Lost In Space

The year was 1984, the place was San Jose, CA, and the excursion was to purchase one of those new fangled computers everyone was talking about. The unfortunate young man who was the designated salesman that night at the computer store, had no idea what he was in for. The following is an accurate rendering of our dialog:

Salesman: May I help you?
Me: Yes, I'm looking to buy a computer.
Salesman: Great! What brand were you interested in?
Me: I don't know.
Salesman: Well, what are you going to use it for?
Me: I don't know. What do you think I should use it for?
Salesman: (blank stare)
Me: Well, what do other people buy computers for?
Salesman: Hmmmmm. I guess it depends on how they plan to use it, and what features they are looking for.
Me: That makes sense.
Salesman: Is there something particular you want the computer to help you do?
Me: Well, I want one of those that talks to you.
Salesman: (blank stare)
Me: You know, like they used to do on Star Trek? Where he would ask the computer questions, and things like that.
Salesman: (realizing I was serious) Huh?
Me: Didn't you ever watch Star Trek?
Salesman: (speechless and wishing his shift was over)
Me: Well, I guess I'm not really ready to buy one.
Salesman: I think you're right. Excuse me, for a bit, will you? (never to return, and hopefully not to quit!)

How many people approach education the same way? They know they want an education, but have no idea how they would use it. Parents can tell their children over and over again that they need to achieve good grades so that they can get into a good college, but if the student doesn't have vision for the future, then much of the talk can fall on deaf ears.

From the time children are old enough to teach, the idea of calling should be a regular topic of discussion. They should understand that part and parcel of what they will end up doing with their lives will spring from where their interests lie and in what areas they demonstrate promise. Having a good idea of how they will use the acquired knowledge of studying math, history, and science should help them pursue their studies in a more purposeful way.

The first question and answer in the Westminster Shorter Catechism reads: Q.What is the chief end of man? A. Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Children should be taught that while they are young, the calling of student is the way in which they can glorify and enjoy their Creator. For the time spent learning of His creation, His immutable laws (both spiritual and physical), along with how He has operated throughout history will prepare the students for useful lives as adults.

The Scripture instructs us that without vision the people perish, but happy are they which keep the law. It is important to instill in our children the need for godly vision as they spend time preparing for the Lord's service.

(Note: I did eventually figure out what to do with a computer!!)

Joy In the Morning

This morning at 12:40 am I was awakened out of a quasi sleep. Groping for the cordless phone, I was in that in-between state where I forgot which button to push to make the ring stop. I certainly didn't want to accidentally disconnect -- this was an important call.

Just hours before I got the news, "Katie's contractions are two minutes apart and we're at the hospital. Gotta run." This time the voice on the phone sounded so different than I had ever heard it sound before. "He's here! He looks great!"

My room was dark, but it was as though light was pouring through the phone. Now I was fully awake, receiving a congratulations kiss from the new grandfather in the room.

I wonder if I look different. I certainly feel different. My son has a son. My grandson has my son for his daddy. Now a whole new chapter is being written:

And Raymond when he was 53 begat Ford. And Ford married Andrea and after three years they had a son and called him Anthony. And Anthony was raised a Christian and grew in wisdom and grace, and when he was 25 he took a wife whose name was Katherine. And in the 28th year of Anthony's life his wife bore him a son, and they named him Owen Thomas.

Recruiting Your Home School Faculty

I'm sure you are thinking that I made a mistake in my title. You're saying to yourself, I thought home schooling was about parents teaching their children.

Over my 25 years as a home educator, I have been the primary teacher for my children/students. Having had the benefit of a good private school education myself, I have been able to handle the subjects of English grammar, mathematics, and history quite well. However, there were subjects (specifically foreign language, science, and music) that I was not as proficient in, although I had received good grades when I was in school. In those cases, I delegated my teaching responsibilities to other people, either through private lessons or co-op group settings.

With each successive child, I've improved upon my methods and streamlined the process. I have gotten rid of much of the "busy work" assignments that some text books recommend, knowing that they were often there for the teacher handling 20+ students. Since I didn't have that situation, I had the luxury of making my assignments interesting or, at least, practical. However, one-on-one with mom could and did sometimes become tedious both from the teacher and the student's perspective. In order to combat this, I "got creative" and found a variety of sources to supplement my teaching.

