FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP & HOME EDUCATION MAGAZINE

Research shows that the church’s children are walking away from their faith once they leave home. 64%, or 2 of 3 students, stop attending church, at least for a time, after they graduate. More concerning is that they don’t have a Biblical worldview—likely the real reason why most stop attending. A shocking 1% of adults under age 30 hold a Biblical worldview!

In contrast, 87% of homeschoolers continue in their faith into adulthood. This is regardless of denominational affiliation, church music style, or theology.

Many churches lament that their congregations are becoming older and older. We must consider that this happens because we lose our children. You may have been tempted to believe that the remedy is to change the music or provide an exciting summer VBS. But that’s not really addressing the root of the problem. Instead consider what statistically works to keep children in the faith.

RESEARCH LINKS

BARNA RESEARCH
barna.com/research/resilient-disciples

LIFEWAY RESEARCH
research.lifeway.com/2019/01/15/most-teenagers-drop-out-of-church-as-young-adults

ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH
bit.ly/ACU_biblical_worldview

THE GEN 2 SURVEY: HOMESCHOOLING MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE
iche.org/resources/articles/gen-2-survey-homeschooling-making-big-difference

Homeschoolers come in all sizes, shapes, and from all backgrounds. They also come with a variety of motivations. By growing in your understanding of how homeschooling can help families grow spiritually and how children raised with a biblical worldview holds them steady through adulthood. Pastors and churches can promote homeschooling as a valuable training tool and education model. It will strengthen your church!

The following are general facts, statistics, and trends from NHERI (National Home Education Research Institute)

• Homeschooling – that is, parent-led home-based education; home education – is an age-old traditional educational practice that a decade ago appeared to be cutting-edge and “alternative” but is now bordering on mainstream in the United States. It may be the fastest-growing form of education in the United States. Home-based education has also been growing around the world in many other nations (e.g., Australia, Canada, France, Hungary, Japan, Kenya, Russia, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Kingdom).
• A demographically wide variety of people homeschool.
• Homeschooling is quickly growing in popularity among minorities. About 41% of homeschool families are non-white/non-Hispanic.

REASONS AND MOTIVATIONS FOR HOMESCHOOLING

Most families decide to homeschool for more than one reason. The most common reasons given for homeschooling are the following:

• customize or individualize the curriculum and learning environment for each child,
• accomplish more academically than in schools,
• use pedagogical approaches other than those typical in institutional schools,
• enhance family relationships between children and parents and among siblings,
• provide guided and reasoned social interactions with youthful peers and adults,
• provide a safer environment for children and youth, because of physical violence, drugs and alcohol, psychological abuse, racism, and improper and unhealthy sexuality associated with institutional schools, and
• teach and impart a particular set of values, beliefs, and worldview to children and youth.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

• The home-educated typically score 15 to 25 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests (Ray, 2010, 2015, 2017; Ray & Hoelzle, 2024). (The public school average is roughly the 50^th percentile; scores range from 1 to 99.) A 2015 study found Black homeschool students to be scoring 23 to 42 percentile points above Black public school students (Ray, 2015).
• 78% of peer-reviewed studies on academic achievement show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in institutional schools (Ray, 2017).
• Homeschool students score above average on achievement tests regardless of their parents’ level of formal education or their family’s household income.
• Whether homeschool parents were ever certified teachers is not notably related to their children’s academic achievement.
• Degree of state control and regulation of homeschooling is not related to academic achievement.
• Home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions.
• Homeschool students are increasingly being actively recruited by colleges.

SOCIALIZATION

• Research shows that the home-educated are doing well, typically above average, on measures of social, emotional, and psychological development. Research measures include peer interaction, self-concept, leadership skills, family cohesion, participation in community service, and self-esteem.
• 87% of peer-reviewed studies on social, emotional, and psychological development show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in conventional schools (Ray, 2017).
• Homeschool students are regularly engaged in social and educational activities outside their homes and with people other than their nuclear-family members. They are commonly involved in activities such as field trips, scouting, 4-H, political drives, church ministry, sports teams, and community volunteer work.
• The balance of research to date suggests that homeschool students may suffer less harm (e.g., abuse, neglect, fatalities) than conventional school students.
• Adults who were home educated are more politically tolerant than the public schooled in the limited research done so far.

SUCCESS IN THE REAL WORLD OF ADULTHOOD

The research base on adults who were home educated is growing; thus far it indicates that:

• 69% of peer-reviewed studies on success into adulthood (including college) show adults who were home educated succeed and perform statistically significantly better than those who attended institutional schools (Ray, 2017),
• they participate in local community service more frequently than does the general population (e.g., Seiver & Pope, 2022),
• these adults vote and attend public meetings more frequently than the general population,
• they go to college at a similar rate and succeed at college at an equal or higher rate than the general population, and
• by adulthood, they internalize the values and beliefs of their parents at a high rate.

