I thought I had a strong work ethic until I met Dr. I.M. Tuf , my math methods instructor in college. Okay, you got me. That was not her real name, but she really was tough. She was the kind of teacher who never let students just float through her class. To earn a passing grade, you had to produce, and produce well at that. At first I rebelled, at least inwardly, against her standards.
"This is my last semester before I student teach," I thought to myself.
"I only have a few months left on campus and want to enjoy it," I reasoned.
"No one needs to know how to teach math this well, " I tried to convince myself.
I waited until the last minute to complete her "unreasonable" assignments, rationalizing that everyone else in the class was doing no better than I was.
At mid-term, my average reflected my efforts… a 64. I had never made less than a B in my entire academic career. Appalled by her seemingly unattainable standards, I scheduled an appointment to discuss my grade with her. I sat in the chair across from her and complained about how she was ruining my GPA and that I might not graduate with honors because of her. I offered a ton of excuses for my poor performance. I was taking 21 semester hours and could not give her class as much attention as she required. I had just gotten engaged. There was so much to do to prepare for a wedding, and I didn't have time for meetings with florists and caterers because of her. She was ruining this special time in my life. I even cried. She heard me out and then asked some very wise questions.
Do you want to make an A in my class or do you want to be a good teacher?
I answered, "well, both." However, I knew what she meant and in my heart knew the right answer.
Do you want to graduate with honors or do you want to make a difference in the lives of children?
I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath.
Do you want to stand during graduation and be recognized or do you want to stand for what is right?
I had to confess how self-centered I was being and ask God to forgive me.
Setting our course for the path of least resistance feels good because it is what our flesh craves. However, as parents, we have to teach our children to hate sin because God hates sin. This includes the sins of slothfulness and complacency. In a society plagued with mediocrity and apathy, we cannot gauge our expectations against the standards of the majority. We must press toward a higher standard.
More importantly, we have to teach our children that though the flesh is weak (Mark 14:38), God is our ever-present help (Psalm 46). We believe that working hard, not being complacent or content with mediocrity, is a spiritual issue. The effort our children put into their school work reflects their attitudes toward stewardship, and we want them to learn the value of hard work that flows from a desire to love, obey, and glorify God. We also want them to learn to call upon Him in any circumstance for help, even while doing their school work.
The book of Proverbs contains many warnings for the sluggard. One such warning is found in chapter 18. Verse nine says, "He who is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys." If we are slack in our work, or in other words if we are not good stewards of our time, gifts, and talents and are not faithful and diligent in carrying out our responsibilities, we are brothers of the enemy. It is Satan who would have us neglect our responsibilities, to be sluggish about spiritual things, and waste what God has given us. The enemy would have us compare ourselves to a lost and dying world and be proud of how well we are doing.
Conversely, Proverbs has many good things to say about the diligent. Chapter 22, verse 9 asks, "Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings…." The man who is industrious, who knows his calling, and who works cheerfully at what the Lord gives him is promised blessing.
How important then is it to teach our children the value of work hard? I would dare to say very important.
The third essential goal we have for our children's education is to provide a curriculum that promotes a strong work ethic. In all their areas of study, we want them to be actively engaged in the learning process. There is memorizing and sometimes worksheets to be done. However, more often than not, they must produce authentic work… reading, discussing, writing, creating, presenting, building, and more. I believe we need not find a curriculum that merely keeps them busy but one that keeps them productive, teaching them to value hard work and giving them the opportunity to reap its rewards.
This is a tough goal for me to meet sometimes. I get tired. In fact, at the end of this past school year, I was closing in on throwing in the towel. We had worked for three months to remodel our house. Then, the hot water heater leaked and destroyed part of our brand new kitchen flooring. I was tired and struggling to see God's providence in this. After that, I had to help undo the ruined remodeling work. This left behind a sticky sub-flooring that I could not get clean and had to live with until the new flooring could be installed. On top of this, our last unit of the year was on the Civil War. The most complicated and depressing time in our nation's history, and that was how we were to end this really hard school year.
