Hi! My name is Keira, and I am a recovering
public school teacher.
Seriously though, I just have to tell you that it
is such an honor to be standing here tonight sharing my story with you all—just
a year ago I never would have imagined that I would be a homeschooling mom and
consequently a recovering public school teacher.
Caroleen asked me to share our story, so I will
take you back a year ago when I was reading a book called Organized
Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider. When you
hear the title, you think that it is simply another "organizing your
life" and putting things in boxes type book. It is not. It is inspiring
and certainly was pivotal to the change in our mindset.
Through Tsh's words, stories, and
practical ideas, she inspires you to get back to basics and to not let things
of this world interfere with that.
Sounds a lot like Romans 12:2 doesn’t
it? “And do not be conformed by this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good
and acceptable and perfect.”
In her book, Tsh shares how she and
her husband have purged in order to lead an intentional and organized
life--a life that allows them travel, live on one small income, and
homeschool. Homeschool, yup! Ok, I had to put on the breaks here… Both my
husband and I are public school teachers. That is what we do. We believe in it.
In fact, my husband had just earned his doctorate in educational leadership.
Homeschool, really?!
Let me just tell you that as an
“indoctrinated” public school teacher of 13 years, I had my doubts about
homeschooling's effectiveness. But, as a parent, I was beginning to have my
doubts about public school's effectiveness. Not ever considering God’s take on
teaching and training our children. My husband and I have three amazing boys
who all have their strengths and weaknesses. There is no one that knows them
better than we do. My oldest son, who is identified as gifted, was doing well
in public school and was being challenged, but he had experienced bullying at a
level that was seriously concerning. Also, some of the science curriculum that
he had been taught (indoctrinated according to state standards) goes against
God’s creation. Our middle son, who has a reading disability, has such an
inquisitive mind--he is like a sponge and loves to learn. His vocabulary and
knowledge base is incredible, but he has hated school and always has. Now,
don't get me wrong, he has had wonderful teachers and has loved learning at
school. Our youngest, who has been identified with ADHD and has anger issues,
is very intelligent and has done well academically in school, but he has
struggled socially to the point where he doesn't have friends and has very low
self esteem. Homeschool, hmm?!
God had clearly put on my heart to
search for the truth in His Word. Now what I discovered was that His truth
regarding homeschooling was as clear as day—obviously not what the world or the
government school system wants you to believe. I realized that doing anything
counter to what was already revealed in His Word because of a special feeling of “being lead on a different path” would be an act of
disobedience in my call as a parent. God was leading me to His Word in order to
put us on His path. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a
light on my path.” His will regarding homeschooling is clearly revealed in
Deuteronomy 6:
5 You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down
and when you rise up. (Sounds like all day!)
Teaching our children while countering and
undoing what the government schools are teaching America’s youth, and were
teaching my children 7 hours a day, 5 days a week for 13 years, is impossible.
And, that is why the number of Christian youth and young adults is plummeting,
and it is because of the daily indoctrination that is occurring in our
government schools.
In fact, according to research in Ken Ham’s book Already
Gone, two-thirds of our youth growing up in the church today are already
lost. Unfortunately that is happening at an increasing rate.
The enemy certainly has his hand in this and we
must be reminded of God’s Word when others question our decisions that counter
our culture.
We are taught in Proverbs 22:6 to Train
a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Proverbs 1:8 also gives more authority to parents stating, Hear, my
son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
God warns us of influence:
See to it that no one
takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on
human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of the world rather than on
Christ. Colossians 2:8 (Today's science curriculum)
Do not be yoked
together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in
common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14
We must surround our children with
godly influence.
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in
step with the wicked
or stand in the way
that sinners take
or sit in the company
of mockers,
but whose delight is
in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on
his law day and night.
That person is like a
tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its
fruit in season
and whose leaf does
not wither--
whatever they do
prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
Just the other day I read a comment on a blog—her
word’s rang truth and were exactly what I had experienced as a public school teacher.
Erin October 12, 2012 at 2:00 pm “Even
the best Christian teachers have their hands tied by the law. No public school
teacher can teach how all of creation reveals the glory of God, that the laws
of math and physics are constant only because our God is constant and a God of
order, or that homosexuality is a sin because God said it is and He is the
Creator so He makes the rules, period. No Christian teacher can shield your
child’s eyes from scantily clad girls (pretty hard to follow the covenant David
made with his eyes when everywhere a teenager’s eye rests are girls revealing
what God intended to be covered) when he is in middle school nor can a teacher
cover your son’s ears from lewd and filthy comments in the hallways. Before
people say, “that’s the real world, they need to get used to it.” Keep in mind
that 1) these are children in training, not adults and 2) what God tells us in
the book of Proverbs about the company we are to keep. Why put them in a
situation that forces them to live counter to what God commands?”Read
more: http://getalonghome.com/2012/10/indoctrination-public-schools-decline-christianity-america/#ixzz2HpmsBF2X
A few months ago, my middle son said
to me, "Mom, I wish we had started homeschooling earlier." I knew
exactly how he felt. I felt the same way! But, I know that God's timing is
perfect and that the past has all led up to this change. This is a divine calling
and ultimately our God-given responsibility as parents.
