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biblelighthouse
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![[*]](./images/perspective/default_icon.gif) posted on 8/28/2007 at 06:56 AM |
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Christian Homeschooling
I was reading a section on the CREC denomination website, and I found something I really love:
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E. Memorial on Christian Education
All things are to be considered and conducted under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, including education, and especially the education of our covenant
children. God has neither charged nor authorized the state to educate children within its civil jurisdiction. God has commanded parents to bring up
their children in the education and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4, Deut. 6:7). Given the importance and enormity of the task (Ps. 127:3-5, Deut.
6:7-9), and the impossibility of neutrality in education (Prov. 1:7, Matt. 12:30, Luke 6:40, Col. 2:1-10, 2 Cor. 10:3-5), we do heartily affirm the
necessity of educating our children in a manner that is explicitly Christian in content and rigor.
Government schools are, by decree and design, explicitly godless, and therefore cannot be considered a legitimate means of inculcating true faith,
holy living and a decidedly Christian worldview in the children of Christian parents.
Parents who do not fully understand the indispensability of Christian education should be warmly received into membership. However, the leaders of
Christ’s church must thoroughly understand and plainly teach the divine imperative to disciple our children, the divine prohibition of rendering unto
Caesar those who bear God’s image (Matt.22:20-21), the divine warning to those who cause their little ones to stumble (Matt.18:6) and the divine
promises to those who raise their children in faith (Deut. 7:9, Ps.102:5-7, Ps. 103:17-18, Prov. 22:6, Luke 1:48-50, Acts 2:39).
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I think those 3 paragraphs are short, sweet, and fantastic.
Some people say we should send our children to godless public schools in order to be salt and light. I think that's hogwash. Should I send my
12-year-old daughter alone to an African jungle tribe so she can witness the Gospel to them? No way! Until she has had decades of explicitly
Christian training, and until she has matured into an adult, and until she has been thoroughly taught how to effectively witness Christ to that
foreign culture, she is not ready to be a missionary. When she is 25, maybe she can go to that jungle, especially if she is married to a likeminded
missionary man. But sending her alone at the age of 12? No way! --- So it is with public schools.
Some people would accuse me of sheltering my children. What are they going to accuse me of next, clothing and feeding them?
[Edited on 28-8-2007 by biblelighthouse]
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ReformedCharismatic
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| posted on 8/28/2007 at 07:19 PM |
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What should parents do who are not capable of home schooling?
What are single parents to do with very limited resources?
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HeidelbergCQ1
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| posted on 8/28/2007 at 08:40 PM |
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We need to be careful here. I despise government schools, and I hope I am able to send my kids to a Christian school one day. But unfortunately, in
this culture, you need a little something called money. And money isn't always easy to come by.
E. Craig Sowder
Small Business Underwriter
CNA Insurance - Maitland, FL
Member of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church (PCA) - Orlando, FL
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biblelighthouse
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| posted on 8/29/2007 at 06:57 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ReformedCharismatic
What should parents do who are not capable of home schooling?
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What do you mean by "not capable"?
If both parents are working full-time outside the home, then one of them should quit the job and start staying at home with the children instead, in
order to truly take Deuteronomy 6 seriously. If they cannot maintain their standard of living with a single income, then their standard of living is
unneccesarily high. In that case, they need to move somewhere with a lower cost of living, and/or drive less expensive cars, and/or quit eating out
so often, etc.
| Quote: | Originally posted by ReformedCharismatic
What are single parents to do with very limited resources? |
The Church should step in to help in such cases. God simply does not intend for children to be raised by a single parent alone. Thus, the Church
should step in to help fulfill the duties of the second parent. If the Church is unwilling to help in this area, then the parent is probably going to
the wrong Church.
| Quote: | Originally posted by HeidelbergCQ1
I despise government schools, and I hope I am able to send my kids to a Christian school one day.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by HeidelbergCQ1
But unfortunately, in this culture, you need a little something called money. And money isn't always easy to come by. |
It doesn't take much money to educate your kids. You don't have to farm kids out to Christian schools outside the home. You don't need expensive
curriculum. Books are cheap.
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t.rob
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| posted on 8/29/2007 at 09:20 AM |
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At a basic level, I wholeheartedly agree that government schooling is dangerous and, whenever possible, to be avoided. It is "government religion"
8 hours-a-day however you slice it. There is no neutrality. I'm on board with all that in full.