While I was planning for this dreaded unit, I wrote for my Facebook status one day, half-joking, half-not, "Dawn is considering how to teach a unit on the Civil War. I am contemplating saying 'There was a big war.' then giving them coloring sheets of Lincoln, Davis, Grant, and Lee and being done with it." I know slapping down coloring sheets with no real objective or purpose other than to check something off my list is not being a teacher of stewardship.
When I fall into that attitude, I am not being a steward of my time, talents, materials and one other very important gift that God has given me… the young minds who gather at my table each day to learn from my good teaching and by my good example. My bad example stood only to teach them to do what is easy, what feels good, and what does not require too much of me. Even worse, it stood to teach them it is permissible to be frustrated by providence. Instead of by prayer, making my requests known to God, I was modeling a form of anxiety... one that demonstrated I was afraid God was requiring more of me than I could handle. (Phil 4:6)
We originally committed to this third goal with curriculum selection in mind, and it is a driving force behind what we choose. I want my children engaged in meaningful work. I want them doing more than skill and drill. However, this goal also touches upon my implementation of our curricula. To instill a good work ethic in my children, I must model that ethic in my teaching, in my managing of the home, and in everything the Lord gives me to complete.
Holding to this goal, as well as the other two essential goals I have described in this series, is challenging. Please understand that I do not claim to have lived up to any of my goals perfectly, nor can I even come close to reaching them on my own. When I felt discouraged this spring, my husband gently guided me back on course. I need his leadership. My friends prayed for me and encouraged me. I need their support. My pastor and elders, who just happen to know a lot about the Civil War, offered help. I need their wisdom.
Most importantly, when I wanted to walk away from it all, when I wanted to choose the path of least resistance, when I was tired and empty and drained, the Lord was with me. He showed me the error of my ways. He filled me with His grace. He renewed my strength. He enabled me to move past selfishness and teach the Civil War unit to His glory. More than I need anyone else, I need the Lord. "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wing as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
In the first article of this series, I encouraged you to set the course for your race with goals. Since then, I have encouraged you to set your course for a distinctly Christian education. I have encouraged you to set boundaries for your course with a Biblical worldview. I have encouraged you to set the pace of your course for hard work. I want to end, ladies, by encouraging you once again to run and to run like you want to win. Run as one who cannot wait to reach the finish line and hear the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Matt 25:23
A lady named Dawn writing about home, school, and homeschool.
Showing posts with label Why I Homeschool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Why I Homeschool. Show all posts
Monday, July 13, 2009
Compartmentalized Education
I met my husband, Michael, during my first week in college at the Baptist Student Union (BSU). In one of our get-to-know-each-other conversations, we discussed our majors. He told me his was Spanish which piqued my interest since mine, at the time, was French. I had chosen a foreign language as my major because I had enjoyed my French studies in high school. I was unsure about how a degree in French would help me in the future. I asked him why he had chosen Spanish and what he planned to do with that degree, hoping for some insight that would help me with career planning. His answer left me dumbfounded.
"I am praying about being a tentmaker, like Paul, only in South America." he said.
Even though I had grown up in church, I had no idea what he was talking about. I smiled at him and nodded in agreement. I think I said something like "great" or "interesting". However, I secretly wondered if there was a Coleman factory in Caracas and why he needed a college degree for such work. For the next few weeks, I was on the constant lookout for this guy, Paul. Who was he? Was he a BSUer? Was he a Spanish major? I just had to find him.
A few weeks later, I did find him. During a Bible study on the book of Acts, there he was in chapter 9, on his way to Damascus. Thoughts from Sunday School of flannel board pieces depicting Priscilla, Aquila, Paul and their tents flashed in my mind. "Oh, thatPaul!" I thought. A number of facts I had learned sporadically over the years converged in my brain. Suddenly, Michael's statement made sense.
I don't think I misunderstood my future husband that day because of total ignorance. I did know who Paul was and had learned the stories in church. I think I misunderstood him because I had received what I call a "compartmentalized education". Church was the place for Bible instruction. School was the place for academic pursuits. Having been educated in a government-run school, I had been asked to leave my faith at the door each morning. I had willingly complied and as a result had never contemplated a life of total surrender to Christ in which academic pursuits fall under His Lordship and serve His purposes. This, I believe, is why I had thought of Michael's study of Spanish as something that would solely prepare him for a vocation and had not thought of it in terms of preparation for ministry.
