The World's View of Children

I was watching TV the other day and a commercial for Staples came on. Actually, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPIIMbG9R4w

Maybe you've seen it already, it's to the tune of "It's the most wonderful time of the year". The dad in the commercial is overly happy that his children are going back to school. I am not sure what they are trying to say here but what I get is: "I'm so glad that you will be gone for 8 hours a day now so that I don't have to look after you myself."

No wonder so many people are so messed up! How can children go to a public school with tons of other children, and not have the chance to build a strong relationship with an adult figure. Sure I remember some teachers who I would say were my favorite, but it is nothing like the relationship you have with your mom or dad. Just think how much stronger those ties could be instead of spending 6-8 hours a day, 20 days a month, 10 months a year away from home and from the parents.

I do not have kids but I am seriously considering homeschooling them when we do have a family (God willing!). Not only would it strengthen our relationship as a family, but we would also be able to be the main influence over our children.

I come from a public school and when I used to think of kid's who were home schooled, I thought of.. weird... losers... sheltered... and other negative connotations. I never thought of anything positive. I think that this is instilled by society to make sure that children aren't home schooled, so the government has control over what they learn, don't learn, and how they learn.

Is there anywhere in the Bible that says "You must send your children to a public school"

Here are some verses I did find:

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Deuteronomy 11:19-21
Teach them (God's Words) to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Hebrews 12:5-11

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ...

Titus 2:4-5

And so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Proverbs 19:18

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ...

There are two verses about discipline and love. Do we believe that when we send our children to school that they are receiving the discipline and love mentioned here?

There are wonderful benefits to public school such as the variety of courses and tools available to children. However, I think that if it is their desire to learn the trumpet, it will happen... or to go on a field trip to Germany, it can happen. Anything is possible with God!