Walking Therein

My Comment to Spunky's Reply to Dr. Beam - How Should Christians Educate?

    Spunky posted yet again on the controversial subject of How Should Christians Educate Their Children? It is an intriguing post, as is the Dr. Beam's Response post just prior to it. Her post on How Christians Educate is actually her response to his letter.

    After posting several times on the subject - in Hot Homeschooling Topics, I had decided to post about lighter, lovelier subjects and stay away from hot topics that will cause readers to leave my blog angry or upset... but, that would not be fair to the TRUTH and shouting it, as it were, from the mountaintops. In addition, if I truly believe it is the responsibility of the mature Christian adults in the Body to get out the WORD and witness, etc.(as opposed to the idea that it is the responsibility of young public school children), then I cannot forsake such topics altogether.

    So, I will not expound further, but rather, encourage you to go to Spunky's (or Spunky's, if you prefer) and leave a comment -or leave one here; I would love to hear what you think.  I will, however, post my comment to her post:

I posted about this a few days ago. I absolutely agree. Thank you for meeting unbiblical ideals head-on.

 

It amazes me how godly people, intelligent people, try to explain away all manner of socially-accepted practices using the WORD of God.  We as Christians need to get one foot out of the world and into the WORD.

Unfortunately, I think, a lot of times, it is making excuses like this that puts churches on the wrong side of what the Bible really says about an issue.  Then, the members of that body are led further away from the truth, thereby further desensitizing them from what God truly intends for us as Christians to live as a spiritually abundant life.

 

We buy into the idea that a "Christianized" version of the world's abundance is what God has given us. Then, as it most often relates to our families and children, we shun and forget the basics of the WORD.

We need to get back to Truth. We need to quit making excuses to make ourselves feel like what we are doing is not sin.

 

It is not for me to say it is your sin to put your child into the PSS, but then again, I do not have to define sin: God already has.

Thank you again, Spunky, for an excellent post, speaking truth to those who have ears to hear.
Jacque  ( ;

:)

9:48 AM, Sunday, May 28, 2006 .. Posted by mrsdiamond

so why don't you tell us how you really feel? ;) I agree it is not the responsibility of kids to witness to the world, but then again........sometimes a little child shall lead them.

My kids all attend public school at this time and I do not feel we are sinning at all. Through them being in school and me volunteering constantly, numerous doors have been opened for us to witness in word and deed the power of Christ in our lives......... I honestly don't think we'd have touched any of their lives if we hibernated at home.

Next year our eldest will be attending a private christian school. I have considered homeschooling.......and have not ruled it out entirely. I definitely have nothing against it at all, nor do I judge those who do it.......but for us at this time it's not the right choice. We are confident in our kids school and teachers because we have taken much time to get involved and know them.

And believe me, after school....there is still much homeschooling going on. For I believe that life is truly one big school. :)

I just have to....

4:59 PM, Sunday, May 28, 2006 .. Posted by icart61

...this is definitely a hot topic. I think the immigration issue is the only other one that gets me more crazy. Those of us who homeschool do not hibernate....this whole misconception of staying cooped up in the home and never socializing with another human being that is not a family mempber....my family is/was under the same impression.
Whether you homeschool or not IS a personal choice...as long as it is the CHOICE you are making. I taught on and off for years and think of myself as a pretty good teacher. If I could find a school of teachers similar to me (and I have in our travels) I would gladly send my children to public school. In fact, my 17 year old IS going to public school. But to say you don't touch lives or hibernate or do not socialize if you homeschool is just wrong.
It is also wrong to assume that you ONLY interact with other homeschoolers...although it does have the same odds as going to a public school that you would interact with those public school children. When the CHOICE comes down to sending your child to an inferior school with an inferior cirriculumn and certain dangers that exist in SOME school districts or teaching them with love, committment and understanding at home, given you have the opportunity (some of us can not afford to stay home...we are the only bread winners)...then it is a sin to send your child to public school.
Not every case is black or white....but not every parent makes a conscious decision as to where they send their children. I think THAT is the big picture....MAKE the choice....don't just do because that is how it has always been done. And don't just do because you think your CHILD will make a difference...it is up to the parents in this case. Mrsdiamond, Like you stated in your post...countless numbers of volunteer hours. Been there and done that. it doesn't always work.
All I ask is that you make the right CHOICE for YOUR child...icart

:)

8:34 PM, Sunday, May 28, 2006 .. Posted by mrsdiamond

sorry I did not mean to imply that all homeschoolers "hibernate"

i know some that do, and I mostly was referring to myself...because I can be a bit of a hermit, and I would tend to do that. I know that lots of homeschoolers get out there and interact with the world in far greater ways than attending public school, visiting nursing homes and all kind of ways.

