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Chapter 1 ~ Part 2
We split up the discussion on this chapter into two parts. If you missed the first half of the chapter, you can catch up over on this post.
In this second half of the chapter, the Clarksons show that homeschooling is not really something new; it's really the rediscovery of something very old. Here we find a Biblical vision and foundation for homeschooling.
They start with ten Biblical reasons for homeschooling. Which one was the most compelling reason for you? Did you consider any of these reasons when you made your decision to homeschool? Many of the reasons listed were things that drove Josh and me to homeschool. One of the biggest for us was #9:
Homeschooling provides the best setting for discovering and developing spiritual gifts and personal skills and talents.
~ pg. 23
As we saw Jonathan grow and explore, we had concerns about him getting lost in a traditional classroom. Jonathan is advanced in many ways and the thought of him being bored, having his curiosity squashed, or getting in trouble because he has nothing better to do was frustrating. I don't want him to spend years of his life trying to bring up weaknesses when he should be focusing more time on his strengths. At home, I can give him the opportunity to follow his strengths and interests.
Next, you have you count the cost of homeschooling. What cost do you have to consider for your family? For us, the cost of lifestyle was the biggest consideration. I had to leave my full-time job to be home with the boys. This cut our income in half {more if you consider that I had amazing healthcare benefits which I carried for our whole family}. We've had to be very creative with our finances to make ends meet, but it has been so worth it.
Then, you have to make sure that homeschooling is God's will for your family. What led you to homeschool? How did you know that you were supposed to homeschool? Last summer, when I was in the middle of the transition from working to homeschooling, I wrote this post about how there were signs over the course of ten years that pointed to me homeschooling my children. God really does leads us if we seek him:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
~ Proverbs 3:5-6
There are many additional scriptures in this chapter to ponder and meditate on. What topic or scripture caught your attention?
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
~ Romans 12:1-2
This scripture caught my attention. I was a public school kid and I can be a perfectionist. People around me are going to be judging the success of my homeschool and my children by the public education system. I have to “renew my mind” and evaluate my homeschool by God's standards.
The last section of this chapter is about living by faith. This section is one you'll want to revisit when you become discouraged with homeschooling {yeah, there will be a day that happens}.
Let's talk about this chapter. There are questions bolded throughout this post. You can answer some of those or share other thoughts from this chapter. Link up your blog post or use the comments to join in the discussion.
