We have chosen to put our kids in public school. Not because we don't want to home school. Not because we don't want to afford private school. We chose public school because we want our kids to be exposed to kids who are believers and kids who are not believers. We want them to ask us hard questions about why Johnny has two moms, why we didn't vote for Obama like "all" the other parents, and just how did we go from monkey to man?
Do I really want to answer these questions? No-sir-ee. I would rather duck and cover a hundred times before I deal with any of these horribly un-kid-friendly issues. But I want to begin with the tinier issues now (in elementary school) so that we are slowly, carefully building a strong faith and Christian worldview in our boys.
Can this be done homeschooling? Certainly. I am watching it happen with many of my friends kids. Will we ever move away from public school? Oh, who knows! We are hardly dogmatic about it. We have made the choice of PS for now. And when it does not work any longer, or for a time, or whatever, we will re-evaluate and choose the best for each boy.
Last Friday I took my boys to the farm where we are going to purchase organic produce this season. We saw the horse and the chickens. The big boys got to milk a mama goat. We explored the seed room, the greenhouse and the fields. Rocks were thrown in water. Boots splashed in puddles. Mud got under fingernails. Hands smelled like horses. It was wonderful. Along the way, we learned things together and I asked questions that got the kids thinking about something different and new. That family who runs that farm home schools their kids. They have five wonderful kids that are going to grow up learning together and working hard on the farm. It is not idyllic, but it is marvelous. It is not perfect, but it is blessed.
If I had to lay it all out, honest and true, I would have to admit that I wish I home schooled my boys. I get to thinking about what I could do (and what I could not do) if I made that switch. But the Lord has not called us to that place. He has us here, doing public school. He has brought me to this place of tension where I must lean on Him for wisdom and grace. And I am thankful for this place, and determined to be content with where He has us. And even more determined to do my (our!) best to glorify God here and now.
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7 comments:
I'm right there with you! We'll re-evaluate, each year, each kid. But for the next three years, I'm looking forward to the one-room school house!
I would be excited for that one-room school house, too. Talk about idyllic!!
Hi Jenne, I rarely, if ever, write on blogs (I do read them all the time). I couldn't resist this time. We walked the "adventure" of public school with our kids. I really loved having them come face-to-face with the world and learn to deal with it all along the way. We were in some pretty "interesting" places for school, as you know! It was so exciting to see them stand up for what they believed in. I think they are all amazing adults now (of course, I could be a tad bit prejudiced). The Lord walked with them every step of the way. Of course, we were very involved and ready to step in and/or take them out if it seemed necessary.
Bless you dear....I am all with you.
What farm? (how much?)
;-) I've been researching it and dreaming of participating in a farm co-op or CSA type thing someday.
Our very own Abrahamson family at Cstone. And it is a CSA, and i think its very reasonable from what i know about it so far.
I totally agree with you!!! I want my kids to be exposed to every awful thing out there WITH ME RIGHT BY THEIR SIDE TO PROVIDE COUNSEL! Then, by the time they're at that age where they know everything, they'll be in the habit of knowing that I'm there to bounce things off of! My daughter starts 1st grade in public school this fall. We've been at a Christian Preschool till now. It will be interesting!
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