Friday, June 20, 2008

New Swing And Homeschool Book Sales

We've had an eventful week. We normally wouldn't allow Stuart in our bed but every so often he's welcome to come in and play on the bed with us. Seamus decided he wanted in on the fun and since Stuart loves his dog, we allowed him up just this one time. Janna was not amused, Stuart and I were.
Stuart unfortunately thinks he's a dog and because of that he thinks it quite appropriate to get into Seamus' bed. First he tries to eat out of the dog bowls, now he tries to sleep in Seamus' bed. Next up he'll try to go in and out of the porch via the dog door.
We installed a swing on the porch for Stuart and he isn't quite sure what to make of it just yet.
Once we started the swing going he decided it was great fun.
Deirbhile isn't sure what to make of the news swing.
But she's decided it looks like great fun and she wonders when her turn will be to go for a ride.
Seamus comes in to see what kind of fun we're all having.
He then dutifully waits his turn for a ride on the swing.
Earlier in the week Janna and I took Stuart to the annual Homeschool Building used book sale. I have never in my life seen so many women wearing jean jumpers nor have I seen as many women dressed like Mennonites. Is it true that to be a homeschool mother you have to wear one of three hair styles? In any event, I was struck with how poor a job most of the people did at hawking their goods. It doesn't say much about the initiative of homeschoolers, something I worry about for our kids.
We have decided to do some sort of classical education program with our kids. What exactly that will be, we haven't decided yet. I don't think a used book sale is the place to learn much about it but it was interesting to see what all is out there. I did notice that it was mostly run by and shopped by women, probably the kind that talk about covenant headship out of one side of their mouth and order their husband around with the other side. I say nothing of course. In this family dad is going to make all the education decisions, like I am charged with in scripture. Stuart's education is going to be rigorous and difficult and it will serve him well when he's an adult. I am completely confident that homeschooling is the right way to go even if I'm not so confident in some of the outcomes. We'll just have to work hard to avoid what we consider to be negative outcomes. Such is life, we would be doing the same thing at a private school and doing it even more at a government school.
Deirbhile is still waiting for her turn on the swing. Poor girl, I don't think I could strap her in properly and I think she would completely freak out if I started swinging her. She has no idea. Neither does Stuart when it comes to schooling, I can't imagine letting a little kid dictate what they're going to learn like some of these so-called 'unschoolers' do. Talk about not doing your job as a parent and putting to much pressure on a little kid. Stuart isn't going to have the maturity to make such decisions when he's 7, 10 or 14 years old. It's up to us to decide what his education will be and I'm here to tell you it's going to be difficult and advanced. I know what it takes to make it through college and law school, he'll be in better shape than I was to tackle those things because we're going to be diligent in making sure he's properly educated when he's younger, much younger in fact. Difficult? Yes, but it we wouldn't have it any other way. Stuart's education is for God's glory, as will be the education of all our kids. How could we not be disciplined in executing it? We owe it to the Lord who blessed us with Stuart and any other children we happen to be blessed with.

3 comments:

Mrs. P said...

Have you been reading Tom Brown's School Days again?

steveandjanna said...

I don't know of this Tom Brown of which you speak.

Mrs. P said...

Humm... Well, I guess your education was not rigorous enough. Anyway, TB's School days is all about the English way of torturing boys into becoming the backbone of England. Good reading!