John Taylor Gatto (former National Teacher of the Year after 30 years in the public school system) is perhaps one of the most passionate advocates for school reform overhaul. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
“I want you to consider the frightening possibility that we are spending far too much money on schooling, not too little. I want you to consider that we have too many people employed in interfering with the way children grow up – and that all this money and all these people, all the time we take out of children’s lives and away from their homes and families and neighborhoods and private explorations – gets in the way of education.
And yet last year in St. Louis, I heard a vice-president of IBM tell an audience of people assembled to redesign the process of teacher certification that in his opinion this country became computer-literate by self-teaching, not through any action of schools. He said 45 million people were comfortable with computers who had learned through dozens of non-systematic strategies, none of them very formal; if schools had pre-empted the right to teach computer use we would be in a horrible mess right now instead of leading the world in this literacy.”
“…schooling after the Prussian fashion removes the ability of the mind to think for itself. It teaches people to wait for a teacher to tell them what to do and if what they have done is good or bad. Prussian teaching paralyses the moral will as well as the intellect.”
“Bertrand Russell once observed that American schooling was among the most radical experiments in human history, that America was deliberately denying its children the tools of critical thinking. When you want to teach children to think, you begin by treating them seriously when they are little, giving them responsibilities, talking to them candidly, providing privacy and solitude for them, and making them readers and thinkers of significant thoughts from the beginning. That’s if you want to teach them to think.
Kindergarten was created to be a way to break the influence of mothers on their children. I note with interest the growth of daycare in the US and the repeated urgings to extend school downward to include 4-year-olds.”
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38 comments
Blessings to you.
I am very suspicious of anyone with an “all or nothing” approach. All schools are bad, all homeschooling is good–it sounds like this man has an axe to grind. I’d prefer to read someone with a more balanced approach.
Sydney, he isn’t “all or nothing” – he is for what advances the critical mind. Conventional school (most public, much of private) is by design at cross-purposes with that thought paradigm. A provocative education is a rarity – we in the West tend to follow the “empty vessel to be filled” model.
I just wanted to give a big thank you for posting about public education – again! And the benefits of homeschooling! I was so needing the reminder! Our older children were all public schooled and so moving away from that model of thinking has been very difficult for me! (This last week I found myself in a deep pit of thinking that I am failing at homeschooling and maybe just putting them on the bus would be best for them!) I’m so not receiving that lie! Your ministry blesses me beyond words! Thank you! Thank you!
I, too, want to say thank you! I am a former public school teacher and I never knew the agenda that I was promoting. I always hated the idea of mindless exercises just so I could get grades. It wasn’t until I read Charlotte Mason’s ideas of teaching that I actually saw a better way to do things. Too bad I didn’t know about it until I started homeschooling our children. I am now realizing why they do not teach Charlotte Mason’s ideas in education classes. It does not fit with the model/agenda of public education. I have recently purchased the dvd called IndoctriNation. I can’t wait to get it in and watch it.
Keep on fighting, Kelly “Wilberforce”! Keep on keeping on! It is worth it. Someone might hear and God will speak to them. I know you are attacked often, but many of us are fighting along side of you…all over the world. I’ll keep praying for you, holding your hands up (through prayer) like they held Moses’s hands up.
My parents both fought in the system for 36+ years. Yes, they did influence quite a few people throughout the years…but fewer and fewer each year. My parents didn’t water down their Christianity, my mother having children to copy from the Proverbs instead of the dictionary for disciplinary issues, my father always teaching the history of the church throughout his world and American history classes. The children and parents knew they were Christians. In the 70s, 80s, and 90s that caused more of a stir than in the 00s and 10s. Then they were just ignored. They both fought against the dumbing down of the system and always held their classes to higher standards. But the time came when you cannot go into a burning building to save one more person. They have not left the mission field, nor have they given up on training the younger generations. But they have learned when it is time to retreat to be able to regroup, replan, and commence fighting the good fight. Please, for their sake, don’t quit fighting where your battlefield is. I believe it honors their many years of fighting inside the system to make it right!! Thank you!
