How would you convince your folks?

Last issue D.R. told us she wants to home school, but her parents don’t.  We asked readers to put themselves in her shoes and tell us what they would do to convince their parents to bring them home.  This is what we they said:

Dear D.R.,

I am a seventeen-year old home schooler and had the blessing of parents who decided to home schooling my siblings and me through high school on their own, could go on about the good points of home schooling forever and a similarly long time on the bad points of other forms of schooling, but most parents seem more concerned about not being capable enough. The two concerns in this seem to be not being able to handle a teenager at home on a daily basis and not being able to give an education acceptable for getting into college.

      For the first con­cern, tell them to relax. We teen types are not monsters. Despite popu­lar opinion, teens do not spontaneously turn into rebellious, unlistening, party animals at a certain age. Unless your communication level is shot to pieces, there should not be a big problem. In fact, in my experience home schooling has brought fami­lies closer together.

      Now, about the problem of college. What problem? Sure some colleges are still in the dark ages and have all kinds of misconceptions about home schooling, but who would want to go there anyway? I personally know many home schoolers that are getting into top-ranked schools, including my older brother and sister. Many colleges are starting to recruit home schoolers because they are so impressed with their preparation level. Now, some col­leges do have extraneous requirements; and if you really want to go there, you will have to

abide by them, but many are more concerned with SAT scores and a diploma (we just made one and they did not care).

I hope I have dispelled a few myths. Above all, remember to respect your parents’ decision. Nagging will not get your way; and if you can not take their decision with getting all bent out of shape about it, home schooling was probably not going to work anyway.

Daniel Julicher—Enon, OH

Dear D.R.,

I think it’s terrific that you want to show your parents the assets of home schooling. You have seen, through your own eyes, what the educa­tion system is coming to, and it will keep get­ting worse.

The first thing you should try to convince your parents of is that home schooling is a priv­ilege. Home schooling isn’t a threat to public education; it’s a solution.

You said your par­ents worked. Well, so did mine when I started home schooling. We worked out a detailed schedule of how many lessons or pages of each subject I was to com­plete on the days they worked. You could also, after completing regular school work, con­stantly have a research project going. At the end of each week, you could present the completed research to them in a form of public speaking. Your par­ents may eventually actual­ly look forward to your report each week. Think of all the knowledge you will gain. Think of all the knowledge your parents will gain!!! If you research a country, for exam­ple, Italy, when you did your report you could actually cook an Italian meal to go with it. Your parents will be surprised at the creativity home schooling can bring. Home schoolers have endless options open to them.

I’d also encourage you to get your parents involved in a home school support group. There they will find people with the same fears, the same doubts, as well as some helpful solu­tions to problems. They will learn new and cre­ative ideas to make home schooling work for them and you. You’ll meet home-schooled teens that share the same thirst for knowledge and righteousness as you do. You’ll have more time to get involved in special interest groups and develop more friendships.

I honestly believe your parents will find that home schooling is indeed a privilege and you might even hear, ”For goodness’ sake, why didn’t we home school you before?!!”

Alyse Blokzyl—Abbotsford, BC, Canada

Dear D.R.,

      I wouldn’t try to “convince” my parents into home schooling me. If this was some­thing the Lord truly wanted for me, He would show them. Sure I could sit for hours elab­orating on my accumu­lated facts about better education, but what good would it do if I haven’t really sought God? It’s not enough to know about the success of all those who went through home school; you’ve got to have a total peace about it. My most effective tool is “prayer and supplica­tion”.

Olivia L. Cervantes—Salinas, CA

Dear D.R.,

I would suggest you begin with Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.” Who else is wiser than your parents? (Flattery intended)

      If I were you, I would pray. Then I would try to get my par­ents to attend at least the first night of the New Mexico Christian Home Educator’s Convention. Third, I would have them listen to or attend one of Gregg Harris’s seminars. (Does the name sound familiar?)

    To answer the questions your parents have: first, they are the natural teachers. God gave them the responsibility to teach you. Second, home-schooled students score higher than public school students in achievement tests. The higher you score, the better the inspection colleges will give to your record. Third, anything worthwhile is difficult. Home schooling is not ridiculous, but it is not easy either. It is, however, rewarding. There are curricula that do not require the heavy involvement of the parent, if the student is responsible.

Since you live only seventy-two miles away from Las Vegas, my parents have already said they would be more than willing to make the drive to talk with your parents. I deeply sympathize with your plight in school. Santa Fe is a mecca for liberalism. There is a candidate for mayor who says she is running in the place of a deceased artist whose spirit she is channeling. I wish this were a joke, but it’s not. I would ask all readers of NA to pray for D.R., her parents, and for the city of Sante Fe.

John Tsyitee-Las Vegas, NV

Dear D.R.,

My parents didn’t think they could teach me either, but they’ve said it over and over how they can’t believe the quickness in which they’ve retained things learned in school. As for your parents, while they are not pros, with God’s help they can teach.

    Be in prayer for your parents, D.R. Remember that it would be tough to leave a job and home school.

Daniel Whylie—San Antonio, TX

SCENE: YOU JUST GOT HOME FROM A HARD DAY AT SCHOOL YOU ARE MORE THAN READY TO CONVINCE YOUR PAR­ENTS TO HOME SCHOOL YOU.

You: Mom, I’m home. I have about three hours of homework, so I won’t see you till after dinner,

Mom: How was school? What did you learn?

You: Well, we learned about evolution, how to get an ulcer during a test, safe sex, and the best way to do your hair. I also learned three new cuss words, that someone hid a gun in their locker, and that you’re a social misfit if you don’t have a boyfriend.

Mom: What about the teachers, don’t they help?

You:   It’s kinda hard when there are about forty other kids in the class; besides, they taught us half that stuff.

Mom: (A little worried) Gee, I think I should talk to the school board.

You: (Slyly putting a suggestion in her head) Well, Mom, you could always home school me.

Mom: No way!

You:   Why not? We could get closer in our relationship. I could learn at my own pace and you could teach me what you think it is necessary to learn. It would be much easier to do my work at home. I would not have nearly as much peer pres­sure. I would have one-on-one attention, and you could teach me the hands-on way.

Mom: (Getting excited) I could have you plant a garden. We could go to an obser­vatory to look at the stars. I could teach you to handle money by giving you your own checking account. It will be great! I mean, urn, I’ll talk to your dad about it.

Dad:   (opening the door) I’m home.

Jennifer Silvestri—Gainesville, FL.