I like what Kim had to say about homeschooling in the face of opposition. I totally agree with her about us gathering together to pray for homeschooling and our homes, as well as being a good Christian representative as we deal with the opposition.  I realized a couple of years ago though that  God can use negative press to plant more seeds for homeschooling.  We may not like to have to defend what we do or other's freedom to educate their children as they see fit, but when we are given a public forum to discuss homeschooling I believe that it is a divine appointment.  Normally homeschooling stays a bit in the background, but when it's forced to the front of the news, we have the attention of many that wouldn't have heard of homeschooling otherwise. 

I have to admit that I was a skeptic many years ago as a freshly graduated Education major, but as God wove homeschoolers and information along the way about homeschooling; it made me consider homeschooling as an option when my oldest was school age.  I believe that if you show grace to those people who try to drag you over the coals about homeschooling, they'll remember it and how you dealt with it further down the road.

Years ago, God used a negative news story about homeschooling  to show me how He could even make good come from that  Here's what I journaled bb (before blogging):

 A homeschool family made the news today because they decided to put their 11 year old in public school and the school was outraged because the child couldn’t read.  My mother told me about it when we were talking on the phone.  Apparently the article hit a nerve with many people and Letters to the Editor were flying in to the newspaper.  (Sometimes I think that’s exactly why they publish those kinds of articles!)

I know that we all get discouraged when homeschooling gets negative press.  It’s not easy to defend the actions of people you’ve never met, but they were talking about needing to tighten the laws on homeschoolers to prevent “educational neglect”.  I went on to explain to my mother about how I taught 7^th graders in the public school who were barely reading themselves, even with the benefits of the professional teachers.  Furthermore, you can read in their I.E.Ps (Individualized Education Plan) that those children had many specialized services.  Things like – someone to read the words to them, modified lesson plans, etc…  Things that a homeschool mom is best at doing!

Then I went on to tell my mother about a homeschool family that I recently met.  They are a large wonderful loving family.  Their oldest daughter is 17 now and was so interesting to meet.  She has had some writings published and is teaching writing workshops to younger homeschool students at a local co-op.  She didn’t learn to read until she was 12.  Her parents hung in there though and are reaping the fruits of their labor.  They are a wonderful example of a homeschooling family.

By the end of the conversation with my mother, I began to feel better.  Even my mother, who wasn’t always sure of our decision to homeschool, began to see the benefits of letting parents be parents and determine what is best for their children.  So it was another one of those days - a day that could have discouraged me, but ended up affirming God’s plans for families and my own love for homeschooling. 

I’m reminded of the scripture where Joseph tells his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”.  Even though negative press can at times be discouraging or put us on the defensive, don’t let it sway you nor cause you to say unkind things.  Discussions about homeschooling can always plant seeds in other’s hearts, even when others intend to bring harm to the homeschooling movement.  God is in control and can use even those situations for good.