When I look back at the beginning of our nation, I am awestruck at the courage, vision, and audacity of the founding fathers. The idea of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people had never been tried in the history of mankind. Additionally, one of the greatest military empires the world had ever seen stood in the way between thought and reality. Even among those within the colony itself, there was strong disagreement. All they had ever known was submission to the Crown. The idea of self-government not only appeared ludicrous, it seemed impossible. In an act that can only be attributed to the grace of God and His sovereign purpose, Americans won their freedom.
The independent spirit that characterized those opening chapters of our country is still seen today in the hearts of many homeschoolers today. It is important for us to continue to not only keep but expand our freedoms, not just legally, but especially individually. Most of us came out of the public-school system which formed our definition of what education is and is not. If we were honest most of us still think that education is sitting in a room with books in hand. “Oh sure,” we say, “there are some shop classes, but those are for those students who can’t cut it in the world of ‘real education.’” History disagrees with this assessment as some of the leading minds of their respective era had little public school learning but had their tutelage in the school of hard knocks from life.
Educational freedom allows us to tailor our homeschooling approach that best fits our children’s needs and our family’s lifestyle. Some students are verbal learners while others are visual or kinesthetic. We should revel in the fact that we can do 20% book work and 80% hands on for those pupils whom God made as tactile learners while reversing the order when the situation necessitates. We can start at six o’clock in the morning and go straight through until noon or wait until five in the afternoon to incorporate Dad in the school day. We can homeschool year around, taking off a month every quarter or we can take the normal nine months approach. We can start in August or we can wait until September if we think that is best for our family. Yes, we do have certain subjects that we are required by law to teach—and that in the English language—but we are free to fulfill those requirements as we think best.
The point of this article is that we need to break free and stay free from our past paradigms of what education is. Many of these ideas are based more on contemporary educational psychology and political agendas than on the Bible and 6,000 years of man’s history. Just as Paul encouraged the Galatians not to exchange their freedom in Christ for the old chains of legalism, so we should use our freedom to the fullest in order to best educate our children. (Galatians 5:1) If a child is having trouble with a math concept for a prolonged period of time and frustration is mounting, celebrate the freedom to set the book down for a season and use manipulatives. Perhaps you should skip this chapter and go to another, returning when you feel the child is more ready. If our child shows age appropriate competency in a certain area, do not make him continue to do every page in the chapter just because they are there. goal is not to cover material but to learn. If that has taken place, use the freedom to move on to new educative pastures. We are free to do what is best for our child. Use that freedom!
We are at liberty to try new things by being willing to risk. Some of these may fall short of our expectations. That isn’t a failure; it is called learning. Our children will have the glorious opportunity to observe us working through this process—the good, the bad, and the ugly–perhaps learning more important lessons of life than in the subject matter itself.
The American Revolution opened up a brand-new way of thinking as well as unbelievable opportunities to grow as a nation and as individuals. National doctrines, such as Manifest Destiny, stirred in the hearts of the colonist to expand and grow our nation. This type of freedom produces great energy and accomplishes much. Whether you are new to homeschooling or have years of experience under your belt, we need to break free from man’s failing paradigms and bask in the goodness and freedom that God has given us.
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