Pajama School Blog

Pajama School, Stories from the Life of a Homeschool Graduate

Public Schools Need Competition

by natalie

John Piper posted an interesting quote on his blog yesterday. He writes,

J. Gresham Machen saw in 1933 what many are trying to say today about the need for private education.

The only way in which a state-controlled school can be kept even relatively healthy is through the absolutely free possibility of competition by private schools and church schools; if it once becomes monopolistic, it is the most effective engine of tyranny and intellectual stagnation that has yet been devised. (J. Gresham Machen: Selected Shorter Writings, 167)

A Dose of Inspiration

by natalie

GraceNotes - Mally Family Blog

Several days ago, a friend sent me the link to the Mally Family blog. I’ve known of the Mally’s and their ministry for years, but didn’t even realize they kept a blog. So it was that I ended up spending several hours perusing their archived postings the other night. Wow! I came away encouraged, challenged, and thoroughly inspired!

Whether they are training interns in their Bright Lights office, hosting classes for local students and families, witnessing to strangers in a park, or traveling the world speaking at conferences, this incredible sibling trio of homeschool graduates (along with their parents) are undoubtedly making a significant impact on the kingdom of God. What a great example for other homeschool families of working together with a shared vision!

A Contrast in Attitudes

by natalie

Several years ago, at our homeschool convention, I was speaking with a mother who had come to pick up her children from Adventures in Character. I always enjoy visiting with the parents and finding out what they think of the convention, so I asked her what she thought and if she was enjoying the speakers. She kind of brushed the question aside and exclaimed that she had been doing this so long she had pretty much heard it all before. Her main reason for coming, she said, was to shop around in the exhibit hall. A little while later, I ran into another mom in the workshop area and asked her the same question. Her response was strikingly different from the first mom. This woman responded, “I’ve been homeschooling for many years now, but every time I come I learn new things.” She went on to express how much she was enjoying the speakers and how much she was gleaning from the convention.

I was struck by the contrast in these two attitudes and knew immediately that I wanted the attitude of the second mom to characterize my life. She was gracious and humble, eager to learn, and grateful for the opportunity to do so. Even though I am not yet a homeschool mother, I endeavor to develop in my life now these same qualities that I found so admirable in this second mom. Whether it’s in the context of attending a music teachers conference, traveling to an apologetics seminar, engaging in conversations with those in other fields, or just sitting down with a stimulating book, I want to cultivate in my heart the attitude of a learner. There are so many varied tips, ideas, facts, principles, and more that can be assimilated into life as a whole when we approach every situation with a desire to learn. Indeed, it is an educational travesty to ever assume that we have attained the pinnacle of knowledge in any field and can no longer learn anything new or helpful. And I believe that it is in that attitude that we cease not only to be a humble learner, but also to have anything valuable to contribute to the education of another.

A New Year to Learn New Things

by natalie

One of the things I appreciate the most about the way Mom and Dad educated us is that they encouraged us to pursue areas we were interested in, to study topics that piqued our curiosity. That is perhaps one of the greatest benefits of homeschooling – the flexibility to structure educational pursuits according to the needs and interests of each child. It’s a good thing, too, because there are plenty of things my sisters and brother are interested in that I’m not especially inclined to study. And I know that even the thought of cracking open the books I’m interested in reading gives some of my siblings a headache! So we’re free to follow our own paths and learn bits and pieces from each other as our different paths cross many times throughout the course of each day.

One area of particular interest for me is the history of Christianity. I found a great set of podcast lectures produced by the Reformed Theological Seminary. Just open up iTunes on your computer and download them for free! I listened to History of Christianity I last year and am just finishing up History of Christianity II. Next I plan to listen to History and Theology of the Puritans. My parents also got me the book, The History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century by J.H. Merle D’Aubigne, for Christmas and I’m looking forward to reading it this year. Delving even further back into the recesses of history, I’ve begun going through the amazing curriculum, Ancient Civilizations and the Bible by Diana Waring.

