Why We Homeschool: The Meaning and Significance of Christian Education

By Adam T. Calvert

When the topic of homeschooling comes up, there often seem to be various assumptions as to why we homeschool our children, which are simply wrong, or, at the most, inadequate. Yes, the government schools have bullies; yes, the government schools might be bigger targets for armed shootings; and yes, the government schools (even the ones in good school districts) have kids or teachers who will teach our children language or experiences that we would rather them not learn that early in life (or at all).

And while all those things are true and good reasons to educate our children at home, even if those problems were corrected, we--and many other parents--would still be committed to homeschooling our children.

Why?

The purpose of this book is to answer that question--and to answer it from the Scriptures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Release date: Jul 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781532655920

Adam T. Calvert

Adam T. Calvert (BTh, MS) is the Founder and Director of Lord over Life Ministries and a strong advocate of Christian homeschooling. He currently resides with his wife Mary in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina where they homeschool their three daughters, Lilianna Joelle, Olivia Joy, and Clara Jane.

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Why We Homeschool

The Meaning and Significance of Christian Education

Adam T. Calvert

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Why We Homeschool

The Meaning and Significance of Christian Education

Copyright © 2018 Adam T. Calvert. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.

Wipf & Stock

An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

199

W.

8

th Ave., Suite

3

Eugene, OR

97401

www.wipfandstock.com

paperback isbn: 978-1-5326-5590-6

hardcover isbn: 978-1-5326-5591-3

ebook isbn: 978-1-5326-5592-0

Manufactured in the U.S.A.

06/19/18

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©

2001

by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Preface

Introduction: Christian Education

Section 1: The Meaning of Christian Education

Chapter 1: Christ

Chapter 2: Parents

Chapter 3: Children

Section 2: The Significance of Christian Education

Chapter 4: Language Arts

Chapter 5: Mathematics

Chapter 6: Natural Sciences

Chapter 7: Social Sciences

Chapter 8: Creative Arts

Conclusion

Appendix A: How Our Children Will Develop Socially

Appendix B: Homeschooling Versus Private Christian Schooling

Appendix C: A Special Note to My Friends Involved in Government Schools

Bibliography

"My wife and I homeschooled our two boys, and we would make the same decision again. Our reasons were basically the same ones that Adam Calvert enumerates in Why We Homeschool. It’s good to have these reasons set forth cogently in a short book, and I recommend it to everyone who is thinking about this issue. Calvert sets forth powerfully the view that education is discipleship and therefore must be consistent with the Bible’s worldview and with its Gospel."

—John M. Frame, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, Florida

Why do we do what we do? This is a question that those of us who take the task of discipling our children very seriously are often asked. Answering that question often turns on cultural, social, or moral concerns. But what this little book succeeds in doing is to steer the conversation to what the Scriptures affirm and confirm. Both practical and theological, both sobering and inspiring, this book is a welcome tool for families in this day of conflicting, polarizing worldviews.

—George Grant, Pastor of Parish Presbyterian Church

This book is thought provoking and should be read by every parent, educator, and pastor. The content of this book must be at the center of our discussions about the nature, purpose, and goal in the biblically based education of our children. We might correctly state that there is no other foundation upon which we can educate our children than that of the Holy Scripture. The Bible is essential to our life, faith, and practice in all things.

—Kenneth Gary Talbot, President, Whitefield Theological Seminary and College

Adam Calvert has written a fine, irenic introduction to Christian education designed to meet the objections of well-intentioned advocates of government education. This is a book you can put into the hands of friends honestly inquiring why a family would educate their children in a distinctly Christian way. I sincerely appreciate Adam’s time and effort in producing this work.

—P. Andrew Sandlin, Founder & President, Center for Cultural Leadership

This book is not about condemning the parent that chooses to send their children to the ‘secular-humanist, state-sponsored’ schools. It is about challenging the parent to consider a ‘better way,’ a way that permits both parent and child to pursue their faith and commitment to Christ primarily and to enfold the rest of their studies into that pursuit. It is a reasoned defense of—an apologia for—Christian Home-Schooling that Calvert has produced, and while he may not convince everyone of the model, he has provided a formidable argument that those who still choose a secular model cannot refute.

