CATHOLIC ONLINE REPORT: IS HOMESCHOOLING RIGHT FOR MY FAMILY?

As a parent, there is nothing you won't do for your child to ensure they have the best experiences in life. Even now, as your children grow, you find yourself staying up late at night when they're sick or scared, you wake early to ensure they're clothed and fed at the break of day, and you look after their spiritual development so they can grow to be decent, God-loving citizens.

Unfortunately, other people are going to come into your child's life and they have other agendas besides the well-being of your child. From secular indoctrination to forced vaccinations schedules, our children are increasingly being viewed as property of the state and not as our own.

When parents worry about the myriad influences bombarding their children from an early age, it's natural for them to become protective and to shield their babies from the agendas and outright evil in the world. This is both normal and right -it is a parent's duty to protect their children.

One place where the agendas are most apparent is in the schools. Consider how many activities and traditions you enjoyed as a child which are now banned. Cupcake socials, field trips, even bringing a Bible to class are all now occasions for alarm, if they aren't forbidden already. Kids are steered towards secular values promoted by people who may not have their best interests at heart.

This is where alternatives to secular education come in.

For many Catholics, parochial schools are the natural choice. At least in these environments you know your children will receive a solid, moral education which will prepare them for life in a world that may not be friendly to your values. However, parochial education also comes with a price tag that many parents cannot afford. Even when parents receive financial aid, that comes with strings attached. Other parents may simply not live within easy distance of a Catholic school.

For such parents, and for those who are concerned about the expense of parochial education, homeschooling is an excellent option. Homeschooling isn't about sheltering a kid in the attic and only letting them read books scribbled by hardly-qualified evangelical Christian authors with an agenda of their own. This myth has been perpetuated by the secular left for decades. They also imply that homeschooled children are maladjusted and less able to function in society. This is also a myth.

Good homeschooling programs have some kind of accreditation, use textbooks and materials that are well vetted and are authored by teams of subject-matter experts. A biology textbook, for example, should be written by a biologist, not a theologian. When you evaluate your options, make sure the materials are produced, and reviewed, by experts and not just one or a few people with limited expertise.

You should also look for support networks in your area so you can work with other parents who homeschool. Teaming up with local families to share instruction, plan activities such as field trips, and for sporting and other social events is important. Networking minimizes the workload on you as a parent, and it maximizes social interaction for your children.

Finally, consider if you are willing to put the time and energy into homeschooling your child. The decision must not be made lightly because you will be assuming the role of teacher, coach and principal for your child. With that decision comes great responsibility, but with a good program you will enjoy support and networking that will make your burden light, and even a joy!

We cherish our children. We love them even more than we love the things we carry with us through the years. If our house was on fire, we would not run through flames to save an old photo album or prized possession, but we would think nothing of braving the smoke and flames to rescue our children.

Likewise, when we consider the flames of secularism and so many other agendas which are lapping at the edges of our freedom, we should put appropriate effort into rescuing our children from the dangers. 

There is no price too high to pay to ensure our babies grow into well-formed, moral and upright adults with whom we can be proud. And there is no savings worth keeping if our children fail to meet their obligations to parish, home and family.

As you decide if homeschooling is right for you, begin your search by evaluating these carefully selected homeschooling programs today.

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