids went to public school, it would be such a better place!” If you take every christian child out of public school to “protect” him, the public schools will suffer greatly! If public schools were sprinkled more heavily with christians, I think they would become much more tolerable places for our kids to grow up.
Thanks,
- Nathanael
As a 17 year old homeschooler, I think my opinion should bear some weight. (1 Timothy 4:12)
I first came across this forum looking for articles that gave the argument that Christian Homeschooling is the only “right” and “moral” way for parents to educate their kids. (I currently am taking college courses at a local Community College and one of my assignments was to find an article I disagree with and write a counter essay.)
First I just want to say, Mr. Kummer is completely right to evaluate this decision and make try the wisest choice about his kids education. I must admit that after reading some of the responses, I was a little annoyed at the simplicity that some of these parents treat this issue. I got the feeling some of them were just saying, “Home schooling is right because it just is and public schooling is wrong.”
I’ve been homeschooled all my life and I have few regrets about it. My dad also happens to be a PCA pastor…
I have to agree that Homesschooling definitly has it’s pro’s and con’s.
Some of the pro’s:
1. Yes, there are things that certain kids struggle with more than others. And if your child struggles with being willing to do doing anything to fit in, has no self-control, and is a bit rebelious, public school may not be the best option.
2. Your child could be like the “seed that landed on bad soil”. Your kid may have good intentions and honestly want to do the right things, but there will always be temptations and we are all sinners.
3. Homeschooling does give the opportunity for a more Bible-based education. Take note, I did not say “Christian” education, or “safe” education, I said Bible-based. God does care about our little Christian sub-cultures that have diluted and distorted what the actual Bible teaches…
Con’s of Homeschooling….
1. I know far too many completely sheltered Homeschoolers. Some are resentful towards their parents for the bombardment of rules and expectations that their parents put them up to.
2. What is the good of a Christian child that only knows how to be a Christian at church? The WHOLE POINT of Jesus coming was to die for our sins and to preach the gospel to SINNERS. Jesus went to weddings to turn water into wine, he hung out with sinners, prostitutes, and tax-collectors. Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy. If your Homeschooled kid does not know how to love his peers who are sinners, just like him, you have done a bad job. We are supposed to be a light to the world and the salt of the earth. How can we do that stuffed away inside our houses being Homeschooled?
I have been blessed with the coolest parents ever. I know they really care about all the kids, but they trust us to do what we think God wants for us.
Yes, I am homeschooled. BUT, God has not let it hinder my love for non-christians. I play soccer in a recreation league and work with non-christians. My parents balanced my education with exposing me to the world, a little bit at a time.
If you take a child, homeschool him, shelter him, and then release him into the world, he is going to drown so fast.
Mr. Kummer, I completely respect your decision to public school. Always keep your options open and listen to what God and the Bible have to say, not the Christian culture that is scared and terrified of metal, smoking, non-christians, and that is completely obsessed with safety and security.
- Nathanael (17 yr old, Homeschooled, Pastors kid from Northern Virginia)
Hi There, I read your post and felt perplexed by some of your comments. My children are homeschooled and surrounded by several non-believing children and families. Our children are taught that in all interactions with others that their behavior is for an audience of “One”. The role modeling is helpful and people see a difference and that is what I believe God calls us to. We have started a girls book club for homeschoolers. We make it clear that it is Christian based and yet we have many non-believing girls in the club. We are happy to extend our education beyond the four walls of home or a public school. We take part in community service projects (which is so lacking in public schools). God commands us to GO and preach the word, community service and teaching our children to serve is an excellent way to do that.
So, our children do interact on all levels. Putting a child in a public school environment is not the only way to interact with un-believers. We have found our own prayerful way to interact with un-believers in a much more wholesome way. Our children are well socialized and receiving a great Christ centered education. Our decision minimizes for us the “junk” teachings that the public school tries to pour into our children.
I hope my few comments have helped you to see that there is indeed many paths that lead to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Be Blessed
Alexis
Tony,
My husband is a Children’s Minister and enjoys reading your blog. :) In fact, he has added your blog as a link on his blog (markwbc.blogspot.com). I think you have some wonderful and needed insights for parents.
I’d like to comment on your pros and cons for homeschooling. I clearly see your points on being involved in the public schools, etc. and how that can aid you as a Christian and a minister. We have had our children in both public (one year plus this current year- they are 9 & 11) and Christian education (which was a wonderful experience both academically, spiritually and socially). We homeschooled last year after moving to a different state. It was a good experience during a transition year for our family, but we did not feel a need to continue long term. Academically, it was great for them. But, frankly, they were lonely and wanted to be around other kids on a daily basis. (We do not have a strong homeschool group in our area.) Our dilemna with public school is that the schools here teach evolution,(I know, I am currently teaching public) there is a strong new age influence, there is a lot of harsh behaviors among students and teachers and they do not teach traditional math. (who’s idea was that?!?)
