blackbear4110
Member
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2013
- Messages
- 72
I was homeschooled most of my life, and for that I am very grateful.
I started out going to a private Christian school for 1st and 2nd grades. But the material was laced with "millions and billions of years ago...", and my parents did not like that at all. I was too young to really remember much of what was taught or went on, but I do know that my parents wanted to be involved and go on the field trips with me and asked the teachers questions about the material being taught...and they were looked down on by the teachers and principle for doing so.
For 3rd grade, my parents pulled me out and homeschooled me. I like it very much. They used the ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) curriculum, which allowed me to work at my own pace, and the material is virtually self-taught. I was no worse off for homeschooling, as we still went on some field trips. We (my bro and I) were around our mom all day long, so that was a very big plus for family-relationships to be formed at early ages.
When my 4th grade rolled around, our church had set up a Christian church-school using the same ACE material (which can be used in private, church, and homeschooling school settings). So I attended there.
We changed churches the next year, and I homeschooled ever since.
A few of the biggest reasons I liked the ACE curriculum (that we used to homeschool with) are:
1. It teaches everything from a Christian standpoint, whether it's science, history, etc.
2. It's full of Scripture, and incorporates memory verses in each subject, so that the child learns the Bible while he/she's learning the scholastic subject.
3. It lets kids work at their own pace.
I was always a very fast student, often getting done with my work for the day (plus doing extra, even to the point of doing twice the required minimum work) before 2 o'clock. A public or even private school system (Christian or otherwise) would have slowed me down and I probably would have grown bored and dropped out. On the other hand, my younger brother was much slower than me, often struggling to get half his work done by 8pm (bed-time). Since the curriculum is self-taught, this didn't create a problem for my parents in teaching it, but it did give me the freedom to finish when I was done and allow my brother to keep working until he had finished. In a public school, by brother would have either been called stupid or retarded, or he would have been shoved through to the next grade before he finished learning the previous lessons (which he learned at a MUCH slower rate). Either would have had very negative effects on him.
Now in highschool, and still homeschooled, my brother is understanding and learning the material and often finishes early.
Because of the way the ACE curriculum is set up, slower kids can learn slowly and faster kids can learn quickly. It also doesn't let anyone advance to the next level without fully learning and understanding (based on test scores) the previous levels.
In my honest opinion, this is much better than any public or private schooling system, as I don't see how such could possibly offer the individually-set pace for each kid.
ACE also (since the "teachers" aren't "teaching", but merely monitoring to see how the kids are doing, and answering any questions) gives kids the one-on-one time if they need it, but doesn't force it on those who don't need it.
As for "social" concerns...I spent more time with my dad in town during school-day hours than any other kid I knew. I was able to go to the post office, bank, store, hardware store, lumber store, etc. (of course, always watching for police so I wouldn't get in trouble for being "out of school"). Plus, I was able to work in my dad's home business starting at the age of 9. I realize most kids don't have opportunity like that, but still, when they get older (as someone has already mentioned) homeschooling gives them a more lenient schedule to get a job.
Plus, it eliminates the bullying, name-calling, etc. (as parents can discipline, whereas teachers cannot). AND, parents can shelter their kids from being taught sex in kindergarten, evolution, multi religions, etc.
And for those who don't think public schools affect their Christian kids...
If your kids are spending 40+ hours a day being taught and pumped full of anti-God teachings and theologies, and then a lot of kids engage in sport activities after school, and let's not forget that a lot of parents value the importance of friends and letting their kids hang out with and spend the night at friends' houses... how much time is that leaving for Godly parents to instill Biblical values in their kids?
There are 168 hours in a week.
An average of 8 hours sleep means 56 hours are spent sleeping.
40 hours are spent at school.
Now you have 72 hours a week left. Many families spend time watching TV (and most of that isn't Godly by any means at all), hanging with friends, vacations full of fun, and if you're involved in sports there goes a ton of evening hours.
How much time are you ACTUALLY spending one-on-one with your kids in teaching them the Bible, morals, Godly values, discipleship, helping them cultivate their relationship with Christ??
You can't expect 2 hours on Wednesday night youth group and 2 hours in the Sunday morning service to combat the 40+ hours a week (and if you're honest, probably a LOT more than that) that the kids are pumped full of anti-God teachings.
The way to deal with, handle, and know how to stand against the world is not by submersing your kids in the world. Submerse your kids in the truth of God, and then they'll recognize the lies of the world and know how to act according to the Bible.
