Question:
I've know some church members are thrilled with home schooling and I've read some information online and I've got to say, I don't get it. It's wonderful to spend time with your children and teach them directly but when I way the pro's and con's, I just don't see how home schooling is a better option.
Public school has some issues, not least of all cost. If money were no object, I would prefer to send my children to a Christian based private school. Class instruction allows for a thorough curriculum by people who know what they're teaching and know how to teach. There are certain tracks for advanced students and other track for students who need extra help. Parents can definitely teach children at the lower levels but when it comes to the middle school and high school levels no one can know everything, which is why they have specialized teachers. Someone told me they downloaded lessons but then we're talking about book knowledge only. There's no Q&A because you may not know physics and I may not know 18th century history. So from the academic aspect home school kids can be advanced in some ways but not fully well rounded.
Second is the social aspects. They don't have the chance to be on their own, learn from other children and also deal with social stress and problems. What happens when they get out into the real world or go to college? They're not going to know how to handle themselves.
The spiritual aspect is another big issue. Christians are absolutely terrified of their children learning about evolution. My only fear is teaching the children about homosexuality too soon but evolution? No, I do not fear my children learning about evolution. I want them to learn about it. Evolution must be exposed for it's truth's and it's falsities. As we discussed evolution has some scientific basis but when it can't explain everything and has a lot of shortfalls.
I think the problem with public schools really has to do with parents who rely on public schools to teach everything. Public schools will NEVER teach about God, they will not teach morality and they will sometimes not really challenge our children which is a father and mother's job.
Answer:
Thanks for writing. Homeschool is definitely very controversial. I had all those questions you posited in this text and many more. Like you I was doubtful of what homeschooling could accomplish. I taught high school bio, physics, chem, and marine bio for 7 years in the private and public sector. I know what happens in school and I know the culture and the environment. Knowing these things and knowing little to nothing about homeschool I often casted dispersions on the idea. I definitely stood for what the public/private education sector sponsored.
Now that I have been homeschooling for 5 years I can clearly see and understand more and more what homeschooling is about. It is about so much more than that the scope of our public education. Since it is so much more than that, you can't compare both equally. It is like comparing apples and oranges. You can only compare schools and homeschooling at the education/academic level. I won't even compare them socially speaking because you and I know that there is no good social learning going on at any school. Putting a bunch of kids together does not accomplish any beneficial social engineering whatsoever. It’s like that psychology experiment where they left a bunch of kids to rule over themselves and they actually simulated and recreated everything that’s wrong with our society! Even the best private school on LI, Friends Academy, exhibited the same social challenges. The social atmosphere at a school is not a real world experience. This is why bullying and other offenses have been a challenge to control.
There cannot be any type of social engineering that is successful in a school by virtue of what a school is. Social engineering belongs to the parents. This is God's command. Homeschooling is more about social and spiritual engineering than anything else and this is why you cannot even compare it to schooling. Academically, homeschool will win out every time when parents know what to do. But since the social and spiritual engineering trump academics as well, even parents who may not be competent academically will produce homeschooled children that are a cut above all the rest in our society. Many universities recognize that and have been friendly towards homeschooled children knowing the value they give to their student population. Who is better prepared to deal with the social and personal challenges we all face? A person who is well prepared academically but lacks competent skills socially and emotionally? Many psychiatrists and psychologists are reassessing their approach to this dilemma and are valuing social and emotional quotients (EQ) more than intelligence quotients (IQ). As a matter of fact, academic preparation in tandem with poor or misguided social and emotional education prevents real intelligence: wisdom. However, in a mature and focused spiritual environment, where the social and moral engineering takes place in spiritually led house, academics succeed. Why? Proper motivation and goals are set and can be met since academics can only be successful when the individual is motivated to be academic. We know rote learning doesn’t amount to much. You can’t stuff academics in a person’s head. Did you learn anything when you had to cram for a test? No. You learned when you were properly motivated.
I am seeing this principle at work in my home. My children will have no limit to what they can accomplish academically. It is a seed I plant in them and they will pursue the fruits by owning that goal. If they depend on me or on a school/organization they will be limited by that entity. In them, it will be limitless, as far as they are willing to go. This is the goal of homeschooling – teaching them to be disciples in everything, but above all, disciples of Jesus. Nothing else rally matters. I am preparing them not just for this life, but for the next one which is the permanent one. An MIT graduate without social or emotional intelligence is poorly prepared for this life; and if he doesn’t know Jesus he certain won’t be prepared for the next. An “average” homeschooler, properly equipped socially and spiritually will accomplish far more for himself and society and will be completely ready for the eternal life.
1 Timothy 4:8 NIV For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
I include academics in the physical training. Physical training is about this world only. But spiritual training (godliness), which also trains you socially, morally and emotionally (something schools won’t ever be able to do because it belongs to the parent) holds promise for both this life and the one to come. That’s a promise from God!
Well, if you have any specific questions about homeschooling let’s talk. The scope of the benefits will take books to express. It is an experience you should welcome and let transform you. I believe it is the will of God. The scope of education in the public and private sector is completely misguided because our society in general serves evil. It teaches concepts that are worldly and cannot teach godliness. Just for that alone I cannot see any real benefit anymore.
Does this mean parents who send their kids to school are doing the wrong thing? Certainly not! Many who so desire to homeschool may not be able for several reasons not limited to health. We sent our oldest son to school for a year. During that year we continued to homeschool, particularly supplementing the elements the school cannot, like godly training (which includes spiritual, moral and emotional training). There are many effective ways of doing this. This will promote every advantage that homeschooled kids have. I believe both schooled and homeschooled kids can be on the same level playing field if the parents don’t delegate the moral, spiritual and emotional training to the public/private schools.
Parents who wholly depend on the schools for accomplishing spiritual tasks are definitely deficient in their parenting and morally and spiritually irresponsible.
This is all I will say for now for I have much to grow and mature concerning parenthood. Hope this helps!
