I came across this excerpt in my “The Woman’s Study Bible (NIV)” printed by Thomas Nelson. It touched my heart because it confirmed the pulse and heartbeat of Imagodei Academy and my family's personal choice to homeschool our kids. With the life-changing effects of COVID-19 and the uncertainty it brings to education, many families are considering homeschool. Maybe that’s you reading this or maybe you are a veteran homeschool family. Wherever you fall on the homeschooling spectrum, I pray you are encouraged by this except just as I was.
Doing it for the LORD,
Kamika <3
God has given to his people commands that are to be passed along to their children so they “may fear the LORD” and keep his commandments that they “may enjoy long life” (Dt 6:2).
As the children of Israel trekked from Egypt to the Promised Land, the teaching of children was not an activity isolated to a particular location or a limited time of day. Rather, it was instruction interwoven with all the activities of life. The teaching was to be while they were sitting, walking, lying down, and rising up (Dt. 6:1-7).
Homeschooling is one way many families are fulfilling this command to pass on godly values and to instruct their children about life from a godly, biblical perspective. Even though they want their children to be exposed to other people and other ideas, most homeschooling parents feel that they have the primary responsibility for influencing the lives of their children. Homeschooling allows them the opportunity to present information in the context of values.
Homeschooling families have many reasons for educating their children at home:
Children are encouraged to grow in all areas at their own pace--emotionally, spiritually, socially, and mentally. This education accommodates the uniqueness of each child, including physiological and neurological differences.
Many of the negative effects of peer pressure are minimized.
An opportunity for children to pursue their respective interests in particular subjects is provided in a relaxed home atmosphere, the child’s natural curiosity can lead to learning experiences.
A unique family bond is created since parents and children are together each day. Much of homeschooling involves a one-to-one teaching approach, considered the finest method ever devised for formal instruction.
Domestic skills, hobbies, earning and managing money, responding to the needs of others, and other practical areas of life are included in the training.
Homeschooling is a big responsibility, but many parents are discovering the enriching rewards of teaching their own children, and they take it seriously enough to make the investment of time it requires. Homeschoolers have a great deal in common with not only the Israelites, as well as with the many parents who have instructed their children at home throughout history.