You said you have an excellent public school system. That’s great for you, but we do not. (some would disagree with me, but mostly they are either uninformed of all that goes on, or they are choosing to ignore it because it’s easier that way)
The “easier” choice would be to just send them to public and tell ourselves they will “be ok” and we will do all we can at home…besides we want to “fit in” in the community so we can make a difference. BUT, is that the best choice FOR OUR CHILDREN? It may be the best choice for “our ministry”, but what about our children?
We are considering sending them to a Christian school an hour away. This will be a tremendous sacrifice for us. I will hopefully teach there and we will receive discounts, but it will be a strain because of the drive and all that is involved with children attending school in a different town than they live. My children are both very social and have made friends quickly in public school. It is a difficult decision but the sway to “the dark side” is great and very subtle.
Just wanted to give a different perspective. This is an issue that does not go away. We think about it and pray about it everyday. The only peace we have is taking them out.
Sheryle
Hi Tony,
Good for you for even looking at both side of the homeschooling issue. As parents, we do have options for the education of our children and we need to take that very seriously.
I was public schooled and home schooled and now that I have three children (9yr old and 6 year old twins), I have exclusively home schooled them. We have received both condemnation and support for that decision, even my husband questioned it at first. Academically, my children are 1 – 2 years ahead of their private and public school peers. They have been tested in National tests and score consistently in the 90%. Public schools test on an average of 50%, private schools 70% and homeschoolers the 80%. The more important thing is that they are being discipled in the word of God and how it applies to every subject. In science we study how God’s order is in everything , in history we learn how God’s hand moves human events. God’s order is evident even in our math and english.
Here are a few amazing curriculum to check out. “My Father’s World” and “Sonshine Books”.
I pray that you continue to ask God what He would have you to do because that is the only answer. Good luck on your search!
Homeschooling, if done right, could provide many opportunities for meeting non-believers.
Service is an important part of all true education, and there are many needs in the secular world that you could be involved in. But in this way you and your wife have a better handle on what the kids experience so you can better turn the bad stuff into teaching moments.
This kind of service has the added benefit of teaching your kids that the reason for befriend the world is not to join them in their sin but to help them come out of it–a more mission minded association.
I thought the “making the dicision from year to year” was a great comment. Sometimes our kid’s needs change. I have one child that I homeschool and one that I don’t. The one that is homeschooled is in his last year and I know that it was best. The only struggle has been math which will almost be his only focus this year. My daughter on the other hand has strong desires to remain in school and has been permitted as long as she can show that she is strong enough to make right choices and keep her grades up. There are many things that I like about public school that I can’t offer, such as ROTC, which she loves. BUT if I ever saw that being in that enviroment caused her to make choices that were destructive to her, then home she would come. This keeps the ball in her court and teaches her to weigh what’s important and determine the price and if it’s worth it.
As a favorite pastor of mine says in response to the wanton use of “judge not that ye be not judged.”… “Twist not Scripture lest ye be like Satan!” Please use that phrase in its context and not in an attempt to silence debate. And Romans 8:1 does not preclude judging the actions of others against Scripture. It is the conclusion of the argument and concerns Paul listed in Romans 7.
I stand by my admonition to diligently search Scripture for how you should disciple and educated your children…and then act based upon what Scripture says, regardless of exception. If you are taking that as condemnation, then it may be because you know in your heart what Scripture says and you know that it doesn’t promote sending your children to a god-hating government school, even for pragmatic reasons.
I know that sounds direct and mean-spirited…but please read on, for I actually think I understand the good reasoning you have in your situation…and there should be real condemnation directed at the way the American church operates rather than at you, Meg.
Meg…you have a difficult situation and one that obviously pains you. You also state that your desire would be to homeschool, if at all possible. Yet you have said it doesn’t appear possible based on previous experience. I applaud you for the attempt, and would never dream of trying to second guess a person with a special needs child or with a chronic illness.
In a world where the Church occupied its proper sphere, you would be able to home educate because the Christians in your church would rally around your family to assist you to do so. They would so esteem your desire to disciple and educate your own children that they as a Christian community would do whatever it took to make it happen successfully. Unfortunately in our society, the Church doesn’t do well in assisting its members in need, partially because the members are so busy with extra-Biblical activities “required” by the world as a definition of “success”, they have no time for the self-denying requirements of Christian community… and partially because they have given the responsibility for assisting members in need over to the government (or allowed the government to take over what should be a function of the church)…thus your very normal and understandable response to turn to government to help you educate your children when you cannot do so alone, simply because the church isn’t there to assist you. You cannot be condemned for doing so.