—Win Groseclose, The North American Reformed Seminary

Adam Calvert succinctly but effectively canvases the oft asked question of homeschooling parents: Why do you homeschool? His well-reasoned and articulate answer without hesitance goes to the core of the issue: education is discipleship . . . This short but comprehensive explanation will serve the honest inquirer with ‘fruit in due season’ and, in the case of those already pursuing this most rewarding of family lifestyles, a more solid foundation for purposeful continuance.

—Tim Yarbrough, Tim teaches extensively in the home schooling community throughout his area with lectures and projects in economics, history and cultural reformation

"Why We Homeschool is an extremely helpful addition to the much-needed discussion on Christian education. The book looks at the question of schooling from a biblical and presuppositional perspective, and carefully and cleverly makes the case that God mandates Christian parents to give their covenant children a Christ centered education. This book has the potential to significantly help the church, and I strongly recommend it to any parent that I know."

—Colin Gunn, Co-Writer/Director/Producer, IndoctriNation: Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity in America

To Mary, my helpmate and partner in loving and pursuing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—and in raising our children to be his disciples.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;her husband also, and he praises her:‘Many women have done excellently,but you surpass them all.’

—Proverbs 21:28–29

To Lilianna Joelle, Olivia Joy, and Clara Jane, the joy and cheer of my heart. May you always know the love our Lord has for you, and that the love your mother and I have for you is second in line. And may our Lord keep you grounded in his word throughout your lives.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

—3 John 1:4

Preface

Why this book?

There are several informative and well-written works on the topic of homeschooling and Christian education. So why write another one? The reason is pretty simple. This book has a particular audience that isn’t usually addressed in the other books. And I think it would do well to have a book just for them.

While this work is not primarily for those who are already interested in the subject of Christian education or homeschooling, my hope is that it would be beneficial for them as well. However, the primary audience for this book are my Christian brothers and sisters (whether friends, family, or strangers) who are asking those of us who do homeschool our kids, why we do it.

What I have found in my discussions, when the topic of homeschooling comes up, is that there often seem to be various assumptions as to why we homeschool our children, which are simply wrong, or, at best, inadequate. Yes, the government schools have bullies; yes, the government schools might be bigger targets for armed shootings; and yes, the government schools (even the ones in good school districts) have kids or teachers who will teach our children language or experiences that we would rather them not learn that early in life (or at all).

And while all those things are true and good reasons to educate our children at home, even if those problems were corrected, we—and many other parents—would still be committed to homeschooling our children.

Why?

The purpose of this book is to answer that question. In my experience, anytime the topic of education comes up, and I disclose that my wife and I are homeschooling our children, after the inevitable reluctant nod of hesitant affirmation (even from family members and friends—Oh . . . Okay . . . ?), it’d be nice to actually give them solid reasons to answer the primary question that seems to be ever nagging them: Why don’t you just send your kids to public school?¹ Usually a follow-up question regarding homeschooling specifically is: How will they develop socially without interaction with other kids?

The short answers to these questions are: (1) because we want our children to be disciples of Jesus Christ rather than disciples of the state, and (2) our children will have interaction with other kids. However, we believe they will develop better socially, and in a much healthier environment, if we encourage, promote, and oversee their social interactions (not just with children but also with adults), than if we let them learn most of their social interactions from their peers (who are just as naive and/or destructive in their childish state).

But you can’t just give those short answers to people. Reading it has possibly already put many on the defensive. So, again, that is why I’m writing this book: so that I can explain in a polite, rational manner, briefly and thoroughly to whomever in the audience is willing to listen, my reasoning behind why both my wife and I, as well as many other Christian parents around the world, are personally committed to our children