Today's guest post is by Robin, owner of the blog Robin's Egg Blue. She is a homeschooling mama to her two "dahling" teen daughters, a wife to her sweetie for 24 years, and a lover of the life the Lord has blessed her with. She is a wise, older woman who has graciously agreed to share her insights with us. You can also read and glean more wisdom from Robin here (Lady of Wisdom interview). *I want to add a quick side note - I do not believe that anyone who chooses, for whatever reason, not to homeschool is a bad parent. If we love our children, we all want the best for them. We need to all be prayerful about our children's schooling and do our very best to obey the Lord in this decision.Why I am so thankful that we Homeschool
by Mrs. Robin Brookshire
When I first learned about homeschooling it was so scary and intimidating. I tried to avoid it like the plague, but I am so glad that the Lord had other plans for us. He took away our fear and gave us faith to enter the world of homeschooling. I like to think of it as entering into “the promised land”. It has been a world of growth in character and in the knowledge and understanding of God’s word. It has been a time for our relationships to grow strong as we learn to love, forgive and serve each other. Oh, and to help with the character building, we threw in some Algebra and Latin for good measure.
Here are 7 reasons I am thankful to homeschool:
1. My daughters have not spent 8 hours a day, 180 days a year, for 12 years totaling 17,280 hours of their lives sitting under the teaching of a system that says there is no God. (Exception - Breezy was in government school for 1 ½ years.) Psalm 14:1 says “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; there is no one who does good.” I know there are those special teachers out there and those special schools that may be just wonderful, but if they teach evolution as fact and don’t teach the fear of God, then refer back to Psalm 14:1.
2. My daughters have not spent those 17,280 hours listening to the blasphemous teaching of evolution, secular humanism or Marxism. And because they have not been indoctrinated in evolution they understand, by God’s grace and mercy, that they have been created in the image of God, wonderfully and fearfully made, and regard life as precious.
3. My daughters have not had to spend the majority of their lives under peer pressure in the government school’s style of socialization. We have had our share of the “S” question, “What about socialization?” My response to this socialization question is, “Do you think that all of mainstream America is well socialized? Are our prisons full? Do you only associate with people your own age? Are the majority of American families strong and doing well? Are people marrying and staying married? Is violence a problem in this country? Are the lives of innocent ones protected and treasured?” Oh, and one last question: “Where have the majority of these people received their education and their socialization?” Proverbs 13: 20, says, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
4. My husband and I have been blessed to teach our daughters diligently the words of God when we sit in our home, when we are going about our day, in the mornings, and in the evenings. Guess what that does? It makes you learn more about God’s word yourself!! This isn’t just about the children. By giving this commandment to teach your children in Deuteronomy 6:5-7, God knows that the parents are going to have to be studying His word too! I love that. “Parent-led home-based discipleship” gets both the parents and the children involved. Being with them throughout the day has made me have to be transparent before them. You can’t hide sins from people that you are with all the time.
5. My daughters have been able to grow in wisdom in a protected environment. They have also been able to grow in their gifting and talents. Proverbs 22:6 talks about training our children in the way they should go. The Lord has blessed each of us with definite bents and it is our job to search them out and train our children in who God has called them to be. This is not about going against the biblical teaching of male and female rolls, but encouraging them to use their talents in biblical ways that bring glory to God.
6. I love being with my daughters. At 18 and 16 years old they are a blessing to be around. That teenage myth thing is, well, a myth. Because of “parent-led home-based discipleship” we have been able to train them to be respectful, responsible, and to love the Word of God and their family.
7. Because of the fruit that I have seen in our girls and our family and knowing where we have come from, I am convinced that homeschooling really is from the compassionate hand of a merciful God, drawing our family closer together and teaching us all by His grace to serve Him better. May He receive all the glory! (Romans 9:15)
Tomorrow you will have a chance to read the perspective of Robin's daughters as they share with us their homeschooling experience.
Sarah Mae's Recommended Resource: Educating The Wholehearted Child, by Sally ClarksonWon't you join me everyday for coffee by subscribing here?
16 comments:
Wow. God bless you.
My heart so desires to homeschool and I was ready to take it on but knew I had to discuss it with my husband first. He decided against it and while I'm very disappointed, I just have to pray it's the right decision for now.
I still yearn to so badly...
I'm glad you get to share your story of homeschooling. It is a blessing.
What wonderful insight! We will be homeschooling our daughter this fall for the first time and we are very excited about it. Now, we have to answer the question 25 times a day. "Why are you home schooling?" You articulated the reasons to home school so well. I think I will copy it and just hand it out everytime someone asks!
Thank you for the much needed encouragement. I will be visiting your blog!
I'm glad to be a homeschooling momma as well. Thanks for sharing this =)
I too am thankful we homeschool, for those reasons and so much more :-). (PS, I also agree with "likeawarmcupofcoffee" that it's not for everyone and it how you "school" is a choice that you must carefully consider and follow the LORD in.
PS - I especially loved the answer to the big S question!!
This seems more like a bitter "bash public school" article than a "promote home-schooling" article. I could come up with just as many reasons against home-schooling as the writer has come up with for home-schooling. I agree that there are many things about home-schooling that are good, but there are many things about public and private schools that are good as well.
I went through a public school system for 12 years and I wasn't exposed to many of the things here that you accuse public schools of-especially the statement "There is no God." I am now a teacher in that same public school system (which is led by many Christian men and women, by the way,) and I have never heard nor spoken the words "There is no God." But in fact, if a child is exposed to Evolution or Marxism or whatever, it's good for them to see the evil in the world and what it has done. It gives them even more of a reason to love and serve their God and more of a passion to reach the lost. If anything, learning about evolution pushed me to learn more about creation so that I could stand up for what I believed in...something that home-schoolers won't get the opportunity to do.
