History's Advice for Homeschooling

Historical educators usually agree on the following. 1) Children are a gift from God. 2) Parents are commanded to train their children for God. 3) All education is for the individual, not for the state. 4) All should have the opportunity to be educated. The Hebrews The education of the earliest Hebrews centered around the family. The notion of the state is almost unknown - God is the real king, while the perfect man is pious and virtuous, capable of attaining the ideal traced by God himself in these terms - Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy (Lev. 19:2). The child, then, was to become the faithful servant of Jehovah. To this end it was not needful that he should be learned, but only that he should know God's laws and ordinances. These were first taught by the oral communication and instructive example of the parents. Fathers also taught their children the nation's history and the great events that had marked the destiny of the people of God. The discipline given to children was unwavering in firmness, proven by many passages in the Bible. Some say it was too harsh, and yet children grew in character and were kept from evil in learning the fear of the Lord. It was Almighty God who was to be pleased, not "almighty child." Today we are too quick to avoid offending the child, and the modern-day, child-rights advocates, while God and his perfect parenting patterns are often being given second place. "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God