I knew I would hit a nerve with that comment. I have very strong personal reasons to back up my view. I was raised by fanatical JW's who literally "put the kingdom first". I, their only child, was an after thought. When my school schedule disrrupted Mom's pioneer schedule, I was taken out of school. For the next three years, I did very little school work but consistently put in pioneer hours (at the time, "vacation" pioneers put in 100 hours per month). In this period of time we only covered two grades, so I was behind a year.
One day I snapped. I insisted I be put back in school. A two day screaming and shouting match ensued. I was called: disobedient, ungratefull, wordly... I did not back down. Finally, Dad relented and said: "do what you want". Several days of the "silent treatment" followed.
I started the 7th grade late in the month of October. I had forgotten how to multiply and my social skills were atrocious. I did catch on though, and was soon on the honor roll.
I know my circumstances are somewhat unique. However, I can honestly say that I have never met a homeschooled witness who went to college (except me). I have know many HS witnesses who never finished high school. I have known many HS witnesses who simply had books thrust at them and were told to teach themselves. I have known many wintness parents who had the nerve to homeschool their children w/o having even a high school diploma themselves. I have known many sad, unhappy, awckward witness kids who were homeschooled.
I see no good reason to homeschool in this country. Even children with disabilities can obtain an education in our public school system. I feel that parents who chose to homeschool do so because: they want to shelter their kids from the "world", they are overly protective and paranoid,or they want their children's schedule to fit their own. I don't think any of these reasons is valid. These reasons are all about the parent and not at all about the child.
You ask what Biblical basis there is for sending children to school. Well, as far as I know there was no arrangenment for sending children to school in Bible times. So what? They did not have aoutomobiles. Do you have one? They had no computers. Aren't you using one right now? I could go on and on, but I think you get my point.
As parents, we owe our children unconditional love. This means, among other things, putting their best interest above our own, and looking beyond our personal feelings of insecurity to allow them to spread their wings and become independant people.
I do not mean to impose my feelings upon you. But please understand that this forum allowes us to expess ourselves freely. I have terrible emotional scars from being homeschooled. The very concept makes me sick. The advice I gave the original poster was given with the best of intentions. It's up to her to accept it or not.
And of course, this is just "my humble opinion".
