To the christian parents choosing to home school their little ones?
May 12th, 2009 | by |I am addressing this question to parents that home school their children and follow Christ. What are you so afraid of that you choose to limit your children's exposure to you and your views alone? God is testing the faith of his creation (humans assuming we are the only ones being tested) constantly according you. So doesn't it make sense to let your kids be exposed to others and coming back to you for answers or guidance? Exposing them to only you and people like you is not preparing them but setting them up for shocks as young adults. Do you worry about this with your children?
By ~Raindrops~ on May 12, 2009
I am a christian homeschooler, but I do not homeschool for that reason alone. I simply want a "real" education for my children and not the "one-size fits all" basic knowledge of life!
I am not afraid of anything, I just do not see any postive coming from allowing my children to be subjected to bullies, drugs, sexual content, and so much more at such a young age. This stuff is now happening in our elementary schools and those children are too immature to know how to act when in those circumstances.
God calls us to a higher duty of protecting our children and raising them the right way and NOT putting it off on someone else. It was never meant to be someone else's job to educate my children and I am not passing the buck to sit at home watching my soaps complaining about how the system works. I instead take an active role in doing my part and educating my children! I pay for the books, the field trips, the lunch, the building fees and any other fees incurred to teach my children while paying taxes for you to send your child to public school….what are you complaining about?
My kids are not only exposed to me and people like me, do you think we live in a bubble or what? My children are able to have intelligible conversation with other adults and not only their peers! We are at the grocery store planning menus and making recipes, at the post office mailing letters to soldiers, serving food to the homeless, all while public school children are stuck in a desk being quiet while they receive their lump of education and homework assignments! Homework that will go well into the evening hours/family time with no hands-on of life skills…just bookwork!
We were at the dentist this morning learning about teeth…..and frankly the dentist was shocked at the questions they were asking for 2 reasons, 1)most people have this view that homeschoolers are shy and never speak and 2) these questions were expected from college kids, NOT elementary or middle students!
By curly on May 12, 2009
Homeschooling isn’t about limiting a childs exposure to the sole views of his parents. That would be rather impossible anyway.
Homeschoolers live in the world just like everyone else and are exposed to many people and places outside of the classroom. Often homeschoolers go to classes too, they just don’t spend so much time in them. They therefore get to interact with a wider variety of people.
My kids interact with all sorts of people and as young adults they are more prepared than I was having been sheltered in public school. So, no I don’t worry about this.
By Genuine Canadian Gal on May 12, 2009
I was home schooled and I'm Christian. My parents didn't choose to home school me because they were afraid. They did so because the school I went to (in a rural area) was overcrowded and poorly run and they wanted better for me.
I make my own decisions, and I was exposed to a variety of cultures and experiences and learning materials, as well as kids of all faiths. I'm still Christian, but that was my choice. I thought long and hard about it. Nothing was forced on me, and I'm still an independent thinker. I'm glad I was home schooled, it was the right choice in my case.
You can't force children to be what you want them to be. That's what free will is all about. Eventually children even from the strictest, most conservative homes will be exposed to different values and belief systems. And they will have to make a choice as to what they want to do. (I had a lot of home schooled friends and none of their parents isolated them in the way you describe.) Exposing kids to only one way of thinking is wrong, and it is doomed to not last.
By songbird on May 12, 2009
When children are small, they are not ready to be exposed to the devil and his people…that is like putting a lamb in a cage with a hungry lion!! I homeschool my children until they reach a maturity where they can handle themselves in just about any situation…usually high school, where my two oldest are now. They are doing quite well academically, socially, and morally. They are leading the way in many areas and are even bringing friends home and to church, where they are trying to lead them to Christ. Their faith is being tested daily, and God’s Love in shining through!!
But to expose a first grader or kindergartener to that sort of trash and rabble is out of the question! These little ones are definitely not ready as their little hearts are still learning and tender. They are easily influenced for evil as well as good, and being in public school is foolishness for one so young when the foundation is not yet set.
Besides, who said we are not exposing them to the “real world”? You find the real world every time you step into Wal-Mart! It is on the radio, TV, internet, baseball, basketball, football games! We talk to neighbors, friends, and people from all over…who are not just like us. We volunteer at rodeos, nursing homes, Neighborhood Clean-Ups, etc. Are they not being “exposed”?
I have taught my children “opposing viewpoints”…Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Bhuddist, Shinto, Hindu, Atheist, Humanist…and why? So that they will know what it is we combat in our daily lives. Where people have gone wrong because they refuse to follow Christ’s example and words. These people believe wrongly that they can improve on God’s Word, or that men have become so wise that they can come up with their own religion. This is the devil in all his conceits. They know what the Bible says, but unitl they are a little older, their foundation is still “wet”, like cement that has not set.
When they are stronger, their foundation laid and steady, they are allowed to go and come back with all the questions they have. It has worked out wonderfully. My oldest is ready for college in the coming year. My second is a Sophomore and is doing quite well in school. They live their lives as Christians and shine a Light that no one can fail to see. So, no, I don’t worry about such things. When we live by God’s Wisdom, we have no reason to worry or fear.