Honestly, Sarah Mae, I love your site and I have received much encouragement from it. After reading this article today, though, I have to say I'm disappointed that you would post something so biased. I'm glad that home-schooling has been a blessing for this woman's family, but because of her words, I leave here feeling judged...and I think the Bible says something about that, too.
This article speaks to my heart. I am often bombarded by the question "So what programs are your children in?" Like I should be sending my 3 year old away to be taught by someone else. Umm no. What an encouragement to read this article a know that I am making right choices for my kids.
Homeschool v public / private school is such a hot button topic I've come to realize that both sides are very polarized and can make some assumptions that may not fit each family's case. Thank you for prefacing your comments and perspectives with the disclaimer that homeschool may not be for everyone it's a tough choice! growing up I got the impression that public school was evil, private school was elitist and homeschool was nerdy - I think I can say that because I had a taste of all three and there is more cross over than you would think! I hope we all can make our decisions based on where God is leading their family and not judge where others have been called. (Btw I homeschool but it was NOT my first choice for educating my children and is still quiet a struggle)
I think homeschooling is a personal choice - between a husband and wife. Robin was so nice to share her experiences here - there's no judgement or condemnation for those who choose other forms of education in her post. I enjoy reading about other people's experiences. Even if I don't agree with it, an opinion or experience shared in sincerity is worth listening to.
Thank you, Sarah Mae for having Robin share here today.
Thank you for sharing Robin's homeschooling experience with us. What a testimony she has and what great encouragement for me!
As a public school teacher who left the classroom to be a stay at home mom who will home school, I liked most of this post. I think that if it is your hearts desire to HS and God provides the way, it is excellent. I do disagree with reasons 1 & 2, simply because I know that they are not true of all school systems all the time. However, I know that there are systems where they are true. I chose to home school because of reason #3 (I think it was 3) - I don't need my child subjected to the bad influences that come from children growing up in non believing or extremely broken homes. I'll talk to my child about sex when we are ready, not when some over exposed 1st grader decides to educate him.
Nice post:-)
Thank you for your comments on this post. I had no intentions to offend or come across as harsh with this post. I do want to address a few of the issues that were brought up.
JamericanSpice- I encourage you to continue to follow your husbands lead in this. Continue to pray for wisdom, discernment and guidance from the Lord for your family. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Jennifer T- In reference to the schools saying there is no God, I did say there are those special teachers and schools out there that may teach there is a God. However,when government schools endorse books and require teachers to teach from books that teach evolution that is a problem with me.
God's word clearly states in Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.
And again in Proverbs 1:7a The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
I am thankful that in your case studying evolution made you want to study creation more, but that line of thinking doesn't follow through logically. If one wants to learn grammar you don't study slang, if one wants to study spelling you don't study creative spelling, if one wants to study literature you don't study tax codes, etc.
Studying the word of God first and then studying other worldviews through that filter can gain one a more biblical view of the world. Yes, we study other worldviews and religions so that we can better understand and communicate with the world around us, our nation, our communities and people that we come in contact with on a daily basis.
For others who commented I am glad that you were encouraged. Only because of God's grace is there anything good in what I have to share.
May God bless you on your journey!
Great post! And great comments - always good to hear different perspectives.
I have many friends who homeschool for various reasons and I fully support it! My son attends a Christian School in the area. We would not automatically send him to just any Christian School - you still have to be very careful and follow what the Lord wants your family to do. This particular school teaches right from the Bible (every day starts with Bible in every grade through high school) and teaches the children how to apply God's word to every area of their lives. Also teaches them to be leaders and stand up for their faith. If this school were no longer an option for us, I would homeschool.
There are some good public schools - it really depends where you live I think. In my area, there are some things that are now required by law for the teachers to teach that I could not compromise on and let my son be taught. He will learn all about the things of the world, but from a Christian perspective.
Anyway, I have friends that attend all different kinds of schools and I do truly feel that you need to follow what God is leading your family to do and to fully check out curriculum no matter which schooling method you choose.
Hmm... I think I might print this out for future reference! Love it! :)
In regards to numbers 1-4, I recently heard it taught that the widespread separation of the children from the parents (public school, sunday school, daycare, youth groups, etc.) is the #1 cause of so many of the issues facing our country today. When the parents have little to no influence in the upbringing of their children, families and countries crumble.
I was once homeschooled, and in the "homeschool circle". There were families in the homeschool arena that were great families, lead their kids to christ, and were wonderful parents to their children. Their children still, in some instances, did not follow God. I believe that just b/c you homeschool your children, that doesn't mean that you will keep them from choosing to do the wrong things. They are still their own people and they must choose to obey or disobey God. My relationship with the Lord, is not where it is b/c of homeschooling, I did eventually go to public school, it is where it is b/c I have chosen to follow God. I had wonderful parents who kept me steeped in Christ. They lived out their relationship with God in front of us. Even though I didn't see them "live out their life" all day, I still saw it! The person I am today, is b/c of my parents prayers, and the grace of God.
It always saddens me when I read a story like this, and know that another child is being sent out into the world with what equates to a elementary school education.
The child will be completely ignorant to the ways of the world, and will be swallowed up whole. Also, resentment towards you will eventually come from them, as they start to see all they missed in the world, thanks to the brainwashing you have performed on them.
I hope you come to your senses and realize it is better for you and your child if you enroll them in a proper school, with a proper education. It is a shame that homeschooling can't be reported to CPS, because it is a type of child abuse.
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