Educating Today

Carolyn Caines, supervisor of Columbia Heights Christian Academy in Longview, Washington, writes about learning from a Biblical perspective. I think she has some wise things to say about true education.

If I learn my ABCs, can read 600 words per minute and can write with perfect penmanship, but have not been shown how to communicate with the Designer of all language, I have not been educated.

If I can deliver an eloquent speech and persuade you with my stunning logic, but have not been instructed in God’s wisdom, I have not been educated.

If I have read Shakespeare and John Locke and can discuss their writings with keen insight, but have not read the greatest of all books-the Bible-and have no knowledge of its personal importance, I have not been educated.

If I have memorized addition facts, multiplication tables and chemical formulas, but have never been disciplined to hide God’s word in my heart, I have not been educated.

If I can explain the law of gravity and Einstein’s theory of relativity, but have never been instructed in the unchangeable laws of the One  who orders our universe, I have not been educated.

If I can classify animals by their family, genus and species, and can write a lengthy scientific paper that wins an award, but have not been introduced to the to the Maker’s purpose for all creation, I have not been educated.

If I can recite the Gettysburg Address and the Preamble to the Constitution, but have not been informed of the hand of God in the history of our country, I am not educated.

If I can play the piano, the violin, six other instruments and can write music than move men to tears, but have not been taught to listen to the Director of the universe and worship Him, I am not educated.

If I can run cross-country races, star in basketball and do 100 push-ups without stopping, but have never been shown how to bend my spirit to do God’s will, I have not been educated.

If I can identify a Picasso, describe the style of a da Vinci and even paint a portrait that earns an A+, but have not learned that all harmony and beauty comes from a relationship with God, I have not been educated.

If I graduate with a perfect 4.0 and am accepted at the best university with a full scholarship, but have not been guided into a career of God’s choosing for me, I have not been educated.

If I become a good citizen, voting at each election and fighting for what is moral and right, but have not been told of the sinfulness of man and his hopelessness without Christ, I have not been educated.

However, if one day I see the world as God sees it, and come to know Him, Whom to know is life eternal, and glorify God by fulfilling His purpose for me, then, I have been educated.

“A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.” – Thomas Carruthers

That should be one of our main objectives. As parents and home educators, our goal should be to work our way out of a job. We’ll always be Mom and Dad, advisers, confidants and hopefully friends, to our grown children, but the time of day to day parenting will come to an end, as it should.

When you’re a parent of a little one, you sometimes wonder if these days will ever end-the unending questions, the arguing, the constant need of attention. As a parent of grown children and a “veteran” homeschooling mom, I can tell you those days do end–and you wonder “How did that happen? Where did the time go? There’s so many things I wish we had done. There’s so much more about life I wanted to teach them.” If you’ve done your job, those days of relying on you do end. That’s what is supposed to happen. Really!!

What a joy to step back and realize you have raised healthy, strong, compassionate and caring adults who are a joy to be around and stand up for what they believe! What else could you ask for?

So you’ve decided that you don’t want to use the standard textbook/workbook approach in homeschooling your children.

So what are you going to do? You want your children to enjoy learning and, better yet, you want them to learn how to be self-directed learners. One question that always comes up when discussing self-directed learning is “how do you evaluate if your child is really learning?”

Bettina Langerfeldt of www.FreedomPioneer.com is an expert on how to do self-directed learning. She says there are 7 signs or signals you should look for to see if your child is truly learning.

7 Signals That Show Self-Directed Learning Is Happening

1. Learning is individualized.

2. It’s fun.

3. It’s based on real life.

4. Learning is actively being pursued which means a true product is being created, not an artificial product like a completed workbook.

5. The child has a passion for what he’s learning. Passion is an inner drive to accomplish something. (You know, they have that “glow of delight.”)

6. Learning must be focused–they need to have a vision for what they’re doing.

7. The learner will show growth (or develop fruit) as he advances one season to another.

April 15, 2009, gave all homeschoolers a great opportunity to be involved in our great American Republic.

Tax Day Tea Parties were organized and held in large and small communities all over America.

My little community had a great gathering at the town square of more than 400 people. We heard community leaders, government officials, retired military and everyday citizens voice their opinions in a public open forum.

Many people carried signs that focused on the issues of government spending, out of control taxes and federal interference in the lives of American citizens.

Many speakers encouraged those who gathered to

• become educated voters
• take the time to look at your elected officials’ voting records

Why was the Tax Day Tea Party such an important event for Homeschool Families?

• Our children need to know that our country is a Constitutional Republic and not a democracy. 
• Our children need to know that since our country is a Republic, our elected officials are to represent us and our beliefs and values.  

  ”All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)

Christine Magtoto of KidPrentice believes kids can do great things. She explains how to encourage our children who are into art or photography.

Believe it or not, there are many kid artists and photographers around the world. Just check online auction shops and you will realize that there are artworks sold which are created by children. In fact, a family in Asia sells bags made from recycled paper – their daughter creates the funky designs for their bags. With the help of the Internet, you can encourage your kids to be more proactive when it comes to promoting their craft.

Even at a young age, you will see if your son or daughter is showing interest in art. If you see signs in budding kid artists in your children, hone their skills and interests by providing materials such as coloring books, paints, clays and many other tools that would encourage them to make artworks.

Take them to museums and exhibits to learn about different mediums available to artists, and to find out about their apprenticeship programs. Talk to other artists and photographers and ask them to apprentice your child. Learning from a mentor facilitates your child’s or teen’s abilities.

Lastly, open the minds of your children to potential careers as artists and photographers. It is not enough to let them hone their skills and talents; you also need to help them realize that they can make inspiring careers out of their talents.

Selling paintings, sculptures and photos in galleries or on the Internet is not the only thing artists can do. They can also be commercial graphic artists who are responsible for creating pieces of art in magazines, books, newspapers, leaflets, posters and other promotional materials. Being an illustrator or cartoonist for big animation firms can also be interesting.

Develop your kid artists with apprenticeship programs at museums, enroll them in art classes, take photos, make scrapbooks and use art techniques to help inspire their creative juices.

There are a number of summer classes and classes that specifically teach children and teens the art techniques and styles they can employ. Although your kids can draw or paint naturally, they make still need to learn techniques that can help improve the combinations of dimension, texture and color. Most importantly, have fun as you learn and grow with your child.