When asked about whether they felt their child had adopted their religious views, 90% of the parents responding believed they had. The longer the children were homeschooled, the more likely they were to adopt their parents’ values. This finding was in contrast to common misconceptions that long-term, intense exposure might lead to rebellion. This is especially significant when compared to statistics gathered from children in the public schools. According to Consideringhomeschooling.org,    . . a shocking 75% to 85% of Christian children sent to public school drop out of church, and do not hold a Christian worldview after high school graduation.   

On the parent’s assessment of their child’s religious values, Anderson added the option,   other, please specify.    7% of respondents chose this option and as she read the comments, Anderson was shocked.

Almost all the respondents claimed their child would be more religious, more committed to their family’s values than even the parents were.  I had forgotten to add this option!

Similar results were observed in the responses of homeschooled adults when asked if their religious values were similar to their parents’ Only 3% expected to have values very different from their parents. A student cannot be greater than his teacher, but when the child is introduced to Christ as his Teacher, he can surpass even his own family in faithfulness to the Lord.

These statistics are very encouraging and support homeschoolers in their endeavors to model Christ to their children.

While the numbers of homeschooled children who walk away from the faith of their parents may be small, it is still a very real situation to families who are faced with a prodigal child.

It is significant to note, however, that even in those few cases in which the children walked away from the faith, homeschooling was not often viewed as the cause. Parents cited reasons such as not feeling enough love at home, problems in the church, the influence of peers, not living their beliefs consistently and not discussing beliefs enough. Only one parent thought their child would have been more likely to have adopted their religious beliefs if they had attended a public school and only one thought that a private, Christian school would have done a better job. Overall, even in the cases where children walked away from the faith, homeschooling was viewed in a positive light.

Lisa Hodgen, homeschooling mother of ten and founder of Me And My House Ministries (www.me-and-my-house.org), has felt the pain of a child not choosing her faith.  She continues to encourage others, however, and reminds them that they homeschool because it is God’s plan and He has His own purposes.  In regards to her daughter, she shares,