Sara,
This was so encouraging to me. We just watched “Amazing Grace” and I do remember thinking how I could identify with the physical ailments he had from time to time, and the exasperation one can feel when they believe and *see* something so clearly but are met with such disdain. Thank you for your words!
http://www.ted.com/talks/sugata_mitra_the_child_driven_education.html
The above video is very interesting. It shows that children don’t need a classroom and a teacher to learn. They just need freedom, curiosity and access to learn.
Gatto was a man that gave children a lot of credit. He knew their potential.
I believe schools are very restrictive. I also believe that schools are the cause for the gap between children and parents. How do relationship develop if you are apart living in complete different worlds for 18 +++ years of your lives???
“How do relationship develop if you are apart living in complete different worlds for 18 +++ years of your lives???”
People do it, all the time.
I attended public school and had good relationships with my parents. Didn’t you?
Are you saying that those who attended public school do not have good relationships with their parents? Because that’s not true.
Try to avoid overstatement. You may not like public schools, but they don’t cause the destruction of the parent/child relationship, diptheria, or world famine.
I posted the wrong link.. the one below is the original one of when he first did his experiment in India…
http://www.ted.com/talks/sugata_mitra_shows_how_kids_teach_themselves.html
Kelly,
Thank you for bringing your readers much to consider on this subject.
The VP of IBM is definitely on to something. When my eldest son was 5, he was the only homeschooled student in Sunday School. The teacher had assigned an art project, and was amazed at his creativity. She noted that all the other students exactly copied her example, and my son was the only one who “thought outside the box” with a 3-D rendering of the project. I believe these young ones had already been conditioned to “do what the teacher wants” after only 5 months of Kindergarten. Understandably, part of this is necessary to maintain classroom control. But it also has the potential consequence of limiting creativity and generally does not reward spontaneous curiosity.
Since that time he has gone on to assist in correctly leveling concrete forms at the age of 8, and building his first boat at the age of 12. He was also a late reader (11), but blessed with the innate ability to fix nearly anything. His aptitudes will never appear on a standardized test, but his struggle with reading would have condemned him early in life.
Well, we are now continuing to homeschool high school. Although I am still learning how to best guide our children’s interests, we are all living proof that God does work miracles when you are seeking to do His will. What is the main secret of homeschooling success? Volumes of time to allow children to find and develop their God-given talents without the distractions of classroom antics and frivolous homework assignments. But that’s another topic!
Very well-articulated points…especially how so many aptitudes won’t show up on a test and the “standard” condemns so many students who are stronger and/or later to develop in other areas.
“Someone might hear and God will speak to them.”
I really don’t think we can assume that God is on homeschoolers side. Isn’t that a bit arrogant (and certainly not meek or quiet). Unless there is clear Scripture on one side or the other, I would never argue that I knew what God wanted and others did not. I feel that is sin.
With that said, homeschooling is certainly good for some kids (or moms). But that is my word, not God’s Word.
Sydney – I think that Scripture is very clear that God wants parents to take a direct and active hand in the daily raising of their children (in all areas) and that parents are meant to be the primary “educators” (I use the term loosely to refer to discipling in all areas) of their own particular children. Now, in my opinion, this can happen in a family that home schools or public schools–and it can FAIL to happen in both instances. What happens is whether the parents are truly FULLY invested in winning and guiding the hearts of their children. For many, the best route to this is homeschool, despite the hard work and sacrifice it entails. For some, homeschool is not possible or preferable, and they must find other ways and means. As you said, the Bible doesn’t say one is bad and the other good (public schools did not exist when the canon was written), but I think the guiding principles are all there.
