The Whys

NEGATIVE REASONS TO HOME SCHOOL
- the US public education system is spending huge amounts of money for a mediocre product (ie, test scores are falling in comparison to other industrialized nations), is putting out students that have poor reading, thinking, and life-skills, and is over burdened by educational bureaucracy, teachers' unions, and others that do not want to have any change to the status quo
- private education is expensive. If our state had a voucher system where our public school tax dollars could go to a private school we would be more likely to participate.
- the public school system is and is becoming increasingly oppositional to the Christian faith, and cannot legally do anything to encourage a student's faith
- we do not want our children socialized in the way that schools (generally) turn out children - rude, disrespectful, peer-driven, etc.

POSITIVE REASONS TO HOME SCHOOL
- God calls parents to be the primary educators of their children in matters of faith
- home education helps build strong families
- great way for siblings to learn together
- before classroom schools this was the way education was done
- one-to-one attention from teacher to pupil ("tutoring") is strongest way of educating
- our children need to be able to think creatively, biblically, and with an understanding of our world today
- flexibility for family
- lots of resources for home schooling families
- it sounds like FUN!!

CAUTIONS WE TAKE IN HOME SCHOOLING
- making sure our children have "socialization" opportunities with other adults, children, and same-age peers through church, community groups, 4-H, home school co-op or other activities
- asking others for resources, guidance, and advice as needed
- regularly participating in standardized testing to make sure our children are achieving their goals
- participating in home school co-op so our children can participate in group learning and arts classes like band, chorus, drama, etc.