Questioning Homeschools

[ThyKingdomCome]

You’re trying to compare apples and oranges. The Mass is a sacrament. Education is not a sacrament. I trust the Church to guide me 100% perfectly in matters of doctrine. Jesus gave them this authority and guaranteed that the gates of hell would not prevail. Even good priests and bishops may not necessarily have a talent at educating children - Jesus did not guarantee that. So first off, we cannot reject the Mass, but it is within our rights as parents to reject institutionalized education.

And furthermore, many homeschoolers (myself included) take issue not just with the content of the education, but with the intrinsic institutional structure of schools. More than anything else about schools, I dislike the amount of time children have to spend in schools, as well as the amount of time required to spend on homework - all to get the same quality (or worse) of education that they can receive in a much shorter amount of time at home. I believe that this waste of time has a big negative impact on family life, on the ability of parents to do their God-given duty to mold and form their children. Obviously, many Catholics don’t agree with me, otherwise everyone would be homeschooling their kids. But that’s ok, there are certain things that we are allowed to disagree on as Catholics - the best way to provide education to children is one of them. It is not a matter of doctrine. It is not a precept of the church (as attendance at Mass is), it is a prudential, PARENTAL judgement.

 

[momof8]

I have posted before in often negative words my thoughts about homeschools. I agree that most, if not all, public schools are a lost cause. Unfortunately, far too many parochial schools are not up to snuff.

If you believe that both public and parochial schools may have serious problems, then why would you be opposed to someone choosing an alternative?

How do families that educate their children at home reconcile the situation that the parish school is a catechetical mess but somehow the liturgy is okay? It would seem to me that the same touchy-feely, wishy-washy notions that have watered down the catechetics, have watered down the Mass.

I’m not sure what one thing has to do with the other. What does the liturgy have to do with homeschooling? Others have pointed out that however misguided some of the liturgical practices may be, Jesus is there (given that the consecration is valid, and I have yet to run across a Mass where it didn’t seem to be). The only thing I can think that this has to do with homeschooling is that parents who know what the liturgy should be, teach their children what the liturgy should be, and their children grow up able to recognize a parish where the Mass is beautifully as it should be… and where it isn’t. In homeschooling, such a parent is likely to get a lot of support from other parents who want a truly Catholic lifestyle and a proper Mass, and they are likely to know where to find the resources to help them to live that lifestyle and to recognize a Mass that is as it should be. You don’t have to homeschool to learn these things or to obtain these resources; in fact, if a non-homeschooler wanted a source for great Catholic books for helping their children know and love the faith more deeply, one thing I would give them would be a Catholic homeschool catalog.

Likewise, since most, if not almost all, of the collection basket goes to the school, how do they tithe to support a school they can’t justify sending their children to? If they don’t tithe(or significantly support the parish financially) are they picking and choosing what to believe? Isn’t that the first critique made against heterodoxy? I don’t know any homeschoolers who see themselves as less than orthodox.

If Catholics really tithed, there would be money for the school and for everything else the parish needed, including fabulous social programs. Tithing is actually not a Catholic teaching, however, so there is nothing “heterodox” about not tithing. Not that it isn’t a worthwhile goal - I think it is.

…

One can’t have his cake and eat it too. One of the strengths of our Church is the hierarchical system. That means we follow it not blindly but closely and faithfully.

I’m not sure what you mean, in that I don’t know what that has to do with the choice to homeschool.

Homeschools seem very Protestant in their mindset to me.

I also don’t know what you mean here. Can you give an example of the Protestant mindset that you see in Catholic homeschooling?

I appreciate that times are tough and overall your kids are learning well but I think you are creating an individualistic mindset that will lead many of your descendants away from Rome. Isn’t the whole reason you teach at home is to have Catholic kids?

I don’t really know what you mean by an “individualistic mindset”. Do you mean we are isolating ourselves? Actually, I do recall feeling out of the mainstream, somewhat isolated from the other kids in our neighborhood, when I went to Catholic school as a child. If being in the mainstream is supposed to be a goal, then doesn’t that undermine your own support for Catholic education?

I appreciate you addressing this issue and asking for (name removed by moderator)ut from homeschoolers. I hope that some of the answers help you to perhaps reconsider your opposition to homeschooling. A lot of people start out opposed to homeschooling, but after some investigation come to appreciate it as a very valid option.

 

[Epsilon_Omega]

Personally, I have noticed an increasing trend of those boys discerning the priesthood, as being those that are home schooled. But that is just my opinion

 

[leonie]

And furthermore, many homeschoolers (myself included) take issue not just with the content of the education, but with the intrinsic institutional structure of schools. More than anything else about schools, I dislike the amount of time children have to spend in schools, as well as the amount of time required to spend on homework - all to get the same quality (or worse) of education that they can receive in a much shorter amount of time at home. I believe that this waste of time has a big negative impact on family life, on the ability of parents to do their God-given duty to mold and form their children. Obviously, many Catholics don’t agree with me, otherwise everyone would be homeschooling their kids. But that’s ok, there are certain things that we are allowed to disagree on as Catholics - the best way to provide education to children is one of them. It is not a matter of doctrine. It is not a precept of the church (as attendance at Mass is), it is a prudential, PARENTAL judgement.

I agree!

It also makes me sad when parents say they can’t wait for school to start after a vacation or summer break.

 

[Teakafrog]

Hey, OP! Was this just baiting? No response? (where’s that pot-stirring smiley when you need it?)

As for my opinion, my son went to public school because where we lived before there was no Catholic school. He goes to Catholic school now, but we have to drive him half an hour both ways to get there and back. And it only goes to 8th grade. So what are we supposed to do? Send him to the morally and educationally (not to mention financially) bankrupt local public high school? Or should we have the choice of home schooling him? My daughters aren’t old enough to go to school yet, but homeschool is on the radar screen for them too, since having 3 kids in Catholic school (maybe more, God willing) would probably be more than we could handle financially. I’ve known good homeschoolers and bad ones, but the majority want only the best for their kids, and that includes strong education in the Faith. How can that be bad for the kids?

Awaiting your response to this ever-growing thread…