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My answer is, “Yes. God is gracious and forgives all sorts of mistakes.” The real question is, “How can I best help my child develop the uniqueness God put within him?” Schools of all sorts have proven they cannot do it. Neither can we if we employ their approach. As a Christian, as a teacher, as a homeschooling parent, I urge you, cooperate with God in helping your child blossom
The theory at the end of the nineteenth century was, “The child is born sinful, and we must break his will!” But a broken will cannot protect the child against molesters, whether physical, sexual, or spiritual. Jonestown and Waco testify to the disastrous results of people who no longer have any will.
In the last quarter of the twentieth century, Christians have learned the danger of breaking the will. So a prominent Christian has said, “Don’t break the will, bend it.” But I find it all too easy to “bend” a child’s will in ways which are convenient to me, not necessarily in ways which benefit the child. So I say, “Don’t break the will, don’t bend it. Channel it.” Establish boundaries within which the child can exercise his will. As he demonstrates that he can exercise it responsibly, expand the boundaries. Eventually, he should be in charge of his own boundaries, and channel his own will in acceptable ways. Otherwise he’ll rebel, or he’ll search for someone else to match his bent will. The Jonestowns of the world attract both types.
Especially when it comes to learning, to developing the God-given talent and giftedness, let the child lead. Provide a stimulating, rich learning environment, but don’t attempt to force their learning any more than you would force feed them. Give them a range of healthy alternatives to choose from, and aid them in their search for knowledge, and for wisdom. Unschooling will meet their needs in this way better than any canned curriculum, prepared by someone else, for someone else.
Long ago I discovered that “children learn out of their need to understand the world and express themselves. Adults teach out of a need to control their children.” A canned curriculum may make you feel better, but unschooling will meet their needs better. When God asks you why you forced the mind of your child, which He created, into the form of a curriculum created by someone else, what will you say? Return to first page