Questions & Answers Concerning Home Schooling
By Sue Welch and Cindy Short, Editors, The Teaching Home Magazine

Q Why do families home school?

A Many Christian parents are committed to educating their children at home. Their underlying motivation is the conviction that this is God’s will for their family. They are concerned for the spiritual and character development as well as the social and academic welfare of their children.

Specific advantages have been expressed as follows:

• Opportunity is available for spiritual training and presenting a biblical perspective of all academic subjects. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10, NAS).
• Home schooling makes quality time available to train and influence children in all areas in an integrated way.
• Each child receives individual attention and has his unique needs met.
• Parents can control destructive influences such as various temptations, false teachings (including secular humanism and occult influences of the New Age movement), and negative peer pressure.
• Children gain respect for their parents as teachers.
• The family experiences unity, closeness, and mutual enjoyment of each other.
• Children develop confidence and independent thinking away from the peer pressure to conform and in the security of their own home.
• Children have time to explore new interests and to think.
• Communication between different age groups is enhanced.
• Tutorial-style education helps each child achieve his full educational potential.
• Flexible scheduling can accommodate fathers’ work and vacation times and allow time for many activities.

Q Are parents qualified to teach their children?

A You know your children better than anyone else and have the deepest love and concern for them. You also have the most direct and long-term responsibility for your children before God. God commands all parents to teach their children His Word, the most important thing they will ever learn (Deuteronomy 6:6,7)

Educationally, one-to-one tutoring of a child has many advantages over the typical classroom where one teacher tries to meet the needs of many children at different learning levels. You do not need to know everything in order to teach. Your example and enthusiasm in learning with your children will motivate and encourage them far more than striving to appear as if you knew it all.

Dr. Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute, conducted a nationwide study in 1990 of 1,500 families with 4,600 children. He found these home-educated children to average at or above the 80th percentile in all subject areas. (The national average of all conventionally schooled children is the 50th percentile.) Dr. Ray says, “The tutorial method has always been the superior method for educating children. Home schooling epitomizes this method, providing the essentials for success-a close relationship between the student and teacher, motivation, flexibility, and individualization.”

Several resources are available to give you on-the-job training:

• Home-school conventions, workshops, and book fairs at local, state, regional, and national levels provide practical instruction in teaching techniques unique to home instruction. Up-to-date information on these events is a regular feature of The Teaching Home magazine.
• The Teaching Home magazine presents articles that inform, encourage, and inspire you in home teaching.
• State and local home-school support groups can greatly encourage and help you as ideas and information are exchanged.
• God promises His wisdom in James 1:5-7 and assures you that He will supply your needs as you follow His leading.
  “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Q Is home schooling legal in every state?

A Each state sets its own laws governing home education. Meeting the requirements of these laws may be as simple as informing the school district of your intent to home school and having your children tested or as complex as fulfilling requirements to become a private school. Legislation is continually being proposed and considered in many states. It is important for you to work with your state and local Christian home-school organization to aid the passage of favorable bills.

Constitutional rights to liberty and privacy under the Fourteenth Amendment and the free exercise of religion under the First Amendment guarantee a parent’s rights to educate their children according to their convictions. However, lower courts have ruled inconsistently in applying these rights to home schooling.

We encourage you to comply with the law as far as your conscience will allow and then seek an acceptable alternative only if necessary. It is important to obtain a copy of your state’s law pertaining to home education. Many problems can be avoided by being accurately informed and by using tact and respect in dealing with school authorities.

For prepaid legal defense and assistance, contact Home School Legal Defense Association, Box 159, Paeonian Springs, VA 22129 (703) 338-5600. To qualify for membership, apply before you are contacted by any authorities regarding school attendance laws. HSLDA offers a free summary of your state’s home-school law.

Michael P. Farris, founder and President of HSLDA, says in his book Home Schooling and the Law, “One of my life goals is to give every parent who wants to home school the necessary confidence to start and continue home schooling.”

Q How much time does it take?

A Home schooling requires a time commitment, but not as much as you might expect. One-to-one tutoring is more efficient than classroom instruction and thus takes less time.
The time requirement varies according to the methods used, the ages of the children, and how many children in the family are being taught.

Academic instruction might begin with one-half to one hour for the early grades and work up to a few hours of instruction plus independent study of upper grades. Most correspondence courses state that their work can be completed in four or five hours per day.

