I can't add anything to this posting by Generation Cedar. End of debate.
Regarding my opinion that homeschooling is a “better” way…I would hope all of us have strong opinions on “better” ways to do a lot of things–especially important things. If we don’t ever form carefully studied opinions on “better or worse” ways to do some things, we become dangerously apathetic. This, I think, is a tragic side-effect of our obsession with “tolerance”.
All things are not equal and to suggest such kills the human spirit, erodes ambition and unravels the very fabric of a society on too many levels to count.
And where it involves the very upbringing and transmitting of our values to the next generation, I’d say we better all study to form VERY strong opinions about such a life-impacting endeavor.
But is homeschooling “biblical”?
First, allow me to define what I mean by that:
Saying a thing is “biblical” does not always mean everything else is “sin”. I do NOT assert that any form of education besides homeschooling is a sin. (And yet, this crime has been continually ascribed to me.)
To say a thing is “biblical” is simply to say that there are principles in Scripture to guide and offer insight into a particular area. Just like there are biblical principles for handling money, one is not necessarily in sin for ignoring those principles. So, if I say, “not co-signing on a loan is biblical” that is a true statement. But it doesn’t mean that it is sin to co-sign on a loan. There would be a lot less anger if opponents viewed my stance through that lens.
Many people claim “the Bible doesn’t speak on the subject of education” and so we can’t talk in terms of what is “biblical”. I disagree.
It’s interesting to compare the Greek (pagan) model of education to our current public school model and contrast that to the Hebrew model (practiced by God’s people) upon which the homeschooling model is patterned:
“The Greek model of education shapes our modern American educational theories. Greek education focused on content. Hebrew education focused on relationship. Greek teachers tried to shape students’ minds. Hebrew teachers tried to shape students’ hearts. Greek students were to learn what their teacher knew. Hebrew students were to become what their teacher was. The notion that one can merely teach the mind and body of a child without involving the heart and soul is the method of the Greeks. We see no precedent in Scripture for the teaching of children’s minds for the sake of academia.” http://www.homeschoolbuilding.org/Item.php3?id=2291
In a nutshell, the “biblical model” of education is Hebrew in nature, based primarily on relationships, specifically between parent and child. And that’s just the starting point…
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