Not wanting our children to experience a compartmentalized education is the driving force behind my husband's and my three essential goals for our homeschool. The first of these goals is that their education be distinctly Christian. I think many people equate a Christian education with having a daily Bible class. That is, in part, what we are implying. We believe "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Tim 3:16) For this reason, we want the Bible to be taught systematically to our children. This is why we have a time in our school day for a more thorough teaching of God's Word and times that we complete a read-through of the Bible as a family.
For us, a distinctly Christian education also involves the study of doctrine and theology, so we catechize our children. This sounds like something far more complicated than it is. It involves memorizing a series of questions and answers that teach doctrine. The Westminster Shorter Catechism sets a foundation for studying the Bible and discerning truth from error. The first question and answer teach that "man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." From there, it establishes a basic understanding of God, sin, salvation, the Ten Commandments, prayer and more. 1 Pet 3:15 teaches us to be prepared to "give an answer to every man who asks" about our faith. Catechizing is one way we give them this preparation.
A third essential element of a distinctly Christian education is keeping Christ at the center of all our studies. No compartmentalizing is allowed. We study history to learn of God's providence. We study science to see Him as a magnificent Creator. We read books that build up our faith. We write with the hope of our pens being tools for God's glory. Even those subjects that don't seem to be distinctly Christian in and of themselves, like math, are built upon absolutes which point us to God. Moreover, all subjects can be completed with the understanding that God is preparing our children for the future work He has chosen for them to do and that being diligent students is their current calling.
Deuteronomy 6 commands us to teach God's commands "diligently" to our children throughout the day, each and everyday, at various places, through various means. In other words, God is instructing us to make our children's discipleship our priority. Though we should absolutely have our children in church, we should not rely on the church as the sole source of discipleship. Our children should be involved in learning to love and obey God with us at church but they should be learning those lessons at home and at school as well.
In my opinion, homeschooling facilitates this goal more easily than any other schooling option. We have the freedom to choose our curricula, and there is a wide selection of Christ-centered curricula available. Likewise, having our children with us all day everyday is an opportunity. It affords us the time to disciple our children well, addressing their spiritual needs throughout the day with Biblical instruction and discipline as situations arise.
For those of you reading who have chosen other schooling options for your children, I want you to know that I do not believe, nor am I trying to assert, that being a Christian and being a homeschooler are synonymous. I cannot speak against anyone who follows God's leading and I know godly people who are bringing their children up in the fear and admonition of the Lord without homeschooling them. I also acknowledge that I miss the mark often and that my family's standing with God is dependent upon His grace alone. It is not the result of anything we do, including homeschool our children.
However, I am compelled by Proverbs 29:19 (JKV) which states, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Often we hear this verse being used to promote the need for a mission statement or an overarching purpose that will keep a team on the same page. John Gill, in his commentary on this verse, asserts that the word "vision" used in this context is not referring to something man sees, imagines, or dreams of accomplishing. He explains that it is "prophecy" or Biblical teaching. In fact, some Bible translations, such as the Revised Standard, use "prophecy" in place of "vision".
The Living Bible translation states it in a way that made me think. "Where there is ignorance of God, the people run wild; but what a wonderful thing it is for a nation to know and keep his laws." When I read this, I can't help but think of the United States of America. I mourn over the condition of my country. There is a lack of solid Biblical instruction in the U.S., and the people are running wild. I believe American Christians, including myself, need to be more faithful to the reading and teaching of the Bible. We need to faithfully attend a Bible-teaching church and we need to teach the Bible at home and as a part of educating our children as well. I believe that whatever schooling option we choose, we need to make sure it is not derailing our efforts to build our children up in our Christian faith. We need to be careful that we are not allowing them to compartmentalize and determine that they can have Christ here but do as they please there.
