The Propaganda from Teachers, part 2

Okay, so admittedly part one of this topic was on the sarcastic side. Nothing annoys me more than when the "so-called" higher educated establishment tells us commoners that they know more than we do. That somehow they have a special intelligence to accomplish a task that we could never imagine to do (OK, sarcasm is still there, let me try again).

I am educated as a "nurse". Actually, the title "nurse" is protected by law to ensure that anyone who has not completed the educational requirements cannot use the title for themselves - the conviction of the offense comes with a hefty fine. That, I believe, is a good thing. It avoids anyone misrepresenting themselves to a potentially vulnerable people - those who are looking for a "nurse". However, throughout my career I have known people without the diploma who are able to provide nursing far better than some of my own "nurse" colleagues. You see, the diploma is needed to be a "nurse"(just as the diploma is required for the title "teacher"); but the ability to provide nursing (or teaching) to another generally requires ONLY the heart to do it right.

Homecare in Canada is a big deal. That's where the patient's family or friends are taught the nursing skills necessary to keep and care for them at home. These family and friends (when their heart is in it) put a great deal of effort, practice and love into the nursing they provide. I, as a "nurse", have taught the steps involved in the nursing tasks; however it is these non-nurses that have put in the time and diligence to provide the nursing because they love their patient.

Teaching our children at home is the same. I love my children - more than any "teacher" ever could. I want them to grow into real people who can think for themselves; who have all the basics of reading, writing and math but also can find the truths in each situation that may come their way in life. I want them to be people who when choosing where to place their faith will choose with wisdom - not just follow the crowd. It would not matter how devoted a "teacher" in a public school classroom is, that "teacher" does not have the love it takes to raise up my children in this way.

There are some great "teachers" in many different schools (public, private, small, large), but most of the time these great "teachers" only have to concern themselves with the children in their classes for one year. I have been teaching my children for their whole lives, and will continue to do so for the remainder of mine.

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7

The Propaganda from Teachers

There is a bulletin board around my geographical area that reads, "Who will be the voice of the children?" It is an advertisement for a teachers' federation and every time I see it I have this overwhelming urge to drive my car into it. These signs are just another propagation of the lie that sooooo many people believe.

Anyone who homeschools has heard some form of the statement, "I couldn't do that, I'm no teacher." Even in the Christian community I have listened to parents downplay the responsibility of raising their own children when it comes to schooling. Even in the media we hear about governments trying to rule that parents can't teach their children unless they are certified teachers (they tried that in California).

Has anyone looked at our 'certified' teachers as a whole? In Canada, teachers make a substantial income, their union is strong and active; they complain publicly about their workload crawling into their personal home time and they speak out against the government regularly. There are few among this crowd that would qualify as a role model for my children - oh, wait...do I still get to decide who is a role model for them? Do I and my husband, as their parents, have any idea what is best for them? Can we discern what reading materials, social settings, friends and authorities are positive for their growth into an adult?

Apparently there are those among us who would say 'no!' - because, you see, neither I nor my husband are trained as teachers. We've never even considered putting out the money to attend university; putting in years of time listening to other teachers outline the 'how-to' of:

1. listening to my children's interests, desires, fears;
2. sharing God's word with their and learning how it applies to them;
3. pointing them in the way God would have them go;
4. celebrating each victory of becoming a godly young people;
5. acknowledging their curiosities;
6. encouraging their imagination;
7. growing with them;
8. loving them;
9. forming a life long relationship with them;
10. shaping them into a real people who are capable if discerning the world before them by weighing it with scriptural knowledge.

That is schooling. If anyone can point me in the direction of a teacher's college that certifies parents in those and any of the other fine points of homeschooling - please let me know!

Okay...that all sounds a bit harsh and sarcastic. However, I do believe that the majority of homeschooled children turn out to be viable people - they are taught to discern good information from bad; they have a strong sense of themselves (confidence); they put more into society than take from it. The majority of parents who take on the responsibility to homeschool their children take a more dramatically caring interest in the final result than any public school teacher could or would.

This will be a popular topic for this site as I am so convinced it is the only way to raise children for the glory of the Lord.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7