Fathers in Education

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"If your education is being governed by anybody else's rules but Jesus', then you cannot say that you are a [Christian] homeschooler."

~Scott Somerville, with reference to receiving government aide and direction in homeschooling.


I cannot speak for my brothers on this blog, but when I look at education and the responsibility of parents from a Scriptural perspective, I consider homeschooling to be a Biblical mandate. Thus, this quote above is a very inciteful point... and I believe this applies not just to our own government, but to any other regimen or system that conflicts with Scripture, to include classical education. It is vital that our children are brought up in the nuture and admonition of the Lord, but when you separate that from the rest of a child's education, then you run the risk of separating it's applicability to every area of society and life in their mind. Our walk with God can and should permeate every area of our lives, and influence our decisions. There is no line of demarkation in Christ's dominion over us.

This brings up another very interesting point that is often overlooked with regards to the father's role specifically in the education of his children. As the leader of the household, a man is the spiritual leader over his wife and children. If our relationship with Christ is supposed to permeate every area of education, why do so many dads leave the scholastic side of education to the mothers, or far worse, to the government? Just as Christ must influence every area of education from math to history and science, does it not follow that as the spiritual leader the father must provide teaching and guidance in those areas as well? Granted, the father is the provider in the home, which in this day and age takes him away often, leaving the mother to provide most of the instruction in the case of homeschooling, but it seems like all too often, dads just take to the sideline and watch their wife do the educating when they are home. This has lead to other things, such as the mothers becoming the primary leaders in homeschool groups and organizations. But aren't the fathers supposed to be the leaders?...

So what can be done to remedy this? What about those fathers whose jobs take them away from the home so often that teaching their children in any form, be it spiritually or scholastically, becomes impractical? I'd say make it practical. I have a great advantage in this regard, because my life is still young, and I'm still able to shape which way it goes. Not everyone has the opportunity to change their careers, or begin new ones. In days past, the father always raised his sons working with him in whatever trade he knew and practiced. His sons became his apprentices, to one day take over the business and carry it on. This system afforded him an incredible opportunity so rarely seen today - the opportunity to mentor his sons spiritually, vocationally, and educationally, all at one time, in one fluid lesson that lasted for most of their young lives. The young men watched their father in every arena of his life, and could see how his faith blended with his vocation, how he lived his life as a whole.

Just something to consider! What a great opportunity to raise children in the nuture and admonition of the Lord, to raise sons who will become men of God.