Reaching Parents about How to Homeschool
July 26, 2006
As parents of several young children (four from age seven down to age one and we are pregnant with twins) our family participates just like everyone else in the field trips, classes, nursing home ministry, meetings, etc. of Considering Homeschooling of Orange County, CA (the original Considering Homeschooling that we founded in 2001). The local outreach has grown from a few families and now reaches hundreds. We thank Jesus for all the talented leaders who help out with this ministry.
The outreach not only blesses our family, by bringing us in contact with so many wonderful like-minded Christian families who are exploring homeschooling or just starting, but it gives us a real "finger on the pulse" view of what is happening with the new generation of homeschoolers.
We think that if all homeschool leaders had a frontline view, they would see the tremendous advantage of introducing homeschooling to Christian families as early as possible (even when a mother is pregnant with her first child or a couple enters pre-marital counseling). Also, they would understand why we are so urgent about the new pitfalls facing those starting to homeschool.
For example, believers who type in "homeschooling" in their search engine often find secular homeschool groups which put them in contact with the unsaved as mentors. This is not the kind of Titus 2 guidance that young Christian families, who may be only lightly discipled by the church, need.
Then, perhaps the biggest threat to the movement of biblical homeschooling in this country, charter schools and other government homeschooling programs lure believers in with free materials. But, these programs usurp the father's headship, putting a corrupt system of public school bureaucrats in charge of a family's homeschooling.
Also, there are the distorted attitudes most of us start out with. New generation homeschoolers, for example, often believe the driving focus of homeschooling is academics.
Add to this the tsunami of materialism that has hit the homeschool movement in the past few years. A lack of confidence and a credit card culture lead many to over buy, burn out and want to quit. The other day a mom, who is about to begin homeschooling, lamented to us that she spent hundreds of dollars at one homeschool seminar, and was sure she would spend a lot more if she attended another.
While we rejoice to see all the wonderful materials that have been developed for home educators, families need to learn that homeschooling can be done for practically free, especially with the internet. They need to know that the veterans who went before them often succeeded with very little.
Our point is this - when you engage in homeschool outreach, it is important to go beyond just introducing Christian parents to the idea of homeschooling. They need not just "you can do this" but "here is how." On this journey ourselves, we see how we needed to be shown a type of homeschooling that causes us to seek Jesus with all our heart, soul and mind as we go through the Refiner's fire of staying home with and discipling our children. The kind of homeschooling that brings us in contact with those veteran homeschoolers and Christian books that convict us -- about how wives should submit in a godly way to their husbands, about how husbands need to realize their God-given headship, about how children need to learn to love and obey their parents, etc.
Really it comes down to the integrity of the Christian homeschooling movement, about getting back to biblical roots. And, you as an individual or through an outreach can have a tremendous impact on the believers in Jesus around you as you help others consider homeschooling. May God bless the work of your hand.
Become a Mentor
July 25, 2006
Homeschooling Family to Family ministry is a wonderful homeschool evangelism outreach directed by Jube Dankworth and sponsored by E. Ray Moore, Jr.
"Homeschooling Family to Family asks us to extend the hand of Christian fellowship as a home-schooling mentor to help a new family set aside personal fears and begin to home school. We want to encourage seasoned home schoolers to mentor at least one family per year by reaching out to relatives and friends and by helping them take the first step into home schooling."
Morning Sickness
July 25, 2006
This weekend I found out I am carrying baby #5, an unexpected blessing. I am happy, but I know it is most likely a difficult journey ahead. I have hard pregnancies, with the first three months usually plagued by nausea, then around four months I often get preterm labor symptoms. Despite having had several children, I have always had long, drawn out, painful labors. Yesterday the intense morning sickness really kicked in (why do they call it morning sickness when it lasts all day and night?!), and I wound up spending most of the day in bed and throwing up. Thanks to my wonderful husband, who always rescues me at moments like this, I was able to get lots of needed rest.
Just like carrying a child, homeschooling for the long haul can be very hard work. It's easy to get discouraged when the skies get cloudy. Attitude is everything and a good attitude comes from knowing God has good fruit in store for your efforts. Imagine you are digging a hole. If the sun beats down on you and the mosquitoes bite, you might want to give up. But suppose you knew there was a treasure a few feet below and you would be very rich if you continue? That would really energize you despite the current obstacles. I pray everyone keeps their eyes on the prize of reaching your child’s heart for the Lord Jesus.
Encouragement from Michigan Homeschool Start-Up
July 15, 2006
Michigan Homeschool Start-Up had an excellent turnout for it's first meeting. Here is an update from Homeschool Start-Up leader, Dr. Richard A. Jones:
"Just wanted you all to know that 'Homeschool Start-Up' had its first meeting as scheduled on June 27th at the Holiday Inn in Livonia… The evening went very well. It was scheduled from 7pm to 8:30 but at 9 o'clock the panel was still taking questions and nobody was leaving. As moderator I finally had to close in prayer and invite those with still more questions to stick around and speak personally with our four engaging panelists. Even more surprising as it turned out was that our chief speaker, Israel Wayne, was the next to the last one to leave at 10:30 and he had a three-hour drive by car ahead of him! All agree that Israel was outstanding and that all of speakers added much to the basis for the guests' future homeschooling decisions. Pastor Gary Elfner, Ruth Ploski and I were pleased with the results. We would like to have seen more potential homeschoolers attend but many of my professional friends thought that 35 was a pretty good number for the first time out. Next time we'll pray that even more are moved to come."
Learning Disabilities: NIH Turns To FSU For Top Research
July 13, 2006
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