"A View From Home"

by Erica Collins 

Written November 2, 2001, and revised  

The goal of education is to equip young people for their journey into adulthood. I attended public school for four years, and have now completed six years of home education. While both public and home schooling purpose to educate, my experiences found them to be very different in the areas of schedule, curriculum, and focus. 

Schedule

One difference between these two modes of education is my daily schedule. During my years in public school, my family had to plan our lives around my school schedule. At that time, because my dad often works nights and weekends, I rarely got to spend time with him. Also, if I was ill or went out of town, I missed all the lessons. 

Now, on the other hand, I get to see my dad every day, and my school schedule is planned around the needs of our family. For example, when I am ill or go out of town, instead of falling behind, I can still keep up with my schoolwork. After all, my teacher and my lessons are always accessible in my home. 

Curriculum

The required subjects for both public schools and home schools are the same, but the dissimilarities in my curriculum are evident. A humanistic worldview was woven throughout all my studies in public school. Teachers taught evolution as truth. In my mind, if my teacher said something was a fact, it was a fact. So when my teacher said, "T-rex was a ferocious, meat-eating dinosaur who lived sixty million years ago," that's what I believed. 

Holiday themes frequently comprised our public school unit studies. For instance, Easter meant the season for "new life" in nature. Christmas signified the season for "giving," although we didn't learn why we were giving. Also, the theme "believe in yourself" often appeared in our material. Because references to God were taken out of public schools, I didn't have the chance to be taught from the Bible, except for at Sunday school. But once a week wasn't enough to build a solid understanding of God's Word. 

I have now learned that "believing in yourself" is a foolish thing to do. The Bible says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5) 

Today, learning from the Bible is not limited to one day a week--it is part of everything I do. My entire curriculum assumes a Biblical worldview. For example, my science includes ample evidence in detailed examples that point to God as creator. I receive a weekly magazine that discusses current events from a Christian perspective. And my family often spends time reading the Bible and praying together. 

Focus

The focus of my regard when I was in public school was completely different from what it is today. As I look back to my years in public school, I realize that although I enjoyed learning, my main focus was on other things. I wanted the teachers' approval and my peers' acceptance. Friendships were fleeting and superficial. I had little regard for my parents or younger sister because most of my friends thought "parents aren't cool" and younger siblings should "just get lost." I was foolishly relying on my friend for all "wisdom." During my last year in public school, being popular was my number one ambition, and the main interest for third-graders was finding a cute boy or girl to "go out" with. 

Now, being home educated, my focus is fixed on the Lord and obeying Him. I have learned that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. My family is important to me, and I'm learning to practice the difficult but vital task of laying down my will for the sake of others. Every day, our family members endeavor to resolve conflict in a Christ-like manner. Homemaking skills also occupy some of my time. These acts of service prepare me for my future role as a wife and homeschool mother, if the Lord wills. 

Undeniably, public schooling and home schooling have revealed two distinct modes of education. As a young person, education is my roadmap to destination -- maturity. In public school, some major highways were missing, including Christ-centered instruction and encouragement to develop Biblical family relationships. Home schooling completes my roadmap, and will steadily guide me to my destination.

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