No Place Like Home

As a home educator of 4 children for the last 19 years, I have to agree with Christa. As a rebuttal to Leanne: in 2007 and 2008, my two oldest children both graduated from college with honors. Both received academic scholarships, as well as other scholarships and financial aid, and received excellent scores on their SATs. They did not take any AP classes, and even had a few classes that we struggled with. Both excelled in college - consistently making Dean's List. Major colleges not only accept homeschoolers, but most welcome them with open arms. While in college, they were able to travel to Europe, Asia, and Mexico - learning invaluable lessons about people and our world. They also travelled to Louisiana, helping Katrina victims; went to orphanages & juvenile detentions centers, ministering to children; and did many other community outreaches. Both have dealt with "the world" & "social issues" beautifully and have come through college without drinking, drugs, or sexual promiscuity.

I also have a high schooler and a middle schooler. My high schooler actively plays competitive sports (against "real" schools - private and public), and is probably getting a sport scholarship. (Yes, recruiters DO look at homeschoolers!) MANY homeschoolers receive scholarships for college. In fact, there are quite a few homeschoolers on professional sports teams! My middle schooler is ready to go on a missions trip with our church, has already written a novel through NaNoWriMo (online - look it up!), has taken singing & acting lessons, has competed in national fine arts competitions, and has ministered regularly with church groups at orphanages, nursing homes, festivals, etc. Both teenagers are very active in our church youth group. I certainly am not trying to brag. Actually, we were not the most disciplined home school, and there were many days that I wondered if I was doing the right thing. We always had to finish up in the summer, and rarely did we start early in the morning.

But as many homeschool parents feel, God gave us our children to shape and mold. While education is very important, it is not the most important thing. Do we really want people in such an immoral and ungodly world shaping and influencing our kids for most of their childhood? Homeschooling can provide an excellent education while building moral character!

Homeschooling isn't for everyone, but if God is leading you to do this, He will give you wisdom. There are AMAZING resources! Try getting involved with a local support group that has science fairs, projects, and field trips. They even have proms and graduation services! Parents can also subscribe to a magazine (like Teaching Home)and research online. Checking out different curriculums can be done at "fairs" or at a Christian bookstore. The best place to find all these resources and more would definitely be at a state Homeschool Convention, where tens of thousands gather for workshops and an endless supply resources and information.

Two of them are in college at Texas A & M on academic scholarship and my daughter is a straight A student in high school. They have been taught the Bible, to respect others and to know what they believe and what the Bible says about it should they encounter the opposite opinion. They have been in all PAP and AP classes since seventh grade and they have chosen their friends well. Their friends talk to me about things they are scared to talk to their parents about. My house is usually filled with kids yet my kids know what they believe. None of my children have ever touched alcohol and my oldest son who is 21 will be getting married in two weeks, is a virgin and so is his fiance'. They both will be attending seminary next year. It's all in the teaching at home, but they have to be able to deal with the world. Be not conformed to this world, but yet be transformed by the renewing of your minds. How can they work as missionaries in their high school if they are not there?

any other type of student just because they don't know how to handle problems that kids coming from public schools have learned. I will agree that the halls of some of our schools, especially middle school, seem to be filled with kids cutting down each other, using inappropriate language and having no respect for staff/teachers, however this is because of the lack of respect being given or taught at home. As public school administrators, we are now expected to teach, parent, counsel and discipline students because parents are scared to or don't know how. How though do you expect to teach your child AP Calculus or AP Advanced Trig to be able to run their own business building tree houses? Most teachers are very in tuned with their students and strive to bring excellence out in everyone of them. They act like parents because of state accouncability ahd because that's what we teach them to do in education. I have three children of my own and have raised them in a Christian home,

As an educator and administrator for the past 22 years, I have to disagree with this article. Yes, there are teachers that would possibly stifle your child's ideas and concepts, but not many. Education has changed so much in the past 15 years and a direct educational approach to the individual student is now what most schools embrace. Concepts and vertical alignment across grade levels and subjects are widening our children's views to understand how what they are learning applies to them personally. There's no way can be eaching your children the "teachable moment" because they are sheltered. You probably aren't having to deal with a friend who has gotten pregnant or a student who cusses at a teacher. Those are things that happen in the "real" world and school so your children will probably be shocked when they get into the business world and aren't accustomed to this kind of behavior or don't know how to handle it. I've seen more homeschool children break down in college than.

As we bring home our 3rd child from private school, this article could not have been more timely.
Thank you Christa for sharing your struggles and victories with all of us. The reassurance that what we are doing is the best thing for our children is priceless.
God Bless you and your family.