Some say a distinctly Christian education, particularly one completed at home, shelters children. To a certain extent it does, and to an extent, that is what we want. It is true that one day our children will have to face the challenges of living in a society that is currently growing more and more hostile to the Gospel. However, for my children, I pray that their education at home will root them in God's Word and set them on the path of obedience so that when that day comes they will not embrace that world or be confused by it. I pray instead that they will be prepared to stand at the gate of the enemy and give an account of what they believe. (Psalm 127:5) I pray that my children will not compartmentalize their faith but by His grace will learn to love God supremely and serve Him in all that they do.
"I am praying about being a tentmaker, like Paul, only in South America." he said.
Even though I had grown up in church, I had no idea what he was talking about. I smiled at him and nodded in agreement. I think I said something like "great" or "interesting". However, I secretly wondered if there was a Coleman factory in Caracas and why he needed a college degree for such work. For the next few weeks, I was on the constant lookout for this guy, Paul. Who was he? Was he a BSUer? Was he a Spanish major? I just had to find him.
A few weeks later, I did find him. During a Bible study on the book of Acts, there he was in chapter 9, on his way to Damascus. Thoughts from Sunday School of flannel board pieces depicting Priscilla, Aquila, Paul and their tents flashed in my mind. "Oh, thatPaul!" I thought. A number of facts I had learned sporadically over the years converged in my brain. Suddenly, Michael's statement made sense.
I don't think I misunderstood my future husband that day because of total ignorance. I did know who Paul was and had learned the stories in church. I think I misunderstood him because I had received what I call a "compartmentalized education". Church was the place for Bible instruction. School was the place for academic pursuits. Having been educated in a government-run school, I had been asked to leave my faith at the door each morning. I had willingly complied and as a result had never contemplated a life of total surrender to Christ in which academic pursuits fall under His Lordship and serve His purposes. This, I believe, is why I had thought of Michael's study of Spanish as something that would solely prepare him for a vocation and had not thought of it in terms of preparation for ministry.
Not wanting our children to experience a compartmentalized education is the driving force behind my husband's and my three essential goals for our homeschool. The first of these goals is that their education be distinctly Christian. I think many people equate a Christian education with having a daily Bible class. That is, in part, what we are implying. We believe "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Tim 3:16) For this reason, we want the Bible to be taught systematically to our children. This is why we have a time in our school day for a more thorough teaching of God's Word and times that we complete a read-through of the Bible as a family.
For us, a distinctly Christian education also involves the study of doctrine and theology, so we catechize our children. This sounds like something far more complicated than it is. It involves memorizing a series of questions and answers that teach doctrine. The Westminster Shorter Catechism sets a foundation for studying the Bible and discerning truth from error. The first question and answer teach that "man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." From there, it establishes a basic understanding of God, sin, salvation, the Ten Commandments, prayer and more. 1 Pet 3:15 teaches us to be prepared to "give an answer to every man who asks" about our faith. Catechizing is one way we give them this preparation.
A third essential element of a distinctly Christian education is keeping Christ at the center of all our studies. No compartmentalizing is allowed. We study history to learn of God's providence. We study science to see Him as a magnificent Creator. We read books that build up our faith. We write with the hope of our pens being tools for God's glory. Even those subjects that don't seem to be distinctly Christian in and of themselves, like math, are built upon absolutes which point us to God. Moreover, all subjects can be completed with the understanding that God is preparing our children for the future work He has chosen for them to do and that being diligent students is their current calling.
Deuteronomy 6 commands us to teach God's commands "diligently" to our children throughout the day, each and everyday, at various places, through various means. In other words, God is instructing us to make our children's discipleship our priority. Though we should absolutely have our children in church, we should not rely on the church as the sole source of discipleship. Our children should be involved in learning to love and obey God with us at church but they should be learning those lessons at home and at school as well.
In my opinion, homeschooling facilitates this goal more easily than any other schooling option. We have the freedom to choose our curricula, and there is a wide selection of Christ-centered curricula available. Likewise, having our children with us all day everyday is an opportunity. It affords us the time to disciple our children well, addressing their spiritual needs throughout the day with Biblical instruction and discipline as situations arise.
For those of you reading who have chosen other schooling options for your children, I want you to know that I do not believe, nor am I trying to assert, that being a Christian and being a homeschooler are synonymous. I cannot speak against anyone who follows God's leading and I know godly people who are bringing their children up in the fear and admonition of the Lord without homeschooling them. I also acknowledge that I miss the mark often and that my family's standing with God is dependent upon His grace alone. It is not the result of anything we do, including homeschool our children.
