kids

What will you kids remember when your gone?

2 Comments / June 20, 2011

I am blessed with a wonderful wife and three amazing kids we had a great day together for fathers day. It was special and typical all at the same time. It was special in that my wife and kids went out of their way do things for me that I like and enjoy. It was […]

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Reality Rant.

2 Comments / June 16, 2011

When it comes to watching TV I generally like reality shows more than dramas or even comedies. I have seen almost every episode of Survivor and Amazing race, I really like undercover boss and occasionally watch extreme home makeover and the biggest loser. All of which I really enjoy, mostly because I think real life

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Retro Post: Wisdom of Kids

Why is there an expiration date on Youth Pastors?

7 Comments / June 1, 2011

Growing up in church all my life and working in a church for the past 14 years I have met my fair share of Youth pastors. All of which had great hair, a hot wife and a goatee but that’s a post for another day. I am not sure if this is my perception or if it

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10 Best iPad Apps for kids

11 Comments / May 24, 2011

1. Casey’s Contraptions – crazy addicting think angry birds meets actual laws of physics. 2. Parent Cue – ReThinks Cue box for the iPad – If you use ReThink’s 252basics curriculum this is a no brainer. 3. Toy Story Read Along – Stunning ebook for the iPad also includes interactive treats like video, coloring and

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Guerrilla Parenting: Active time vs. Passive time

Elements of Kidmin worship.

8 Comments / May 11, 2011

I talked to Yancy briefly tonight about worship and the huge role it plays in what we do. We often talk about curriculum and what we teach as we should but I’m not sure if we discuss the importance of teaching our kids how to enter into worship. Here is what we do and why

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YouTube Friday: Why Men Don't Help In Kids Church

41 Comments / May 6, 2011

I am doing a big push over the next couple of weeks to get men to help out in Uptown over the summer. Even as a man myself I find it difficult to get men to want to help, most of the kids pastors I talk to experience the same thing. Who do I blame? The devil?

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Homeschool, Public School, Christian School: Conclusion

28 Comments / May 5, 2011

Before I went to the Orange conference I wrote a series of blog posts talking about why I think you should and should not send your kids to Christian, Public or Home School. I know a few people were offended by some of my posts, I never intended to be offensive in any way, my goal was

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28 responses to “Homeschool, Public School, Christian School: Conclusion”

Chris Spradlin

May 5, 2011

Read Oswald a while back and he said "never make the movement of God in your life a principal for everyone". I believe so many do this about schooling. If one has a good experience w/ PS, HS or CS then it becomes a principal that everyone must follow….thanks for the post man!!

Reply
1. samluce
  
  May 5, 2011
  
  Thanks man. Appreciate it.
  
  Reply
Jared M

May 5, 2011

I think you did an excellent job with this series. If people will take the time to read ALL the posts, it is easy to see where you pointed out both positives and negatives of each position from direct observations and personal experiences.
Thank you for taking the time to put this out there. I think it can be a valuable resource to those willing to check it out and read it all of the way through.

Reply
1. samluce
  
  May 5, 2011
  
  Thanks Jared. I think that's something people failed to do read all the posts. I hope they will serve to help families when they are trying to decide where to send their kiddos. It is not easy and no matter what you chose you have to trust God. PS, CS or HS you have to trust God it looks different depending on where your kids are but the bottom line is trust, trust and trust.
  
  Reply
Andrea

May 5, 2011

I did read through all of your posts on the pros and cons and can appreciate that your intent was to open people's eyes to see that there are pros and cons to all systems of education, and our responsibility is to carefully weigh what God would want for our children. I couldn't agree with you more on that point.

I wanted to wait until the conclusion to weigh in, and really questioned whether I should at all. I will freely admit that the Cons of Homeschooling raised my hackles. Your graphic had me trying to keep an open mind before I even had the chance to read a word. I'm a Children's Pastor in a church with a Christian School and we are the only homeschooling family in our church. We've been homeschooling our 4 kids for 10 years and believe that homeschooling is the best option for those who can homeschool, and the worst option for those who can't. I'd lke to offer a little perspective for the Cons of Homeschooling because there are definitely cons to homeschooling. They need to be taken seriously because they will have a profound impact on your family, not just your kids.

