Dangitbill! has an interesting post resulting from his first experience at a homeschool conference, a sort of baptism into the “homeschool culture” as he defines it. He makes some interesting observations, ones that I think may become more and more common as homeschooling becomes more “mainstream.”
What is interesting to me is that I agree with the speaker he is talking about…to a point. But these issues can all be taken to an unhealthy extreme, as well. It is a problem, I think, with taking matters of private conviction (homeschooling) and confusing them with a biblical world view. Homeschooling isn’t going to save Western Civilization. It can’t even save our own children. I think many Christians have confused the process with the goal, something that Brian addresses well.
Furthermore, the problem is not bad education, it is bad character (sin). The solution is not homeschooling, it is the gospel of Jesus Christ and participating in the growing kingdom of God. The utopian society is not homeschool grads in power, but the consummation of the kingdom of God which will only occur at the second coming of the Lord in glory. I fear that many in the Christian homeschooling movement have a false understanding of the problem, the solution, and the ultimate goal. And smooth-talking, eloquent, yet misguided speakers that give vision and encouragement to homeschooling parents are not helping build the kingdom of God.
For the most part, the true “evangelists” of homeschooling make me nervous. The underlying message of the speaker in question is not that far removed from the words of Reverend Drake to the media in regards to the re-hearing of the case out in California.
The Bible, our legal document, says the family is required to educate children based on the Scriptures,” Drake said. “We’re against government schooling in any form. People who put their kids in public school probably should be arrested.” LA Times
There is a sort of sentiment that we need to free kids from the public school system, releasing God’s children from the hand of Pharoah. And here it is worded more directly, from the good people over at Exodus Mandate.
“Today some 12-15 million evangelical Christian children, or 90% of the children from Christian families, are still attending government schools which are now totally hostile to their faith. If these families were to leave Pharoah’s schools for the promised land of Christian schools or home-schooling, it could trigger the spiritual awakening we are all praying and longing for to renew our churches, our nation, and our debased culture. This event could seriously cripple the power secularism now holds over our culture by holding our children as near-hostages in state schools.” Exodus Mandate Project
If I were to get into the religious aspect of this, I would say E. Ray Moore, Jr. has it backwards. If there were to be a “renewal” of our churches (meaning if they all agreed with Mr. Moore), then these parents would be increasingly likely to withdraw their children to either homeschool them or send them to a private Christian school. But the fact is that the referred to government schools are not “totally hostile to their faith.” Perhaps their faith is not quite the same or perhaps their schools are more tolerant than the ones Moore has direct experience with. I am a former public school teacher, my students were deeply religious and there were no conflicts. None at all.
Actually, I fear that some of these overzealous arguments against public schools do more to close people off from the idea of homeschooling than anything. And I do not think that running from the public school system is the best reason to homeschool. It is a little too reactionary for my tastes. Parents should choose homeschooling for the benefits they see to their family, not out of fear of the public school system.
For the most part, these kinds of opinions are effectively harmless. They encourage those who are already inclined to agree with them. Those who don’t? They don’t really listen, roll their eyes, or go off to complain about how homeschoolers are involved in some sort of dominionist plot to overthrow the government and replace it with a theocracy. But we are talking about a subgroup of a subgroup of American society. Too big of a protest ends up being more of a tempest in a teapot than anything.
As I mentioned in my comment on his blog, I think part of the problem is a sort of disconnect between those speaking at conventions and the “modern day” homeschooler. Even those homeschooling more or less for religious reasons are not necessarily of “the same stripe” as those who pulled their kids from the public school back when homeschoolers feared leaving the house during the day and prayed they wouldn’t be fined or jailed. We don’t necessarily view public education as inherently evil. We don’t necessarily view homeschooling as the only possible way of rearing Christian children. We don’t necessarily equate advancing the Kingdom of Christ with reforming the nation’s laws to suit our beliefs. But this newer “generation” of homeschoolers also hasn’t been around long enough to be landing speaking engagements at homeschool conferences.
I am curious what it will be like ten or fifteen years from now. Will the tone of speakers at homeschool conferences slowly change and adapt to a changing audience? Or will an increasingly large number of homeschoolers feel alienated by the conferences which are meant to encourage them?
___________________
Irrelevant, but they are my baby’s first steps. And simply adorable.
And an update: Spunky adds her thoughts. She notes:
There are those that have that goal and actively worry that homeschooling is at a crossroads and in danger of becoming polluted with a “big tent” philosophy.
And shares a note to Doug Phillips earlier this year. Homeschooling “polluted?” Losing its covenentatl vision? That is something to perhaps worry about in your home or your church, but in homeschooling? What does that even mean? But I do agree that over time, conventions will likely expand to meet the changing “market.” But they will likely epand by proliferating, which is perfectly fine. In response, the existing conventions are likely to become more narrowly focused and more exclusive in their practices.
homeschooling homeschool home education
Introducing: The Homeschool Security Advisory System.
Don’t get me wrong. There is also huge potential in virtual education, allowing each student to work at his or her own pace, tailoring a unique educational program to each child and providing instant feedback. It offers wonderful opportunities for homeschool families who feel unqualified to teach a specific subject area. But somehow a room of thirty students each doing their own thing on a laptop seems sterile, allowing us to drift even more into a nation of individuals who scarcely recognize their neighbors and for whom community is almost a foreign concept unless it is organized through Facebook.
Principled Discovery is a place to stop and discuss news and information related to faith, family and particularly education. Pour yourself a cup of tea and join the conversation! 
