Educating Our Children: The Evolution of Home Schooling

Fox News ^ | February 09, 2011

[Sopater]

Anne Gebhardt’s kids are learning about geography -- in her dining room in Bedford, Texas. It’s not your typical schoolhouse, but it’s one that Gebhardt says is serving her six children well. "We can teach our religious values to our children freely,” says Gebhardt. “We can teach anything that we want."

Gebhardt is part of a growing trend. Across the county, an estimated 1.5 million children are home schooled and that number's growing. In the span of eight years, home schooling has grown nationally by almost 75 percent.

The reasons parents choose to home school vary. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 36 percent of home schooled children stay at home for religious reasons.

Twenty one percent don't like the environment in traditional schools. Another 17 percent are home schooled because their parents are dissatisfied with the academic instruction that’s available to them in traditional schools.

[christianhomeschoolmommaof3]

I homeschool my children because we are a family and we are meant to be together. :)

[netmilsmom]

>>we would have plugged into a local home schooling group for social activities than we did and even some far out adventures most public school kids would never have the opportunity to do.<<

People are always amazed when they ask the “big” questions, “What about Socialization? What about Prom?!?”

First I quote FReeper Oberon , “My wife and I were also concerned that our children would miss out on the socialization available in the public schools...so once a week we take our kids into the bathroom, cuss at them, push them around, steal their lunch money, and offer them drugs, and that seems to take care of it.”

When I stop laughing, I point out that our Homeschool Prom has always been on the Detroit Princess Cruise ship. AND it’s only 75.00 a couple.

I top it off with the fact that we have done Orlando’s Islands of Adventure, Niagara Falls and Cedar Point when all the other kids were in school. We never waiting in a line.

That’s when they blush and look away, telling me how great their PS is because their kids do Lego Robotics. I tell them that my girls can’t fit another club into their social schedules after Polish Dance, Tween meetups, HS lasertag, Euchre tournaments, Latin class, Writing class, quilt club and aerobics. We have Saturdays off.

Heads explode.

[Sopater]

Absolutely. And ultimately, we as parents are solely responsible for the education of our children and will one day answer for our decisions.

[netmilsmom]

I didn’t even know you were on this thread!
I just quoted you!

[christianhomeschoolmommaof3]

So true! I love your tag line. We sing a song based on that scripture. Very beautiful. I could hear the tune in my head when I read your tagline.

[netmilsmom]

It always amazes me when some mother is thrilled to pieces to have their children “back in school” after the summer.

Why have kids if you’re not going to enjoy them?

[Oberon]

I appreciate that. I'm on the homeschool ping list, so you'll likely see me on these threads from time to time.

Eldest daughter just started taking pre-calculus at the community college. She's 17, and doing well at it so far.

[netmilsmom]

I’m sure she will shine!

[Osage Orange]

Good for you!!

One of the best things I ever did for my kids.

Hang in there!!

[RJR_fan]

One thing they might do is to “channel” gov’t school kids that show promise and have the “right” ideology into special government schools, like “leadership academies”.

Way back when compulsory education was first instituted, and weeping children were frog-marched away from their families at bayonet point, the ever-efficient Prussians knew what they wanted.

• 94% of the children would be deliberately crippled, dumbed-down, and made into docile cannon fodder and factory hands for The State.
• 4.5% of the children would be diverted into the "talented and gifted" track, and trained to serve as the higher-order servitors of The State: doctors, lawyers, clergy, teachers.
• 1.5% of the children -- almost always the children of the present ruling elite -- would get traditional tutorial instruction.

The future of America depends on who wins the race for the top: the personally-trained lambs of the Lord's flock, or the janissaries[1] of The State. God is blessing our side, not theirs -- and the future of America is bright.

---

[1] The Ottoman Empire was run by slaves. Once a year, during the devrişme, each peasant village would hand over its quota of boys. Like Daniel, these lads would be incorporated into the Ottoman bureaucracy, highly trained, and used as the administrators and enforcers. These "new troops" (yeni çeri -- the term anglicized Janissary) were the first European soldiers to have a uniform, and military bands. Ceddin Dedan is a stirring marching tune from a few centuries ago that subject villages REALLY didn't want to hear coming in their direction! From time to time, the professional and ruthless troops marching in to inflict imperial punishment and discipline upon restive provinces were staffed with familiar faces, men who had been given over to the New Troops as boys.

Parent who support public schools are cooperating with the enemies of Christ in a project to exterminate Christianity. Unlike those Balkan villagers, they aren't even forced to do so, just hookwinked and beguiled to do so voluntarily -- "but OUR public school is DIFFERENT, you see."

[Sopater]

One of the best things I ever did for my kids.

I would go so far as to say it was the best one thing I ever did for my kids. We are resolved to never do otherwise and have already told the kids that we will help them resolve to do the same for theirs. :)

[Osage Orange]

I would go so far as to say it was the best one thing I ever did for my kids.

Up to this point...I'd agree.

But I might do something better in the future!! : )

[Sopater]

...I might do something better in the future!! : )

I hope that we both do!

[Sopater]

...when all the other kids were in school. We never waiting in a line.

Same here! We're currently planning a trip to an amusement park... during school hours of course!

[netmilsmom]

We walked right onto “The Maid of the Mist”.
The longest wait we had in “Islands of Adventure” was 30 minutes for the newest ride, biggest attraction.

[MrB]

'scuse me while I steal your ping list there, RJR...

Your post is an indicator that you would like to and need to see (but I wouldn't say "enjoy", because it's not "enjoyable" at all). This documentary wraps up all the stuff you know, shows how it relates, and what the agenda is. The goal is communism. The primary vehicle to get there is through the destruction of the family.

Agenda: Grinding America Down

[Sopater]

We walked right onto “The Maid of the Mist”. The longest wait we had in “Islands of Adventure” was 30 minutes for the newest ride, biggest attraction.

Indisputable proof that homeschoolers are smarter than the general populous. :-)

[JenB]

As to homeschool prom - my husband and I met on a thread on FR about just such a thing. And no, neither of us went to any kind of prom, homeschool or other, and.... can’t say I see why it’s such a big deal.

[netmilsmom]

I knew you met here, I didn’t know it was a Prom thread!

I went to PS and skipped prom anyway.

[JenB]

Yeah it was a thread about homeschoolers throwing a prom. Which is funny now!

My parents went to their prom together and married the next fall. Most people these days don’t do that. Heck most people in their day didn’t. Which means most people go to prom with someone who will at best be a good memory, at worst a heartbreak or absent co-parent. Why exactly should we homeschoolers be nostalgic for that?

If my daughter wants to go to a prom in 16 years.... she can go to an online one!