However, most of the (even Christian) world isn't like the U.S., Australia, Japan, and/or parts of Europe (i.e. more educationally/economically
developed areas). Most of the world is still poor, really poor. That deep poverty inevitably leads to illiteracy in that young children must leave
government schools (that are no good to begin with) in order to work to put food on the table (much less buy the Logos curriculum guide).
Where I live (Guanajuato, Mexico), a man, his wife, and his 15 year old son all working full-time barely gets them by. And here I'm not talking
about boats, cars, going out to eat, and a little Starbucks here and there. I'm talking about eating period, clothing without holes, and housing
that actually keeps the elements out.
This cycle of "poverty -> lack of education (for having to leave school to work) -> poverty" is vicious. It goes on and on. These people
cannot (and I daresay, must not!) stay home from work to teach their children because (a) they can't read themselves anyway and (b) they wouldn't
eat. Yes the church must provide, but the people ARE the church. And the people are poor. This is the reality in a large portion, if not the
majority of the world...at least for now.
But that doesn't mean that government schooling, even in the poorest countries, ISN'T sinful. It is. It ought to be avoided. But if you're an
optimistic sort of person eschatologically, you realize that we're still miles/years away from "arrival." Biblically, optimism for the future must
also coexist with realism in the present. Probably Mexico (as w/the rest of the world) is where it is today because of sin, infidelity to the King,
etc. And probably the people, as a whole, are paying for it.
The ship will only turn around slowly, and I mean slowly. We tend to not see things over the long-haul. Concerning homeschooling/Christian
schooling, we need to adopt a longer, more patient vision AND a broader vision (the world is much bigger than the U.S.) without losing our backbone,
without losing our biblical vision.
All that to say:
1. I don't fundamentally disagree w/Joseph, to the contrary.
2. I do think we have to consider the whole of Christendom in this discussion (thinking of underdeveloped countries where our brothers live).
3. Which means we have to maybe lower our standards a bit for the time being (without losing our glorious vision, and without excusing sin).
4. But with the hope that even countries like Mexico (which is rich in comparison with many countries) might eventually be discipled, including the
ability for poor/uneducated people to move forward in Christian education one day...one day.
5. Until then, we're to be slow to condemn our Christian brethren who really and truly CANNOT homeschool, wherever they live in this world (and I
suspect there are many more of those kinds of folks in the U.S. than we know).
[Edited on 8-29-2007 by t.rob]
Todd Robinson
Church Planter/Teacher
Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico
Commended by McKinney Bible Church
McKinney, Texas
"In light of the resurrection we are called to be sceptical about scepticism itself."
-N.T. Wright, Who Was Jesus?
"Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?"
-Jeremiah 23:29
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Paleodoxy
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| posted on 8/29/2007 at 10:49 AM |
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Churches entering into the CREC must state all exceptions to the memorials, just as minsters are require to state exceptions (if any ) to their
confessions. Our church takes this exception to that memorial:
We certainly agree that parents are to raise their children in the fear and admonition of The Lord and that public school may present a potential
if not out right hindrance to this. We agree that Christian or home schooling is by far the preferred situation.
Still, due to the present sinfulness of our age and the complexity of various family situations and due to the lack of established Christian schools
in some areas, we also admit that at times it may be necessary, though not desirous, for some to make use of the public school system, judiciously.
Parents are required to teach their children the truth and so to oppose any errors that public school or society in general may impose upon them. The
church then is to aid the parents in this task even to the point of establishing Christian Schools when possible and as soon as possible.
I am in the process of starting a Classical Christian School here in Meeker. I have now two students (parishoners) ages 9 and 10 to whom I am
teaching Koine Greek, they are in their second semester.
[Edited on 29-8-2007 by Paleodoxy]
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biblelighthouse
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| posted on 8/29/2007 at 11:49 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by t.rob
1. I don't fundamentally disagree w/Joseph, to the contrary.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by t.rob
2. I do think we have to consider the whole of Christendom in this discussion (thinking of underdeveloped countries where our brothers live).