I started out going to a private Christian school for 1st and 2nd grades. But the material was laced with "millions and billions of years ago...", and my parents did not like that at all. I was too young to really remember much of what was taught or went on, but I do know that my parents wanted to be involved and go on the field trips with me and asked the teachers questions about the material being taught...and they were looked down on by the teachers and principle for doing so.
For 3rd grade, my parents pulled me out and homeschooled me. I like it very much. They used the ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) curriculum, which allowed me to work at my own pace, and the material is virtually self-taught. I was no worse off for homeschooling, as we still went on some field trips. We (my bro and I) were around our mom all day long, so that was a very big plus for family-relationships to be formed at early ages.
When my 4th grade rolled around, our church had set up a Christian church-school using the same ACE material (which can be used in private, church, and homeschooling school settings). So I attended there.
We changed churches the next year, and I homeschooled ever since.
A few of the biggest reasons I liked the ACE curriculum (that we used to homeschool with) are:
1. It teaches everything from a Christian standpoint, whether it's science, history, etc.
2. It's full of Scripture, and incorporates memory verses in each subject, so that the child learns the Bible while he/she's learning the scholastic subject.
3. It lets kids work at their own pace.
I was always a very fast student, often getting done with my work for the day (plus doing extra, even to the point of doing twice the required minimum work) before 2 o'clock. A public or even private school system (Christian or otherwise) would have slowed me down and I probably would have grown bored and dropped out. On the other hand, my younger brother was much slower than me, often struggling to get half his work done by 8pm (bed-time). Since the curriculum is self-taught, this didn't create a problem for my parents in teaching it, but it did give me the freedom to finish when I was done and allow my brother to keep working until he had finished. In a public school, by brother would have either been called stupid or retarded, or he would have been shoved through to the next grade before he finished learning the previous lessons (which he learned at a MUCH slower rate). Either would have had very negative effects on him.
Now in highschool, and still homeschooled, my brother is understanding and learning the material and often finishes early.
Because of the way the ACE curriculum is set up, slower kids can learn slowly and faster kids can learn quickly. It also doesn't let anyone advance to the next level without fully learning and understanding (based on test scores) the previous levels.
In my honest opinion, this is much better than any public or private schooling system, as I don't see how such could possibly offer the individually-set pace for each kid.
ACE also (since the "teachers" aren't "teaching", but merely monitoring to see how the kids are doing, and answering any questions) gives kids the one-on-one time if they need it, but doesn't force it on those who don't need it.
As for "social" concerns...I spent more time with my dad in town during school-day hours than any other kid I knew. I was able to go to the post office, bank, store, hardware store, lumber store, etc. (of course, always watching for police so I wouldn't get in trouble for being "out of school"). Plus, I was able to work in my dad's home business starting at the age of 9. I realize most kids don't have opportunity like that, but still, when they get older (as someone has already mentioned) homeschooling gives them a more lenient schedule to get a job.
Plus, it eliminates the bullying, name-calling, etc. (as parents can discipline, whereas teachers cannot). AND, parents can shelter their kids from being taught sex in kindergarten, evolution, multi religions, etc.
And for those who don't think public schools affect their Christian kids...
If your kids are spending 40+ hours a day being taught and pumped full of anti-God teachings and theologies, and then a lot of kids engage in sport activities after school, and let's not forget that a lot of parents value the importance of friends and letting their kids hang out with and spend the night at friends' houses... how much time is that leaving for Godly parents to instill Biblical values in their kids?
There are 168 hours in a week.
An average of 8 hours sleep means 56 hours are spent sleeping.
40 hours are spent at school.
Now you have 72 hours a week left. Many families spend time watching TV (and most of that isn't Godly by any means at all), hanging with friends, vacations full of fun, and if you're involved in sports there goes a ton of evening hours.
How much time are you ACTUALLY spending one-on-one with your kids in teaching them the Bible, morals, Godly values, discipleship, helping them cultivate their relationship with Christ??
You can't expect 2 hours on Wednesday night youth group and 2 hours in the Sunday morning service to combat the 40+ hours a week (and if you're honest, probably a LOT more than that) that the kids are pumped full of anti-God teachings.
The way to deal with, handle, and know how to stand against the world is not by submersing your kids in the world. Submerse your kids in the truth of God, and then they'll recognize the lies of the world and know how to act according to the Bible.
