So…homeschooling. I do realize that this is a topic fraught with deep personal convictions on both sides of the fence. So my desire is to tread lightly as I share my thoughts with you. The problem is though, I think, that in blogging about this, it will probably come across as a “rant.” I would much rather share my thoughts and personal convictions with you all in a friendly conversation. Keep that in mind.
Up until recently, I think Dave and I would have defined ourselves as fence-sitters regarding the home school/public school debate. We really agreed with arguments on both sides of the issue…and when we sent Elijah to public school four years ago it was because it was just the easiest thing to do. To be brutally and painfully honest with you (and myself), it was a free babysitting service (ouch!). The fact that he was learning something was just an added bonus.
Sure, we may have quoted the “salt and light” verse (Matt. 5:13-16) for good measure…with naivete, I believe, and without ever stopping to think of how our children could actually be salt and light in a school setting. Without taking time to consider whether or not they were…well, “salty” enough. Because Matt. 5:13 makes two things clear: 1) As Christians, we are to be the salt of the earth but 2) it is possible for a Christian to not be salty enough. In which case they would be “trampled underfoot.”
So, do I think my kids were/are salty enough to be placed in a public school setting? No. And I say this simply because they have not had time to “marinate.” Dave and I have realized that our children aren’t going to be salt and light just because we quote that verse and hope that it happens. We don’t believe that one becomes automatically salty when they take that first step and decide to follow Jesus. While there are some things that we inherit straight away, like forgiveness and direct access to the Father’s throne, saltiness isn’t one of them.
Saltiness comes, rather, through time spent in the the Lord’s presence, in the Word and in prayer…”marinating,” if you will. It’s only been recently that Dave and I have started to cultivate these disciplines in our childrens’ lives. And we are jealous for more time with Elijah and Zeke especially; after a long, seven-hour, rigorous day at school there just hasn’t been much time or energy left over for “marinating” this past year.
I guess what it boils down to for me is that I don’t feel like I’m doing a good job of discipling my children by sending them to a public school. (In fact, I feel like I’m letting the Bloomington Public School system disciple my kids. Obviously a disconcerting thought!) The Great Commission can certainly be used as an argument against homeschooling, but in my opinion it only strengthens it. Jesus said, “go and make disciples of all nations.” Granted, I don’t have very far to go and my nation is small but I’ve no doubt that I’m doing my part in fulfilling the Great Commission in discipling my children through homeschooling. The Great Commission says nothing about us sending anybody…anywhere. Our job is to do the discipling. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, will do the sending. Are a seven and nine year old able to grasp the concept or responsibility of being sent and “making disciples?” Mmmm…maybe. Mine aren’t yet. They are still very much in need of being discipled.
So, that’s a little bit of what is going on inside my head and heart. As I read over my words and get ready to post this I’m realizing that this entry is more for me than it is for you. A lot of the times, for me, the fog lifts off of my thoughts when I can get them down in black and white. And as I move forward in this homeschooling thing I’m definitely going to need clear, concrete convictions to fall back on when the going gets rough.
I have much more to share but I’ll save it for Part III. Thanks for reading! And please, feel free to comment, agree or disagree with me. 
P.S. Here’s a totally random piece of information for you. I’m craving Cheese Whiz today…and I feel kind of embarrassed about it.
And how random is it that there is actually a jar of cheese whiz in our house and there NEVER is…funny!
You and your boys will have a wonderful time together – it is great to read your thoughts and I can see how passionate and purposeful you feel about this! Lots to think about as Isaac starts school! Hey I am sure you have heard this befor but I heard it on the mom show and “they” said its really important to have a separate room or area for schooling – ie: the kitchen table shouldn’t also be your school desk and the home school area should only be for school. I thought that was a really good tip!
Love you!
I re-read your note – as I often do with the deeper ones and your thoughts reminded me of thoughts I first has as a parent about decipling my kids – thoughts of meaning fully coming along side of them and helping them really “get” something I wanted them to learn. You know how as a parent of little people how much better it works when you sit down with them and show them how to clean up or how to be patient as apposed to just ordering them to do so?! I whole heartedly agree that this is what the scripture wants us to be! And like we discussed last week about children who spend up to 12 hrs a day in daycare out side their home. I too am not judging those moms – I get it – it is near impossible to be a single income home and be above the poverty line – I know people are eager to secure a future for their children but in this moment of our lives we are to be decipling our little “nation”. I like how you put that! But don’t be too hard on yourself about banishing Eli to public school :O) he has excelled there and I am sure it is an experience that will help the rest of your little family gain an understanding of “school”. I’m still trying to find that article I told you about on “unschooling”. If we lived close by I’d join your classes :O)
Hi Janet,
Thanks for your honesty – it is an interesting debate for sure, and one which, for us, for now, involves us very much committed to public schooling for several reasons.
