I ran across this interesting post, and it reminded me of the fine line we often walk when educating our children.
There are two extremes in the homeschooling world. One wants to let children just follow their own inclinations. The teacher is there more as a helper when it comes to education, just encouraging the child to explore nature and helping them to learn. The other extreme, is the one that thinks all learning should be structured with the choice of subject and material dictated by the teacher.
As with many things, both exteremes are wrong. A child left entirely to their own devices will never learn to properly submit to authrority, nor will they ever learn to persevere in those things that are required for them to be successful in life. Imagine a father and husband suddenly quitting his job because he does not like what he is doing any more.
However, we must balance that with the recognition that each child is a unique creation of God. They are designed by God to glorify Him in ways particular to them. We must encourage them to seek God and glorify Him in their own way, within the bounds of what God permits in His Word. This should be the goal of every parent. This means allowing them to pursue some of their own trails through the woods of education. Balance is the key.
There are two extremes in the homeschooling world. One wants to let children just follow their own inclinations. The teacher is there more as a helper when it comes to education, just encouraging the child to explore nature and helping them to learn. The other extreme, is the one that thinks all learning should be structured with the choice of subject and material dictated by the teacher.
As with many things, both exteremes are wrong. A child left entirely to their own devices will never learn to properly submit to authrority, nor will they ever learn to persevere in those things that are required for them to be successful in life. Imagine a father and husband suddenly quitting his job because he does not like what he is doing any more.
However, we must balance that with the recognition that each child is a unique creation of God. They are designed by God to glorify Him in ways particular to them. We must encourage them to seek God and glorify Him in their own way, within the bounds of what God permits in His Word. This should be the goal of every parent. This means allowing them to pursue some of their own trails through the woods of education. Balance is the key.
3 comments:
Great post Bob. I also thought you might like to know that two of yours made it safely to the Gulf Coast and will begin work early in the morning on Katrina relief. Their education continues!
Paul,
Thanks for letting us know they got there.
Bob, you might mention why you started home-schooling your biological children before you even had any adopted children.
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