How I made the decision to homeschool my children.
While my daughter was attending a Christian elementary school, homeschooling was a subject that initially never crossed my mind. But in my particular situation the school she was attending went from kindergarten through 6th grade. As a result, as she approached 6th grade, I was forced to consider the subject.
Needless to say, public education was not an option for me. Therefore I looked into a Christian middle school that transitioned into high school.
It just so happened this particular school was a long commute and the tuition was not within our budget. In addition, I worked part time out of the home.
Add to that my daughter had a desire to be home schooled. Still my decision did not come over night. It took me a couple of years to get there.
Since I knew my husband and I would eventually have to make this heavy-duty decision, I began to pray and gather information.
The rest is history. I became a home school mom for 17 years because I decided to homeschool my son as well. At the time I had no way of knowing how things would turn out.
As I look back everything worked out just fine. Homeschooling was a blessed time in our lives and produced very positive outcomes.
Hence, I would like to share with you some pointers on making this decision to homeschool your child/children.
First and foremost when making a decision about educating your child you need to inform yourself
Let me illustrate what I mean by being informed. I’m a retired nurse. During my nursing career I was responsible for having my patients sign consents for surgery and invasive procedures.
Everything would be explained in detail, the procedure itself and possible outcomes whether negative or positive. Furthermore, the patient had to have an understanding of the information conveyed.
When the person signs the document they are accountable for their decision. In short, the patient is informed and held accountable by signing the document.
Likewise we as parents need to be informed concerning the best way to educate our children. This is a parental responsibility. Then we can go into the situation with our eyes open.
As believers we are accountable to God for the choices we make to educate our children. For that reason we are not to ignore or put this issue off. It is of utmost importance.
So the first thing you should do is gather information
Let’s start with public education. Familiarize yourself with the curriculum at your local public school that your child is attending, or would be attending.
Next, familiarize yourself with the social, political, and cultural agenda taking place in your local public school. I’ve written a post on the public indoctrination of our youth. You can read my post. But, more importantly, do your own research. There’s lots of information out there.
If your child is attending a private Christian school, or you plan to put them in a Christian school, make a good assessment of the school. Today many Christian schools are Christian in name only.
With regard to that you need to be informed about what is going on in the private Christian school your child may attend or is attending. You may find out that you don’t agree. Here are some things to ponder about Christian schools:
• Is the school providing a Christian atmosphere?
• Is the school catering to the demands of non-believing parents?
• Are the teachers certified?
• Can they help your special needs child?
• Are the parents (or at least one parent) believers?
• Can your budget afford a private Christian School?
Inform yourself about homeschooling
• Talk to other home school moms.
• Read books about homeschooling.
• Look at homeschool curriculum.
• Attend a homeschool convention.
• Visit your local homeschool group.
• Find out how homeschooling works in your community.
Talk to your Child
Does your child have a desire to be homeschooled? If so that may help to make a decision. Nevertheless, the final decision is up to the parents.
Take a look at your child’s experience in a formal classroom setting. If it has been a disaster you might want to find out what kind of learner your child is. There are many young children who don’t do well sitting in a formal classroom all day. This is especially true for young boys.
Also, how has your child’s experience been with his or her peers? If your son or daughter is subjected to bullying everyday you may consider homeschooling.
In addition, if the teacher or the school administration chooses not to intervene or rectify the problem you may choose to homeschool.
Now just a couple thoughts on bullying. Today this problem has increased with great intensity. Not surprisingly, we are living in a mean world and we all need to toughen up a bit to withstand the assaults. But when a child is damaged emotionally and mentally this is not a safe environment for them.
My suggestion would be to pull the child out of school. Let them learn while in a safe and loving environment at home. At home mom has the option of controlling the child’s play dates and being available first hand if something gets out of control. If we don’t protect our children nobody else will.
Both parents need to be in agreement
Although the majority of the homeschooling is done by the mom, the decision should be made by both parents. Mom and Dad need to be on the same page, and pray and ask for God’s guidance.
Furthermore, parents need to support one another in the decision to educate their child at home. Homeschooling is not an easy task and when you encounter difficult days (and you will) you cannot be divided on this issue.
Look at the circumstances of your life
Mom is it necessary that you work outside of the home? If so, can you work part-time? Better yet can you work at home, or start a home business if extra income is required?
In my situation my profession helped. I would work weekends, holidays, and evenings in the hospital. These were times when my husband would be at home.
As my daughter got older I did clinics in the community and my daughter became a volunteer. Also, I was able to bring my toddler son in his stroller during our well baby clinics. Fortunately my workplace environment was homeschooler friendly.
Next you may want to consider the commute to private school, including hours spent, and wear and tear on your vehicle. Also, the cost of gas added to high tuition can drain your budget. Add to that the stress of driving on the highway with your child everyday.
Another essential point today is the safety issue at public schools. Perhaps your local public school may not be a safe haven for children. Do you know how safe your child is at school? And what are the measures your local public school is taking to make your child safe?
Finally, is your child thriving in the classroom setting? Or is your child frustrated and can’t keep up with the pace of the reading program, math curriculum etc. At home you can work at your child’s pace. There are no hard and set deadlines.
Look for Clarity in the scriptures
Making a big decision like this requires looking for answers in the scriptures. When you do your daily devotion or daily scripture reading, God can and will speak to you if you are seeking Him.
What I find helps is to journal whenever you hear God speak to you through the scriptures, pastors sermons, etc. This helps to give you clarity when trying to make a major decision.
Meanwhile, I will leave you with a scripture that is popular with the Christian homeschooling community:
“Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19).
In essence when we homeschool our children we reap the benefits of spending more time with them. This gives us more opportunities to impart a Godly heritage to them.
A review of my suggestions in this post
• Inform yourself about public education.
• Assess a Christian school or two.
• Learn all you can about homeschooling.
• Talk to your child.
• Make the decision with your spouse.
• Look at your personal circumstances.
• Pray and look for clarity in the scriptures.
Well, I hope this post helps. If you want to contact me with any questions about homeschooling you can reach me via my contact form.
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