Q How can we teach several children at once?

A Subjects such as Bible, science, history, and literature that are not dependent on prerequisite knowledge or skills can be taught to several grade levels together. Lessons can be presented in an amplified manner with explanations to enable children in all grade levels to understand. Older students can do much of their work independently and can also help teach younger children.

Q What about socialization?

A This is perhaps the most misunderstood aspect of home schooling. Popular opinion assumes that children need periods of interaction with a group of peers to acquire social skills. By contrast, however, many believe that extensive peer contact during childhood can cause undesirable peer dependency. “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals’ “ (1 Cor. 15:33 NAS).

Young children are more likely to be influenced by the majority than to be a testimony to them. Children who receive their education outside the home are prone to accept their peers’ and teachers’ values over those of their parents. Some advantages of freedom from peer pressure can be self-confidence, independent thinking, the ability to relate to people of all ages, and better family relations.

Godly principles of interaction can be taught, demonstrated, and reinforced at home by parents. Children can learn needed social skills by interacting with siblings or other children and adults under their parents’ supervision. Young people who have had this type of training have adjusted very well to adult life.

You can help your children build and maintain lasting Christian friendships with people of all ages through neighborhood, church, and family friends. Dr. Brian Ray reports that numerous studies have found that home-educated children are at least as well adjusted socially and emotionally as students in conventional schools.

Q What about my child’s special interests?

A A wealth of experiences outside the home can supplement and enrich home education. Unlimited possibilities abound for field trips that individual families or groups can take. These provide valuable in-the-field learning laboratories. Specialized classes are often available through parks, museums, art schools, or private lessons. Church and community teams offer various sports opportunities. There are actually more enrichment activities and time in which to do them available for home-taught students than for those in school.

Q Are home schoolers accepted into college?

A More than 200 institutions are listed on HSLDA’s informal survey of colleges and universities which have welcomed home-educated students. “Many of these schools actively recruit home-educated graduates because of their maturity, independent thinking skills, creativity, and extensive academic preparation,” says Inge Cannon, executive director of Education PLUS.

In preparation for college entrance or any other vocational training program, parents should prepare a thorough transcript of high-school level work, award a diploma, and specify an actual high school graduation date. Occasionally GED tests may be required by a college or employer for additional verification.

For military enlistment and some employment situations, 15 credit hours of college work validates a student’s academic ability.

Q What materials are available?

A Fine Christian materials developed for Christian schools are available to home educators. New materials are also being developed or adapted especially for use in home teaching.
These materials may be obtained in three basic ways:

• You may order Christian texts and teaching aids directly from the publishers or through mail-order companies.
• A home-extension program offered through a local Christian school or church can provide teaching materials, testing, and counseling.
• Materials, testing, and guidance can also be obtained through Christian correspondence courses.

Each issue of The Teaching Home presents more than 60 suppliers of quality teaching materials. Home educators can choose or combine elements of any of these approaches.

• Traditional Textbooks. High-quality textbooks are available from Christian publishers. These cover each subject in depth and in a logical order of topics.
• Worktexts. Some publishers have combined textbook information with exercises in consumable write-in books.
• Classical Approach. Children progress from memory and learning skills to advanced reasoning and finally expressive use of language to discuss their knowledge and beliefs.
• Principle Approach. Teachers and students keep notebooks for each subject containing Bible perspectives and principles, personal applications, and information acquired from various sources.
• Unit Studies. Theme-centered units of study integrate information from several academic subjects. Language arts and math will need additional systematic teaching.
• Books & Life Experiences. Other than basic teaching in the three R’s, much learning comes through reading good literature and nonfiction. Normal everyday activities also supplement book learning and give it perspective.

Q What methods do home schoolers use?

A There is no “one right way” to home school. There is no one right method or curriculum. As an artist has at his disposal an entire palette of colors to mix and use, so a home educator has a vast array of effective methods from which to choose.

These choices may be based on:

• The ages of the children.
• The subject matter being taught.
• The number of children that you are teaching.
• The learning styles your children find most effective.
• The time you have available to prepare and teach.
• The varying abilities or special needs of your children.
• The motivation certain methods may provide your children.

The variety of methods is endless. As you choose and mix them, your home school will become a unique work of art.

