I asked this question 9 years ago. My husband and I labored over this decision. We had homeschooled since my oldest son had entered Kindergarten. High school seemed an eternity away, so we avoided talking about it. Most of our friends were only going to homeschool through middle school and then were looking at private schools or the public school. We knew kids that had strong faith who had gone to the public school and had done quite well. But my husband teaches in the public schools and he was becoming more and more weary of what was happening in the public school system. The buzzwords of ‘outcome based education’ ‘no child left behind’ ‘whole language’ were ushering in new and ‘improved’ ways to educate but with little results. We were at a crossroad and didn’t know which path to take.
So, I headed off to the Pennsylvania Homeschool Convention and asked God to make it clear. Low and behold, some of the seminars focused on homeschooling in high school and I attended them, sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting for that answer to my burning question. Nothing. Still at a crossroads. One afternoon, I decided to visit with the seminar speaker at his booth. James Stobaugh was the founder of “For Such a Time as This.” I painted my scenario for him. This was my oldest child, I wasn’t sure I had the skills to teach him, I had three younger children I was working with, I wanted my kids to go to college and I finished up my story with my burning question…should I homeschool my son for high school? He looked me straight in the eyes and said..’why wouldn’t you homeschool him?’ He continued on, reminding me that his parents cared more about his education than anyone else he would ever meet. We also knew his strengths and could help him to grow those. He reminded me that I had a college education and had learned HOW to learn. Maybe I would have to stretch myself to relearn chemistry or to read some difficult, challenging books. So the question really became, ‘was I willing to invest the time?’ That was the question that I needed to chew on.
Those nine years have passed quickly. We have continued to homeschool and found a co-op that provides two day/week instruction. We are educating classically and as I look back, I think I have learned more than my kids. Yes, I had to revisit chemistry and really learn it this time, but I did it! Physics is on the docket for this year. And I have read some difficult books so that I can talk to my children about them. Now that I am on the other side of that once difficult question, I can honestly say that I am so glad that we took this road. Our whole family is being educated. It hasn’t been easy. I have yelled. I have been stressed. I have threatened to put my kids in a school. But we stayed the course. The greatest blessing is that I HAD THAT TIME with my kids…I didn’t hand the education off and have been able to be an active observer in seeing their worlds open up. I have watched my children lead worship during devotions at co-op, I can pass by and see them enjoying lunch with their friends, I am on site if they are dealing with some issue and need to talk. My house is filled with music on our ‘off’ days because that is how my children take ‘breaks’ from school.
I have two children who have now graduated from high school and both have gone onto college. They are even honors students. My oldest graduated Cum Laude from a rigorous academic institution this year. He learned how to learn…he learned how to think.
Is this the right decision for everyone? I won’t be so bold as to say that, but I do think there are great benefits. Not every family is in the position to make mom the primary educator, but if it is a possibility, give it a go. As Dr. Stobaugh challeneged me so many years ago, why not ponder this yourself? Why not homeschool through high school? You might just get a greater education yourself!
So, I headed off to the Pennsylvania Homeschool Convention and asked God to make it clear. Low and behold, some of the seminars focused on homeschooling in high school and I attended them, sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting for that answer to my burning question. Nothing. Still at a crossroads. One afternoon, I decided to visit with the seminar speaker at his booth. James Stobaugh was the founder of “For Such a Time as This.” I painted my scenario for him. This was my oldest child, I wasn’t sure I had the skills to teach him, I had three younger children I was working with, I wanted my kids to go to college and I finished up my story with my burning question…should I homeschool my son for high school? He looked me straight in the eyes and said..’why wouldn’t you homeschool him?’ He continued on, reminding me that his parents cared more about his education than anyone else he would ever meet. We also knew his strengths and could help him to grow those. He reminded me that I had a college education and had learned HOW to learn. Maybe I would have to stretch myself to relearn chemistry or to read some difficult, challenging books. So the question really became, ‘was I willing to invest the time?’ That was the question that I needed to chew on.
Those nine years have passed quickly. We have continued to homeschool and found a co-op that provides two day/week instruction. We are educating classically and as I look back, I think I have learned more than my kids. Yes, I had to revisit chemistry and really learn it this time, but I did it! Physics is on the docket for this year. And I have read some difficult books so that I can talk to my children about them. Now that I am on the other side of that once difficult question, I can honestly say that I am so glad that we took this road. Our whole family is being educated. It hasn’t been easy. I have yelled. I have been stressed. I have threatened to put my kids in a school. But we stayed the course. The greatest blessing is that I HAD THAT TIME with my kids…I didn’t hand the education off and have been able to be an active observer in seeing their worlds open up. I have watched my children lead worship during devotions at co-op, I can pass by and see them enjoying lunch with their friends, I am on site if they are dealing with some issue and need to talk. My house is filled with music on our ‘off’ days because that is how my children take ‘breaks’ from school.
I have two children who have now graduated from high school and both have gone onto college. They are even honors students. My oldest graduated Cum Laude from a rigorous academic institution this year. He learned how to learn…he learned how to think.
Is this the right decision for everyone? I won’t be so bold as to say that, but I do think there are great benefits. Not every family is in the position to make mom the primary educator, but if it is a possibility, give it a go. As Dr. Stobaugh challeneged me so many years ago, why not ponder this yourself? Why not homeschool through high school? You might just get a greater education yourself!
RSS Feed
