Back to Home School

from the September 02, 2008 eNews issue

Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end of the summer season, is now behind us, and for students across the country that means it's time to hit the books. This year more than 2 million children in the United States will be home schooled - and that number is growing steadily. Home school students in the state of California are going back to school as well, but that almost wasn't the case.

The Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles has ruled that Parents have the right to home school their children even without a teaching credential. The court's decision last month reversed an earlier decision that could have dramatically impacted the lives of an estimated 170,000 home school students in the state of California. The Home School Legal Defense Association said the court's decision to overturn the ruling is a great victory for home school freedom.

The effectiveness of home schooling has been the subject of much research and debate. Critics decry home schooling as being ineffectual for scholastic achievement. The facts speak otherwise. On almost every standardized test, home schooled children seem to excel. Statistical data continues to conclude that home schooling not only works, but it works effectively. And it works without the myriad of state controls and accreditation standards imposed on public schools. According to the National Home Education Research Institute the home educated score better, on average, than students in conventional state-run schools.

But these are only academic measures. The spiritual value of home schooling is difficult to measure on a standardized test. Spiritual integrity and close family relationships are the real prizes of home schooling.

God's creation design is for married couples to bear children and train them to be righteous before Him. God gives us the great commandment in Deuteronomy 6:4 and then instructs us further:

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deuteronomy 6:6,7)."

God has placed children in families that they might learn from their parents' character and skills what will be needed in order for them to fulfill their life's purposes. The instruction of parents is vital. Parents who home school are discovering the blessed opportunity to direct more closely the spiritual growth of their children.

If you want to consider home schooling, you don't have to re-invent the wheel or do it alone. There are many resources available to help. The Home School Legal Defense Association website has answers to many commonly asked questions as well as lots of good resources to get you started.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6