It was 40 years ago when my wife approached me to suggest that we educate our children at home. My response to my wife’s suggestion was surprise because in 1982, homeschooling was virtually unknown, and why would we want to subject our children to a substandard education.
Well, halfway through Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore’s book Better Late Than Early, I was convinced. We immediately withdrew our oldest from kindergarten mid-year and dove headfirst into educating our children at home for the next 16 years. We found it beneficial to divide our teaching between my wife and me. Colleen taught the liberal arts, and I taught science and math, consistent with our personal gifts and degrees.
One of the challenging aspects is to understand, and tailor your teaching to, the individual learning styles of each child. One of our children kept me on my toes just trying to keep ahead of her in giving assignments. Others needed constant prodding. In addition to the daily teaching “schedule” for nine months of the year, the month of June was spent in preparing portfolios for each student. At that time here in PA, we had an independent teacher evaluate our teaching and finally we were required to meet with a representative of the local school district for its approval.
One of the frequent criticisms of educating children at home is “lack of socialization.” This is simply a red herring. Most of the homeschoolers I know are well balanced socially. Thirty-plus years ago, we did not have the benefit of co-ops and other organizations, which are so plentiful now, but we exposed our children to many friends, some of whom they associate with still. We also encouraged them in various activities such as sports and 4-H, and my wife was known as “The Field Trip Lady” because she organized so many homeschool field trips for others. Our children have grown up to be functioning members of society with gifts in leadership, music, management, and caring for those in need.
Several other benefits of homeschooling are obvious: freedom to teach your children according to your belief system, flexibility to travel and take field trips, teaching real world subjects such as cooking and household finances, and as Moses adjured his people in Deuteronomy 6:7, “Teach them [the Scriptures] diligently to your children, . . . in your house . . . .”
Eventually, Colleen was diagnosed with cancer and called Home 18 months later, and our two youngest continued their high school at a Christian school. One went directly from homeschool to our local Christian college (which was rare then), and another was licensed by the state in a trade at age 16. My grandchildren were (and are) homeschooled. One has continued using his gifts through woodworking, one finished her master’s degree at age 21, another is halfway through college at age 17. More importantly, they each have a heart to show God’s love to the people around them. We look forward to what God has in store for them and the others still in school!
Please forgive me for bragging! My intent is to share the benefits of investing time and energy into guiding our children educationally and in the ways of the Lord, apart from the increasingly harmful humanistic ideologies of the world. Yes, I will be the first to admit that homeschooling takes time and energy—lots of it! Would I do it again? YES.
Dr. David Abbott is a husband, father, and grandfather. He homeschooled his own children and has continued to assist with his grandchildren’s homeschool education. Over the last four decades, Dr. Abbott has delivered 6,000-plus babies for the Plain community in Lancaster County, PA. He has also spent time working with medical missions in Kenya.
