For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” –Isaiah 28:10
As mentioned in Part 1, homeschooling parents need to “respect the process.” Why? God created the concept of processes. This is what Isaiah refers to in precept upon precept, line upon line. (See Addition Comes Before Calculus Part I) But this covers only part of the above scripture. We must not forget the afterthought at the end, “here a little, there a little.”
In addition to short cutting the process, many people unintentionally overwhelm those under their tutelage by trying to shove as much in as possible as quickly as possible. This may be parents with children, employers with new employees, pastors with new converts, or coaches with players, etc. Again, this is seldom done on an intentional, cognitive basis but is more of a cultural addiction. Parents want their child to be the next prodigy. Corporation squeeze their front-line workers for more production to either create a heftier bottom line or help maintain a top-heavy corporate structure. The end is often burnout and bitterness for those on the receiving in.
One aspect of long-term success is “here a little, there a little.” In Jim Collins’ Great by Choice, he highlighted the consistent, steady growth of Southwest Airlines. During a couple of decades in which the airline industry was as turbulent as the skies they flew in, Southwest continued a solid commitment to their vision of showing restraint in times of prosperity and determined growth in seasons of adversity. Their vision was to grow a little bit at a time over a long period of time in order to stay healthy in the process. For instance, in 1996 they were invited to serve over one hundred new cities. How many did they go to? Only four. Look at where Southwest is today versus many of their peers who went into bankruptcy.
The Living Bible paraphrase says, “Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty. (Proverbs 21:5 TLB) The reason we want to be sensitive to a little bit at a time is because our character must keep pace with our blessings lest we receive a “premature inheritance.” Too much too soon often births arrogance, pride and a lack of gratitude that often ends with painful correction from the Heavenly Father.
A good example of this is college kids who cram for tests. Rather than consistently and systematically putting the necessary effort in a little at a time to learn the material, they stay up all night before the test to pack as much in their tired brain as possible, hoping enough sticks for the next 12 hours, so they can use it, then forget it … usually forever. They may actually make a good grade on the test, but they often never assimilate the knowledge that would serve them well in the future. This is schooling, not education.
Do not spend two hours in your family devotions every day, watching your children’s eyes bug out in exhaustion. Do not try to cover three or four math concepts in one day because your children are just really on task that morning. It is as important to show restraint in seasons of educational prosperity as it is in seasons of educational poverty. Stay focused on one thing, doing a little bit at a time consistently. In doing “a little here and a little there,” you will not provoke your children to educational anger; instead, you will give them a healthy approach to life as well and a wonderful example for raising your future grandchildren.
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