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I am glad you brought this up. Truly, my earlier post was narrowly focused on homeschooling within the USA. At that particular time, I wasn't
considering poorer countries. Thank you for drawing my attention outward.
| Quote: | Originally posted by t.rob
3. Which means we have to maybe lower our standards a bit for the time being (without losing our glorious vision, and without excusing sin).
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To some extent, yes. But I don't think that means there necessarily reaches a point in which we could say, "We are so poor that we must send
our kids to government schools." That would be similar to saying, "Our children are so far away from any godly marriage prospects that we
must send them to the brothel." On the contrary, I think for a kid to stay with his parents, work with them, and learn what he can from them,
is *better* than for him to go to government schools. (And I am not suggesting that you are arguing otherwise.)
| Quote: | Originally posted by t.rob
4. But with the hope that even countries like Mexico (which is rich in comparison with many countries) might eventually be discipled, including the
ability for poor/uneducated people to move forward in Christian education one day...one day.
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I certainly agree that families in such poverty can barely afford their day-to-day sustenance, and probably cannot even afford to purchase used books.
But if we therefore say that Christian education is impossible under such circumstances, I think we would be missing the point.
How rich/poor do you think families were in Israel about 2000-3000 years ago? Do you think they were wealthier than Mexican families?
You see, the Bible never says that we must teach our children reading, writing, and arithmetic! Of course, I am in favor of teaching them all that
and more . . . when possible. But the Bible doesn't *require* that. What the Bible *does* require is thorough training in godliness. And that is
precisely what the kids will *not* get in any government school.
| Quote: | Originally posted by t.rob
5. Until then, we're to be slow to condemn our Christian brethren who really and truly CANNOT homeschool, wherever they live in this world (and I
suspect there are many more of those kinds of folks in the U.S. than we know).
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Who "cannot" homeschool? I think that suggestion only makes sense if we define "school" the same way our government schools do. Sure . . . if
"homeschooling" means that your kids have to sit at home all day at a desk studying reading, writing, math, and history, then I would agree that
many people in poverty may not be able to provide that for their children. But where does the Bible ever tell us we need to "school" our children
in this way? That particular type of "schooling" is a very modern invention which is not mandated by Scripture.
Suppose there is an extremely poor family who works on a farm. They raise their kids from infancy, until they are old enough to start working side by
side with mom and dad. The kids never learn to read. They never learn to write. They never learn much math. But the parents consistently teach
them to trust Jesus, love God, and obey His commandments.
I would say that this poor family has succeeded in providing their children with a solid, godly, Christian education. They would have successfully
"homeschooled" their children.
Now, for those of us in more well-to-do areas of the world (such as the USA), I certainly think we ought to go the extra mile and teach our kids
reading, writing, arithmetic, and perhaps some Greek and Latin too. But the lack of ability to do these extras are not an excuse to neglect the
Christian education of our children.
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ReformedCharismatic
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| posted on 8/29/2007 at 12:34 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by biblelighthouse
| Quote: | Originally posted by ReformedCharismatic
What should parents do who are not capable of home schooling?
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What do you mean by "not capable"?
If both parents are working full-time outside the home, then one of them should quit the job and start staying at home with the children instead, in
order to truly take Deuteronomy 6 seriously. If they cannot maintain their standard of living with a single income, then their standard of living is
unneccesarily high. In that case, they need to move somewhere with a lower cost of living, and/or drive less expensive cars, and/or quit eating out
so often, etc.
| Quote: | Originally posted by ReformedCharismatic
What are single parents to do with very limited resources? |
The Church should step in to help in such cases. God simply does not intend for children to be raised by a single parent alone. Thus, the Church
should step in to help fulfill the duties of the second parent. If the Church is unwilling to help in this area, then the parent is probably going to
the wrong Church.
| Quote: | Originally posted by HeidelbergCQ1
I despise government schools, and I hope I am able to send my kids to a Christian school one day.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by HeidelbergCQ1
But unfortunately, in this culture, you need a little something called money. And money isn't always easy to come by. |
It doesn't take much money to educate your kids. You don't have to farm kids out to Christian schools outside the home. You don't need expensive
curriculum. Books are cheap. |
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ReformedCharismatic
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| posted on 8/29/2007 at 12:42 PM |
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Many parents do not have the skill sets to properly educate a child. In these cases I believe the church should step in and provide schooling, by
utilizing their own God given resources.
