Homeschooling and Important Basics

Homeschooling is such a varied experience, affording every family the freedom to tailor it to their specific needs, interests, seasons, and personalities.  That is one of the most beautiful things about educating at home–homeschooling openly denies the “cookie-cutter” model and embraces the individuality of each child and family.

Given its scope, then, it can be difficult to define; but there are two things that come to mind as center to a healthy homeschooling experience.

Parental obedience.  Once upon a time this point would scarcely need to be made, for it was expected that “children obey your parents”.  But today, it is not uncommon to hear a mother say, “I could never homeschool–my child wouldn’t do a thing I said”.  I know, I’ve heard it.  If this is the case, I would consider it an “emergency situation” and would consider all things irrelevant until the relationship was brought into a right, joyous one.  Otherwise, life itself will be miserable, and trying to add homeschooling to it would be detrimental.

Understanding education. Yesterday’s post just touched on the subject, but a thorough research/thinking through of the real definition of education is necessary to combat one that we have been given from our institutional settings.  I find that even though we’ve been homeschooling for 8 years, we must continually refresh our vision about what education means to us.

In order to formulate an accurate definition of “true education” (which will vary from family to family), we have to have an end goal in mind. Many of us are prone to think of  “school” as merely a necessary institution that will ensure us a “good job” in the end.  Learning has little to do with it, if we can just pass the tests, get the paper, and get a job.

As a result, there are a good many “educated fools” walking around these days.  I would challenge you not to short-change your children when you flesh out your educational goals.  Home-educating affords us the opportunity to bring up well-rounded individuals with a richness and depth of education that has been long lost.

At the top of our list of educational goals are:

• A love and understanding of Scripture (the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.)
• Teaching them to be self-learners.  In my opinion, the government knows full-well how dangerous a society of self-learners can be, and has purposely created a system that convinces the masses they can only receive a real education through the transferring of information from a “professional”; such a concept ensures that people will be taught only what is “safe” for an engineered society.  But for centuries, the most intelligent men and women of history were self-taught; the average high school graduate can not even decipher the writings of these historical intellects.  I believe John Taylor Gatto when he says the system has purposely “dumbed down” our students.  The proof is in the pudding.
• Teaching them to think.  Ask them questions, challenge their reasoning, and press them to give an answer for opinions they express.
• Giving them a love of reading.  Not all children will love to read as much as others; but from the very beginning, one of the most important things a parent can do is to read to their children, read in front of them, and make books an important part of life.  Another thing is to read challenging books in their hearing, even if they don’t grasp it all.  They need to hear rich language before they understand it, just as they need to hear simple language before they can speak it.
• Communication skills.  The ability to express one’s self is vitally important.  Writing well and speaking well are invaluable assets in any choice of career or role in life.  These skills usually come more naturally to a prolific reader, and the more parents verbally communicate with their children the better.  (Another benefit, in my opinion, of not being dominated by a peer group for most of the day.)
• Teaching them to be numerate.  I’m not as concerned with whether my children pass trigonometry as I am that they are able to understand measurements and basic life-concepts of math.  I made a B in college Calculus and still struggle making change at a yard sale 😉
• A love of arts.  Poetry, music, beauty–whether it be an intricate composition of notes, or the simple, mysterious beauty in the arrangement of wildflowers, we seek to heighten an awareness of the order, creativity and beauty that makes up the very character of the God we serve.

“Artists can unlock our imagination and stir us to pause, think, and reflect….Artists raise questions and compel us to think. The best of poets, for example, have a certain power of observation that can be a remarkable force for good — and at the very least can jolt us out of complacency.” -Tom Cronin

Your family’s goals may be completely different.  But my heart’s plea is that we don’t squander the incredible opportunity to enrich our children’s lives by simply copying a less-than-ideal formula in our home and calling it “home education”.

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Are you a homeschooling mother who worries that you aren’t “doing enough”? Are you thinking of homeschooling but feel afraid that you aren’t qualified? If so, read more…