Sydney, it is very arrogant (and I haven’t read any meek and quiet in your snide remarks) to presume that I only advocate homeschooling. Not once did I mention that in my remark. In fact, I believe that we need to overhaul a lot in our own minds in regards to education. I think the churches need to step up and offer truly Christian education for those single moms or families in very tight financial situations to have an option other than sending their children off to overtly humisist failing government schools. Yes some children, by God’s overwhelming grace, leave the government schools as decently educated and adhereing to Biblical commands. I did. My sisters did. I wasn’t about to chance it with my own children. What I read Kelly saying here is that the current system IS failing. People around the world can see that our American schools are faililng. So instead of fighting, why can’t we have an intellegent conversation on how to scrap the bad system and replace it with a better system. Since when have Americans been so complacent that we can’t look at a failing system and invent better ways of doing it? Since when must Christians abdicate their own convictions and the freedom to convince others of their view point just because you don’t like their convictions?
And since public education did not exist until the Prussians, no you are not going to find any scriptures telling you to put your kids in public education or homeschool. But in Psalm 1 you will find scripture telling you not to walk in the counsel of ungodly men or to sit in the seat of the scoffer. Granted, not every teacher is ungodly or a scoffer of God, but one must be very careful in deciding to whom you will delegate the responsibility of educating your children. Often times we can say this is what God wants. He lays out a lot, very clearly in the Bible. I can say that God wants the parents to take charge of their children’s education. Deut. 6. He desires godly offspring from those who belong to Him. He expects us to seek wisdom, to get understanding, to not accept the folly of this world to be wisdom. I believe the discussion Kelly is trying to have here is to address some of these commands. She is trying to get us to see if the current, obviously broken system can really help us obey these commands, or do we need to reevaluate our ideas and definitions of education. I personally think we need to reevaluate and will firmly stand on my convictions and will continue to enjoy my FREEDOM in Christ and as an American to try to convince others.
Parents bring their children home from public school, to counsel and disciple them.
Unfortunately, here is what I’ve seen, too often to count: Homeschooling moms are not counseling or discipling.
They are handing their child a history book and going off to cook dinner.
They are putting their child in front of a science DVD, and then blogging on another computer, themselves.
They are giving their child math worksheets, the very thing they accused the public school teachers of doing.
Worst of all, they are not teaching any high school classes. How many homeschoolers teach the things available in our high schools, like graphic arts, computer design and networking, advanced programming skills, physics, precalculus? Instead, they claim to take a “relaxed” approach, which seems to mean not bothering with these things.
As a result, Christian children are not prepared to be leaders who can change the things they feel are ungodly. I think this is a mistake.
This response is to Sydney/Stacy or other alias. I do not use any kind of videos or any type of worksheets when homeschooling my children. Ever. I teach with a classical education approach, and there is nothing ready-made. I write my own curriculum and my children only learn from real books. No busy work. I teach all subjects, including foreign language. And I am prepared to teach them in high school, as well. Are you insinuating that no mother who homeschools is capable of teaching high school level subjects? Or that they are unwilling? Yes, some moms choose to do co-ops and have other homeschooling moms teach certain subjects to their kids when they are older. Other families let their children enroll in a community college when they are high school age, so that they can do more in-depth computer or science classes. But, not all moms do that. It depends on the family. The main reason for most Christian moms to homeschool is so that the family is the main influence in a young child’s life. So, that parents can disciple their children, which is a Biblical principle. While, the Bible doesn’t *specifically* discuss homeschooling, it is very clear what the Biblical role of parents should be. I don’t see how sending a young 5 or 6 year old to an institution for 30-40 hours a week is going to accomplish that. No matter how great the parents are, the children are spending the bulk of their lives being influenced by public (or private) schools and peers. You mentioned that we adults all turned out ok despite our education. While I may have been lucky to have attended good public schools and still retained a good education before everything went bottom up in the last 15 years, I feel that I did miss something in not being schooled at home. I missed having the most important and impacting relationships of my life be my own parents and siblings. I missed having my Mom teaching me many homemaking skills that we had no time for due to my school and extracurricular schedule. I missed years of opportunities to just explore the world with my family, discuss ideas and learn from each other, and just live life the way God intended the family to live. To be slow and purposeful in life. To not be rushed or have too many social engagements or having to be at school all the time. Could we do some of that on weekends and holidays? Of course, and I have some great memories. But, what about the rest of the time? What about my parents giving me the best hours of the day instead of only being together for dinner time and going to bed? There is a closeness in homeschooling families that is unmatched.
