The trend of homeschooling has been trending upward in recent years and a significant portion of homeschoolers are Christians. Why are Christians choosing to homeschool? This article will explore the many reasons why Christians are homeschooling their children.
It will also discuss some common misconceptions about homeschooling among Christians and will look at some of the practicalities of homeschooling from a Christian perspective.
1. Religious Education
Christian parents may decide that their children need a stronger focus on religious education than the local public school provides. Their children may be learning about Christianity but these lessons may feel watered down for some parents.
Homeschooling gives the parents the power to design and teach a curriculum which emphasizes their beliefs and values. Parents may opt to teach topics such as the Bible, faith, and world religions so that their children can become acquainted with their heartfelt beliefs as well as others. Public schools have been subject to restrictions when teaching faith-based topics while homeschooled children have the freedom to explore and learn without being subject to such restrictions.
Christian parents may have been disappointed in the lack of religious education in the public school or they may have that the religious education they heard was confusing or too watered down. Homeschooling can solve this issue by allowing a robust and comprehensive religious education to take place. Homeschooling can also give Christian parents the opportunity to incorporate values such as humility, gratefulness, and kindness into their children’s education through the use of stories, activities, and discussions.
These values taught within the context of religious education will help to further reinforce the family’s beliefs.
2. Beliefs
Children attending a public school may be exposed to literature, views, and attitudes which are in direct conflict with the family’s beliefs. Issues such as morality, homosexuality, addiction, prayer, evolution, and other topics may become sources of contention. Christian parents understand the importance of shielding their children from certain negative messages and behaviors, and this can be difficult to do in a public school atmosphere.
By homeschooling, parents can feel confident that their children are being taught an environment where the values and beliefs of the family can be taught and respected without being contradicted. Homeschooling allows the parents to control the message while giving their children freedom to explore faith, religion, and philosophy in an atmosphere that is supportive and loving.
Parents may choose to homeschool using a variety of educational materials and methods, not just those owned by religious organizations. Christian curricula, textbooks, worksheets, and activities can be purchased and used to develop an education that is faith-based and based on the family’s values.
Because of this and because parents are teaching directly to their own children, it can be more effective for instilling faith-based teaching processes than public school education.
3. Peer Pressure
Most parents understand the potential for peer pressure exerted on children, particularly when it comes to matters of faith and religion. Christian parents may not feel that their children are safe from bullying, taunts, and ridicule from other students due to their beliefs.
Homeschooling removes the pressure that children experience from their peers, freeing them to ask questions and further explore faith without the fear of being judged. Additionally, homeschooling frees children from the sensation of being judged within their own faith. Some children who may be more unsure of their faith due to the messages they’ve experienced outside the home may find it easier to open up and explore questions about faith in a non-judgmental atmosphere.
Homeschooling parents may also find that, as their children learn how to think independently and critically, they will gravitate towards each other and find strength in their common beliefs and interests. This can be beneficial for students growing in faith who are surrounded by peers with similar values.
4. Time
Christian parents may find that they simply don’t have enough time to spend teaching their children the necessary religious education if they choose public school. With the long days and extracurricular activities which come with public school, parents may find that they don’t have the time it takes to give children the religious education and reinforcement which they desire.
Homeschooling gives parents more control of their schedule to allow solid time to spend discussing spiritual matters with their children while still incorporating time for other studies and activities. Some parents find that it easier to manage the religious instruction and the other studies their children are taking when they are in a homeschool setting. Parents should also keep in mind that some religious holidays, such as Easter, may coincide with public school days and that the school may not be willing to allow students to miss class for religious reasons.
With homeschooling, parents are free to adjust as needed to ensure children are able to practice their tangible faith.
5. Safety
Parents may feel more comfortable with the idea of homeschooling their children for faith-based reasons due to the committed Christian atmosphere and sense of safety that it provides. Children may be exposed to friends and family who are not of the same faith, and this can open them up to beliefs and opinions that are in direct conflict with their own.
Parents involved in a committed Christian lifestyle feel strongly about providing a safe and wholesome environment which reinforces their faith and values. By homeschooling, they can be sure that their children will be exposed only to faith-based messages and activities. Parents may also be concerned about the increasing number of violent events that are a part of the school atmosphere.
Homeschooling gives parents the security of keeping their children in the comfort and safety of their own home.
6. Consistency
Christian parents can struggle to find a consistent religious education for their children when they are enrolled in public schools. Many public schools adhere to certain state and federal guidelines when it comes to religious instruction and there may be so much variability in instruction from one school district to the next that parents may not be confident that their children are receiving the same education as someone in another school.
With homeschooling, parents can choose to follow a specific religious curriculum and they have the freedom to adjust their teachings without fear of outside constraints. Additionally, if parents are concerned that their child may not have a solid foundation in religious beliefs if they are enrolled in a public school, homeschooling can provide the one-on-one teaching that a child may need to be confident in their faith.
