Homeschooling Grows

Homeschooling Grows: I saw this article in USA Today the other day at the grocery store. It's fascinating to see how the homeschool movement is evolving. Read it.

Comments (8)

I was homeschooled from 2nd grade through my entire highschool years, and I remember first starting it: that people looked at us as if we were absolutely, completely crazy.

We probably were.

It's been encouraging to see society's general acceptance of the idea grow, especially since most of the early homeschooler horror stories had something to do with the DCF arriving at the steps of some family's homes and arresting everyone.

But the general conversational responses haven't changed. Most people just don't know what to do with homeschoolers, and most homeschoolers don't know what to do with most people.

One of the kids who is coming into my youth group this summer from the 5th grade is homeschooled. And when I met with him and his other 5th grade buddies, he was generally awkward the entire time. Then, one of his friends randomly told me that all humans are evolved primates (must have just discovered that from public school). Mr. Homeschooled kid said: "So I guess you're an evolutionist!" "Yep!" was the response.

No one else in the room noticed this little battle of worldviews - between the homeschooled right and the "liberal," public left. Well, not even the public schooled evolutionist noticed: only the two homeschooled kids in the room, including me.

Posted by nathan | June 1, 2009 5:19 PM

I find it ironic that the media is dealing with this as if it is a complete surprise. As a homeschooled graduate, I can personally say that Homeschooling has given me opportunities I never would have had otherwise. I do not wish to say that any other form of education is necessarily wrong. One must decide for oneself who/what will educate one's children. Yet, as Voddie Baucham makes a strong claim, it is best for the parents to school their own seed. Allowing the government to do so is like planting a garden and then handing it off to a complete stranger to tend. The media is so used to public-schooling that it comes as a surprise to them whenever homeschooling makes a revival. Oh the ironies of life.

Posted by CJ | June 1, 2009 5:19 PM

It is encouraging indeed to see our numbers rise.

Actually, there's even a more updated article than the one mentioned here - it was published by USA Today just last week. You can find the article (and my own comments in the "comments section" - look for the "P" icon) in the following link:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-05-28-homeschooling_N.htm?plckFindCommentKey=CommentKey:7b564290-67e7-4c40-afa5-9daa456dea5a&loc=interstitialskip

Posted by ProntoLessons | June 1, 2009 11:56 PM

I wonder if any of this has to do with the decline of our school systems?

Posted by Frank Martens | June 2, 2009 2:00 PM

Technically it's been on the decline for decades (especially since the Bible was ruled out)... but I mean also because of the actual 3R's quality of education.

Posted by Frank Martens | June 2, 2009 6:23 PM

I understand why homeschooling is growing but it is frustrating to me that there are so few committed Christian teenagers in the public school system because the HS kids have pulled out. My two teenagers have made it through public schools maintaining their Christian convictions and impacting their fellow students and teachers because they have lived distinctly different lives. I would have liked to have seen the difference if all the HS kids were working along side them in the schools. I see so many HS kids in our church willing to go on mission trips across the world but unwilling to go the the mission field (the local high school)in their backyard where they could make a lasting impact. I think statistics show that most people become Christians during the high school years but there are fewer and fewer witnesses in the high schools because more people are opting for home schooling. I think it is a shame.

Posted by Lawrence DeMoss | June 10, 2009 9:04 PM

We homeschool our five children, three of whom are doing high school. The reason we don't send them to the public schools to be "salt and light" is because that is not what usually happens in those situations. Even the best Christian teens that we know that attend public school are not making the kind of impact that they should be. They are trying to blend in. If my kids were in public school, I think they might do the same thing. We are still training them; they need this time! My primary responsibility is to do what is best for my children during these years. This may sound selfish, but I am not willing to watch my own children decline spiritually in the hopes that some of their "goodness" wears off on their peers.

Posted by Lora W | August 17, 2009 10:41 AM

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