Amen! I am just loving all these posts! I have to find this really wonderful (and very long and detailed) discourse on the ills of public education and “equal” education, etc. It was fantastic and goes along with everything you’re saying. I will never understand the fascination and encouragement of kids younger and younger going to school. Study after study (even academic, secular studies) show that the ONLY kids who are benefiting from pre-K and Kindergarten programs are those who come from a terrible home life where abuse, neglect, etc. is rampant. There is obviously an agenda in trying to force young children away from the influence, safety, and love of their families. I am so glad I can come to your blog for encouragement and blessing on my homeschooling journey. Keep up the good fight!
Thanks for posting, Kelly. I have homeschooled all my children, but our school district is pushing me to put my youngest in preschool because she has special needs.
Why should or would I treat her any differently than my other children? Nope, she will learn by my side as the others did. I know what God will do.
“He said 45 million people were comfortable with computers who had learned through dozens of non-systematic strategies, . . .”
Comfortable with computers? You mean, they know how to google things, and plug in some cables?
Computer interface has been designed to be as simple and easy as possible. There are few things simpler than running a google search. You can hardly use the terms “learn” and “teach” to something so simple and intuitive. Driving a car is simpler, and millions achieve that on their own too.
But how many people have taught themselves computer networking, binary code, or the new cloud technology? Not many. You need to go to school for that.
I haven’t “learned computers” just because I can post a comment here, or create my own blog. That is as simple as pushing a few buttons.
First, it’s difficult to give you a serious answer when you keep changing your identity. “Sydney”, “Stacy” and in another post, “Amy” are all the same person with the same IP address, from Denver, CO. If what you have to say is honest, worthy of consideration and in the spirit of respectful debate rather than simply dissent, you would not keep changing your name.
Furthermore, your “Sydney” comment is silly. You may know moms who do any or all those things (none of which are wrong as homeschooling allows us to employ all sorts of teaching methods, best suited to our children) and you may know moms who do a bad job, just as many teachers do.
But by and large, the statistics for the “success” rate, no matter the standard, for homeschooled vs. public schooled children fly in the face of your comments. (I personally know a gazillion homeschooled children excelling in computer literacy–program designing, etc., who have not attended formal classes for such. Many of these children ARE in fact, rising up as important leaders, politicians and businessmen. Just you wait 😉
Use your real name and prove a sincere desire to discuss this topic, or further comments will be deleted.
Hi, I’ve never lived in Denver Colorado, or even been there. I hear it’s beautiful, though.
You write that it’s fine to teach your child science by DVD or history by book.
. . . . “You may know moms who do any or all those things (none of which are wrong as homeschooling allows us to employ all sorts of teaching methods, best suited to our children) and you may know moms who do a bad job, just as many teachers do.”
I have to disagree. What child “needs” a DVD? Would you say, “Yes, I was planning on doing a hands-on science experiment, but I found that what he was best suited to watching a DVD.”
Or, “I was going to do a civil war simulation, with period costume and music, but what he was best suited to learn through a history book.”
Because you don’t have clue what my child needs, Sydney. You don’t know her like I do. As her mother, I am the best one to determine what she needs in order to have a well-rounded education. I determine what methods, and how many I use to teach her with to instill in her a love for learning.
