7 Blindspots of Homeschooling
October 18th, 2011 / 3 Comments
Reb Bradley of Family Ministries wrote a very convicting article titled “Solving the Crisis in Homeschooling – Exposing the 7 Major Blindspots of Homeschoolers”.
This article is not just for homeschoolers, but for every parent who is serious about bringing their children up in the Christian faith. I saw myself making many of the mistakes that Bradley points out. As a well-meaning parent trying to do our best, we often miss the blindspots in this article helps to point those out.
Here are just a few quotes that hit me. It’s a rather long article, but well worth the read. And take your time reading it, and watch how it exposes the blindspots in your parenting.
Blindspot #1 – Self-centered dreams
“It is only natural for parents to have high hopes and dreams for the children. However, when we begin to see our children as a reflection or validation of us, we become the center of our dreams, and the children become our source of significance.”
Blindspot #2 – Family as an idol
“An idol is anything other than God in which we seek security and fulfillment… As those who are devoted to our families, and therefore invest a great deal of time, energy, and heart, it is easy to elevate the family too high.”
Blindspot #3 – Emphasis on outward form
“In the homeschool community I have observed that there can be a great emphasis on outward appearance, whether it is dressing for excellence, modesty, grooming, respectful manners, music style, or an attitude of sober reverence and worship. Some even take their children down a country path of humble fashions, raising food, and breaking bread. Nothing is wrong with any of these things, but we must be careful – we can model for our children out with changes and easily fall into moving their behavior and/or appearance, while missing their hearts. In some circles emphasis on the outward is epidemic.”
That’s just a taste of the first 3 blindspots, there are 4 more even more convicting blindspots that Bradley points out.
Since there is no URL to the article, let me point you to the website familyministries.com, click on FREE at the top, scroll down to the Family Life section, click on the article titled, “Solving the Crisis in Homeschooling.”
Please read it and let me know what to think.
Comments
Oh, my, I have certainly been guilty of all of these, some more (or less) than others. I enjoyed the article, but I found it to be very lengthy, and had a hard time getting all the way to the end. It would have been more effective for me had it been broken into smaller sections. Nevertheless, it was quite humbling to consider the part my husband and I played in the development of the current state of our adult children.
I do believe all of us are guilty of some if not all of them one way or another! Hindsight is always 20-20, but it certainly challenged my thinking.
Home is the first school for children. Your home environment plays a major role on personality development of your child. Children pick a lot from elders. Remember your child is going through a phase of learning at every step. He observes his elders attitudes towards each other very carefully, and adapts similar attitude. Relation between you and your husband has a great impact on your child’s mind. If you and your husband do not have good terms, behave aggressively to each other and do not talk to each other in a respectful and disciplined way; then your child’s personality will be affected in a negative way. These unpleasant changes in personality will accompany him for the rest of his life. You are a role model for your child and your aim must be to make your child a role model for the society.
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