Why Homeschool?

By Cathy Loucks (March, 2005)

During a period of mission deputation, my husband returned with glowing reports concerning HOMESCHOOLING our three children. His immediate response was, "We can do that!" Knowing that much of the responsibility for teaching our children would fall on my shoulders, my doubts were as immense as were his hopes. Ultimately, we knew we were responsible to God for their education; and, combined with this, was our desire to train them for the Lord's service. Yet, were we willing? -- Was I willing to make this crucial investment in their lives? The Lord soon showed to us through a series of closed doors that this was indeed His will for our family. Countless times throughout the years, God's reassurance carried us through some very difficult stages.

After teaching every level from kindergarten through twelfth grade, we can look back and see how the Lord has spared us from many of the usual problems that often accompany public or private education. Annual achievement tests were required; but we incorporated a daily monitoring of progress instead of waiting several weeks for a report card. Immediately when learning problems arose, many additional days of practice followed until we were sure that the concept was learned well. Nor was that lesson forgotten as we included various periods of review throughout each school year for math, language, reading, and Bible. In doing this, we found that we were better able to meet the academic needs of each child. Peer pressure was minimized and often downplayed due to our teaching experience. Rarely did we spend time in “relearning” lessons from life because we did not have to “unlearn” wrong habits of speech and actions. We were permitted to teach Bible lessons, verses, and Christian ethics as well as to pray with our children and continually encourage them to be in the center of the Lord's will for their lives.

Rather than learning for special recognition or to be on the honor roll, we encouraged our children to use their training in service to God by being involved in various ministries throughout these years of formal training. We found with homeschooling that we had more time to develop a love for music through singing and piano practice. Our music guidelines, whether classical or sacred, were taught in agreement with Bible truths. Singing became a ministry to those in the nursing homes, while piano solos were a means to serve the Lord through special offertories or preludes. Bible memory was used to hide God's Word in their hearts, that they might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11). This continued to reinforce the idea that they were to be good examples to others in word and deed. Teaching scripture verses and story-telling with the aid of flannelgraph visuals was welcomed in Children's church or Sunday School. Research and reporting on a biography was used as an opportunity to tell the life story of a missionary in Vacation Bible School or a summer Bible Club. Organizing and speaking from a three-point outline was prepared as devotions for young peoples' ministries. Social skills were utilized on church visitation as they shared testimony of God's saving grace. All of these opportunities gave valuable experience for later college requirements and leadership skills in their chosen fields of service.

Some of the benefits we have reaped over the years have involved our family life. We have found a very close-knit relationship due to our homeschooling efforts since we did everything together, whether we were at home in the mountains of West Virginia or on our mission travels with a small camper that took us through fifteen Eastern states. The children were frequently around other young people and adults, and this helped to improve their conversational and social skills. Our home and church often welcomed traveling missionaries, who shared with us many of their experiences in foreign lands. The children learned responsibility, patience, and pride in a job well done as they had their own household and paid community jobs or volunteering in the local library or hospital. Quantity as well as quality time with our children paid off in rich dividends. We took an active role in their educational progress, but it was not limited to just academics. Consistency and self-control were requirements for us as parents, also, as we quickly learned their importance for each day and taught them to our children. Dad, as the authority figure, was greatly involved in day-to-day lessons, encouragement, discipline, and in later years became their sole teacher for foreign language. I have had the opportunity to be a "stay-at-home" Mom while using the varied talents the Lord has given.

Will we ever regret the "sacrifices" we have made for our family? -- Never! We know its value as we realize that the only earthly possessions we can take to Heaven with us are our children. Our lives will reap eternal rewards from God's blessings through generations for many years to come because we were willing to make continual, lasting, and substantial investments in their lives.

Cathy Loucks has a degree in elementary education; has taught for four years in Christian schools; and has homeschooled her children for fifteen years, all of whom are college graduates. She is the wife of Assistant to the General Director of BHM, Rev. Harold C. Loucks.