Why do we homeschool? Now, that's a loaded question.
This is my blog and I don't have to have the short version on here so get ready for an earful. Let's go back to the beginning. So, way back when...haha...
I have a degree in early education and preschoolers have always been my passion. When Rebecca was young, it came naturally to teach her at home. With her birthday after the school cutoff, she would have started school a year late. Where she would go was always a question. Public school was never an option and the Christian schools around here are not what I would want for my child. Plus, money was an obsticle, or lack of money I should say. The thought of going back to work to send Rebecca to school was daunting. Then having to find child care for Emily while I was working was a factor, as well. What if I had to work after school hours? Anyway, I had all these scenarios and unanswered questions, and I was pestering Jay about it. He had an easy solution- just homeschool Rebecca and stop talking about it. The thought terrified and excited me at the same time. The decision made by the head of the household may have put an end to some questions, but started another round of needing answers to a different set of questions. So, discussion over, I was to homeschool Rebecca in k5. I was left in complete control of any other decisions that needed to be made. I chose A Beka because it is basic, familiar, an all inclusive curriculum, and if I failed, she could easily fall back into a Christian school who uses the same program.
I was also babysitting at the time, and had told the parents that I will hs until Emily, who was 3 at the time, was old enough for school. Then I would send them to a school that is very conservative and up to my standards.
So, that was my plans. HAHA That was God laughing at my attempt to make plans. Ok, that is my testimony on how we started to homeschool. Now here's why... It is also a process that has changed slightly over the years.
The reasons for homeschooling have always been because we feel that it is our God-given duty as parents to be the ones to teach and train our children in the ways of our Lord. There are many scriptures throughout the Bible that refer to the instruction of our children, the application of knowledge, and the path to wisdom.
Deuteronomy 4:10
"Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children."
"Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children."
Deuteronomy 6:5-8
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
Deuteronomy 11:18-20
"Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shall write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates."
"Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shall write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates."
Joshua 24:15
"Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
"Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Psalm 1:1-2
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night."
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night."
Psalm 25:4-5
"Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach my thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me."
"Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach my thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me."
Proverbs 1:2-8
"To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; to give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: to understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother."
"To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; to give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: to understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother."
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
Proverbs 4:1
"Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding."
"Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding."
Proverbs 6:20-23
"My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life."
"My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life."
Proverbs 8:10-11
"Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it."
"Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it."
Proverbs 9:10
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
Proverbs 13:1
"A wise son heareth his father’s instruction."
"A wise son heareth his father’s instruction."
Proverbs 16:16
"How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"
"How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"
Proverbs 22:6
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 23:12
"Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge."
"Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge."
Proverbs 24:3-4
"Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge…filled with all precious and pleasant riches."
"Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge…filled with all precious and pleasant riches."
Proverbs 29:15
"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."
"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."
Isaiah 54:13
"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children."
"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children."
Ephesians 6:1-4
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise); that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise); that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
Colossians 2:8
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
I Timothy 6:20-21
"[Avoid] profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith."
"[Avoid] profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith."
II Timothy 2:15
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
II Timothy 3:14-15
"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
II Timothy 3:16-17
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
James 1:5
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…and it shall be given him."
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…and it shall be given him."
Needless to say, we chose religious exemption based on our states statute, "A school board shall excuse from attendance at school: any pupil who, together with his parents, by reason of bona fide religious training or belief is conscientiously opposed to attendance at school."
Notice, it states that we are opposed to attendance at school. Once I starting really thinking about it, yes, I am opposed to sending our children to school! Jay is in complete agreement with me, but remember that once he made the decision to homeschool, all other decisions after that are left up to me. I fell in love with homeschooling and unless God changes our course, we will homeschool all the way through.
We met plenty of opposition from friends, family, and even strangers. I heard it at church, visits with family, and in public places such as the grocery store.
I recall Jay on the phone with his sister one time telling her facts and statistics of homeschooling. I was quite proud he had looked it up and done his homework, so to speak. Yeah, it was all a bunch of made up figures to get her off his back. Ha! Ok, maybe that wasn't the best story to tell but I love it. And I love him!
Now that Rebecca is in the sixth grade and Emily is in the third, my resolve is even stronger than before. At first, it felt as if it was a last resort, then a wise decision, now a lifestyle. My children know nothing other than doing school in our home in our jammies! I would not have it any other way!
There are several different styles and methods of homeschooling. I am not a classical educator, an unschooler, I am not even eclectic in choosing the materials we use. I do not believe in umbrella schools, or distance education. It is NOT for us to learn by DVD as a form of distance learning. We do not use online courses and for the most part, I do not see us using that form of education anytime in the near future.
I think co-ops are a great way of learning and using the gifts that others are blessed with.
So what am I? I am a textbook teacher. I homeschool our children. A person on a DVD or online program does not. I love to teach. It is my calling and I use it to glorify our Lord. I feel that those who sit their children in front of tv or computer all day is horrible. I think curricula that are student taught such as A.C.E. are for the faint of heart or those who are too lazy to invest their time in their children. Please keep in mind that these are my personal opinions (I also only have 2 children) and with this being my blog, I am free to express them regardless of whom they offend. I know that my way is NOT the best way for everyone but it is for our family. I homeschool to TEACH my children, not to have others do it for me. Granted, we will get to a point where I will not be qualified to teach some subjects and will pay someone to do it for me. We are blessed with a great co-op just down the road and look at it every year, but cannot justify spending that kind of moola when I can teach sixth and third grade!
I think I got a little off subject there in that last paragraph but, hey, this is my blog, and I can do that!
So...All of that to say that we homeschool for not for religious reasons but because we feel that it is our God given position to ensure that our children get the best education possible, and are trained in the ways of our Lord to go out and spread the gospel with the lost. That is the most important lesson that we, as children of our living God, can possess.
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