I’m a BIG fan of homeschooling, especially for Christians. Parents homeschool their kids for various reasons, but religion seems to be high on the list.
I think it’s a waste of time and resources to push for changes in the way government schools educate children. Don’t fight corruption and indoctrination. Get your kids out of there.
If you’re a homeschooling parent or considering homeschooling, check out This Old Schoolhouse magazine (see right sidebar and click on the ad). I recommend the magazine not only because it’s one of my advertisers; it’s a wonderful resource I’ve mentioned on the blog before. Other homeschooling resources:
- Classical Homeschooling
- HomeschoolBlogger.com
- The Well-Trained Mind
- Home Education Magazine
- Trivium Pursuit
Related posts:
If you’re a homeschool blogger or read homeschool blogs and other web sites, leave a comment with the name of the site and/or URL. Support homeschooling!
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Thanks, La Shawn, I’d forgotten about these resources. My oldest just started kindergarten but the twins aren’t far behind her. I’m already having a tough time adjusting to the way she’s being taught in public school. I just need to muster the confidence and courage to teach her at home (and deal with all that comes with that, like my mother, who is a judgmental agnostic public school teacher).
I’m a home schooler. Lord willing, my children will never attend public school.
Home schooling really isn’t that hard, especially when your children are young. Tolerating family members that don’t agree with your right as a parent to make that decision can be discouraging, but don’t let that stop you.
Take heart, Natalie! When you get criticism from your mom (and others), smile and politely change the subject.
Monica
I have homeschooled for 15(almost 16) years. I have found the web to be an incredible place for resources..the hslda.org is a legal defense site,
oldfashionededucation.com has tons and tons of free resources,
and as a Christian the blue letter bible institute offers free bible study courses for the older children.
Most important advice I could ever give- most will not *get* that you homeschool and think that your children are missing something-such as socialization. (join a homeschool group-we have 200 children in our small county)Don’t waste your time refuting or defending.The results will be in the child’s test scores. Believe me, I have seen it!
Thanks LaShawn for your public support!
Besides “straight” homeschooling, there is the option of online public schools. We are starting our third year with California Virtual Academies (http://www.k12.com/cava/). This is available in several other states as well, see the main k12.com web site.
Because it is a charter (public) school, there is no cost for school materials like textbooks, workbooks, etc. They are shipped to you at no cost. They will even provide you with a computer and compensation for Internet connection costs. Some of the coursework is done online. The curriculum is vastly superior to the brick & mortar school around the corner from us. And students take tests to place them in the appropriate grade level in each subject, so students can work at higher grade levels. Students also have teachers that they meet with at least one a quarter.
The support and structure that CAVA provides is great and any parents who may find the prospect of homeschooling to be daunting should look into this option.
Hello:
I’m going to throw something out here and see if I get a response.
I’m curious about science books who take a creation stance but not a young earth view. I’ve never really thought much about creation & the age of the earth since it just didn’t matter to much to me until now.
I’ve been reading quite a bit from the answers in genesis site and have started to have problems with some of their theology. But mostly, I’m having trouble with their claims that if I don’t buy into their view of the age of the earth then I am questioning scripture. That bothers me the most, plus I really do believe that God created Adam & the earth with AGE. And since God is timeless, why do we box him in with a young earth that is around 6-10K yrs old?
Can someone suggest some good material that can give an alternative view of the age of the earth and earth sciences? Or can you give me your opinion of why you think the earth is very young?
I’m not interested in discussing the “politics” of evolution.
thanks -
I’m with Sharon B. I don’t believe in evolution, but I’m also not a Young Earth creationist since I simply think there are too many logical gaps in that theory. I’ve seen some Young Earth textbooks, though, but none that took an age-neutral view to creationism (which is what I would want).
Granted, I’ll be teaching in public school, because I think that’s my calling, but I still think homeschooling is a good thing for parents to do, and I find it fascinating that kids can learn just as much from being homeschooled as they can from college-educated teachers (if not more!)
Hi LaShawn,
Check out http://www.heartofthematteronline.com
for a daily homeschooling blog kept running by a community of homeschooling families. Then, visit their magazine, which will be going to print for the first time next month!
http://www.heartofthemattermagazine.com
Enjoy!
I’m in favor of protecting the option of homeschooling because I know that in the right hands the child can get a better education, but it needs to be accompanied by getting the kids socialized out in the world.
We need Christians out in the world to share the Light, and there will always be dangers to us.
A youtube/Godtube style site for Home Schoolers.
http://homeschoolviewtube.com/
There’s still time to enter to win an iPod Nano by becoming an affiliate for The Old Schoolhouse. You can see the details at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HSBCompanyBlog/581238/
I’m so tired of hearing that old “socializing” comment.
Homeschooled children are usually better socialized than kids who spend all day, every day, in a room with people of their own age and background. When I went to school, the one thing I hated above all else was the age segregation. My best friend, who went to a different school, had four sisters and a brother, and when she came to my house or I went to hers there was almost always another child playing with us. My son’s best friend is a year and a half younger than he is. But in public school, your friends are supposed to be the ones in your class; no stepping a toe off the reservation.
I remember thinking, the day I was graduated from high school, “This is great! Now I can have friends who are any age at all!”
I don’t want my son to have to say that. I want him to know it from the beginning.
Couldn’t agree more. My husband and his three brothers were homeschooled and have gone on to be successful in the way I define it — independent thinkers, hard workers, great college students, self-disciplined, godly men.
I hear conservative people (not necessarily always Christians, but usually conservative) moaning about all the garbage their kids get fed at school, but they keep sending them right back for indoctrination. They set the teacher up as an authority figure who should be listened to and obeyed, why are they surprised when they wind up with mini-socialists?
Don’t pay the left to brainwash your kids.
My wife and I agonized over how to school our young daughter when we first moved here. She was about to go into 1st grade then. My wife, unable to work here in the states yet, was going to be at home all day. There was also the possibility of any number of private Christian schools around us. My wife drove all over this town looking at everything there was to offer.
In the end, we ended up opting for public school for a host of different reasons. I can’t say that I haven’t regretted it either. She had a hard time with catty girls in her class, and what later became a large racial component to various groups and cliques that had formed. She’s found two great friends now and my wife started working a while back, so we’re pretty well stuck now.
I am often impressed with the homeschooled kids at my church, though, and their parents as well. It takes a certain kind of person to be able to homeschool. This is one of the reasons why I’d support a voucher program for homeschoolers.
Incidentally, La Shawn, thanks for the links!
Homeschooling rocks! We have been homeschooling for about eleven years. Love the freedom. Today is parent/teacher day in our local schools, so I spent some time talking to myself.
http://parentingfreedom.com/
http://parentingfreedom.com/homeschooling/
http://parentingfreedom.com/quotes-homeschooling/
I have homeschooled, and I wrote an elementary economics curriculum for homeschoolers that teaches basic microeconomics and the morality of capitalism. Check it out! http://www.z-net.us/cost-benefit/jr1.htm
Thanks!
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