Yes, I’m not sure I’d assert that Jesus was homeschooled, either. It is an argument from silence. I, like you mentioned, have also read that the synagogues were where young boys were sent for schooling. When we read these schooling/paideia passages, it always refers to fathers, and yet we deem it acceptable for them to delegate the bulk of it to us (the mothers). How is it any different to, for instance, hire a Latin tutor, or join a co-op?

We have never been interested in being part of a school, and there are a number of reasons for that. And I think that homeschooling has huge benefits. But I cannot go so far as to say that school is forbidden. Each family has to make their own decision. What is imperative in my mind is that Christian children receive a Christian education.

My understanding is that Sproul has since decided that we really should be discussing getting a Christian education before we fight about what type of education (details like style, location, who the teachers are, and so on). Of course, I could be wrong on that, and I can’t remember where I read it to check my sources…

Yes…Sproul and the Bluedorns were my gateway drugs. :)

Yes, many of his ideas were good, I think; it was mostly his reasoning that I didn’t think was sound. I think a lot of the family-centric wing of Christendom/homeschooling (like Bluedorns or Vision Forum) is a good stepping stone for people working their way toward integrating their faith with all of life. It has its place, and I don’t want to malign it too badly for the sake of people who might be stepping into a more full-orbed Christianity through that movement.

Uh-huh, it was a nine-year-old who couldn’t read, but was basically doing a huge chunk of mothering duties for younger siblings in an 8-child family. Bad example and testimony on several levels. And the whole “Jesus was homeschooled” is just plain silly. Who says? How do you know? And what does that prove, anyway? I have also heard that the synagogues served as schools, too.

And I think he rightly identifies many people’s root hesitation with homeschooling and even with having large families as being a hesitation about being capable of handling the responsibility. But then he doesn’t do anything with that. His insistence that God commands homeschooling keeps him from actually answering the real concerns. It all comes back to “God says, so don’t argue.”

I remember that there were, even then, parts of the book that bothered me. For instance: the eight-year-old who couldn’t read but was really sweet? I saw the logical inconsistency. Her illiteracy does matter, for she cannot read her Bible and she cannot educate her own children.

One thing I appreciated about the book was the idea that we do not merely teach our children, but we teach them to teach their children. So we pass on a way of life, not just an education in the strict sense of the word. I liked that. Again, it was a brand new thought to me at the time.

However, you are right, of course. The book pales in comparison with other works on your list!

In all, I would say that my appreciation for this book is a lot like an appreciation for an odd uncle that taught me to tie my shoes. I’ve grown up, so tying my shoes doesn’t seem to be such a big deal any more. In fact, it is totally normal. But, when I was five and he taught me, he was my hero. And even though he isn’t my hero now, I’ll always have that little warm spot in my heart.

It’s sort of like that. ;)