©Miss Raquel, 2010
I have been homeschooled all my life and what a blessing these years have been! To have the privilege to study at home, under the tutelage of my sweet Mother, has been something that I have enjoyed and looked forward to every day. I hope and pray that when, LORD-willing, my husband and I are blessed with many little ones, that I will continue this second generation tradition of teaching my sweet little ones at home. The following seven, I give as reasons why:
1. God has blessed me and my husband with these children – not the state teachers.
3. Instead of having to hear the world’s viewpoint on certain subjects and then come home and hear the Biblical worldview, our children will be filtered from many of the foulness of the public school.
4. Children get a lot of peer pressure in the public school’s society. I want to sheild our children from this, also.
5. Instead of being confined to a classroom in a school with one teacher per subject, my husband and I will teach our children ourselves and the world will be their classroom.
6. Having them learn at home will give them a love of BEING at home. And for the daughters: to train them, right from the start, for their *own* future home. For the sons: to train them in their leading skills.
7. And most importantly, to make God the center of their homeschooling focus. That my husband and I will have the privilege of being able to have children is one thing, but given the responsibility of training our children in His ways is something that is an overwhelming thought, and how much more overwhelming and hard when our children aren’t even at home?
The other day, I passed a school bus on the road and it was filled with little children – ages from about 4-up. It broke my heart seeing these adorable little children away from their parents, heading out into a world without any supervision. Being taught by teachers who don’t love them. Being around other kids who will influence them – mostly for the bad. It is so sad to see parents ‘discarding’ their God-given children, only because they ‘can’t homeschool’, ‘don’t know how to homeschool’, ‘are too busy for that’, etc.
Teaching at home can be one of the biggest and best blessings the LORD will ever give you!
Blessings!
27 of your thoughts:
I have been homeschooled since kinderarten (I did go to a private preschool), and it has been great! I fully agree with all your points!
I agree with you fully! I like your seven reasons why to homeschool. Thank you for sharing! :)
Blessings,
~Emily
I liked this post. I have been homeschooled all my life - next year my parents and I made the choice to switch to public school.
I do agree that homeschooling is nice, that it filters children from many terrible things that are present in public school. But, I also think homeschooling has disadvantages.
For instant. I went to camp last year and I was so homesick. It was like I got SO used to hanging around home that I couldn't go anywhere else. If I continue to be homeschooled, right up until college, am I seriously expected to completely leave home for four whole years without difficulty?
And it limits some of the things I would love to branch out in more. Friends. Strengthening my ability to stand up for what I believe in. Also, being exposed to swearing, crude comments, disrespect and racial stuff, this will strengthen my faith, won't it? I mean, opposing this stuff won't be easy. Next year will be hard. But it will strengthen my love in God - for it is written that our faith needs "flames", else how do we know that we have true faith?
And okay. Are my parents seriously discarding me? No. They're not. My parents are godly people and they love me very much. They want me to spread my wings, to have strong faith, and to learn. I'm taking several AP classes in eighth grade, which is going to be a blast. I'm also doing PSEO in a few years, so I'm really excited about that.
My point: just because parents send their kids to public school doesn't mean they are discarding their kids. I don't believe that at all. I have many friends who go to public school but are brought up in Christian homes, are AMAZING godly people, and whose parents love them VERY VERY much. There are reasons why people send their kids to public school, and I believe it isn't because they don't love them. Maybe we can't see the reasons, but that doesn't mean they aren't there.
Thought-provoking post.
I enjoyed reading your post, Raquel. I love your seven reasons to homeschool. They are definitely what others should aim for as well.
I feel so blessed to be homeschooled. I went to public school from preschool to 4th grade. I started homeschooling in 5th grade, and I like it SO much more. Although I think homeschooling is the best route for children, I suppose it's not for all families. I just pray that the Lord would touch those families' lives. God knows everyone's situation!
I feel SO blessed to be homeschooled, though, and I will definitely homeschool my children! :)
Thank you for the wonderful post. Have a blessed day, dear friend!
Your Sister In Christ,
Jenna
I was public schooled from k-12 but I plan on homeschooling my future children because I love teaching and I want my children to have one on one attention that I don't think the public schools can provide.
I was homeschooled from 2nd grade on, and before that I attended a Christian Private School. Being homeschooled was the best thing to ever happen to me. I definitely have the desire within my heart to be a stay at home wife, mother, and homeschooling momma.