For additional research and statistics about homeschooling, visit NHERI.ORG

The decision to homeschool involves commitment, sacrifice, and dedication. It requires commitment of financial resources for educational and curricula materials and time for preparation and for working with your children. You will, most likely, be different from most of your friends and neighbors. So, why would you consider doing this? What are the advantages of home education? There are many reasons, but here are ten:

1. Tutorial style education is more time effective than classroom teaching.

2. The average home-educated child achieves higher scores on standardized achievement tests.

3. The homeschool can be tailored to fit your child’s maturity and learning styles.

4. Home educated students are more creative than their classroom educated counterparts.

5. Home education affords children more opportunity to learn from real-life experiences.

6. Parents are the most effective agents for the positive socialization of children.

7. Parents have freedom to choose what their child is taught, and when and how it is taught.

8. Home education can be planned around the family’s schedule.

9. Home education provides a vehicle for strengthening the family.

10. Parents learn with their children.

Home education empowers parents to pass their values and their worldview to their children without undue interference from those who do not share their views.

Read the full article by Spencer Mason, NCHE

Reasons to Homeschool: Sharing of Faith and Values
Matthew McDill, NCHE

Some of my very favorite times as a dad are when I sit with my teens, enjoying some coffee and real-life conversation. We talk about school, work, relationships, faith, the Bible, the world, philosophy, politics, and anything else they have on their mind. There is nothing more rewarding than to see their spiritual and intellectual hunger grow, be satisfied, and continue to grow. Of course, this journey started long before they were teens. We teach our little ones basic truths about God and the Bible. We teach them about creation, the fall, salvation in Christ, and the coming judgment. We explain how these basic truths impact every aspect of life.

Many parents choose to homeschool for this very reason: to teach their faith and values to their children. This goal makes sense from a biblical perspective because parents are explicitly given the responsibility to pass on faith and love for God (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Ephesians 6:4). This goal makes sense from a constitutional and legal perspective because of the principles of religious freedom and parental authority. Unfortunately, many parents have abdicated this responsibility completely to the church or the school system. And the public school system seems to be happy to take this responsibility away from parents. Home education is an excellent path for accepting and fulfilling the parental responsibility of passing on faith and values to our children. I want to explore three reasons why this is true.

Preparation for life requires more than knowledge.

When I was in public school in Beaverton, OR, my mom had us come home early from school every Thursday. During that time, we had what she called “wisdom class.” She knew that we were gaining some knowledge at school, but she also knew that we were not sufficiently gaining wisdom there.

Knowing stuff is not the most important thing about us. Knowledge is undoubtedly important and necessary, but there is more. When we use knowledge rightly, it is called wisdom. We have historical examples of some very well-educated, brilliant people who were also horribly evil. The question is: What will our children do with their knowledge? The answer to this question comes from their values and character. In home education, we have the freedom to teach content that goes well beyond knowledge. We can spend significant amounts of time focusing on faith, values, and building character.

Education is rooted in worldview.

Where did the world and humanity come from? What is the meaning of life? What is right and wrong? What happens after we die? The answers to these questions are the foundation for how we understand the world. Everything we learn and receive as true has worldview implications. Our system of values and the decisions we make through life are based on our worldview. Therefore, we must recognize that children are not just receiving information at school but an entire perspective and philosophy of life. Many parents choose to homeschool today because it has become evident that the worldview being taught in public school directly undermines their family’s faith and values. Some areas of study that are most heavily impacted by worldview include science, history, social studies, and sex education. Homeschooling provides the opportunity for parents to teach every subject from a perspective that supports their faith and values.

Discipleship is built on time and relationship.

Discipleship is helping others to follow Jesus Christ. The goal is not to brainwash our children but to guide them to make their own personal choice to believe and follow Christ. Discipleship doesn’t come from discipline or primarily from giving information; it comes from living real life with our children. A parent who wants to help their children follow Christ will spend time with them and develop strong relationships with them. Effective discipleship takes place in the context of open, trusting relationships. Home education provides a wonderful context in which to develop those relationships as families eat together, play together, learn together, and explore and discuss life together.

We are so thankful for the opportunity to pass on faith and values to our children through homeschooling. If this is your goal, please take advantage of these resources that will equip you to do so.

• What Is Homeschooling?
• James Dobson’s June 2023 newsletter
• Short video clip: Schoolhouse Rocked
• Short video clip: The Homeschool Awakening
• Make the World Your Classroom
• NCHE Blog Posts on Discipleship