War on U.S. homeschoolers escalates

This reminds me of stories that leaked out from the former Soviet Union back when communists had tight control over its citizens.

Parents were forced to sent their children to state-run schools who taught atheism, had to deal with youth clubs that worked to enhance their philosophy.

Anyhow...this was the situation Christians faced and had to deal with. Non-compliance put them at risk of having their children removed form their homes and placed in state run institutions, like orphanages.

There is one inspiring story - never was verified, unfortunately - that proved to challenge me when I was a young mom.

A couple had a large family and taught their children well, atheism notwithstanding. The local powers-that-be was irked and decided to remove the children from their home and placed them in an orphanage. They did this but they did not take into account the working of the Holy Spirit. He used these children to evangelize this orphanage!

Not all children bereft of parents have such a glorious ending. During the Reformation an Anabaptist couple with a small child was burned at the stake - I think - for their faith. They had a small child that was placed in a non-Anabaptist home. This child grew up never embracing the faith of his parents, nor did any of his descendants.

One can easily lament the intrusion of government officials into the family, telling them what they can and cannot do, putting your children at risk. However, there are many parents who through their own selfishness and unforgiveness will put their children in similar risk but it is called divorce, sanctified by even church leaders.

Now, who is the greater offender?

This is disturbing.

However, I think that we would need to see the actual case to determine why the SCOTUS didn't review the case. There could be any number of reasons.

However, there is no doubt that there is a "free exercise" clause of the US Constitution protects the parents' right to educate their child as they see fit. I suspect that this case -- or one like it -- can eventually make its way through the appeals process.

As for the importance of home schooling...

I was saved while I was a student. Private schools were not an option and "homeschooling" was quite foreign to us. So, I attended a public high school. I did quite well in school and was able to share Christ with many teachers, staff members, administrators and, of course, fellow students. I even helped form a Bible Club at my school.

Yes, there were classes where some of the lectures (or items in books) conflicted with the faith. However, I knew the Lord and nothing that I was ever told or instructed could ever change that. And, yes, there is temptations in public schools as well. However, I counted those things as opportunities to serve the Lord under such circumstances.

After graduation, I went on to attend public universities. Again, I did very well both spiritually and academically. I was able to share my faith with professors and students. I was involved in Christian student organizations and took part in prayer meetings, Bible studies and "Church" meetings on campus (on a weekly basis).

I know that it might be ideal to provide students a homeschool education. However, it isn't feasible for some families. In many families, both parents must work (or a single parent must be the breadwinner). Some parents are also ill-equipped to prepare children academically. And, sadly, I later met individuals who sort of "cheated" their ways through Christian school or homeschool academics.

The ACE (Accelerated Christian Education...or "School of Tomorrow") curriculum and philosophy was used at our church, but most of the children under-performed on college entrance exams (like the SAT or ACT). Of course, there may have been different reasons for this...and it is possible that some children might actually excel. Unfortunately, most of the children from our church school scored well below the national average on such exams (except the paltry and misleading California Achievement Test).

Still, my wife and I don't have children yet. We aren't sure WHAT we will do for our children when we have them. Currently, my wife is employed as a teacher at a Christian school. This is a high-achieving school focused around very strong Christian principles. Many of the students' parents work at various companies around the Silicon Valley and want their children to be prepared for a top tier education while not compromising their faith.

Of course, I support homeschooling no matter what. While it isn't necessarily ideal for EVERYONE, there is NO DOUBT that this is a basic "free exercise" right and a great opportunity under the right circumstances.

My wife and I have discussed the possibility of homeschooling our children (when we have them). I suspect that my wife would make a great teacher for our kids. At the same time, we would have to pray long and hard about whether or not to homeschool them at the high school level.

QUOTE:
"Unfortunately, most of the children from our church school scored well below the national average"

Unfortunately, such is the case in our church as well. Many opt to home school, or else they did - it seems to be changing. The issue is not whether to send a child to a public school, it is whether to spend the money for a Christian School.

It is very disheartening to see grown guys get up front in church to read and stumble over words. How can these fellows expect to lead a group of people who can read better then they? Hey! I am not talking about the ability to do calculus, I am talking about simple reading! Females cannot look up to males as leaders who cannot read well!! If they do not feel the confidence from the females we will be regarded as rebellious or unsubmissive!

Pointing out the weakness among home schoolers is not a popular one in some quarters. They will get defensive... Since poor reading does happen among home schoolers the gov will feel justified to intervene. How much of this gov meddling is due to home schoolers lack of diligence in learning/teaching remains to be seen.

Thanks, Chris, for being brave enough to introduce this topic.

I agree with you Krispy. It all depends on how you want to live. Though my wife was working when we married, we structured our lifestyle in such a way so that she could quit and I would be able to support the family while she stayed home and homeschooled. It has worked out great but I understand that not everyone can do this. There are many that live above their means, but to be fair, there are also many that just need both sets of parents to work in order to have a lifestyle where needs are met and I am not talking about luxuries.