Reply
Andrea

May 5, 2011

These aren't the stereotypical cons, but from-the-trenches cons.
1. Homeschooling is a lifestyle, not something you do or add to your life, so determine if you want that first;
2. Homeschooling is a job and it's intense – the 6 hour break or extra income is usually forfeited, be aware of the sacrifice;
3. Homeschooling will marginalize you – people will make assumptions, speak out of ignorance, treat your children differently, and criticize your decision – make sure you're ready for that;
4. Homeschooling will reveal all your insecurities as a parent and you're greatest weaknesses – make sure you know why you made this decision;
5. Homeschooling often produces kids who look at the world differently – trends, fads, peer pressure, social agendas, & independence from peers is often different with a homeschooled kid. In a world that prefers cookie cutters, these free shapes will stand out.

Reply
1. samluce
  
  May 5, 2011
  
  Andrea,
  
  Great set of comments. Love your honesty and transparency. Your points are well taken. Thanks for giving some parents out there the perspective they may need to make the decision God has for them.
  
  Reply
Andrea

May 5, 2011

6. Homeschooling is challenging – you'll likely be teaching multiple age levels to multiple learning styles with multiple methods. Most of what you're teaching will either be a review of material learned 25 years ago or never learned at all. Be prepared for the work that it will take. It will keep you up late, busy during the day, and push other pursuits out of the way.
There are real concerns with homeschooling and it is not a decision to take lightly. Our kids have friends from the public, Christian school, and homeschool arenas. Their friends are all great kids that we are happy to have in their lives. Their parents are also fully invested, intentional parents. It's been said many times in response to these posts, but that's what makes the difference. The rest is really preference based on child, family dynamic, and options in the area, in conjunction with prayer for God's direction.

Reply
Henry Zonio

May 5, 2011

Of all the posts you put up in this series, I think this one is the most important. Great way to sum it all up and emphasize the importance of seeking God and doing what is best for each of your children.

Reply
Chris Spradlin

May 5, 2011

Read Oswald a while back and he said "never make the movement of God in your life a principal for everyone". I believe so many do this about schooling. If one has a good experience w/ PS, HS or CS then it becomes a principal that everyone must follow….thanks for the post man!!

Reply
1. samluce
  
  May 5, 2011
  
  Thanks man. Appreciate it.
  
  Reply
kptnken

May 5, 2011

So you chose to put your kids in public school?

Reply
Jared M

May 5, 2011

I think you did an excellent job with this series. If people will take the time to read ALL the posts, it is easy to see where you pointed out both positives and negatives of each position from direct observations and personal experiences.
Thank you for taking the time to put this out there. I think it can be a valuable resource to those willing to check it out and read it all of the way through.

Reply
1. samluce
  
  May 5, 2011
  
  Thanks Jared. I think that's something people failed to do read all the posts. I hope they will serve to help families when they are trying to decide where to send their kiddos. It is not easy and no matter what you chose you have to trust God. PS, CS or HS you have to trust God it looks different depending on where your kids are but the bottom line is trust, trust and trust.
  
  Reply
samluce

May 5, 2011

Our oldest went to Preschool at a Catholic school and K5 at public and will go to 1st grade at public school, Our middle boy is in pre-K next year and we still aren't sure where to send him. "Every kid, Every year" 🙂

Reply
Andrea

May 5, 2011

I did read through all of your posts on the pros and cons and can appreciate that your intent was to open people's eyes to see that there are pros and cons to all systems of education, and our responsibility is to carefully weigh what God would want for our children. I couldn't agree with you more on that point.

I wanted to wait until the conclusion to weigh in, and really questioned whether I should at all. I will freely admit that the Cons of Homeschooling raised my hackles. Your graphic had me trying to keep an open mind before I even had the chance to read a word. I'm a Children's Pastor in a church with a Christian School and we are the only homeschooling family in our church. We've been homeschooling our 4 kids for 10 years and believe that homeschooling is the best option for those who can homeschool, and the worst option for those who can't. I'd lke to offer a little perspective for the Cons of Homeschooling because there are definitely cons to homeschooling. They need to be taken seriously because they will have a profound impact on your family, not just your kids.

