Speech Notes

My notes for a speech I gave last night at a new homeschoolers meeting:

Introduction:

This speech my “first official act as a high school graduate”; finished my last two tests on Saturday, didn’t do much of anything on Sunday, and am here on Monday evening! Very appropriate somehow…

Like to talk a minute about those tests. Spent last semester of school studying for college credit, so had to take tests. Very different kind of learning experience for me.

Used to studying for maturity, for using knowledge in future; always understood the “why” and how what I was learning fit into the larger picture of my life. This kind of studying was (in the short term, at least) studying for a certain number, certain score on test. Very hard to care about this.

“Why am I coloring in yet more bubbles?? WHY?”

Would not have thrived in institutional school. Broke rules last three times went to test center. (Specific story: “You need to pray in your head from now on!”)

These experiences helped me see stark contrast between two approaches to education, and to more clearly understand why homeschooling was such a categorically good thing for me

I. Learning for the purpose of maturity

Foundation: God’s sovereignty and goodness; it is possible to enjoy and love learning when submitted to God

Process: Discover God-given passions; study and develop natural loves and abilities; understand the purpose and significance of school

End: Self-motivated, passionate students who use what they learn to serve and glorify God

Result: Strength of character, integrity, and ability

ð Caveat – does not imply absence of standard; I had to study chemistry, regardless of how I “felt” about it

My opportunities: speech/debate competition, founder/leader of service club, national travel, published author, valuable work experience, involvement in causes I love, free trips around country

II. Institutional learning

(Speaking not from personal experience, but from research)

In contrast to learning for the purpose of maturity, emphasis is on rules (without rationale), containment, fitting in with peers, passing tests, not causing trouble, not standing out

No conception of God’s goodness and the joy of learning; no emphasis on the glory of God at the core of learning

Quote: “Why is there so much emphasis on teaching young people to endure hour after hour of boring, disjointed and generally uninteresting activity? Why is schooling such a deadening experience for so many, even in high school and college? Is it possible that the main objective of our school system, with its passion for responding to school bells, blindly following instructions, and fitting in to the social pecking order, is not academic at all, but rather preparation for the labor force? Could this be the education of pawns? John Taylor Gatto, former New York City and New York State Teacher of the Year, believes it to be so.” (Gregg Harris, The Christian Home School, Noble Institute)

Even the most well-intentioned educators cannot accomplish learning for the purpose of maturity in an institutional setting because of lack of time, knowledge of and relationships with students, sufficient numbers of staff members, etc.

III. Impact of learning for the purpose of maturity

“Out of 100 people today, surveys show that only 67 are likely to have defined goals, goals they can explain. Of those who do, only 10 have made realistic plans to accomplish their goals. And of those 10, only two have the self-discipline to follow through with their plans and actually succeed. In other words, 98% of all the people you meet each day lack the integrity to live out what they believe.” (Gregg Harris, Cut Me Some Slack! The Sin of Procrastination, Noble Institute)

Is it any wonder that this is the case when the vast majority of children do not receive education for the purpose of maturity? Become adults unprepared to live in this way.

What you want for your children is for them to be able to know what is meaningful, to be able to pursue it realistically, and for them to achieve it.

Conclusion:

Purpose of education: “Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things; Give heart and soul and mind and strength to serve the King of Kings.”

HEART: Embraces God’s Purpose
SOUL: Sets Passionate Goals
MIND: Makes Informed Plans
STRENGTH: Takes Forceful Action