There are a number of publishers that cater to home schools and produce DVD's and CD- rom courses for the computer. With the current technology available, it is very possible to get an entire faculty of excellent teachers to work with your students, right from your own television set. The fact that the presentations can be viewed repeatedly, if need be, coupled with the fact that the production values are usually quite good, makes this learning environment one that surpasses many fine academic institutions. Some publishers even allow you to call and get assistance with any portion of the subject that is not understood. We have used this method for chemistry, algebra, general science, biology, world history, American history, physics, anatomy and physiology, Spanish, Shakespeare's plays, geometry, and English literature. To be sure, not all of these resources come from a self-conscious Christian perspective, but many aren't inconsistent with our faith. And, with those that spout the "religion of evolution," the pause button is liberally used for me to to clarify and/or instruct on particular points.

My children look back fondly on many of these teachers as though they had actually physically been in the same classroom with them. An interesting aside: when my youngest, (who had the benefit of watching some of these courses alongside her older sister of seven years), took these courses herself, she remembered so much in detail that she could often say what the instructor was going to say before he even said it!

For those whose budgets make it difficult to purchase all thse series for your own personal library, I recommend that families consider purchasing and sharing with other homeschoolers. Or better yet, see if you can get your church or co-op to invest in a lending library so that homeschooling families can make use of these materials. A regular monthly subscription fee could purchase a considerable amount. And, of course, you can make use of eBay and HSLDA's re-sale sites to save some dollars as you do. I think you will find this is an excellent way to broaden the scope of your home school.

Your Opinions Please

I'm eager to see the day when the majority of Christian families in America are pursuing a Christian education for their children. I'm working on a couple of avenues to significantly change the status quo, and would appreciate some input.

Your answers to these questions will be greatly appreciated and considered.

-- Why aren't more professing Christians pursuing a Christian education for their children? (either by homeschooling or in a Christian day school)

-- What are the biggest impediments?

-- What do you think could change this?

-- How can individuals and churches help?

Giants In the Land

One of the continuing benefits of being a home schooling parent is that you get to re-learn things you should know over and over again as you introduce new subjects to your students. This is especially true of the excellent practice of reading passages from Scripture aloud to your children. Presenting the text with expression, thereby making its meaning come alive, followed with discussion about how the attitudes and perspectives of the people toward God affected their situation, reinforces the truths of Scripture to the one reading as much as to those listening. However, I've found that I can be quite uppity at times regarding my "ancestors in the faith" as I critique their moves and motives as though I would have done a better job! How many times have I screamed at the patriarch Isaac about choosing the ungodly son over the one God had told Rebecca would rule over the older? I hate to see him make that error time and again! And what about David? I mean, doesn't he see what effect his heinous sin is going to have on his descendants? Reading these "family histories" can act as a valuable reminder that we are very much like (if not worse) than those who've come before us.


Numbers 13 & 14 is another good case in point. In that account, Moses had sent twelve spies into Canaan to spy out the land that the Lord had promised them for a possession. Ten of the twelve came back having drawn the conclusion that they wouldn't be able to prevail against the giants in the land. Their solution was to walk by sight, not by faith. In a similar way, many Christian parents today, when they are plotting a course of action for their children's "higher education," have their gaze more fixed on the giants in the land, than on the provisions and promises of the God of Scripture. In fact, they believe that if they don't have enough "AP" (advanced placement) courses, or letters of recommendation, or a high enough GPA from an "accredited" school, that they won't be able to get into the "best" colleges. Since their focus is on the wrong things, instead of making sure their children are strongly grounded in a biblical world and life view and are living out the implications of their faith, they are busy spending oodles of time and money trying to get the best situation that the "giants in the land" will deem worthy.

Need I remind all of those who have bought into this philosophy that for the Children of Israel, this resulted in a total of forty years of wilderness wanderings? Come to think of it, I can't think of a better way to describe many professing Christians I know who, after having graduated from those "best" schools, end up thinking and acting much like the heathens who run them, while wandering in a wilderness of their own making. When they "mature" into adulthood, their decisions and perspectives are more "Canaanite" than they are Christian.

I am truly saddened that there is no quick fix for this attitudinal malaise. However, I am encouraged that there are many who correctly discern the war raging against the Christian faith all around them, and yet continue to persevere in the process of raising warriors obedient to the law-word of Jesus Christ. Our victorious hope lies in the reality that by focusing on the promises rather than the problems, the land will be ours!

