Homeschooling: “You’re Just Parroting What You’ve Been Taught”

Jasmine Baucham had a great post about the error of a typical homeschool argument we hear often.  I found it excellent food for thought…

“I’m going to be completely honest here:

Some of us have a huge bias when it comes to arguments about education.

You know the kids I’m talking about.

They’ve been educated in an echo chamber, a place where the curriculum is a unified effort to teach them one way to think.

They learn to view the world through a single lens: the worldview that they’re being taught.

They don’t live in the real world.

They’ve been told what to think and how to act from a young age; their responses to certain stimuli are deeply ingrained in them. And because of all of this, they’re biased. When they speak, they’re often just parroting what they’ve been taught….”

Read the rest at Joyfully Home

Christians: A Form of Godliness Denying Its Power?

(First sentence edited…my apologies if it sounded unloving.  I had just come from the discussion that spurred this post, and was feeling a little “charged”

I wonder why so many Christians never stop and say, “What are we doing wrong?” I’m amazed at how quickly some get upset about any suggestions outside the “norm”, yet are equally upset when their children turn out like that norm.   I get comments to posts about dating that go something like, “Well, I think it’s silly to expect your children to refrain from a physical relationship during the dating years….” or “How will they know if they want to marry someone if they don’t see what kind of kisser they are?” (I’m serious.)

But then the same parents are angry when their child comes home pregnant.  (Scratching head.)

Then comments to the public school debate that go something like, “We are supposed to be in the world”, completely disregarding any biblical principle that suggests that to be “in the world” has nothing to do with allowing our children to be taught by a secular religion and becoming a “companion of fools”, the values of which usually trump any the parents try to impart.

But I digress….kind of.

My sister and I were talking yesterday about the high school classmates she had met up with on Facebook.  About half of them were already divorced, having just graduated from high school a few years ago.  Unfortunately my sister is one of them.  It should be noted, this was a Christian high school.  Most of the kids came from “Christian” homes.  One of the classmates was in jail for murder, one had a near-pornographic picture as her profile, and several others were involved in lifestyles not mentionable.

“For men…shall be…lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:4-5

I’m just shaking my head asking, “What is wrong with this picture?” Divorce happens.  Maybe.  But at such alarming rates?  Among Christians?  Children out of wedlock happens.  But this often?  Fornication.  Divorce.  Drugs. Crime.  Aren’t these the things that Paul admonished the church to “not even let it be mentioned among you”?

And I think again of Einstein’s brilliant quote:

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results.”

So before you write off some “zany” idea like homeschooling or an alternative to dating, consider the proven alternatives.   We are doing something terribly wrong, and it’s high time more people say “enough is enough”.  If we claim to be new creatures, let us live like it, and not just give lip service.

“For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light…”  Eph. 5:8

What Does the School Bus Have to Do With the Future of American Healthcare?

“One of the mantras we hear repeatedly these days is, “we don’t want socialism.”  While that sounds good (and conservative, and constitutional, and patriotic, etc.), it rings hollow when you consider the overwhelming majority of the people leading the charge have their children in what amounts to socialized education.  What’s the difference?  If you’re really against government-run, socialized programs, yank your kid off the yellow prison bus and just say no.”

Read the rest of  The Yellow Prison Bus and the Future of American Healthcare

School Bans Legos to Promote Socialism…I’m Not Kidding.

It should be noted this school is a private school.

Public School: The Insanity of the Right

(Thanks to Heather for passing along this article.)

“Insanity  is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Albert Einstein

“Next month the right will send millions of their own children to public schools that are literally controlled by the left – meaning that it is only the liberals’ “values,” “morals” and curriculum that are taught in our government schools.

“Education is thus a most powerful ally of humanism, and every American school is a school of humanism. What can a theistic Sunday school’s meeting for an hour once a week and teaching only a fraction of the children do to stem the tide of the five-day program of humanistic teaching?”

– C.F. Potter, signer of Humanist Manifesto 1930

Using public education as a “weapon” is nothing new. It was Josef Stalin who said, “Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.” Wake up, conservatives! They want our children, and we are handing them right over. Remember, giving aid and comfort to the enemy during time of war is considered treason, and this is what we are doing by placing our children in the leftist schools.”

“Open war is upon you whether you will risk it or not!” Aragorn in Return of the King

“So next time the right wants to accuse the liberals of having a mental disorder or some sort of madness, consider that this mental illness must be contagious and that we conservatives just may have given it to them. After all, it is the right who still send their children and youth every year to the left’s schools for an “education.”"

“… [E]very child in American entering schools at the age of 5 is insane because he comes to schools with certain allegiances toward our Founding Fathers, toward his parents, toward a belief in a supernatural being, toward the sovereignty of this nation as a separate entity. …”

– Chester Pierce, professor of education at Harvard (1970)

“I believe that … [public] education is the fundamental method of social progress and reform … this conception has due regard for … socialistic ideals.” and “There is no God and there is no soul. … There is no room for fixed … or moral absolutes.”

– John Dewey, father of modern public education and signer of Humanist Manifesto 1930

Read the rest of the article at  World Net Daily

Think Outside the Classroom

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Are you a homeschooling mother who worries that you aren’t “doing enough”? Are you thinking of homeschooling but feel afraid that you aren’t qualified? If so, read more…

Top 5 Reasons Not to Send Your Kids Back to Gov’t School: Baucham

Because I love God’s people…because I’m heart-broken over the constant news of God’s people losing their children, or raising spiritually impotent ones…because I believe there is clarity from Scripture about the responsibility of Christian parents….and because I would betray my conscience to refrain from speaking.

Voddie Baucham posted a poignant look at public school and the Christian’s responsibility…it’s worth clicking the link at the bottom to read in its entirety.

Please know that though this topic is sure to arouse anger and the accusations that I’m so accustomed to, I post in humility and love…love could be the only possible reason I would dare to subject myself to the persecution to come.

“Jesus made it quite clear when he said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Matthew 12:30 ESV)  I am amazed at how many Christians refuse to acknowledge this fact as it relates to the government school system.  Our education is either based on biblical truth, or some other truth.  There is no such thing as neutrality in this regard.  All education is religious in nature.  Since it is illegal for students in our government schools to be taught from a Christian perspective, then it follows that they must be taught from a non (or anti) Christian perspective….

According to the common refrain, “It doesn’t matter what educational choice you make… you just have to pray about it and do what the Lord leads your family to do.” However, I must confess I find this this concept disturbing on a number of fronts.  First, this kind of thinking denies the sufficiency of Scripture.  The Bible speaks either directly, or principally to every aspect of life.  There are no grey areas.  Sure, there are things that are difficult to discern, but education is not one of them.”    -Voddie Baucham

Top 5 Reasons Not to Send Your Kids Back to Gov’t School