Just thought this was good. Anti-Homeschooling Excuses: Are They Valid? by Tamara Eaton Ten common excuses which are actually reasons to homeschool! 1. My kids drive me crazy. Then maybe it's time you do something so they don't drive everyone else crazy, too! It's easier to ignore problem areas if you send your children off to school each day--you don't have to put up with it all the time. Let the teacher and other students do it instead. But who must answer to the Lord for how you taught and trained your child? Not the teacher but the parent. Homeschooling isn't a "cure-all" for poor behavior but it does give us time together to work out any problems instead of ignoring them, and it eliminates the negative role models and peer pressure which often influences negative behavior. Or maybe you feel that they DO respect others, just not you? You can tell them when to brush their teeth, get dressed, go to bed--just not when to do their math! There is really no difference--it's all a matter of obedience and respect. Ephesians 6:1-2 "Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." 2. I don't have enough patience. Patience comes through overcoming trials and learning to yield to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25) instead of the fruit of flesh. You'll never develop patience if you continually avoid opportunities that would require you to put it into practice. But you might be surprised how quickly it grows with frequent exercise--homeschooling can be that vehicle the Lord uses to work patience in you! 3. I'm not highly educated. Fine--here's your chance to learn right along with your children! There are tremendous resources available to help us teach our own children. Studies have proven time and again that the success of homeschooling is not dependent upon the level of the parents' education. According to Dr. Brian Ray's recent study, "Home educated students' test scores remain between the 80th and 90th percentiles, whether their mothers have a college degree or did not complete high school." [http://www.nheri.org National Home Education Research Institute's website address] 4. I love my job. What's more important during this season of your life--your children or your job? Your job can wait. Your children can't. Your decisions and priorities are already influencing them every day--either for good or bad. I've never heard older people say that they wished they had spent more time on their job. I have heard them say they wished they had spent more time with their children. If you love your job more than spending time with your children then maybe this is a sign that your priorities need reevaluating. 5. I don't have time. There is always time to do the will of God. Is He calling you to homeschool? Then He will provide the time. As a result of homeschooling our children, we have limited outside activities and found a simpler lifestyle. We're not forced to succumb to the modern pressures and stresses of our society with its hectic pace--instead we are able to slow down enough to enjoy time together as a family, embracing a slower paced lifestyle without sacrificing the modern conveniences of our microwaves, washers, dryers and computers! (See articles on "Priorities" and "Time Management Tips" for more encouragement.) 6. I'm selfish--I need my privacy and space. Jesus said unless we take up our cross and die to self, we can't be His disciple. (Luke 9:23-24, 14:27) Good parenting requires sacrifices during this season of our life. However, choosing to homeschool doesn't mean that you can never have any privacy anymore. When the children are young, we have regular naptimes and bedtimes so that gives us time apart. Older children are trained to respect the need for quiet time in the afternoons and evenings. The children also have their own activities and playtimes apart from mom during the day at times, too. (See article on "Feeling Frazzled" for more tips.) 7. I can't afford it. If it's God's will that you homeschool, you can't afford not to! And He will provide all your needs if you trust Him. (Matthew 6:33) We have never been a "high income" family but God has worked in the most unexpected ways to provide our needs over the years. Think of how much you spend now by sending your child off to school--don't forget to include the "hidden" expenses of special school wardrobes to keep up with the peers. Homeschooling curriculum can cost as much or as little as you like--it all depends on what you choose to do. The public library is free and full of helpful resources for your homeschooling! We have always chosen not to purchase a full packaged curriculum and saved so much money by putting together our own curriculum. (For more help on this, see the article on "Choosing Curriculum") 8. I never liked school. Homeschooling will help you see how enjoyable learning can be in a relaxed, pressure-free atmosphere at home! You don't have to structure your homeschool like a public or private school-- so don't let your past experience with school hinder you from committing to homeschool your children. Give them the opportunity to experience what you missed out on in your childhood and see how much fun you can have while learning together! 9. My children are too sociable--they'd get lonely homeschooling. An EXCELLENT reason to educate them at home so you can make sure their "socialization" experiences are positive instead of negative. Homeschooling doesn't require your children to become hermits, but you will have the freedom to select the activities and make sure they are blessings and not hindrances. (See article on socialization called "Missing the Mark" for more information.) 10. I could NEVER do that! If we had known in advance and in detail all the negatives and challenges we'd have to face as parents, who among us would have been brave enough to have children? God gives us the grace, strength and wisdom we need when we need it-- not in advance! I find great encouragement in scriptures that remind me that I must yield and abide, then He is sufficient to take care of all the needs and enable me to fulfill my responsibilities. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 "And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God..." John 15:4-5 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing." Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." And the following scripture has always encouraged me when I've been tempted to dwell upon my inadequacies: 1 Corinthians 1:27-31 "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God had chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." Homeschooling, like parenting, requires faith--faith that the Lord will give us wisdom and grace as we need it. In His infinite wisdom, He has designed us so that we MUST rely upon Him! Why doesn't He give us all the wisdom we need to be parents right at the start when the child is first conceived? Instead, He allows wisdom and maturity to develop as we grow through trials, the study of His Word, and experiences--all the while, pointing out our need of Him daily in order to walk in His ways. Thus, He receives ALL the glory! May the Lord direct your family in His Ways and give you clear wisdom and direction in the education of your children! 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." © Copyright Tamara Eaton 1994-2000, all rights reserved.
