[borntobeagle]

Just to throw this bone out there....

Do you think the Southern Baptists were in the right frame of mind to try to mandate that all Southern Baptists should homeschool their children.

This was actually being considered at their last convention. Thankfully it did not pass.

I just cannot conceive the notion that a church would attempt to impose this on many families who really are not able, or want to homeschool.

I am a Southern Baptist, but I would never support my church in creating a doctrine on all of its members to homeschool their children. God gave us free will, to decide what is best for us and for HIS glory. Homeschooling is not a cookie cutter, "one-size fits all" way of living.

As you've read in previous posts, I am a homeschooler, and I think it was the best choice for my family. I promote it when I can, as an alternative to families in troubled schools for two reasons. (1) you can educate your children without government imposition on their thoughts and needs, and moralities, and (2), you can show a form of protest by not allowing the state to receive the tax dollars your children would give them.

Homeschoolers need to be careful when imposing our belief of education on others. It is not the right choice for everyone, and when we go overboard, we promote the stigma we are zealots. With that stigma, it allows our government an easy-in to examine our education choice. I personally do not want the government at my door demanding to see my children's transcripts or attendance records.

[Gabz]

Your point about a church mandating their members to a certain form of education is spot on target. The Southern Baptist Church mandating homeschooling is no different than the Catholic Church mandating attendance at Catholic school.

I sure as heck know neither my brother or I would have spent 12 years in Catholic schools if the Church had mandated my parents send us there. Of course many would consider my parents strange - both born and raised (and still live there) in NYC, Catholic, blue collar union (my dad was NYPD) and REPUBLICAN!!!

[thinkingman129]

Very eloquently stated. Particularly the last paragraph. When zealously advocating homeschooling, as many on this thread did, the concept of homeschooling appears as objectionable as the zealot's continual reassertions that one ought to consider it.

[thinkingman129]

Very eloquently stated. Particularly the last paragraph.

When zealots continue overstating their commitment to homeschooling, they risk alienating those who believe homeschooling is a fine endeavor for families who choose to teach at home. Problem is, zealots usually don't recognize themselves in their fervor to convince others that what they are doing is ok. It IS ok that they're doing it, just don't force it down others' throats.