Category: Principles of True Education

Beyond School-In-A-Box

~MelissaLeave a comment

When a family decides that True Education is their goal, they have chosen to move beyond a “school-in-a- box” approach to homeschooling. True Education is not just a stack of books and lesson plans to complete, it is a complete life focus, not just for the children, but the entire household.

The scope of True Education is much broader and deeper than any publisher’s curriculum outline. True Education is not just about conquering the multiplication table or learning a set of spelling rules. With True Education, there is not just a mind to fill, but also a character to shape, and a body to train for work and service for God- a complete education of the whole person.

Let’s not limit ourselves to what the table of contents in a textbook says we should know. True Education challenges us to strive for more than a perfect score on the SAT. It “embraces more than merely having a knowledge of books. It takes in everything that is good, virtuous, righteous, and holy. It comprehends the practice of temperance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love to God and to one another.” {CG 297}

Want to know learn more about True Education? Read the chapter 50 of Child Guidance, entitled, “What Comprises True Education”. You can read online at  E.G. White Writings.

Beyond School-In-A-Box

~MelissaLeave a comment

When a family decides that True Education is their goal, they have chosen to move beyond a “school-in-a- box” approach to homeschooling. True Education is not just a stack of books and lesson plans to complete, it is a complete life focus, not just for the children, but the entire household.

The scope of True Education is much broader and deeper than any publisher’s curriculum outline. True Education is not just about conquering the multiplication table or learning a set of spelling rules. With True Education, there is not just a mind to fill, but also a character to shape, and a body to train for work and service for God- a complete education of the whole person.

Let’s not limit ourselves to what the table of contents in a textbook says we should know. True Education challenges us to strive for more than a perfect score on the SAT. It “embraces more than merely having a knowledge of books. It takes in everything that is good, virtuous, righteous, and holy. It comprehends the practice of temperance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love to God and to one another.” {CG 297}

Want to know learn more about True Education? Read the chapter 50 of Child Guidance, entitled, “What Comprises True Education”. You can read online at  E.G. White Writings.

The Fruit of Idleness

Ann1 Comment

This  parent-teacher conference was to discuss a particular young man who sullenly dragged himself into class each day as if it were a terrible inconvenience.  Every day he sat in his desk without opening a book or lifting a pencil.   As was her custom, the school counselor started the meeting by asking the mother to share about the young man daily life at home.   The counselor asked if the young man had any chores or work responsibilities at home.  No, the mother responded, he was not expected to do any chores at home.  Not even take out the trash?  The mother responded that she took out the trash, and did not ask him to do anything in the way of work around the home.  With that response, the school counselor stood up, declared that the conference was over and that  all of the teachers could leave the meeting.    Incredulous,  the mother asked why.  I’ll never forget the counselor’s response:

“If you have never taught him to work at home,

  how do you expect that we will get him to work at school?”

“He doesn’t even take out the trash?”

Of all of the parent conferences I attended in my years as a classroom teacher, that particular conference will forever stand out in my mind.   The look on the poor mother’s face as she realized her mistake!  Thankfully, the counselor sat back down to discuss with the stricken mother ways to begin to solve the problem.   As I left that conference, I was convicted anew of  the eternal  importance of teaching children the value of work.   Now, as parent-teacher to my own children, teaching habits of industry is a vital part of my True Education goals.

“Parents cannot commit a greater sin than to neglect their God-given responsibilities in leaving their children with nothing to do; for these children will soon learn to love idleness and grow up to be shiftless, useless men and women. When they become old enough to earn their living and are taken into employment, they will work in a lazy, droning way and will think they will be paid just the same if they idle away their time, as if they did faithful work. There is every difference between this class of worker and the one who realizes that he must be a faithful steward. In whatever line of work they engage, the youth should be “diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord”; for he that is unfaithful in that which is least is unfaithful also in much.”

Child Guidance – 122,123

The First Lesson

Rhonda2 Comments

The most important thing that you can teach your preschooler is obedience. This is often true for kindergartener too, and maybe for some students that are even older. Before starting on a phonics program or a writing program, teach obedience. Consider the mastery of obedience a prerequisite to all other school subjects. If you do this, your homeschool journey will be so much easier.  If you don’t and you spend your days in a power struggle, not much learning will take place. Your child will end up hating homeschool and so will you. So teach your child obedience before anything else.

Teach your child to be obedient as a result of his/her love for you. If you do not have a good relationship with your child, that will be where you will need to start. Some children obey out of fear and some obey from love. Love is a much better incentive. Children will not learn to love you if you do not love them first. So teach obedience with love. The Lord will bless your efforts.

“In His wisdom the Lord has decreed that the family shall be the greatest of all educational agencies. It is in the home that the education of the child is to begin. Here is his first school. Here, with his parents as instructors, he is to learn the lessons that are to guide him throughout life—lessons of respect, obedience, reverence, self-control. The educational influences of the home are a decided power for good or for evil. They are in many respects silent and gradual, but if exerted on the right side, they become a far-reaching power for truth and righteousness. If the child is not instructed aright here, Satan will educate him through agencies of his choosing. How important, then, is the school in the home!”Adventist Home, 182

Not only will your homeschool venture be so much happier if you teach obedience first, you will prepare your child both for this life and the life to come.

Motivation Monday

~MelissaLeave a comment

“Christian parents, will you not for Christ’s sake examine your desires, your aims for your children, and see if they will bear the test of God’s law? The most essential education is that which will teach them the love and the fear of God.”

Child Guidance, 298

Motivation Monday

~MelissaLeave a comment

“Christian parents, will you not for Christ’s sake examine your desires, your aims for your children, and see if they will bear the test of God’s law? The most essential education is that which will teach them the love and the fear of God.”

Child Guidance, 298

Motivation Monday

EditorLeave a comment

“Christian parents, will you not for Christ’s sake examine your desires, your aims for your children, and see if they will bear the test of God’s law? The most essential education is that which will teach them the love and the fear of God.”

Child Guidance, 298