Let George Learn It—At Home
Updated Jul 14, 2001
Like a lot of twelve-year old boys, George Abraham Thampy loves to play soccer and softball. Unlike anybody else, ever, George has just won the national Scripps Howard Spelling Bee and taken third place in the National Geography Bee. This remarkable young man has acquired an amazing amount of information in his few years.
George gives a lot of the credit for his accomplishments to his favorite teacher -- his mom. He goes to school at home, and his mom devotes her full time to teaching him and five other brothers and sisters. It's a lot of work. She seldom gets to bed before 2 A. M., but the Thampys know that home education pays rich dividends.
In fact, all three top finishers in the National Spelling Bee are home schooled. Since only about 3% of the nation's kids fall into this category, the odds of such a coincidence are staggering -- about one chance in 35,000. In other words, these achievements are no accident. Home schooling produces excellent young scholars.
Although George's encyclopedic thirst for knowledge is phenomenal, in many ways he's typical of home-taught students. He belongs to the Boy Scouts. He helps with the chores around the house. He respects and appreciates his parents, especially because of their sacrifices for his education. And--make no mistake about it--George has plenty of friends: at Scouts, at his church youth group, and around the neighborhood. You won't find many sullen, rebellious kids among this bunch.
Home schooling takes vast amounts of time and energy. Many families simply don't have enough of those to make a go of it. But in the past decade the movement has mushroomed, as evidence mounts that home-taught students excel academically and emotionally.
It may seem that home schools are a recent innovation, but actually the idea goes back to ancient biblical times. Four thousand years ago, the book of Genesis describes Abraham, the grandfather of Israel, as chosen by God to "direct his children and his household . . . to keep the way of the Lord . . ." Although Abraham was a highly successful businessman, his chief role was teacher of his family.
Many biblical passages emphasize that parents should instruct their children in wisdom and knowledge. The book of Proverbs speaks often of such training, encouraging them to "train up (their) children in the way they should go."
With good reason, the writers of Scripture do not separate character development from intellectual formation. That's because a cunning but crooked kid is hell on wheels. He just may become a skillful terrorist.
Meanwhile, the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers' union, views home schooling as a threat. For years it has sought to limit all teaching to those who have government certification. So far, that hasn't worked.
More recently, former President Clinton insinuated that home schooling is inferior until proven otherwise. He warned that "your children have to prove that they're learning on a regular basis, and if they don't . . . then they have to go into a school . . . ." Evidently Clinton and the NEA want intrusive government to control your child's thoughts and values.
God has a different idea. Moms and dads can often do a far better job of training their kids how to learn and how to live.
Gary Hardaway is executive director of Concerned Christian Citizens in the state of Washington. For seven years he worked in California as a juvenile probation officer and as a director of juvenile chaplaincy services.
"Real Answers" furnished courtesy of The Amy Foundation Internet Syndicate. Copyright: 2000 Gary Hardaway
George gives a lot of the credit for his accomplishments to his favorite teacher -- his mom. He goes to school at home, and his mom devotes her full time to teaching him and five other brothers and sisters. It's a lot of work. She seldom gets to bed before 2 A. M., but the Thampys know that home education pays rich dividends.
In fact, all three top finishers in the National Spelling Bee are home schooled. Since only about 3% of the nation's kids fall into this category, the odds of such a coincidence are staggering -- about one chance in 35,000. In other words, these achievements are no accident. Home schooling produces excellent young scholars.
Although George's encyclopedic thirst for knowledge is phenomenal, in many ways he's typical of home-taught students. He belongs to the Boy Scouts. He helps with the chores around the house. He respects and appreciates his parents, especially because of their sacrifices for his education. And--make no mistake about it--George has plenty of friends: at Scouts, at his church youth group, and around the neighborhood. You won't find many sullen, rebellious kids among this bunch.
Home schooling takes vast amounts of time and energy. Many families simply don't have enough of those to make a go of it. But in the past decade the movement has mushroomed, as evidence mounts that home-taught students excel academically and emotionally.
It may seem that home schools are a recent innovation, but actually the idea goes back to ancient biblical times. Four thousand years ago, the book of Genesis describes Abraham, the grandfather of Israel, as chosen by God to "direct his children and his household . . . to keep the way of the Lord . . ." Although Abraham was a highly successful businessman, his chief role was teacher of his family.
Many biblical passages emphasize that parents should instruct their children in wisdom and knowledge. The book of Proverbs speaks often of such training, encouraging them to "train up (their) children in the way they should go."
With good reason, the writers of Scripture do not separate character development from intellectual formation. That's because a cunning but crooked kid is hell on wheels. He just may become a skillful terrorist.
Meanwhile, the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers' union, views home schooling as a threat. For years it has sought to limit all teaching to those who have government certification. So far, that hasn't worked.
More recently, former President Clinton insinuated that home schooling is inferior until proven otherwise. He warned that "your children have to prove that they're learning on a regular basis, and if they don't . . . then they have to go into a school . . . ." Evidently Clinton and the NEA want intrusive government to control your child's thoughts and values.
God has a different idea. Moms and dads can often do a far better job of training their kids how to learn and how to live.
Gary Hardaway is executive director of Concerned Christian Citizens in the state of Washington. For seven years he worked in California as a juvenile probation officer and as a director of juvenile chaplaincy services.
"Real Answers" furnished courtesy of The Amy Foundation Internet Syndicate. Copyright: 2000 Gary Hardaway
Originally published July 14, 2001.
