In this fourth season of the Thinking Love podcast, Amy and I are discussing homeschooling truths- sometimes the hard truths. In this episode, we discuss the idea that homeschooled children can't get behind.
“It may surprise parents who have not given much attention to the subject to discover also a code of education in the Gospels, expressly laid down by Christ. It is summed up in three commandments, and all three have a negative character, as if the chief thing required of grown-up people is that they should do no sort of injury to the children: Take heed that ye OFFEND not––DESPISE not––HINDER not––one of these little ones.” Home Education, page 12
1:18- Amy and I think that, yes, a homeschooled child can get behind. They can get behind their own potential.
1:50- Amy, have you noticed the idea that homeschooled children can't get behind?
2:30- We don't want to encourage competition with the wrong people or the wrong places, but we do want to practice using our gut feelings. If we have a hunch that our children aren't making progress, we should take that seriously.
4:00 This discussion is very much about considering the individual child and their circumstances, and helping them to meet their potential.
4:45 Let's break down the educational code of the gospel piece by piece. Offend not.
7:25 Leaving a child to their nature by not doing what they don't like to do. A little bit of pushing is fine- is good!
8:15 We should not despise a child- have a low opinion of or undervalue.
8:52 We can see that people have a low opinion of children on every child's menu in every restaurant. We as a society assume that children will not enjoy what is good for them. It's the same with things like literature.
10:30 The challenge is to recognize that our kids are fully capable of taking in and enjoying life-giving, rich subjects.
11:55 Along with the food analogy- learning has to be fun! We undervalue that a child can enjoy knowledge for knowledge's sake.
13:55 Setting expectations with our children is not wrong. It means that we know our children, and know what they're capable of.
15:25 When you have the mindset that you have to make it fun or entertaining, you're teaching children that it isn't worthy.
15:50 The final and third aspect is to hinder not a child. This specifically applies to a child's relationship with God.
19:20 Let's switch gears. Leah, share why you don't want your children to be behind.
19:30 We decided that we are homeschooling by a year by year basis. God might lead us in a different direction.
22:15 I read one piece of advice from Brandy Vencel, that she didn't want her homeschooling decisions to affect their future education.
23:20 How do we know what a child's potential is?
26:04 How can a Charlotte Mason family know that their child is not falling behind?
29:05 It's so easy to trick ourselves into believing that we understand something!
