Why We Home Educate ~Part 3

Doesn't she look smart already?

Bethi- May 31, 2005

Here we come to a refuting of common arguments against homeschooling. I will only address a few, but there are many stumbling blocks to people who would really love to homeschool and I welcome questions and comments if anyone finds themselves in need of further encouragement. 

What about socialization?I tried to look up "socialized" in the 1828 Webster's Dictionary and the word was not to be found so I had to settle for an inferior version to even find the meaning! I found that a "socialized" person is: 

1.Made friendly, cooperative, or sociable. 2. Is put under group control; esp. to regulate according to socialistic principles. 3. Has been adapted for the uses or needs of society. 4.Takes part in social activities. 

We certainly have no problem with wanting our children to be friendly, cooperative, and also willing and able to take part in appropriate social activities but we have a real problem with our children being put under "group control" of the state or being "adapted to the "needs" of this Godless society. As far as the worry about how home educated children will learn to get along with others in "the real world", I would have to answer that our children will be much more prepared than the average government school attendee. While they are stuck in the same rooms every day for months seeing the same people, who are largely the same age, day in and day out, our children are conversing with their multi-aged siblings, their parents and grandparents, the elderly neighbor, the teenager at the fast food place, the middle aged cashier at Wal-Mart, and the various employees at Lee's store, etc. If on the other hand, you worry that if you home educate, your children will be "different" than their peers we would have to answer that that is a very possible outcome and if that concerns you watch a few minutes of MTV and then praise our Lord that by God's grace our children can be different from their peers! Please don't worry about socialization! Here is a statement made by John Taylor Gatto in a speech on January 31, 1990 while accepting New York City's "Teacher of the Year" award: "The daily misery around us is, I think, in large measure caused by the fact that, as Paul Goodman put it thirty years ago, we force children to grow up absurd. Any reform in schooling has to deal with its absurdities. It is absurd to be part of a system that compels you to sit in confinement with people of exactly the same age and social class. That system effectively cuts you off from the immense diversity of life and the synergy of variety; indeed it cuts you off from your own past and future, sealing you in a continuous present much the same way that television does...". 

Shouldn't homeschooling be outlawed, or at least heavily regulated, because there are people who, if given the choice, will simply not educate their children? Thomas Jefferson had an excellent answer to this concern, "It is better to tolerate the RARE instance of a parent refusing to let his child be educated, than to shock the common feelings and ideas by the forcible asportation and education of the infant against the will of the father.".

I can't afford it.
There are certain instances where this may very well be true, but they are truly few and far between. You may not be able to have cable or two cars if you home educate your children, but when it comes right down to it, can you really afford NOT to? Aside from the spiritual cost to your children, we haven't even yet touched on the declining test scores and essential "dumbing down" of the curriculum in the government school system. As our Lord said, we do need to "count the cost" of our endeavors (Luke 14:28) but as you do so don't forget that "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21. Is your treasure in things, or people? 

I could never stay home with my children all of the time!
This is such a sad thing to hear, especially when it is said right in front of the children! Are there behavioral issues? What a wonderful reason to homeschool! Bring them home and concentrate on character for awhile. Have you bought into the feminist idea that we women are "above" common child care? It is time that we were reminded that mothering has always been a world changing occupation in this world. We have a tiny dependent baby who hangs on our every word, we raise the future generation for good or for evil. Consider these quotes about mothers: 

"The future destiny of a child is always the work of the mother." -Napoleon Bonaparte. 

"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." -Abraham Lincoln. 

"All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her." -George Washington. 

Wow! What a calling to be walking in the footsteps of these women! Your children are a heritage and a reward from God (Psalm 127:3) and God makes "joyful mothers" (Psalm 113:9), ask Him to make you a joyful mother! Will it always be easy? Probably not, but the good times more than make up for the difficult ones.

My child doesn't want to be homeschooled. If your child does not want to be home with you than you are losing/have already lost him or her and it is actually imperative for both of your sakes that you bring him or her back to the family right away!!!

In conclusion, it is no secret that we believe strongly in homeschooling, we have such a burden for this coming generation who will grow to shape the world that our children and grandchildren, and yours, will live in. There are many reasons to home educate but when it comes right down to it Isaiah 54:13 sums it all up...

 "And all your children will be taught by the Lord; and great will be the peace of your children.". Peace, isn't that what we all want for our children? Then let us strive to raise children "taught by the Lord" ...that they may have peace.