Thank you for your honest input! ( ;

11:57 PM, Sunday, May 28, 2006 .. Posted by JacqueDixonSoulRestES

You are so humble, Mrsdiamond, I don't think I could be offended... besides, as much as I cannot, I would love to be a hermit, too! In one of my posts, I said we HAVE to do things that put us into society, not that I want to be.
AND - I do want to show the love of Jesus. I know I cannot be a witness to the world directly if I am always home (though, we do get a lot of visitors for living out on a country road!). I do want to be a witness of a Titus2 woman to my husband and children first, though. As a Christian Momma, I feel that is my 2nd calling, right after being a Follower and Worshiper of God. I also rely on God and His Spirit to lead me into the right place at the right time to witness.
And, since I hate to post long comments (silly me), and mine was getting pretty long, I will be posting it as an entry instead. I guess I will leave the link below, after I post it.
But, like I said... I love you in the LORD, Mrsdiamond, and I can tell the sweet spirit you have about this! So, thanks!
And, icart, I do agree with most of what you said. I guess what I disagree with will be in the other post. And, I would send my children to public school, too, on one condition: It would have to be OVER MY DEAD BODY. But, other than that, I really don't have an opinion about it!! ( ;
Sorry, after Mrs.D made the little "tell us how you really feel" statement, I just had to say it!
Take care, all, and I will be 'seeing' you on your blogs!
( ;
Jacque ( ;

:)

11:56 AM, Monday, May 29, 2006 .. Posted by mrsdiamond

thanks Jacquie

the "tell us how you really feel" was me trying to be funny. I know how you really feel. LOL. I just see both sides of the coin......my dad was a ps teacher, and like i said i am very involved in my kids school. in fact some of the teachers have become personal friends...in fact i'll be babysitting one of their kids........ my daughter has tremendously impacted one teacher who recently lost her husband.... sharing Jesus love with her. That teacher tells me all the time that my daughter is like her special "angel sent from God"

So far, it's been a very positive experience.......but I do not agree with sending kids off to school and barely knowing who is teaching your child. All through the years I have picked my kids next year teacher..... Because of me they took Harry Potter off the curriculum because I refused to allow my daughter to read it.

This school only goes up to grade 6 and this is Brianna's last year there, so she'll be going to private christian school next year. I was not comfortable sending her to public middle school.

Some public schools are ok. Many are NOT. It's the parents job to be there to make sure.

Homeschooling is great when done right, and from my research into it i see a great potential for it to be better than public school......I just don't think I could do it. I don't have the patience, and my kids are VERY social........... so we've chosen this route, and it's been good for my family so far.

And this is the thing..... each family situation is different. I wish we didn't have to be divided by good parent/bad parent....homeschool/public school thing. We all love our kids and want to do what is best for them. What might be best for your kids might not be the best for mine. Who is to judge? Why can't we just support each other as parents. I still teach my children diligently about the things of God. I am still very strict and enforce discipline.............

I know, I know...

3:01 PM, Monday, May 29, 2006 .. Posted by JacqueDixonSoulRestES

I have often been misunderstood, but I don't think I've been accused of not speaking my mind about my convictions!
I totally understood that you were kidding!
I was kidding, too.
( ;
As easily offended as I can be sometimes, I most often believe the best in people.
My speaking of my mind often causes people to think I am mad at them or that I don't like them for what they say. That is not the case. Especially in this case!

I do not like to think the worst of people, even when they say stupid things (NOT the case here, Mrs.D), but especially when we just have a difference of opinion!

I will say one thing, though, because I do disagree...
You cannot wash one little piggy bright as a shiney new penny and send them into the pigpen, hoping their nice shininess will rub off onto the dirty piggies. It does not happen, any more than you can send a child to school and not have repercussions from the sinful habits of others they are deluged with for 8+ hours.
Good teacher or not, it only takes one time for Susie to be molested or Johnny to get an interest in the Ouija board or be desensitized to the Muslim beliefs. It may not show up now, but it will show up later, somewhere. Then, because of our mistaken choices as parents, they will have to deal with what we can put an end to now.
How do I know this? Because last summer, we discovered that one of our dd's had a secret email address......
Post to on this to follow (with dd's permission).

I Posted My Loooong Comment Here:

4:17 PM, Monday, May 29, 2006 .. Posted by JacqueDixonSoulRestES

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JacqueDixonSoulRestES/142382/