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Saturday, I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Voddie Baucham speak at our state homeschool convention. The following video is not from the convention but is similar in nature to what I heard.
I love the phrase that ‘if you send your children to Caesar’s school, you shouldn’t be surprised if they come out as Romans.’ Oh! So True!
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By the way, this video was posted on youTube by American Vision. Including this video on my blog is not an endorsement of that organization.
From: Good Morning, LORD!
QUESTION FOR THE DAY:
Dear Compass,
Do you know of any scriptural support for homeschooling? I am being pressured by some close friends to look at doing this with my 7 year old. All I can think about is the next ten years spent teaching at home. I guess I’m questioning the overall need for homeschooling as it seems like a knee-jerk reaction, or an overreaction, to a few isolated school incidents. I worry about the long term effects of homeschooling — what if they find out we wasted a lot of time and energy for nothing? We’ve had public schools forever — don’t you think this might just be a passing fancy? What exactly is wrong with public schools anyway?
ANSWER:
If you want us to talk you out of homeschooling, you’re barking up the wrong tree. We think that it should be a major consideration for every parent, regardless of income, education or teaching ability.The case for homeschooling far exceeds the “isolated school incidents” you referred to. Most of those who choose to homeschool do so for reasons other than concerns of bodily harm for their children at school. Believers are scripturally commanded to train up their children on scripture, all day long (Deut. 6:7). Sending children into a place that forbids the Word of God to be spoken makes a good case to find alternative means to educate them. The endless secular propaganda from teachers and curriculum that contradicts scripture should also be a concern.
The Bible teaches that proper ethics are paramount in influence for our children. On the contrary, public schools teach ethics that are opposite from scripture (homosexuality, abortion, and no absolutes). Research has shown that a person with a 6th grade education can home educate a child through high school as well, or better, than a person with a college degree.
As far as homeschooling just being a “passing fancy:” There are over 1,700,000 children being homeschooled today in the U.S. In our home state here in Idaho, an astonishing 22 percent of children are homeschooled. And, homeschooling is NOT new — public education for the masses IS new. George Washington, Patrick Henry, John Quincy Adams, Robert E. Lee, Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, and Andrew Carnegie were all homeschooled. Many homeschoolers are more confident, make better grades, exhibit less rebellion (if any) during the 12-16 year old period, understand good citizenship, excel in college, and have a Biblical grasp of right and wrong, despite what the “group thinking” may be.
We think you should do more research on homeschooling through the Internet or through local associations in your own state. As you better understand what the truth is, you can make a better decision without the questions and concerns you cite. The question you should ask is not whether you think you should homeschool, but rather, does God want you to homeschool. If He does, He’ll bless your effort regardless of the circumstances.
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I’d like to add that public school has not been around “forever.” Actually, it has only been around since the 19th century. Before that children were primarily schooled privately or at home. Here’s a link to a fascinating ‘tour’ of how public education actually came about: http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history1.htm
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When the decision was made for us to homeschool our children, my husband and I were convinced that we were choosing the best possible educational option. Through the years, our choice has been validated by many experiences and lessons that the Lord has taught us.
Below are two quotes that put to words some of our thoughts that we have had but could not have expressed any better.
Often, the children of truly godly parents,
are acquainted only with the theory of true
religion–but their hearts are far from being
influenced by it. When such leave home, and
family restraints are removed–they generally
yield to the corrupt inclinations of their hearts.
And if they even keep within the bounds of
decency, (which is not always the case) they
gradually adopt the attitudes, manners and
habits of the world.
Many object to homeschooling or private Christian schools based on the fact that God has called us to be “salt” and “light” and to evangelize the world. Ironically, this is precisely why we chose homeschooling. The Great Commission states: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I command you” (Matthew 28:19-20, emphasis added). How is this likely apart from Christian education? How can I effectively “make disciples” of my children if I send them off to the government school forty-five to fifty hours per week? The Nehemiah Institute, The National Study of Youth and Religion, and the Barna Report have shown us clearly that our children do not even understand–let alone obey–all that the Lord has commanded. Moreover, how can our children evangelize our government schools if they don’t know what they believe and why they believe it? Not to mention that all of the evidence currently points to the fact that our children are the evangelized, not the evangelists, in our nation’s schools. They are the ones being carried away by every wind of doctrine. . . . The Nehemiah Institute continues to demonstrate year after year that Christian children in government schools who actually retain anything close to a biblical worldview are the rare exception and not the rule. . . . Let me be clear–I applaud men and women whom God has called to teach in government schools. These people are front-line warriors, and they need to be right where they are. However, there is a big difference between sending fully trained disciples into enemy territory and sending recruits [children] to our enemy’s training camp. If we do the latter, we shouldn’t be surprised when they come home wearing the enemy’s uniform and charging the hill of our home waving the enemy flag. {emphasis mine} —Voddie Baucham
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In an email newsletter, Doug Phillips, of Vision Forum, writes about why he teaches his children about Charles Darwin. Here are a few of 
the reasons that he offers:
Darwin was bitter.
Darwin worshipped the creature, not the Creator.
Darwin was not a scientist; he was training to become a priest.
He taught his children to hate the God of the Bible.
While many will commemorate the anniversary of Darwin’s birth this year, this article is an example why Christians should homeschool their children. Public schools and many private schools do NOT teach this perspective on Darwin!
Read the entire article here.
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Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he wil not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
Putting this command into practice offers many challenges. There is not a chapter in the Bible dedicated to child-rearing. However, there is much to learn!