The Home School Life

Much has been written about the spiritual and academic benefits of homeschooling. However, one of the most significant assets of a homeschooling situation is the benefit to family life. Children often find that their best friends end up being brothers or sisters, and there is much less of a peer-group emphasis, as children of differing ages make friends with each other readily. Moreover, family outings and vacations can take place according to the family's schedule, rather than only certain periods of time during a 10-month school year.

Awhile back, I wrote a parody of the song from the musical Annie. Instead of "It's the Hard Knock Life," I changed the words to "It's the Home School Life." Here is my humble rendition:

It's the home school life for us!
It's the home school life for us!
In the kitchen we learn math
While the baby gets a bath.
It's the home school life.

Siblings we always see;
They are classmates perpetually.
Who knows what grade we're in?
We're always with the next of kin.
It's the home school life.

Our moms are more than just our teachers;
They pile us into vans and SUVs.
In between the grammar, math and science,
They take us to all activities

No one cares that you finished all your school work;
There is always more for you to do.
No relief from a parent-teacher conference,
Because the people who show up are you know who!

Oh, socialized we may not be.
Socialized -- what's that, MTV?
Dad and Mom, it's thanks to you;
We appreciate all you do.

It's the home school life (Yes it is)
It's the home school life (Yes it is)
It's the home school life!


All humor aside, there is an additional benefit to the homeschool life apart from academic and social aspects, and it becomes evident when there is prolonged sickness or medical emergency in the family. For in these times of stress and struggle, the family functions more as God intended; rather than fragmented and going their separate ways, families are readily available to support and bolster each other.

I know of numerous homeschooling families in my geographical area alone that have had to face such medical situations. In one case, the mother of the family, after weeks of thinking she was experiencing asthma, heard the diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma. The family of six children, the youngest 18 months old at the time, was able to come together and act as a unit as the chemotherapy and radiation became a part of their lives for the 10 week period of treatment. Did all academic subjects get covered everyday? Of course not. But, now, six years later, the mom (and cancer survivor) calls the entire episode one of the great blessings in her family's life. Her children's relationship with each other and their responsibility level in the home increased greatly, as they all relied on the Lord's provision together. Academic work that was missed was made up, and if someone didn't point out this part of their history to you, you would think them an average, everyday family.

Another family is currently dealing with a father who is rapidly deteriorating from ALS -- Lou Gerhig's Disease. With the help of their church and greater homeschool community, the family has been graced to continue homeschooling, thereby giving the daughters greater time with their dad to encourage him and to be around to help their mom. But, you may ask, aren't their academics suffering? I submit that what they are learning in a "real life" setting about illness, medical care, compassion, and God's provision, along with the studies that they are able to keep up with, will serve them profitably in the days and years ahead. They are definitely not missing out, when you consider that their appreciation for even the small blessings in life are marks of their greater maturity. Plus, they are seeing first hand the committed bond of love between their parents --even in the face of such a brutal disease.

Yes, the home school life is a working model of the biblical family. It allows families to live, learn, and work together in a full-orbed, non-compartmentalized existence. Isn't it just like our God to reward biblical responsibility in such a beautiful way!

Working Moms

I like homeschool moms. I realize that for those who know me, this is not earth-shattering news. But, the more time I spend with fellow homeschooling moms who are pouring their lives into their children, the more I realize that God's blessing is evident in Christian homeschooling!

Today I had the opportunity to visit an ongoing ministry that I began five years ago and turned over the reins of this past spring. The Coram Deo Chorus grew out of a desire I had to give my youngest daughter (the singer of the family) an opportunity to learn and develop her musical giftings. As it turned out, other families were interested in a similar program and were eager to join. God has an interesting sense of humor, as He had me (a non-musical, shower-singer), begin a children's choir. He worked out all the details to the point that I was able to get a young, enthusiastic college graduate with a love of music and the desire to work in her field who was willing to travel two hours each way on public transportation every Thursday in order to be my musical director. So not only was the choir an opportunity for my daughter to grow, but for this young woman, as well.