Reply
Andrea

May 5, 2011

These aren't the stereotypical cons, but from-the-trenches cons.
1. Homeschooling is a lifestyle, not something you do or add to your life, so determine if you want that first;
2. Homeschooling is a job and it's intense – the 6 hour break or extra income is usually forfeited, be aware of the sacrifice;
3. Homeschooling will marginalize you – people will make assumptions, speak out of ignorance, treat your children differently, and criticize your decision – make sure you're ready for that;
4. Homeschooling will reveal all your insecurities as a parent and you're greatest weaknesses – make sure you know why you made this decision;
5. Homeschooling often produces kids who look at the world differently – trends, fads, peer pressure, social agendas, & independence from peers is often different with a homeschooled kid. In a world that prefers cookie cutters, these free shapes will stand out.

Reply
1. samluce
  
  May 5, 2011
  
  Andrea,
  
  Great set of comments. Love your honesty and transparency. Your points are well taken. Thanks for giving some parents out there the perspective they may need to make the decision God has for them.
  
  Reply
Andrea

May 5, 2011

6. Homeschooling is challenging – you'll likely be teaching multiple age levels to multiple learning styles with multiple methods. Most of what you're teaching will either be a review of material learned 25 years ago or never learned at all. Be prepared for the work that it will take. It will keep you up late, busy during the day, and push other pursuits out of the way.
There are real concerns with homeschooling and it is not a decision to take lightly. Our kids have friends from the public, Christian school, and homeschool arenas. Their friends are all great kids that we are happy to have in their lives. Their parents are also fully invested, intentional parents. It's been said many times in response to these posts, but that's what makes the difference. The rest is really preference based on child, family dynamic, and options in the area, in conjunction with prayer for God's direction.

Reply
Henry Zonio

May 5, 2011

Of all the posts you put up in this series, I think this one is the most important. Great way to sum it all up and emphasize the importance of seeking God and doing what is best for each of your children.

Reply
kptnken

May 5, 2011

So you chose to put your kids in public school?

Reply
samluce

May 5, 2011

Our oldest went to Preschool at a Catholic school and K5 at public and will go to 1st grade at public school, Our middle boy is in pre-K next year and we still aren't sure where to send him. "Every kid, Every year" 🙂

Reply
Kristy

May 9, 2011

I was very impressed with this series of blogs. I have been homeschooling for a few years now, and unfotunately it seems to be an 'us and them' mentality. Those who put their kids in a 'regular' school say I'm doing the wrong thing by my kids, and my fellow homeschoolers say others are wrong by putting their kid's in 'regular' schools. I feel very blessed that I'm in a country where I can decide what I believe is best for my children. I am obviously very much for homeschooling, but I think it's great that there are 'regular' schools available for those who can't or won't homeschool.
Thankyou again for being so unbiased in your blogs and showing the world the positives and negatives of all three choices of education. Well done!

Reply
1. samluce
  
  May 10, 2011
  
  Kristy thanks so much for your kind words. It was my hope that these pros and cons would be helpful.
  
  Reply
Kristy

May 10, 2011

I was very impressed with this series of blogs. I have been homeschooling for a few years now, and unfotunately it seems to be an 'us and them' mentality. Those who put their kids in a 'regular' school say I'm doing the wrong thing by my kids, and my fellow homeschoolers say others are wrong by putting their kid's in 'regular' schools. I feel very blessed that I'm in a country where I can decide what I believe is best for my children. I am obviously very much for homeschooling, but I think it's great that there are 'regular' schools available for those who can't or won't homeschool.
Thankyou again for being so unbiased in your blogs and showing the world the positives and negatives of all three choices of education. Well done!

Reply
1. samluce
  
  May 10, 2011
  
  Kristy thanks so much for your kind words. It was my hope that these pros and cons would be helpful.
  
  Reply
4 Reasons to Homeschool your kids. - samluce.com

December 29, 2012

[…] Series Conclusion […]

Reply
Karen G

March 31, 2013

As a mom whose kids were in a Christian school, then homeschooled, then went to public school I can tell you lots of stories. Which one worked the best for my kids? Well, they are grown ups now and they will tell you — all three. I wholeheartedly agree with you, P. Sam — every kid, every year. God will speak to your heart and give you the strength and determination to meet and exceed whatever direction He gives you. I also worked in the public school district for some years and can tell you that there ARE pluses and minuses there (just like homeschooling and private school)- but we need to keep in mind that there are many Christians working as teachers and TAs. God’s got your back, wherever you decide to send your kids. Loved the series and appreciate you and the wisdom God has given you.

Reply