One of the ways we train our children is to teach them character traits that honor the LORD. Using a series of booklets from Keepers of the Faith called, Write Upon My Heart, has made this task a bit easier. By focusing on Scriptures throughout the Bible, these booklets lead us into a clear understanding of how our “good habits become good character.”
We have covered three subjects so far, contentment, obedience and diligence. Yesterday, we began willingness and this one immediately hit home!
Here’s the beginning poem:
If I am slow to respond when asked,
If I cannot find happiness in meeting other’s needs,
If my own enjoyments loom important,
I know nothing yet of willingness.
Ouch!
Each of us were struck by the convicting truth of these words. Stories and examples of our unwillingness easily came to mind. We readily agreed how much we were willing to NOT put other’s need before our own, and how willing we were to obey when WE were ready.
As we continued, a powerful definition of willingness was given. “The word ‘willingness’ means to have freedom from reluctance; to have the readiness of mind to act in the interest of others or forbear in our own.”
Freedom from reluctance
I LOVE THAT!
It made our minds twist! Seeing the definition from that perspective was eye-opening! Freeing!
Think about it. We don’t have to be reluctant. It’s as if reluctance is a sin to be avoided. What a paradigm shift!
It’s going to take some serious meditation on that concept for it to sink into this thick head-o’-mine! AND, continuous prayer for a willing heart. AND, if we think it is hard, as adults, to be willing, think how our children must struggle, too. We must endeavor to model this character trait for our children.
May our gracious LORD grant us freedom from our reluctance.
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Grace Gems is a ministry that sends devotions to your email account on a daily basis. Each entry includes a short sound bite of an old Puritan sermon and a snippet of a book. I have posted one here and you can read another about prayer at The Simple Front Porch.
This week’s devotions included an especially relevant book excerpt that truly hit home. Please take a moment to read it and let me know your thoughts.
Those are not mothers–but monsters!(William Secker, “The Wedding Ring” 1658)
“Train up a child in the way he should go–and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
The goal of the godly mother, is that her children in the flesh–may be God’s children in the spirit. A mother should be more careful of her children’s pious breeding–than she should be fearful of her children’s worldly bearing.Take heed, lest these flowers grow in the devil’s garden! Take heed, that though you bring them out in corruption–yet do not bring them down to damnation! Those are not mothers–but monsters–who while they are teaching their children the way to heaven with their lips–are leading them to hell with their lives!
You let out your efforts to make them great–lift up your prayers to make them godly; that before you die from them–you may see Christ live in them. While these twigs are green and tender–they should be bowed towards God.Children are in a family–as passengers are in a boat. The husband and wife are as a pair of oars to row them to their desired haven!
Let these small pieces of timber be hewed and squared for the celestial building.
By putting a scepter of grace into their hands–you will set a crown of glory upon their heads! “Train up a child in the way he should go–and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
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What Can We Expect under
an Obama Administration?
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends of Homeschooling:
Since the election of Barack Obama as U.S. president, HSLDA has received more than a few calls from both members and nonmembers. Some are quite concerned about the future of homeschooling under an Obama presidency.
First of all, let us always remember that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). He also instructs us to be wise, plan, and be prepared in everything we do.
Despite HSLDA’s efforts prior to the election to get an official statement from the Obama campaign regarding their position on homeschooling, we received no response.
So where does that leave us?
We do know that the Democratic Party has an official position of supporting public education. The National Education Association (NEA), which is the national teachers union, is a major supporter of the Democratic Party. We know that the NEA’s position is that every child should be either taught by a certified teacher or supervised by one. Additionally, their position is that the curriculum used by all homeschoolers should be approved by the state, and children should only be able to continue to be homeschooled based upon systematic evaluation by the state.
It is important to remember that under the United States Constitution, the federal government has no authority over private and home education. This is not to say that they will not attempt to exercise authority in these areas. And whenever private educators accept grants and benefits, there are conditions to receiving those benefits, including being subject to regulation.
Just because the federal government has no constitutional authority over home education, however, doesn’t mean that federal bureaucrats or legislators might not attempt to impose some form of regulation over private and home education. We saw this back in 1994, when the reauthorization of the Secondary and Elementary Act (H.R. 6) contained an amendment which would have conditioned funding to the states for public education to require that all teachers be certified in every subject area they teach. The homeschool community rose up; over a million phone calls were made to the U.S. Congress, and the amendment was defeated. During that process, Representative Dick Armey from Texas introduced an amendment which stated that the federal government and Congress have no authority over private and home education. This protective language was passed by the House of Representatives.
With your help and the help of homeschoolers all across America, we will vigorously resist any effort on the part of the federal government to regulate home education. Obviously, this will take resources—which come from our membership—and we would encourage our current members to continue standing with us, and encourage others to join us.
An immediate concern to watch is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Although we do not know what Barack Obama’s specific position on the treaty is, we know that future Vice President Joe Biden has publicly indicated that this UN Convention should be ratified by the United States.
It does appear that we will soon have the challenge of keeping the UN Convention from being ratified by the U.S. Senate, ratification requiring a two-thirds majority to pass.
Should the UN Convention be ratified, it would impose the United Nation’s view of children’s rights on America. Under the U.S. Constitution, treaties become the Supreme Law of the land, taking precedent over state laws and state supreme court decisions.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is not in the best interest of parents or children, as it would undermine the parental authority that our laws currently recognize. For further information on the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child visit ParentalRights.org.
To summarize, homeschoolers should not live in fear, but we do need to be wise, and we will need to be vigilant to protect parental rights and homeschooling freedoms in the future. We stand prepared, with your help, to do that as we’ve done for 25 years.
Michael Smith
HSLDA President
