Today I followed up on a family who began to homeschool their children as a result of meeting with me and ready my book Lessons Learned from Years of Homeschooling. How great it is to hear how well the children are doing. Both grammar school age children are diligent in getting their schoolwork done in order to "earn" time with activities of their choosing. Additionally, they are very eager to show their dad the daily work they've completed, as opposed to those dreaded face-to-face confrontations that used to be the norm as a result of daily calls from the school principal. The mom kept telling me how much she loves being with her children and watching them learn - really learn. She commented that she believes they get much more done than they ever accomplished at the public school they previously attended.
This scenario is repeated day-in and day-out across the country as parents who want the best for their children take the step out in faith and find that homeschooling fits their lifestyle and worldview much better than does sending their children to a public school.
Today, I also got two emails from folks who want to begin homeschooling and are "concerned" that they aren't qualified or experienced enough to do so. Oh that I had the technological capabilities to have a giant conference call so that one group (hesitant ones) could communicate freely with those who've taken the plunge (happy ones) and whose success stories would assuage any fears of inadequacy. They'd learn that homeschooling parents are just ordinary people with extraordinary faith that God will supply all their needs in Christ Jesus, as they daily embark on the task of rearing their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
If you are, know, or run into people who don't feel that they have what it takes to educate their children, send them my way. I relish the opportunity to turn their doubts into a vision for the godly results of Christian homeschooling.
- Andrea G. Schwartz
Andrea Schwartz is Chalcedon’s family and Christian education advocate, and the author of eight books including: A House for God: Building a Kingdom-Driven Family, The Biblical Trustee Family: Understanding God’s Purpose for Your Household, Empowered: Developing Strong Women for Kingdom Service, Woman of the House: A Mother’s Role in Building a Christian Culture, and The Homeschool Life: Discovering God’s Way to Family-Based Education. She’s also the co-host of the Out of the Question podcast, the Chalcedon podcast, and has an active teaching schedule with women and high schooled students.. She can be reached at [email protected].