My only issue with what you said was that parents who send their children to public school are 'discarding' them. I think that if the child has the proper Godly upbringing at home, and the parents cannot financially stay at home and teach their children, they are no less than my mother and father were to me for keeping me at home. I think to be tempered and tested is a part of life, and sometimes I think that even though there would have been peer pressure had I continued being taught in the public education system I may have blossmed earlier and been a much stronger young woman for God.
I do agree though that homeschooling is the ideal, and best route if a family can at all possible do so.
Thanks for posting on these types of topics, and striving to life for God in all you do in life, past, present, and future. I look forward to continue following your blog, my fellow Sister in Christ.
-Sarah
I wish I was homeschooled. 4 months of home economics just doesn't prepare you to run a household. Good post!
Amen! Thank you for another great post. God bless.
--Tim
Excellent Raquel! Very well stated, and I wholeheartedly agree!
~Rachel
Raquel:
I love your well thought out goals and vision. It seems God prepares one early when He has a good work planned. You will face opposition...be on guard! I don't even mean opinions of others. Where God forges a plan, the enemy has a counter plan. God can and will see you through.
May I speak to Bekah, your comments were also well thought through. No, your parents are not discarding you. Even if they we're, banish the thought, God would take you up. (Ps. 27:10)
Each person answers to God alone. I went to public school met my future husband there. We kept a pure life with high standards, were part of a prayer group before school. Was it easy? no. We're we influenced? In degrees, yes. I joined the cheer-leading team, not as modest as I would have now chosen. Never went to a party, drank, etc.
Bekah, Your God, who saved Daniel from the lions and kept Shadrack Meshack and Abednego safe from the fiery furnace is able to spare you as well. Be fervent in your walk. I so wish I had shared my faith more. It was more like all I could do to hold my own. Yet, sharing my faith actually makes me stronger.
Blessings on you, trust God for everything. Don't underestimate the power of God or the Devil. Fight the fight, walk the faith...God will be faithful to you.
~Melinda
A friend of mine (Sam) couldn't get Blogger to accept his comment on this post, so I'm just putting his comment under my account. :) These are all his own words, though.
I liked this post. I have been homeschooled all my life - next year my parents and I made the choice to switch to public school.
I do agree that homeschooling is nice, that it filters children from many terrible things that are present in public school. But, I also think homeschooling has disadvantages.
For instant. I went to camp last year and I was so homesick. It was like I got SO used to hanging around home that I couldn't go anywhere else. If I continue to be homeschooled, right up until college, am I seriously expected to completely leave home for four whole years without difficulty?”
Hey there Ms. Bekah!: I as well have been homeschooled my entire born life ;) I also agree that homeschooling can filter a large amount of toxic input out of your children’s’ lives, at least at a young age.
Now here is something I’d like to point out though, you mentioned being homeschooled and that in a backwards sort of way causing you to feel so homesick, actually I think that is a really person by person/case by case problem, or in fact, for some, not a problem. But even, as it seems it is for you, if it is a problem feeling what you consider excessively homesick I don’t think we can accurately pin that down to homeschooling. More so perhaps(though this is largely age based and I have no idea of yours, pardon me if I over step my bounds) not doing perhaps enough things out of the house, but more so I think we have one thing to blame strongly for your problem: Strong family ties.
Now simply, I could be wrong but rarely in my limited experience does someone miss home if they hate being home and hanging with the “homies”. So really, don’t blame homeschooling blame your family ;) But is being homesick something bad? Well….Mhm..this is a hard question. I myself used to get very homesick away from home when the family was not with me, but now as I have gotten older it has been a pretty natural transition to feeling less of the intense feeling of homesickness and flexing my emotionally family non-dependent side. Not saying I don’t want my family anymore, GOODNESS NO! Simply I have transitioned/and will continue to transition to more of an autonomous operation of myself. If you are young-ish then perhaps it will come naturally, if you are not then I might encourage you to try doing things that put you out of your comfort zone in this area. But, if you are not young, really, I can’t give much help for that was not my circumstance.
“And it limits some of the things I would love to branch out in more. Friends. Strengthening my ability to stand up for what I believe in. Also, being exposed to swearing, crude comments, disrespect and racial stuff, this will strengthen my faith, won't it? I mean, opposing this stuff won't be easy. Next year will be hard. But it will strengthen my love in God - for it is written that our faith needs "flames", else how do we know that we have true faith?
part 2, next comment...
A friend of mine (Sam) couldn't get Blogger to accept his comment on this post, so I'm just putting his comment under my account. :) These are all his own words, though.
I liked this post. I have been homeschooled all my life - next year my parents and I made the choice to switch to public school.