Q What about children with special needs?

A The following are common difficulties and suggested solutions.

• Lack of Confidence: At first, you may lack confidence in choosing materials and methods, doubting your ability to teach.
• Fear of Being Unable To Work With Your Own Children: Parents who do not have their children’s respect will have trouble getting their cooperation. Gaining their respect through proper discipline, training, and example should be the parents’ top priority, whether or not they are home schooling. Home schooling can provide the incentive and optimum setting to accomplish this. Richard Fugate, author of What the Bible Says About Child Training, says what every schoolteacher also knows, “If you do not have your children under control, you can’t teach them.” He goes on to say, “Effective child training is one of the ways to ensure success in your home school.”
• Inadequate Time and Energy: Home teaching requires an investment of time and energy, especially by mothers. Self-discipline and good organization will help ensure a well-run household. A daily schedule, lesson plans, and a chore list can keep school and housework organized. Children also can be a great help when trained to assist with the cooking, laundry, and household chores.
• Lack of Commitment: Families who are home schooling only for convenience or because it is a popular thing to do may soon drop out unless they develop the conviction that home schooling is best for their family and is God’s will for them.
• Social Pressure: Pressure from well-meaning friends or relatives can be a real deterrent. Make a well-informed decision and then stand on your convictions. More information and a loving attitude often help others understand and accept God’s leading for the home-school family.
• Financial investment: Costs of materials or programs vary considerably, but are always less expensive than a private school. Many materials can be reused for siblings as well.

Q How do we get started home schooling?

A Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

1. Seek the Lord and agree together as husband and wife on your decision to home school.

2. Research home education by reading one or two basic books on home education, such as Christopher Klicka’s The Right Choice, and The Teaching Home magazine. Also meet and visit with more experienced home schoolers in your church or at a local support group or event and make an effort to attend your state’s home-school convention.

3. Contact your state home-school organization to learn of local support groups, events and publications as well as your state’s laws governing home education. HSLDA has state law summaries.

4. Make arrangements to comply with the law according to your conscience and recommendations of state organizations and/or HSLDA. Consider joining Home School Legal Defense Association.

5. Get your home and life in order by establishing discipline of your children and your use of time. Also, consider getting rid of unnecessary or little-used possessions to make way for learning materials and study space.

6. Choose methods and teaching materials that you feel most comfortable in starting out with and that would be appropriate to the age and number of your children. It is sometimes less overwhelming to use a prepared curriculum from a textbook, worktext, or unit study publisher for your first year.

Reevaluate and experiment with different materials and methods and make adjustments as you become more experienced with home education. Throughout this educational process, you will, of course, want to give top priority to your children’s spiritual and character development.
Home schooling is a way of life in which the home is the center of life and learning. Through home education, parents can experience in a unique way their responsibility to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7 NAS

For More Information……Order The Teaching Home Magazine

One of Your Most Valuable Home-School Resources! The Teaching Home Magazine Is Written for Home Schoolers by Home Schoolers! The Teaching Home is a bimonthly magazine devoted to a Christian perspective of home education. Each issue of The Teaching Home magazine is full of information, inspiration, and support for families who choose to educate their children at home. This magazine is truly a product of the entire home-school community—it is written for home schoolers by home schoolers:

Fellow Home Schoolers - Home-school families from around the world write letters in “Our Readers Write.” Identify with the joys, trials, and successes of home schoolers, and be inspired and encouraged. These families also share their valuable experiences in practical how-to articles and creative teaching ideas that you can put into immediate use in specific areas of your own home teaching.

Home-School Support Groups - Groups from all over the world send us their newsletters from which we select useful information, teaching tips, and encouragement to share with you.

State Home-School Organizations - Organizations in more than 40 states print newsletters in the center of this magazine to keep you apprised of legal situations, publications, events, and other news from your own state.
National Home-School Organizations – Home School Legal Defense Association and the National Center for Home Education furnish news to keep you an informed and politically active part of the home-school community.

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The information provided on this site does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of any of the members of the Home Educators Network. HEN does not endorse the viewpoints nor recommend the products represented by any of the links from this site. These links are offered as points which are of interest and use to many homeschoolers. None of the information distributed by HEN, either verbal or written, is intended as legal advice and should not take the place of legal counsel from a qualified, informed attorney.