When people asked, “How long?” we cautiously said, “one year at a time.” And probably every year, we briefly re-think our decisions. That was nine years ago. Now people query me: “Are you really going to go through high school?” The implication is: “Are you crazy?” Doubt is easily sown and I have considered our options again. I prayed again for wisdom (before bringing it up to my husband).
The evening news is a constant reminder to me of some of the reasons public school will not be our choice. Almost every time I watch, there is a teacher or student arrested, a bus accident, or some other horrific occurrence to show that many schools are not safe places these days. My niece brings us stories that make me cringe about the indoctrination the public school tries to give her. Besides evolution and tolerance-training, her school annually shows “The Secret” – the Oprah flick about how to ask the universe for what you want (New Age philosophy) -- yet she is not supposed to bring a Bible on campus. A friend of ours is interning in a public middle school and keeps reminding my kids, “You aren’t missing a thing!”
So, my mind turned back to Christian school. They tend to have rigorous academic standards and they would certainly uphold our conservative Christian values, wouldn’t they?
Then I ran into an old friend of mine, one whose children have gone to Christian school all their lives. And, while her children have done fine, she revealed that a majority of her eldest child’s senior class (now in their first year of college) have already abandoned their faith and training. No matter how hard the school tried, they did not make a difference. The children are partying, drinking and playing around with the world.
I felt a sudden renewed peace with our decision to home-school through high school. Because there is no security in any option that we choose. Homeschooling certainly does not guarantee a child will continue in the path laid by the parents. We must only rely on the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
I remember a friend of mine, who has children a bit older than mine, telling me as hers entered the highschool years, "You've vome this far homeschooling, why would you want to throw it all away now when you only have four years to go?" That has stuck with me. At the time my kids were in upper elementary and I had been doing the "one year at a time" thing.
ReplyDeleteWe decided at that point to commit to the full course for all of our children. Amazingly, once that decision was made I felt a great sense of relief. NOw I could relax a bit in our schedule, knowing that if we didn't get everything this year, it would come around again. I also realized that I had been dreading the thought of "school" looming on the horizon. Now I could breathe.
Will my children's education have holes in it....maybe. Am I the perfect teacher....no. Are my children loved, corrected and discipled daily...yes. And they would not be if they were in school.
Once you commit yourself to schooling all the way through I believe the 'stress' goes down and you get into a groove and 'school' becomes as natural as breathing. In the grand scheme of life, this is such a short season --- all the more reason we need to pour ourselves into the training up of our children. Like Jennyfer said, though we aren't perfect, our children are learning life lessons far beyond what school ever could!
ReplyDelete"Because there is no security in any option that we choose."
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it!
I am homeschooling my sons for high school and I am blessed.
Thank you so much for your post! My daughter is only in 1st grade this year so I have a while to go before high school (thank you God) but we were just talking about going on next year. My daughter cried because she does not enjoy homeschooling. She went to kindergarten at a charter school and of course as kinder. she basically played all day so she thinks that is how school is.
ReplyDeleteI love the comment above and I agree with what your friend said about the kids just falling away from their beliefs after. I went to Catholic school up until high school and within about 2 years a huge percentage of my friends were on drugs, having sex and/or drinking. Out of 40 kids in my class I would say that most of them seem very far from any Christian beliefs... we are 25/26. And if you just did the math I also ended up as one who drank, did a little bit of drugs & got pregnant at 17, which also now completely influences what I want for our daughter! God's grace & forgiveness is amazing! Good Luck!!
Very nice post. I'm just starting on the high school roller coaster :) I'm excited and scared to no end. But I do believe that this is where my kids need to go to school at :) God is here in our home, not in the schools.
ReplyDeletePersonally, the public schools scare me to no end. Yesterday I was talking with a lady who has 13 yo twin girls. They are already active with boys- and GIRLS- and this mom told me that it is popular and ACCEPTED around here.
I just keep praying that God will direct my path in the way I teach my kids. I have faith that He will.
Great post.