However, I am compelled by Proverbs 29:19 (JKV) which states, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Often we hear this verse being used to promote the need for a mission statement or an overarching purpose that will keep a team on the same page. John Gill, in his commentary on this verse, asserts that the word "vision" used in this context is not referring to something man sees, imagines, or dreams of accomplishing. He explains that it is "prophecy" or Biblical teaching. In fact, some Bible translations, such as the Revised Standard, use "prophecy" in place of "vision".
The Living Bible translation states it in a way that made me think. "Where there is ignorance of God, the people run wild; but what a wonderful thing it is for a nation to know and keep his laws." When I read this, I can't help but think of the United States of America. I mourn over the condition of my country. There is a lack of solid Biblical instruction in the U.S., and the people are running wild. I believe American Christians, including myself, need to be more faithful to the reading and teaching of the Bible. We need to faithfully attend a Bible-teaching church and we need to teach the Bible at home and as a part of educating our children as well. I believe that whatever schooling option we choose, we need to make sure it is not derailing our efforts to build our children up in our Christian faith. We need to be careful that we are not allowing them to compartmentalize and determine that they can have Christ here but do as they please there.
Some say a distinctly Christian education, particularly one completed at home, shelters children. To a certain extent it does, and to an extent, that is what we want. It is true that one day our children will have to face the challenges of living in a society that is currently growing more and more hostile to the Gospel. However, for my children, I pray that their education at home will root them in God's Word and set them on the path of obedience so that when that day comes they will not embrace that world or be confused by it. I pray instead that they will be prepared to stand at the gate of the enemy and give an account of what they believe. (Psalm 127:5) I pray that my children will not compartmentalize their faith but by His grace will learn to love God supremely and serve Him in all that they do.
Debugging
I know there are many different opinions about Facebook. Some love it. Some find it annoying. Some detest it. I am one who enjoys it for a number of reasons. I like being connected to friends who do not live near me. I like being able to publish links to my blog, allowing non-bloggers to easily access my latest post. I am a member of a few Facebook homeschool groups. This network provides the opportunity to get and give advice and encouragement. Facebook is also a place to share prayer requests, look at pictures, and yes, even play the occasional trivia game.
There is, however, one thing that drives me batty about Facebook. VIRAL E-MAILS! I have fallen prey to them twice now. They are so tricky and are always sent in a way that gives them the appearance of having been sent by one of my friends. When it lands in my inbox, it has the name and the profile picture of the person whose account was hacked, a person I know and trust. This ploy is effective and has been my downfall both times. I see my friend's smiling face, let down my guard, and open the deceptive mail, infecting my computer.
Similarly the enemy guises himself. 2 Corinthians 11:14 teaches us that he comes as "an angel of light". Verse 13 explains that likewise false prophets are deceivers who "disguise themselves as apostles". Keeping this in mind, my husband's and my second essential goal for educating our children is that they develop a Biblical worldview. This means that we want them to develop a proper view of God and of man and be able to take the truths of the Bible and apply them. With a proper worldview, they will view the world around them through the lens of the Bible and will be equipped to discern truth from lies.
A child's worldview must begin with the Bible since it is the only source of absolute truth. However, there are two subjects, in my opinion, that are most likely to strengthen or corrupt a child's worldview. If not taught carefully, these two subjects often contradict the Bible and can confuse a child as to what he should believe.
The first subject is social studies. History and geography open the world's door for a child. The events of the past and the places around the globe can ignite their imaginations and stir their curiosity. If what they study in this area contradicts the Bible, however, these studies can instead open their minds to lies.
For instance, where does the study of history begin… millions of years ago or in Genesis 1? Does the progression of eras point to the evolution of man or the providence of our sovereign God? Do the high points of history glorify man or the Lord? Do times of suffering suggest God's absence or affirm His authority? Should we look to people groups and celebrate their individuality or rejoice in the Lord of the Harvest?