So, continuing on our journey…
In the spring we finally decided that
we were going to homeschool, my husband, much to my surprise was so supportive
from the beginning, he encouraged me to resign and not sign the following
year's contract. But, I resisted. After all, there was NO way we could make it
on one teacher's salary—it was hard enough on two. I even registered all three
of my boys for public school, talked to teachers about my middle son's IEP, and
set up a 504 plan for my youngest. I was so focused on Plan B--my back-up plan.
The plan we needed for what? In case God didn't follow through? But, wait a
minute…how is that faith? I was saying that I had faith and knew God had set us
on this path, but I was not showing it through my actions. I was not focused on
Plan God.
I started to
visualize God looking at me chuckling and thinking, "Okay, Keira, have fun
fretting and wasting your time making back-up plans, but you know I still have
a plan for your family."
Now, I have to tell
you also that my oldest son was adamantly opposed to the idea of homeschooling
from the get go, so rather than forcing him, we told him that he had one year,
but that he would be home starting in high school. We would be praying for him
that God would change his heart. Well, over Thanksgiving weekend Collier and I were snuggling in his bed, and he
broke down. We were talking about our upcoming move and how excited he was
about it--we were going to be staying at my dad's house since our house sold
quickly. We were also talking about school…and he grew silent and buried his
head. He had been so reluctant to the idea of homeschooling, but I decided to
ask him if he had thought about coming home in January. He started crying and
said, "Mom, right before you said that, I was praying to God to give me
the words to tell you I wanted to come home." WOW! Praise the Lord! He
clearly changed Collier's heart.
So here we are today,
more than half a year into our homeschooling adventure. I have all three boys
home with me. We sold our house that we could no longer afford on just one
teacher’s salary, and are currently staying at my dad’s and getting ready to
move into a small rental home down by the university. Some days are tough, but life
is tough. All the glory goes to God as I teach my boys each and every day—He
equips me with the strength I need to parent and teach my children.
Today we are on a
path we never would have imagined and God is leading us every step of the way
as we rip ourselves free from conforming to this world and walk in faith
knowing that our God has a perfect plan.
I know how surprising
it is to many people that we have chosen to homeschool our boys especially
since my husband and I are public school educators by trade. It is funny
though, the surprise is always followed by, "But, you will do a good job
since you are a teacher." Yes, I know I will do a good job, but it is not
because I am a teacher. It is because God has certified me, and I am their God-given
mother. At times it will not be easy, but again God will equip me with what I
need. The glory goes to Him alone. He is guiding me on this path. Just in the
past six months I have met so many homeschooling moms, who are not “certified”
teachers, and they are doing a wonderful job homeschooling their children. They
are certified by God, and I am now privileged to count them and you all as my
"colleagues." It is a truly beautiful thing to be surrounded by a
group of women who all share the vision of educating our own children.
Today, we are not
only a family who homeschools, but we are one who purposely participates in
family-integrated worship on Sundays. We realized that, just like with
homeschooling, every moment of the day is our responsibility to teach our
children and train them to become godly adults. Children naturally want to grow
up and emulate their parents (their God-given caregivers)--it is only society
and the culture we live in that segregates them from their family and stunts
their growth--BOTH spiritually and in maturity. While society (and the enemy)
may encourage the division of the family during the week and on Sundays as well
as the perpetuation of childhood through a period called
"adolescence," Ed and I are defying that norm and looking to His Word
for parenting wisdom. Will our children become wise by the companion of fools
(peers) or sitting in the presence of the wise (their parents)?
He who
walks with the wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer
harm. Proverbs 13:20
Just as missionaries make choices to
endure challenging living situations, danger, and possibly poverty for the sake
of spreading the Good News, so am I a missionary who must disciple, alongside
my husband, our children. God calls us to build His kingdom and that must first
begin in the home. We know God will provide for our needs, and we have placed
complete trust in Him and have faith in His word.
So, while the world,
may judge us as reckless or counter-cultural, we know that we have never been
more intentional as parents and are so thankful to be on His path.
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