Stacy, I have to admit that your point about teaching our kids specialized skills, such as true computer knowledge vs. everyday know-how, has been a fear of mine in the past, despite the fact that I am a huge proponent of home schooling. I did very well in school, throughout high school and college, and I have full confidence that I will be able transfer an advanced level high school education to my kids. I also have the comfort of knowing that my husband, though he works during the day and won’t be as involved in the process as I, will be an available resource for my kids; he has a PhD in Electrical Engineering, and it’s sort of a joke around here that he is a human encyclopedia- he seems to remember and retain absolutely everything 🙂
When it comes to learning other skills, beyond a typical education, I think it is hugely misunderstood that children must learn all subjects at the same time and in equal proportion. A good friend of mine who home schools has pointed out that if you taught your kids nothing but reading (and not just how to read, but instilled a passion for reading) for the first few years, you would be giving them an enormous advantage, as the ability to read, and to do it well, is mandatory in order to study anything else that you might want to learn. Even learning math, when the time came, would be far easier, as math is a language all its own, written in “sentences” so to speak. We are so convinced that you must learn a little bit of everything all at once and somehow it will all work together in the end. In reality, if we take the time to teach and train our kids, giving them solid foundations in the basics, they will have plenty of time to learn more specific skills as they get older. And, quite frankly, they will probably be not only much faster learners than their peers when that time does come, but will also be better able to retain and practically apply that knowledge, rather than just memorize data and facts.
There is plenty of time to develop skills that will be needed for a desired job. How many people do you know who have had technical knowledge dumped into them in training for a job or skill, and have no foundation to support that knowledge? They are incapable of carrying on a thoughtful conversation; they have absolutely no understanding or interest in our government or in the role that they themselves must play in helping to shape our nation; they have no regard for the people around them and what effect their recently acquired skills might have on their “neighbor”…? Too many people have had information simply poured into their brains without the proper foundation (both biblically and academically) to even know what to do with all that “knowledge”.
On a side note, Kelly, I would be curious to know how you have approached this issue with your older kids (?- are they all too young still?). Do you plan to supplement with community classes? Internships or apprenticeships? Or will you simply wait until they are old enough to make a decision for themselves about college/vocational schools? I am curious how you will handle learning skills beyond a typical education. I am always looking for ideas! Thanks 🙂 God bless!
I believe he was referring more to word processing, basic programming (my husband and many of his friends taught themselves C and C+ and html back in the 90s when nothing apart from basic typing was taught in the schools), and how to work applications like Excel, design websites, etc.
And YES, believe it or not, learning how to wisely use a search engine IS a valuable research tool.
Actually, even computer moguls and top employees for Google, Apple, etc. don’t believe in young children needing to have computers to learn. Have you read this article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/technology/at-waldorf-school-in-silicon-valley-technology-can-wait.html?pagewanted=all
Also….I’m guessing that you aren’t as computer savvy as you think. My husband knows way more than the average person about computers, and he was homeschooled. My best friend’s husband does computer “stuff” for a living. He and the bulk of other big-time “computer guys” I know do not have a 4-year college degree. Most of them either taught themselves or learned while working in their jobs/taught by a supervisor. Most are younger than me (in their 20’s) and make well over $100,000 a year. The ones who do have a degree have an Associate’s degree, which would be easy for a homeschooler to get while still in high school even. Your arguments really don’t hold up.
I just re-read your e-book about thinking outside the classroom for the third time. We are in our 6th year of homeschooling and you have defiantly challenged our thinking. I’m starting to see the ‘how to’s’ in the relaxed approach. I am reading Mary Hood’s book now that you suggested. I even wrote a post about your book encouraging others to ‘think outside the classroom’ http://jennie-warner.blogspot.com/2012/01/relaxed-homeschooling.html
Thanks for helping to open our eyes to what education really is.
~Jennie
I would think kindergarten (which is compulsory in some states, mandatory in others) was formed as a response to more mom’s in the workforce as opposed to forcibly separating moms from their kids.
While the Gatto stuff is interesting and revealing in some respects, the educational beliefs of a few quacks aren’t the pervasive educational philosophies being tauted in college and graduate classes.