I do agree that homeschooling is nice, that it filters children from many terrible things that are present in public school. But, I also think homeschooling has disadvantages.
For instant. I went to camp last year and I was so homesick. It was like I got SO used to hanging around home that I couldn't go anywhere else. If I continue to be homeschooled, right up until college, am I seriously expected to completely leave home for four whole years without difficulty?”
Hey there Ms. Bekah!: I as well have been homeschooled my entire born life ;) I also agree that homeschooling can filter a large amount of toxic input out of your children’s’ lives, at least at a young age.
Now here is something I’d like to point out though, you mentioned being homeschooled and that in a backwards sort of way causing you to feel so homesick, actually I think that is a really person by person/case by case problem, or in fact, for some, not a problem. But even, as it seems it is for you, if it is a problem feeling what you consider excessively homesick I don’t think we can accurately pin that down to homeschooling. More so perhaps(though this is largely age based and I have no idea of yours, pardon me if I over step my bounds) not doing perhaps enough things out of the house, but more so I think we have one thing to blame strongly for your problem: Strong family ties.
Now simply, I could be wrong but rarely in my limited experience does someone miss home if they hate being home and hanging with the “homies”. So really, don’t blame homeschooling blame your family ;) But is being homesick something bad? Well….Mhm..this is a hard question. I myself used to get very homesick away from home when the family was not with me, but now as I have gotten older it has been a pretty natural transition to feeling less of the intense feeling of homesickness and flexing my emotionally family non-dependent side. Not saying I don’t want my family anymore, GOODNESS NO! Simply I have transitioned/and will continue to transition to more of an autonomous operation of myself. If you are young-ish then perhaps it will come naturally, if you are not then I might encourage you to try doing things that put you out of your comfort zone in this area. But, if you are not young, really, I can’t give much help for that was not my circumstance.
“And it limits some of the things I would love to branch out in more. Friends. Strengthening my ability to stand up for what I believe in. Also, being exposed to swearing, crude comments, disrespect and racial stuff, this will strengthen my faith, won't it? I mean, opposing this stuff won't be easy. Next year will be hard. But it will strengthen my love in God - for it is written that our faith needs "flames", else how do we know that we have true faith?
part 2, next comment...
part 2..
Now this is something I think that actually speaks of a family stand rather than homeschooling, though they are closely tied I would guess. Friends….that is something the world makes a lot of, I have had few good friends during my life and fewer closer ones, at this point in life I have been blessed with what I consider an abundance but it has not always, or even often been so. I have no idea of your likes and dislikes so it kinda handcuffs me in my response, but for a personal example, I play/used to play quite a bit of basketball at the local park, I was confronted with all of the things you mentioned swearing, crude comments, disrespect and racial stuff all to the *extreme*. Some people only said things that was inappropriate, some had a four or three letter word flying out of their mouth every few words. Most casually and laughingly made racially derogatory comments. Lol and if you try to shake their hand they ostracize you :P I guess what I am trying to say is, unless you don’t get out of the house at all, don’t rub shoulders with the world then you are bound to be confronted with these things.
To directly answer you somewhat rhetorical question here” Also, being exposed to swearing, crude comments, disrespect and racial stuff, this will strengthen my faith, won't it?”
No, it won’t. It is your REACTION to these things that strengthen or weaken your faith.
Actually I have found my faith most strengthened when I am forced to stand up against things I feel can compromise the spiritual health or don’t follow what the Bible would direct in the presence of professing Christians. For in those times, you are seen as the squeaky wheel, the one zealot, the one who won’t shut up, who ruins their fun, or the old fashioned one. And it hurts, it cuts deep when no one seems to understand a moral stand you are making, it cuts differently than when at the park I tell people what I believe and why I don’t swear and they blow me off. Because the church and fellow Christians SHOULD be a safe net for you, not a battle. So strengthen? Only if you react to the situation correctly but never purposely place sin into your path to test yourself, I think it would be extremely foolish.
“And okay. Are my parents seriously discarding me? No. They're not. My parents are godly people and they love me very much. They want me to spread my wings, to have strong faith, and to learn. I'm taking several AP classes in eighth grade, which is going to be a blast. I'm also doing PSEO in a few years, so I'm really excited about that.”
Now here we get into matters that shouldn’t be addressed in text because they can either come off as a total slam against parents, your parents, or a slam against kids doing things. :P Not touching this one!
part 3, to continue...
part 3...
