In Conclusion

Although teaching children at home instead of send­ing them out to be educated seems like a new idea, ob­viously it is not. History clearly records that home education was alive and well in the formative years of America, and for centuries before anyone thought of having a school run by the government. In fact it is edu­cation in a public school run by the government which is relatively new. A few decades of public schooling, however, has conditioned Americans until the idea of home education seems like a radical departure from good judgment.

Many of us who, a number of years ago, chose to de­part from the accepted norm are now considered pio­neers in the modem homeschool movement. I prefer, however, to think of us as adventurers because the course we took was one of rediscovery and pleasure rather than of hardship and toil. If anything it was a process of throwing off the crushing bonds of the fossil­ized thinking of the education establishment and launching out upon the course of academic freedom once enjoyed by Americans in days gone by.

Perhaps the fears and tremblings, the tears and stumblings were necessary accomplices to our first steps of departure from the ingrained dogma of our society. But even as our adventuring forefathers did not fall off the edge of the world, we have not found the home to be an unsafe place for our children. Our quest for academic freedom has been rewarded. Our steps back into the good way have not been in vain. Time has honored our decision.

If we have blazed a trail it cannot be said that we were the first to travel that pathway, because each step was taken before us. We merely followed the Master who like ourselves was dishonored for lack of creden­tials, but the dishonor of this world is not always dis­honor with our Creator. In fact, there are blessings from God. in heaven above, upon all who obey His Word, es­pecially so in the training of one's own children whose souls are eternal.

In addition to eternal rewards we were to discover many joys, here and now. In seeking to obey God in the teaching and upbringing of our children we discovered the joy of having our children around us everyday. That made it possible for us to watch and help as they daily stretched a little farther to reach yet another stepping stone.

Yes, homeschooling allows parents to lay up treas­ures in heaven while enjoying the priceless rewards that come with being with one's own children in the prime of their tender young years. What greater stewardship can there be of the talents our Creator has bestowed upon His servants? What greater joy?

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