Homeschooling in the Nineties, Part 5–Success
Today wraps up my series on Homeschooling in the Nineties. This last section in that lesson in America the Beautiful includes an encouragement for homeschooled students.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Homeschooling families continued to find creative ways to learn at home and to do things with other homeschooling families. Parents started support groups. They had park days and held science fairs. They went on field trips together and started drama troupes. They formed sports teams, bands, and choruses.
As more and more brave parents began to homeschool, their friends, relatives, and neighbors saw that homeschooling worked. They saw homeschooled children involved in church activities and in community sports teams and clubs. They saw these children serving as volunteers and being involved in political campaigns. They saw them succeed in college and as adults.
In 1997 a homeschooler from Brooklyn, New York, became the first homeschooler to win the National Spelling Bee. In 2002 a ten-year-old from Michigan became the youngest person ever to win the National Geography Bee. He was also the first winner who was homeschooled. Four of the top ten competitors that year were homeschoolers.
Homeschooling parents want their children to live productive lives. They want them to experience joy. They want them to make good use of their talents. Ultimately, though, those who choose to homeschool for God’s glory want more than anything else for their children to live with God forever. All other goals pale in comparison. Some homeschoolers win the National Spelling Bee or the National Geography Bee; some receive full scholarships from Ivy League schools, become Rhodes Scholars, or receive appointments to military academies. God gives some of His children public honor and titles of distinction, but of utmost importance is that you honor your God and your parents by walking in purity and putting God first.
It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself
If his conduct is pure and right.
Proverbs 20:11
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
I pray God’s blessings on you, Homeschooling Mama, as you follow in the footsteps of homeschooling pioneers. I’m proud of you. Thank you for centering your homeschool on the most important things.
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice,
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may prove what the will of God is,
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2