My Dad had asked me today: "How are you accountable for what your boys learn?"

Note: This statement comes from a classical way of thinking?

To understand what homeschooling is one would need to open one's mind to many other ways of teaching an individual. Once one understands that perhaps the way we were taught did not teach everyone, then one can move on to opening one's horizons to old ways of teaching made new.

Homeschooling means far more then dissecting a compound word, it means investing far more time into your children. Step one is to finding out who they are, what their strengths are, what their weakness may be, and what they are hoping and dreaming about. Step two is searching out what teaching methods are out there, and creating a special curriculum that meets each child’s needs. Step Two is ever-evolving.

One of a classical mind set could say we "give tests" or "are accountable” for what our children learn many times a day. A “TEST” may come by way of oral narration, written report, an impromptu debate over breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a chat with a friend, or acquaintance. The “ACOUNTABILITY” may even come in the form of the child deciding he/she may want to save a tree by using a dry eraser board to write down their math problems. In these unconventional ways the child is allowed to share what they have learned in ways that are spontaneous and real.

The gained knowledge they gather by reading whole books, visiting a historical site or museum, or by watching a documentary is amazing.

One of the “tests” our nine (9) year old experienced came by way of feeling at ease sharing his knowledge about the Persian Empire, the Hanging Gardens and the Original Seven Wonders of the World with a Professor of Sociology, and our thirteen (13) year old had the drive to seek out information on the legislative branches of the government in an hour or so, and had the confidence to be able to carry on a question and answer session with the lawyer at his Boys Scout Merit Badge meeting. Both professionals were amazed at their knowledge and ease in which they carried out their respective conversations. Anther “testing” came while both boys attended six (6) religious classes explaining the "Our Father", "The Sermon on the Mount" and "Understanding of the Semitic Mind", and the questions they asked were as astounding as their gained knowledge of the Lord.

This for us is just another way of testing or being accountable. Nothing is fool proof, but we are given positive affirmations every day that our children are learning. They don't fear knowledge or reading or research. Socially, they get along with people of all ages and all walks of life, and have the ability to relate to each age appropriately and with respect.

These are real life experiences, our “TESTS” or “ACCOUNTABILITES” that prove they are not only learning the material, but embracing it for a lifetime.

No bubble-filled test can measure this kind of learning!

There is no test that our government schools can give that can accurately measure this type of knowledge for a lifetime. We, as homeschooling parents can see it, hear it, and we embrace it.

There is no one in our government schools willing to devote the kind of time we give to our children, nor are we asking for them to do so.

God blessed us with Children of God not Children of the Government. These are our children, whom our Creator entrusted to us. We are responsible for them. When we die, and the Lord asks us did you teach my children well? Did you keep them safe from harm? There will be no government to answer for us. We are the parents! We are not ignorant, or misguided. We are just thinking beyond the box.