I do know some families where the wife does not work and they barely make it week to week. Because of this hardship, they can hardly concentrate on homeschooling as the mother is always doing other things in order to bring in money so she is actually absent from most homeschooling duties. The kids are protected from the wolves, and getting a good education about life and the Lord, but maybe not so good about the 3 R's.

There are so many mentalities regarding this. I know parents who both have a college education, have 6 kids, mother does not work (she homeschools) and husband has his own business. Problems are: His business is not doing very well, but has a mental block about working for others. Next problem: Have communicated to their kids that the college system is corrupt and overpriced and has discouraged their kids from college. They tell their kids to be apprentices and start their own business. This is not so palatable to the kids since their father's business is always a struggle. This entire world is corrupt, but God is able to keep us and protect us while we use this world's system and not get sucked in by it.

How many of us work for worldly companies (as opposed to Christian ministries)? How many of us went to college, go to business conferences, etc., and the Lord keeps us?

It's sad, because their kids are always so "down" and discouraged. No great visions or goals and kids should have these.

There are ways you can get through college without going in debt. There are grants, community college, or even take 6 years to complete 4.

Decisions that have to do with a marriages or raising a family are so personal, I really never offer my opinion unless someone asks how we are doing things. We mind our own business. There are families in our house church where I would definitely not do what they are doing, but I also never bring my private disagreements up in conversations. It's their marriage, their family, their business and everyone should have the opportunity to learn what works and what does not. Besides, what is good for my family may not work for theirs. However, we have gotten comments about letting our daughter go to college or even about how we are spending our money (remodeling, vacations, etc.).

Sadly, many Christians get a little bit of Bible truth and then they become experts and in becoming experts they then become meddlers in other families' business and they have so much more problems in their own families to take care of. But, they have their doctrines on raising families, or working for themselves, all sewed up and think every body else should be doing the same thing.

That is why I frankly stay away from Christians that have taken the Bible and codified it. They now have a 3 ring binder and can find a tab in their binder for every subject related to Family Life, Marriage, Working, Church Life, Finding a Mate, etc, etc.

They live by that 3 ring binder and they don't live by the Spirit. I think people like that are trouble because they will forever be superimposing their 3 ring binder on your actions and lifestyle. In our house church we all have problems, who doesn't, but thank the Lord, we don't have any 3 ring binders!! Hallelujah. Been there, done it, got the tee shirt.

On the other hand, you could actually just take verses in Proverbs and make a good case that it is scriptural to homeschool your kids. I saw someone do that one time and it was quite impressive. Unfortunately, he used it like a hammer on people. People use Scripture as a hammer in many other types of subjects, too (as we often discover on SI). Should we be hammering one another?

Christian schools can be bad, too. My brother-in-law learned about drugs in "Christian schools".

One really has to be close to their kids and involved with them and raising them in the love of God. And above all pray and trust the Lord no matter what your situation is.

I've known many dysfunctional homeschool families and public school families but I have also known many of them that are not. My oldest is in community college and made the International Honor Society. She is running as for an officer in the society because she found out that she can get a scholarship for her 3rd and 4th year of college by being an officer in the Honor Society. She is determined to get her degree, debt free. She loves the Lord, has a few Christian professors and many of her homeschool friends stayed local and are going to the same community college.

We are first generation homeschoolers and I bet many on SI are too. Well, the Lord saved us, didn't He and we were raised in public schools. Wow! Imagine that! But, I do know that public schools have gotten so very bad and they take liberties with the material they want to teach our kids. Plus, you don't know how other families are raising their kids and that is where kids learn the most. From their peers. And people have thrown off restraint today. We did not have Internet or Cable growing up. Many families have those and no controls so pre-teens know things I never knew until into my late teens or 20's and they are transmitting this knowledge to each other everyday.

Young kids are not mature in their emotions and are certainly not missionaries just because their parents are Christians. That is absurd. It's and interesting experiment being first time homeschoolers. I have noticed my kids have independent spirits and think for themselves and are not easily swayed by peer pressure which is a good thing. They go to a 1 day a week Homeschool coop to augment their homeschooling. Sixty families! So 60 mothers have a lot of different degrees and many subjects are offered. AP Chemistry, Algebra I and II, AP Biology, Writing and even one mother was a geneticist and teaches Bio-genetics which most high schools don't even have. Homeschool coops are great if you can find some around your area. Leverage the knowledge that all these mothers have. So many families are homeschooling these days that you can find many coops in medium to large cities or in their suburbs.

Overall, in today's climate, of course I would homeschool. But, I recognize that many cannot.

Pilgrim

Most homeschool families in our area homeschool through high school. I only know one family that did not. When their kids reached the 9th grade they went to public high school.

Pilgrim