My point: just because parents send their kids to public school doesn't mean they are discarding their kids. I don't believe that at all. I have many friends who go to public school but are brought up in Christian homes, are AMAZING godly people, and whose parents love them VERY VERY much. There are reasons why people send their kids to public school, and I believe it isn't because they don't love them. Maybe we can't see the reasons, but that doesn't mean they aren't there.”
There are reasons for every decision, some are right some are wrong. On the whole I *personally* believe homeschooling to be more beneficial to the child’s spiritual and scholastic health, but not all share the same opinion. I do believe God calls some Christians into the public schools, but I caution you, don’t toss your kids into Pub school unless you actually believe that is the call God has for them, it twists too many people. Some of the kids from a Christian school I coach and referee soccer at have absolutely toxic mouths and attitudes. I also know some homeschoolers and public-schoolers like that….Hehe, no education system is perfect, homeschooling has it’s cons, but I believe public and even private school has many more issues than homeschooling.
Do we homeschool to shelter from the world, or prepare them to change it?
I printed this one up to put in my binder!!
Blessings!
Miss Toria
I couldn't agree more. I've been homeschooled my whole life, me and my six younger brothers and sisters, and nothing is more sad then watching 4 yr old's and up board a bus at 8 O'clock each morning. Can't people see how fragile these little souls are that they are sending out into the world? It truly is heartbreaking.
Logical Reasons Why Homeschooling is Good (in my eyes!)
a. Learning at home, you are learning from adults (your parents) how to deal with adults (who you will grow up and have to learn how to deal with.) At school, you only learn how to deal with kids your own ages, and would find it hard to associate with adults.
b. Your parents are in control of everything. They see what you see, hear what you hear, and are around to watch what you do. Anything could happen to you at school your parents wouldn't have a clue of.
c. Homeschooling promotes the child feeling more love because they are cared about enough to keep them at home under protection. At school, they may feel vulnerable.
d. At home, your parents can see when things go wrong and correct them and can tell you what you should do when things come up. Armed with this knowledge, you can take the world. At school, bad things happen that children can't explain, and parents can't often help because usually they never see what goes on.
e. At home, you are not "warmed up" to bad language, attitudes, or habits by going to school.
f. You become a lot more outgoing because you know you are protected. I can't count how many 5 yr old school kids I've talked to who have hidden behind their mum and said nothing to my greeting or mumbled behind their thumb. My 5 yr old brother will walk straight up to you, and say: "Hello, my name is ---, I'm 5, and I can ride my pushbike now! >insert any new random fact in his life!<"
Those are a few of my points I've noticed in life, anyway!
I have a different perspective than most of you. I was homeschooled my entire life, and it is not something I plan on doing for my own children. Not that I can't, not that I won't if I have to or the school system goes completely whack, but because I want them to be exposed to the world, unlike how I was raised.
My husband and I don't have kids yet, and this isn't something we're planning on worrying about for a few years, but when we do have kids, and the time comes for them to go to school, I don't want to shelter them from everything that might possibly happen to them. Do I want to protect them? Yes. Do I want to keep them in my arms forever? Yes. Can I? NO. Part of a child's growing up needs to be learning how to respond and act in situations outside the home. I was not taught that very well, and while my siblings and I were always well behaved and knew how to act in certain situations, we lacked in social skills, that I didn't learn until my parents finally let go of me a little enough to let me participate in my church's youth group and develop better friendships with people who do not have the same life style as me. When they let go a little, it showed that they trusted me to make good decisions and allow me to be my own person, without making me be a "mini-me".
Now there are a lot of things that I wanted to say here, but I can't remember everything.
I am not running away from homeschooling because it was a bad experience for me, but I know it did disable me in some things.
School was easier for me because I was allowed to do what I wanted.
School was easier because my mom didn't check up on me and I could get away with doing things half way.
I had no friends through middle school into high school.
I had little personality of my own, because I was not allowed to be myself.
I want my children to have friends, I want them to get a good education, and I plan on sending them to a Christian school. DH and I haven't decided yet if we will send them to a public school or homeschool them if the Christian school we love/Dh grew up going to is no longer in existance, but we, like all of you, will be trusting God to show us the right decision for our family.
Aaaaand.......I realized this is really late and nothing has been posted on here for a long time!
By the way, I am so sorry, but I had to sign in with a different accout because I could not remember my gmail account that I created years ago! I never use it!
Could you just post from you, but sign from me? My name is Allison.
Thank you Raquel, for your blog, I have enjoyed reading it.