By Strandedgypsey on May 12, 2009
I was public schooled until 10th grade, it did nothing positive for me. I made a lot of regrets trying to fit in and a lot of problems between me and my parents.The prison system is full of people who went to public school. Public school didn’t help them learn right from wrong or common respect and courtesy.Statistics show home schooled people are more responsible adults and test higher on college entrance exams. My youngest brother was home schooled from K-12 and he is 21years old and already owns 3 nice vehicles outright, he bought a new mustang GT paid it off within 2 years, a 2003 Ford Cobra, a hubusa motor cycle,and a classic 1969 mustang, has over 14K saved in his 401K plan.And plenty in his personal savings. He makes well over 40K a year at 21!! He receives promotion after promotion at his job and all this sucess in his life is from being home schooled. WOW. HOW AWFUL. Look how my parents ruined his life. LOL!! I followed their example and my teenager is constantly complimented on her manners, her maturity, and how friendly she is. Everyone loves her and all the little kids look up to her.My brother and my life was proof enough to me the DIFFERENCE homeschooling as a christian makes.All POSITIVE.
By Melissa C on May 12, 2009
My kids are exposed to the world, we don’t lock them in a closet. Your question is VERY stereotypical. My oldest goes to a local community college this year and has attended outside classes at the local schools each year. They both are in clubs and sports out there in the world. They both have friends that are many different religions, races and from various economic backgrounds. They probably have more of a range of friends that kids stuck in a classroom all day with kids their own age and from the same zip code.
In school, my kids would not be allowed to learn about their faith at all. At home they learn about it and I don’t have to make a separate class of it because it can be integrated in to schoolwork with out fear it not being “politically correct.”
By pinkpiglet126 on May 12, 2009
Do you seriously believe that we hide our kids out in our basements, never let them have friends and never let them know there is anyone else out in the world?
I find that rather insulting actually. My kids have friends from every walk of life. They don’t sit at home reading their bibles 24/7. They have dealt with drugs and drinking. Smoking and everything else that anyone deals with in a public school. Just because they do their school work at home doesn’t mean they are chained up drones.
By Jill on May 12, 2009
No. My kids learn about a diverse world through books and real life NOT school where they would learn through, false teachings, and curse words. They are learning and being exposed.
We are in a homeschool group with Jewish children, Muslim children, Catholic children and CHristian. That is teaching them different views without corrupting the morals. I am a Chirstian and my kids have catholic and jewish and muslim friends. and they have been learning through a homeschool world religions class about a vast culture. They are also NOT racist or sexist toward anyone as I have seen numerou times in Publi schooled cildren! My kids learn about it all but in a more controlled enviorment. s you said I expose my kids to people Like me and only me no that is not true! They have taken choir classes at the public school one semester, art classes with and art studio, Library activities with vast differences I think Public school sets kids up to fail by throwing them all in a big jumbled mess of Junk and curse words.
By Vonnii on May 12, 2009
As a christian teen that goes to public school and has been homeschooled I have to say I much prefer being at home. At public school we spend science watching the cricket, boys look up porn in Web Page Programming and we do word sleuths in Social Studies. Home schooling isn’t about restricting a child’s influences, it’s about giving them an education they deserve.
By Tabitha on May 12, 2009
You obviously don’t homeschool and you obviously don’t understand why people homeschool if this is your response. I’m not even going to justify why I homeschool. It works for me and I am very happy with it and my daughter is thriving so much.
By Breezy on May 12, 2009
ok, I am a student… my mom doesn’t't home school me so that, as you put it “choose to limit your children’s exposure to you and your views alone” we did it because our old school closed, and we didn’t want to go to public school. Don’t assume people do it jubecauseuse they are “limiting their childrens exposure” maybe they like the idea of being together all day, tconveniencence of it (you save alot of money) and maybe… just maybe… it’s none of your buisness why they home school… it’s their decision, and it really has nothing to do with you… to be perfectly honest. I can tell that this is not simply curiosity, it’s judging others for their desicion to home school… and in case you haven’t noticed… alot of stuff is going on in this world that parents do not want their kids to be exposed to…
By hsmomlovinit on May 12, 2009
Why do you think we limit our children from exposure to others? My son (11) has studied Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Judaism, and other religions, and volunteers with kids, teens, and adults of all backgrounds. He chooses his friends from a pretty wide pool and does come to his dad and I for guidance.
We don’t homeschool him in order to restrict his exposure…quite the opposite. Through homeschooling, the world around him IS his classroom, and he can take advantage of any number of opportunities to learn from and participate in. Yes, we get to determine who he learns from and when, but we don’t use this to ensure that he only hears our views – we use this to make sure that he gets a broad range of instruction rather than only what is mandated in the classroom.
Why would I worry about this? He deals with tests to his faith all the time, and he responds very well to many of them. He deals with bullies, people of other beliefs, and working on group projects with people of all background. Actually, I worry more about people who judge others based on unfounded stereotypes…which he doesn’t.
By answer faerie, V.T., A. M. on May 12, 2009
I’m not christian but as a homeschooling parent this question is presumptuous and insulting.