To support our goal of building a Biblical worldview, we have chosen Tapestry of Grace as our Social Studies curriculum. Tapestry teaches history chronologically from the Garden to the end of the Twentieth Century. Their integrated approach means that Bible, church history, and geography are taught within the context of the relevant time period. TOG is unabashedly Christian and teaches children at all developmental levels about God's providence, presenting history as a tapestry of time that is "woven by God"*.
TOG is serious in its approach to developing a Christian worldview. Younger children read about missionaries and answer questions about God's goodness and faithfulness. Older students must answer more difficult questions, such as "How does a sovereign yet benevolent God allow cruelties like the Holocaust?". That may seem like a loaded and potentially destructive question, but TOG gives parents the confidence to teach their children how to formulate answers to these questions that are rooted in Scripture. They are not just taught the components of a Biblical worldview but are given the tools and the know-how to defend it.
The other subject that stands to build up or tear down our children's worldview is science. Consider the following questions regarding this study:
Does it suggest, even subtly, that life on earth began in a cesspool or teach wholeheartedly that God spoke His creation into existence? Does it imply that humans are the offspring of apes or insist that God formed Adam with His own hands and breathed life into Him? Does it suggest that man can, through his inventions, solve all of His problems or does it exhort students to trust in the Lord? Does it implant fears of imminent cataclysmic events unless man changes his ways or does it point to the I AM who holds the future in His hands?
Over the years, we have used two different science curricula, Apologia and Christian Kids Explore. Both of these hold to a young earth, creationist view. Both approach science with the intent of praising the Creator and using the complexities of the creation to point to how magnificent God is. These curricula never attempt to use science as a means of scaring children into conforming to the ideology of any political agenda. Evolution is only mentioned in the context of learning to refute it Biblically first and then scientifically.
Certainly, these are not the only curricula that hold to these principles. There are other non-essential goals that guided us in further narrowing our curriculum search to our final decisions. This is when we consider our children's learning styles and interests and take into consideration strengths and deficiencies. I like hands-on activities and projects. I prefer an immersion approach to a cyclical one. However, these things are comparable to the color of my car… nice if I can find what I want but really of lesser importance. I try to separate what is being taught from how it is being taught. In my opinion, it is better to compromise on methodology than it is to compromise on content.
Think back to the computer virus I mentioned earlier. It took two days and three different anti-viral software applications to rid my computer of it. Similarly, a large portion of my adulthood has been spent "debugging". Evolution, feminism, humanism, post-modernism… the list of lies being taught directly and indirectly in most schools is a long one. The ideology of faulty, unbiblical worldviews were introduced to me in public school as angels of light. They appealed to my flesh, and I bought into them wholeheartedly. Praise God that the more I grow in Him the more His grace abounds and the less I want of these things. In Christ, we can redeem the time lost.
However, I want to try something different with my children. I want to educate them in a way that they won't have to debug later in life. With God's help, I want to keep them as innocent as doves while teaching them to be as wise as serpents (Matt 10:16). I want them "to take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them" for what they really are. I want them to be equipped with the "whole armor of God, that [they] may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil'. (Eph 6:11) I want their education not to confuse them but to edify them and then later rejoice as they, through God's grace, soar like arrows shot from the bow of a mighty man. (Psalm 127:4)
*from www.tapestryofgrace.com
There is, however, one thing that drives me batty about Facebook. VIRAL E-MAILS! I have fallen prey to them twice now. They are so tricky and are always sent in a way that gives them the appearance of having been sent by one of my friends. When it lands in my inbox, it has the name and the profile picture of the person whose account was hacked, a person I know and trust. This ploy is effective and has been my downfall both times. I see my friend's smiling face, let down my guard, and open the deceptive mail, infecting my computer.
Similarly the enemy guises himself. 2 Corinthians 11:14 teaches us that he comes as "an angel of light". Verse 13 explains that likewise false prophets are deceivers who "disguise themselves as apostles". Keeping this in mind, my husband's and my second essential goal for educating our children is that they develop a Biblical worldview. This means that we want them to develop a proper view of God and of man and be able to take the truths of the Bible and apply them. With a proper worldview, they will view the world around them through the lens of the Bible and will be equipped to discern truth from lies.