I agree a lot of educational reform is reactionary. The family unit in America is deteriorating, and the public school system is trying to compensate for the lack of parental influence in kids’ lives. Blame it on feminism, blame it on the absence of God, what have you, but homeschooling and public school moms can agree that no one can take the place of the parents. Efforts to do so, especially by the government, have been proven again and again to fail.
(Weird story. My friend, an English teacher in a smaller, rural school that has a lot of poverty-stricken families, has to teach an “advisory” class. This is not a study hall. She’s supposed to spend the time “bonding” with the students, forming a “parent-child” relationship. This should cause everyone concern. I truly believe, however, that the school is not trying to usurp a parent’s authority, but is rather trying to compensate for what is simply not present in these kids’ lives: an adult who takes the time of day to listen to them. It’s very sad.)
Does this automatically mean that the parents who send their child to public school are handing their child over to be raised by the government? I can only speak of my own experience, but no. It certainly does not. And Sydney/ Stacy/ whoever she is made a good point earlier: many Christians who went to public school have meaningful relationships with their parents. To suggest school will automatically sever the relationship between parent and child is a little bit insulting. I might suggest that a parent who raises twelve children cannot possibly give enough time to each child to form meaningful relationships. The parent of those twelve children knows best. If she says, yes, I do have meaningful relationships with my children, I believe her! We have to trust, as Christians, that our fellow sisters in Christ are doing what they believe God has called them to do in raising their family.
moms in the workforce, not mom’s… that was going to bug me.
Holly–here are some random thoughts I had regarding some of your comments…
“Blame it on feminism, blame it on the absence of God, what have you, but homeschooling and public school moms can agree that no one can take the place of the parents. Efforts to do so, especially by the government, have been proven again and again to fail.”
I see, from what history reveals, that it’s all connected. Watch this: Marx stated that social reform would only be possible once we removed women from home. Why? Because now there is a gap to fill (children to nurture and educate) and a government with a social agenda is happy to fill that gap. And what may have begun as “free school for those whose parents are absent”–an “unsatisfactory situation” as most would see it in order to solve a problem, has evolved into what it is today. Similar to what the welfare system looks like, maybe on a smaller scale (government filling a needed role). But the filling of that role is not necessarily from good will or accidental. That point is probably where most of the debate comes in.
I will addressing, in the next post, why Christians should give particular thought to what the Bible says about how to educate our children which will touch on another point or two you made.
“the educational beliefs of a few quacks aren’t the pervasive educational philosophies being tauted in college and graduate classes.”…depends on how you define “quack” 😉
As an aside, even a mother with 12 children whose time may be fragmented gains a tremendous advantage than a mother separated from her two children for a large part of the day. (I think of Jesus and his 12 here.) It is fallacy to think a parent must spend large amounts of *individualized* attention to build healthy relationships. What IS important is that she is there, present, tying strings of fellowship, training in the moments of life, overseeing the details of their day, their interactions with each other, their media, their influence, their speech…well, you get the picture. It seems a great deal more possible to nurture relationships with children in your hourly care, without the strong pull of other relationships. Not always the case, but I’d argue much easier.
I agree, your friends advisory class is scary.
Kelly – Just have to say that I am so blessed to have found your blog. My heart smiles as I read your post and see your willingness to stand for the truth even when it’s not popular. However reading some of the comments makes me sad because I see how much the worldview that is taught in our school systems has made us blind to the truth. When I hear someone say “well I went to public school and I turned out okay” my heart breaks. I went to public school and yes by the world’s standard sure I am okay. I am a functioning adult whose relationship with her parents is well intact. BUT, when I look back over my life I can see that the relationships that influenced me most were my culture, my teachers, my peers because that is what occupied my day. Those authority figures in my life were who I was told to listen to for 8hours a day. Therefore my worldview was formed around what I was taught–relativism, feminism, humanism (that is not what they called it, but that is what it was – hence why we live in a society of “what’s right for you is right for you and what’s right for me is right for me”). With no absolutes how do we ever make a decision?? By God’s grace He has shown me the truth and entrusted me with 5 beautiful blessings. I am forever grateful for the homeschooling mother who by example, God used to show me His grace and truth. My husband has taught in multiple school districts and no matter how “great” that system is it cannot substitute for the role of the parent if that parent is a Christian parent who wishes to pass along a Biblical worldview. For the non-christian, the educational choice would be one of mere personal opinion/preference so I don’t think you can compare the choice between these 2 groups of people. However, for the Christian, I think we must put every decision under a Biblical “microscope”. To be able to raise and disciple your children, and share your worldview I believe the bible is very clear on how to do that.