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biblelighthouse
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| posted on 8/29/2007 at 01:42 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ReformedCharismatic
Many parents do not have the skill sets to properly educate a child.
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I think the only skill sets parents need, according to Scripture, is the ability to teach their kids to love God, and to love their neighbors. If I
teach my kids to love Jesus and to obey Him, then I have properly educated my kids.
However, I do agree with you that we should educate our kids even more, if possible.
| Quote: | Originally posted by ReformedCharismatic
In these cases I believe the church should step in and provide schooling, by utilizing their own God given resources. |
If the local church has the ability to help in this area, then that is definitely a good idea.
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hrothgleas
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| posted on 9/4/2007 at 12:43 PM |
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There's a tension here that I think all Christians need to be aware of. We're called to be 'in the world, but not of it.' I'm concerned that we
may tend to withdraw from this godless world to the point where we might as well be Amish.
My cousin Joseph sent me a book called 'Excused Absence' about this topic. I disagree with the author vigorously on a number of points. For
example, he says that Christians shouldn't even teach in public schools. I think he overstates the case - I've taught in public schools for 20
years. I never held back from sharing my beliefs, and held Bible studies & FCA meetings throughout that time. I also got to talk to a number of
Moslem students as I studied Arabic - got to present the Gospel to several, and to clear up a number of misconceptions about the Bible. Christian
kids in my classrooms were salt & light, and I don't think my teaching of Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and Astronomy slowed their spiritual growth
any.
Hey, Joe - watch the language. If public schools are like brothels, does that make me a prostitute or a pimp?
Do you have friends who aren't Christians? Do your kids?
I know I'm lacking in perspective - no kids. Joseph worked as a sub in public schools, and has a terrific wife & family.
Curt Gleason
Member, Worship Team
Cornerstone Christian Fellowship
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Hilliard, Ohio
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biblelighthouse
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| posted on 9/4/2007 at 01:46 PM |
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Welcome to The Reformation Superhighway, cousin! I'm glad you are here!!
| Quote: | Originally posted by hrothgleas
There's a tension here that I think all Christians need to be aware of. We're called to be 'in the world, but not of it.' I'm concerned that we
may tend to withdraw from this godless world to the point where we might as well be Amish.
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You are correct that this is a danger Christians need to be aware of.
However, this danger does not apply to the question of public schooling vs. home schooling.
There is a world of difference between my kid having a pagan teacher, and my kid having a pagan neighbor. The pagan neighbor has no authority of my
child, and is not given the opportunity to indoctrinate my child with a godless worldview for 7 hours a day. The pagan teacher, on the other hand . .
.
| Quote: | Originally posted by hrothgleas
My cousin Joseph sent me a book called 'Excused Absence' about this topic. I disagree with the author vigorously on a number of points. For
example, he says that Christians shouldn't even teach in public schools. I think he overstates the case - I've taught in public schools for 20
years. I never held back from sharing my beliefs, and held Bible studies & FCA meetings throughout that time.
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Kudos to the Bible studies and FCA meetings!
But what do you do *during* class? For example, when you are teaching your astronomy classes, do you frequently quote Genesis 1, Psalm 8, etc.? Is
your primary goal to teach them astronomy, or is your primary goal to use astronomy to point them to God's Glory?
| Quote: | Originally posted by hrothgleas
I also got to talk to a number of Moslem students as I studied Arabic - got to present the Gospel to several, and to clear up a number of
misconceptions about the Bible.
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Excellent! Was this during class, or in the spare moments you could find before/between/after classes?
| Quote: | Originally posted by hrothgleas
Christian kids in my classrooms were salt & light, and I don't think my teaching of Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and Astronomy slowed their spiritual
growth any.
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You say that it didn't "slow their spiritual growth any" . . . compared to what?
Are you saying that they grew spiritually, just as much as they would have in a class which consistently brought every lesson back around to the
Scriptures, and to God's Glory?
I am not suggesting that your classes necessarily stunted everyone's spiritual growth, but I am suggesting that they could have spiritually grown far
more if your hands weren't tied by the nonchristian public school system.
| Quote: | Originally posted by hrothgleas
Hey, Joe - watch the language. If public schools are like brothels, does that make me a prostitute or a pimp?
