“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6)
“Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”
(Northwest Ordinance, 1789)
“Religion is the only solid basis of good morals; therefore, education should teach the precepts of religion and the duties of man towards God.” Gouverneur Morris (“Penman of the Constitution”)
“The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.” Abraham Lincoln
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Changing Times: Schools Then and Now
Education. It’s one of the most important decisions we can make in raising our children, and the consequences of that decision will affect them for a lifetime.
Times have changed, and the public school system today reflects changes in educational philosophy that were introduced 150 years ago but which have rapidly accelerated since 1960 – all taking us further and further away from our heritage of Bible-based, Christian education.
For example, many of us can remember when our public schools reflected and reinforced the spiritual training we were getting in our homes and in our churches. We began our school day with prayer. We had a Bible class every week. Our teachers and classmates shared the same Bible-based values that we were taught.
Those days are long gone – at least in the public school system. School-sponsored prayers and Bible reading are not allowed. Christian students, teachers, and school administrators can be ridiculed for their faith, pressured to hide it, or even worse, expected to do and say things that violate their deeply-held beliefs.
So, what are we as parents to do when the Bible instructs us to “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it?” What choices do we have?
In earlier Crossroads’ programs, we featured a public school administrator as well representatives of two Christian schools. This weekend, we are welcoming two home-educator parents to tell us what they are doing to meet this challenge of how to raise and educate their children.
HEAV: A Matter of Choice
Kevin Hoeft is the Director of Development and Public Policy for HEAV, the Home Educators Association of Virginia. He and his wife Katrina educate their two children at home. Therefore, working together, they are well prepared to answer some of our big questions.
For beginners, what is the history of the home educator movement in America generally, and in Virginia specifically?
On the personal level, what led them to keep their children at home rather than placing them in a public school, and how did they become involved in the home school movement?
More broadly, what are some of the major reasons that parents in Virginia give for educating their nearly 40,000 children at home? Is it to give them a more clearly focused Biblical worldview? Is it because of concerns about security, negative social influences, and SOL/curriculum content?
Looking ahead, what effect will the “transgender” directives from the Obama administration for public schools to open up girls’ restrooms and locker rooms for boys who “feel” like girls have on parents? Won’t they be even more inclined to take their children out of the public school system?
However, isn’t there a down side? Don’t home educators deprive their children of some important “socialization” benefits that come from interaction with other children of diverse backgrounds?
And what about academic achievement? How do home-educated children compare with those in public or private school settings?
Finally, what public policy challenges do home educators face? For example, why can’t their children participate in public school sports programs? And why can’t they get tax credits to help pay for their expenses since they are not drawing from taxpayer subsidized public school programs?
Home Educators at the Crossroads
For answers to these big questions, please join us this weekend on one of the following Valley radio stations: WBTX (1470) at 4:00 p.m. today and again on Sunday at 7:30 a.m., WSVA/AM (550) and 92.1 FM at 8:30; and WNLR (1150) at 11:30. You can also listen online HERE anytime.
In addition, for more information about the Home Educators Association of Virginia, go to www.heav.org.
We deeply appreciate your prayers, your encouragement, and your financial support. All donations are tax-deductible and can be sent by check to Crossroads at PO Box 881, Harrisonburg, 22803.
From the Crossroads Team, for God and Country!
Dean