Judge orders homeschoolers into government school

Here's the article out of North Carolina.

Probably just an isolated freak case, but still troubling. It's hard to get a handle on the facts of this story because the article is so poorly written. It sounds as if the parents are divorcing and the mother has custody of the children; in which case, why is the judge involved in a decision about the children's education? If the father wants a say in how his kids are educated, maybe he should stay with the family and fulfill his duties as a father.

I'm amazed that anti-homeschooling hasn't yet become a cause celebre of the mainstream media. You can easily see how that would play out: exposes on a couple families where the children are "abused," concern about children learning "mainstream science" (i.e., macro-evolution and global warming), etc. Liberal legislators will try to pass laws against homeschooling "for the welfare of the child." The actual education aspect--the fact that, for example, these particular children tested two grades higher than their public school counterparts--will be swept under the rug. Because in the end it's not about the actual education; it's about government control.

Here's another article that expresses surprise that homeschool families are still committed to homeschooling even during this economic depression. Some mothers are working and homeschooling. (I actually expect a rise in homeschooling as some families decide they can no longer afford private Christian schools; we're seeing it already in our town).

If our family was forced at gunpoint (which is what a law is, really) to send our kids to public school, we would probably obey the law. But it wouldn't stop us from continuing to homeschool at night. I would just tell our kids to zone out during the day and we'll do school at home later. Until we become a full-blown communist state, there are plenty of ways to say, "Don't tread on me." If you're a homeschool parent, what would you do?

Abandon public education?

This article is of interest to me for two reasons. One, because I've experienced both the government school model (as a student) and the homeschool model (as "the principal," as my wife says). And two, because one of my friends in college was the son of Chaplain E. Ray Moore, the man behind the Exodus Mandate.

Here's the accompanying video. My only critique is that it shouldn't be framed as a reactionary retreat, but rather a willful return to a more ideal model.



If we're to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's, then it's not unreasonable to ask which category our children fall into. Are they Caesar's or God's?

I realize homeschooling is impractical for some families--single working mothers, for example--and I've never said it was a Christian commandment per se. We have many friends and family members who are trying to be salt in the government schools and we wish them well. They may fare better than my family in the end. So I don't push homeschooling on people. It's just what's best for our family right now. And it gives us a chance to exercise our liberty and say, "We choose not to play by the enemy's rules today."

We'll see how it turns out. So far we've avoided Bratz dolls, Earth Day, pro wrestling, and Hannah Montana. So that's a start.

Verses to encourage home educators

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deut. 6: 5-7).

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding (Proverbs 9: 11).

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD (Psalms 34: 11).

Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24: 15).

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed (Proverbs 13:20).

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck (Proverbs 1: 7-9).

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22: 6).

And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children (Isaiah 54: 13).

Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen (Jer. 10: 2).

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6: 4).

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate (Psalms 127: 3-5).

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (I John 1: 4).

Lean on me

I’m an advocate of Christians making their voices heard in society.

Yesterday we were treated to this news: “After an outpouring of protest from homeschooling advocates and politicians, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles reversed its Feb. 28 ruling that could have reclassified most homeschooled children as truants.” The same court that had basically outlawed homeschooling came to the “realization” that it had made a mistake. If no one had leaned on them, the decision would’ve stood.

Many Christians are too timid about taking a positive role in society. The world seems so big, and so many struggles feel “wordly” and, frankly, insurmountable.

I remember reading once an interview with a TV network executive who said that every time he gets a letter from a viewer he assumes that 1,000 other people feel the same way but just didn’t bother to write letters. So in his case, one Christian writing a letter decrying an anti-Christian show would equal one thousand and one voices of concern.

In our small community last year the president of the local college decided to remove the cross from the campus chapel. He said it was an intolerant symbol. I had never cared about the icon itself, but here was a government official labeling Christianity offensive and setting a dangerous precedent that all visual reminders of Christ should be purged.

My instinct was to make my family’s voice heard, since this was our “backyard”: so I wrote letters to the newspaper and the Board of Visitors; we took the kids to a candle-light vigil on campus in the freezing rain; my wife and oldest son signed petitions; I was even interviewed by the local TV station and the daily newspaper. If it had just been us speaking out, we might not have made any difference. But thousands of other Christians did the same thing, and the combined effect sent an unmistakable message. The president put the cross back…and even lost his job over the matter.

Around that time a sweet and humble woman in my church named Raquel wrote a letter to the editor. She was troubled that no local pastors had a word to say about the controversy. This was happening in their own community and getting national attention, yet they were silent. They were focused inward, living their monastic lives, quietly complaining that the world around them was getting worse. This wasn’t even a political issue where pastors might have endangered their beloved tax exemption by speaking out. Her point seemed to be that the people in the pews had more gumption than the “professional” Christians.

I understand some Christians are uncomfortable about getting involved in messy things like the media, politics, education issues, etc. But thankfully many Christians aren’t. Without William Wilberforce the slave trade would not have been abolished in early nineteenth-century England. Without Roger Williams the concept of separating civil government from religious coercion would not have taken root in colonial America. Without John Leland there would probably be no Bill of Rights securing our freedom of religion, assembly and speech. And without thousands of ordinary Christian parents leaning on the leadership of California, homeschooling would be effectively illegal in that state.

This is God’s world, not Satan’s. And “with God all things are possible.”

(Sorry for the long post).

Anyone want to start a Christian homeschool in Malibu?

Schoolhouse Rocks

The transformation is complete. The old red dining room is now the new blue schoolroom. (And it didn't even cost the taxpayers one cent).

The expected class size this fall is three students, with a fourth showing interest.

Christians imprisoned for homeschooling

This is what happens when you give the state too much power. Here's the article. You'd expect as much from Germany, but the same trend is unfolding in California where a court recently declared homeschooling illegal unless conducted by a state-licensed, state-approved educator. The implication is that parents do not have a right to educate their own children (as instructed by Scripture) but must surrender them to government schools for indoctrination into a humanistic worldview. You could have a Ph.D. in mathematics or history but would still not be qualified to instruct your children.

There are between 2 and 3 million homeshcoolers in America, the vast majority of which are being taught by Christian parents. This terrifies many people: teachers unions, atheists, socialists. So be prepared for more attacks as homeschooling gains popularity. The Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has done a good job over the years of protecting homeschooling on a state-by-state basis. They deserve more support. And our legislators and judges need to be constantly reminded that our government was created to protect individual liberty, not usurp it.