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Share the Vision? Why?

Tim Lambert, THSC President

As I write this, we have just returned from the last Texas home school conference of the season, and I was impressed–as I always am–with the number and quality of young families who are choosing to teach their children at home.  When Lyndsay and I speak to them about the different aspects of home schooling in Texas, we deal with a lot of questions about the law, learning styles, and curriculum as well. Many, if not most, of these families come to these events in search of practical information that will help them get started.

I have noticed that home school conferences, support groups, newsletters, and other support functions for home schoolers today are very different from those of twenty years ago when we began our journey. Today there is a tremendous number of choices that families have concerning curricula, home school cooperatives, support groups, and tutoring services–not to mention books and publications that address virtually every practical aspect of home education. Numerous speakers and authors are veteran home schoolers with years of experience who are eager to share their insights and opinions about the best methods and materials.

Twenty years ago there was little information and only a few books on the subject. Home school conferences focused primarily on the concepts and vision of home education, and leaders in the movement were visionaries who had decided to homeschool out of conviction. They had determined that it was not only a way they could educate their children successfully but also a manner in which they could protect their children from the negative influences of our culture while imparting their spiritual and philosophical values in the process.

While these events were meager in terms of the number of offerings presented at today’s conferences, they focused on the vision of how home schooling could benefit our families and our culture. The tone of most of these events was almost evangelistic, seeking converts to the concept of home education. We came away from them inspired and committed to teach our children at home regardless of the cost or opposition, because we had been convinced that the spiritual, educational, and personal fruit was worth any price we had to pay.

Lyndsay and I, along with many other home school veterans, are now beginning to reap the fruit of the years we invested in the teaching and training of our children. Our adult children have adopted our worldview as their own and are pursuing God’s plan for their lives with commitment and resolve. We truly enjoy spending time with them, and they seek our counsel and prayer for God’s direction.

Our culture and society are also beginning to see the fruit of home schooling families of the last two decades. Colleges and universities are recognizing home school graduates as outstanding prospects, and many are recruiting them and changing discriminatory admission polices. In national competitions there is a keen awareness of the academic prowess of home schoolers. Employers are also becoming familiar with the character and work ethic exemplified by home school graduates. Government officials are also very cognizant of the home school community and our dedication to the freedom to teach and train our children.

In view of all these positive benefits that have emerged from the home school movement, I am troubled by a trend that I see. As an educational alternative, home education in Texas is an extremely easy choice to make.  Many families choose home education as a result of their dissatisfaction with a school or because of a particular family situation. There is certainly nothing wrong with any of these reasons. 

However, as many families ask home school veterans for information, the focus tends to be on the how-to. Consequently, we very often fail to give prospective home school families a vision for teaching their children at home. We tell them how to get started and what the law requires, but we do not explain the incredible benefits that come with home schooling–academic and otherwise. We talk to them about phonics, learning styles, and curriculum choices but fail to explain the joy that comes with seeing our children become mature, spiritual, young men and women of character. While we were hopeful that home schooling would benefit our families, we can now share from our experience the positive results.

We all know that teaching our children at home is difficult and requires commitment and perseverance to accomplish. The problem with failing to share a vision for home schooling that goes beyond academics is that it is too easy to abandon the course if the only reasons we teach our children at home are academic ones. It is vital for the home school community to share a complete vision for home schooling. As veterans and home school leaders, we must share a vision of home education that will inspire families to home school when–not if–things become difficult. We must be there to encourage and support them along the way.

Meet Tim Lambert

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