Interesting Stats on Homeschool vs. Public School

Stats interest me, especially stats about homeschooling.  

Here is one that I am particularly interested in.  I suppose it is because my husband and I are in full time ministry. (Or however you want to word that.)

Will your children believe in Jesus when they graduate from high school?

Homeschooled: 94%
Public Schooled: 15%

94% of homeschoolers keep the faith and 93% continue to attend church after the high school years. But a shocking 75% to 85% of Christian children sent to public school drop out of church, and do not hold a Christian worldview after high school graduation.
(Stat quoted from: Christian Home Education)

Look at it this way:
One hundred Christian kids go to public school
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Twenty of them continue in "the faith" or going to church after they graduate.

This stat is astounding!  Over and over I hear on Christian TV and radio, "Why are our children leaving the faith/church?"

Well, lets look at the facts.  Most of them are being sent to the public school.  What do they learn in public school?  A lot more than educational stuff!  I know this first hand because "I were one!"  LOL.

Sadly, parents actually think that they are sending their kids to school to get an education... to get book smart.  If they think that teachers are only teaching what is in the text book (which can't be trusted these days... times have changed sista!) they are fooling themselves.

How is it even possible for a teacher to teach and not give their opinion.  I wonder if teachers announce that something is their "opinion" every time that they give it so that the child can easily sift through what is said and toss the junk?

I will conclude... for now... with a verse out of Scripture (highlight mine).

Luke 6:39-40And He also spoke a parable to them: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.

Created by: CollegeAtHome.com

What are you creating in your "home educating" lifestyle?

How many homeschoolers do you know?  Do you know their children very well or do you mostly just associate with the parents?  Do you know your children very well?

I ask these questions just to get you thinking... and myself as well.  I don't know a lot of homeschool families.  At least not as many as most do.  I've only been part of a co-op or group a couple of times and I've homeschooled our boys for their whole lives (17 years).  They say it's not healthy to go it alone but that's basically what I've done.  Live and learn...

Anyway!  I do know enough homeschool families to observe their "style" and the attitudes of their children.  It has been my observation that the kids whose parents have chosen to do a strict "school at home" or sit the child down to a teaching video.... learn this... learn that... type of style, are resentful.  The children I know, from about 3rd grade up to now graduated, don't want to be homeschooled or wish they weren't.

Many of those families have created resentment, bitterness, rebellion... That's the sad news, but there is hope!

If our children aren't learning "the way THEY should go" and are only learning what has been pre-

programmed and put in front of them, how could they be happy?

There are so many learning styles and topics that interest us all as individuals, that if we all have to learn the same stuff, the same way, MANY will feel unfulfilled and not happy with their education.

 Unfortunately, I wasn't taught that learning is a lifestyle nor was I encouraged to pursue to learn about things that I am interested in.  As an adult who graduated from a less that great public school, I have supernaturally acquired the desire to continue to learn!  I am so excited about learning now that I can learn (for the rest of my life) on my own terms!

I can, and do, learn everyday in the way that God made me!  Say I want to learn a new jewelry

making technique (I do own my own business: www.janetpowers1.etsy.com) and someone tells me that I have to learn "this particular" technique.  Not only that, but I have to sit down to a text book and read how to make this new design using only this book.  Well, chances are, I won't be learning that technique!  That's not how I was wired!

How can we expect our children to learn this and learn that and do it only this particular way when God has wired us all so differently?

I understand that people NEED to be educated but why does it have to be so stringent?  Why can't

we loosen up a bit and let our children learn... REALLY learn?

I want to challenge you with this:

Pick one day a week... say Friday's... and let your child learn whatever they want and however they want.

If they learn best by doing, let them pick a topic and make a lapbook!
If they learn best by seeing, let them pick a topic and watch videos.
If they learn best by reading, let them pick a topic, go to the library and get a bunch of books!

Then, after a few weeks of LETTING your child learn, ask them questions and let them give you an oral report.  Don't bug them every week.  Don't let them know it's an oral report.  Just let them tell you what they have learned about the topic that they chose.

I believe you will be amazed.  Your child will blossom.  You will spark a love for learning when your child gets to learn about what interests them in the way that "he should go."

If you try this, I'd like to hear about it.  Leave a comment ok?!

Homeschool Schedule Planning ~ Holy Spirit Homeschooling

Copyright 2012 Janet Powers

Missional Mama has a wonderful post "Planning Our Homeschool Year."  She gives a pretty detailed explanation of how she goes about planning.  Check it out; you may find something helpful for your homeschool.

In Missional Mama's post, she asked, "How do you plan?"  So, I decided to take my answer and post it on my blog as well so that it, too, may inspire you.

Our planning goes a little something like this:  I pray and ask God for the right items for our boys then I trust Him.  They are each unique individuals that learn differently. Little by little I come across books/eBooks we already have, companies contact me and give me free items to review that are great for my kids, and lastly, I find free stuff online such as video classes or eBooks.  Before I know it, our homeschool year is set up!  

So basically, I trust God and He does it.  LOL!  

After I get all, or most, of our ducks in a row, I use the TOS Homeschool Planner "daily schedule"  and insert the subjects that I want the boys to do everyday.  After I make their lists, I print it out and they are then responsible for following it.

Now, my boys are older so they are quite capable of following a schedule. I know that the way we do school isn't the way most homeschoolers do it.  ...and that's ok!  It's our homeschool.  ;)  They get the freedom to use the items that we have found, and other resources such as YouTube and the library, to learn the basics that they have to learn (reading, writing, math) and then they get to explore and have some freedom to learn the things that they want to learn.

It works for us!

What works for you?  How do you go about scheduling your homeschool?

Here are some links to other homeschool blogs and how they schedule their days:

Robin Samsons list of blogs:  A Typical Homeschool Day

Highhill Homeschool (American living in Germany): Weekly Homeschooling Schedule

Curriculum Choice: A Visit With Curriculum Choice Authors ~ Our Homeschool Day

The Duggar's Homeschool Day