A child's worldview must begin with the Bible since it is the only source of absolute truth. However, there are two subjects, in my opinion, that are most likely to strengthen or corrupt a child's worldview. If not taught carefully, these two subjects often contradict the Bible and can confuse a child as to what he should believe.
The first subject is social studies. History and geography open the world's door for a child. The events of the past and the places around the globe can ignite their imaginations and stir their curiosity. If what they study in this area contradicts the Bible, however, these studies can instead open their minds to lies.
For instance, where does the study of history begin… millions of years ago or in Genesis 1? Does the progression of eras point to the evolution of man or the providence of our sovereign God? Do the high points of history glorify man or the Lord? Do times of suffering suggest God's absence or affirm His authority? Should we look to people groups and celebrate their individuality or rejoice in the Lord of the Harvest?
To support our goal of building a Biblical worldview, we have chosen Tapestry of Grace as our Social Studies curriculum. Tapestry teaches history chronologically from the Garden to the end of the Twentieth Century. Their integrated approach means that Bible, church history, and geography are taught within the context of the relevant time period. TOG is unabashedly Christian and teaches children at all developmental levels about God's providence, presenting history as a tapestry of time that is "woven by God"*.
TOG is serious in its approach to developing a Christian worldview. Younger children read about missionaries and answer questions about God's goodness and faithfulness. Older students must answer more difficult questions, such as "How does a sovereign yet benevolent God allow cruelties like the Holocaust?". That may seem like a loaded and potentially destructive question, but TOG gives parents the confidence to teach their children how to formulate answers to these questions that are rooted in Scripture. They are not just taught the components of a Biblical worldview but are given the tools and the know-how to defend it.
The other subject that stands to build up or tear down our children's worldview is science. Consider the following questions regarding this study:
Does it suggest, even subtly, that life on earth began in a cesspool or teach wholeheartedly that God spoke His creation into existence? Does it imply that humans are the offspring of apes or insist that God formed Adam with His own hands and breathed life into Him? Does it suggest that man can, through his inventions, solve all of His problems or does it exhort students to trust in the Lord? Does it implant fears of imminent cataclysmic events unless man changes his ways or does it point to the I AM who holds the future in His hands?
Over the years, we have used two different science curricula, Apologia and Christian Kids Explore. Both of these hold to a young earth, creationist view. Both approach science with the intent of praising the Creator and using the complexities of the creation to point to how magnificent God is. These curricula never attempt to use science as a means of scaring children into conforming to the ideology of any political agenda. Evolution is only mentioned in the context of learning to refute it Biblically first and then scientifically.
Certainly, these are not the only curricula that hold to these principles. There are other non-essential goals that guided us in further narrowing our curriculum search to our final decisions. This is when we consider our children's learning styles and interests and take into consideration strengths and deficiencies. I like hands-on activities and projects. I prefer an immersion approach to a cyclical one. However, these things are comparable to the color of my car… nice if I can find what I want but really of lesser importance. I try to separate what is being taught from how it is being taught. In my opinion, it is better to compromise on methodology than it is to compromise on content.
Think back to the computer virus I mentioned earlier. It took two days and three different anti-viral software applications to rid my computer of it. Similarly, a large portion of my adulthood has been spent "debugging". Evolution, feminism, humanism, post-modernism… the list of lies being taught directly and indirectly in most schools is a long one. The ideology of faulty, unbiblical worldviews were introduced to me in public school as angels of light. They appealed to my flesh, and I bought into them wholeheartedly. Praise God that the more I grow in Him the more His grace abounds and the less I want of these things. In Christ, we can redeem the time lost.
However, I want to try something different with my children. I want to educate them in a way that they won't have to debug later in life. With God's help, I want to keep them as innocent as doves while teaching them to be as wise as serpents (Matt 10:16). I want them "to take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them" for what they really are. I want them to be equipped with the "whole armor of God, that [they] may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil'. (Eph 6:11) I want their education not to confuse them but to edify them and then later rejoice as they, through God's grace, soar like arrows shot from the bow of a mighty man. (Psalm 127:4)
*from www.tapestryofgrace.com
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