I know of a good example of a church in St. Louis that goes against this norm. They meet in homes instead of a building and have no professional pastors. As such, every single penny of offering is used in ministry of some sort. They value home education so highly that if a single mom, for example, desires to home educate, they follow the Biblical example of sending her to her family first for support. If her family won’t support her, and she is willing to come underneath an elder for headship, accountability, and leadership, they will do everything necessary such that she can home educate her children, from providing monetary support to having people physically help her in any manner necessary and for as long as necessary. On top of it all, she is discipled in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. THAT is an example of Christian love and compassion in action. THAT shows the world how the members of Christ’s Bride love each other. THAT is how the church is supposed to work. And Meg, if your church functioned that way, YOU wouldn’t have had to go through these painful decisions nor would you feel condemned by the above discussion. You, Meg, and your husband have done what you have to do, given your situation and the reality of government’s intrusion into the rightful role of the church, and the church’s abdication of the same. Please don’t construe this debate as having you and your situation in mind.
Blessings,
Charley
Get Serious Blog
HomeDiscipling Dad Blog
I love the Lord Jesus and believe the Word of God to be absolute truth. I find all these arguments extremely entertaining. I must answer with a question: “What is a “Mom” to do who wholeheartedly believes in the parental responsibility to nurture and train young ones in the truth of the Lord Jesus, the disciple making of children, the fear of the Lord and is not in the position to homeschool because of health reasons, the financial position for Christian school, and also has a special needs son whose educational needs really can be met much better in a public school?”
Some of you homeschooling only people have much to learn about the love of God! I could not imaging Jesus speaking in such harsh ways – except to Peter when he cut off someone’s ear. Please forgive me for being so blunt!
We tried public school for a short while early on- where my kids really were educated in matters of math and reading extremely well – and we prayed daily, read the Word daily, attended Church, and were active in outreach and community in keeping the First and Greatest Commandment.
Then they were in Christian school for a few years, which cost a small fortune, but they hardly did get an edcuation in Math and Reading. It was, though, a very loving establishment and they also got much biblical teaching that was not often applied on the playground anyway.
Then when the Christian school started having problems, we pulled them to homeschool, which was a disaster for our family b/c I didn’t have the credentials to teach a special needs son, thereby my daughter got the educational shaft, while all the time, I was contending with chronic disease myself.
SO! As head of the house, my husband, a very godly, loving man who – as I do – wants nothing more than for our children to grow up loving and serving the Lord has enrolled our children in public school.
Look at it this way – Some might say my faith is lacking, but!
For the Homeschool only proponents – God loves only those children whose moms are physically able to homeschool and not chronical ill (Or are single moms, etc.)
For the Christian school only proponents – God loves only kids who come from families who are rich enough to send their kids to Christian school.
For the Christian family public schoolproponents – God loves all children, is Soverign, in total control. This is my personal belief.
I find this to be the only biblically based solution for our family, as dones my husband, and I assure you, it’s NOT easy to send them out in to the World. But whose kids are they? Ours or GODS?
BOTH! ;-)
I’m sure there will be bumps, but I suspect these are the very lessons our “Called out ones,” will grow through – so I pray…. so I pray… so I pray…
I’ve concluded that if it comes down to what “I want,” (which is to homeschool, by the way) and not necessarily what educational modalities my son (And daughter) need, nor something my doctor can even endorse (He’s a Christian, too, by the way) then for us, homeschooling is probably the most self absorbed, in the name of what “God wants,” non biblically based decision going. So! I’m thankful my husband, who helps me in the area of balance, has pointed this out to me as the spiritual leader of our family and am trying to adjust to the fact that our children are going back to public school.
Parents, yes, you do have the responsibilty to train your kids in the Lord, keep an eye on what’s taught, combat all the “World-view” that comes home, and it is out there – but phewie – what ever happened to “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?” Homeschooling only proponents – shame on you for being so critical of those who after prayer, scripture and soul searching, really do believe it’s the Lord’s will and desire to have their young ones in public school. That makes them neither less Christian, nor worse parents. Judge not that ye be not judged!
Blessings in the Lord Jesus Christ…
I want to say thanks for everyone who has commented on this post. It really as turned out to be a helpful conversation. I enjoyed hearing your perspective and reexamining my own.
I’m not ready to pull out the white flag on our public school yet. I definitely resonate with the concerns that everyone has raised. Looking forward to the next few years this issue I can tell this issue is far from settled in my own heart.
Tony,
I appreciate what I’ve read from you on this blog. I must say:
1) I agree with 99% of the arguments given by homeschoolers in these comments
2) Our family homeschools for those same reasons
3) Probably because of regularly having to answer for our decision to HS, some homeschoolers tend to be a bit defensive and occasionally come across as, “God, I thank you that I am not like these public schoolers…”
4) You have responded with Christ-like grace to several comments that, to me, appeared condescending. You encouraged my soul tonight as my wife and I read your blog.
