Proverbs 1:7 (Education)
What Does The Bible Say About Teaching Our Children?
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).
Homeschooling feels like such a bold and rebellious decision for parents to make, even though the number of homeschooled students has increased dramatically from 2.65 million in 2019/20 to 3.72 million in 2020/21 and 4.30 million in 2021/22, according to the Census Experimental Household Pulse survey.
As homeschool parents, my wife and I sometimes find ourselves defending our right to self-educate our four daughters, which seems quite ridiculous considering Scripture specifically calls us to personally train our children (Proverbs 22:6). However, there seems to be a disconnect in the hearts of Christian parents who question whether self-educating children is truly the wisest choice to make.
It is evident that the reason why people question homeschooling is because they do not believe that “formally” educating children is a parent’s responsibility. Moreover, many don’t understand how homeschooling works, so they quickly disregard it without taking the time to educate themselves on its benefits and blessings. Still others just persecute homeschooling altogether because they believe it hinders social development and is religion-based.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).
Perhaps the real reason why so many people ignore the overwhelming benefits of home education is because it magnifies their own personal insecurities and forces them to reconcile their decision to trust government-controlled, educational system for their child’s formal education.
PERSPECTIVE:
The COVID pandemic unexpectedly forced over 300+ million children worldwide into a home-based educational environment without prior knowledge, resources, or training to accommodate such an endeavor. However, recent trends in parent-led, home education decisions suggest the pandemic opened the eyes of many who never thought they could actually teach their children properly, or that their kids could thrive in such a “constricting” and “isolating” environment.
Perhaps for the first time, millions of parents experienced the blessings of self-educating their children firsthand. What once felt foreign, intimidating, and far-fetched became blunt reality in the face of adversity. However, what many parents learned is that home-based education offers far more than they realized, such as correcting behavioral dysfunction and teaching discipline and respect for authority, which exceed educational opportunities.
“Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him” (Proverbs 13:24).
With such a considerable shift in parents removing their children from the “system,” it is imperative we stop and consider why they would make such a monumental decision to accept full responsibility for their children’s education, knowing they will likely be persecuted by others for making a bold decision, especially when it is religiously motivated.
Keep in mind, homeschooling is a tough decision. It’s difficult to wrap our minds on something so foreign to cultural norms when we have little to no exposure to it. Personally, my wife and I both grew up in the public educational system and our oldest daughters were in public and private education before being homeschooled. Therefore, we empathize with the trepidation and unease of taking such a leap of faith.
SONG SPOTLIGHT:
Perhaps the greatest example of why parents should consider homeschooling their children is summarized by Propaganda, who in his rap/monologue, “Bored of Education,” (video attached) paints a convicting picture of what is really at stake in the educational debate and why we need to reevaluate our position and perspective on the teaching of our children.
That doesn’t mean the purpose or intent of his message is a political advertisement for homeschooling. Quite the contrary! The point is to draw attention to the decisions we make so that we take personal responsibility for the education of our children and know why we have chosen our respective path, whether public, private, or homeschool.
It is also a call to action for parents to not sit idly by and allow those in positions of power to miss the boat on what education is all about, because the “system” is broken and we need to actively seek opportunities to be a part of the solution for the health and safety of our children.
HOMESCHOOL BENEFITS:
From an educational perspective, there are many benefits to homeschooling children which supersede putting them in public or private education and expecting the system to teach all they need to know from kindergarten to 12th grade. Such factors include (but are not limited to) the following:
Curriculum: Parents can choose which curriculums will be taught to their children. They have the authority to determine age-appropriate content for their children which aligns with their religious beliefs.
Customization: Parents can tailor the educational experience to their child’s preferred learning style and attention span.
Flexibility: Homeschool provides scheduling flexibility to pivot on subjects which require more time and hands-on attention.
Retention: Homeschool focuses on what a child is actually learning vs. continually testing their memorization and ability to regurgitate answers.
Personal Focus: Homeschool removes behavioral distractions from the classroom which hinder children from learning properly.
Personal Experience: Homeschool expands experiential learning beyond the confines of the classroom into nature and the community at large, making textbooks come alive.
Personal Safety: Homeschool provides peace of mind to ensure children are physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually safe.
Personal Discipline: Homeschool teaches children how to discipline themselves to get their work done in a timely manner and plan their time management schedule, thus preparing them for college.
Independent Thinking: Homeschool encourages children to independently search for answers to questions.
Character-Building: Homeschool allows ample opportunity to reinforce character traits such as respect for authority, manners, honesty, integrity, personal accountability, and consequences of actions (just to name a few).
OPPOSITION:
Undoubtedly, naysayers of homeschool education will focus on their assumption that it stifles a child’s social development. However, the vast majority of homeschool children participate in cooperative opportunities and frequent field trips with other families. There are also countless extracurricular opportunities which are easily available for homeschool students. Those include participating on teams, in clubs, and even at public schools across the U.S. (Ex: Tim Tebow).