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The "brothel" comparison was focused on the students, not on all the teachers. Sending your children to public school is prostituting them to the
world. (I use the word "world" here in the sense of 1 John 2:16).
| Quote: | Originally posted by hrothgleas
Do you have friends who aren't Christians? Do your kids?
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Yes, I have nonchristian friends. And as my kids get older (they are ages 4 and under right now), they will no doubt have nonchristian friends,
too.
But like I said, a nonchristian neighbor is very different from a nonchristian teacher, which is different still from a nonchristian public school
system. It is one thing for me to allow my child a controlled amount of interaction with my nonchristian neighbor, for the purpose of spiritual
training, and for the purpose of being salt and light. But it would be another thing entirely for me to send my child next door for 7 hours a day,
250 days a year, to let the nonchristian raise my child. (This point not only condemns public schooling as we know it, but also the majority of
day-care businesses.)
| Quote: | Originally posted by hrothgleas
I know I'm lacking in perspective - no kids. Joseph worked as a sub in public schools, and has a terrific wife & family. |
Thank you for your kind comment, Curt.
Try to imagine having full responsibility for a young child. God has put that child's future into your hands. Of course you may love the idea of
that child becoming a missionary, dedicating his entire life to God and the Gospel. But would you send him out on the mission field immediately, to
butt heads with the natives of some native American tribe? Or would you give the child some years of training first, and encourage the child to wait
until adulthood to take on such a heavy responsibility?
Of course neither you nor I would send our children out alone to spend 7 hours a day witnessing to moslems. But how is a child going head-to-head
against a 40-year-old humanist public school teacher any different?
I love you, cousin Curt. I'm glad you are here.
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hrothgleas
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| posted on 9/9/2007 at 03:10 PM |
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The horrible wrenching sound you hear is your stiff-necked cousin changing his mind.... I hope this one works better.
I do think there's an issue here of withdrawing from the world. If a child goes to Christian school, or is home-schooled, then heads off to a
Christian college, he could be in his mid-20's and not have interacted with the world. Somewhere along the line that becomes, I think, selfish.
I certainly agree that you must protect your children, and I'm begining to think that primary school, at least, should be in a Christian setting.
I've spoken to a number of families in my church about this. One family had two terrific daughters I had in High School. Both had started out in
private school, and transferred later. At different grades. I guess treating your kids like individuals makes pretty good sense, too. The parents
viewed HS as a time to help them make a transition while they were still under the parent's supervision. That makes so much sense it scares me.
You make an excellent point about the authoritarian role of the teacher (but as I say that I have to laugh! I'd LIKE to think I had serious
authority.)
When I teach astronomy, my goal is not to teach them to appreciate God's glory through study of nature. I let them know that that's how I feel, but
I have to be a little subversive. When you take a programming class, I don't know how often you need to be reminded that C++ glorifies God.
However, studying computer languages often drove me to prayer.
The best part of that book talked about the need for parents to be intentional about devoting time with their kids & their spiritual growth. I
love the way I've seen you work with your girlses already.
Love you.
Curt Gleason
Member, Worship Team
Cornerstone Christian Fellowship
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Hilliard, Ohio
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SuperhighwaySpeeder
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| posted on 9/11/2007 at 12:11 PM |
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Hi Kurt! Good to talk to you again!
Soli Deo Gloria,
Jeremy Conrad
Christ the King Anglican Church
Omaha, IL
WRUL.com
Men no longer know how to think, nor desire to do so.
For many folks, a conclusion is simply the place where they got tired of thinking.
Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. -John F. Kennedy |
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SuperhighwaySpeeder
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| posted on 9/11/2007 at 12:16 PM |
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Christian children being taught, nurtured and raised by the parents is the absolute best, preferred, and scripturally-mandated method. (using Joe's
arguments and scripture references)
Christian schools are second best (or third worst?)
Classical schools are third best (or second worst?)
Public schools are vile, deplorable and should all be destroyed like  Sodom & Gomorrah.
(Non-christian children should be schooled in Christian homes or in Christian schools - NOT by their parents.)
Soli Deo Gloria,
Jeremy Conrad
Christ the King Anglican Church
Omaha, IL
WRUL.com
Men no longer know how to think, nor desire to do so.
For many folks, a conclusion is simply the place where they got tired of thinking.
Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. -John F. Kennedy |
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LadyFlynt
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| posted on 9/12/2007 at 07:14 AM |
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Joseph, you are leaving out one important aspect of homeschooling...the laws. Due to this, your "farm example" is not currently acceptable and can
actually cause children to be removed from a home.
' I have sent you, good sister Catherine, a book, which although it be not outwardly trimmed with gold, yet inwardly it is more worthy than precious
stones...' Jane Dudley
JColleen
URCNA
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biblelighthouse
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| posted on 9/12/2007 at 08:33 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by LadyFlynt
Joseph, you are leaving out one important aspect of homeschooling...the laws. Due to this, your "farm example" is not currently acceptable and can
actually cause children to be removed from a home. |
Thank you very much for reminding me of this extremely important point. I certainly would NOT want to put any parents in the position of risking
losing their children to the State. To "save them from the State" by removing them from school, only to result in losing them to the State
(permanently!), would indeed be counterproductive.
That was a much needed reminder. Thank you!
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LadyFlynt
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| posted on 9/12/2007 at 09:34 AM |
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Personally I don't believe the state should be involved at all...but unfortunately we have it anyhow.
' I have sent you, good sister Catherine, a book, which although it be not outwardly trimmed with gold, yet inwardly it is more worthy than precious
stones...' Jane Dudley
JColleen
URCNA
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Ivan
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| posted on 9/12/2007 at 10:21 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by LadyFlynt
Personally I don't believe the state should be involved at all...but unfortunately we have it anyhow. |
and
Ivan Schoen, Pastor
Maranatha Baptist Church(SBC)
Poplar Grove, IL
www.maranatha-sbc.org
pastor.schoen@gmail.com
"When someone blamed Spurgeon for saying humourous things in his sermons, he said, "He would not blame me if he only knew how many of them I keep
back."
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Visigoth
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| posted on 9/12/2007 at 01:51 PM |
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Daniel endured a state education.
| Quote: | Dan 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and
besieged it.
Dan 1:2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of
Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.
Dan 1:3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility,
Dan 1:4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand
in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
Dan 1:5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three
years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. |
My wife educates our children in the home. It is a blessing to live where we have that choice. But I am sure God is able to provide and protect
Christian children who cannot partake of that benefit.
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Paleodoxy
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| posted on 9/12/2007 at 01:59 PM |
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As an aside I wonder if the nature of Daniel's education was more related to court and so forth since he was already recognized as being learned etc.
(1.4). Then there is Moses...
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Visigoth
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| posted on 9/12/2007 at 02:04 PM |
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"the literature and language of the Chaldeans"
No doubt that included their pagan world-view, much as public school teaches today.
Daniel drew the line at an unclean diet. What the law forbade. The law does not forbid learning under pagan authorities. It simply calls us to
discernment. The parents should counter pagan beliefs at home through "nurture and admonition". For me, the question of public/private/home school
is not a moral one, it is simply preference and calling.
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LadyFlynt
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| posted on 9/13/2007 at 08:54 AM |
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It appears that Daniel also was not a "child". Therefore, this would be more like him attending a university today after his foundation had already
been laid by his parents.
' I have sent you, good sister Catherine, a book, which although it be not outwardly trimmed with gold, yet inwardly it is more worthy than precious
stones...' Jane Dudley
JColleen
URCNA
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Visigoth
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| posted on 9/13/2007 at 09:38 AM |
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Daniel's school seems state funded. College is payed for by the individual or grants/scholarships etc.
So, do most homeschoolers think it is a sin to send small children to public school, but not young adults?
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biblelighthouse
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| posted on 9/13/2007 at 09:59 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Visigoth
Daniel's school seems state funded. College is payed for by the individual or grants/scholarships etc.
So, do most homeschoolers think it is a sin to send small children to public school, but not young adults? |
Yes, that is my position.
An adult may be ready for the mission field, whereas a 12-year-old is not. --- Similarly, a well-trained 20-year-old may be ready to take on a
secular education system with wisdom, whereas that cannot be expected of a little kid.
As Colleen mentioned, the important thing is for a child to receive a solid foundation of Christian education from his parents. Then, when he becomes
a young adult, it is time to push him out of the nest. --- Even then, discretion should be used when choosing a college. But I do think a secular
university is acceptable (for some subjects) once a person becomes a young adult.