Kelly – I pray for you that God will continue to place on your heart the importance of sharing what He has blessed you with. Blessings to you and your family:)
Amy–I agree with you. “Turning out OK”, to me, isn’t enough for me. We are commanded to “indoctrinate” our children with a biblical education…I can do no other.
I have a very good friend who is a public school teacher.She is a former home school mom and she is an excellant teacher.Every year she gives me the name of a child to pray for.Now..let me tell you why..Most of these kids come from broken homes.They are poor.Some of the stories she tells me leave me speechless.I don’t feel that I am sheltered from the world but some of the stories that she tells me are unbelievable!She does not teach in a poor neighborhood.Her school is considered an A school and has won many awards from the teachers there.Homes and families are in a Mess today! People so desperatly need the Lord!! I can remember a Christian Science teacher when I was in the 7th grade and how he taught and how different he was.I can also remember my high school phsycology teacher who hypnotized kids in our class.Yikes!! I thank the Lord for the Christians who are teachers in the Public School Systems.They truly do make a difference.The politics in the schools can get crazy.I have another friend-a fantastic teacher who was probably fired because they knew he was a Christian and took a stand on certain things. Years ago..our county was the first in the country to do Aids Testing on the kids.The big debate was With or Without the parents consent.I went with a friend who’s kids were about to graduate from public school.They were strong christians. I wept and was so appalled at the meeting and all that went on.I was homeschooling at the time but wanted to go to support my friend.I even heard a very prominent person on the panel say..and I will never forget it..”By the time these kids get to school..they are already messed up by what their parents have taught them”..What???So..all of this to say..What do we expect? Really..If a person is not a Christian they are going to see things Totally different! Isn’t that why the majority of us are homeschooling our kids? That is pretty much why I am.
My biggest complaint with the school system is that so many parents(not all) have ALLOWED the schools to take over because their own lives(not all again)are in a mess.It is a stable place for these kids to go.They allow them to feed their children everday when it should and used to be the responsibility of the parent.I remember when my oldest daughter was in school and I was asking how I could help her with her reading and they told me not to worry about it-that I had enough to do already(I was pregnant with #4)and I remember having a terrible feeling about that..knowing something wasn’t right.How can we make a difference.Spreading the gospel..everyway we can.My 19 yr.old daughter is about to volunteer in the school my friend teaches at.She is taking some online Bible courses right now but has some time to spare. I know her heart will be broken..but it is time for her to go out and let her light shine and love on these kids.I don’t know what will come of it but we are praying and trusting the Lord.So..mom’s..get your kids ready!! This world needs the Lord!! Are we teaching and training our kids to go out there??..I do appreciate these posts and hope this didn’t turn into a lecture..lol.Blessings to you all today!!
I must say other than calling it alterior motive/conspiracy, I can’t understand why someone would visit a blog specifically designed to encourage Christian homeschoolers with their parenting and make nasty comments about homeschoolers (no matter what kind of job they do of it.)
Be encouraged all you homeschoolers, there is no “right” way to homeschool. Even schools change their teaching methods and materials frequently (couldn’t stay the same…that wouldn’t be evolution now would it?)
Schools are not the only reason for the parent-child gap BUT they are in my opinion the main reason and the humanists that set up our school systems knew that (it was their main goal in aiming to end Christianity.)
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