Excellent!! I loved this article!! #1 is pretty much the conflict my friend (who isn't for homeschooling) keeps on about. She just doesn't understand how I would want to be home with my kids all day every day!! Last night she said to me........"So, you are really going to do this homeschooling thing then, huh? Don't you want a break from your kids? I just don't know how you can do it- my kids would drive me crazy!!"
So, am I a bad parent because I wont be homeschooling my son this fall? Just something to think about, but just like "school", homeschooling isn't for everyone either and God doesn't lead everyone down the same paths.
I think the parent has to have a desire as well as a calling to homeschool their child. You are a great mommy, Jen!!!:love: Your children are blessed to have you. I think it is a breath of fresh air to have you here supporting those who do homeschool. One of my sisters tried to homeschool her daughter and after a year, she knew it was not for her or her daughter. Her daughter and son have become great witnesses for Christ in the school arena. I believe this is where God wants them to be. Their mission field is the school campus. We all have a call from God and they are not the same call. They have brought many friends to church faithfully, and some have actually continued to come on their own. You have to do what is best for your family. Patty
I believe that if you are doing the best job you can to raise a healthy, loved, happy and secure child that you are an awesome parent. How you DO that job is your business. What works for one family, does not always work for another and vice versa.
You know, until I came here I really didn't know a whole lot about homeschooling. I came to the forum because I thought because I stayed home with Tanner and ran my preschool that I could somehow be considered a homeschooler. ??? So, as time went on I started learning a lot about it, started meeting homeschooling families at church, and really came to have a very supporting view of it all. To be honest, I have yet to meet a homeschooling family at my church that gives homeschooling a negative view. They are all so wonderfully educated and well mannered, the ones that I have come to know. I really do admire all homeschooling families for their hard work, dedication, and sacrifices. Even though I don't homeschool myself, officially that is, I find myself sticking up for homeschoolers all the time now because of the things I have learned through everyone here and friends of mine at church. :love: I also stick up for the other side though too... when it is necessary. If a time came where God has called me to homeschool my children, I will welcome it with open arms, but that time hasn't come. Who knows what the future holds though.
You're welcome. I just thought it was nice. I didn't mean for anyone to get offended. Just sharing an article is all
I don't think that was saying anything about being a good parent if you homeschool, and a bad one if you don't! To me it was saying, "If you do no research and spout excuses and think they're great facts for not homeschooling, then think about this..." That's how I saw it anyway.
I reread all posts and I don't think anyone sounded offended and I also didn't find your post offensive. I actually agree with it, in light of my circumstances. If I send Ems to a public school around here, I might as well send her straight to Hell. Our system is infested with gangs, drugs, many teachers with agendas of their own, teachers who are sexually attracted to children, tests that ask questions that are none of the school systems business, teachers that are having affairs with other teachers, sex ed. classes that far exceed the boundries of all teachers. Our schools are beyond redemption as far as I am concerned. That goes for all of California schools. I could not allow these people to have my daughters mind for so many hours a day. So for me personally, this article rings loud, clear, and true. I think you brought up a valid point. We are not all meant to homeschool. I reread the article again and I tried to see it through your eyes and I understand where you are coming from. Although I have no doubt that the article was written for the Christians eye, not all homeschoolers are Christians and not all Christian homeschoolers homeschool for Christian reasons. I can see how it can be read differently by each individual. I am glad that we can all come together and comment on something. It helps shed light and as Prairie shared, it gives something to think about. Thinking is good!!:love: That is what I have always loved about this place. Patty
Patty, I know what you mean. I live right next to Milwaukee. I don't even like to step foot inside the county, let alone their school district! If I lived there (which I NEVER will), I would never send my child to one of their schools! Thank God our district happens to be a pretty good one. Not all their schools are great, but we were lucky to get a transfer request approved for Tanner and I happen to love his school so far that he will be attending. He had K orientation on Friday and I loved what I saw and heard from the teachers and principal. We'll see what happens. I know I'd never be that pleased with a school in Milwaukee though. Like yours, they are infested with guns, gangs, violence, everything...EVERY DAY my cousin, who teaches there, has to break up fights and things of the like. Boo hiss at them!
