1. Luke 6:40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
2. Socialization, sorry just going to be be frank here. I don't want my children to socialize with other children, outside of controlled,orchestrated times of fellowship with like minded families.
3. I'm greedy. I love my children and don't want to miss one second with them.
4. I want my children to have a Biblical worldview.
5. Um....they are my children, my responsibility. They are not wards of the state. Easy enough?
6. We learn about values,morals,Christ,character,serving others,volunteering...(Learning about many of these things are illegal in PS. )
7. I want my children to learn how to guide a home/family, this is best done at home with the family.
8. Public School teachers are some of the most underpaid/overworked/most likely candidates for burnout on the planet.
9. This right here.
10. This is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics ...Teachers play a vital role in the development of children. What children learn and experience during their early years can shape their views of themselves and the world and can affect their later success or failure in school, work, and their personal lives.Teachers play an important role in fostering the intellectual and social development of children during their formative years. The education that teachers impart plays a key role in determining the future prospects of their students. Whether in preschools or high schools or in private or public schools, teachers provide the tools and the environment for their students to develop into responsible adults. I agree with this description of the role a teacher plays and that is why I think the teacher should be me!
I want my kids to socialize. I want them to socialize with their siblings, and with the children of couples who share our values. How else will they get married one day if they don't have any friends?
ReplyDeleteI also homeschool my children because I want them to have an excellent education. :)
Im sorry, #2 does sound a little harsh doesnt it? I didnt mean that I never let my children socialize.
ReplyDelete*Well what about socialization???*. That is exactly why I dont send my children to PS. How can we immerse our children in the world and expect them to act like Christians?
Im rewording #2 ...
I knew what you meant. Just playing devil's advocate with the way you worded it. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe socialization argument is so silly. Kids don't go to school to socialize, they're there to "learn". That's what the teachers are always saying.
Socializing with kids that think different lends fantastic talking points and times to contrast the Biblical worldview. Training them how to be in the world and not of it is more than a faith with walls.
ReplyDeleteAll of your reasons are perfectly acceptable and even reasonable. I also have another list of considerations to want me to have a hybrid for my children of both home learning and mingling with public educators and their community.
Gary, are you present when they are around those kids? Or are you assuming that they'll tell you everything they hear from other kids/adults?
ReplyDeleteI love reading and commenting on your blog - so here I go again.
ReplyDeleteOn the topic of kids needing or benefiting from socialization with "outsiders": I have to agree with Gary's comment.
Some day children will grow up into adults and hopefully gain respectable employment - which will likely be in a secular environment ... unless they work solely for an apostolic church and don't expand their communications outside of the church walls.
If kids don't learn to communicate with people of different or no faith when they are young - it is my opinion, that they will be slightly socially crippled when they become adults. Communication isn't something we magically develop when we turn 18, 21 or 25 years old. It's a development... just like physical development! It takes time. Now, do I think public school is the ideal place for this type of "socialization"? Absolutely not. However, I do think that kids need to have friends - be it neighbors, etc that are not of the same faith.
The other aspect of not letting children socialize or communicate with "outsiders" (meaning, non apostolics) is: How will they EVER witness to a sinner if they don't know any, or even know how to approach them?
Just my take on it. We'll see where I stand in a few years when my son is school age... ha ha!
Heeeeeeey!!! Just wanted to put my two cents in here...I am the product of PUBLIC SCHOOL and I think I turned out pretty well. I believe that homeschooling is an option for SOME people, but it just isn't for others!!! I have seen ALOT of my peers miss out on an education because their parent's took the OUT of school because of all those reasons above but then weren't able to properly educate their children. I grew up bringin the kids I went to school with to church. I feel like I was a light in my school, the only girl wearing a long skirt, being excused from class when videos were played...etc... Kids ALWAYS asked me what I believed and why and I believe that was good for me!!!
ReplyDeleteThe people that have helped me most develop my writing ability were people from the world. I've just chosen to use what they taught me for the Lord!
I could go on and on and on but I won't... I just don't see myself EVER homeschooling my kids through highschool. I could never teach them what they need to know about math, and tons of other stuff.
Mary Frances, if you can read, you can teach your child high school math. The curricula tells you exactly what to do, it isn't hard.
ReplyDeleteI am also the product of public school education, and "turning out pretty well" is definitely not my goal for my kids. I have much higher aspirations for their education.
As far as being a light in the darkness, Jesus' ministry began when he was 30! Not 6. He was in the temple learning from those who loved the scriptures when he was young. I'm not going to assume that my kids are wiser and stronger than Jesus.
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteRe: "kids need to have friends - be it neighbors, etc that are not of the same faith":
"He who walks with the wise is wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." Prov. 13:20
"Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character." 1 Cor. 15:33
Look at Jesus' example. There are no biblical references to him ministering to anybody when he was a kid. You said: "How will they EVER witness to a sinner if they don't know any, or even know how to approach them?"
