Limited by Homeschooling

[SDA Educator]

I have been an Adventist teacher for 15 years. I have had children for 9 of those years. When my wife and I were married we made the decision to homeschool our children. For the last 3 years, especially this year, several people have become very "concerned" of how our homeschooling reflects on the school I teach at. I had put out some resumes 3 years ago and recieved calls and requests for interviews from 9 different schools. After recieving the invites and before I accepted the interview I let them know that we have chosen to homeschool our children. All 9 of those schools responded that I could not work at the school unless my children were there.

I just had a discussion with a concerned school board member tonight. Because our school is struggling, there are many that feel that I should put my kids in, or leave. I responded by saying that it looks like I will have to teach at a public school in order to homeschool my children without harassment.

I am a first generation adventist and very discouraged from what I am experiencing.

[Woody]

I don't blame you for being discouraged.

This is really sad.

I am actually very surprised at what you are reporting. I support the right for parents to Homeschool. So, I find nothing wrong with what you want to do.

I wish you the best for your chosen profession. I hope that you can work in an Adventist school. But if not - God bless you where ever you may go.

And welcome to Club A

[SDA Educator]

Thank you for your kind words...

[SivartM]

Wow, that is really not fair, and I'm sorry for how the schools are treating your family. My home church isn't very supportive of homeschoolers because they focus on the students in the church schools.

I was homeschooled for my entire life and now attend an Adventist university. I don't really know what to say other than that I hope you can find a job at an Adventist school if that's where you want to be, and that I'm sure your kids will do well.

[SDA Educator]

Thanks

[cricket]

That's very interesting. The SDA school that serves our church is struggling--even though the pastor's children and the head elder's children are being homeschooled. Perhaps you should try the Iowa-Missouri conference.

[SDA Educator]

Thanks Cricket. That is very encouraging.

[Woody]

What people just don't get -

is that Homeschooling is a horse of a different color. And we all should have the right to make the decision as to what sort of education we want for our children.

There is no "right" or "wrong" here. But we should not look down on the choice the parents make. That is their call.

SDA Ed - You are not being disloyal. You just believe in a different choice for your kids. They should feel honored that you chose to work for them.

[SDA Educator]

That's what surprises me most. Of all people that should understand freedom of choice, it should be Adventists. We have other homeschooling parents in our church. You only have one chance of raising your children. You have to go by what you believe is best for them.

[Stan]

In Canada we have two online adventist schools. It is something like homeschool, as the children at home, yet all over the country.

http://www.albertasdadl.org/

How cool is that?

[phkrause]

Very

[Liz]

SDA Educator, I just wanted to say hello and welcome you to the board. I also homeschool my children and have since the beginning. My experience is that people will always question your choices, no matter what they are, so stay strong, you are doing the best thing for your family; just as those who use public school or private school are doing the best for their families.

I pray that you will find the right fit somewhere and soon. :)

[Gail]

SDA Educator, I also homeschooled our children. I did this for 12 years, and after their earliest years we enrolled our kids in the nearby academy (at grades 3 and 5).

I did get flack, too, a bit, but the children excelled and the school was grateful for their presence. People who are against homeschooling are usually not informed as to how well home-educated children do in life. They are usually not informed also to how parents have options that fit better with their children.

I'm with Liz- you just listen and ignore the detractors. God will open a way!

Also- It may be that God is moving you towards a position in a public school because He needs your witness there. If that is the case, then it is a loss for the denomination. But nothing happens by accident and God works all things out for good to those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose.

[Gail]

SDA Educator- you have many supporters here! Thanks for joining and I hope to see you more!

[Tom Wetmore]

I appreciate that one must make the decision they feel best for their own family. And I also recognize the value and success that homeschooling is for many. So what I am about to say should not be interpreted as diminishing any of that. The problem is not about homeschooling.

Variations on this come up fairly often. Another variation is the pastor or teacher in our school that decides to enroll their child in public school or to send their child to boarding school rather than the school where they teach. Those decisions are usually justified similarly. But here is the concern. If our own workers do not have sufficient confidence in the school that they are hired to support, what sort of message does that send to other families that are considering sending their kids to that school? Would we have confidence in the Pastor if his wife and kids never attend church where he pastors? It is often an explicit condition of employment. Often the constitution and bylaws of a school also require that board members with school age children must have their own children enrolled in that school. It is a matter of belief in the value of what the school has to offer and demonstrating loyalty and confidence in it by putting your own kids in that school.

It would be like a mechanic at a Ford dealership never driving a Ford and parking his Toyota conspicuously in the employee parking area. Message to customers - Maybe you better go buy a Toyota... Nobody would seriously question the owner of the dealership telling the mechanic he has two choices, start driving a Ford or go work for the Toyota dealer.

That is not unreasonable.

[Woody]

Thanks for bringing the other side of the story Tom.

There's always two sides to any story and your side is a valid concern.