First off, our oldest boy has some special needs which could never be addressed in either a private or home school setting. I guess I just think it is helpful for people on both sides of the debate to know that there are some parents and children who, without the amazing services provided by public school special ed services, would be left to fall further and further behind.
My second point also involves our oldest (of 4) boy. He is 9 years old, and whether or not he has fully, cognitively grasped the concept of redemption and forgiveness, we see evidence in him of an emerging faith in Christ which he is beginning to live out in his public school setting. One recent example was when a boy’s dog had recently died; the boy was very upset and upon seeing his distress, Luke offered to pray for him, offering comfort and sympathy.
Luke is drawn to the unlovable and outcast children – whether this is just his personality, or evidence of his growing, yet very early, relationship with Christ I do not know, but I am comforted to see such early signs of Christ-like character being so beautifully lived out among those who do not know Christ – whether it is comforting and escorting a wounded child from the playground to the first aid room, or praying a simple prayer with a grieving friend who has lost his dog.
So for us for now, it’s the public school system – where our boys are not so much being baby-sat, but are hopefully starting to gently live out their simple faith in real ways – ways that would just not be possible within the 4 walls of our home.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
thanks Janet, really liked what you had to say..couldn’t agree more
it encouraged in my journey and why i am doing what I am doing!
Be blessed,
Léa
Some good comments rolling in :O) Here is the unschooling link: http://vintagechica.typepad.com/summerunschool/ i don’t know how to make it active or whatever that means but check it out – its a blog – vintage chic is the name if you have to search for it!
Last thing and then I’ll get out of your blog space – this gal – from link above is facinating to me. I think its a little too free – a little stucture is a little necessary – its the world we live in… any way here is quote from her site :
Em doesn’t use any curriculum at all. He is allowed to follow his interests wherever they may lead him. Luckily, there are a lot of other people around who are willing to do things with him, too! For instance, he is really interested in all things medieval and really wanted to build a trebuchet. Suffice to say, this is not my forte. But then it turned out that a grandpa was game to do this with him and they got to spend a day a week at least over the fall and spring working on this project together.
So how does he get tested? How do you know they have learned what they need? But it sound like a fun life for a kid :O)
Hey Jill. Good thoughts!
We do indeed plan on transforming a space in our home into a little school. Ikea will help with that.
Also, I wouldn’t even dream of homeschooling without some kind of structure in place. We’re planning on enrolling Elijah and Zeke in the Minnesota Virtual Academy, a free online school, for this coming school year. I’ll share more about this in Part III.
Dave, thank you for sharing your thoughts as well. I absolutely agree that there is a broad spectrum of reasons why homeschooling will work for some families and not for others. I’m glad you offered another point of view.
I also want everyone to know that the point of this post wasn’t to “convert” anyone, I just wanted to offer a sound argument as to why I feel very strongly about homeschooling my kids.
And about the babysitting service thing. I was only confessing an attitude in my own heart that I believe is wrong and not accusing anyone else of using the public school system to babysit their kids. I will even go a step further and say that even if you do feel that you need a break from your kids and feel like you need to send them to public school to have that, that’s not necessarily wrong…if you’re comfortable with that. I just know that for myself, when I think back to when I first started having kids, I wanted to have kids…well to have kids, not to let someone else have them.
since you will be using the same curriculum I am using I just wanted to make you aware that there is A LOT of evolution wound through out the entire curriculum. It took me by surprise. Because I am the one teaching it, I can immediately talk about what the Bible says… etc. Tim and I both feel that we will probably need to invest in a creation science curriculum just to have so we can reference it when evolution stuff comes up. I am still going to use the program because it keeps us on track & accountable, but I have had to make A LOT of modifications to what the kids are learning and then tell the ‘teacher’ “yup, we did our lesson!” (while thinking we did it OUR way!)
ohhh…. and for the 1st grade history Malachi learned about all the different religions in the world, and how they came to be… which was AWESOME! We had so much fun studying them – but the curriculum went into DETAIL about certain gods & goddesses – like scary detail. We skipped a lot of those details because they scared him and because I didn’t think he needed to know everything there was to know about the gods the people worship – we talked more about the hearts of the people and WHY they worshiped these gods. – Again, this meant I had to modify and sometimes check ‘done’ on things we may not have actually done… ya know? That’s why I told Cathleen this curriculum is not for “rule followers”
Thanks for sharing all this Janet, opening up a great topic. I sometimes find it hard to discuss this topic/issue of homeschooling or public schooling. I think it’s just because our kids are so precious to us, something we definitely take personally. So it’s hard to not feel like we’re offending or judging. But I love to read your posts and the comments/discussions following are great!!!
Keep sharing your family’s journey!