Before I proceed any further I need to state from the outset that I've never been homeschooled in my life nor have I ever homeschooled children. I'm not even an expert on homeschooling. My goal isn't to establish myself as an expert. Like anyone else, I make observations. I engage in critical thinking. I'm a concerned citizen that cares about education. I've known a number of people that have homeschooled. Some have been very successful in that endeavor, some haven't. I've spoken at length with people over the years that have homeschooled. I've asked questions on their method of homeschooling and the types of curriculum they used. The purpose of this post is not to say whether or not homeschooling is for those parents that may be in the process of considering that for their children. That's a decision that Mom and Dad have to decide for themselves. Starting a couple of weeks ago, I was writing posts from chapter 5 in the book of Galatians that dealt with the word "liberty." This past weekend I was thinking about homeschooling and the fact that it's one of the liberties that American parents have in this country. It's an option that they can choose. It's not the only option. I will say up front some parents aren't fit to homeschool. Homeschooling is very taxing. It's demanding. It requires a lot of work. It's not recreational. It's not teaching a Sunday school lesson. The future of your children are hanging in the balance. You don't want to attempt to homeschool if you and your husband aren't willing to dedicate yourselves to it. Both have to agree that's the best option for their children. Once they agree upon that, then they need to utilize their time and resources to make homeschooling successful. Now I'm going to conclude this post and go straight to the heart of the matter.
For those parents that are leaning towards homeschooling their children, the question that needs to be asked is what is your motivation for leaning towards homeschooling? I believe that's very important. Whatever lies behind your motivation to homeschool could have an impact upon the success of it. In some religious circles, including some fundamental Independent Baptists, homeschooling has become a fad in some of those churches. I know because I attend an Independent Baptist church. At our church we have a Christian school so most of the families send their children to the Christian school. The mentality of the circle of Independent Baptists I know of is "There's no way we're going to send our children to a godless public school system, so therefore, the only choice we have is to homeschool." In some of these churches, it's a socially acceptable thing for families to homeschool. It's the expected thing. That's not necessarily a good thing. Many times whenever a person does something because it's a socially acceptable practice, there's a tendency to be complacent and for them not to invest their time and resources to make certain that what you're attempting to accomplish is successful. That's what I've observed with some of the homeschooling that's taken place in some Independent Baptist churches. Many of those parents don't follow a rigid schedule with their children. As a result, their children are deficient in certain subjects. Also, there tends to be disciplinary problems that arise when there's not a rigid schedule that's required of the student. A student doesn't possess a reality about life and therefore will have a difficult time when it comes to applying for a job when they're adults. They think life is laid back and you can do whatever you desire at your own time, which is not how life works. I'm not insinuating all parents in Independent Baptist churches where homeschooling is a fad is slothful with it. But many parents are slothful when it comes to educating their children when homeschooling is socially acceptable in those churches. I've witnessed that.
Most of the success stories about homeschooling you read about in some magazines are represented in homes where homeschooling is not the socially acceptable thing in their church. I've known of families that homeschool and they were the only family in their church that homeschooled. The rest of the children in their church attended public schools. In those particular situations, the parents that chose to homeschool did so by conviction. That's very important. If both parents choose to homeschool due to a conviction they have that they can provide a more quality education to their child than the public school system, then chances are they're more likely to be succesful with it. When you make a choice out of conviction, you'll live by that conviction. Everything you do is motivated because you believe that's best for your child. When your motivation is based on a pure conviction, you're not concerned whether or not all the other families in your church are homeschooling. You are doing what you believe is best for your child. Therefore, the tendency to be slothful is greatly minimized. You're homeschooling because it's a heartfelt conviction; not because it socially acceptable.
Homeschooling is one of the great liberties parents have when it comes to educating their children. Nevertheless, there's a price to be paid for homeschooling. Homeschooling is very demanding, taxing, and time-consuming. Those parents that are educating their children are preparing them for the future. They are trying to prepare them not only to serve God but also to find a vocation which matches their talents to make a living. Those parents that make a choice to homeschool their children have to prepare long before they actually begin the process. They, first of all have to determine what kind of curriculum to teach their children. There are various kinds. In Christian education, some of the different types of curriculum are Pace, Abeka, and Bob Jones, to name a few. The degree of difficulty in some of them is different. Parents have to determine what type of curriculum is best for their children. They have to know what their educational needs are. Then once the parents begin educating their children, they need to establish a strict schedule with them every day. The children need to head to bed at a decent hour, arise at an early hour, then start homeschool the same time every morning. Maintaining a schedule is very crucial. It helps children learn about the importance of time.
Parents have to be diligent with homeschooling. I've known of mothers who would stay up late at night preparing lesson plans for her children the next day. Parents have to stay on top of what their children are doing. They need to be up-to-date with everything. Parents have to periodically evaluate their children through testing to determine their progress. Parents need to be able to teach their children hard core subjects in high school such as science and math. Even though I know of homeschooling mothers that don't possess a teaching degree, I believe it's a benefit if a mother or father obtains a teaching degree, for no other reason in case a state makes it mandatory that homeschooling parents obtain a teaching degreee. If homeschooling is administered properly, parents will be very busy. Homeschooling is very time consuming if parents are serious about their responsibilities in educating their children. Your children are the future of our country. Their education is in your hands. Slothfulness in homeschooling can impair them and make it very difficult for them when the time comes they graduate and have to apply for a job. Homeschooling is no Sunday school class. It requires hours of work, review, lesson plans, and preparation. Homeschooling requires a team effort. It requires dedication from the mother, father, and the children. Parents have to see to it their children are learning and mastering the subjects they are being taught.
In closing, I need to say it's important also that children who are homeschooled have proper social skills. Requiring your children to give speeches is very important. It's important they know how to speak before the public. They may be required to do that someday in their adult life. They need to know correct grammar and basic public speaking skills. Children also need to communicate with other people outside the four walls of your home. As true as it is you don't want your children to spend their time with people that will influence them negatively doesn't mean that they don't need people to spend time with. They need to know how to communicate with people across a broad spectrum. They need to know how to communicate with people of all age groups. It's good that they know how to socialize with people in their local church and other places. Taking your children on field trips can be helpful in that area. Social skills are important. Your children need friends to have a relationship with. A lack of social skills could impact them negatively when they become adults. The reason why more parents don't homeschool is because they know homeschooling is demanding and it's a difficult job. It's troubling when parents in religious circles are lackadaiscal when it comes to educating their children at home. You don't homeschool your children because it's the socially acceptable thing at your church. If that's the attitude of the parents, then there's a great likelihood they will be slothful with it. That's reprehensible. That's one God-given liberty parents can't afford to abuse. The government is looking for an excuse to clamp down on parents that educate their children at home. When parents are slothful and don't invest their time and resources into homeschooling, they are in essence giving the government an excuse to outlaw homeschooling. I'm not for the government clamping down on parent's liberty to homeschool. However, what's going to happen in a couple of decades if the best and brightest we send out into the work force can't write or spell their name? To me homeschooling is sacred. When we abuse liberty, when we are irresponsible with liberty, we will lose it. One of these days parents will lose their right to homeschool simply because of the slothfulness of some parents that don't understood the necessity that their child receive a proper education. We must not take our liberties for granted.
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