Why do I homeschool? If you asked me this last week, I could have given a hundred different reasons – none of which are actually true.
I used to tell people that I homeschool because schools have low academic standards, safety concerns, insufficient curricula, sex-ed, bad influences, drugs, peer pressure, inadequate discipline, condom dispensers, unhealthy lunches, evolution, bad teachers, too little physical activity, not enough supervision, liberal biases, inappropriate student/teacher relationships and on and on the list would go.
Last week I thought these were all very good reasons, but on reflection I have changed my mind.
Whenever I have the, “Why do I homeschool” discussion with a non-homeschooler, it goes something like this…
They say, “Why do you homeschool?”
I say, “The schools have low academic standards.”
They say, “Our kid’s school is one of the top in the state.”
Then I say, “School violence.”
They reply,”Our kid’s school has a guard and a zero tolerance policy.”
I say, “The schools are secular and hostile to the Christian worldview.”
They tell me, “Our kid’s teacher goes to our church.”
On and on the circle goes, as the non-homeschooler addresses and dispels each reason that I give. Last week, I turned the questions on myself and discovered that while I have some good reasons, they are not the REAL REASON!
Instead of arguing about how bad school is, I asked myself, “What if school was great? What if schools had high academic standards, no safety concerns, a challenging Christian curriculum, no sex-ed, positive peer pressure, no drugs and all Christian teachers? Would I still homeschool? The answer is yes, but why?
If all the problems of school could be fixed, why would I still choose to homeschool my children?
I homeschool my children because I believe God commanded parents to raise their own children. I believe that God commanded this because only a loving family can meet all of our children’s needs. He understands that life is more than mere academics. Life is about relationships and love.
In healthy families, parents have a deep-seated, unconditional love that worldly institutions like school can never offer. A home rooted in this kind of love, is the only place where children thrive in all areas. That is how God designed the world to be and that is the REAL REASON I homeschool.
Why do you Homeschool?
If you liked this post, Please like us on Facebook. Thank you for your support!
I love this! I am by no means a perfect parent, but I agree wholeheartedly that God designed me to raise my children and that is exactly why we homeschool too =)
I don’t know if I’d still home school if the all of those things you listed were positive b/c those are some of my main reasons for homeschooling and if those things were not issues, it’d be hard for me to “not” send my children BUT then I think about the time that I “get” to spend with my kids b/c I homeschool and I think about all of the milestones and awakenings in their little minds that I’ve been privileged to see b/c I homeschool…those are the reasons that make me say…”nah…I think I’ll stay the course and continue to homeschool.” Great post. Thanks for speaking out on homeschooling.
Love, love, love this!!!
You hit the nail right on the head! I too have been there, answering those questions with the same answers, almost to the point where I felt like I was defending my choice rather then sharing my convictions. My favorite one, I used to get is, well if your Homeschooling because you are Christian, why are you using Time4Learning, a Secular Curriculum? It’s like geez, I didn’t know I had to use a Christian curriculum to be considered a Christian Homeschooler, but anyways ~>Yes, I agree with all of those reasons you mentioned, but they are not what made me choose this lifestyle. I chose to homeschool because I, like you, feel like children should be home with the parents who love them, who have their best interest at heart. Strangers, even the best intended, are not going to do like a child’s parent will do IMO.
Great post, I really enjoyed reading it 🙂
If the school education was WAY better (and I mean, WAY!!!!) I would definitely go back to public school. (I’m a Freshman in High School) Public school…..we do nothing for 8 hours, and at home I can finish my work in half that.
Samantha recently posted…Why I Homeschool
I completely agree that I want to be the one spending all day with my children. By the way, can you tell me more about the puzzle in this photo. We’re learning US geography this year and I’m trying to collect some good manipulative toys. Thanks!
Allyson @ All Our Days recently posted…First Day of School Photos 2013
I homeschool because that’s what my husband wanted to. When I married my husband I had no clue what homeschooling was. BUT I knew I wanted to keep my kids close. Sending them to school for half a day or all day was just so unnatural to me. It made no sense to have kids and then send them away for someone else see them grow, cry, smile, laugh, learn, enjoy themselves. I just wanted to keep my kids close. I am so glad my husband wanted to homeschool. 🙂 I did too. I just didn’t know what it was called.
tereza crump aka mytreasuredcreations recently posted…Learning Log of July 2014
That is Awesome! I’m so glad for you and your children. Sounds like you are a wonderful mama.