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One of the often overlooked blessings of home education is that students are free to stay engaged in the process of learning all through the day. Too often in traditional schools, young minds must endure extended periods in which there is little or nothing to do because the pace of learning is regimented to suit the needs of the class rather than the individual. Not surprisingly, students who are bored during the school day are more prone to discipline problems, for as the old saying goes, “Idle hands (or an idle mind) are the devil’s workshop.”

The God of creation has made all of His creatures to be bound by the limits of time and space. As the good Book says, there is a time and a purpose for everything that happens under the sun. For this reason, all of life is to be lived to God’s glory because our times are in His hands. Home educators, therefore, must take full advantage of the opportunity that they have to teach their children how to redeem the precious moments of each day. The challenge that parents must routinely set before their children is not to stay busy for busyness sake, but to deliberately pursue meaningful and edifying endeavors so that they might give an honorable account to their Maker on judgement day for every hour that they were given on earth. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Young minds need to be taught the importance of setting lofty goals on both a short term and long term basis. The skill of time management is, after all, one of the most urgent and often neglected aspect of a young person’s education. As any employer or college professor can tell you, students are not prepared for life beyond high school unless some adult has mentored them in the art of time management. Young adults who are unwilling or unable to set goals and work relentlessly toward their completion are not likely to succeed in business or advanced educational pursuits. Students who are involved in home education have a golden opportunity to learn and practice the principles of time management, for their daily schedules are much more flexible than students who are bound by a one-size-fits-all routine.

In most cases, a student involved in home education has the ability to arrange his schedule in order to permit him to complete his core academic subjects during the morning hours. This option can free him to get involved with a host of special activities that are designed to sharpen or broaden his own unique gifts or talents. My eleven-year-old son, for example, has begun to start his home education studies earlier in the morning in order that he might have much of the afternoon open to work on his piano and Spanish lessons, or perhaps a gardening or woodworking project. In short, he has decided to take responsibility or ownership over his own learning by paying attention to how he spends the minutes of each day. My son has even found time to sharpen his skills at the pool table, much to the regret of his home school dad who now must struggle to stay in the winner’s circle!

Starting today, if you are involved in home education, consider it a blessing to be busy in the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge. Do not wish that you and your children were less active and engaged in the quest for a well-rounded, Christ-centered education. In the end, all of the struggles of time will some day melt into eternity when you will hear the Master say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…”.

Copyright 2007 Michael J. McHugh

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

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