Do these kids not ever go to the grocery store? the tire shop? out to eat? There are lost people everywhere we go! Our children learn how to be a Christian witness by seeing how their parents minister to others, not by being thrown to the wolves and being told to go be a light. :)
Okaaaaaaay...let me rephrase myself...
ReplyDeleteI think I turned out AWESOME!!!! :)
I'm reluctant to post this because my oldest is 11, so I dont have proof, although Biblical principals are pretty reliable.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason I am hesitant to post this is because I don't want a rigid method to replace Gods grace in my child rearing. I have a tendency to look for black/white checklist type parenting. I want my child training to be a product of grace and faith, not legalism.
Thats my disclaimer...
I dont smother my children and never let them interact with the world, rather I go with them into the world so I can train them how to properly relate to the world.I want my childrens socialization to be intentional and calculated under my supervision. I believe that my children should learn about life,death,sex,sin,God,money,love from me and dad not peers and teachers.
I am investing alot of time and energy into producing children who will relate to this world like Jesus realted, with compassion and a desire to serve. My children are learning how to serve in this world not compete with worldly peers. 1 in 4 teenage girls has a STD!! I would be a fool to think I can drop my children in an atmosphere of worldliness and not have them come home looking and acting like those they are with for 8 hours a day.
http://gracefulthreads.blogspot.com/2009/03/homeschool-socializatin-program.html
ReplyDeleteGinger:
ReplyDeleteJesus ministered in the temple as a young boy.
His ministry began at His BIRTH. To say He only started ministering at age 30 is, in my opinion a slap in His face. That is to say that His life before age 30 was meaningless.
Jesus taught and mingled with the pharisees, republicans and sinners.
You said you didn't want to assume your kids were as strong or wise as Jesus. That's true, they are not because they are not Divine Beings. But who is the One holding, guiding and protecting them?
You seem to have a much higher faith in the influences of this world than you do of God and His Mercy on your child(ren).
I am sure you raise your family in the way that you feel is best and I in no way want to seem judgemental of your methods. We are each entitled to our own parenting styles.
CM:
Your comment "I want my child raising to be a product of grace and faith, not legalism" says it all. :o)
God bless!
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteLuke 2:46
"After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions."
Listening and asking questions isn't ministry.
Luke 3:23
"Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age."
It is not a slap in His face to agree with scripture.
Jesus taught and mingled with the pharisees, republicans and sinners when he was an adult, not a child.
Please don't argue with rhetoric and opinion alone. If you're going to expound on scripture, please be a Berean and make sure you know them.
Ginger,
ReplyDeleteIDK...it kinda sounds to me like Jesus was listening to the teachers and then tellin them a thing or two as well! ;)
Luk 2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
Luk 2:47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
Graceful Threads- I just realized that I don't know your name!!! :) I am sure your doing an awesome job and that your kids are gonna turn out great!!! Who knows what I will end up doing when I have my own kids!!! LOLOL I kinda lean more towards an Apostolic Church school, What do you think of that? I just don't see myself doing the WHOLE homeschool thing!!!!!!!!! My pastor has homeschooled some of his kids and some have been in public school and some in both and they have ALL turned out AWESOME!!! AND heeeeeeey look at me, eh?!?! J/K!!! ;) One thing that I think is crazy is people that homeschool their kids but then have TV or videos/DVDs in their home- its like they just defeated the whole purpose BY bringing the world RIGHT into their home!!! Also, one more thing, my mom sent us to Public School but she some how still maganged to a VERY ACTIVE part of it!!! She volunteered, and called the teachers ALL the TIME about EVErything!!!! (i THINK teachers like cringed when they got a Ginty in their class! HA!!) One more thing that you gotta factor into homeschooling is MONEY!!! From the people I know that have homeschooled, they have to go through some sorta program and you pay for materials and stuff. It can be kinda costly and Public School is FREE!!! Yes, the kids are worth the money, but if you don't got it, you don't got!!! Anyways, I really enjoy your blog so keep posting!!!
I just realized that I said one more thing twice...LOL
ReplyDeleteMary Frances,
ReplyDeleteJust an encouragement. You can give an excellent homeschool education with just a library card.
I use the majority of my homeschool budget for trips to the symphony, art museum, zoo, aquarium, etc. (I do choose to spend $35/yr on math curriculum. ;) )
Ginger, it is becoming apparant that you comment for the mere pleasure and fulfillment of trying to "be right" in every one elses eye. I, on the other hand value the concept of there being other people that actually hold different views and opinions as me. So if I base my comments on my personal "opinions", that is because they are precisely that... MY opinions! I don't recall prefacing any of my comments by saying they were bible facts of undisputable truths. ha ha!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that you think this is an "arguement". I view it as an exchange of views. Nothing to get all hopped up about, dear. :)