I’ve homeschooled, still do with two of my children, and two are in public school this year. We have been INCREDIBLY blessed by our public school experience as well as our homeschool experience. I also believe my own public school experience DID teach me to think critically. More than that, though, I believe that my God is bigger than the public school. He is bigger than the issues you describe. He can be trusted with my child. For years we specifically prayed for the right teachers for my children, and God –as His word says— heard my prayers. And was faithful. He has blown me away with his goodness. The teachers my girls were placed with are amazing Christians. The principal is an amazing Christian. They are good, wonderful people, serving, using their gifts, and blessing people. They are called to be there, and I am thankful for it.

And I see God working in that school. I’m proud of my girls for being a light in those hallways. I did not send them until I was confident they were STRONG enough to be a light. But I do not think, as you said, that I need to pull them out “before it is too late.” On the contrary, I believe they will make a difference for His kingdom while being at the school. There are children there, families there, who need Christians in their lives on a daily basis.

That said, if I believed my children were in danger or no longer had peace, or felt God was calling me to bring them back home, I would be obedient. Right now I am being obedient to His calling to have two of my children in those hallways, and I believe they are being salt and light.

My middle girl has Down Syndrome. I foresee homeschooling her when the school system fails to offer her opportunities.

My youngest has a driven personality. I believe that she would thrive in a homeschool situation.

I would agree with the lady who said make the decision child-by-child and year-by-year. Pray and research and know your child’s needs and then meet them, however that would be best.

Right now we are homeschooling Parker. In our state kids with Down syndrome begin preschool at 3. With Parker’s health issues there is no way he can go to school. And it will be several years before we could ever even consider sending him to a public school.

And truthfully, I’m not sure if I even ever want to consider it.

Our blog addy is above. I’d love to hear from those who may be homeschooling a child with special needs…and blogging about it.

Frankly, my husband first came on board with the homeschool idea as soon as my sister got her teaching degree. It’s not that she’s a horrible person or anything–quite the contrary, she’s disciplined and smart and a hard worker. But we still didn’t want someone like her (for issues of character that I won’t speak of) wielding undue influence over our children’s thinking.

I’m glad there are Christian public school teachers out there. I believe them to be God’s grace to the children of Christian parents whose circumstances actually DO preclude them from being homeschooled for whatever good reason.

Btw…I loved, loved, loved what Holly had to say a few comments back! Spot-on!

I’ve homeschooled all of my children from the beginning, and although there are times when it seems that sending them off in the morning and enjoying peace and quiet for 8 whole hours seems like heaven…I know I’m doing the right thing for my kids. I’m not concerned that they learn latin, or calculus, or any of that stuff (unless they choose to), I’m concerned with making sure that they know how to learn. I figure if I can teach them how to learn, and to be independent learners, their college professors will bow down and kiss my feet. In fact I’ve heard that these days some college professors have admitted that they actually prefer homeschooled kids because they are independent learners. There was a time when it was difficult to even get a homeschooler admitted to a college without a GED.

Basically, no one ever does it completely “right” and no one does it well every day, but if God has put the desire in your heart to teach your own children, then you should do it! I heard that a man spoke before Congress to support homeschooling, and I think he said it best. “Anyone who can potty train a 2-year-old, can teach anything!” To which I say “AMEN and AMEN”! Teaching a 2 year old to use the potty is by far the toughest teaching I’ve ever done!

The only qualification for homeschooling is that you love your child/ren. I loved classroom teaching and loved my students, but that is nothing compared to how much I love my children. YOU are the only one fully qualified to fully love your child/ren. No one can/will have your child/ren’s best interest in mind as fully as you do. No one can “read” your child/ren like you can. And, no one can know your child/ren’s hearts like you can. With that in mind, know that you are the most qualified teacher for your child/ren regardless whether you have a college degree or not.

Besides, you managed to teach your child/ren to talk, to go potty on the toilet, and to tie his/her shoes. Nothing is more difficult to teach than those things. You took your time with those things; take your time with other things as well and wait for your child/ren’s time.

A great community of homeschoolers can be found at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com if you find yourself feeling isolated.

You CAN do it!
Holly

http://sbees.blogspot.com/2005/07/why-i-homeschool.html

http://sbees.blogspot.com/2005/12/homeschooling-starting-out.html

http://sbees.blogspot.com/2006/03/more-on-sprittibees-homeschooling.html

http://sbees.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-big-fat-homeschool-links-list.html

http://sbees.blogspot.com/2008/02/nature-as-teaching-tool.html

She can stop by at my blog any time and I’ll encourage her just as you have.

Viva Homeschool!

I’m sure there are some lovely people out there acting as public school teachers. Unfortunately, I don’t know you, and I don’t get to pick you for my child. That said, why on *Earth* would I turn my child–innocent and vulnerable–to the government’s “care” for more waking hours than *I’ll* have with her?

Lock-step, I tell you.

Government schools are subject to employing on an equal opportunity basis. Nevermind the se%ual deviants that make the news every year (with many more episodes of inappropriate behavior going unreported).

This means your child’s teacher could be a Wiccan or an adulterer or a drag queen.

Oh, you think that the teaching they offer won’t sift through that depraved filter?

Then maybe your public school education didn’t teach you to think very critically.

As a homeschool mom, and *not* a degreed teacher (which I’m convinced is to my benefit from watching the pros burn-out) let me tell you–you have no idea how much moment-to-moment correction and supervision a child needs until you commit to doing it.

For those who know better and can do better and just don’t choose to, I implore you! Take back your children before it is too late.