The Homeschooling Thing

In case anybody cares about my thoughts, I thought I'd give them. Heehee.

In case you've been living under a rock somewhere, a judge in California ruled last week that it was illegal for children to be taught by teachers without teaching credentials. Therefore, the 166,000 kids who are being homeschooled there are suddenly, technically, truants.

Two things:

1. I don't think we've heard the end of this yet. Schwarzenegger seems fully intent on fixing the whole issue so that parents can homeschool.

2. Even if the ruling stands, parents can probably get away with hiring credentialed teachers to help plan lessons and still keep their kids home if they want to. Actually, this is how my parents did it to comply with California law (which hasn't changed at all, this is just a new interpretation) starting in 1985.

But, when I first heard about this it was frightening to me anyway. I think there may very well come a day when we as parents aren't allowed to make the decisions we feel are best for our children - in the U.S. and in other countries. We'll have to decide at that time if we want to move or break the law, following what God asks us to do rather than what man asks us to do. It's not really the issue of homeschooling that bothers me, because I do believe it is possible for children to be well educated in the public schools (not easy everywhere, but definitely possible.) It's more the issue of a parents' right to choose how their child will be raised. How much does the government get to tell us is right for our kids? Do they get to tell us how to feed them? Clothe them? How much tv they can/should watch? If we can teach them our faith? Which kids they can be friends with? I mean, how far does it go?

The conclusion I have come to is this: Today, I can raise my children to fear God. I can teach them whatever I know is best. I can love them and do what I know is the absolute best for them. Tomorrow is not here yet, and God is already there. So for today I will be faithful to seek God and train my children in the way they should go. Easier said than done, and I will still keep an eye on California. But this doesn't surprise God, and He is directing those in authority exactly as He pleases. (Prov 21:1) We can trust God to direct us. He loves our kids more than we do.