After four full and dynamic years, it became apparent to me that it was time for my daughter and me to move on. She had learned much in this environment, but needed more of a challenge musically. However I knew that God wanted me to have the ministry continue. I didn't have to look too far to find another homeschool mom willing to take the job I had created and filled as administrator. The music director has matured into a very competent and encouraging teacher, and now also has a Mrs. title in front of her name. And, she actually drives her own car now; the bus and train ride no longer part of her weekly trek. Not only that, but there are other moms still present week after week, willing to chip in and offer their time and expertise.

Today during my visit, I was gratified to see first-hand that the choir is in very good hands and many major improvements have been made. Just goes to show that none of us are indispensable! And that new blood often enhances an ongoing enterprise. I share this because it is important to re-state that homeschooling works because there are dedicated moms willing to make it work -- both in their own homes with their own families and in association with others. What's more, many of these women are willingly moving into the role of mentors for the younger moms who are new to homeschooling, and the camaraderie is amazing to witness.

It's nice to be a member of such an elite group! The future is very bright!!

Products of Our Culture

There is a huge difference between those raised in the faith and those who have not had the benefit of Christian teaching from the time they are very young. I'm reminded of a song Judy Rogers wrote, Why Can't I See God?. The refrain goes like this:

Teach me while my heart is tender;
Tell me all that I should know;
And through the years I will remember,
Wherever I may go.

Since culture is religion externalized, there are many manifestations in our lives that reflect the culture in which we were raised. If we came to faith after childhood, there are a number of things that need to be re-thought out. Often we don't think about these things until some event or circumstance brings them to our attention. For example, there are movies I loved before my conversion that when I went to show them to my children, I discovered were not only inappropriate for them, but for me as well! It took encountering the message of the movie in real time before I had a chance to reevaluate it.

Once, while reading to my five year old daughter, this lesson was cemented. We were going through the science volume of a child's encyclopedia that I had used with her brother six years earlier, a time prior to my embracing the reformed faith. We loved these volumes and I couldn't wait to share them with Rachel. As I read to her from the book, we came to a section that I dutifully read in its entirety. The only problem was that the text was giving the earth's formation as having occurred millions and millions of years prior as the result of a "Big Bang." When we got to the end of the section, I dutifully informed her that as Christians we take the biblical account of origins as correct and that this section was wrong. I then turned the page and began to read the next section. She stopped me dead in my tracks and asked in her "Rachel" style, "How do you know this page is right, when the other one was wrong?" She got me.

Why was I teaching her from a book that had incorrect, anti-biblical presuppositions and therefore incorrect conclusions? That's when I began my "obsession" with building a home school library. From then on, I resolved never to use materials that weren't consistent with our biblical faith if there were other alternatives. Where there weren't, I would teach the subject without the use of texts or books that taught lies, and present the information to my children only after I had "taught" myself.

Just the other day, I was talking with a woman who told me a story that demonstrates the sometimes unexpected benefits of raising children in the culture of the Christian home school. She had been reading a story book to her five year old son which began, On Monday morning it was raining and.... Before she could finish the sentence he protested,

"Oh, no, Mommy! That's wrong!"

She was surprised. "What's wrong?"

"It isn't raining, Mommy! God makes it rain!"

She corrected herself, but was laughing inside. This was no small insight on the part of her Christian child -- one that she had missed entirely. She realized that in this homeschooling adventure, she could expect to learn as much from her children as she would ever teach.

Homeschooling parents are positioned to raise their children with solid biblical training. When the Word of God is presented and faithfully taught, children will reach conclusions consistent with their faith. As the Bible informs us,

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Despite the mounting opposition we face, from the humanistic culture around us, the future will be bright indeed, as covenant children make their mark on the surrounding culture in Jesus' name. All the more reason for the church to support and encourage Christian homeschooling!

Questions I Can't Answer

I think the aspect I enjoy the most as a homeschooling parent is teaching the Bible, along with Christian doctrine and church history. Sure, I've always attempted to present each and every subject from a Biblical perspective, but when it comes to teaching the basic creeds, confessions, and essentials of the faith or going through particular books of the Bible, I find that my own understanding and commitment to orthodoxy grows.

I've especially been challenged when my children have asked questions that I could not answer. Not wanting to fudge an answer that I am unsure about, I do some research to provide a good response. When Dr. Rushdoony was alive, these circumstances proved to be good excuses to phone him and chat. In fact, when his health was failing and he acknowledged that it wouldn't be long until he was in heaven, I lamented that he wouldn't be around to answer my difficult questions. He laughed, "Yes, even your long distance plan won't reach that far!" These days, I call upon the men of Chalcedon and pose my questions to them.