[cricket]

For our children, homeschooling was the best option. If homeschooling were not possible, then the church school would be the best option. If the church school is not a better option than a public school (for the non-special needs child), then it is probably best that the church school regroup, reevaluate and revamp--else, close.

That's my opinion.

[Gail]

Yep! There are situations and kids that don't fit well. The parents' love will constrain them to find what is the best environment for the children to thrive in. It varies from child to child.

[SDA Educator]

Thanks everyone for your responses. Since I am a first generation Adventist, I tend to see some things differently at times. We homeschool out of conviction rather than "fit". I teach at an Adventist school out of the same.

The irony is that, in order to follow God's leading in Homeschooling my children, it looks like I will have to leave Adventist education.

SDA Educator.

[Woody]

Thanks everyone for your responses. Since I am a first generation Adventist, I tend to see some things differently at times. We homeschool out of conviction rather than "fit". I teach at an Adventist school out of the same.

The irony is that, in order to follow God's leading in Homeschooling my children, it looks like I will have to leave Adventist education.

SDA Educator.

Oh dear. That would be a great loss for our church. But I fully understand. Let's all make this a matter of prayer.

[Gail]

You know what? I totally understand. Some places are freer to home educate than others, but in every place it is the exception rather than the rule that a family does that. Every home schooling family has at least one parent that is independent enough to "go against the flow" simply because the nature of the concept requires it.

I for one admire people that stand up for conviction. Lord knows we need more...

Having said that, if you explain to your children the "why," and you are not rash but convicted, you will be blessed.

You can encourage fellowhip with others by inviting them on outings with you, or meals (or even better, have the kids prepare the meals). You will be in a position for outreach that school students don't have opportunity to do.

Our schedule provided a 1/2 work, 1/2 bookwork day, and many times the kids were done well before their schooled peers. As long as they finished the agenda for the day they were free to do as they wished. You can believe the neighbour kids were envious! Not only did the kids get to do grown-up things like work and earn their own money (life skills) but they were all scholars.

On the social life: Do not be afraid to socialize with ALL kinds of folk! You are not limited to keeping them only with peers. This opens you up to join classes with other homeschoolers, pastor visitation, have elders as mentors, etc. believe me, if you schedule time with someone who is a mechanic, a florist, philantropist, teacher or retiree of any kind or expert of any field, you are giving your kids top-notch experience. The social aspect was the part of homeschooling I liked the BEST!

Your pastor should be insightful enough to value your children's help, too. There is nothing better to grow your kids' spiritual life than to make it real to them- to deal with real souls.

Whatever you decide to do, if you dedicate it to the Lord and seek his kingdom first, He's promised to add the rest. One day there may be a time to place them into a school of your choosing. It may even be a public school or Christian school of our denomination or other. I knew of a family that sent their boy to a non-SDA Christian school and they were happy with that.

You have options

[SDA Educator]

Thanks, but we are not having problems with our homeschooling. In fact it is going really well for our children. The challenge is with some of our constituency and the other conferences for which I have applied in the past.

I was offered a great position at an academy for which I was highly qualified. Once I mentioned that I home-schooled, I was told, very nicely, that it was a conference policy that all my school age children were were required to attend the institution that I was employed at.

SDA Educator

[Gordon1]

Conform or starve. Not much religious liberty there.

[SDA Educator]

What is interesting, is that I have had the privilege of seeing the majority of my students make a decision for

Christ. As far as what impact my life choices with home-schooling is making on the community.... I would say this... If you can home-school, and do it with success, that should be your first choice. However, individuals that seek out our schools are not usually considering home-school as an option. If you cannot home-school, then a good church school should be your next option.

I do not know of one home-schooler that has opted to put their children in public school. However, I know MANY that have opted, after the age of 9/10 to enroll them in our school. As a conservative Adventist, I believe in following the counsel. And

that is where my dilemma lies....

[BobRyan]

I just had a discussion with a concerned school board member tonight. Because our school is struggling, there are many that feel that I should put my kids in, or leave. I responded by saying that it looks like I will have to teach at a public school in order to homeschool my children without harassment.

I am a first generation adventist and very discouraged from what I am experiencing.

We homeschooled our children through high school - they then went on to public universities - and graduated summa cum laude from the engineering sciences department.

But not before starting and in fact leading the SDA student group on campus.

When questioned by the SDA educators at the churches we attend as to whether we supported Adventist education - we responded that "we do support it -- in fact we are engaged in the highest form of it".

We freely admit that not everyone is in a position to provide this level of Adventist education. During our homeschooling years we continued to work for, fund and supported the schools associated with the SDA congregations we attend.

How did we get started down this path? An SDA principle that I respect very much told us that HE always homeschooled his children for at least the first three grades and urged us to do the same -- saying he would help us every step of the way. He was the principle of the local SDA school associated with our church. God sent he and his wife at just the right time!

And God further "sealed the deal" by having an SDA associate pastor arrive at that same local church - who also homeschooled his children and offered to assist us as well.

in Christ,

Bob