Another common pushback is the financial constraints it puts on the family by balancing homeschool with provisional responsibilities. How can a single parent manage such an endeavor? What about the financial implications? Again, the beauty of homeschool lies in its flexibility. For example, there are many online curriculums such as Easy Peasy and Khan Academy which are free of charge, easy to navigate, and prepare students extremely well for standardized tests (we've personally used both in the past).
The overarching question is why would parents homeschool if indeed better options are available? Unfortunately, that line of thought assumes public and private education is far superior, yet statistics continue to prove that homeschool students perform significantly better on virtually every aptitude metric and college admissions test (ACT & SAT).
“According to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), homeschoolers typically score 15-30% higher than public school students on standardized tests. The average score for a homeschooler ranges between 85% to 87% while public schoolers score around 50%.”
The fact of the matter is why would parents refuse to homeschool if students perform better, have no socialization setbacks, are not limited by extracurricular opportunities, learn to respect authority, use proper manners and etiquette, and have less behavioral issues stemming from peer-pressure or bullying?
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
PERSONAL BEHAVIOR:
Just ask anyone who works at a historical site where school field trips are common and they will overwhelmingly testify that there is a great chasm between the average behavior of public-school students compared to homeschool students.
We know because we have heard comments from employees at various educational facilities and historical attractions how different our children are because they use manners, respect authority, listen to instruction, and genuinely desire to learn. People simply can’t help but say something about them because well-behaved children are a rarity in today’s “me-centered” culture.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land’” (Ephesians 6:1–3).
Truth be told, socialization has a far greater negative impact on students in school systems because discipline is rarely instituted and boundaries are pushed beyond their breaking point. Kids are smart enough to know how to exploit the system because institutions have given them power and authority to do virtually anything they want, however they want, and whenever they want with little to no repercussions.
On the contrary, when we wear the hat of parent and teacher, there are few inconsistencies between home and school because discipline and proper behavior is reinforced on a regular basis. Kids are not so easily led astray by the misbehavior and lack of discipline of others because the learning environment is monitored, restricted, and controlled to rectify issues in their infancy.
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Unfortunately, as our culture has pushed an agenda which demands equal opportunity, many women have abandoned the unique gifting God has given them to raise their own children. However, it makes no sense to spend nine months of maternity to birth a baby only to place that child in daycare 6-8 weeks later to have someone else raise your child in your absence.
Granted, not everyone's situation is the same. A mother may have no other choice but to work if the child's father is absent and she is the sole provider. However, even single mothers can effectively homeschool and many are some of the most inspiring women on the planet because they did not take the easy route. They figured out a way to meet their family's basic needs and provide an outstanding educational environment for their children to thrive and be successful.
What is most unfortunate is how the role of a wife and mother has been devalued in our privileged society. Being a stay-at-home mother who homeschools her children should be regarded as the pinnacle of self-sacrifice and love. However, society has demeaned women and convinced them they are devalued if not climbing the corporate ladder in pursuit of a distinguished career and earning potential to rival their husbands.
“To the woman he said, ‘I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you” (Genesis 3:16).
Sadly, even in the church, we’ve allowed ourselves to buy into the cultural lie of equal-opportunity which teaches women that raising children 24/7/365 is beneath them. No longer is motherhood highly esteemed culturally, and as such, children are suffering the consequences of those who believe they have to keep pace with cultural expectations rather than embracing the role God has called them to fulfill.
Granted, a woman has every right to work if she so chooses and make a living as the Lord wills. Proverbs 31 provides great encouragement and support to those who manage their households well. However, the sacrifices which come with entering the workforce are enormous. Therefore, we cannot allow a career to become a higher priority than educating our children in the knowledge and instruction of the Lord.
Moreover, fathers are not exempt from teaching, admonishing, and correcting but called to model righteous behavior as well. Any homeschool family is well aware that home-based education takes a devoted husband and wife to succeed, and mothers should not be expected to bear the complete weight of responsibility. Thus, fathers must be actively involved at home because we are expected to lead the spiritual formation of our children in support of our wives.
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
BOTTOM-LINE:
Homeschool might not be for everyone, but there is no denying that Scripture instructs fathers and mothers to own the teaching and education of their children and make wise decisions concerning what is best for their physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual health. For there is no substitute for parents who accept the calling God has placed on them to train their children according to a Biblical standard, and that goes above and beyond homeschool decisions.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
My wife and I have been blessed to homeschool our girls for roughly 8-years now. I’ve seen the fruits of my wife’s labor juggling an enormous amount of responsibility but loving every painstaking minute of it too. We’d be the first to admit that homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. It requires discipline and a desire to honor the Lord by accepting such a huge endeavor.
However, I can look at my girls and see countless blessings in their behavior and aptitude which are directly influenced by our decision to homeschool years ago, and I praise the Lord for His grace and my wife for her selfless sacrifice homeschooling our children in truth and love.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
For more information on the educational debate, please watch Dr. Voddie Baucham’s 2-part series entitled, “The Children of Caesar.”
