O How I Love Thy Law…

“O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”

(Psalms 119:97)

I recently read a poll started by another homeschooling mother on a very popular forum. She asked the question, “What subject do you consider to be the CORE subject in your homeschool?” The choices were: history, math, science, Latin, writing, and other. The majority of the moms had picked “other” as their choice. When I saw that “other” was the top choice, my first thought was that the poll maker had left Bible out of her choices and that was why “other” was the top choice. WRONG! As I began reading the comments, I saw that most of them had picked READING or LANGUAGE ARTS as the subject on which they spend the most time. Hmm…

Please, don’t misunderstand me. I do see the importance of teaching reading, math, and good language skills. I know that if one does not develop and sharpen these skills he will struggle with learning for the rest of his life. I go to great lengths to make sure that our children are getting enough practice and drill in these areas. However, these subjects should not be the subjects that take up the majority of our teaching time with our children. Charlotte Mason taught that math, language arts, and reading were VERY important skills that must be taught in order to gain knowledge in three areas. She said:

“Children need three kinds of knowledge: the knowledge of God, the knowledge of man, and the knowledge of the world around him. Of those, the knowledge of God is the most important, the most necessary and the one that has the potential to bring him happiness.” (Charlotte Mason)

I really believe that if the mother loves God’s Word as she should it will take precedence over all other subjects. She does not do this by having her children count sheaves of grain for math or color a picture of Abraham for art or by making every task done for “school” relate to Biblical times. She will teach this subject by living it daily! She will naturally refer to principles and accounts from the Bible throughout the day, and she will be an example of holy and righteous living before her children. However, she can only do this if she herself studies and follows God’s Word.

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

(Deuteronomy 6:5-7)

I will choose the “knowledge of God” as the core subject in our homeschool.