None of my siblings or I have ever been homeschooled, and we are still very strong in our faith. As Christians, we are called to not be part of this world but this doesn't mean we are to have no contact with the world - otherwise, how else would we shine our light to unbelievers? I have 2 girlfriends who go to a public high school and they PREACH to others in bleachers at school! The school principal even allowed them to advertise their weekly bible study, and every week they get around 40+ kids from school to their house HUNGRY to hear the Word of God. These girls are being used by God in mighty and powerful ways that homeschooling would have otherwise never given them the opportunity to do so.
But I also agree with many of your points Raquel, so I'm not trying to bash your post at all! I'm actually very interested in this subject as I am a teaching major.
I have one question - if there was a good, Christian school that taught biblical morals and had an overall positive and Godly environment, a school that allowed parents to actually have a SAY in their functions/activities and allowed parents to even be included in the classrooms, would you send your child to this school?
Alexia -
I'm glad you enjoyed this post. :)
I think that is SO awesome that your girlfriends have been able to witness and be lights for the LORD in a public school setting! You don't hear of that happening often. I encourage them to continue on with that!
To answer your question...haha Well, it wouldn't be just up to *me* to decide to send our children to school, BUT...in my eyes - IF (and that's a big 'if') there was such a school out there that went by all those standards that you listed...no, I wouldn't have a problem sending my children to school there. BUT, at the same time, I want my children to be with and around me. For me, as their mother to teach them - not only in school, but in God's Word. But...like I said, that was a big 'if', and so for the time being...no, I would not send my children to school. :)
Thank you for your comment!
Thank you for responding. :) I have been thinking about it and I think it's pretty awesome what you plan on doing. Very honorable. It's so refreshing to hear about young women that actually WANT to get married and raise children - that is so rare nowadays! So, I applaud you for that and for your decision.
God bless!
I disagree. I have been to school for 5 years, and homeschooled for 4, and i much prefer school, for many reasons. I would like to have 6 boys and no girls, and if i do, then they'll definately go to school (private if i can afford it). If I have a daughter I'll give her a choice.
Julia - you're entitled to your opinion :)
Weeell, I agree with homeschooling. The thing is, my parents have let me get out enough and so I don't get homesick after being away from them for more than an hour. :P I am not afraid of trying new things and have gone places with out them... If ya know what I mean. :P
I almost went to a charter school which i would have loved! As much as I love being homeschooled I think I would do well if I had the lab for biology that they were offering and stuff. :D
I am not one of the "homeschoolers" that a lot of people associate kids to when they hear that I am home-schooled. :D i have friends, I wear jeans, I go to parties and I listen to rock music. I am just like everyone else, except that I am home-schooled, and I have not been exposed to quite as much degrading and terrible stuff as the average teenager has. Although my parents are considering sending me to some of the classes at the charter school next year. I am still going to be home-schooled. :P If you get what I am trying to say. The school can help with things that we can't afford right now. A microscope and things like that! :P
I agree with your post!
Also, I was talking to a couple of 10 year old boys the other day...It was terrible the way they talked and what they were talking about! It made me so sad to see these little boys exposed to the horrid things. :(
I love how you want your (future of course) children to be grounded and know the truth. I was home schooled for a year and some of my closest friends were also. But, I have to say that the one reason that I want my future children to go to public school is so that they can be a light for all of those non-christian kids that attend public schools! I have gone to public school all my life minus three years (one home schooled and two at private school) and I am very sound in my faith. I feel that it's really important for us strong Christians to reach out to others and as parents and those in our churches to encourage growth in our relationship with God and make sure that they maintain that same strong faith even with peer-pressure. Public school also makes kids more adapted to other surroundings beyond home. I'm not saying that home schooling is terrible but your children can become strong leaders in their schools and reach out to their non-Christian friends and BE THE INFLUENCE on others, not the other way around.
Wow. Wow! What a lot of different comments and opinions. Love it! I know this is an older post but I just wanted to let you know Raquel that I agree with you completely. Homeschooling is the best way! (Never been one to shut up on my beliefs....plus this is an older post...:):):):):)
Good post :) I went to several public schools. I must say there were a few very caring teachers that gave me a leg up throughout the years but overall it was a fairly miserable experience. I will tell you what it did prepare me for 1. It's hard to cheat me I can read a lie pretty well 2. It doesn't bother me anymore when people are rude to me I am stronger now 3. I feel well rounded I've had a lot of teachers and most of them had different views on things in general (this makes me feel I am better able to for my own opinions) 4. I learned to socialize with a lot of people I may have never met! 5. I was able to participate in school clubs such as Future Farmers of America and High School Equestrian Team
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