The Legacy of Twenty-First Century Homeschooling

Written by Christine Field

Homeschoolers in the 1980s were often left to flounder and find their uncharted way alone. Families were left to hide from neighbors and authorities. There was little if any support from church or others and few teaching resources were available to parents. This was the bleak landscape facing the homeschooling pioneers of the twentieth century. Against this discouraging backdrop, homeschooling grew and flourished.

Although these early homeschoolers made tremendous strides, much work remains for the rest of to do. Those who came before us will be remembered for their trailblazing tenacity. The legacy of their struggle paved the way for the many freedoms we currently enjoy and often take for granted.

What will be the legacy of twenty-first century homeschoolers? What will we pass on to 

 our children and future generations as they seek to teach their own at home? I believe this generation of homeschoolers will be remembered for several things.

1. In this generation, it will be noted that homeschooling families went from being an anomaly or a curiosity to being culturally respected and legitimized. Clearly we have grown in numbers and account for over two million children being taught at home. It is rare to meet someone whose life has not been touched by homeschooling. Everyone has a relative, a neighbor, or a friend who teaches their children at home. The academic excellence of our students has been well documented. Our growth in numbers has made us a target audience for publishers and other purveyors of educational wares. Many Christian publishers are launching lines of products to encourage and support homeschooling.(See lifeway.com/homeschool.) With a growing acceptance in society and the marketplace, our challenge will be to maintain standards of excellence – in character and in faithfulness.

My prayer is that we will be remembered as a growing generation that stood firm.

2. Twenty-first century homeschoolers are no longer perceived as faceless families in the backwoods. As we have found our voice in society, we have also acquired a political voice. We can speak freely to our legislators about our concerns and have our interests represented by groups such as Home School Legal Defense Association (www.hslda.org). Our lobbying efforts are heard not just on legislative issues relating directly to homeschooling, but also on initiatives relating to marriage, family, and children. Any right-to-life rally is hugely peppered with homeschool demonstrators. We bring our family-centered, God-honoring voice to these debates, and society as a whole is strengthened. Although our methods and approaches may vary, clear priorities and goals for our families unite us when our precious freedoms are threatened. May that message never be diluted or compromised.

My prayer is that we will be remembered as a growing generation that stood strong.

3. This generation of homeschoolers can expect to experience a greater unity of church and home, an example of which is the initiative of Mr. Eric Wallace and his organization, Uniting Church and Home (www.unitingchurchandhome.org). The purpose of this organization is to implement a family-integrated approach to ministry and to help the church be more effective at accomplishing this. To that end, they offer resources and workshops to pastors and others to help build churches that affirm and honor family life.

The year 2004 also saw the proposal of the Exodus Mandate by Southern Baptist activists Bruce N. Short and T.C. Pinckney which called on the members of the Southern Baptist Convention to take their children out of public schools to either homeschool them or send them to Christian schools. (www.getthekidsout.org, www.exodusmandate.org) After generating much dialogue, excitement, and support, the proposal was ultimately rejected, but much positive work has been done in its wake, including the launch of the Southern Baptist Church and Home Education Association (www.sbchea.org).

Mrs. Elizabeth Watkins, founder of the group, told me, "The group exists to unite the teaching ministries of the church and home for Kingdom Education. Our plan to accomplish this goal is to establish denomination-wide, two-way communication between the Southern Baptist homeschooling community and the churches desiring to provide encouragement and support for this biblical model of education." While giving homeschoolers a voice within the Southern Baptist Convention, the group also aspires to serve many other functions, such as serving as a liaison between Southern Baptist colleges and homeschooled high-schoolers and establishing a network of interested adults to provide tutoring services for homeschooling families.

With greater denominational interest in home education, home schoolers can expect to have an impact on how "church" is done in the twenty-first century, making church not just family friendly but homeschooling family friendly. What parent has not lamented the scattering of the family at the church door – with teens going to youth group, babies relegated to the nursery, and adults huddled in their adult Bible fellowships? May we see family study and worship. May we see more churches and denominations actively embracing and supporting our families.

My prayer is that we will be remembered as a generation that brought consistency and congruence to church life and family life.
 
4. This generation will see new homeschoolers actively recruited and readily supported. In the twentieth century, a teaching mother was blessed if she knew someone from whom she could learn about teaching and family life. Many of us learned both parenting and teaching on the job and by reading books and attending conventions. Today, a unique group exists to help and support parents who are considering homeschooling.

Mrs. Elizabeth Smith is spokesperson for a new group called Considering Homeschooling. She says, "We feel that it is important to reach these families with the good news of homeschooling before their children are school age. At consideringhomeschooling.org our young, tech savvy moms are missionaries for home schooling. They supply our Web site with a fresh source of compelling articles about the positive impact of homeschooling, and the negative impact of public schools." No longer are parents left without resources as they pray about this endeavor. The advent of groups such as this as well as the huge number of other how-to resources available can help any parent approach homeschooling with confidence. May that counsel always be God-honoring and never be diluted for the Christian homeschooling family.

My prayer is that we will be a generation that sees "success" in the world’s eyes, but never loses sight of our overriding purpose to raise up a generation that will bring glory and honor to God, while providing  resources to support and encourage one another in that calling.

5. This generation will see the leaders of state homeschooling organizations strengthened and empowered. Local homeschooling groups will continue to be blessed by the work of their state organizations. I believe that our state leaders will see their roles as legislative liaisons, local encouragers, and mentors and trainers of the next generation of leaders continue to expand.

My prayer is that this generation of Pauls, being the beneficiary of the work of the previous generation’s Barnabases, will train up and encourage tomorrow’s Timothys.

6. Will this generation be the one that can celebrate revival coming to our land? We must pray fervently. Mrs. Watkins of the SBCHEA said, "I believe with all of my heart that God has already begun a revival in His church, through the renewing of the hearts and minds of homeschooling parents. This is the reason I am so passionate about home education, not only what it does for the children, but also the change it brings to the fathers and mothers. By supporting homeschooling and the SBCHEA, the Southern Baptist Convention is not only sowing seeds for a future harvest; it will see an immediate change in the Body of Christ. Home education from a biblical worldview and the daily sacrifices of homeschooling parents will be a bold witness for our King, Jesus Christ, in this new century. I pray He will continue to bless the homeschooling community and SBCHEA, allowing us and our children to truly be salt and light to a dark world, and future generations."

Homeschooling is a precious freedom, a privilege and an obligation given to us as parents. May we be privileged to be at the heart of revival – in our homes, in society, in our churches.

My prayer is that the legacy of twenty-first century homeschoolers will be that we were consistent and congruent, that we stood firm, that we stood strong, that we groomed the next generation of homeschooling leaders, that we brought honor and glory to God, and that He allowed us to experience His revival.

Christine and Mark Field were married in 1986 and had the typical dual-career marriage. After practicing law for eight years, Christine left the work force in 1991 to be a full-time mother. Chris now homeschools her four children and is the author of several books, including the newly-released Homeschooling the Challenging Child.

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