7. Cultural Influence
Christian parents may believe that a public school atmosphere has too much secular influence on their children. The pop-cultural attitudes and language which can be found in school may be conflicting with their values as a family, and this can have a negative influence on their children.
Homeschooled children may be more sheltered from this influence, as their parents can curate the materials that their children read, the websites that they visit, and the activities that they participate in. Parents can more closely guard their children against negative influences that could damage their faith and their connection with God. Christian parents should also keep in mind that some books and materials which are used in public school classrooms can be in conflict with their beliefs.
Homeschooling allows Christian parents to control the materials which their children are exposed to.
8. Parent Direction
Christian parents may feel that their goals and aspirations for the religious growth and education of their children can be better met when they homeschool their children. By homeschooling, they can have greater control over their children’s faith journey to ensure that the experience is a positive one. Homeschooling parents have the freedom to design their children’s religious education to meet their family’s beliefs and values.
Parents have the power to choose which texts to read, which topics to explore, and which activities to engage in to better nurture their children’s relationship with God. Parents can also tailor activities to challenge the children and keep them engaged with the curriculum.
Because the parents are the direct teacher, they can make sure that their children are not just sitting in a classroom listening but are actively working to grow in their faith.
9. Active Participation
Homeschooling can allow Christian children to be more active participants when it comes to the faith that they are learning. They can have the opportunity to ask questions, give feedback, and think critically about the topics that they are exploring. This can be beneficial in helping the children to explore their faith and grow in understanding of their relationship with God.
The public school setting does not always offer children the opportunity to be active participants in religious education. Most states have laws which prevent public school students from participating in religious activities.
By homeschooling, children can develop their faith in a meaningful and active way instead of being a passive observer. Further, homeschooling can give Christian children the chance to appreciate their faith from different perspectives. This could mean exploring topics such as history, philosophy, and science through the lens of their own faith.
Christian homeschoolers are free to engage with their faith in a variety of ways, beyond what a public school may offer them.
10. Customization
Christian homeschooling parents can customize instruction to meet the individual needs of their children. If a child is a visual learner, the parent can create instruction to reflect what works best.
If a child is slower to grasp certain concepts, the parent can take more time to go over those areas. The parent can also tailor activities to the child’s interests and talents. If a child loves to write stories or draw, they can use these gifts to explore faith and grow in their relationship with God.
Not only can this be beneficial for the children’s spiritual growth, but it can further develop gifts and interests which could be used to spread the teachings of their faith. Homeschooling allows parents to move at their own pace, accommodate for different learning styles, and explore religious topics in different ways that public school may not be able to.
This can be beneficial for teaching children their faith in a more effective and meaningful way.
11. Common Misconceptions
There are some common misconceptions about homeschooling from a Christian perspective. One misconception is that homeschooling is solely a religious education.
While it is true that religious education can be a part of homeschooling, often times it is just one component of the curriculum. Homeschoolers can and should include other studies such as history, science, language arts, and math in their educational curriculum. Another common misconception is that homeschooling is expensive.
While it is possible to purchase curricula and instructional materials, families do not have to purchase these items if they don’t want to or if they don’t have the money to do so. There are many resources available online that are free, or a family can use the local library or even create their own materials. Finally, there is a misconception that homeschooling is not social.
Homeschooling families can be a part of a homeschool group which can give their children the opportunity to interact with other children and to take part in activities and field trips in the local community.
12. Practical Considerations
When considering homeschooling for faith-based reasons, it is important to consider the practicalities of the situation. Horschooling requires a tremendous amount of commitment from the parents, from the creation and implementation of curriculum to being the primary instructor and monitor. Parents must also consider the time in which they will have to devote to teaching and instruction.
Often, this time can interrupt parents’ other obligations such as employment and household responsibilities unless these are adjusted. Additionally, it is important to consider the legal aspects of homeschooling.
Most states have laws in place which dictate the requirements to homeschool a child and parents should familiarize themselves with those laws before beginning their homeschool journey.
Conclusion
Homeschooling has been trending upward in recent years and a significant portion of homeschoolers are Christians. This article has explored some of the reasons why Christians are choosing to homeschool their children. It discussed some common misconceptions about homeschooling among Christians and has looked at some of the practicalities of homeschooling from a Christian perspective.
Homeschooling can allow Christian parents to provide their children the religious education, safety, and consistency that they desire for their children. It gives parents the freedom to explore faith, values, and beliefs in a respectful and meaningful way, free from the constraints imposed by public school guidelines.
Christian parents should take the time to consider the many factors involved in Christian homeschooling including their commitment level, time required, and legalities as they make a decision whether or not to homeschool their children.