I've noted the wisdom in the statement, "You know how well a student is learning by the questions he asks rather than the answers he gives." In fact, I would go so far to say that as someone is learning any subject (the Bible in particular) there should be a host of questions that arise. Correctly applying the Scripture to life is a fundamental aspect of taking dominion in Jesus' name, and there can be no effective apologetic without it. When receiving and digesting any portion of Scripture, the obvious questions that should arise are, "How exactly does this apply to me?" and, "What are the implications of this doctrine?"

Just this week my daughter posed a question that I could not easily answer. The very nature of it demonstrated to me that she is thinking through the implications of the incarnation of Christ and His being fully God and fully man. I went to my "answer men" and they admitted that they had never considered that particular issue before. Her question got us all thinking, and the fruit of the research has given us all food for thought. How blessed I am that in the process of teaching my daughter, I am learning so very much myself!

Public Speaking and Leadership

A friend of mine, who happens to be a lawyer, told me years ago that if he had to do it all over again, he would have spent much more time in speech, debate, or drama classes. His reason was simple: lawyers who are well accustomed to speaking publicly are much more at ease in trial situations. Others who didn't work on their public speaking skills from an early age were more apt to push papers or have to settle cases out of court.

I've noticed over the years that those of us who are willing to get up and speak in front of an audience (either small or large) are more apt to be those in leadership positions. I've always been surprised at how many folks find speaking in front of a group intimidating.

For the reasons stated above, I have made public speaking a focal point in my homeschool curriculum. From the time my children were young, they were memorizing large portions of Scripture. By the time my son was about 7 years old, he had memorized the first 6 chapters of the book of Proverbs. He would compete in home school fairs in recitation competitions and eventually competed in speech contests. My daughters have, from the time they were quite young, performed in front of audiences of various sizes. The pieces I selected for them to present inspired and encouraged those in their audience. This was not so that mama and papa could show off our little darlings. No, it was practice for the leadership roles we wanted them to assume as they got older.

My advice to parents is to NOT underestimate the ability of their children to memorize lengthy pieces and present them dramatically -- in other words with an understanding of what they are reciting. Even if parents find they aren't capable themselves, they should NOT prejudge their own children's abilities. Take a stab at it and find out just how amazing your young children are.

If you need any suggestions, just email me and I'll supply you with a list of my favorite selections.

America's Future -- Cuba's Future

I am in regular touch with a Cuban exile who has done some volunteer work for me proofreading the Spanish translation of my book, Lessons Learned from Years of Homeschooling and is currently beginning the proofreading process of Rushdoony's The Philosophy of the Christian Curriculum. I thought I would share a part of one of his recent emails.

Honestly speaking, I see America's future in homeschooling children, teaching them sound Christian values. Public education can be described only with a C word. I just came back home from a visit to an elderly pastoral couple who came to America for the first time in 1956 and finally established themselves in Miami in 1960. They say that the U.S. they knew in those years had nothing to do with present day America. In their opinion America - like Cuba - has degenerated over the years. We shared our concerns that, if Cuba becomes free from Communism, and the major influence will be the U.S., then corruption, prostitution, homosexual marriage, drugs and pornography could be the main "assets" imported from America. As you may see, even Cuban exiles worry about America's future, sensing that it will be linked to Cuba's own future.

He asked me a question that I thought I would throw out to my blog readers.

My main concern is when Hispanic or other non-English speaking people try to homeschool their children. How will the children get their English to a level good enough to compete for jobs, pass State examinations, etc?

Any thoughts?

Let Me Introduce Myself

Welcome to the Lessons Learned from Years of Homeschooling Blog. I am a "veteran" homeschooling parent/teacher and author of Lessons Learned from Years of Homeschooling: A Christian Mothers Shares Her Insights of Twenty-five Years of Teaching Her Children.

This blog forum is designed to provide mentoring and counseling assistance to those eager to train and educate their children from a thoroughly biblical perspective. So, if you are considering homeschooling or have been home teaching your children from some time, I am eager to assist you in maneuvering your way through the issues and situations that arise. How I wish during my early years of home teaching, that there had been such a resource!

An additional note: since my emphasis is Christian education, those who have their children enrolled in Christian schools are also welcome to participate, as are those who are teachers in such institutions.