Make Christmas Break a Permanent Break from Public School
“…and Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again.” You know that line from the catchy Christmas tune. It’s supposed to be funny, but there’s nothing funny about not wanting to be around your children. At least, not for Christians.
The inspired word of God tells us that “Children are a blessing, and a heritage from the Lord. Like arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior, blessed is he who has his quiver full of them!” (Psalm 127:3-5). Children are not a nuisance to be rid of. They are a blessing and a heritage!
Sending children back to school after Christmas break is often seen as getting back to normal. But it’s only been “normal” for the past century.
How about making home education normal? How about making daily family worship and discipleship normal? Let’s make family togetherness the real “getting back to normal.”
Oh, and while we’re at it, could we make the secular public school system the “alternative?”
Now is the time. Let Christmas break become a permanent break from public school in your family.
Normal, for Christians
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5: 1-16)
The days are indeed evil, and parents must redeem the time they have with their children. We are to have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness, but that is exactly what happens in public school. Fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking…It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. And yet, Christian parents continue to drop their dear children off to institutions that are making evil the norm.
Be not partakers with them. Not you. And certainly not your children.
“Now is the time. Let Christmas break become a permanent break from public school in your family.”
The intense sexualization of children in public schools won’t slow down while you think about homeschooling. The woke teachers won’t take a month or two off for you to mull it over. Curriculum that you can’t see, library books you would never approve, and Marxism on a grand scale won’t get better. The public school is a godless institution, no matter how nice the third grade teacher might be. And school board meetings won’t solve any of these problems anymore.
Break away now. Extend the holiday permanently. Change your family tree. Fathers, bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
Extend the Holiday Permanently
When you make Christmas break a permanent break, there’s more to it than what children are not exposed to. The beauty of holiday breaks becomes a regular part of life.
Sleeping longer, sipping hot cocoa while Mom reads aloud, baking something delicious together, visiting Grandparents during the week, and volunteering in the community are just a few of the beautiful little things that become standard.
When Christmas break becomes permanent, children receive a precious gift: an unrushed, de-stressed childhood. They receive the gift of time with family, and proper shelter from a dark world.
How to Start Homeschooling after Christmas
Pray. God delights to help His children. Ask God for direction and wisdom. Ask Him for mentors. Ask Him for provision.
Withdraw your children from public school. Check your state’s homeschooling laws for the proper way to do this. Typically, it involves writing a letter to inform the school that your children will be homeschooled. In some states, you must register or submit your curriculum plan.
Consider de-schooling. This is a period of “down time” for your children to adjust to the new lifestyle. Christmas break is definitely a type of de-schooling, but depending on the ages of your family and your specific circumstances, you might want to de-school for up to a month.
Determine your vision and research curriculum. A family vision is a great way for mom and dad to solidify their commitment to family discipleship, and as a support and reminder when days are long.
Start with the basics. Read the Bible together. Start a good book together. Practice math drills. Do copy work. Identify strengths and weaknesses. Begin to construct a basic schedule. Start slowly and work your way into a full homeschool day.
You don’t need to have everything figured out by the first week of January. You just need to have the determination that your children will be raised at home, and then take some time to decide how that will look. You can learn more in detail in my book, Anyone Can Homeschool.
Moms and Dads, we can be just like everyone else, with kids being raised in a godless education system for 7+ hours a day during the most formative years of their lives. Or we can make Christmas break a permanent break from public school, and let those most formative years be formed by us.