I have to address this, because as homeschoolers, we hear a lot from other Christians about being salt and light in the public schools. Christ was an ADULT when he hung around sinners. From his early childhood until he was 12, he spent in his parents’ home. He did not begin His public ministry until he was 30. God was using His childhood and youth for training. That is what our family does with our children, we are preparing them to face the world of sinners as mature adults who fear the Lord and walk in His ways. Walk into a greenhouse sometime and observe. What you see are seedlings and young plants being cared for and nurtured in a “perfect” environment for their proper growth. Once they reach a certain stage, they can be safely transplanted into the earth outside, to face the elements. My experience with gardening is, if I plant seeds outside, my success rate is very small of producing a plant that bears fruit for harvest. But, if I put in small tomato or pepper plants, they will thrive much better. With children however, we don’t have the option of replanting. It’s a one shot deal that I don’t want to botch. As a FAMILY we mingle with the sinners in various ministries, but our children are still under our care and protection.

Thank you for your thoughts, and I have enjoyed reading the posts. I see it has been here awhile, but maybe someone else new will read it.

I homeschool my kids, and then let them practice what they learn in public school. I hope that makes sense. They attend public school, and I count on their teachers to help me, but I consider myself as ultimately responsible for their education. They are very intelligent, one already in a self-contained gifted class, and I am grateful for the help that their classroom teachers give me. I find that they learn much more than facts in school. They practice how to be a Christian and serve Christ first when no one else is. Their morals and character are strengthened, not just because I have taught them but because they are tested, and I am right behind them, many times literally in their classroom, encouraging them and pushing them to work hard, even when they are not interested, to love people no one else likes, to learn to work with people that are difficult to work with, and how to do things that are boring and find the joy in serving Christ while doing them.

All this to say, “Going Public” by David and Kelli Pritchard is a must read book for anyone on educating their children. It is available on Amazon, and is one of the best I have ever read. It describes their choice to send their kids to public schools, and makes a lot of points that are never mentioned. Please read it….it describes our philosophy perfectly.

Our kids attend public school, mostly because I would eat one of my young if their entire education was left in my hands. The fact that my sons are in public education doesn’t mean I don’t home school. Once they walk through the door education doesn’t end. I may not have set curriculum, but I do have set agendas.

First and foremost, I want them to learn about Jesus, not just the facts either. I want them to mimic his manner, his thoughts, and his ways as much as one can in order to be his servant. They also are learning ‘on the job’ how to be the light and salt to the world while living amongst them.

My second major agenda is critical thinking and synthesis. I encourage my children to be curious, to explore and question what they’ve been taught at school. I promote critical thinking on all issues personal and academic. I allow them to take the lead. In order to accomplish this there is a great deal of dialogue that goes on in our home about current events, history, math, social studies, languages, language arts, and reading. We look things up on the computer, ask experts, and check out books from the library. I read to them from God’s word, and man’s (you know chapter books). My boys play instruments, play sports, are in scouts, swimming lessons, Gifted and talents programs provided by our local consortium, and they are involved in church youth activities. My boys are well rounded!

I believe education is a personal decision, and may be different from child to child not just family to family.

I have a friend whose a psychologist. He helps devise and update the ACT and SAT. Even they won’t confirm what the test measures. They believe what you know in your head doesn’t always translate to paper. Nor does it prove readiness for anything, or predict future success of an individual. It’s pretty much a money maker, and a way for universities to have a cut off point for applicants.

I totally agree with your homeschool philosophy and can’t wait to start in a couple years with my boys. However, I’m interested in how you get away with a less structured approach for state requirements? Here in NY we have such strict requirements for what they have to learn that there’s no time for all the fun “extra” stuff. Do you have more freedom in your state?

I really enjoyed reading about the way you and your husband are teaching your children. It sounds like you are raising children that will be kind, hardworking and intellegent adults.

I don’t have kids, and as you know, that entitles me to talk about how I would raise my kids so they will be perfect. Just teasing, well… not really :)

If I did have children they would be taught much the same way. While I certainly wouldn’t want them to be walking dummies, it probably doesn’t take 4 or 5 hours of sit down worksheet and study time. Raising a child to grow up into a lovely, pleasant, inteligent, God honoring human being involves so much more than cramming facts in.

Blessings,

Trixie

http://farmhomelife.blogspot.com/