Either, Or?

When talking about homeschooling and academics, I get a little squeamish when the discussion goes toward the issue of spiritual condition of students vs. academics.

The premise of this is what needs to be focused on. Why should this issue ever be an either/or?

I wish I'd learn to ask people, mothers--because fathers never suggest this...

Is God glorified through ignorance?

Can our Christian witness be helped or hurt by how we teach our kids?

I don't think we should ever get to a point of compromising our children's spiritual well being for academics, nor do I think we should excuse not challenging our children to their fullest potential out of a superficial high mindedness that ignorance is acceptable as long as our kids are godly.

As parents we have an obligation to educate our children to their fullest potential. God gifts each person differently, and the home educating parent can best determine what their child's potential is. Will we win the lost better if we cannot communicate with them or defend the truth scientifically? We may reach a certain sect, but we certainly will not reach others if that is our strategy.

I suggest following God's lead on how we teach our children, making sure to exceed the world's standards as much as possible, particularly being sensitive to how God has wired our students. All too often homeschooling mothers hide behind their own failure with comments about preferring their children to be godly rather than not, as if academic excellence is evil.