Homeschooling is “do-it-yourself” education. It requires parents with vision and skill who can manage the essential duties of life and manage the education of their children in addition to those duties. Very few in history have ever attempted this work, and far fewer have succeeded. Homeschooling is a modern phenomenon made possible by modern technology.
One great problem with homeschooling is that many parents who undertake this work are not interested in the “do-it-yourself” work that’s required for success. Many imagine that the decision to homeschooling is the great obstacle to education and once they’ve made that decision, pulled the kids out of school, etc., they’re free to hoist their sails and drift away into Christian paradise.
This is a fantasy.
“Do-it-yourself” education means that parents need to do the work themselves. They need to set the goals, establish the objectives, list the tasks, fix the schedule, provide the needed resources, supply the support and, most importantly, persevere to the end. If any of these is neglected, there will be no success.
Having said this, success is certainly possible through homeschooling, but only to those who undertake this work realistically. Homeschooling is the longest and most difficult do-it-yourself project of all. To undertake the project realistically, parents must know their strengths and weaknesses. They must seek counsel when they don’t know what to do, and they must seek help when they are not able to do it.
The tools are available for success. The resources are available for success. The counsel is available for success. The services are available for success. Parents need to take responsibility for the project, know what they can do themselves and what they need from others. As human beings, we are not created to live in isolation, but in community. It’s through community that we share in one another’s gifts and resources so that all can enjoy a higher quality of life. This is especially true of Christian community, but is not limited to such.
Homeschooling is a do-it-yourself project, but it should not be thought of as a do-it-entirely-by-yourself project. Homeschooling parents must take responsibility for their children’s education and see that all that is needed is provided for. What can’t be done by the parents themselves still must be done. Parents must see that it gets done. When excuses are made by homeschooling parents, reasons are provided for enrolling children in schools. If we can’t do it, then we shouldn’t do it. If we should do it, then we must do it.
If parents choose to undertake the work of homeschooling, they must be willing and able to get the job done.
God bless,
Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