5) You need to homeschool. :)
Yours in Christ,
Jeremiah
KT,
You say:
“Spiritual disciple-making and education in reading, math, and science should have some overlap, but they are not essentially the same. A child can have a wrong scientific worldview (for example — not that I am advocating this in any way) or poor math and reading skills (whether home-schooled or public schooled) and still be growing in both faith and holiness. So I’m afraid I do not see how disciple-making necessitates home schooling from a biblical standpoint.”
I’m not sure I follow your line of argument here. You note the difference between spiritual discipling and “other” education, yet conclude how you don’t see how disciple-making necessitates homeschooling.
Maybe the answer is partly practical: Time. If you are sending your child off for 8 hours a day in peer-dependent classrooms, followed by numerous activities and hours of homework…where and when exactly do you do Deuteronomy 6 or Ephesians 6? If you are sending them to a “Christian” school, I suppose the argument could be made for allowing another to do most of the discipling in your stead, although I would argue that a teacher can do very little discipling when dealing with a group classroom. If you are sending them off to a government school…well…it is an officially God-hating environment where absolutely ZERO discipleship will take place and they WILL be sitting at the feet of scoffers (Psalm 1); the only result is that you must then overcome and counter the multicultural, pluralistic, “tolerance” indoctrination in the little time you would have with your child.
The bottom line is that a child can know how to solve differential equations or grammatically diagram a sentence from a foreign language…but if they are weak spiritually, they are basically useless to the Kingdom (assuming they are saved at all) and are vulnerable to any number of the heresies that regularly come through our nation. First and foremost MUST be their Salvation (which is of God) and their growth in the Lord (sanctification). ONLY when this is well-established does the rest of what our culture deems important in education come into play.
With these assumptions, there is no way to begin to approve of a government school scenario, and the private, Christian school scenario doesn’t stand out very brightly either. If my assumptions are correct, then the best way to accomplish them is through homeschooling.
One of the things I am appreciating about this particular thread is the kindness and gentleness of the responses. There is a good give and take, without the vitriol that often accompanies this topic. To all who are participating, thank you.
Charley
Get Serious Blog
HomeDiscipling Dad Blog
Chuck,
Thanks for the critique. I think you may be confusing a parent’s responsibility with a parent’s control. A parent has no real control over how their child turns out — a parent can not ruin a child’s life, nor can a parent make sure that a kid turns out well. God along has control over these things, because God alone can change the human heart determinatively.
A parent does, however, have a very important responsibility to train up a child in the way he should go, and the Bible makes this quite clear. A parent who does not use his ministry as a parent for disciple-making (to borrow Charley’s well-chosen term) will be held accountable. But the parent’s God-ordained, God-given ministry is a tool in the hands of God, not a determinative formula or force. It is a wonderful and weighty privilege to be given this ministry, but it would also be a terrifying responsibility if parents had true control over their children’s hearts — thankfully, their hearts are in the hands of God.
Charley,
Thank you for the thoughtful response. I am glad to see that we share common ground in that we both believe that disciple-making is a key ingredient in whether or not the soil of a child’s heart has been tilled in preparation for the work of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual disciple-making and education in reading, math, and science should have some overlap, but they are not essentially the same. A child can have a wrong scientific worldview (for example — not that I am advocating this in any way) or poor math and reading skills (whether home-schooled or public schooled) and still be growing in both faith and holiness. So I’m afraid I do not see how disciple-making necessitates home schooling from a biblical standpoint.
When it comes to biblical principles, I see a very clear biblical principle of engagement with society and of faith growing under persecution — even child-like faith. One of my favorite examples of this is John 9 — the blind man was excommunicated from the temple for his belief in and love for Jesus, even before Jesus graciously revealed to the man that He is actually the Son of God! I am not recommending sending kids into public schools without any guidance, prayer, or direction, but rather suggesting that other biblical principles may play out in a child’s life through such an experience.
But Charley, I think you are right in saying that not every homeschool situation needs to be a “sheltering” situation. It is true that home-school parents can also do a very good job of living out the biblical principles I just mentioned with their children. There certainly does not need to be a dichotomy, as if each group can only live out different biblical principles.
So, I am not advocating one method of education over another at all. But I am agreeing with the biblical principles of of God’s sovereign control over all hearts, as well as the parents’ responsibility in disciple-making, regardless of educational choice.
One thing I appreciate about your response, Charley, is the emphasis on the father’s involvement in children’s education. One of the major benefits I see to homeschooling is the opportunity for parents to be closely involved in their children’s education. It’s very refreshing to hear you speak of your key role as disciple-maker in your family!
← Previous Comments
{ 4 trackbacks }