[Edited on 13-9-2007 by biblelighthouse]
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Paleodoxy
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| posted on 9/13/2007 at 10:37 AM |
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Daniel, of course, was also a prisoner.
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Visigoth
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| posted on 9/13/2007 at 12:11 PM |
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| Quote: | | Some people say we should send our children to godless public schools in order to be salt and light. |
"Should", is too strong of a word for my taste regarding Christian children in a heathen setting. But certainly little children can be used by God
to bring other children to Christ. I have seen it happen.
And, let us not forget scriptural examples of such as well.
2Ki 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given
victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
2Ki 5:2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife.
2Ki 5:3 She said to her mistress, "Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."
2Ki 5:4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, "Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel."
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biblelighthouse
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| posted on 9/13/2007 at 12:25 PM |
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God is certainly able to do that. Praise Him!
But let us not forget that this little girl, too, was a prisoner. Had her parents willingly sent her into pagan captivity, it would have
been a heinous sin.
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Visigoth
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| posted on 9/13/2007 at 12:41 PM |
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Well, I never once said either way whether it is a sin to have kids attend public school. Being strangers and pilgrims and living in a revolutionary
way that contradicts the host empire is what we Christians do. It is God's kingdom now. So I do not really grasp your concept of a pagan/Christian
dichotomy when it comes to the world. I would not be sending my kids into pagandom, they are the rightful heirs of this world. We take a bit more
via affirmativa approach to heathens in our midst than the popular via negativa perspective. But, I think I understand where you are
coming from. We can dwell in unity in spite of our views on education.
My wife and I homeschool for other reasons. None of them are ethically based reasons. They are more pragmatic than spiritual.
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LadyFlynt
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| posted on 9/16/2007 at 07:16 AM |
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Curt, I missed your posts somehow last time (things come slowly for me right now as we are expecting another blessing  ).
The first thing I notice is the broad assumptions you make in your posts about homeschoolers and those that attend Christian private schools. You
state they have no contact with the world. I beg to differ and so do the statistics...particularly in the area of homeschoolers. Homeschoolers have
a greater opportunity of connecting and interacting with the "real world" on a daily basis compared to the public school students that are locked
inside four walls all day with only their age segregated peers. My children see plenty of the world and people in it. The difference is that they
are guided by my husband and myself in what they see, in how they learn to respond to others, etc. They aren't locked away in their bedrooms with a
stack of books. They aren't just "tossed in a cage" like we all were in the public schools. I attended public schools, so I can justly use the
"cage" scenario.
You are one of the few Christian teachers. Our highschool had a few also...but it wasn't enough to combat the out and out humanistic teachers (who
were much louder and permitted to be). Their classrooms were only a safe-haven for 45mins of the day. Even then, they had to steer as neutral a
course as possible (skipping the evolution chapter in biology for example...thank you Mrs R-R!!!). Beyond that, they could do nothing. FCA was for
those that already knew Christ in most cases...in other cases, Christian students that weren't in Christian homes were denied attendance by their own
parents...yep, I was one of them. What Bible studies?...thank God I met my husband when I was 15 or I would have never had that...but do you really
want YOUR daughter meeting her husband at 15???
I have literally HELLISH stories of public school. Public school is NOT the "real world". It's a concentrated arena of deviances. Trust me, as a
teacher, you only see a small portion of these kids' lives and the amount you miss is quite possibly the part they need guidance in. Truely what
they need are their parents first and foremost...no matter how christian and meaningful the teacher is.
The year that meant the most was when my non-christian parents placed me in a christian day school. I even know non-christian parents that are coming
to the Lord through christian curriculum. Certainly there are the pagan kids and pagan curriculum...but if we can THOROUGHLY ground the others, we
created a FIRM foundation.
As for the Amish...well, they need a light shown to them as well. Guess what, most of the people on this board and in our churches can't even get
their foot in the door with them. Guess why? Oh...well, that's another thread 
[Edited on 16-9-2007 by LadyFlynt]
' I have sent you, good sister Catherine, a book, which although it be not outwardly trimmed with gold, yet inwardly it is more worthy than precious
stones...' Jane Dudley
JColleen
URCNA
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