schoolprogams

The How and Why of Home Schooling
by Raymond Ballman
(Recommended)

Christian Educators Curriculum Manual
by Cathy Duffy

(Recommended)

You Can Teach Your Child Successfully
by Ruth Beechick

Home Schooling for Excellence
by David & Micki Colfax

The Christian Home School
by Gregg Harris

Schooling Choices
by Wayne House

For the Child's Sake
by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Home School Burnout
by Raymond and Dorothy Moore

Schoolproof
New Big Book of Home Learning
by Mary Pride

Home Education and Constitutional Liberties by John Whitehead

     For a number of reasons, home education of children is increasing at a significant rate in the United States. Some of the parents have assumed primary responsibility for their children’s education because of anti-Christian teaching or unhealthy peer influences in the public schools as well as the overall decrease in quality of instructions. Many parents are hearing about the meaningful experiences of other home schooling parents and find the opportunity to maintain and build stronger relationships with their children very appealing. They are not being deceived that knowledge is more important than relationships.

     We are a nation at risk today, but not because we do not place a high priority on the education of children. We are so efficiency minded today that there is little time left for things that take time—things like relationships or like disciplining our own children or others. Our failure in the educational world exists today because we have failed to understand the importance of relationships—relationships with God, relationships in the family, and relationships within the local church and community.

      From a Biblical perspective, perhaps the underlining reason parents are examining and embracing the home education approach is due to a spirit of restoration found in the closing verses of the Old Testament scriptures spoken by the prophet Malachi.

      The first advent of Jesus Christ was directly associated with the prophetic ministry of John the Baptist fulfilling this scripture (Luke 1:17). Surely in this age of spiritual renewal and reformation we are seeing a fulfillment of this prophetic word again.

      Since the first advent, we have seen a continual struggle between two basic philosophies: The Greco-Roman ideals represented by individualism and the democratic state versus the Judeo-Christian ideals represented by the family and the Church. It is a battle over wealth and the loyalty of the next generation. The individual looks after his own wealth and opportunities. The state develops the long-range plans. It wants the control of the wealth and loyalty of the next generation. The individual and the state both speak loudly and clearly for themselves and for each other.

      The Church speaks for its interests, but who is speaking for the family? It is the family that supports the Church and passes on the Christian heritage from generation to generation. Are Christian leaders thinking further ahead than the state? Passing along a heritage is an educational function. When fathers relinquish family responsibilities, the Christian faith loses ground as well. Christian leaders can no longer remain quiet concerning the family’s role in education. It is time for Christian leaders to send the prophetic message of this age to fathers. It is imperative for both families and Church leaders to know the facts about home education in America.

      Although home schooling is now flourishing within the United States society at large knows little about home schoolers, their backgrounds, their achievements, and their other activities.

      A recent study conducted by Dr. Brian D. Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute, provides some answers to the key questions being asked about home education. This study, Strengths of Their Own: Home Schoolers Across America, collected data on 5,402 home school students from 1,657 families for the 1994-95 and 1995-96 academic years. It is the largest and most comprehensive study on home schooling ever undertaken. It not only confirms many studies on similar investigations into aspects of home schooling, it addresses all the common questions and concerns expressed about home education. The Q/A link has the 10 most asked questions/answers about home education.