We had our daughter's high school graduation open house yesterday ... I've been thinking a lot lately about homeschooling. Don't get me wrong - we've homeschooled for 19 years and have 5 more to go. But in going through all the pictures and memorabilia gathered throughout Erika's lifetime .... caused me to review and reaffirm our reasons.
I believe that God has given us our specific children and also specific responsibilities as their parents -- one of which is their education. I don't believe that the public schools can install our values into our children -- in fact I believe their values are diametrically opposed to ours.
I believe that public/private school children don't get enough time to be children. Go to school, come home, eat dinner, do homework, go to bed, repeat.
I believe it's our responsibility as parents to protect our children. They can be "light" and "salt" in the world once we have given them a firm spiritual foundation. And I don't think that foundation can be completely laid in the first 4 or 5 years of their life.
I believe that maturity (spiritual, social, etc.) cannot be attained by spending 6-8 hours per day with 30 other children.
I believe that we know our children better than anyone, and can structure their education around their own "bent". We can allow them to learn in the way the do best, move at their own pace (within reason!), and dig deep into their own interests.