There are so many incredible resources available in our day and age! And it is so rewarding to study new topics and learn new things. I especially appreciated these wise words shared by Edith Schaeffer in her book, What is a Family?:

“Among other things, we need to discuss with each other or some other members of our families or close friends, the interesting subject of how much school hinders the real education of our children and where it is a help. To simply assume that school is an education is rather naive in this day and age, it seems to me. [And this was written in 1975!] Real education can be given in school and is in some schools, but can also be twisted so that it prevents and ‘turns off’ any curiosity in the basic areas of the search for real knowledge.”

The same evaluation can and should be made in the context of homeschooling. Real education can take place every day in the course of real life as we seek to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”1 Centering our educational pursuits on a proper understanding of the Source of all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding gives us a framework upon which we can build. In a family environment, it is this Source that provides cohesiveness as individual interests are encouraged and pursued. New pieces are learned and are added to the whole, so that our picture of reality is ever more complete and reveals more and more of the One who created all things, and by whom all things are held together.2 That is the thrill of learning new things!

1. Proverbs 2:6
2. see Colossians 1:16-17

Standing on Shoulders

by natalie

The other day I was talking with a homeschool mom. Her four oldest children have all become teachers in some capacity, and I commented that she must have been their inspiration. Like most homeschool moms I know, she quickly lamented her own shortcomings as a teacher. She said that she was sure her children would do things differently, and would be better teachers than she was. My own mother has said the same thing on numerous occasions. I think they are right. I hope they are right. You see, few of these moms grew up with aspirations of being teachers, let alone of teaching their own children. They didn’t have the training for it, the patience for it, or in some cases even the desire for it. But out of obedience to what they and their husbands believed God had called them to do, they took a monumental step of faith.

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”1 They hoped their children would receive a good education. They hoped their children would become well-adjusted adults. They hoped their children would be successful. But they wouldn’t see the results for many years. They were taking one day at a time…by faith. And it is that faith that has left a legacy for their children – the second generation of homeschoolers.

We will do some things differently than our parents. Hopefully we will be better teachers than they were. By God’s grace, we will be better parents to our children. Not in spite of what our parents have done, but because of it. We who have been trained in the ways of the Lord from a young age; we who have been spared the bombardment of humanistic philosophies that permeate our government education system; we who have seen the example of obedience and faithfulness in our parents; we who have been given much – much will be required of us.2

I am excited about the future, and about the great things God has in store. And we who will make up the second generation of homeschool families are well-poised to make a huge impact on the world. Why? Because we are “standing on the shoulders”3 of our parents.

1. Hebrews 11:1
2. See Luke 12:48
3. See http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/268025.html

Welcome to Pajama School Blog!

by natalie

It is with a great deal of excitement that I launch Pajama School Blog! Pajama School – stories from the life of a homeschool graduate is due to be released in spring, 2009, Lord-willing. My hope is that this blog will be an extension of the book. In other words, an opportunity for me to say everything I thought of after I finished the book, or everything I wanted to say, but couldn’t fit into the flow of the book. 🙂

To be honest, I laughed when a couple of my friends suggested that I start a blog in conjunction with my book. Just what I needed – another blog to keep up with! But the more I thought about it, the more I became attached to the idea. I love homeschooling. No, even more. I would say that I am passionate about homeschooling. I’ve been a homeschool student. I’ve written curricula for homeschoolers. I’ve helped homeschool my younger siblings. I’ve been an active part of our local homeschool community. And someday, I hope and pray that the Lord blesses me with a husband, and children that we can homeschool.

Homeschooling has become much more than an academic alternative for our family. It is a way of life. A beautiful, natural extension of God’s design for the family and the raising up of children who love Him and walk in His ways. But it’s been a process to get to this point. A process filled with lots of failures, lots of tears, and lots of questions. And I am only partway through the process! Every day dawns with the reminder of God’s faithfulness, and is imbued with His patient impartation of truth and understanding that I didn’t have the day before.

My prayer is that Pajama School Blog will serve as an encouragement, inspiration, and helpful resource for all who visit.